Jimmy Dewayne Rose 
December 03, 1967 – October 22, 2021 
Visitation: 1-2 p.m., Friday, Oct 29, 2021, at Rock Corner Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 824 Rock Corner Rd, Dubach 
Memorial Service: 2 p.m., Friday, Oct 29, 2021, at Rock Corner Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, , 824 Rock Corner Rd, Dubach 

Rachel Calahan 
July 25, 1937 – October 20, 2021 
Visitation: 12-1:30 p.m., Sunday, October 24, 2021, at Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 2300 W. California Ave., Ruston 
Graveside Service: 2 p.m., Sunday, October 24, 2021, at Cook Cemetery, 1997 Cooktown Road, Ruston 

Laverne Kirbow 
November 25, 1927 – October 20, 2021 
Visitation: 1-2 p.m., Tuesday, October 26, 2021, at Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 2300 W. California Ave., Ruston 
Funeral Service: 2 p.m., Tuesday, October 26, 2021, at Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 2300 W. California Ave., Ruston 
Cemetery Committal: Tuesday, October 26, 2021, at Forest Lawn Cemetery, 2500 West California Ave., Ruston 

Lunell Holtzclaw Duke 
August 15, 1941 – October 21, 2021 
Visitation: 1-2 p.m., Monday, Oct. 25, 2021, at Kilpatrick Funeral Homes, 209 North Bonner, Ruston 
Service: 2 p.m., Monday, Oct. 25, 2021, at Kilpatrick Funeral Homes, 209 North Bonner, Ruston 
Cemetery: Monday, October 25, 2021, at Mineral Springs Cemetery 

Agnes Chambless Cofer Miller 
April 8, 1918 – October 20, 2021 
Visitation: 2-3 p.m., Sunday, October 24, 2021, at Kilpatrick Funeral Homes, 209 North Bonner, Ruston 
Cemetery: 3 p.m., Sunday, October 24, 2021, at Greenwood Cemetery 

Omega Simmons Sturdivant 
September 3, 1952 – October 20, 2021 
Memorial Graveside Service: 1 p.m., November 10, 2021, Grambling Memorial Garden, Hwy. 80 W., Grambling 

William B Brantley   
August 25, 1963 – October 19, 2021   
Visitation: Temple Baptist Church, Ruston LA; Monday, Oct 25, 2021, from 5:00 PM-7:00 PM   
Memorial Service: Temple Baptist Church, Ruston LA; Tuesday, Oct 26, 2021, at 10:00 AM  

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It’s been a year of close losses in big games, but on Friday night, Cedar Creek recorded a historic win as the Cougars defeated 5^th ranked and two-time defending state champion Oak Grove 13-9 on the road.

The win snapped Oak Grove’s four-game winning streak and is the first by Cedar Creek (4-3) over the Tigers since 1993.

“I am so proud of these kids,” said head coach Matt Middleton. “It’s huge. This will really help us with our power points. Now we need to finish strong and win next week. These kids and this staff and this school deserves it.”

It took a late defensive stand by the Cougars to secure the victory. Oak Grove had a chance to take the lead in the final two minutes but a fourth down pass was incomplete and the Cougars knelt on the football to run out the final 60 seconds.

“Our defense has played great all season,” said Middleton. “To hold this team to only nine points, well really seven points because we gave up the safety, says a lot about the way we are playing. Coach Ware and these guys are unwavering. It was a phenomenal performance on the defensive side.”

Oak Grove took an early 7-0 lead on a touchdown pass by quarterback Jackson Bradley on a fourth-down-and-16 play late in the first quarter.

With the football in the shadow of its own end zone, Cedar Creek came up with the play of the night as Ladd Thompson recorded a one-handed catch and scampered 82 yards to the Oak Grove 5-yard line. The catch came one play after Thompson had dropped a long pass.

“Ladd made some big plays,” said Middleton.

One play later, AJ Thomas took a pitch and covered the final five yards for a touchdown. Davis Long’s extra point tied the game at 7-7.

The two teams remained knotted in a defense-dominated ball game. The Creek had an opportunity in the third quarter to take the lead but Long’s 33-yard field goal attempt was short as the two teams entered the final quarter tied.

Middleton and Thompson hooked up once again for the go-ahead score early in the fourth quarter. On a second down play from the Creek 49-yard line, Middleton found Thompson deep down the field for a 51-yard scoring strike with 11:04 to play in the game. Long’s extra point was no good, but the Cougars led 13-7.

“That was one of the things I was most excited about for our offense,” said Middleton. “We were facing press man zero, and we made two huge throws and catches (by Caden and Ladd) that couldn’t have come at a bigger time.”

Following a good punt by Oak Grove that pinned the Cougars on their own five-yard line, the Oak Grove defense made a play, forcing a fumble that was recovered in the endzone by the Cougars for a safety with 6:19 to play. Creek’s lead was cut to 13-9.

After a free kick by the Cougars, Oak Grove started deep in its own end zone. The Tigers methodically marched into Creek territory, converting a couple of third and fourth downs. However, with the ball on the Creek 31-yard line, the Cougars defense got the stop on an incomplete pass with 1:10 to play and the Cougars ran out the clock.

The win was even sweeter for Cedar Creek following heartbreaking losses to St. Fredericks, Ouachita Christian and Jonesboro-Hodge.

“We’ve heard it,” said Middleton. “We can’t win the big one. But this was a big one for us. The kids have been so so close. Coach Ware and I were talking earlier … we are literally a first down and three points away from being 7-0. We are excited. We have been working really hard for this and the kids deserve it.”

The win helps the Cougars bid for the postseason.

“I love these kids, this staff, this school,” said Middleton. “This is a monumental win for our program. I usually tell them we can take 24 hours to celebrate a win, but we are taking 48 (hours) on this one.”

Creek totaled 233 yards in the game with only 64 yards coming on the ground. Caden Middleton completed 6-of-10 passes for 169 yards and the one TD while Thompson caught two passes for 133 yards and one score.

