Watch this Ruston Smart video for a look behind the scenes of the Ruston recycling service. It will discuss what can and cannot be recycled. What happens to the recycled materials and all of the recycling opportunities the City offers?

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Dancing is the most effective exercise for the brain. It helps counteract the decline in mental and physical capacity due to aging. Dancing leads to noticeable behavioral changes and also improves balance. These improvements are attributed to the extra challenge of learning dance routines, choreography, cues, lyrics, and melody.

Everyone would like to live an independent and healthy life for as long as possible. Dancing is a powerful tool to set new challenges for the body and mind. If you are interested in this RPAR program, please contact Patsy Hinton at (318) 251-1436.

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Cle Sanchez, a mechanical engineering major at Louisiana Tech, will complete a summer internship with the international chemical company BASF, allowing her to work on projects that will help launch her career after graduation.

Throughout the course of the summer, the interns will participate in experiential learning opportunities that allow them to apply their academic knowledge to real-world situations as they are guided by on-site mentors. Beyond working on a range of engineering projects, interns also focus on improving soft skills, including communication, leadership, teamwork, networking and interview skills. Additionally, interns will participate in several community projects, including volunteering at the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank and BASF’s Kids Day event. These opportunities allow them to learn more about BASF’s focus on giving back to the community.

“It is truly an honor to host such bright, promising talent here at our site in Geismar each summer. We are committed to building the future pipeline of talent in our community. These engineering internships allow us an opportunity to both interact with the future workforce and provide them with the necessary on-the-job training,” said Jerry Lebold, Senior Vice President and General Manager of BASF’s Geismar site. “This opportunity gives them an advantage in pursuing their future careers in the coming years.”

BASF hosts interns who are enrolled in mechanical, environmental and chemical engineering courses through their college or university, and each intern is assigned responsibilities related to their chosen discipline. Mentors guide students through their projects and provide them with counsel about career opportunities and pathways. Interns also meet with site leadership who share their career experiences in engineering and manufacturing. Site leaders also discuss the importance of diversity, inclusion and equity with the interns.

The summer internship program is part of BASF’s local workforce development efforts to attract and retain top, diverse talent. Summer 2021 interns will work with BASF through early August.

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An astonishing 21 Ruston High School student-athletes dotted the composite 2021 All-State Track & Field Team announced Sunday by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association, headed by boys Outstanding Field Performer Brandon Green.

Green, a junior, earned All-State status in three events, including posting the state’s best triple jump and being on the state’s fastest 4×100 relay team. Senior teammate Dyllon Nimmers qualified in two events.

They were among 11 Bearcats individuals or relays to post marks that were among the five best in Louisiana to qualify for All-State honors. That helped the Ruston boys win the state Class 5A championship under coach Allen Whitaker. There was no Coach of the Year chosen, but he surely would have been a prime candidate.

The Lady Bearcats had 10 representatives including Corlasia Scott, who was listed four times – three on relays. Jada Williams was a three-event All-Stater (two relays) and Tyra Fields was on three All-State relays.

The Ruston boys and girls each had three performances that were state bests.

No other Lincoln Parish competitors made the LSWA’s All-State roster.

LOUISIANA SPORTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION ALL-STATE TRACK & FIELD TEAMS

Compiled by Bruce Brown from track & field reporting websites from regular season, district, regional and state outdoor high school meets; events shown involve Ruston HS competitors (in bold type).

BOYS

RUNNING EVENTS

800: 1, Joseph Ellis, Catholic-BR, 1:56.60. 2. Rhen Langley, Zachary, 1:56.97. 3, Dyllon Nimmers, Ruston, 1:57.15. 4, Zander Dunbar, St. Aug, 1:57.62. 5, Jaxson Perkins, Neville, 1:57.88.

300 hurdles: 1, Kashie Crockett, Ouachita Parish, 36.12. 2, Lanard Harris, Woodlawn-BR, 36.91. 3, Brandon Green, Ruston, 38.72. 4, Dominic Haney, Jewel Sumner, 38.88. 5, Thaddeus Campbell, Lake Charles Prep, 38.98.

RELAYS

4×100-meters: 1, Ruston (Brandon Green, DaMarion Roane, Deontre Griffin, Ke’Travion Hargrove), 41.14. 2, Zachary, 41.24. 3, Captain Shreve, 41.78. 4, Iowa, 41.85. 5, Westgate, 41.89.

4×400: 1, Ouachita Parish, 3:17.25. 2, Ruston (Carson McPherson, Andrew McClinton, DaMarion Roane, Joshua Anding), 3:19.54. 3, Catholic BR, 3:20.04. 4, B.T. Washington, 3:21.77. 5, Westgate, 3:22.05.

