By Thomas Stodghill, IV

As the Marvel Cinematic Universe has gotten more expansive, Marvel has given more superheroes their time to shine. While Marvel gave some established characters like Scarlet Witch and Loki more screen time, they wanted to introduce some new heroes to its repertoire.

Shang-Chi is the first one to get this treatment this year. If this movie is anything to go by, then I am excited to see what Marvel does with him. “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” follows our titular protagonist, played by Simu Liu, who wants to live a normal life after being trained to be an assassin by his father, Wenwu (Tony Leung). After Wenwu hunts him down, Shang-Chi is forced to confront his past.

The story itself, while not free of all Marvel’s cliches, explains the whole backstory of Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings organization well. The story delivers a compelling and tragic backstory that goes deep into exploring Asian culture.

I also loved the performances by Liu and Leung. I can tell that Lui had a great time with his role, especially doing a lot of his stunts. Leung delivered a great performance as the antagonist who was a little sympathetic.

This movie has some of the best choreography in any of Marvel’s movies. The fight scenes are exhilarating to watch, no matter if the characters fight with their arms, a sword, bow and arrow, or a machete.

Another highlight of the movie is easily the humor. Shang-Chi’s friend, Katy, delivers some of the funniest jokes in the movie. Awkwafina delivers a hilarious performance, and she gets her moments to shine.

Going into this movie, I did not know how this movie would connect to the other Marvel movies. While the film mostly stands on its own, it has a handful of characters from the MCU. Like 2018’s “Black Panther,” this movie knows to let the new characters shine first.

“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” is a fascinating origin story that hints at more to come. While a little cliché at times, the story is compelling, and the performances are top notch. This movie is a must watch if you are into superheroes or action-adventure movies.

Ruston Community Theatre will host auditions for its Christmas musical, “A Christmas Carol.”

The auditions will take place from 6-8 p.m. Sept. 27 at the old Stage store, located at 201 N. Service Road East. 

The musical is directed by Dee Anderson, and the performance will take place Dec. 2-5.

The show sponsor is Green Clinic.

To audition, participants should prepare 16-20 bars of a song, and Alexander will be on keyboard, if needed.

Auditions are open to ages 8 and up.

Performances run Thursday through Saturday at 7 p.m. with a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. A musicals ticket is $18 for adults and $9 for children/students. All performances take place at The Dixie Center for the Arts at 212 N. Vienna Street.

Tickets go on sale two weeks before production starts, and season members have the opportunity to reserve seats a week before the public sales begin.

For more information, visit rctruston.org or call 318-595-0872.

The wins just keep coming for Lucie Hunt and her Lady Bearcat volleyball squad.

This time, it was Parkway on the losing side by final scores of 25-16, 25-8, and 25-20. Ruston is now 3-0 in district play.

“I am glad to see multiple people contributing in each game,” Hunt said. “We are working well as a team and trying to figure out what offense and positions are the best fit for us still. We are looking forward to a great weekend of volleyball.”

Senior Mariah Hintze finished with 10 kills on the night, while senior Riley Oakley notched nine. Senior Sophie Mae Smith finished with four aces, three kills, and 33 assists.

The Lady Bearcats will host the Bearcat Brawl on Sept. 23-24; the final schedule is still pending.

Make sure to get your news at 6:55 a.m. Sunday through Friday by subscribing to our FREE digital newspaper by clicking HERE. All of the LPJ articles are free and always will be free!

Photo: Darrell James (dgjames.photoshelter.com)

A Dubach man was arrested after police received a call about a man sitting in a vehicle with a firearm.

About 8:20 a.m. Monday, Ruston Police were dispatched to Green Clinic to conduct a welfare check on a man in a SUV with a firearm in his lap. As officers arrived, a witness pointed out a vehicle occupied by a sleeping man. Officers spotted a handgun and a pipe commonly used with controlled substances inside. 

Police woke the man and retrieved the firearm. A criminal history check revealed Matthew Upchurch, 37, of Dubach, was a convicted felon. The serial number of the gun had apparently been removed.

Upchurch was arrested for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center. 

Loyd C. Foote, Jr. 
July 1, 1943 – September 21, 2021 
Service: 
Rocky Branch Assembly of God 
Sunday, September 26, 2021, 2:30 pm 

Gene R. Chapman “Hatchet”
December 9, 1940 – September 21, 2021
Visitation:
Pleasant Hill Baptist Church
Saturday, September 25, 2021, 9:30 am
Service:
Pleasant Hill Baptist Church
Saturday, September 25, 2021, 11:00 am
Cemetery:
Rocky Branch Cemetery
Saturday, September 25, 2021

By Alexis Newman

As the saying goes, the children are the future, and a major component to their success lies in the people teaching them. Thankfully, with teachers such as Dionna LeBlanc, it seems that the future is in good hands.

