By T. Scott Boatright

The Grambling State University athletics department on Wednesday night announced the suspension of all football activities effective immediately as a result of positive tests within the program that were identified through COVID-19 screenings.

Grambling’s next two Southwestern Athletic Conference contests at Alabama A&M (that was slated for Saturday and at Texas Southern (that was scheduled for April 3) have been canceled.

GSU’s season finale remains, against Southern in a Bayou Classic that was moved to Shreveport before what was originally to be a six-game spring season began. That game is scheduled for April 17 at Independence Stadium.

A source close to GSU athletics said that positive cases just detected recently combined with contact-tracing protocol left the Tigers without enough players eligible health wise to play either of the two upcoming games that were canceled.

Earlier this week, Grambling coach Broderick Fobbs had acknowledged the program had a small number of positive tests last week, speaking in an exclusive interview with Shreveport’s KTAL-TV, a station that produces the weekly show “G-Men Nation” during the football season.

The concerns arose after Grambling’s second game against Prairie View, since when some COVID-19 issues have surfaced. 

“There wasn’t any talk of us shutting down, but there was a concern because we were engaged in a football contest with Prairie View, and (the question of) were some of our players in harm’s way. We tested all of last week and we had maybe a couple of guys who were positive, but nothing (so) significant to shut down the entire program,” Fobbs told KTAL-TV, in a comment aired Wednesday night after the news broke.

Since Fobbs spoke to KTAL, the situation deteriorated, leading to Wednesday night’s announcement. 

Calls to GSU football and athletics department officials Wednesday night went unanswered and messages were not returned. 

In the midst of that breaking news, GSU senior quarterback Geremy Hickbottom also announced on Twitter Wednesday night that he has entered the NCAA transfer portal and will be not returning to the Tigers. He referenced COVID-19 issues and thanked Fobbs in his statement.

After three recent games were cancelled, without any obvious weather issues, Grambling’s softball team returned to action by splitting a doubleheader against Jackson State on Wednesday in Vicksburg, Mississippi. A pair of games that were scheduled to be played on the JSU softball field last Friday and Saturday were canceled. A March 16 GSU home game against Louisiana Tech was also cancelled with no apparent weather issues involved.

On Wednesday in Vicksburg, Jackson State defeated Grambling 12-4 in the first game before GSU squeaked out a tight 7-6 win in game two.

It appears COVID-19 problems are arising through the Southwestern Athletic Conference right now.

A three-game series the Grambling baseball team had slated to be played this weekend against Prairie View A&M in Frisco, Texas has also been canceled. The Diamond Tigers did pick up a 9-7 road win at Jackson State Wednesday afternoon.  

While it’s unclear whether or not some GSU baseball team members could be caught up in contact-tracing protocol involving Grambling football players, Prairie View had already been hit with COVID-19 issues.

Prairie View announced on Tuesday that a baseball doubleheader set to be played at the University of Houston on Wednesday had been canceled due to COVID-19 related issues within the program. 

The last football game Prairie View played was a 17-10 win over Grambling on March 13 in Arlington, Texas, and the next game scheduled for the Panthers is set to be played at home on April 3 against Alabama A&M.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s softball team had a doubleheader set to be played at Alcorn last Saturday canceled after the Lady Goldens fell to the Lady Braves 3-2 in the first game of what was set to be a three-game series last Friday.

The UAPB baseball team’s three-game home series slated for last weekend was also postposted, as was a contest the Golden Lions had scheduled to be played at Little Rock on Tuesday.

In what otherwise would have been headline news, Grambling’s veteran quarterback’s sudden exit was overshadowed last night.

Hickbottom’s surprising tweet announcing his departure opened by thanking Fobbs as well as assistant coaches and the university as a whole.

“This was not an easy decision to make because of my love for the G,” Hickbottom continued in his tweet. “Although the season has not been easy for any of us due to COVID, through it all i am blessed to say i have remained healthy and given the chance to continue my football eligibility. As I go into the next chapter of my football career, i feel it is best to go in a different direction. I will be entering the (transfer) portal as a Grad student and taking my talents to another institution. I want to say thank you again for all who have been in my corner, invested, and who have made a difference in my time here. Forever a G-man. #19 out.”

Hickbottom had split time at quarterback in 0-3 Grambling’s first three games with junior Elijah Walker, a transfer from Hinds Community College. Hickbottom, the returning starter, started the first two contests, earning praise in a narrow opening loss to Jackson State but struggling since. 

Look for more on the turbulent news within GSU Athletics from the Lincoln Parish Journal.

---

The area’s 2021 St. Jude Radiothon will be held today and Friday, about a month later than usual after its postponement because of February’s winter storm.

Marking its 40th anniversary this year, the event will be broadcast on Ruston station Z107.5 from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. both days.

Online donations can be made the days of the radiothon through a link on the home page of Z107.5 or by calling 1-800-787-5288. In related side events, donations will be taken in person at both Ruston Walmart locations and Super 1 Foods.

The Zeta Rho chapter of the service group Epsilon Sigma Alpha co-sponsors the event, which last year brought in more than $87,000.

ESA radiothon chair Nancy Darland said, “We’re glad to be able to have the radiothon rescheduled, and we know we can count on the continued generosity of our area residents.”

Currently, St. Jude Hospital is treating more than 850 active patients from Louisiana out of an approximate 8,600 patients annually. The facility’s operating costs total about $2.2 million daily, with 75% of that coming from public contributions. No family is ever billed for treatment, travel, meals or lodging.

---

Shirley Henry Boyd
July 26, 1941 – March 23, 2021
Service: 3 p.m. Friday, March 26, 2021 at Henry Cemetery in Dubach.

Rose Marie Sullivan Hicks
April 28, 1939 – March 23, 2021
Visitation: Friday, March 26, 2021 at Emmanuel Baptist Church; 1 – 3 p.m.
Service: Friday, March 26, 2021 at Emmanuel Baptist Church; 3 p.m.