4×800: 1, Ruston (Josiah Whitaker, Dyllon Nimmers, Caleb Babineaux, Bryar Madden), 7:56.44. 2, Catholic-BR, 7:59.88. 3, Belle Chasse, 8:05.28. 4, Westgate, 8:09.44. 5, Central Lafourche, 8:16.41.

FIELD EVENTS

Triple jump: 1, Brandon Green, Ruston, 49-3.75. 2, Keon Coleman, Opelousas Catholic, 48-8. 3, Jeremy Nelson, Ouachita Parish, 48-1.75. 4, Kevon Hamilton, Scotlandville, 48-1. 5, W’Juanterius Rodrigue, St. Amant, 47-5.

OUTSTANDING FIELD PERFORMER: BRANDON GREEN, RUSTON; CHRIS HILTOM JR., ZACHARY

GIRLS

RUNNING EVENTS

400: 1, Jada Williams, Ruston, 54.02. 2, Halyn Senegal, St. Louis, 54.89. 3, Zoa Adams, Zachary, 55.69. 4, Kali Magana, John Curtis, 55.95. 5, Alexandra Johnson, Hahnville, 56.65.

300 hurdles: 1, Chyler Turner, B.T. Washington, 43.44. 2, Faith Lee, Ouachita, 45.03. 3, Olivia Bundy, Church Point, 45.29. 4, Corlasia Scott, Ruston, 45.48.

RELAYS

4×100-meters: 1, Ruston (Chelsi Tatum, Kemiah Spencer, Corlaisa Scott, Tyra Fields), 47.39. 2, Zachary, 47.65. 3, Alexandria, 47.72. 4, Parkway, 47.79. 5, Scotlandville, 48.11.

4×200: 1, Ruston (Kemiah Spencer, Jada Williams, Corlaisa Scott, Tyra Fields), 1:38.55. 2, Zachary, 1:38.55. 3, John Curtis, 1:38.73. 4, Scotlandville, 1:40.21. 5, Baton Rouge, 1:41.59.

4×400: 1, John Curtis, 3:48.73. 2, Ruston (Jada Williams, Kiona McCallister, Corlaisa Scott, Tyra Fields), 3:53.18. 3, Zachary, 3:55.74. 4, Scotlandville, 3:55.80. 5, Baton Rouge, 3:55.85.

4×800: 1, Mandeville, 9:32.62. 2, St. Joseph’s Academy, 9:37.98. 3, John Curtis, 9:44.01. 4, Fontainebleau, 9:48.25. 5, Ruston (Zoei Holstead, Lily Garrett, Destiny Tatum, Anna Naff), 9:49.74.

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Saturday nights I sleep with one eye open worrying that my alarm won’t go off and that will be late for a Sunday service. Every minister’s nightmare! You see my phone has been having problems taking a charge. I would have to wiggle the charger wire and slowly lay my phone down hoping it wouldn’t lose the connection. There has been a time or two where the charger lost its connection only to die and leave me in a panic come the A.M.

One day I looked inside my phone where the charger connection is placed and I notice something in there. Blowing in it didn’t even budge the new discovery, so I took an end of a paperclip and started picking at it only to find a wad of blue jean lint crammed in there.

Two things I learned……
1. Lint can find itself in places other than bellybuttons.
2. A wad of it can keep your phone from charging if it is stuffed inside your cell phone.

Like that lint that kept my phone from recharging, there are things that keep us from recharging spiritually. It could be an unconfessed sin, or it could be something subtle like busyness. Whether it is something as blatant as unforgiveness, or a good thing that is hindering the best thing, we have to identify what is making us lose our connection with the Holy Spirit, and deal with what is hindering our refreshing peace and joy.

Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer, and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Justin Shipley
Young Adult/ Worship Pastor, FBC Ruston

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By PAUL LETLOW
Written for the LSWA

Even at the end of Mackie Freeze’s incredibly successful 13-year tenure as head football coach at Monroe’s Richwood High School, the Grambling graduate didn’t have nearly all he needed.

Except determination, discipline, and love – qualities that this week’s Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame inductee learned early in life and had reinforced by his iconic coaches at Grambling, President Dr. Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones (baseball) and Eddie Robinson (football).

This weekend, Freeze will join Coach Rob in the LSHOF. He will be enshrined Saturday night in Natchitoches to culminate three days of festivities. For participation opportunities and information on the Class of 2020, visit LaSportsHall.com or call 318-238-4255.