Currently a kindergarten teacher at A.E. Phillips Laboratory School, LeBlanc has 12 years of teaching experience. Raising up the next generation can be a daunting task, but LeBlanc provided insight into her personal methods for providing the best education to the children as possible.

One of the most important parts of teaching such young students is acknowledging that they’re still children and that each of them has a different learning style. LeBlanc said that, while they are routine-oriented, she also likes to make sure that the kids are being interactive rather than sitting and memorizing all day.

“Kids obviously learn differently, and so I like to incorporate a lot of singing and movement,” said LeBlanc. “I love learning in fun ways.”

Despite all the fun and games, LeBlanc also stressed the importance of teaching responsibility through positive reinforcement. Students have opportunities throughout the week to earn or lose fake money, which they can spend on prizes on Fridays. Rather than scold the students, she tries to talk with them to break down why they lost money and how they can earn money instead next time, a method that she says the kids respond well to.

“Now that I have an organized and structured kind of environment, it’s a lot easier for me to drive those points home and have that resonate with them so they can take those throughout their life,” LeBlanc said. “That’s my way of making the difference there with them, so they can be responsible and accountable for their actions.”

By teaching in the way that she does, LeBlanc hopes to provide a strong foundation for the students to build upon, a goal which she says is the reason she chose to work at as low of a grade level as kindergarten.

LeBlanc said, “I’m all about training great grown-up humans, and so my way of doing that is trying to be a great teacher.”

To get a sneak peek into LeBlanc’s teaching in action, visit her YouTube channel DIONNA LEBLANC where she reads children’s stories or her Instagram @teacherdionna.

The Center for Information Assurance, housed in Louisiana Tech’s College of Business, launched The Cyber Ways podcast this week. Hosted by Dr. Craig Van Slyke and Dr. Tom Stafford, renowned Computer Information Systems faculty members, the podcast aims to translate academic cyber security research into practical and real-world application. 

“Throughout my time as a professor, there has been a disconnect between what we, as academics, study and what the industry needs,” said Van Slyke, Louisiana Tech’s McCallister Eminent Scholar in Information Systems. 

“There’s a need for a medium that can distill academic security research into a form that’s useful for security professionals. We do that through our teaching, but this is an opportunity for us to also help other academics get their ideas out into the practitioner marketplace.” 

New episodes will be available on a weekly basis and will feature top academic researchers to talk about how their research can be put into practice by cyber security professionals. Each episode will discuss the practical implications of one published, peer-reviewed article. 

In the first episode, Stafford and Van Slyke interview Dr. Merrill Warkentin of Mississippi State University to discuss his research on how cybersecurity behaviors can be contagious — a theory that Van Slyke notes is “a fresh perspective and one that can be really helpful to security practitioners.” 

“We want our fellow academics — people who are engaged in scientific inquiry into the nature of security — to understand the important and vital link to the community of practice in business,” said Stafford, who serves as the John Ed Barnes Endowed Eminent Scholar in Data Analytics. “We are bringing together researchers and practitioners to seek solutions to problems that are relevant on a day-to-day, bottom-line basis.” 

Stafford and Van Slyke are both leaders in the field of information systems research. Stafford serves as editor-in-chief of The DATA BASE for Advances in Information Systems, the longest continually-published MIS journal, and has previously edited 13 special issues of notable journals including Communications of the ACM, IEEE Transactions, and MIS Quarterly. He co-chaired the 2018 Americas Conference for Information Systems and chaired 2019 Dewald Roode Workshop on Information Systems Security Research. He has been selected to serve as the chair for the 2025 International Conference for Information Systems, one of the most notable yearly research meetings in the field of business technology. 

Van Slyke, former dean of the W.A. Franke College of Business at Northern Arizona University, has published over 40 articles in respected academic journals including Decision Sciences, Communications of the ACM, European Journal of Information Systems, and Journal of the Association for Information Systems. His fourth co-authored textbook, “Information Systems in Business: An Experiential Approach,” is in its fourth edition, and his first trade book, “On Leadership and Life: Essays on Leading and Living Well,” was published in 2017. 

The Cyber Ways podcast is produced by the Center Information Assurance and College of Business, and is funded through the College’s Just Business giving society, a group of alumni and friends who pool financial resources then jointly decide how the funds will be invested.  