Joyce Borland Wright
May 3, 1926 – March 20, 2021
Service: Private graveside service in Ruston.

---

By T. Scott Boatright

It’s beginning to become a spring routine for residents of Lincoln Parish.

Area residents are once again warned by the Lincoln Parish Office of Homeland Security and the National Weather Service (NWS) officer in Shreveport to be on the lookout for the potential of severe weather in the region starting around 8
p.m. today with an increasing chance of dangerous weather on Thursday.

Lincoln Parish is in the NWS warned area of a slight risk of severe tonight with the primary threat of quarter- to half-dollar sized hail, maximum winds of 60 70 70 mph and a very low chance of tornadoes.

Thunderstorms will increase in coverage and intensity from daybreak Thursday through Thursday afternoon with the NWS placing Ruston at the edge of area with an enhanced risk of severe weather then.

The primary threats predicted for Thursday are a medium potential for tornadoes, maximum winds of 70-80 mph and hail up to half-dollar to golf ball-sized.

Lincoln Parish Homeland Security Director Kip Franklin urges parish residents to be aware of the potential for severe weather and to remain alert for possible warnings to be issued in conjunction with the storms expected to hit the
region.

Graphics courtesy of the National Weather Service Office in Shreveport.

---

By T. Scott Boatright

A Ruston man remained in the Lincoln Parish Detention Center on a $36,500 bond Tuesday after being arrested on multiple charges at 6:54 p.m. Saturday.

The event began when Ruston Police responded to a call to find a patient who had left Northern Louisiana Medical Center while being mentally evaluated under a Physician’s Emergency Certificate (PEC).

A PEC allows law enforcement personnel to detain a person against their will for up to 72 hours.

Mangham’s arrest affidavit said that RPD officers found Jermichael Deneal Mangham, who is 30 and was listed as residing at 1008 S. Maple St., near the NLMC and transported him back to the hospital, where he was returned to a hospital bed.

When NLMC staff told Mangham he needed to put on a hospital gown, the affidavit says that Mangham began saying that he was not going to take his clothes off and started using profane language toward the medical staff.

The affidavit says that Mangham then began taking “an aggressive stance” toward the medical staff and that a RPD officer stepped in and advised Mangham to get back into the hospital bed, and that Mangham refused to do so.

When the RPD officer grabbed Mangham by the shirt and “placed him back onto the bed,” Mangham reportedly balled up his fist and bagan kicking out at the officer.

The affidavit said Mangham then began fighting two officers and was taken to the ground. Mangham then allegedly began kicking one of the officers as they attempted to put him into mechanical restraints.

When a third officer entered the room and advised Mangham she was going to tase him if he did not cooperate, he reportedly began fighting with all three officers.

The affidavit says at that point the third officer then tased Mangham with a drive stun to his right side, and after that Mangham then began complying with officers’ commands and was placed in restraints.

After being advised his Miranda Rights, the affidavit says that Mangham said he did not understand his Miranda Rights but could not specify which part(s) he did not understand.

Mangham was then transported to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center and booked on charges of battery of an officer, resisting an officer with force or violence three times, and disturbing the peace (language).

---

By T. Scott Boatright

Ruston’s Planning and Zoning Commission during last week’s monthly meeting paved the way for requests to create more housing in the city be sent to the Board of Aldermen for consideration.

One application was for the expansion of Ruston’s Cypress Run Subdivision while another was a request to build a new subdivision to be called The Oaks at Kentucky.

Ruston Planning and Zoning director Jim Hayes told commissioners that in May of 2019 the owner was granted final plat approval for Unit 1 of the Cypress Run subdivision. Unit one consisted of 32 single-family residential lots which met the R-10 zoning requirements. The owner is now planning Unit 2 of the subdivision and is proposing a 6.56 acre plan for unit development. This will contain 29 single-family lots. The owner has submitted applications for both preliminary plat approval for Unit 2 of the Cypress Run Subdivision and rezoning of the property from R-10 single-family residential district to planned unit development. This property is located east of South Barnett Springs Street north of Leyland Drive, which is actually Phase 1 and currently has a zoning of R-10 single-family residential.

“The development of Unit 2 will be very similar to Unit 1 and will consist of single-family residential dwellings,” Hayes said. “All lots will be accessed by a new public roadway off of the existing Leyland Drive. About 3/4s of the acre in Unit 1 that contains lots 25 and 26 will be ‘resubdivided’ and dedicated as the planned unit development for Unit 2’s common open space and park which meets our requirements. In other words, they’re taking two of the buildable lots out of Unit 1 and they’re going to change it where they can’t be built on and dedicated as an open space because they’re required to have 10% open space for use of the tenant.

Hayes said that Unit 1, which met the current R-10 zoning requirements, consisted of lots of a minimum size of 10,000 square feet, minimum road frontage of 90 feet, front setback of 30 feet, rear setback of 20 feet and side setback of minimum five combined 20 feet.

“Unit 2 is going to have the same type of houses but they are requesting a little bit smaller lot sizes,” Hayes said. “With those they’re asking for a minimum of 6,500 square feet, minimum of 65-feet of road frontage, a 20-foot front setback, a 20-foot rear and the same side with the five minimum 20-foot combined side. This process consists of two steps. The first step will be reviewed by the planning commission of a preliminary plat for the planned unit development. If approval of the preliminary plat is recommended, the second step will be a review by the Zoning Commission on whether to recommend rezoning to a planned unit development district. If both preliminary plate and rezoning are both recommended this case will proceed to the Board of Aldermen for review.

Hayes said that if the preliminary plat for Unit 2 of Cypress Run subdivision is recommended for approval, staff suggests commissioners include a condition requiring the applicant to submit a revised plat for Unit 1 showing the dedication of the common open space parks to be utilized by Unit 2.