Creek’s defense held Oak Grove to just 243 yards as the Tigers were penalized 11 times for 110 yards. The nine points are the fewest Oak Grove has scored this season. The Tigers entered the game averaging over 35 points per game, including over 47 points a contest in the last four games.

Cedar Creek is now 3-0 on the road this year.

Photo: Tim Smith

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RUSTON — Ruston High (7-1; 3-0 district) has won seven in a row and is entirely in control of its own destiny for a District 2-5A championship after downing the Alexandria Senior High Trojans (6-2; 1-2 district) by a final score of 37-23 at James Field at Garrett Stadium.

In a game that showcased two powerhouse programs, fans could not be disappointed at the quality of football played for the night and the sheer grit of the Bearcat backfield. Senior fullback Devian Wilson and junior running back Dyson Fields both were clearly playing with soreness and not at one hundred percent; however, their gamesmanship was clearly a motivating factor for the rest of the team.

After trailing 23-22 to start the fourth quarter, the Bearcats scored 15 unanswered points in the fourth quarter thanks to red zone touchdowns by both senior Devian Wilson and junior quarterback Jaden Osborn. A two-point conversion was converted thanks to an incredible throw by senior wide receiver Dawson Willis to Osborn in the end zone to put Ruston up 30-23.

“I’m proud for these kids,” Ruston head coach Jerrod Baugh said. “I told them at halftime that we just needed to keep playing hard and good things would happen. They did a great job and I’m proud for them. Our fan base came out and supported these kids, and it’s great for our community.”

Ruston struck first with a 21-yard option run by Fields at the 6:40 mark in the first quarter. ASH answered with a touchdown of their own from 63 yards out through the air with 3:51 to tie the ballgame.

The Bearcats then tacked on another touchdown on the ground from Osborn for a 57-yard rushing score. Ruston was unable to convert a two-point conversion from the one-yard line and led 13-7.

The Trojans converted a 20-yard field goal in the second quarter after having first and goal from the five yard line to cut the lead to 13-10.

“I think that was big,” Baugh said about his defense holding the Trojans to a field goal instead of a touchdown. “We took a timeout on first down, and once we caught our breath, we went out and executed on defense.”

With only eight seconds left in the first half, the Bearcats capitalized on an errant Trojan snap in the end zone on fourth down and forced the ASH special teams into a safety.

“It’s good to get the two points back in the end of the first half,” Baugh said. “We put them in a bind after the big punt that was downed inside the one yard line.”

Ruston entered the ballgame ranked No. 7 by the LSWA and No. 6 in the power rankings for postseason play. The Bearcats may very likely climb even higher in both after Friday’s victory. 

Ruston continues play on Thursday, Oct. 28, at West Ouachita. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

PHOTO CREDIT: Reggie McLeroy 

By T. Scott Boatright

SHREVEPORT — Coming off a big loss last week against Homer, Lincoln Preparatory had the mission of turning things back around on the road at Magnolia School of Excellence in Shreveport.

Consider it mission accomplished for the Panthers, who marched to a 45-12 win over the Mariners Friday night.

“We executed well,” said Lincoln Prep coach Glen Hall. “We played better defense and executed on offense. We did what we practiced all week, which we failed to do during the previous week’s loss to Homer. It was just a good night for us.”

Senior quarterback Ta’Rell Simmons three for 190 yards and three scores on 8-of-14 passing for the Panthers while adding a 17-yard on his lone carry. 

Simmons usually uses his legs to set up the pass, but that wasn’t the case against Magnolia – by design.

“I limited his play,” Hall said about Simmons. “He’s been banged up and I need him to be well going into next week’s game against Haynesville. So I limited his running and I told him to get his behind back there in the pocket and throw the ball.

“He threw the ball well and did an awesome job doing that. He showed he can be one-dimensional when we need him to. He keeps this ship going and I need him healthy.”

Picking up the rushing slack for Simmsons were Dmitry Payne and Jarmarius Buggs, who tallied 75 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.

“He broke tackles and did everything I needed him to do, especially after cutting back in Ta’Rell’s rushes,” Hall said about Buggs.

Payne had four receptions for 84 yards and a score along with two carries for 68 yards and another touchdown for the Panthers.

Hall said he was pleased with the Panthers rushing attack, especially in light on another big change along its offensive front well.

“We lost our starting center with a broken leg a couple of weeks ago, and then last night his replacement was sick,” Hall said. “So we had to move our blue chip on the left side, Imani Marcel, to center, which isn’t a good thing because we like to run behind Marcel at guard.”

Lincoln Prep got a huge night from Emmanuel Bryant, who had two catches for 83 yards and two scores while adding two runs for nine yards and another touchdown while adding five tackles on the defensive side of the football.

Jamarrion Buggs also played a big role in the Panthers’ win as he added a 22-yard catch along with two interceptions and a pass defense.

“It was a good win because it gives us some good momentum going into a big game next week,” Hall said. “We also pulled ahead early and got the advantage to work on some things we’ll need to make happen next week against Haynesville. That’s a crucial game that we need to play well in and try to get a win. That would be a big help for playoff positioning.

The Panthers (5-3 overall and 4-3 in District 1-1A) will play that game against Haynesville (5-3, 4-2) at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Jonesboro-Hodge football stadium.

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Louisiana Tech held a 3-point lead at the end of the first quarter, but No. 24 UTSA scored 35 unanswered points to pull away for a final score of 45-16 on Saturday night inside Joe Aillet Stadium.

LA Tech (2-5, 1-2 C-USA) came out swinging as Austin Kendall hit Smoke Harris over the middle.  The wide receiver then smoked every one as he raced to the end zone for a 47-yard touchdown.

However, UTSA (8-0, 4-0 C-USA) quickly silenced the crowd as they countered with a 75-yard touchdown on their second offensive play of the game. 

“Too many mistakes were made,” said Tech head coach Skip Holtz. “On the opening touchdown, we gave up an uncontested deep ball for a touchdown. And on third-and-long, we had a personal foul on their sideline and they end up driving for a touchdown. We had a pick six and were minus-three in the turnover battle. We were not efficient in the red zone. The game got away from us.”

