Editor’s Note: This is Part Two in a two-part series. 

Through collaborative efforts between local researchers and health care providers, along with community participation and engagement, progress is being made in gathering data that allows scientists to better understand how COVID-19 and variants might impact public health. 

Louisiana Tech, Grambling State, and LSU Health Shreveport (LSUHS) have teamed with local organizations like the GSU’s Foster Johnson Health Center, TechCare, and The Health Hut to provide the opportunity for high quality testing and viral genome sequencing for minority and marginalized communities. 

The project serves as a significant illustration of teamwork, according to Tech students involved in the research. 

“Personally, I facilitate packaging and collection of specimens between the partners to make sure that data is entered into the platform,” said Biology student Caroline Dupree. “Taking care of our local community ‘family’ to me is what makes helping with the Rockefeller Foundation grant so meaningful. If our work leads to advances in treatment, care, and overall long-term advances to our future generations, then we have to count that as a step in the right direction.” 

Geri Gravois is a Biology major minoring in pre-medical illustration with Tech’s VISTA (Visual Integration of Science Through Art) Center, where faculty from Art, Biology, and Biomedical Engineering work together to offer students a unique opportunity to communicate science through art. 

“I have worked over the summer to create illustrations for our website with the primary goal to reach out to the public and convey approachability and community,” said Gravois, a sophomore from Zachary. “This project hopes to reach as many of the public as possible, encourage them to get tested for COVID-19 if they show symptoms, and consent for the viral genome of their tests to be sent off for sequencing. Knowing viral strains that occur in the population helps us know COVID-19 evolution and spreading patterns.” 

Taking care of the community is as important as building trust with and educating the public on this type of health issue. 

“When explaining the research study with patients, our staff informs them that the research is designed to determine the presence of viruses and the different type of variants within a community population,” said Chelsea Streets, who along with co-worker and fellow Tech graduate Jackie White, supports the project through her work at The Health Hut. “We explain to them that this information will help researchers better understand the virus. All patients have been accepting and willing to help any way that they can because they know that this research will be a big help to combat COVID-19. We feel that the research is moving in the right direction.” 

Another goal for the project is to be a trusted resource in Lincoln Parish, Kim said. 

“I think people who live here and have some kind of ties to Grambling, Louisiana Tech, or LSU Health Shreveport — maybe they are alumni or their kids go here or they know someone who works here — they might trust us more than big federal agencies,” Kim said. “We’re making progress here engaging with people through our partner clinics and working on outreach events.” 

During its Oct. 16 Homecoming Weekend, Grambling held “Health Starts at Home,” an on-campus health fair to share information and raise awareness. 

“Community engagement is crucial, but it’s also the hard part; sequencing the virus in the lab is easier if you ask me,” Kim said. “Jamie (Newman) took the lead on rolling out our website built specifically for our community that is giving us a platform for that engagement.” 

“We have been pleasantly surprised by the willingness of the community to engage and to participate in this initiative,” Newman said.  “In July and early August when there was a fourth surge in Louisiana, we saw that too (in northwest Louisiana) with the cases showing up at the sites we are sampling from. That has dropped recently, and while we hope we don’t see another surge, it does mean there is a diminishing number of samples at this time.” 

The project is hopeful of getting at least 200 samples. It has received “well over 100 samples” so far, Kamil said. In achieving this goal, this team of scientists and clinicians are building a model for how disease monitoring can be done locally and how academic institutions can partner with their communities to ensure representation and improve health outcomes. 

“A key aspect of this work however is to rapidly share the data so that scientists and public health workers all around the world can study how coronavirus is evolving,” Kamil said. “In the near future we hope to add other viruses, like flu and RSV, to the menu of infections we are tracking. 

“Anyone can help by sharing a sample if you happen to test positive for COVID-19, or educating others to do so as well, or ask us how you can get involved in the work, and in teaching others about viruses.” 

If you have recently tested positive for COVID-19 and want to provide a sample for genomic sequencing, or if you are a health care professional or community organizer who is interested in partnering with the project to bring viral genome sequencing to your community, find out how the project can help you here. 

Please drive safely.