“We would like the conditions to say that it has to be submitted, approved and filed prior to the final plat of Unit 2 of Cypress Run,” Hayes said. “One of the reasons I would like to see is that ‘resubdivision’ of Unit 1 of the common open space can be done administratively because it’s only two lots, and to make sure we tie these things together. Normally the planned unit development shows the common open space dedicated by that plat, but this is coming out of a different place even though it meets requirement and is contiguous there, I just want to make sure we have that condition — make sure that the new Unit 2 doesn’t get approved until we get a completed and file revision for the common open space for Unit 1.

Commissioners unanimously approved to send the case to the Board of Aldermen once the revision condition for Unit 1 was met.

The other application was a request for final plat approval for the proposed The Oaks at Kentucky subdivision to be built by Cody Phillips Construction Company LLC on approximately five acres of land located at the northeast corner of the intersection of Rhody Drive and East Kentucky Avenue.

“This proposed subdivision represents an 11 lot, single family residential development,” Hayes told commissioners. All lots are to have access from Rhody Drive with East Kentucky Avenue to be accessed by a private roadway located at the rear of the lots. The preliminary plat was approved at the Dec. 14, 2020 Planning Commission meeting and the Jan. 4, 2021 City Council meeting. The property is zoned R1 one family residential district and the subdivision appears to meet the zoning ordinance for this district. City departments are currently reviewing the proposed development to ensure compliance with city ordinances. Based on staff review it appears the preliminary plat meets all city subdivision requirements. Therefore staff suggests that the Planning Commission recommend to the Board of Aldermen the approval of the final plat subject to the conditions of any appropriate city department head approval.

“Also, in view of the unusual layout of this subdivision, staff suggests the additional condition that those certificates of occupancy be issued for structures constructed on the subdivision lots fronting East Kentucky Avenue until the construction of the driveway and infrastructure has been completed and approved. If the commission approves the final plat staff recommends the motion be phrased as stated and recommended in the staff report. … There will be no new driveways into Kentucky and that was one of the reasons for this condition. They are probably going to go ahead and get started on construction on some of the ones that front Rhody and we do not want any issue on the ones facing Kentucky until all of the infrastructure of the private driveway is completed.”

With no one requesting to speak at a public hearing, commissioners then voted unanimously to approve the final plat with the recommended conditions.

.

---

Staff Writer

Taylor Young’s two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the seventh inning gave Louisiana Tech the lead and the 21st ranked Bulldogs held on for a 9-7 win over the University of Louisiana-Monroe Tuesday night at JC Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.

Tech (14-5) missed out on a number of early opportunities to post crooked numbers and it almost cost the Bulldogs, now winners of six in a row. But for the second straight game, solid relief pitching sealed the deal.

The Bulldogs loaded the bases in each of the first two innings but could only muster three runs despite a shaky start from the Warhawks pitching staff. ULM pitchers walked 10 Tech batters and hit two more on the night.

“This felt like a late season midweek game,” said Tech skipper Lane Burroughs. “But it was an early season one. ULM is a really good team. I thought we were tight early. And I think we all know why. I thought our assistant coaches did a great job of getting our guys together and settling them down.”

After only managing two hits through the first five innings, Tech found itself tied at 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth. However, the Bulldogs scored two runs on a Young RBI double and a Parker Bates bloop single, giving Tech a 6-4 lead.

It was short-lived.

ULM cleanup hitter Derek DeSimone launched a three-run shot in the top of the seventh, giving the Warhawks their first lead of the night at 7-6.

Tech responded in its half of the frame. With two outs and no one on base, Kent Hasler singled and Alex Ray walked to put runners on base. Following a wild pitch, Young cranked the double just over the reach of the ULM outfielders glove to plate the go-ahead runs.

Cade Gibson worked 3.0 scoreless innings to start the game and then Burroughs went to his pen, using five relievers.

“A lot of those guys needed some work,” said Burroughs. “Our bullpen hasn’t been used much the last five games because of how good our starters have been. These guys needed to go out there and get some work.”

Tyler Follis (1-0) threw two-thirds of an inning to pick up the win in relief while Kyle Griffin picked up the save after working the final 1.2 innings. ULM had a ninth-inning opportunity but Bates threw out a Warhawk base runner at home for the first out of the frame before Griffin retired the next two batters.

The Bulldogs will travel to Hattiesburg this weekend to open Conference USA action with a four-game series against Southern Miss.

SOFTBALL: The Lady Techsters head to UL-Lafayette today to face the 16th ranked Ragin’ Cajuns. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+.

Tech will travel north this weekend for a three-game series against Tulsa with a Saturday doubleheader at 2 p.m. and a Sunday single game at 1 p.m.

---

Staff Writer

For the first time since 2003, Conference USA broke up the men’s basketball teams into two divisions.

Louisiana Tech claimed the West Division championship while Western Kentucky won the East Division championship.

Unlike football though, the two teams did not square off for the ultimate league crown. But, one could say the Bulldogs and Hilltoppers will do that when they face off in the NIT Quarterfinals. Tipoff is set for 9 p.m. Thursday at the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas in a game that will air live on ESPN2.

How did we get here?

WKU advanced first, defeating Saint Mary’s by a final score of 69-67. Trailing by two with 40 seconds to play, the Hilltoppers got a dunk by All-American Charles Bassey, two clutch free throws by Taveion Hollingsworth and a defensive stop to complete the late comeback.

Two nights later, LA Tech advanced by upsetting No. 1 seed Ole Miss, 70-61. The ‘Dogs overcame a 10-point halftime deficit, outscoring the Rebels 43-24 in the second half to mark their largest comeback of the season.