After those two offensive sparks, both teams had very little success on each of their next two drives, but the Bulldogs used another big play by Harris – 37-yard reception – that set up a 35-yard field goal by Jacob Barnes to retake the lead at 10-7 late in the first quarter.

The LA Tech defense was about to get the offense the ball right back after forcing a three-and-out, but a personal foul called on a late hit out of bounds gave the Roadrunners new life.  Twenty-four more penalty yards by the ‘Dogs aided in a two-yard rushing touchdown by Sincere McCormick to give UTSA its first lead of the game early in the second quarter.

The visiting team would never trail again.  The Roadrunners went 72 yards on 10 plays to score on their next offensive possession to go up 21-10, which ended up being the halftime score.  They ended up tacking on a pick-six, two more rushing touchdowns by McCormick (one coming after a fumbled kickoff return by LA Tech) and a late field goal.  

 UTSA only outgained LA Tech, 406-381, in total yards, but the Bulldogs tied a season-high in penalties with eight and committed three turnovers. 

“UTSA is a good football team,” said Holtz. “They are 8-0 right now, but we have to get to the point where we stop beating ourselves.”

Tech will travel to Old Dominion next Saturday. Kickoff is at 2:30 p.m.

Photo: Emerald McIntyre

In our area, primitive firearms season is upon us and next Saturday, October 30, will be the opening day of modern rifle season.  Like most of you, I’ve been running trail cameras to get an inventory of what I have and picking out the target bucks that meet my age criteria to chase this season.  One thing I’ve noticed in my camera surveys is that fawn recruitment isn’t where it should be on our property.

While there are a few factors that could affect fawn recruitment, I believe that habitat and available forage is the main contributor in my area.  Simply stated, there are too many deer in my area for the habitat to support a healthy fawn crop.  I am basing this on my camera surveys and physical sightings of over half of my adult does (2.5 years and older) having no fawns.

So, what can we do to improve the herd?  There are habitat improvements such as timber management, prescribed burns to increase forage, year-round food plots, etc. that will help but we can talk about those at a later date.  In my opinion, the easiest and most effective way to improve the quality of our deer herd now, is by harvesting does.

When is the best time to harvest does?  There is no “bad” time, but I believe the earlier the better. The fewer mouths to feed through the fall and winter will only increase the amount of nutrition your deer will have through their toughest months.  To help her body support carrying fawns, a healthy adult doe needs proper nutrition coming into spring.  This will also result in higher lactation rates.  Reducing the deer herd early in the season will also lead to less stress on your bucks which will result in better antler development the following year.  Which let’s be honest, we all want to be able to have our bucks grow to their full potential.

What age doe to shoot?  Biologically speaking, it doesn’t matter the age.  Personally, I target the older ones who have a knack for ruining my hunts by being vocal when they detect me.  For table fare, the younger age class deer might be more desirable. 

There are still some folks out there with the “old school mentality” that refuse to shoot does.  Those that, if their freezer gets low, will pass on the 10 does that have come by, to shoot the first small buck that comes in range.  While that’s their right and totally legal, it doesn’t make much sense to me.  Our buck to doe ratio in this area tends to lend heavily to having more does than bucks.  Bucks and does are born at a 1:1 ratio, so while accomplishing your task of “getting meat,” why not harvest the deer that helps get the herd closer to the way God intended?

If you’re hesitant to shoot a doe because your freezer is full, don’t forget most of our local deer processors have a way to donate a deer at no cost to the hunter.  Also, many have teamed up with the organization Hunters For the Hungry. This organization provides venison to our local food banks and distributes to those in need in our community.  Last year they distributed over 50,000 pounds of food across our great state.  Even if your processor doesn’t participate with this program, most have a donation list for local people in the community that are in need.

Good luck to all the hunters getting out in the woods in the coming days.  I wish you the best of success in bagging that big buck, or perhaps a trophy doe! 

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A storybook love turned into a storybook wedding.  

Corey Moss and Taylor Witten met while freshmen at Cedar Creek School and had their first date Oct 1st at Homecoming.   Ten years later they were married October 2, 2021.

A union between two people that embody love, friendship, and respect.  Putting God first and allowing Him to direct their paths they have the foundation in tact.

Both attended LSU in Baton Rouge with their minds set on medical school.   Both graduated from LSU in the spring of 2019 with biology/kinesiology degrees and became engaged the summer of 2019 in a beautiful setting in Colorado. 

Taylor is in her second year of medical school and Corey is in first year with both enrolled at LSU Medical School in Shreveport, where they currently reside.

Taylor and Corey were married in a beautiful ceremony on the grounds of Nottaway Plantation in White Castle, La. at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 2.  Taylor was given away by her parents Kevin and Carole Witten from Ruston.  Corey’s parents are Craig and Shawn Moss, also from Ruston. 

Once their medical classes end for the semester, the beautiful couple will honeymoon in December in South Africa.

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Jimmy Dewayne Rose 
December 03, 1967 – October 22, 2021 
Visitation: 1-2 p.m., Friday, Oct 29, 2021, at Rock Corner Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 824 Rock Corner Rd, Dubach 
Memorial Service: 2 p.m., Friday, Oct 29, 2021, at Rock Corner Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, , 824 Rock Corner Rd, Dubach 

Rachel Calahan 
July 25, 1937 – October 20, 2021 
Visitation: 12-1:30 p.m., Sunday, October 24, 2021, at Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 2300 W. California Ave., Ruston 
Graveside Service: 2 p.m., Sunday, October 24, 2021, at Cook Cemetery, 1997 Cooktown Road, Ruston 

Laverne Kirbow 
November 25, 1927 – October 20, 2021 
Visitation: 1-2 p.m., Tuesday, October 26, 2021, at Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 2300 W. California Ave., Ruston 
Funeral Service: 2 p.m., Tuesday, October 26, 2021, at Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 2300 W. California Ave., Ruston 
Cemetery Committal: Tuesday, October 26, 2021, at Forest Lawn Cemetery, 2500 West California Ave., Ruston 