Certified by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Research and Education, the Center for Information Security’s mission is to foster, support, and conduct innovative education, training, and research in information assurance, cyber security, and cyber defense of computer information systems across all types of industries for the state of Louisiana and the Southeastern United States. 

To download episodes of The Cyber Ways, visit business.latech.edu/cyberways or your favorite streaming app. 

(Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part look at GSU Vice President for Athletics Dr. Trayvean Scott).

By T. Scott Boatright 

He traded Jaguar spots for Tiger stripes, and says he understands both the honor as well as the responsibility he now holds for Grambling State University.

On July 1, President Rick Gallot announced the hiring of Dr. Trayvean Scott as the new Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics at GSU.

Scott came to Grambling State after spending 10 years at Southern University, where he was the Deputy Athletic Director/Chief Operating Officer and was responsible for the daily operations of the SU athletic programs.

A former standout basketball student-athlete as a four-year starter and team captain for Southern, Scott remains atop that school’s record books in assists, steals, and minutes played. Scott enjoyed a successful career in financial services after his collegiate playing career ended before returning to his alma mater in 2011.

And he uses a basketball term to describe his early days as the top G-Man.

“It’s been interesting. If I can use a basketball analogy, it’s been a fast break,” Scott said of his GSU experience so far. “It’s been non-stop. It’s been new, it’s been different, it’s been innovative, it’s been challenging … it’s been all of those different adjectives rolled into one. But it’s certainly something — and I’ll say we — we’ve worked hard for. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it since being named on July 1 and going through the transition process. I’ve enjoyed every bit of the journey thus far and I’m excited about where Grambling State athletics is going and where the institution as a whole under President (Rick) Gallot’s visionary leadership.”

Scott realized from the get-go gaining the trust of the G-Nation was of crucial importance as someone coming from Southern.

“As a guy from the other side of the tracks, sometimes it can be a little difficult coming from a rival school and going to an institution with so much tradition and history, and pageantry with NFL Hall of Famers and Super Bowl champions,” Scott said. “That’s not mentioning the shadows left by Coach Rob (the legendary Eddie Robinson) and all he’s been able to accomplish as one of the winningest coaches ever to walk the sideline.  

“That is a high honor for me, but it also comes with the responsibility of being a good steward of the program. That wasn’t lost on me.”

Scott said part of building trust means opening doors to alumni and supporters alike.

“My statement coming in was, “If the door was closed, it’s now open,” he said. “And if it was open, it’s open even wider. That’s an invitation to all of our alums, all of our student-athletes, to come back and not just give back to Grambling State University in a monetary fashion, but to also be a part of the path moving forward.”

He also realizes that building that trust will be key toward fundraising efforts for GSU athletics.

“Fundraising is probably the second-most critical piece next to the student athlete experience,” Scott said. “It’s almost a catalyst to providing that student athlete with the experience that they deserve. One of the most primary things you learn in fundraising is that ‘friend-raising’ is more important, because people don’t give to calls, they give to people. Creating that level of trust, programming and engagement is something we’re taking smaller steps on right now, just because we’re introducing all of these new policies, all of these new procedures, all of these new protocols and practices or whatever you want to term them.

“Where I’m more a ‘bull in the china shop’ with regard to being able to take on a bunch of tasks at one time, now I’m really starting to slow down, put the policies in place, because I’ve learned through years of experience that sturdy houses are built from the bottom up and not the top down. We will certainly approach fundraising and ‘friend-raising’ with a heightened sense of urgency in bringing our alums back — alumni engagement  is definitely critical. But we want to make sure the inside and the foundation of the house is strong and then be able to build on it from there to make Grambling State University athletics a more sustainable model moving forward and will carry us forward throughout the four-year life cycle of a student athlete and from generation to generation.”

Scott feels his experience as a college athlete will help him make that happen.

“I think they were critical,” Scott said of his days as a student athlete for SU’s basketball team. “My days as a student athlete and a team captain and a student athlete advisory committee representative for men’s basketball certainly played a part. But also my journey as an administrator and working in academics and being a special assistant to the AD and working in internal operations. 

“All of those things have played a significant part in my journey of understanding how important it is for the student athlete to have a good experience. I tell our coaches and administrators that there are three things our athletic department has to be — student-athlete centered, coaches-driven and administratively supportive.”

And he hopes that the full-court press he’s making early on will lead to being able to create better experiences for GSU coaches as well as current and future student-athletes alike.