Throughout the holiday season, millions of Americans will be on our roadways eager to spend time with family and friends. According to the American Automobile Association, 2021 is expected to be one of the busiest travel years due to new health and safety guidelines. An estimated 53.4 million people will travel this season compared to 47.1 million in 2020. This increase in travel could also potentially lead to an increase in motor vehicle crashes.

In 2020, nearly 800 people were injured and eight people were killed in fatal crashes in Louisiana during the Thanksgiving holiday period (November 25-29).  In an effort to decrease the number of crashes and keep our roadways safe, Louisiana State Police will be proactively patrolling our state’s highways during the Thanksgiving travel period focusing on impaired driving and occupant protection, as well as aggressive and distracted drivers.

Last year, nearly half of fatal crashes investigated involved impaired drivers. Alcohol and drugs can impair visual ability, alter sense of time and space, impair fine motor skills needed to operate a motor vehicle, and decrease reaction times. Troopers have a “zero tolerance” policy and those caught driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be arrested. Motorists are encouraged to either designate a sober driver or utilize an alternate ride home before consuming alcohol.

Louisiana State Troopers and local law enforcement partners will be working to enforce the state’s seat belt laws as part of NHTSA’s high visibility Click It or Ticket seat belt awareness campaign.  Louisiana law requires all vehicle occupants to be properly restrained, regardless of their seating position, day or night.  While not all crashes are survivable, wearing a seat belt is the single most effective action motorists can do to reduce the risk of injury or death in the event of a crash. Troopers along with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission urge all drivers to ensure everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained. Every Trip, Every Time!

Aggressive driving behavior, such as speeding and distracted driving, are among the leading causes of highway crashes. Speeding and driver distractions can reduce a driver’s ability to react to a roadway hazard and extend their distance necessary to stop a vehicle. Distracted driving can take many forms, but all remain extremely dangerous to everyone on our roads.

As you plan your travel route this year, visit www.511la.org or dial 511 for the latest road conditions, including closures and construction. The Louisiana 511 phone app is also available for download.  Motorists that witness hazardous road conditions or reckless drivers are encouraged to call *LSP (*577) and report that activity to the nearest Louisiana State Police troop location.

Every day, Troopers witness preventable crashes that lead to lifelong consequences. As you travel this Thanksgiving holiday period, we ask for your help in making Louisiana’s roadways safe. We are thankful to serve the citizens of Louisiana every day, and we hope you and your family have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving holiday!

Louisiana Tech head coach Eric Konkol celebrated his 45^th birthday on Wednesday.

Konkol’s Bulldogs gave him a nice gift as Keaston Willis hit seven three-pointers to lead Louisiana Tech to a 96-74 win over ULM Wednesday night at the Thomas Assembly Center.

Happy birthday, Coach.

After a strong shooting performance this past Friday at Northwestern State, LA Tech (4-1) got even hotter against its I-20 foe in what was the second game of the Lanky Wells Classic.  The Bulldogs shot a blistering 54.7 percent from the field, 48.1 percent from long range and sank 25 free throws. 

It was another fast start just like against the Demons as well.  The Bulldogs opened with a quick 7-0 run thanks to back-to-back dunks by Kenneth Lofton, Jr. and Cobe Williams, followed by the first of seven triples by Willis who finished with a season-high and game-high 22 points. 

 The transfer from Incarnate Word drilled two more late in the first half (one of which was an and-one) as part of a 16-5 run to close out the stanza, giving the ‘Dogs a commanding 46-26 lead at intermission.

“The season is really a marathon, but the game is a sprint,” said Konkol. “Any type of sprint, you want to get out of the blocks fast.  You want to establish yourself in the game.  We talked about our energy and our effort, and making the type of plays that can really snowball into really good plays.  The team did a really nice job of getting off to a good start defensively and sharing the basketball.  We got a lot of really good looks.”

The halftime break did not cool him off.  He came out and hit two more in the first three minutes of the second half, putting the Bulldogs well ahead at 56-30 and well on their way to their fourth straight win.

While the threes were raining from the perimeter, Kenneth Lofton, Jr. was doing his usual work down low with his third straight double-double (season-high 19 points and 12 rebounds).  Amorie Archibald matched his season-high with 17 points and Cobe Williams tallied a season-high 14 points to give the Bulldogs four players in double figures. 

Tech improved to 55-36 all-time against ULM.