“I was proud of our guys’ effort,” said Tech coach Eric Konkol. “Throughout all the swings in that game, from getting a 10-point lead and then falling behind by 10 at halftime, the team scratched and clawed to get back into it. We were then able to make just enough plays down the stretch to come away with a very good win.”

Kenneth Lofton, Jr. had arguably the best performance of his young career. The freshman poured in a career-high 22 points to go along with a team-high seven boards.

Thursday’s game may very well come down to the paint. Thanks to Lofton, Jr. and Co., the Bulldogs have owned the paint, outscoring their opponents in 21 of the 29 games. They are averaging 32.4 paint points on the season (scored 36 against the Rebels).

WKU counters with its center, Bassey. The Hilltoppers tend to dominate the paint on defense, ranking top 35 in the country in blocks per game (4.5) and rebounding margin (6.6).

The two teams had two epic battles in Bowling Green, Kentucky back in early January. WKU won game one, 66-64, but LA Tech bounced back the following day and got the victory, 63-58.

Round three is sure to be similar, but also with some slight differences.

“We have evolved and so have they,” Konkol said. “They are different a little in the way they are structured, but they are still centered around Charles Bassey. He is someone we have to figure out how to contain. Other things they are doing are very similar. They are a great team that is playing great basketball. It provides a great matchup on national television on Thursday.”

Yes it does.

---

By T. Scott Boatright

The decades-old facility housed the Ruston campus of Delta Community College on James Street.

Demolition of the old structure is complete while removal of resulting debris piles is ongoing.

In 2018, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwars said the state will spend $8 million to build a new Ruston campus in Ruston that will anchor a technology park.

Once constructed, the new campus and park to be located east of Louisiana 33 and south of Interstate 20 will include a building to house high-tech robotics and manufacturing firms in its own Center of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies.

Delta’s new Ruston campus will be co-branded with Louisiana Tech.

Delta students in instrumentation technologies, industrial maintenance and industrial electrical will be able to study along with engineering students from Tech, particularly during laboratory exercises and live work projects conducted in conjunction with business and industry.

Grambling State University will also be able to engage its students in engineering technology and similar fields in the effort.

Delta Community College operates campuses in eight northeastern Louisiana towns and cities with the main campus located in Monroe.

---

Staff report

Grambling’s football team is 0-3 halfway through this most unique of all seasons, and the Tigers’ offensive playcallers have left the coaching staff each of the past two Sundays.

Tigers coach Broderick Fobbs doesn’t see a meltdown. He sees it as a time to rally around.

While the optics aren’t good, the core is, he said. Specifically, the corps.

“I can’t say enough about our players. They have been stellar in this situation. It’s been a tough, tough spring season for us, a lot of changes, a lot of incidents, some beyond our control, some because of us.

“We just have to learn from it,” said Fobbs in his weekly media session Monday morning.

“Championships are never won by just hopping on the elevator or skipping steps. We’ve won championships here. I’ve been part of championships at other places. One thing I know about winning championships is you have to take the stairs and you have to put your foot on every step. You can’t skip a step. You can’t get on the elevator.”

Fobbs wasn’t ready to outline how Grambling’s offensive plan will be designed, or who will call plays Saturday at Alabama A&M. It seems likely that it wasn’t going to be departed quarterbacks coach Kendrick Nord, who had that role in the 48-21 home loss to UAPB Saturday.

“I’ve been evaluating my staff for the last couple of weeks, and for the coming weeks as well. I wanted to make some changes, move some people around to see how they operate in different areas. After last week, I decided to make more moves. Coach Kendrick Nord wasn’t too pleased with some of the movements and he decided to dismiss himself, remove himself from the program,” explained Fobbs, diplomatically.

“It was a surprise … he voiced his opinion,” said Fobbs. “I wasn’t planning to remove anybody at this particular time.

“We have to do a better job of coaching our players and putting them in positions to succeed. Our kids are working extremely hard. They are bonding together, pulling together like they should.

“There will be (coaching staff) changes made at the end of the season, and there will be better days. We will make sure our program is one to be reckoned with like it has been for several years since we’ve been here,” he said.

Fobbs stepped into a national disaster taking over the program for the 2014 season. The Tigers not only collapsed on the fields in 2012 and 2013, but walked out and refused to play an October 2013 game at Jackson State, protesting abysmal facilities and a lack of commitment by the university.

That winter, Fobbs was hired, and three seasons later the G-Men were not only SWAC champs, but HBCU national champions too.

The current situation isn’t remotely as dire as when he took over, but it’s more agonizing, he said.

“It hurts far worse right now. If you care about winning, you’ll stay up all day and night to get it done. There’s no feeling quite like this feeling.”

Much of what helped Grambling return to glory in his first three seasons seems in place today.

“The strength of our team is our players’ character. If there’s anything you learn from being in the situation we’re in, it’s the character of our players. It squeezes its way out in situations like this. You’ll know either for the better or the worse. We’ve been in this situation before. I saw the same thing in 2014, which is encouraging. We just have to help them as much as we possibly can, because they’re doing what they should do.”

The immediate task is to get that converted to improved performances, beginning in Huntsville, Alabama, on Saturday afternoon.

“We have the ability to play well,” he said, confidently.

---

Staff Writer

The Ruston High School boys track and field team took first place at the Ouachita Meet held last Friday.

Staff Writer

The focal event of the local high school track and field regular season is Friday afternoon when Ruston High hosts the annual “Hoss” Garrett Relays.

Ruston’s program ranks among the state’s best. Two of its standout competitors stand among the nation’s best.

All of the Bearcats and Lady Bearcats will be itching to put on a show for their families and friends when field events begin at 3:30, followed by racing at 5:30.

Among the schools expected to line up against Ruston: Cedar Creek, Byrd, Natchitoches Central and Airline.

The Bearcats are headlined by the nation’s No. 2-ranked triple jumper, Brandon Green, and LSU signee Dyllon Nimmers in the distance events.