Alongside him in the Class of 2020: three more inductees with deep ties to Lincoln Parish. Eight-time Mr. Olympia bodybuilder Ronnie Coleman played linebacker for Robinson from 1983-86 and graduated cum laude. Louisiana Tech also has a pair of alumni, Lady Techster basketball legend Angela Turner Johnson and former Bulldog quarterback Phil Robertson, elected for his outdoors impact as the Duck Commander and patriarch of the “Duck Dynasty” family.

All four parish inductees earned master’s degrees earlier in life. Freeze will become the LSHOF’s oldest-ever inductee, turning 94 on April 11 this year. He’s still active, even cutting the grass at his home in Monroe.

That sort of grit served him and Richwood well in the era before desegregation. Freeze started the football program in 1953, borrowing gear from generous coaches at predominantly white high schools and what was then Northeast Louisiana State College. There was never enough money to buy new equipment in Freeze’s tenure, notes his last quarterback.

“We had to borrow equipment,” said Perry Thomas, a quarterback on the team from 1964-67. “Sometimes we had on mismatched cleats, not the same shoe or same size shoe. We played in whatever we had, but we always won. He said, ‘It’s within you. You will yourself to win.’”

Freeze produced a 116-23 record (.834) and fielded teams that won 56 straight games on the field while claiming four consecutive state titles from 1961-64. More than 65 of Freeze’s former players earned college scholarships and 11 were drafted or signed professional football contracts. Freeze never coached a losing season.

Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer Joe Profit (Class of 1999) became the first black football player at a predominantly white college in Louisiana when he enrolled at Northeast (now ULM) in 1967.

“Coach Freeze taught us not to complain,” said Profit, a Richwood running back. “We used to get hand-me down uniforms. Coach said we’d take these and win with them. He was so grateful that we were able to get them, because we couldn’t afford to buy any uniforms. He taught us humility.”

Freeze developed other notable pros including Don Zimmerman (Philadelphia), Eugene Hughes (St. Louis), Goldie Sellers (Denver/Kansas City) and Amos Augustine (Los Angeles Rams). One of his former assistant coaches, Abe Pierce III, later became the first Black mayor of Monroe.

“A lot of leaders came through there,” the late Don Zimmerman told The (Monroe) News-Star in 2008. “If you played for Coach, you are not going to be afraid to take the bull by the horns. You want to get the job done, regardless of who gets the credit. We learned that from Coach. That equates to teamwork. That’s how we won, as a team.”

Thomas said Freeze wanted his players to have confidence, be prepared and then “go out into the world and be a positive example. That’s what they put in us at that small school.”

Discipline was always part of Freeze’s game plan.

“He was hard,” Profit said. “Coach Freeze was one of the hardest people I knew at the time, but we loved him, man. You’ve been in that situation where you love to hate somebody? We hated the way he trained and pushed us, but we loved him as a result of what came from it. Even guys that didn’t play first string were just proud to be on the team.”

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It wasn’t easy, but it was definitely worth the wait.

From a 2019 season marred by the destruction of the EF-3 tornado that wrecked their home field, to a 2020 campaign curtailed a few weeks in by the pandemic, Louisiana Tech’s baseball players stuck together and committed to making the 2021 season all it could possibly be.

The fantastic accomplishments of the Diamond ‘Dogs this spring will be celebrated once again on Wednesday at 7 at Railroad Park in downtown Ruston.

Individual accolades keep rolling in for the stars of such a spectacular season. Two more All-America squads were announced late last week.

In their final years as Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, longtime teammates and fellow Texans Parker Bates and Hunter Wells earned 2021 ABCA/Rawlings All-America honors announced by the American Baseball Coaches Association Saturday.

Bates, now an All-America honoree in back-to-back seasons, was named a third team ABCA All-American after leading Conference USA in on-base percentage (.471) while also leading the Bulldogs in RBI (62), triples (four) and HBPs (14). The Tyler, Texas native led the C-USA with a .406 batting average and a .523 on-base percentage in conference play.

Wells, who earned three All-America honors in as many days, netted his second first team ABCA All-America nod after leading Conference USA in batting average (.385), hits (101) and total bases (169). Wells set four records in his final season with the Bulldogs, including the career hits record and career triples record at Louisiana Tech.

Friday, the Katy, Texas, product was a third-team pick on the Perfect Game All-America squad. Thursday, he picked up first-team honors from Baseball America.

Bates and Wells, LA Tech’s two- and three-hole batters from the 2021 season combined to tally 57 multi-hit games and 30 multi-RBI games.

Bates joins Wells and teammates Taylor Young and Jonathan Fincher to form the quartet of Bulldogs to earn All-America honors. Young was named a Collegiate Baseball third team All-American on June 3, while Fincher was tabbed an National Collegiate Baseball Writers third team All-American last Wednesday.