“Understanding my role as what I’ll call chief athletic administrator, I see it as more critical on the front end as it relates to making sure that the coaches can adequately drive their programs and that their student athletes can have the utmost experience,” Scott said. “But in the grand scheme of things, I’m more in the background, allowing them to have the ability to enjoy the fruits of their labor, to enjoy their four years, because they’re going to cherish this for the next 40 years of their lives. If we do it right, then we’ll create a cycle of student athletes coming back to our campus to donate to our programs to make it better for the next generations of the Grambling State University Tigers.”

(NOTE: Look for Part II of our look at new Grambling AD Trayvean Scott in Thursday’s Lincoln Parish Journal.)

By T. Scott Boatright

After a 2-0 start prior to a frustrating loss to Glenbrook last week, the Lincoln Preparatory School Panthers are looking to get back on a winning track this Friday as they play at longtime nearby foe Arcadia.

Lincoln Prep coach Glen Hall expects to see a much different performance than his Panthers showed during their 48-14 loss at Glenbrook.

“It’s a rivalry game, so it’s going to be what it always is — an all-out brawl,” Hall said about his team preparing for Arcadia. 

“We’ve come out with a couple of good practices,” Hall added Tuesday afternoon. “The kids are asking a lot of questions about some things that they’ve seen on film and some things we can do to get better, and that’s a good sign — that they’re being interested and even proactive in what we’re trying to do.”

Another good sign is improving health for the Panthers.

Lincoln Prep’s struggles last week against Glenbrook came largely in part to a pair of key two-way linemen, including blue-chip prospect Imani Marcel, being out due to injury.

“He’s already back out practicing,” Hall said about Marcel. “They were nagging injuries so we gave them last week off to try to get healthier but they’ll be back for the Arcadia game.”

Starting with solid field position on the game’s opening series after Lincoln Prep failed to recover an onsides kick attempt, the Apaches marched 55 yards on eight plays, capping things off with a 17-yard scoring scamper by DJ Carter for a 7-0 advantage only 1:09 into the contest.

Lincoln Prep didn’t score in that contest until the final play of the first half when Dmitry Payne scooped up a Glenbrook fumble and raced it back 80 yards to cut the Apaches’ advantage to 36-6 at halftime.

The Panthers’ seemed to settle down and tighten things up in the second half against Glenbrook, and that’s something Hall hopes carries over into the Arcadia game.

“Sometimes it takes something like last week to wake a team up,” Hall said. “I think the Glenbrook game will be one of those things.”

Arcadia has gotten off to a 0-3 start this season, falling 62-0 last week at home to Calvary Baptist.  Lincoln Prep has technically not defeated Arcadia so far. The last time the football program defeated the Hornets came in 2015 when the school was known as Grambling Laboratory School and defeated Arcadia 38-22.

It officially became Lincoln Preparatory School at the start of the 2016-17 school year. Since then the Hornets have defeated the Panthers by a combined score of 172-45, winning 42-8 last season, 40-8 in 2019, 54-6 in 2018, 36-25 in 2017 and 36-6 in 2016.

While the local rivalry still burns deep, Hall admits a win over the Hornets is something his team badly needs. 

“They say it’s not a rivalry until both teams win every other year or something close to that,” Hall said. “Arcadia has had the upper hand in recent years. We’ve been down, and it seems like maybe those roles have possibly reversed this season.

“But I really don’t know. You can’t take anything for granted when it comes to playing them. So hopefully we can catch them and play a good game and get back on a winning track before we have to go face Calvary Baptist, which is one of the best football schools in the state.”

Photo:  T. Scott Boatright

Argent Financial Group has been recognized as one of Louisiana State University’s 100 Fastest Growing Tiger Businesses for the seventh year in a row. The LSU 100 is an annual program that identifies the 100 fastest growing LSU graduate-owned or graduate-led businesses in the world and honors them for their impact on local, regional and national economies.   

“We’re honored to be included alongside such an impressive list of companies,” said Kyle McDonald, CEO of Argent Financial Group. “It’s humbling for Argent to be recognized seven years in a row and a testament to the care our employees take in serving the fiduciary wealth management needs of our clients. Many of our team, clients, professional partners, friends and family are LSU grads, including myself, so it’s especially meaningful.” 

The LSU 100, which was founded in 2011, offers encouragement, education, networking and assistance to entrepreneurial students, faculty and businesses across the country. Companies are confidentially ranked by Postlewaite & Netterville according to the companies’ compounded annual growth rate. The LSU 100’s goal is to inspire entrepreneurship by providing a forum to pass on lessons to the next generation of LSU entrepreneurs. 