Photo: Sadie Patton

Cameron Christian scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Grambling State to a 71-61 win over Louisiana Christian College Wednesday afternoon at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.

Christian recorded a double-double with 10 of those boards coming on the defensive glass, along with five assists and a pair of steals.

Grambling State (1-4) led most of the game. However, with 5:15 remaining in the game, Louisiana Christian College (4-3) took a 56-54 lead before the Tigers closed on a 17-5 run.

Grambling State shot 47.2 percent (25-of-53) from the floor and 66.7 percent (14-of-21) from the free-throw line while Louisiana Christian (4-3) went 25-of-63 shooting (39.7 percent) from the field and 4-of-6 (66.7 percent) from the charity stripe.

AJ Taylor added 14 points, seven rebounds and one assist while Grambling State recorded 20 points off the bench in the win.

Kae’ron Baker paced the Wildcats with 19 points, on 7-of-17 shooting, including 4-of-12 from the long range, with seven rebounds, six assists, and two steals

Grambling State will head to Phoenix, Ariz. to compete in the Boost Mobile HBCU Challenge hosted by Chris Paul. The Tigers will tip off against Morgan State on Sunday at 9:30 p.m. (central) at the Footprint Center.

Louisiana Tech head coach Josh Taylor announced a pair of signees with the addition of infielder Kaylee Grealy (Fresno, Calif./Clovis North HS) and catcher Ella Rose Wright (Lee’s Summit, Missouri/Lee’s Summit North HS).

Both Grealy and Wright join the 2022 Signing Class which includes utility Paris Endris (Airline HS/Bossier City, La.), pitcher Allie Floyd (Boling HS/East Bernard, Texas) and utility Alannah Rogers (Willow Canyon HS/Surprise, Arizona).

Grealy is an infielder who lettered for Clovis North High School in California as a freshman and sophomore, leading the program to the 2020 California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) championship. During her sophomore season, she batted .650 with 13 runs and eight extra base hits during a Covid-19 shortened season. She then moved to Texas as a junior and played at Prosper High School, although got her early in the season. She is now back at Clovis North for her senior year. 

“Kaylee is a dynamic middle infielder with gap to gap pop in her bat,” said Taylor. “Her ability to control her barrel and use the entire field while bringing a fierce competitiveness will allow her to compete right away at this level. We couldn’t be more excited to add Kaylee to the roster next season and look forward to seeing her compete in a LA Tech uniform.”

Grealy ranked 139^th by Extra Innings 2022 Extra Elite Top 100 and was ranked 95^th among infielders by Extra Innings. The recipient of the Bronco Athlete Award as a sophomore at Clovis North, Grealy plays travel ball for Kevin Shelton and the Texas Glory – the same organization that produced former Lady Techsters Morgan Turkoly, Preslee Gallaway, Marilyn Rizzato and more.

“I chose Louisiana Tech because it feels like home,” said Grealy. “The entire staff at Louisiana Tech is amazing and so welcoming. I couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else.”

Wright is a catcher who has played for Lee’s Summit North High School in Missouri, helping lead the program for the past three years. She earned first team all-conference and second team all-district as a junior while being named the Defensive Player of the Year. She was ranked No. 90 Elite Player for the 2022s by Extra Innings and was named to the Extra Innings 16U All-Summer Team.

“Ella is a polished defender behind the plate,” said Taylor. “She has a deep understanding of the game and how it should be played. Ella brings a fiery competitiveness to the field each time she steps on it. We are excited to welcome Ella to the Tech family.”

Wright plays travel ball for the DaMarini Aces and coach Ryan Taylor. This past summer she batted .378 with 10 doubles, four home runs and 78 RBI during the 2021 summer travel ball season.

“From my first visit to Louisiana Tech, it felt like home from the coaching staff to the players to the support staff to the community of Ruston,” said Wright. “Being an out-of-state player, feeling comfortable away from home was extremely important to myself and my family. I have no doubt I will continue to grow on and off the field, as well as in the classroom. I can’t wait for these next four years at Tech.”

By Thomas Stodghill, IV

When Disney was commemorating the second anniversary of its streaming service, Disney+, “Jungle Cruise” got added to the list of many movies you can watch on the platform without paying extra. Previously, “Jungle Cruise” was put on Disney+ as part of their Premier Access program.