Green won the indoor state championship in his specialty and opened the outdoor season by becoming only the fourth north Louisiana competitor to ever soar over 50 feet, going 50-3 at Catholic High in Baton Rouge.

Nimmers won the indoor state title in the 800 (1:59.68) and scored 17 ½ points as the Bearcats were second overall. Green led with 18 points, adding a second in the long jump.

The Lady Bearcats have four indoor state champion sprinters, Kemiah Spencer, Jada Williams, Corlaisa Scott and Tyra Fields, who combined to record a 1:43.43 winning time in the 4×200 relay.

Last week, most of the RHS team competed at the Ouachita Lions Relays with others making the trek west to Southlake Carroll for the Texas Distance Festival, and veteran coach Allen Whitaker liked the performances.

“We’re on pace with what we’ve been doing,” he said. “Our girls were second and our boys were first at Ouachita, and we got some big PRs (personal records) from our distance group.

“It was a pretty good weekend to be the Ruston High track coach.”

Bearcat event wins in Monroe came from Damarion Roane (100 meter dash (11.17), Andrew McClinton (400, 53.64), Joshua Anding (800, 2:05.91), Keitravion Hargrove (long jump, 20-7), Green (triple jump, 46-2), and Jordan Gilmore (javelin, 148-7). Ruston’s boys took the 4×100 relay (43.39).

The Lady Bearcats picked up firsts by Fields (100, 12.69), Williams (200, 25.02), Destiny Tatum (800, 2:38.59), and in three relays: 4×100 (48.84), 4×400 (4:01.32) and 4×800 (10:40.21).

BASEBALL: Sterlington avenged Saturday’s 9-3 loss to Ruston with a walk-off 3-2 homefield triumph Monday, winning on William Perkins’ RBI base hit. The Bearcats (12-6) scratched in the first and fifth innings, but the Panthers knotted

it at 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth and won it an inning later.

Ruston opens District 2-5A play Thursday at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Ruston Sports Complex against West Monroe, then visits the Rebels at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Tuesday evening, Cedar Creek fell 7-2 at St. Frederick’s and slipped to 8-8 against a very strong schedule so far this spring. The winners scored in three of the first four innings before the Cougars finally got on the board in the fifth on RBI singles by Jack Parks and Zach Smith.

The Cougars are now off for a while, until April.

---

By T. Scott Boatright

It’s finally about time for the cry of “Batter Up” to be heard as Buddy Ball returns to Ruston Saturday.

After not being played at all in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Buddy Ball will start it’s 2021 spring season on a new field at the Ruston Sports Complex.

Younger teams will play at 10 a.m. while older teams will play at 11 a.m.

Buddy Ball is a nonprofit organization that opens up the great American pastime of softball to special needs children from the area that range in age from 4-21 whose disabilities prevent them from playing on other softball teams. We hold Fall and Spring seasons every year.

Registration and participation are free thanks to donors. Gloves, bats, balls and gear are provided to every player along with a team jersey.

Buddy Ball of Ruston works with local organizations to arrange for qualified, enthusiastic volunteers to help the players hit, throw and catch on the ball field. Everybody plays, and everyone’s a winner.

Returning players do not need to register. There is a no fee for Buddy Ball, but participants must be registered, so new players are asked to contact the organization on Facebook on the Buddy Ball of Ruston or by calling 318-243-3842.

 

---

Written by The Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce

An Everyday Excellence winner is a person who regularly goes above and beyond in doing their job. This person chooses to give it their all in a way that brings positivity to their fellow man.

The Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce awards the 2021 first-quarter honor to Ashanti Mitchell at Sonic Drive-In on La. Highway 33.

Multiple shoutouts on Facebook left no doubt that Ashanti embodies the spirit of doing more than what’s necessary and assuring that Sonic customers have a positive experience. You may not know him by name, but you know who someone is talking about when they say “that guy at Sonic North who brings a smile to your face.”

He is spoken of as the guy with a bright personality, big smile, and soothing “radio voice;” the most pleasant person in Ruston’s service industry; and one who provides A+ service every-single-time.

Ashanti has definitely won Sonic customers over with his charming personality and his golden heart. He’s even been known to offer to help change a customer’s flat tire.

An emotional Ashanti said it’s rare that he’s speechless, but this day he was. He said that he is glad to know that his customers enjoy his service.

We don’t know what lies in store for Mr. Ashanti’s future, but the general consensus is that whatever route he decides to take, he will be successful and blessed, and go far with his amazing attitude and wonderful customer service skills.

Thanks to Sonic’s manager, Heath Gilbert, a surprise presentation to Ashanti was made on March 22, 2021. In addition to a yard sign proclaiming, “Everyday Excellence Winner Works Here” and a certificate of appreciation, Ashanti received a $50 Visa gift card from Northern Louisiana Medical Center, a $50 Visa gift card from Sonic, $25 gift card from Uptown Downtown, and a Ruston T-shirt from Experience Ruston.

---

ULS Press release

University of Louisiana System President and CEO Jim Henderson presented three awards at the Universities of Louisiana “For Our Future” conference closing keynote. The awards — Outstanding Staff Member, Outstanding Faculty Member and Champion of Diversity and Inclusion — are presented annually to three standouts among the system’s nearly 10,000 faculty and staff.

“Presenting the System’s annual awards holds special meaning at the culmination of a year filled with tumult for faculty and staff,” said UL System President and CEO Jim Henderson. “These three recipients have gone above and beyond to create continued success and growth at their respective universities and are models to emulate for all within the Universities of Louisiana.”

Rudolph Ellis, associate dean of students for Grambling State University, is this year’s Champion of Diversity and Inclusion awardee. He works tirelessly to create a culture of inclusion at Grambling, particularly through the Everybody Project working to enrich the lives of every student without regard to religion, gender identity, race or sexual orientation.