Lunell Holtzclaw Duke 
August 15, 1941 – October 21, 2021 
Visitation: 1-2 p.m., Monday, Oct. 25, 2021, at Kilpatrick Funeral Homes, 209 North Bonner, Ruston 
Service: 2 p.m., Monday, Oct. 25, 2021, at Kilpatrick Funeral Homes, 209 North Bonner, Ruston 
Cemetery: Monday, October 25, 2021, at Mineral Springs Cemetery 

Agnes Chambless Cofer Miller 
April 8, 1918 – October 20, 2021 
Visitation: 2-3 p.m., Sunday, October 24, 2021, at Kilpatrick Funeral Homes, 209 North Bonner, Ruston 
Cemetery: 3 p.m., Sunday, October 24, 2021, at Greenwood Cemetery 

Omega Simmons Sturdivant 
September 3, 1952 – October 20, 2021 
Memorial Graveside Service: 1 p.m., November 10, 2021, Grambling Memorial Garden, Hwy. 80 W., Grambling 

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Who: No. 24 UTSA (7-0, 3-0) at Louisiana Tech (2-4, 1-1)

Where: Joe Aillet Stadium

When: 6 p.m.

TV: Stadium

Radio: KXKZ 107.5 FM (Ruston), KDBS 1410 AM (Alexandria), KDBS 94.7 FM (Alexandria), WUBR 910 AM (Baton Rouge), KJVC 92.7 FM (Mansfield), KZBL 100.7 FM (Natchitoches), KOKA 980 AM (Shreveport), KOKA 93.3 FM (Shreveport), KNCB 1320 AM (Vivian), KNCB 104.1 FM (Vivian), KVCL 92.1 FM (Winnfield)

Radio Talent: Malcolm Butler (PxP), Teddy Allen (Color) and Luke McCown (sideline) w/ pregame at 4:30 p.m.

Louisiana Tech hosts 24^th ranked UTSA today at 6 p.m. at Joe Aillet Stadium on what is Homecoming in Ruston.

The Bulldogs are coming off a 19-3 loss at UTEP last Saturday and head coach Skip Holtz didn’t mix words when talking about the lackluster performance against the Miners.

“It certainly wasn’t one of our better performances,” said Holtz. “I’m very disappointed with the way we performed on Saturday. There was certainly some silver lining in what happened Saturday in watching the progression of our defense and watching the way that they really came to life after the first quarter.

“In the first two possessions, we gave up 14 points and went down the field and scored. They did a great job on first and second down, but on third and long we gave up conversions. There were about four of them in the first two drives that were 3rd and 7-plus that we gave up and they went down and scored. But, after that, David Blackwell did a nice job of making some adjustments.”

It was the Tech offense that was a no-show last Saturday, something that hasn’t been the case in the previous five games when the Bulldogs averaged over 33 points an outing. Tech was just 1-of-5 in the red zone (a Jacob Barnes FG) and must do better against a UTSA team that is averaging almost 40 points a game entering today.

“This week, it doesn’t get any easier,” said Holtz. “We just played a now 6-1 UTEP team and now you have an undefeated UTSA coming in here who is 7-0 right now. They’re ranked 24th and 25th in the two polls. It’s going to be a great challenge for us.”

The Bulldogs will play at home for the first time in a month.

“I’m glad we have the opportunity to come back home,” said Holtz. “It’s homecoming, so for everybody that is out there that hasn’t been back to Ruston in a while, we’d love to have you back to not only see all the new facilities that have been built on campus with the new dorms, the new chemistry building, seeing what’s going on with the athletic complex with the new soccer field, softball stadium and baseball stadium.

“Little Ruston is really starting to grow up. We would love to have you back. We need you for your support with playing at home in Joe Aillet Stadium. It’s homecoming and we’d love to see everybody here.”

UTSA is led by All-American running back Sincere McCormick and multi-versatile QB Frank Harris. UTSA won last year’s meeting in San Antonio 27-26.

 

 

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Jaylin Wayne, the man accused of killing two people at Grambling State University in October 2017, will face trial for two counts of second-degree murder in Third District Court starting Monday.

The shooting followed an altercation that began inside a dorm room at Bowen Hall and spilled out into the courtyard about midnight on Oct. 25, 2017, the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Department reported at the time.

In a press release after the Wayne’s arrest, Lincoln Parish Sheriff Mike Stone said, “I feel confident that our investigators have put together a strong case.” 

Wayne, of St. Louis, Missouri, was a GSU freshman at the time of the shootings. 

Originally arrested on a warrant charging first-degree murder, a Lincoln Parish grand jury instead indicted Wayne for second-degree murder.

The prosecution was delayed due to a Louisiana Supreme Court order suspending trials due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. A gag order is in place on the case, prohibiting the district attorney’s office and Wayne’s defense from commenting.

The trial comes just days after two separate shootings on the GSU campus that resulted in two deaths and several wounded. 

Wayne has pled not guilty and claims Monquiarious Caldwell and Earl Andrews were killed in self-defense. Andrews was also a GSU student. Caldwell was not, but was a friend of Andrews. 

Wayne has been in custody at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center since he surrendered a few days after the shooting.

Jury selection is expected to take two or three days.

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Louisiana Tech will honor legendary Hall of Fame coach Leon Barmore today with a 2 p.m. statue unveil ceremony on the front steps of the Thomas Assembly Center.  

Tech Athletics partnered with world-renowned sculpture Brian Hanlon to create the tribute. Hanlon has created more than 550 public and private art pieces during the past 35 years and is the official sculptor of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

The event is free and open to the public.

Barmore starred for Tech’s Bulldogs as a player, then coached himself into enshrinement in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (2003), the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame (2003), the Louisiana Tech Athletics Hall of Fame (2003) and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame (2004).

Barmore joined the Lady Techster coaching staff in 1977. During the next glorious 25 years until his retirement in 2002, he built a record of 576-87, the highest winning percentage in the history of both men’s and women’s college basketball. He guided Louisiana Tech’s Lady Techsters to 13 Final Fours, eight national title games, and three national championships.