I did not know much about “Jungle Cruise” going into it, except for one or two of the jokes. After watching it, I think it is a good movie for the family to watch.

The movie, based on Walt Disney’s theme park attraction of the same name, is about Captain Frank Wolff (Dwayne Johnson) taking a scientist (Emily Blunt) and her brother (Jack Whitehall) through the Amazon River to find the Tree of Life, but people are trying to hunt them down for an ancient artifact.

The plot is an enjoyable time, with Disney taking notes from what made the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies work. It took ideas from the theme park ride, such as the lush jungle scenery, the sights of the river, and yes, the lame dad jokes.

This movie delivers all the fun of the Jungle Cruise ride while delivering a plot that is fun to watch, even if it is mostly going from one point to another. It also delivers a good plot twist, revealing more about the legends of the Amazon River.

Another part I enjoyed about the movie is the acting. Dwayne Johnson delivers some good dad jokes, even if they make you groan. Emily Blunt plays a resourceful botanist who wants to find the tree but wants to make sure everyone can make it.

Jesse Plemons plays an enjoyable antagonist, Prince Joachim, who is also trying to find the Tree of Life. He gets the help of three cursed conquistadors to help find the Tree and claim it for Germany.

Another highlight of the movie is the visual effects. The cursed conquistadors look good, each bringing a new threat. The other visual highlight in Proxima, Frank’s pet companion. Proxima was added via motion capture, and she plays around like an obedient dog. 

“Jungle Cruise” is an enjoyable adventure movie. This is one of the better movies Disney has made based on their theme park attractions, and it delivers on the acting and humor. This is worth a watch if you have Disney+.

On February 11, 1802, Lydia Maria Francis was born in Medford, Massachusetts.  She went by her middle name, Maria, pronounced Muh-rye-uh.  She was well-educated and after finishing high school became a school teacher.  In addition to teaching, Maria wrote for newspapers and other publications on a wide variety of subjects.  She became something of a local celebrity.  At 22 years old, Maria published her first book entitled “Hobomok” too much success.  Her second book entitled “The Rebels: A Tale of the Revolution”, was set in her home state of Massachusetts.  It, too, was successful.  She wrote a cookbook, “The Frugal Housewife”, which was considered the authoritative cookbook for much of the United States. 

Maria’s passion, however, was for the abolition of slavery.  In 1828, Maria married David Lee Child, a Massachusetts lawyer.  Together, Maria and her husband edited the National Anti-Slavery Standard in New York.  As early as 1833, Maria fought for the abolitionist cause with her “Appeal for that class of Americans called Africans,” the first anti-slavery work printed in book form in the United States.  In 1859, when John Brown was arrested for leading an anti-slavery raid in Harpers Ferry, Virginia, Maria wrote to Brown and volunteered to be his nurse.  She sent a copy of her letter to Virginia’s governor who denied her request and reprimanded her for her sentiments.  The author of her obituary contended that Maria’s writings “undoubtedly had a great effect in helping to create the anti-slavery sentiment of New England,” and noted that “her pen never grew weary in the cause of abolition until the unexpected end was reached.”     

Maria is less remembered for her anti-slavery writings and more for a simple poem she wrote about the anticipation she felt at visiting her grandfather’s house near the Mystic River in Medford, Massachusetts.  If you visit Medford today, you can still see Lydia’s grandfather’s house and the Mystic River.  However, the house looks much different than the one from Maria’s childhood.  Maria’s grandfather transformed the small single-story farmhouse into a majestic two-story home.  Sadly, the lush woodland surrounding grandfather’s house has been replaced by residential housing.  You will probably recognize her poem though it has been altered with the passage of time.  Originally, Maria’s poem spoke of “wood” in the singular usage rather than its plural form, “woods.”  Maria’s poem mentions going to her grandfather’s house, not grandmother’s house, and most of us incorrectly associate it with Christmas.  Lydia Maria Child’s poem recalls a visit on Thanksgiving Day: 

Over the river and through the wood,
To grandfather’s house we go;
The horse knows the way
To carry the sleigh
Through the white and drifted snow. 
Over the river and through the wood–Oh, how the wind doth blow!
It stings the toes
And bites the nose,
As over the ground we go. 
Over the river and through the wood,
To have a first-rate play, hear the bells ring,“Ting-a-ling-ling!”
Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day! 
Over the river and through the wood,
Trot fast my dapple grey!
Spring over the ground,
Like a hunting hound!
For this is Thanksgiving Day. 
Over the river and through the wood,
And straight through the barnyard gate,
We seem to go
Extremely slow,
It is so hard to wait! 
Over the river and through the wood
Now grandmother’s cap I spy!
Hurrah for the fun!
Is the pudding done?
Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!  