Jamie Newman, associate professor of biology and at Louisiana Tech University, is this year’s Outstanding Faculty Member. The extraordinary amount of targeted research she conducts coupled with her ability to communicate those complex concepts to wider audiences from different backgrounds exemplify the qualities of the Outstanding Faculty Member award.

William Scheufens, chief of police for the McNeese Police Department, is this year’s Outstanding Staff Member. His commitment to safety before, during, and after Hurricanes Laura and Delta as well as his dedication to the rebuilding efforts that continue today will have a lasting impact on the McNeese community.

The “For Our Future” conference programming was organized into three tracks: post-pandemic campus, cultural competency and core mission. Nearly 900 UL System faculty and staff registered to attend the virtual event, making it the largest in the event’s history.

---

Press Release

The Louisiana Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LYAC) is now accepting applications for membership from high school students who have an interest in representing the voices of other young people around the state. LYAC is an annually appointed body composed entirely of students that tackle issues affecting the youth of Louisiana.

The purpose of LYAC is to facilitate the communication between youth and the legislature, and to give students a unique opportunity to be involved in the workings of state government. The Council studies and addresses a variety of issues of importance to young people such as education, mental health, civic engagement, the environment, criminal justice, and school safety.

Members of the Council are selected from a wide pool of applicants statewide who display a strong interest in civic involvement. The 31-member Council includes three students representing each of the six congressional districts and the remaining members serve at large.

Applicants must be between the ages of 14 and 19 and be enrolled in a public or private high school, charter school, home school, or GED skills program during the 2021-22 school year.

The deadline to apply is Friday. The application may be accessed at civiced.louisiana.gov and then by clicking on LYAC at the top of the page. All applicants are required to submit two recommendation letters in addition to the eight short essay questions and application form. The forms and short answer questions should be completed and submitted online. The letters of recommendation should be emailed to bellam@legis.la.gov or mailed to Louisiana Commission on Civic Education c/o Megan Bella Louisiana.

Senate P.O. Box 94183 Baton Rouge, LA 70804. Letters may be sent by the student applicant or the recommender.

The students have the opportunity to meet with legislators and elected officials and bring a youth-related topic to the legislature during a regular session. For additional information, contact Megan Bella at bellam@legis.la.gov or 225-342-2370.

---

Louisiana Tech University Communications

Louisiana Tech is listed at No. 7 overall and No. 1 in the South on Study.com’s 2021 rankings of The Best Bachelor Degree Programs in Forestry.

Founded in 2002 and a former nonprofit of the year in its home-based state of California, Study.com is an extensive one-stop shop for education seekers and draws more than 40 million visitors each month. It’s an online learning platform and research site for both teachers and for students exploring school options and careers.

To formulate its 2021 rankings, the company used data from the US Department of Education, graduation rates, tuition information, and retention statistics to select its top 42 premier institutions offering bachelor’s degrees in forestry. Also considered were Society of American Foresters accredited programs, faculty, scholarships, and opportunities for hands-on experiences.

The Bachelor of Science in Forestry at Tech integrates biological and physical sciences with economic and social issues to prepare students for forest management careers. The program is accredited by the Society of American Foresters and offers numerous opportunities for hands-on conservation and forest management research and projects. The program offers unique partnerships with numerous forest management and product companies who bring representatives to campus to interact with students, promote internships, or offer scholarships.

---

By Brad Dison

Robert “Bob” Craig needed direction in his life. School was boring to him. He craved excitement. He was an adrenaline junkie.  Bob decided that he had had enough of schooling and quit Butte (Montana) High School in his sophomore year. He was anxious to get out into the real world.  

Bob enjoyed his newfound freedom from school and he lazed around for a short while. Pretty soon, though, Bob realized that he needed money to survive. Bob found employment at the Anaconda Mining Company where he worked as a diamond drill operator in a copper mine. Shortly thereafter, Bob earned a promotion and drove an earth mover, work he considered unimportant. Just like school, Bob quickly became bored working in the copper mine.  Bob’s boredom had become too great for him to quell. 

Rumors persist that Bob somehow rode a wheelie in his mammoth piece of heavy equipment and ran into Butte, Montana’s main power lines. The massive machine damaged the power line infrastructure which shut off the electricity in the town for several hours.  Bob’s boss fired him immediately.  Bob liked the rush he got from making the gigantic machine pop a wheelie, and searched continually for ways to feel that sort of feeling again.  

On March 7, 1959, 20-year-old Bob entered in Butte, Montana’s fourth divisional ski jumping championship in the men’s class. Lou Buckmaster skied down the slope of the long jump, launched, soared through the air using his body movements for steering, and landed the jump successfully.  Officials recorded Lou’s jump at 86 feet. Paul Maxwell performed his jump with precision and reached a distance of 99 feet.  Bob was the ultimate competitor.  He was determined to win. Bob shot down the ski slope, used his legs to spring himself higher into the air, and soared toward the bottom of the hill. His landing was perfect. Officials recorded his distance at 111 feet.  Of the three people who competed in the men’s class, Bob won by a distance of 12 feet. Of the 17 people who competed that day, Bob came in second overall.      

Skiing was fun, but Bob needed money. Bob went through a host of jobs. He played with the Charlotte Clippers of the Eastern Hockey League. He formed, acted as owner, manager, coach, and player of a semi-professional hockey team called the Butte Bombers.  He ran a hunting guide service and once hitchhiked from Butte to Washington, D.C. carrying a 54-inch set of elk antlers along with a petition to stop the planned slaughter of 5,000 surplus elk in Yellowstone National Park.  Bob was not an animal rights activist; he had an angle.  Bob’s plan was for the transplantation of the elk to the area where he ran his hunting guide service. Rather than incurring the expense of transplanting the elk, and in an effort to appease the public, the commission abandoned the planned slaughter.  Bob ran a Honda motorcycle dealership where he offered $100 off the price of a new motorcycle to anyone who could beat him at arm wrestling. He claimed to have been a swindler, a holdup man, a card thief, and a safe cracker.    