He served as the assistant coach from 1977 through 1982, co-head coach from 1982 through 1985, and head coach from 1985 through 2002. He was a part of 24 national postseason tournaments, made national championship appearances in 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1994 and 1998, and earned national championships in 1981 (AIAW), 1982 (NCAA) and 1988 (NCAA).

The Ruston native coached 16 Kodak All-Americans, 14 WNBA players, four Olympians, and three Wade Trophy winners. He was a nine-time Conference Coach of the Year, the 1988 Naismith National Coach of the Year, the 1990 and 1996 United States Basketball Association (USBWA) National Coach of the Year, and the 1990 USBWA co-Coach of the Decade.

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By T. Scott Boatright

Sue Martin, the director of 4 PAWS animal shelter in Ruston, is feeling emotional these days.

And those emotions are running the gamut between ecstatic and concerned.

Martin is feeling good about the Fall Festival that will celebrate the grand opening of the organization’s new off-leash dog park on Oct. 30.

But she’s also concerned about the decision by the Lincoln Parish Police Jury during its October monthly meeting to discontinue helping fund 4 PAWS for next year.

“I was stunned,” Martin said. “I’m still stunned. We didn’t see it coming. We didn’t request any more funding than we received last year. The decision was unexpected by us.”

Martin says she intends to request to be placed on the agenda for November’s Police Jury meeting to state her case in hopes the LPPJ might reconsider its decision not to fund the $24,000 requested by 4 PAWS for the 2022 fiscal year.

“I feel there’s some misinformation out there that was part of their decision that the Police Jury and people need to know about,” Martin said. “I received a lot of support from the public about this and hope they call their respective jurors to let them know how they feel and come to the meeting.”

The new dog park’s grand opening will be held from 4-6 p.m. on Oct. 30 and will have food, music and games for participants to enjoy.

“Coming right before Halloween, I think the best part will be a dog costume contest that will be part of the event,” Martin said. “We encourage everyone to put their pups in costume when they bring them. We’ll have a photo booth for pictures and the winning dog and costume will receive a $100 dog gift basket.”

The new dog park is located behind the 4 Paws shelter located at 209 Rodeo Drive. It features separate fenced-in areas — one for smaller dogs and one for big dogs — along with an obstacle course for bigger dogs, picnic tables benches, a covered weather station, “poop” clean-up stations and a covered water station. Pools will also be available during warmer weather.

For a $5 a day fee, visitors will be able to bring any number of dogs to the park, which will be open from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Monthly passes will cost $40, and a year’s pass will cost $300.

Martin said that $5 raffle tickets will be sold at the grand opening for a drawing that will give two winners free one-year passes.

“We’re excited to get ready to get the park open and have plans for other events, including a monthly “Yappy Hour” where visitors will receive appetizers along with ‘yappetizers’ for their dogs,” Martin said. “This is something that has long been needed and wanted around here, and I can’t wait until Oct. 30.”

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By T. Scott Boatright

Doing the right thing is easy when it’s the right thing for you.

That’s the simple philosophy Ruston’s Rusty Woolfong lives by.

And the actions he’s shown have been noticed by Lincoln Parish residents for decades now, as shown by Wilfong being honored as a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Club in Ruston in January of 2020, shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The honor came because of Wilfong’s skills proven by his decades of service as one of Louisiana Tech football’s most avid fans and tailgaters. 

Wilfong, who is Service Manager at Karl Malone Toyota in Ruston, is best known for providing food for others as his “service of choice,” Wilfong said.

“Rotary provides money for all kinds of things. We had our Student of the Month (luncheon) today at the Historic Fire Station. That was really neat and it’s those kinds of things the money goes to. It’s working and having fun to help other people.

“I don’t have a lot of money. I’m not a celebrity or anybody like that who can give money.  I don’t want this to sound the wrong way, but it’s almost like tithing to the church. You do what you can, and that’s what I can do. It just feels right. I’ve always done it. I really don’t think about it. I’ve always enjoyed doing it. Those are lessons I learned from Bill Porter, who I worked for a long time ago. It’s just a natural thing now. I enjoy it.”

Wilfong proved that enjoyment three weeks ago when he cooked up food for four fundraisers in one week.

“We cooked at a Tech ballgame, and then we went and cooked for all the athletes out at Tech,” Wilfong said. “That was a lot of fun. That was 700-800 people. Then I cooked steaks at the dealership (Malone Toyota) — 65 bone-in ribeyes. They were good. Then the next Saturday I went to Arkansas to cook for a fundraiser. So within a week I cooked four different times.”

Wilfong first became an avid Tech fan in the 1970s.

“I’ve been married 44 years next month,” Wilfong said. “I moved here right after I got married because my wife’s parents had moved here. We had no other family at all. We came down to visit them in ’78 and went to a Tech football game. My wife Patti and I both grew up in military families and moved around all the time.

“We never had a real hometown — a place to be from. And we came here and to be honest, just fell in love with the place. I was working in the oilfield then and we moved here and never left. By the early ’80s I was working for Porter Chevrolet. That was when we first met Karl Malone, and the relationship just stuck.”

Wilfong admits he loves smoking meat on his grills, but he has other plans for this weekend’s Tech Homecoming game against Texas-San Antonio.

“I’m going to be frying up a whole bunch of chicken wings,” Wilfong said. 

Whatever cooking/grilling equipment Wilfong doesn’t own is provided by the Malone Toyota dealership.

Wilfong cooked to provide food for truckers stranded during the February of 2021 ice storm as well as raising funds for DART, Shop-With-A-Cop, MedCamps and many others.

“I just went up to Sheridan, Arkansas, to cook for a fundraiser up there my brother, who lives up there, has been asking me to do for years,” Wilfong said. “I never would commit to it. He’s with the volunteer fire department up there and I finally told him I would do it. Two weeks ago I got up at 2:30 in the morning, left the house about 4:15 and by 7 o’clock we were cooking jambalaya.”