Honorees will be celebrated and rankings revealed on Friday, Oct. 15 at a LSU themed cocktail attire gala to be held at L’Auberge Resort and Event Center in Baton Rouge, adhering to CDC guidelines. For more information, visit https://www.lsu100.com/. 

By Nasir Frederick

The NCAA recently passed a rule allowing student athletes to now use their name, image and likeness to benefit themselves. 

Malik Abdul, a pitcher at Grambling State University, has taken that into an advantage of in his life off the field. 

Abdul is a starting pitcher from Detroit, Michigan, who has a clothing brand he is able to profit from following the NCAA’s ruling. 

It was great news to his ears when Abdul found out he could start his own clothing brand and not be penalized by the NCAA. 

“I’ve always had a desire to start my own brand since I was a kid. Now that it’s a real thing it’s mind blowing honestly,” Abdul said. 

Abdul said when asked how he felt when he found out he could use his name, image and likeness to profit. 

Growing up in Detroit, Michigan you’re bound to see a lot of new fashion statements. Especially in the winter time when it’s cold outside. 

“Playing baseball in the beginning of spring in Michigan it was still cold outside. So you had to have a couple under shirts on to keep you warm. Some undershirts weren’t comfortable or stylish to me. So I took that to my advantage and made my own,” Abdul said. 

Abdul gave credit to his father for helping him start up his brand — MA12 Sports Appeal — and even coming up with a logo idea for him. 

He was able to come up with a material he thought would benefit him on the field while playing sports in the cold weather. 

Abdul’s idea became something that was talked about a lot in the city of Detroit when the NCAA first passed the rule. 

Being able to jump right into making a profit and promoting something kids could use to an advantage during cold times was great for the city of Detroit. 

“Being able to see kids wearing long sleeves and competing in sports was amazing to see,” Abdul said.  

Not only does MA12 Sports Appeal offer long sleeves for the cold seasons, they make socks, t-shirts and sleeveless shirts as well. 

This is a great thing for Abdul because it shows he’s able to do something besides play baseball. He’s able to put his ideas out and conquer them. 

“I can’t play baseball my whole life, but I can sell my own appeal to kids who play sports when I’m older and can’t play baseball anymore,” Abdul stated. 

This article originally appeared in The Gramblinite.

These Bulldogs don’t have time to lick their wounds.

With Conference USA play starting this Saturday, Louisiana Tech head coach Skip Holtz and Co. must put last weekend’s 39-37 last play loss to SMU in the rearview mirror.

“Let me start by saying how disappointed we were in the outcome of the game on Saturday,” Holtz told local media members during his weekly Tuesday press conference. “As you look backwards for the week, if you’re in this business long enough, you’re going to be at the receiving end of a gut punch like that in a football game.

“It was gut-wrenching because of how much this team put into it, how hard they worked and how hard they played. Unfortunately, we’re a 1-2 football team after Saturday.”

The Bulldogs are a blocked FG and a successful Hail Mary away from sporting a perfect 3-0 record entering a 6 p.m. kickoff against North Texas Saturday at Joe Aillet Stadium. Instead, Tech sits at 1-2 but looking forward to opening league action.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to get back into the conference and am really excited to have the opportunity to open it at home here at Joe Aillet Stadium,” said Holtz.

North Texas enters the contest coming off a 40-6 loss at home to UAB in the Mean Green’s league opener Saturday. North Texas is 1-2 with a 44-14 win over Northwestern State in its season opener three weeks ago.

“We know we have a very explosive football team that’s coming in here,” said Holtz. “I know (Seth) Littrell very well. I have an incredible amount of respect for him and the job he does. I know his background in offense.

“They are always one of the more explosive, higher-scoring offenses in our league. Right now, they’re a very determined group. I’m expecting them to come in here with a high-powered offense that I know they’re not only capable of, but what they’ve done in the past.”

DeAndre Torrey is one of the top running backs in C-USA, averaging more than 130 yards per game on the ground through the first three weeks of the season. Torrey is averaging over 6.0 yards per tote and has scored three TDs.

“Their tailback is their fifth all-time all-purpose guy,” said Holtz. “We’ve played him for it seems like eight years now. He’s incredibly talented and very explosive. He can take a short gain and turn it into a home run ball in a hurry. He has explosive talents and abilities.”

North Texas head coach Seth Littrell knows what his team is in for this weekend in Ruston.