According to former U.S. Representative from Montana Pat Williams, “No one had more guts than Bobby. He was simply unafraid of anything.” Bob was good at self-promotion and was always comfortable in the limelight.  Few people remember Bob as a skiing champion, a hockey player, hunting guide, owner of a Honda dealership, or any of the negative jobs Bob claimed to have had. Even fewer people knew Bob by his real name, but Bob certainly became famous.  Bob once claimed that he “made $60 million, spent 61. … Lost $250,000 at blackjack once. … Had $3 million in the bank, though.”

In the mid-1970s, the Ideal Toy Company released a series of toys and other merchandise based on Bob, which became best sellers and are still sought after. Hanna-Barbera produced a series of Saturday morning cartoons based on Bob. Bally created a pinball machine based on Bob.

Bob was an entertainer whose performances were dangerous. Bob still holds the Guinness World Record for the “Most broken bones in a lifetime.” According to Guinness, by the end of 1975, Bob had suffered 433 bone fractures.  Bob received most of his bone fractures while performing in front of a live audience. Bob was a stunt performer and entertainer. His real name was Robert Craig … Knievel.  

The world knew Bob as Evel Knievel.  

 Sources:

1. The Montana Standard (Butte, Montana), March 9, 1959, p.7.
2. The Montana Standard, November 22, 1961, p.8.
3. The Montana Standard, December 1, 2007, p.7.
4. Guinness World Records. “Most Broken Bones in a Lifetime.” Accessed March 12, 2021. https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/most-broken

---

Louisiana Tech University Communications

In an email to faculty, staff, and students last week, Louisiana Tech University President Les Guice announced plans to return to normal operations on the campus for the coming Fall Quarter. The email followed a meeting with academic deans and department chairs.

“The strides our country has made – along with increasing availability and acceptance of vaccines – will allow us to have a Fall Quarter that is as close to normal as is possible within health guidelines,” Guice said. “Our students need all of you to be present on campus. Your colleagues and our university need you to be present on campus.

“Therefore, we will return to Louisiana Tech’s core strength. We plan to provide face-to-face instruction in the vast majority of our courses this fall and continue to increase the number of opportunities for student engagement and activities on campus.”

Louisiana Tech moved classes online at the beginning of its Spring 2020 Quarter after Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a stay-at-home order in response to growing cases of COVID-19. Throughout the pandemic, the university has offered a mix of online, face-to-face, and hybrid classes that conform to state gathering mandates.

Mask and distancing mandates are still in place on the campus and will continue, Guice said, as long as they are necessary.

---

Donnie Owens
November 11, 1938 – March 22, 2021
Visitation: Friday, March 26, 2021 at Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home; 2 – 3:30 p.m.
Service: Friday, March 26, 2021 at Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home; 4 p.m.

Cynthia LaFaye Walker
March 3, 1964 – March 18, 2021
Visitation: Sunday, March 28, 2021 at King’s Funeral Home; 2 – 5 p.m.
Service: 1 p.m. Monday, March 29, 2021 at Macedonia #1 Baptist Church in Dubach/Hilly.

Justin O. Williams
February 15, 1989 – March 19, 2021
Visitation: Friday, March 26, 2021, at King’s Funeral Home; 3 – 5 p.m.
Wake: Friday, March 26, 2021, at King’s Funeral Home; 5 – 6 p.m.
Service: Saturday, March 27, 2021, at Life Church in Ruston; 1 p.m.

---

By T. Scott Boatright

Julia Letlow captured the Louisiana House Seat for Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives while Lincoln Parish voters also approved a property tax renewal that generates about $3.9 million annually for the parish sheriff’s office in results from Saturday’s election.

Voters in Dubach also elected a new mayor as challenger Mona Durrett Wilson edged out incumbent Ruby Dawson.

Letlow ran to replace her late husband, Luke, who was elected in November but died of complications from COVID-19 in December at the age of 41 and only days before he would have been sworn into office.

Districtwide, Letlow captured 65% (67,199) of the vote while Sandra “Candy” Christophe, the only Democrat running in that race, came in a distant second with 27% (28,252).

Letlow’s showing in Lincoln Parish was even stronger as she took 67% (4,515) of votes while Cristophe finished with 29% (1,968) of local votes.

A Republican from Richland Parish, Letlow is the first Republican woman from Louisiana elected to the U.S. House.  Her election brings the number of Republican women in Congress to 31 — a major change from the end of last cycle, when there were only 13.

Voter turnout for the election was low, standing at around 24% in Lincoln Parish and 21% districtwide.

“This is an incredible moment, and it is truly hard to put into words. What was born out of the terrible tragedy of losing my husband, Luke, has become my mission in his honor to carry the torch and serve the good people of Louisiana’s 5th District,” Letlow said via a press release. “I am humbled that you would entrust me with the honor of your vote and the privilege to serve you in Congress. A simple thank you doesn’t fully encapsulate the depth of my gratitude.

“I will be a servant to the people of this district and to be present across the 24 parishes. I will listen more than I speak and seek to find solutions to our region’s challenges. I will partner with yhose across the country who can help us capitalize on our district’s strengths and bring real results home to you. From tonight forward I work for you and it is an honor to do so.”

During her campaign Letlow vowed to uphold conservative Christian values while she would also work to protect unborn children and the right to bear arms.

Former President Donald Trump endorsed her campaign in March, and she is also supported by Winning for Women Action Fund.

She also won big in the battle of fundraising between the 12 candidates running for the seat, raising more than $680,000 while no other candidate raised more than $70,000.