Wilgfong’s servant heart is something not considered or planned. It simply is what it is and his life the way he lives it.

“I have done nothing for any reason except for it was what I wanted to do — felt I needed to do,” Wilfong said. “The Paul Harris Award blew my mind. I didn’t expect it.  I appreciate it incredibly. But that’s not why I did it. I was just doing what I wanted to do — what I think is the right thing to do.”

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Meet Ruston High’s Emily Tooke

Parents: Jan and Landon Tooke

Siblings: Andrew Tooke

School: Ruston High School

Grade: 12th

Spirit Squad: Band and Colorguard 

Honors/ Activities: National Honor Society; Colorguard Captain; Advanced Band; dual enrollment at LA Tech

Favorite subject in school? History

Favorite show on Netflix? Nailed It

What’s on your play list? Any For King and Country song

Who is your biggest role model? My parents 

Early bird or night owl? Night owl

What do you love about your school? I love the connections the teachers have with the students. 

How long have you been in band and what is it that you enjoy? I have been in band for 4 years and I enjoy the friendships I have made being a part of the organization. 

What is your favorite high school moment? Getting ones and winning the state band competition. 

What are your plans after high school? I plan to attend college at Louisiana Tech and get a degree in business management. 

What are three people from history you would like to sit down and eat dinner with and why? I would definitely like to talk to Katie Lee Biegel and learn about cooking different types of food. Another person I would like to sit and have dinner with is Lin Manuel Miranda and talk about what it’s like to be behind the scenes of a musical or movie. Lastly I would like to sit and talk with one of my ancestors to learn more about my family’s history. 

 

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RUSTON, La. — Six straight wins for Ruston (6-1; 2-0 district) and three straight on the road.

Now, the Bearcats will finally be back at home Friday night at James Field at Garrett Stadium to take on the Alexandria Senior High Trojans (6-1; 1-1 district) in a district showdown that will have major implications on the 2021 District 2-5A championship.

“We knew last year the ASH was very good and unfortunately we did not get to play that game due to COVID,” Bearcat head coach Jerrod Baugh said. “It’s been a couple of years since we’ve been able to play them. (Head coach Thomas Bachman) has changed that program and expectations. I expect for it to be a great ballgame. It will be great preparation for us as we near the playoffs. I expect their team to make a deep run in the postseason.”

Ruston held on to a nail-biter last week after winning in double overtime by a final score of 56-55 at Ouachita in an instant classic that saw multiple rain delays that postponed kickoff twice and stalled the first quarter.

“It’s a struggle to figure out what to do to get back out there and get ready after that,” Baugh said of the rain delays. “You don’t want to do too much, but you don’t want to do too little. Coaches try to map out the warm-ups to be what you want to do and how you want to do it. We knew the weather was coming and that it was inevitable.”

Trailing 42-35 with just over three minutes to play in regulation against the Lions, Ruston drove 75 yards and with no timeouts remaining, junior Jaden Osborne found senior Dawson Willis in the back of the endzone to cut the deficit to 42-41. Senior Brady Beason’s extra point tied the game. All but the final seven yards of the scoring drive came on the ground as Dyson Fields, Devian Wilson and Osborne accounted for most of the drive.

“We didn’t need the clock to run out down there with us running the ball,” said Baugh “That is something we work on weekly. We have a goal line package that we work on every week. They went out and executed it. I like to see that.”

Ruston rushed for 402 total yards in the game while Ouachita totaled 326 yards on the ground as the two teams combined for just 53 yards through the air. Osborne finished 2-of-4 for 15 yards, one interception and one TD as Ruston overcame three turnovers in the win.

The game can be heard on KXKZ 107.5 FM starting with the pregame show at 6 p.m. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

PHOTO CREDIT: Reggie McLeroy

By Alexis Newman

Every school has a homecoming, but when it becomes such a widespread tradition, it can be easy to lose sight of what homecoming really means. Although the meaning is different for everyone, two Louisiana Tech students shared their personal perspectives on homecoming.

Homecoming week for Louisiana Tech started Sunday, Oct. 17, and will last until Saturday, Oct. 23. The seven-day celebration encompasses a total of 22 events.

An important aspect of the homecoming events is acknowledging alumni, according to Tech senior and homecoming court member Emily Meaney. She expressed that when it comes to participation, she wished she could see more alumni at homecoming festivities.

“The significance of homecoming at any school, I think, is recognizing that the alumni have done a lot for the school and deserve a chance to come back and participate, kind of relive their college experience a little bit,” Meaney said.

For Meaney personally, though, she finds that participating in homecoming as a student now allows her to connect with a school to which she finds a sense of belonging. She looks forward to making the memories of her college experience now and being able to return to experience these same events in the future.

“I feel like Tech is like the first place that I feel any sense of obligation to. I want to come back, I want to serve the school later in life,” Meaney said. “So being a part of homecoming now I think is just really exciting because I know that one day, I will get to come back and participate in these events later.”

Fellow senior and homecoming court member Ethan Bartolina also feels that homecoming isn’t just about attending the events in the present but a convergence of past experiences, the present, and the future as an alumnus. Bartolina said that being a member of the court is about representing the events on campus, embodying the spirit of homecoming, and acknowledging the students who have come before him.

“I absolutely love it,” Bartolina said. “I love seeing all the people who graduated before me come back. I’m going to be really honored to be able to stand on that field and represent all that.”

As members of the court, both Meaney and Bartolina are required to attend certain events, such as the downtown pep rally on Friday and the football game on Saturday, but they enjoy going to more than just what is required of them. Each of them also said that they made long-lasting friends at homecoming events in the past, and that those events now hold special connotations to them.

Events will be happening until the game on Saturday at 6 p.m. Alumni, students and Bulldog fans alike are encouraged to come out to show support and get into the homecoming spirit.

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By Jim Wilkerson

On Wednesday, Oct. 20, at the Lincoln Parish Library Board of Control Meeting, local leader, Pastor Earl Griffin, spoke to those present, urging them to keep the library open.