“That’s a dang good football team,” Littrell said. “Skip (Holtz) does an excellent job. That’s why they’re always in it. They’re consistent in all three phases, and they’re really explosive offensively with great skill weapons and a good mobile quarterback who throws the ball great.

“Defensively, they’re always going to have big athletic guys up front who can rush the passer and they’ve always been good on the back end with guys in the NFL at corner and safety. They can be athletic up front and play you in man. They’re very competitive all the way around.

“They’ve had some really, really tough losses that could’ve gone either way. They could just as easily be 3-0. They’re a great football team, and we have to make sure we have a great week of preparation.”

The Bulldogs defeated North Texas 42-31 in Denton last season and lead the all-time series 12-7, including three straight wins.

Photo: Darrell James

The time to be awesome is now!

Wyatt Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is hiring a Director of Nursing and LPN’s for all shifts at our long-term care facility in Jonesboro, LA.

Director of Nursing position – RN Required, salary and benefit package commensurate with experience.

LPN positions – Licensed Practical Nurse certification required
Please call Ron Frazier at 318-259-3290 for more information.

Fall ball for Louisiana Tech begins as the calendar flips to October as new head coach Josh Taylor and Co. are set for an eight-game exhibition slate.

The action begins Oct. 1 when the Lady Techsters travel east on I-20 to face ULM at 6 p.m. at Geo Surfaces Field in Monroe.

A four-game weekend road trip to Fayetteville, Arkansas, will fill the weekend of Oct. 9 and 10 when Tech plays the host Razorbacks twice (Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m.). Tech will also face Tulsa (Saturday at 12:30 p.m.) and Butler Community College (Friday at 11 a.m.) during the weekend tournament in Fayetteville.

The Lady Techsters will complete their fall slate with three straight home dates. Tech hosts Louisiana College on Oct. 16 (1 p.m.), ULM on Oct. 19 (6 p.m.) and Bossier Parish Community College on Oct. 26 (6 p.m.).

Tech returns 16 letterwinners, including seven every day starters, from last year’s team while welcoming five newcomers to the roster.

Taylor begins his first season in Ruston after being hired away from the University of Nevada in June.

Fall Schedule

Oct. 1 at ULM 6 p.m. (Monroe)

Oct. 9 vs. Butler CC 11 a.m. (Fayetteville)

Oct. 9 vs. Arkansas 4 p.m. (Fayetteville)

Oct. 10 vs. Arkansas 10 a.m. (Fayetteville)

Oct. 10 vs. Tulsa12:30 p.m. (Fayetteville)

Oct. 16  vs. Louisiana College 1 p.m. (Ruston)

Oct. 19 vs. ULM 6 p.m. (Ruston)

Oct. 26 vs. Bossier Parish CC 6 p.m. (Ruston)

Loyd C. Foote, Jr. 
July 1, 1943 – September 21, 2021 
Service: 
Rocky Branch Assembly of God 
Sunday, September 26, 2021, 2:30 pm 

By Thomas Stodghill, IV

A local dog rescue, 4 Paws Rescue Inc., is getting ready to officially open a one-of-a-kind dog park in Ruston. 4 Paws Dog Park is located right behind their dog shelter on Rodeo Road.

Sue Martin, Director of 4 Paws Rescue Inc., explained why this dog park is needed in Ruston.

“There are lots of parks in Ruston, but they are leashed,” Martin said. “Here, the dogs are let off their leash and can run wherever they want.”

The park features play toys and obstacles for the dogs. They also planted around $30,000 worth of grass for the dogs to play around in. 

This dog park is seen as not only a great option for residents of Ruston, but also for college students from Louisiana Tech and Grambling.

Martin, who has been with 4 Paws for 16 years, said that while most college students are unable to take care of a dog because of a busy schedule, they can come to 4 Paws and Rent a Dog for a day and play with them in the park.

Martin said local residents are loving the new dog park. They are glad that they can take dog off their leashes and let them run around and get exercise. They look forward to meeting other dog owners at the park.

“[The park] will generate much needed income. We are very inexpensive,” Martin said.

They are looking to generate money with having daily and monthly passes. They are also going to generate money with renting a dog for the day. 

The Park opened on Sept. 1, but 4 Paws is going to host a Ribbon Cutting Sept. 23 and a Grand Opening on Oct. 30. The Grand Opening is going to feature several giveaways and plenty of food and fun. Everyone is welcome to both events. 

Research developed at Louisiana Tech University may soon find its way into space.