The ABCA teams are voted on by members of the American Baseball Coaches Association and the process is led by the ABCA NCAA Division I All-America Committee, which is chaired by Tommy Raffo of Arkansas State.

PHOTOS: Bates-by Emerald McIntyre; Wells-by Tom Morris

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Angela Turner – affectionately known as AT – was a multi-versatile guard that led Louisiana Tech to back-to-back national championship titles in the early 1980s The 1982 Kodak All-American is already a member of the Louisiana Tech Athletics Hall of Fame (Class of 1990) and will be enshrined into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame next Saturday night in Natchitoches.

For information on the LSHOF Induction Celebration June 24-26, visit LaSportsHall.com or call 318-238-4255.

Turner still ranks No. 3 at Tech in career scoring with 2,262 points and her No. 5 jersey hangs in the rafters of the Thomas Assembly Center. She earned her bachelor’s degree in physical education and her MBA with an accounting emphasis – both from Tech, receiving an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship along the way.

She lives in Carrollton, Texas, with her husband Troy Johnson, also an accountant. They met when she was working in Los Angeles, and are avid golfers and young grandparents.

Q: What was it like playing for Leon Barmore and Sonja Hogg?

A: Coach Barmore is the best coach that ever lived. Of course, I am a little biased. He was tough. A competitor. A motivator. And he wanted to win. He had the ability to instill that in each of us. He didn’t necessarily coach each player the same way when you got down to the specifics. He knew how to pull that out of each of us. By the same token, Coach Hogg knew what type of players to recruit to Tech. She knew what type of players could play under this system. My teammates, we all wanted to win. We weren’t jealous of each other. If one had a great game, then we all head a great game. The starting five on those teams: three were from Louisiana and two were from Mississippi. We were all local girls for the most part.

Q: How would you describe yourself as a player?

A: I was pretty quiet on the court. I liked to make my actions speak for me rather than words. I played my heart out. I wouldn’t say much or even show a whole lot of emotion on the court. It didn’t mean I wasn’t emotional. It was just my personality. Coming from Shady Grove High School where most of the attention was on me for scoring, once I got to Louisiana Tech it was all different. There were others that had just as much athletics ability as me. It was important that I could just fit into that system and not expect to be the star. I accepted that. It was more about team. It takes the whole team to be successful.

Q: What does it mean to go into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame?

A: It really means that I haven’t been forgotten. It’s been a long time since I graduated. I am a Louisiana girl. I grew up about an hour from Natchitoches. Going into this Hall of Fame means a whole lot. It shows that things I accomplished haven’t been forgotten. I remember running into Buddy Davis a number of years ago and he told me he was working on getting me into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. I had no idea. Every time I would see him, Buddy would tell me he was still working on getting me in. I know if I had one advocate, it was Buddy Davis. I bet Buddy had a big impact on me getting into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. He wrote about us all of the time. He was close to us. He helped put us on the map by the stories he wrote. He followed us all over the country. What better advocate then Buddy Davis. If he were here today, I would thank him from the bottom of my heart for what he did.

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J. T. “Tiny” Goodwin
February 21, 1931 – June 15, 2021
Visitation:  Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – West Monroe; Saturday, June 26, 2021, 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Service:  Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – West Monroe; Saturday, June 26, 2021, 10:00 am
Cemetery:  Hasley Cemetery;  Saturday, June 26, 2021

Charlie Bart Welch
April 16, 1930 – June 19, 2021
Visitation:  Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – West Monroe; Wednesday, June 23, 2021, 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Service:  Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – West Monroe;  Wednesday, June 23, 2021, 11:00 am
Cemetery:  Hasley Cemetery, Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Doris L. Bourgeois Copeland
February 1, 1939 – June 19, 2021
Visitation:  Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – West Monroe;  Wednesday, June 23, 2021, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Service:  Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – West Monroe;  Wednesday, June 23, 2021, 3:00 pm
Cemetery:  St. Paschal Catholic Cemetery,  Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Karen Morvant Carlton
Date of Death: June 18, 2021
Visitation:  New Prospect Baptist Church;  Monday, June 21, 2021, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Service:  New Prospect Baptist Church;  Tuesday, June 22, 2021, 2:00 pm

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The Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office is hiring If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a part of the team, click on the link below.

Applications are available on the LPSO Mobile App and can also be picked up at the main office, located at 161 Road Camp Road.

APPLICATION – Click HERE

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Louisiana Tech University Construction Engineering Technology major Haden Smith, a senior from Benton, has been named the first recipient of the Lane McGaha Memorial Scholarship. McGaha’s family presented the scholarship June 15 in the Marbury Alumni Center on Louisiana Tech’s campus.