Source: 
1.  The Paxton Record (Paxton, Illinois), November 28, 1872, p.3. 
2.  Hartford Courant (Hartford, Connecticut), October 21, 1880, p.2. 

Jimmie Parker O’Neal 
May 4, 1927 – November 22, 2021 
Visitation: Alabama Presbyterian Church, Friday, November 26, 2021, 10:00 am – 11:00 am 
Service: Alabama Presbyterian Church, Friday, November 26, 2021, 11:00 am 
Cemetery: Sibley Cemetery Choudrant, Friday, November 26, 2021 

Florence Odelle Walton Strickland 
October 27, 1928 – November 22, 2021 
Visitation: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – 209 S. Bonner, Ruston, Friday, November 26, 2021, 9:00 am – 10:00 am 
Service: 
Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – 209 S. Bonner, Ruston, Friday, November 26, 2021, 10:00 am 
Cemetery: Forest Lawn Cemetery, Hwy 80, Ruston Friday, November 26, 2021 

West Monroe – This morning, shortly before 6:00 a.m., Louisiana State Police Troop F responded to a single-vehicle crash involving a pedestrian on LA Hwy 143 near Wall Williams Road.  This crash claimed the life of a pedestrian that was walking in the roadway. 

The initial investigation revealed a 2019 GMC Yukon, driven by 33-year-old Audrey Ewing of Farmerville, was traveling southbound on LA Hwy 143.  For reasons still under investigation, a pedestrian, 38-year-old Ronald Williams Jr. of West Monroe, was walking north in the southbound lane of travel.  Ewing was unable to take evasive action and struck Williams.   

Williams was pronounced dead at the scene.  Toxicology samples were obtained and will be submitted for analysis.  Ewing was not injured during the crash.

Pedestrians and motorists alike are urged to remain vigilant while on area roadways and pay close attention to their surroundings.  Crashes involving pedestrians can often be avoided by following some basic safety guidelines.  Pedestrians should wear light-colored or reflective clothing and should always avoid walking on the roadway in dark areas.  Pedestrians must also assume that approaching motorists cannot see them, especially at night.

The crash remains under investigation. 

In 2021, Troop F has investigated 55 fatal crashes resulting in 66 deaths. 

Louisiana Tech hosts I-20 foe ULM tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the Thomas Assembly Center in the final game of the Lanky Wells Classic presented by the Dawghouse Sports Grill.

It will be the 91^st meeting all-time between the two programs with Tech having won eight straight. The Bulldogs are 15-0 all-time against ULM at the TAC.

The game can be heard on the LA Tech Sports Network on 107.5 FM with Malcolm Butler (PxP) and Jack Thigpen (Color) providing the call of the action. The pregame show starts at 6 p.m. Fans can also watch it streamed live with a paid subscription to CUSA.tv.

LA Tech (3-1) grabbed its first road win of the season this past Friday with a convincing 83-64 win at Northwestern State.  The Demons scored the first two points of the game, but the Bulldogs responded with a 15-0 run and had the lead in double figures the rest of the way.

 Kenneth Lofton, Jr. and Amorie Archibald each recorded a season-high 17 points in the win.  For Lofton, Jr., it was his second straight double-double (and 11th of his career) as he also pulled down a team-high 11 rebounds.  Archibald connected on three triples, helping him move up to 29th on LA Tech’s all-time career scoring list.  

Keaston Willis made his first career start as a Bulldog, netting 15 points.  The Incarnate Word transfer has registered 15+ points in three of the four games this season. 

All three of these Bulldogs are averaging double-digit points with Lofton leading the way at 13.5 points and 9.8 boards per contest.  Archibald (11.3) and Willis (12.8) have combined to make 18 of the team’s 33 three-pointers.