Dr. Shawn Chen, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering for Louisiana Tech’s College of Engineering and Science and Institute for Micromanufacturing, and Dr. Kristopher Harris, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, have begun research into improved energy storage systems, making space flight safer for astronauts, and extending their potential exploration radius within the solar system.

Chen and Harris are working with a consortium of Louisiana researchers to provide the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) with a better, more efficient means of storing energy for long space flights. By improving power storage technology, the Tech team and their colleagues around Louisiana will develop an ultra-high-capacity battery that is safe for travel in low-temperature and radiation laden environments as part of a NASA EPSCoR (Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) grant.

Chen, Harris, and two Louisiana Tech doctoral students will work with researchers from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL) and Louisiana State University, as well as Glenn Research Center and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, General Motors, and IBM on high-capacity anode development and testing, performance evaluation in a simulated space environment, and independent validations of the materials and batteries developed by the team.

Over three years, the Louisiana Tech team will develop a physics-based multiscale modeling framework to predict the long-term performance stability of the proposed batteries and use the University’s new Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy facility to study proposed battery components as they change over time. As the Tech teams study the lithium metal/solid electrolyte interface behaviors during the plating process and the behaviors of the local battery structures, they will develop new processes and provide insight into microstructure design and defect engineering strategies for improved interface stability and cell performance.

The final product from the consortium will be a robust, solid-state electrolyte to promote uniform lithium plating that suppresses the formation of dendrites and prevents thermal runaway for safer, more efficient battery power on exploratory NASA missions.

Energy storage technology affects every aspect of a space flight, including the spacesuits that astronauts wear. Inefficient battery power can be dangerous, as it can prevent proper cooling, ventilation, and biomedical measurements. Because planetary missions will involve potential exploration in extreme environments, power sources must be able to withstand high levels of radiation as well as very high and very low temperatures. Through these battery improvements, this collaboration will provide safer, greener energy that will impact NASA and the energy storage sector for years to come.

“This award supports collaboration between researchers with complementary expertise and impressive accomplishments to benefit future space missions,” said Dr. Ramu Ramachandran, Associate Vice President for Research at Louisiana Tech, Dean of the University’s Graduate School, and Director of the Institute for Micromanufacturing. “The recent acquisition of sophisticated new research instrumentation at Tech and ULL for solid state battery research will support this project, strengthen the collaboration between the two institutions, and generate exciting new advances.”

Dr. Hisham Hegab, Dean of the College of Engineering and Science, said the results of this research will impact areas beyond space exploration.

“The work that Dr. Chen and Dr. Harris are doing with research partners throughout Louisiana could lay the groundwork for more clean energy research and technologies, as well as helping NASA develop new technologies for future launches,” Hegab said. “I look forward to seeing the results of these collaborative efforts and am excited that Louisiana Tech and the College of Engineering and Science will have a role in redefining space travel.”

By Thomas Stodghill, IV

Friends of Ruston Skate Park came together to fund the new park this past weekend.

This project started in 2016, with Miguel Lasala and Brian Lottie, while Lottie was a visiting artist at Louisiana Tech School of Design. Lasala and Lottie met with Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker who agreed to the project. They decided to put it in the former pool at Memorial Park on West Georgia Avenue.

This project has been met with several setbacks. First there was the tornado that hit Ruston in 2019. In 2020, Ruston also got hit by Hurricane Laura. 2021 is looking to be better for the skate park.

Jessica Slaughter, volunteer with Friends of Ruston Skate Park and wife of executive director of Ruston Skate Park Joey Slaughter, explained why the group held the fundraiser.

“The City of Ruston has agreed to fund half the project, and Friends of Ruston Skatepark is working to fundraise the other half,” Slaughter said.

Jessica and Joey Slaughter took over the project in 2017. They worked with architecture students from Louisiana Tech’s School of Design to help figure out what the skate park would look like. 

One of many reasons they want to make this skate park is because of the Ruston community. They want to make a space where new and more experienced skaters can come together and play.

The attendance for the fundraiser was about 150-175.

“A number of parents brought younger kids in the morning for lessons – for skateboarding, roller skating and roller blading,” Slaughter said. “We also had kids with scooters early in the day.”

They also sold shirts and they raffled off items. The shirts have been designed by local artists Abi Watson and Tom Futrell.

The fundraiser ended up raising $2,000 for the new park. They are planning for their next Skate Jam Nov. 6.

By Collin Coats

Since the beginning Brianna Grimsley has always known her passion for helping people would take her a long way; she never had a doubt in her mind. 

This Grambling State University freshman from Pensacola, Fla., is majoring in nursing. 