McGaha, ’06-Sociology, was the late coach of the University’s Bass Fishing Team, a club sport organized through the Lambright Sports and Wellness Center. Smith is a veteran member of the team and will serve as the group’s president for the 2021-22 academic year.

“The kids on the team just wanted to find a way to honor Lane,” said Fred McGaha, the late coach’s father. “This is such an appropriate way to do that. He would want the team to continue to excel, and we want this scholarship to continue to grow.”

Smith has gone “above and beyond in a challenging year,” McGaha said. “He’s the hardest working member of the team, and he has given so much of his personal time to keep this team going in the past year – no matter how hard it’s been on the team.”

Fred McGaha, who took over coaching the Fishing Team after his son passed away, said the team has been a blessing to him and Lane McGaha’s family.

“I hope this scholarship will help us reach out to other prospective members of the team,” he added.

Smith said he was honored to receive the scholarship, which will help him with school expenses over the next year.

“Fishing teaches us so many things,” Smith said. “It shows us how to prepare for life and how important the responsibility of representing Louisiana Tech is. We also learn humility and how to handle both success and failure through our competitions.”

Fishing also teaches students to concentrate on ensuring the little details are complete, Wade McGaha, Lane’s brother, said. “You have a plan A and a plan B, and when you take care of the little things, the big things fall in line.”

Support for extracurricular and co-curricular activities is important, said Kane Allen, Associate Director of Recreation at Louisiana Tech.

“Financial support for our students involved in recreation is vital to keep our programs moving in the right direction,” Allen said. “Participation in recreation increases both physical and mental health, and groups like the Bass Fishing Team provide a support network for many of our students.”

The scholarship also allows the McGaha family to continue to share Lane’s dedication to the students on the team, his mother, Lesa Henderson, said. “Lane loved every kid on that team.”

To contribute to the Lane McGaha Memorial Scholarship, visit latechalumni.org/give and search for Scholarship Fund.

Pictured are (from left) Kane Allen, Haden Smith, Fred McGaha, Annie McGaha, Lesa Henderson, Wade McGaha, (front) Macy McGaha, and Layla McGaha.

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Shiloh Williams, a junior at Grambling State University (GSU), is completing a virtual internship with Rock Central. The Detroit-based professional services company focuses on human resources, accounting, technology, and more.

Williams, of Houston, Texas, is earning a degree in computer science with a minor in mathematics at GSU. He is interning in Rock Central’s software engineering department this summer. The section focuses on such areas as programming and systems design, implementation, and administration.

“I started May 21, 2021 and will conclude August 17, 2021,” Williams said. “I hope to learn the process of engineering a product and pushing it out for public use. So far, I have been learning a lot and I have implemented a lot within the company., I am very excited to continue my development as a programmer.”

He said the skills and processes that he is learning are helping to prepare him for a career in computer science.

“When I graduate, I would like to switch between machine learning and software engineering,” Williams said. “During the internship, I’ve learned a lot such as how to use Git (version control system used to store code), three more languages to program in, and backend and UI (User Interface) development.”

About Rock Central
Rock Central is a professional services company that supports the growth within its Rock Family of Companies and it provides the services that its clients need to evolve while allowing them to focus on their business. The company’s expertise encompasses human resources, accounting, technology, legal services and more. From helping companies who are just getting started to working with experienced industry veterans, Rock Central’s teams partner with enterprises to help them go further.

About Grambling State University
Grambling State University, located in Grambling, Louisiana, is a historically black university founded in 1901. The University has been accredited by 13 accrediting associations and holds accreditations in all programs required by the Louisiana Board of Regents. The 590-acre campus offers 43 undergraduate and graduate academic programs. Grambling State University is a member of the University of Louisiana System.

 

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Blue Bell Ice Cream, am I right?

When my father in law was alive, the tradition was to serve Blue Bell Butter Crunch Ice Cream promptly at 8:30 pm. Almost immediately after finishing his ice cream, my father in law would announce his toddling off to bed for the evening. Since his death, we have kept the tradition going with my bride and my mother in law. What, your in-laws don’t live in your house? I have all kinds of stories, but that is another article.

I am not a fan of Butter Crunch Ice Cream. I discovered that trying to change the holy flavor to something else would be like changing the Sunday morning order of worship at your local Methodist church. It might happen, but the natives will not like it.

We have extra freezer capacity thus I began purchasing other flavors of Blue Bell ice cream. Besides, Blue Bell only makes Butter Crunch sometimes. The tradition became to ask the ladies what flavor they wanted and then provide them with their desired dish of ice cream delight. I always had three or four flavors available.

My bride longed for Cherry Vanilla. Previously we found it only at the Chinese Restaurant in Minden. I have relatives in Arizona who found it in their grocery stores. For nearly two years I have searched for the elusive Blue Bell Cherry Vanilla Ice Cream. I have never seen it in any grocery store in Louisiana.