Griffin’s early childhood development was rooted, in part, in his local library in Grifton, North Carolina. “We had the five-and-dime, the hardware store, the grocery store, and the post office,” Griffin recalled. “We were a small community, and we needed the library. I read about the Great Wall of China and the Eiffel Tower. I loved reading about all these exotic places overseas. My imagination was ignited by all these books I read, and I became a student of history.”

“I think libraries are something that should be accessible to every child,” he concluded.

Griffin has lived in Louisiana since 2010 and has been a part of the Lincoln Parish Community since 2014. He served in the U.S. Army from 1973 to 1993, and after retiring he became a full-time pastor.

While in the Army, Griffin traveled frequently, both at home and abroad. He began his career by traveling to Panama enroute to Vietnam. However, before making his final trip to Vietnam, President Richard Nixon signed the Paris Peace Accords, thus cancelling Griffin’s deployment.

Griffin’s enlistment then took him to other countries, like Belgium and South Korea, fulfilling some of his childhood dreams to travel. He ultimately retired as a First Sergeant – the second highest enlisted rank in the Army.

After retiring in Augusta, Georgia, Griffin began preaching full-time and has put most of his effort into doing so ever since. “It’s been a fun-filled career and life,” he said.

Griffin just recently joined the Lincoln Parish Library marketing committee in the spring of 2021 and was surprised to find the library in jeopardy.

“I was shocked that the library wouldn’t be funded,” he said. “I asked Dr. Augusta Clark why the library tax did not pass. She told me it was some of the books that were put in the library,” Griffin explained. “I said, ‘Well, the library is more important than those books.’”

Griffin continued, “You are really going backwards instead of forward by getting rid of the library. There is nothing like having a hard book in your hand, and turning the pages, and taking the book with you.”

“I just encourage everyone to vote for the tax,” he ended.

The vote for the library millage renewal takes place on Saturday, Nov. 13. Early voting begins Saturday, Oct. 13.

For more about Pastor Griffin, visit his website at https://earlgriffinenterprises.com/about-me.  

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Each Monday and Friday, the Lincoln Parish Journal will post a list of upcoming events happening in the parish. If you would like to add your event to this list, please email us at lpjnewsla@gmail.com. 

Friday, Oct. 22
Class of 1970 and 1971 50th anniversary for Tech Homecoming
Noon: Alumni Awards Luncheon (Davison Athletic Center, Tech)
2 p.m.: Leon Barmore Statue Unveiling (Tech TAC area)
2 p.m.: Tech Homecoming Parade Float Contest (Railroad Park)
3 p.m.: Tech baseball v. ULM (J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park)
5:30 p.m.: Run for a VSN 2021 5k (620 Warehouse Dr., Ruston)
6 p.m.: Loyal Blue Weekend Homecoming Pep Rally (Downtown Ruston)
7-10 p.m.: Screaming Woods Haunted Trails (285 Jed Road, Ruston)
7 p.m. Louisiana Tech Soccer vs North Texas at Louisiana Tech Soccer Complex
7 p.m.: Ruston High football game v. Alexandria Senior High School
7 p.m. Cedar Creek Football vs. Oak Grove

Saturday, Oct. 23
Class of 1970 and 1971 50th anniversary for Tech Homecoming
8 a.m.: Tech Family Walking Group (Prez’s Rez Driveway, Tech)
8:30-10:30 a.m.: Breakfast with Champ (Tech; pre-registration required)
9 a.m.: City of Ruston Public Auction (701 E. Tennessee Ave., Ruston)
9 a.m.: Golden Society Casual Breakfast for Tech Homecoming (University Hall, Tech)
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market
10 a.m.: Walk A Mile in Their Shoes (Lincoln Parish Park Road)
1 p.m.: Kappa Delta Open House and Chapter 90th Anniversary Celebration (Kappa Delta, Tech)
2-4 p.m.: Yappy Hour at 4Paws Dog Park 
2:30 p.m.: Homecoming Parade (Begins in University Hall and ends at the Argent Pavilion)
3 p.m.: Alumni Association and LTAC Tailgate (Argent Alumni Pavilion, Tech)
4-8 p.m.: Grit and Grace Fall Festival (2372 Farmerville Hwy, Ruston)
6 p.m.: Louisiana Tech Football vs. UTSA (Homecoming) 
7-10 p.m.: Screaming Woods Haunted Trails (285 Jed Road, Ruston)

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Grambling State University head track & field coach Bertram Lovell and former Tiger football player Melvin P. Lee were selected to the 2021 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Hall of Fame Class. 

The class will be enshrined on Friday, Dec. 17 at 6 p.m. (Central) at the Omni Hotel in Atlanta, Ga. 

“The 2021 SWAC Hall of Fame will honor eight individuals that have played significant roles in shaping the rich history and legacies of their institution and the conference as student-athletes, coaches and administrators,” SWAC Commissioner Dr. Charles McClelland said. “We look forward to formally recognizing each of their contributions to the SWAC at the upcoming SWAC Hall of Fame in Atlanta.” 

Lovell and Lee will be inducted into the 2021 Hall of Fame Class with Alesha Causey-Nelson (Alcorn State), Robert “Rob Jay” Jeuitt (Jackson State), Marcus L. Mann (Mississippi Valley State), Cynthia Cooper-Dyke (Prairie View A&M & Texas Southern), Ernest “Arrowhead” Holmes (Texas Southern) and Willie Ray (Alcorn State). 

Lovell, who graduated from Grambling State in 1977, collected 36 conference titles along with 36 Coach of the Year awards.  

He was an All-American and All-SWAC selection. Lovell also was a former Olympian and a member of the Trinidad and Tobago 4×400-meter relay team during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, German. In addition, he earned a bronze medal for his participation in the Caribbean Games, hosted in Venezuela. 

Lee, who passed away this past August, played for the Tiger football team in 1952 and saw action as a center and linebacker. He helped the undefeated Grambling State  football team win the program’s first Black College Football National Championship in 1995 as a tri-captain.  