She said she always believed that she was destined to become a nurse and represent the minorities with pride and dignity.

Grimsley said her purpose for becoming a nurse is to make an immediate impact on her community.

“To make people the most comfortable, and reassured as they can be in a stressful moment in time,” she said. “I chose my major because I need to represent the black community. When people see people of their skin color, taking care of them makes them more comfortable and gives them hope.”

Grimsley has always been a leader in her community. She was a part of multiple clubs such as African American club, she was also a girl scout and part of BLM movement. 

“Growing up as the oldest out of three I was looked to as a leader, and it came to me naturally,” she said.  

Grimsley said she knows her journey at GSU is going to be a long one and she knows it will not be easy, but with her strong faith in the Lord, strong family support, and the drive and motivation, she knows she can handle anything.  

As a child Grimsley watched her mom finish college in the top three in her class with a degree in engineering as a black woman. Given that model, setting goals and achieving them is something she is familiar with. 

She finished high school in Pensacola with a 3.4 GPA and she was also part of her high school’s nursing program which helped her earn credits for college. 

Grimsley said she wants to make her community and her family proud. She doesn’t want to disappoint anybody and puts a lot of pressure on herself not to fail. 

Grimsley has always had strong women in her life and she believes she can follow the footsteps of her mother, aunt, and cousin. All of them have great careers and give back to their community while maintaining a family.

She said hopes to follow in the footsteps of her aunt and become a traveling nurse and help people of her community.

Note: This story originally appeared in Grambling State University’s The Gramblinite.

Cedar Creek got a clean sweep as both the boys and girls cross country teams won in a competition in Crossett, Arkansas, Saturday.

Four Cougars finished in the top 10 of the race led by Ethan McCarthy (18:48), Hayes Bridges (19:12), and Anderson Maxwell (20:04).

On the girl’s side, Caroline James (22:20), Taylor Ramsey (22:21), Anna Grace Lee (22:54), Julieanne Ensminger (23:37), Faith Johnson (23:47) and Marley Jinks (24:08) all recorded top 10 finishes.

“It was an overcast day, and temperature felt better and a flat course to run,” said head coach Craig Moss. “We set this meet up as a workout for our runners and worked on closing the race.  We are focusing on running negative splits.

“It’s a process, but our runners are working hard, pushing and pulling each other.  They are so supportive of one another, they encourage and lift each other up. Obviously we are excited in the victory for each squad because it builds confidence.  It’s a building block to our overall goals for the season.”

Cedar Creek will host the Wallace Martin Invitational this Saturday.

Jayla Williams, a senior at Grambling State University, has been selected as the preservice teacher representative for the Louisiana Department of Education Early Literacy Commission. The Louisiana Association for Colleges of Teacher Education (LACTE) chose Williams to represent the association on the commission. 

The Early Literacy Commission aims to study and make recommendations on how best to develop and implement a system that provides effective, evidence-based reading instruction for children from early childhood through third grade. 

Williams, an elementary education major from Shreveport, La., will travel to Baton Rouge periodically to serve on a panel to achieve the literacy goals set forth for the children of Louisiana. 

Dr. Cheyrl Mansfield Ensley, interim department head/associate professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and Educational Leadership nominated Williams for the position. Among other reasons, she said when Williams began her residency (formerly student teaching), she stood out. 

“Within the first few days, she received accolades from her principal,” Ensley said. 

Williams is also active in education-related activities including serving as a member of Aspiring Educators, where she serves as the media coordinator. She offers after school tutoring for students in grades K – 12 via Joyous Learning with Jayla which celebrated its one-year anniversary in August. 

“She has helped students increase test scores and improve grade level reading. As a result, she continues to receive recommendations from satisfied customers,” Ensley said. 
Williams said she is excited about serving in the role on the commission for LACTE. 
“I’m very passionate about all things education so to be recognized and nominated by our department head, Dr. Ensley, I am extremely honored,” she said. 

Williams added that she hopes this opportunity will help her inspire future educators. 
“Words cannot express how grateful I am for this opportunity,” she said. “I hope by receiving this nomination I can inspire other students coming through Grambling’s Teacher Ed program and show that our gifts and opportunities are limitless.” 

She aims to “represent all preservice teachers and children across the state, the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, and my beloved GramFam.” 

Debbie Thomas, dean of the GSU College of Education, said Williams is “the epitome of excellence as a dedicated student and future educator. The College of Education is proud to call Jayla one of our brightest stars.” 

After graduation, Williams plans to move to Memphis to complete a teacher residency program and obtain a master’s degree in urban education.