I need to chase one rabbit here. Since my mother in law is visiting a daughter in Arkansas my bride and I thought this to be a good time to be a little more disciplined in our eating habits. One of the causalities is the 8:30 Blue Bell ritual. It has gone very well for the last week or so. We are eating lots of veggies and few calories.

Guess what I found in the grocery store yesterday? There it was Blue Bell Cherry Vanilla Ice Cream. For two years I have looked for the elusive delight. Now, when we are no longer eating Ice Cream, I find it. I’m wondering what the theological insight of this could possibly be.

This reminded me of what James wrote, “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.”
What is tempting you?

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In accordance with Governor Edwards’ proclamation received the morning of June 17, the Lincoln Parish Assessor’s Office will close at 12:00 noon on Friday, June 18, 2021 for Juneteenth Day.

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The third time was a charm for Louisiana Tech third baseman Hunter Wells Thursday.

Wells became the third different Bulldog to earned All-America honors this season when he was named a Baseball America First Team All-American on Thursday morning, making him the ninth All-America selection in program history.

Wells joins teammates Taylor Young and Jonathan Fincher as the trio of Bulldogs to earn All-America honors in 2021. Young was named a Collegiate Baseball Third Team All-American on June 3, while Fincher received NCBWA Third Team All-American honors Wednesday.

Wells, who ranks second in the nation with 101 hits, adds the All-American honor to a long list of individual accolades from a historic 2021 season. The third baseman earned First Team All-Conference USA honors, Conference USA All-Tournament Team accolades and Ruston NCAA Regional All-Tournament honors in his final season as a Diamond Dog.

The Katy, Texas native led Conference USA in batting average (.385), hits (101) and total bases (169). Wells also led the Bulldogs in slugging percentage (.645) and home runs (14).

The third baseman set four records in his final season in Ruston, two of which were Bulldog career records. Wells set the all-time Bulldog hits record with 279 base hits across his LA Tech career, breaking his own single-season hits record on the same swing. He became the first Tech player in program history to reach and then surpass 100 hits in a single season with a home run and an infield single in his final game in a Bulldog uniform.

Wells’ infield single in the bottom of the ninth in the Ruston NCAA Regional final also helped him break the single-season total bases record with his 169th total base of the 2021 season. A triple in the Conference USA Tournament against WKU helped him notch the 10th three-bagger of his career, another LA Tech Baseball career record.

PHOTO:  by Emerald McIntyre.

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United Way of Northeast Louisiana is excited to launch Ready4School, a partnership with local libraries across four parishes to gather school uniforms for elementary school children!

Beginning on Monday, June 21 and ending on Friday, July 2, children’s gently used uniforms, new shoes, socks, belts, and backpacks are requested from the community and can be donated at the locations listed in the graphic below.

After drop offs are completed on July 2, United Way volunteers will sort the donated items and assist with delivery to area schools for the 2021-22 school year.

For more information, call 211 or text your zip code to 898-211.

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Lane Burroughs and his Bulldogs baseball team delivered in 2021.

On Thursday, Louisiana Tech VP and Director of Athletics Eric Wood announced the University has rewarded the Bulldog skipper with a contract extension through the 2025-26 season.

“We are building something special at Louisiana Tech,” said Burroughs. “This year was historic in so many ways, but we want it to become the norm in Ruston. That’s the goal of our players and coaches. I also know it is the goal of our administration, fans, alumni, donors and stakeholders. We are excited about 2022 and beyond.”

In his fifth season in Ruston, Burroughs guided the Bulldogs to one of their most successful years in program history. Tech won 42 games, captured the Conference USA West Division title, advanced to the C-USA Championship game and earned one of 16 national seeds and the opportunity to host the school’s first NCAA Regional.

“Lane has done an outstanding job with this program over the past five years,” said Wood. “He did an unbelievable job during a very difficult stretch.”

Although details of the extension were not released, Burroughs is now signed through the next five seasons in Ruston.

“I can’t thank Dr. (Les) Guice and Dr. Wood enough for their commitment to me, and their belief in me to be the head coach of this program,” said Burroughs. “It is an honor and one I don’t take for granted. We will continue to be relentless in our pursuit and work as hard as we can to build a program that Bulldogs everywhere can be proud of.”

The Bulldogs were one of the feel good stories of the 2021 college baseball season. Following the April of 2019 tornado that destroyed J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park, Burroughs and Co. were nomads for the majority of the next 22 months – practicing at the Ruston Sports Complex south of town, many times having to schedule workouts around Ruston High School and even little league games and practices.