The New Orleans native earned a pair of Mid-Western Conference honors (1952-55). In addition, Lee was a participant in the Bayou Classic XXIII as an offensive coordinator under legendary head coach Eddie Robinson. Lee later served as an offensive line coach for 37 years at GSU. 

The Melvin Lee Award was initiated in 2016 by Grambling State head coach Broderick Fobbs. Lee was inducted into the 2010 Grambling Legends Hall of Fame. 

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There was a fellow in college we called Neil “How Ya Doing” Hughes. Neil was a theological student and a hopeful minister. If Neil stuck with his studies, I am sure he is a successful and faithful minister. Neil did have a bad habit. He would ask you, “How ya doing?” No matter what you said Neil’s response was always, “that’s great.” You could tell Neil that your father was in jail, your mother ran off with the postman, and you were being thrown out of school for cheating. Neil would respond, “That’s great” and he would keep walking toward his destination. Neil never stopped to listen, Neil could call everyone by name, but he didn’t know people. He came off as being insecure and superficial. I’m sure that as he matured, he learned to listen carefully, especially if he became a pastor. 

We are all guilty of that. There are times that I don’t listen. If you tell me anything on Saturday night, it will not register. My brain has moved to processing the final draft of Sunday’s sermon. Telling me something on Sunday morning is even worse. The only thing in my brain is the sermon. I half kiddingly tell people that on Sunday morning I don’t even know my name. Between services I am concentrating on how to “fix” the sermon from the previous service. If you want to tell me something important you should wait until Monday, otherwise it probably won’t register.

Often, we don’t listen when others are talking. While our listening can be on a superficial level so can what we reveal about ourselves.

We have all been guilty of not listening, but are we guilty of asking a question we really don’t want answered? Are we honest when someone asks us, “How are you?” Have you noticed that people who have bad things happening in their lives will often respond to that question with the answer, “I’m fine.”

George, I know you came home after being laid off and found your house on fire, so “how are you?”

Nine times out of ten, George will tell you that he is just fine.

“I’m fine.” Are you really?

I reserve the word “fine” for people who don’t really care, for people who don’t really want to know how things are, for people who are clueless, for people who are going to dispense Hallmark wisdom, and especially people who want me to change as a precondition for love.

Unspoken behind, “I’m fine,” is an acronym for “Freaked out, Insecure, Neurotic, and Emotional, but I don’t trust you enough to tell you that.”

When you come to church you need to know this, “I’m not OK. You are not OK. That is OK.” We all come to church for the same reason, to let Jesus transform us from being “fine” to being found by One who loves us.

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Each year during the months of October and November, anglers sit down and look at all the different schedules for the many bass tournament trails that exist. There are so many circuits today that fishermen have to choose what they are going pursue the next year. Anglers today are pulled in so many different directions that it’s almost impossible to fish everything going on. You have a great selection of team circuits (two anglers in a boat) like Bass Champs, The Texas Tournament Trail and now the Pro Texas Team Trail. The other pro/am tours that are on an angler’s radar for the next season, include the ABA (American Bass Anglers) Open Series, The ABA Solo Top 150, Major League Fishing BFL (Bass Fishing League) and the MLF’s Toyota Series. Each of these has a consistent following and each represent different levels of fishing competition. Many of the same anglers follow at least two of these and a few follows three. The Toyota Series is the best of the best and has some anglers actually make a living following this circuit.

For me, at some point in my career, I have followed each of these, but the two that I focus on now are with American Bass Anglers (ABA). For the last few years, I have fished the Open Series and now the new Solo Top 150 that started this year. The ABA Tour has what they call the Ray Scott National Championship. This is, and continues to be, a great event with anywhere from 175 to 200 pros and co-anglers from all over the country. I have qualified for this event 5 of the last 6 years including next year’s 2022 at Lake Eufaula. ABA does a great job of keeping the cost down on all their tours while trying to accommodate the weekend warriors (working man). Their new Solo 150 Pro Tour is a prime example of that with a $600 entry fee for a two-day event with the chance to win $20,000 dollars. No other circuit offers a better payback than ABA does.  

For me, it’s been the tale of two seasons. The first half of the year was not anything special, but I kept myself in contention with hopes of a better second half. At one point, I thought that my season was doomed. But I had a strong finish in the last two ABA Open Series events with a 2nd place finish at Sam Rayburn and a 7th place finish at the ABA Two-Day Championship on Lake Texoma. This landed me a 5th place overall in the Angler of the Year standing for 2021 and qualified me for the Ray Scott National Championship at Lake Eufaula Alabama. This is an event I’m really looking forward to next April!

I’m still currently fishing the new TTO Pro Team Tour with one more event left for 2021 at Lake Sam Rayburn on November 20th & 21st. Even though my tournaments are coming to an end, I will use this time to experiment and learn new techniques or maybe get better at finesse fishing. But one thing is for certain, I do not worry about winterizing my boat as I continue to fish all through the winter months and prepare for 2022. So, this fall, enjoy the fall feeding frenzy and get ready for some of the best bass fishing action of the year! Good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook!

Steve Graf, Co-Host
Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show
And Tackle Talk Live

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Rachel Calahan 
July 25, 1937 – October 20, 2021 
Arrangements to be announced 

Claude “Buddy” Wright  
February 12, 1940 – October 19, 2021  
Graveside Service: 2 p.m. Friday, Oct 22, 2021 at Oak Bluff Memorial Park in Port Neches, Texas  

William B Brantley   
August 25, 1963 – October 19, 2021   
Visitation: Temple Baptist Church, Ruston LA; Monday, Oct 25, 2021, from 5:00 PM-7:00 PM   
Memorial Service: Temple Baptist Church, Ruston LA; Tuesday, Oct 26, 2021, at 10:00 AM  

Virginia Kay Goss  
March 25, 1942 – October 19, 2021  
Visitation: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – Ruston from 5-7 p.m. Friday, October 22, 2021  
Service: Burkhalter Chapel of Trinity United Methodist Church in Ruston at 2 p.m. Saturday, October 23, 2021  
Cemetery: Vienna Cemetery on Saturday, October 23, 2021 

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