After losing big on the road to SEC opponents LSU and Auburn, ULM (2-2) has won big against Champion Christian (114-59) and Northwestern State (96-66). 

Six Warhawks scored in double figures in the 30-point victory over the Demons.  They ended up forcing 25 turnovers and racked up 15 steals in the blowout.  They are averaging 12.0 steals per game, which ranks 10th in the country.

Eight different ULM players are averaging at least seven points per game.  Leading the charge are Trey Boston at 13.0 points and Andre Jones at 10.8 points per game. 

Techsters 77, Nicholls State 48

Keiunna Walker scored 18 points to lead Louisiana Tech to a 77-48 win over Nicholls State Monday night at the TAC.

The Lady Techsters improved to 3-1 on the season with the win, while Nicholls State fell to 2-3 overall with the loss.

“I liked our energy and effort to start the third quarter,” said Tech head coach Brooke Stoehr. “We were a little sloppy and loose in the first half.  I am really proud of the way the group competed in the second half. We have to be consistent with our concentration for 40 minutes. We will continue to focus on sustaining that effort and consistency with this young group early in the season.”

A slow opening frame saw the Lady Techsters stretch the scoreboard on back-to-back three’s by sophomore Salma Bates. Bates’ threes ignited an 8-2 run, giving the Lady Techsters a 19-12 lead at the end of the first period.

The second quarter saw the Colonels and the Lady Techsters trade baskets early on. A trio of layups by sophomore’s Lotte Sant and Anna Larr Roberson and freshman Amaya Brannon, pushed the Lady Techsters lead to 33-23 at the break.

LA Tech held Nicholls State at bay, as the Lady Techsters forced seven turnovers to spark a 13-0 run, giving Tech a 46-23 lead with 7:59 left in the third quarter. The Colonels cut the deficit down to 50-35 with 3:16 left in the period, but back-to-back layups by Roberson and Brannon extended the Lady Techsters lead to 60-41 at the end of the third.

The Lady Techsters opened the fourth quarter with a 13-2 flurry as six different Lady Techsters scored to help give Tech as 73-43 advantage. Senior Jadona Davis closed out the scoring for Tech as the Lady Techsters claimed the victory 77-48.

The Lady Techsters will travel to Boulder, Colo. to take part in the Colorado Thanksgiving Classic. The Lady Techsters will square off with Boise State on Friday at 3 p.m. CT before matching up with Colorado on Saturday at 2 p.m. CT.

Thanksgiving dinner is not complete without Thanksgiving dessert, and State Representative Chris Turner has a chocolate pie recipe ready to prepare just in time for the holiday.

Representative Chris Turner’s Chocolate Pie

Ingredients:
1 pre-baked pie crust
1 1/2 C sugar
3 T flour
3 T cocoa powder
1 1/2 C milk
3 egg yolks
1/2 stick butter
Meringue:  3 egg whites, 1/2 C sugar, 1/2 tsp vanilla, 1 tsp cream of tartar, pinch of salt.  

Directions:
Combine sugar, flour and cocoa.  

Combine milk and yolks; beat well.  

Mix together wet and dry ingredients and set aside.  

Melt butter in saucepan.  

Add pie mixture and stir on medium low heat continuously until mixture thickens.  

Pour into pie crust.  

For meringue, beat egg whites with electric mixer for 2 minutes until fluffy.  

Add remaining ingredients and mix until soft peaks form.  

Top pie with meringue and bake until golden brown.

The Tigers will be in the house!

Grambling State men’s basketball team will play in the inaugural Bridge Builder Classic against Jackson State on Saturday, Jan. 29 at the Mitchell Center on the campus of the University of South Alabama. 

“We excited about the opportunity to play in the inaugural Bridge Builder Classic and against a conference foe,” Grambling State head men’s basketball coach Donte’ Jackson said. “This opportunity will allow for us to gain exposure in south Alabama and we look forward to playing against Jackson State.” 

The game was created to enhance exposure for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and highlight the roles that HBCUs play in educating aspiring professionals and developing future leaders. The Bridge Builder Classic will serve as the “ultimate HBCU basketball experience” in the City of Mobile. 