However, with the return of six Covid-19 seniors and a never-say-die attitude, Burroughs and his blue-collar Bulldogs returned to campus in February with the re-opening of the newly-redesigned and rebuilt “Love Shack” and took the college baseball world by storm. Early March wins over No. 1 Arkansas and No. 4 Ole Miss sent notice to both Conference USA and the nation that Tech was for real.

“I think this year’s team epitomized their head coach’s toughness,” said Wood. “They competed relentlessly and represented our institution in a first class manner. Not only did Lane keep this program afloat during the past two challenging years since the tornado, but he led it to new heights. We wanted to show a commitment to Lane and the program, and I am grateful for Lane’s desire to remain at Louisiana Tech.”

Tech finished 42-20, including a 22-8 mark in Conference USA action – the most league wins in program history.

LA Tech earned the No. 16 national seed in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, marking its ninth NCAA Regional appearance in program history. The Diamond Dogs made it to the Regional final after defeating Rider 18-2 and SEC foe Alabama 10-8. LA Tech’s win over the Crimson Tide secured its third win over a different SEC opponent in a single season (Alabama, Arkansas and Ole Miss) for the first time since 1987.

Burroughs also guided LA Tech to its first division title since 1992 by winning the Conference USA’s Western Division title on the final day of the C-USA season.

PHOTO:  Lane Burroughs in the Tech dugout – LA Tech Athletics.

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New Louisiana Tech head coach Josh Taylor announced the first addition to his Lady Techster softball coaching staff Thursday while athletic director Eric Wood announced the departure of Techster soccer head coach Kevin Sherry and named assistant Steve Voltz as interim coach.

Taylor was full of praise for his new pitching coach, former Arkansas standout Chelsea Cohen.

“As a pitching coach she brings five years of international experience, pitching and coaching in countries such as Argentina, Austria, South Africa, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Australia and Italy.

“In her time overseas, she worked with and helped develop future and current Olympians. As a former student-athlete at Arkansas, she brings a tremendous amount of experience to our program. She is a confident and well-spoken coach who will no doubt be a fantastic teacher and mentor for all the current and future LA Tech Softball student athletes.”

Cohen was a two-year team captain at Arkansas during her four-year playing career with the Razorbacks (2009-13). During her days in Fayetteville, Cohen finished in the top 10 in wins, innings pitched, games started, appearances, complete games, shutouts and strikeouts.

She struck out a career-high 13 in a win over Saint Louis and earned a win over No. 1 ranked Cal during the 2012 NCAA Regional. She also teamed up with Hope McLemore to toss a combined no-hitter against Kentucky on April 20, 2013. Cohen earned First Year SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2009-10.

Following her playing days at Arkansas, Cohen spent a number of years as a player and a coach on the international level, including time with Sestese Softball Club (Italy, 2018), Kenfac Phillis (South Africa, 2017-18), Zurich Barracudas (Switzerland, 2017), Legnano Softball Club (Italy, 2016), Walkerville (South Australia, 2015-16), Dornbirn Sharx (Austria, 2014) and Buenos Aires (Argentina, 2013).

Her international career was highlighted by championships in Austria and South Africa, European Cup appearances in the Czech Republic and Netherlands, and MVP honors in multiple countries.

Cohen also served as a volunteer assistant at Nevada in 2014-15 and Reed High School in the spring of 2014.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in human environmental sciences from Arkansas in 2013 while being selected by the coaching staff to participate in the Razorback Leadership Academy, designed to cultivate and enhance leadership in athletics. She earned her certificate in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace in May (issued by the University of South Florida Muma College of Business).

SOCCER: Louisiana Tech VP and Director of Athletics Eric Wood’s announcement only acknowledged Sherry wouldn’t return, and did not specify whether it was a resignation, a firing or a non-renewal of a contract. The timing likely rules out the latter possibility.

“We want to thank Kevin for his hard work with our soccer program during his tenure at Louisiana Tech, and we wish him the best in the future,” said Wood.

Voltz will serve as the interim head coach for the upcoming fall season, said Wood. A search for the permanent head coach will occur following the 2021 fall season.

PHOTO/GRAPHIC:  Courtesy LA Tech Athletics.

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The North Central Louisiana Arts Council is excited to welcome in-person campers back for the 2021 Summer Arts Camp with small class sizes and social distancing.

Rising 2nd- Rising 7th Grade
July 12-16
$70 per session – $5 NCLAC Member discount
Must wear masks and social distance.

NCLAC is still offering a “stay-at-home” version of the Summer Arts Camp for those that enjoyed the option of activities and supplies that show up at your door!
(*Think of it as a subscription service like Blue Apron or Hello Fresh)

Ages 6-14
July 5-26
$40 per session – $5 NCLAC Member discount

Must be located within Lincoln Parish.