On Sunday, Trump released a statement congratulating her on the win. 

“I am thrilled for Julia and the entire Letlow family. Luke is looking down proudly from above,” Trump said.

The 7.83-mill property tax renewal passed easily, with 68% of the vote. The numbers showed 4,340 votes in favor of the 10-year tax and 2,024 votes against it.

That tax generates about 41% of the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office budget, helping pay for most of the LPSO’s operational expenses as well as drug education, prevention and enforcement, and personnel, training and equipment.

In the Dubach mayoral election, Wilson with an eight-vote edge over Dawson, 95-87, with 31.1% of eligible voters casting ballots.

Wilson will be Dubach’s third mayor in less than a year. As then-Mayor Pro Tem, Dawson stepped in as Dubach’s interim mayor in August of 2020 after former Mayor Mary Claire Smith resigned after being hospitalized with COVID-19. Smith died in October of last year from complications arising from a pre-existing medical condition.

Wilson, a local realtor, will serve as mayor through 2022 to fill the remainder of Smith’s term.

---

Congratulations to the voters of Lincoln Parish for definitely getting this one right.

The Lincoln Parish Journal thanks our parish voters who on Saturday approved a property tax renewal that generates about $3.9 million annually for the parish sheriff’s office.

As demands for police reform have rocked our nation over the past year, sometimes rightfully so, the term “defund the police” has unfortunately become commonplace in many parts of our country.

Fortunately, the people of Lincoln Parish know better and showed they were willing to make a stand for it.

The Lincoln Parish Journal finds it alarming that calls to defund or abolish law enforcement have become increasingly popular at a time when violence has been on the rise in many major cities.

And we realize that bad things could happen in areas the size of Ruston and Lincoln Parish, too.

While slogans like “defund the police” and “abolish the police” have increasingly been echoed over the past turbulent year for our country, the notion that communities are safer with less-funded law enforcement agencies is simply untrue and dangerous, especially for those living in neighborhoods with higher crime levels.

Stigmatizing successful law enforcement agencies and demonizing the policing profession isn’t a solution for anything good. Defunding law enforcement budgets could only serve to negatively impact the very communities that need them most.

The majority of voters realized that and showed it on Saturday.

Lincoln Parish is fortunate. Our local law enforcement officers, including Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office personnel, are highly regarded and courageous people who we can rely on to protect our communities and come to the rescue of our loved ones in times of need.

What voters decided on was not a new tax or a tax increase, it was simply a renewal for a long-standing tax that helps pay for the salaries and benefits of LPSO personnel as will as training, supplies, equipment and other expenses need to ensure the LPSO can do its best to keep parish residents and businesses safe.

On Saturday night, a post on the LPSO Facebook page said. “Sheriff (Stephen) Williams and his entire staff would like to express our gratitude to the citizens of Lincoln Parish for your support of the millage renewal. We vow to be good stewards of your tax dollars and to continue to serve our community with the same standard of service that you deserve.”

And we believe Sheriff Williams and his staff will do just that.

So again, the Lincoln Parish Journal thanks and congratulates parish voters for their decision not to “defund the police,” but instead “re-fund” the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office. It was the right thing to do.

---

By T. Scott Boatright

As Louisiana continues beginning to emerge from the cocoon it has spent much of the last year inside trying to protect itself from and slow the COVID-19 pandemic, Experience Ruston — the Ruston-Lincoln Visitors and Convention Bureau — has been granted the opportunity to secure funding to help do so.

On Thursday the Louisiana State Bond Commission recommended approval of Experience Ruston’s application to participate in the U.S. Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program (the “Program”). The Program is designed to provide a direct incentive to keep workers on payroll. Funds can be used to pay for payroll costs, including benefits, mortgage interest, rent, utilities, worker protection costs related to COVID­19, uninsured property damage costs caused by looting or vandalism during 2020, and certain supplier costs and expenses for operations.

Louisiana’s State Bond Commission said that expectation is that the loans will be fully forgiven if the entity spends the funds within the Program guidelines.

The Program is designed to provide a direct incentive to keep workers on payroll. Funds can be used to pay for payroll costs, including benefits, mortgage interest, rent, utilities, worker protection costs related to COVID­19, uninsured property damage costs caused by looting or vandalism during 2020, and certain supplier costs and expenses for operations.

Experience Ruston’s application letter, submitted by Ruston-Lincoln CVB President and CEO Amanda Quimby Carrier, said the CVB expects to use all of the $50,000 grant funding for payroll expenses and that it expects to maintain its payroll at or above its current level for eight weeks and to use any amounts received pursuant to PPP only for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities.

The application letter also stated that any amount received by the applicant pursuant to PPP that is not forgiven shall mature no later than March 31, 2026 at a rate not exceeding 1% and shall be payable from all revenues to be received by the applicant, to the extent such revenues are available to make the payments.

“We still have to turn in the paperwork to start the loan process, but we intend to move forward and do so,” Carrier said.

She said that the timing is perfect as mass COVID-19 vaccinations continue being given and that restrictions caused by the pandemic continue being lessened.

“Things are looking up and we’re ready to begin moving forward,” Carrier said. “We have a smaller Louisiana Peach Fest set for June with a theme of Homegrown and Getting Back to Basics. As things continue getting better we’re hopeful that the second half of the year will be much better.”

Carrier said that the “getting better process” has already started.

“We plan on supporting people who support us,” she said. “The situation regarding travel restrictions is getting better. That will hopefully help bring more people to Ruston in a safe fashion. Hopefully we’ll be able to bring in more people in smaller groups as things open up some. There are a lot of events scheduled for the Ruston Sports Complex, so we’re hopeful that things will continue getting better and we can return to showing more and more visitors how much Ruston has to offer.”

Photo by T. SCOTT BOATRIGHT/LPJ

---