For more information and to register go online to https://www.nclac.org/art-camps.

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By PAUL LETLOW
Written for the Louisiana Sports Writers Association

What does it take to kick off a high school football dynasty?

For Louisiana coaching legend Mackie Freeze, the answer was a $300 budget, an assortment of hand-me-down equipment — and a unique brand of tough love that molded the willing into warriors.

“I taught them about intestinal fortitude and the will to win,” the former Richwood High School coach said. “That old never-say-die attitude is what you have to teach kids. You teach them that if anybody can do it, you can too, if you try hard enough. Don’t give up. Ever.”

Now decades after coaching his last game in 1967, Freeze has been selected for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. Freeze becomes the oldest living person inducted at age 94 next Saturday night in Natchitoches.

“Better late than never,” Freeze said.

Another Grambling hero, eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman, is in the Class of 2020, along with Louisiana Tech icons Phil Robertson and Angela Turner Johnson. For participation opportunities in the LSHOF Induction Celebration June 24-26 and information about the Natchitoches-based festivities, visit LaSportsHall.com or call 318-238-4255.

The late Mary Frances Goins hired Freeze, a former Grambling baseball star, to start an athletics program in 1954. Principal Goins challenged Freeze to mold something that would enhance the student experience at the rural north Louisiana school. He was tasked to perform with a tiny budget, but a grassroots effort brought donated shoulder pads, shoes, pants and jerseys from area high schools and the local college program.

Over the next 13 years, Freeze produced a 116-23 record (.834) and fielded teams that won 56 straight games on the field while claiming four consecutive state titles from 1961-64. More than 65 of Freeze’s former players earned college scholarships and 11 were drafted or signed professional football contracts. Freeze never coached a losing season.

Before he became a coaching legend, Freeze enjoyed a noteworthy baseball career at Grambling. As a pitcher, he helped Grambling win its first-ever national NAIA title under the late coach R.W.E. “Prez” Jones. Freeze never lost a game on the mound at Grambling and even subbed as a guard on the football team under the great Eddie Robinson. The Brooklyn Dodgers signed Freeze out of college. He participated in training camp with Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese and Roy Campanella.

“My father was a baseball player,” said Freeze, who graduated from Grambling in 1950 with a degree in elementary education. “The material he showed me sitting on the porch one day put me in camp with Jackie Robinson. He sat me down and taught me to throw a curveball, a screwball and a sinker with a tennis ball. When I went to Grambling, I was demonstrating (pitching) and Coach Prez asked me what I played. I said I was a second baseman and he hit one or two out there to me. He said he’d heard I could make a ball curve. I threw the ball and he said, “Mackie, you’re a pitcher.’ Prez was something.”

He was primarily a basketball player in high school and had never seen a football game until he reached Grambling. The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame coach Robinson liked his potential and invited him to join the team.

“When I got to Grambling, Coach Rob saw me out catching passes one day and I asked me who I was,” Freeze said. “He said he’d heard about me. He’d heard I was a basketball player but he told me I was a football player.”

Freeze spent a couple of years in the military after pro baseball didn’t pan out. Given his chance to coach, greatly influenced by Coach Rob and Prez Jones, Freeze molded winners and pioneers.

PHOTO:  Portrait of Mackie Freeze by Chris Brown, Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame artist

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Ronnie Whitehead
August 31, 1941 – June 12, 2021
Service: Providence Baptist Church, Friday, June 18, 2021, 2:00 pm
Cemetery: Acree Cemetery, Friday, June 18, 2021

Cindy Stanfield Conville
April 19, 1959 – June 15, 2021
Visitation:  Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – West Monroe; Friday, June 18, 2021, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Service:  Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – West Monroe; Saturday, June 19, 2021, 10:00 am
Cemetery:  Driskell Cemetery; Saturday, June 19, 2021

J. T. “Tiny” Goodwin
February 21, 1931 – June 15, 2021
Visitation:  Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – West Monroe; Saturday, June 26, 2021, 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Service:  Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – West Monroe; Saturday, June 26, 2021, 10:00 am
Cemetery:  Hasley Cemetery;  Saturday, June 26, 2021

Mary “Cookie” Harris Grant
November 18, 1951 – June 15, 2021
Service:  Dubach United Pentecostal Church; Friday, June 18, 2021, 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Cemetery:  Pine Grove Cemetery in Bernice;  Friday, June 18, 2021, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm

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The Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office is excited for the Ruston Inaugural Juneteenth Celebration! They are offering FREE tickets, available for pick-up at the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office, between 8:30A-4:30P. Tickets are limited and available on a first-come, first served basis.

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