“We are excited to host the inaugural Bridge Builder Classic in the City of Mobile. It has been our goal to invest in the exposure of HBCUs here in the Gulf Coast area,” says Kevin Ball, Managing Partner of the Bridge Builder Classic. “With the inception of the Gulf Coast Challenge and Bridge Builder Classic, the City of Mobile is quickly becoming recognized as the ‘Home of HBCU Events.’ We anticipate that the Bridge Builder Classic will become the premier showcase of the HBCU talent housed within Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Basketball.” 

The HBCU basketball experience will feature regional SWAC teams including Alabama State University, Jackson State University, Grambling State University and Bethune-Cookman University. The event will also feature several Alabama high school teams including Williamson Mobile County High School (Mobile, Ala.), C.F. Vigor High School (Prichard, Ala.), Mattie T. Blount High School (Prichard, Ala.), George W. Carver High School (Montgomery, Ala.), Jess Lanier High School (Bessemer, Ala.), and John L. Leflore High School (Mobile, Ala.). 

“The Bridge Builder Classic is unique because, for the first time, we will showcase local high school teams on the same day & floor as collegiate teams,” says Ball. “The exposure of the high school players to the collegiate atmosphere & programs will be immeasurable. We know that the City of Mobile is a basketball town, and we anticipate a good turnout for this full day of games.” 

Tentative Schedule 

High School Games: 

10:00 am – Williamson Mobile County High School vs C.F. Vigor High School 

Noon – Mattie Blount High School vs George W. Carver High School 

2:00 pm – Jess Lanier High School vs John L. Leflore High School 

College Games: 

5:00 pm – Jackson State University vs Grambling State University 

7:00 pm – Bethune-Cookman University vs Alabama State University 

For information about schedule of events, tickets and much more, please visit www.bridgebuilderclassic.com or follow the event on Facebook and Instagram @bridgebuilderclassic. 

By Wesley Harris

One of the most popular butterflies, the monarch, is winging its way south through Louisiana for the winter. Researchers are calling on the public to report monarch butterfly sightings in eight southern states.

Scientists want to hear about sightings from December 1 to March 1 in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. The observations should be reported at journeynorth.org.

Monarch migration is one of the greatest spectacles in the animal kingdom. In the fall, monarchs east of the Rocky Mountains migrate south to Mexico and Florida. Monarchs west of the Rockies migrate to southern California and Mexico. During the fall migration, monarchs may feed upon wildflowers in Louisiana. 

Researchers say information on sightings may help conservation efforts by determining if the butterflies can spend the winter as non-breeding adults in the southern U.S. Monarch populations have declined significantly over the past two decades. A 2016 study predicted the monarch could be extinct within 20 years.

Upon their return in spring, female monarchs search for native milkweeds to lay their eggs. However, exotic milkweeds, milkweeds treated with pesticides, and nonnative plants that seem to copy milkweeds can lead to egg deposition on a dead-end host leading to complete reproductive failure. Because monarchs live less than a year, it may take five generations of monarchs (mating, laying eggs, and developing from caterpillars) to complete a full cycle of migration.

The orange-flowering butterfly milkweed is common in north Louisiana, but land clearing and habitat destruction has eliminated many of the plants the monarch needs to survive.

With a global population of 200 to 300 million, monarchs seem secure as a species, but drastic declines and dramatically fluctuating overwintering populations have alarmed scientists. The main threats include loss of host milkweed plants, overuse of pesticides and herbicides, and loss of migratory stopover and overwintering sites.

By T. Scott Boatright

After watching his Panthers go 7-5 this season and reaching the second round of the Class 1A playoffs, Lincoln Preparatory School head football coach Glen Hall looked back on the past season while also considering what his team might have ahead in 2022.

The most questionable Panther for Hall to have a shot at playing college is linebacker Emmanuel Bryant.

And for Bryant, Hall said it’s all about experience.

“If Bryant would have played last year he would have been on everybody’s radar this season,” Hall said. “He came out and played incredibly for us, and for him, it was all new. He had never played a real, regular season organized football game before this season. And he tore it up.

“He’s probably going to have to try and make it as a walk-on, but only because he doesn’t have that football IQ. He’s still learning the game. I still hope someone might take a chance on him based on pure, raw potential.”

The only question mark for 6-3, 280-pound Panthers offensive lineman Imani Marcel is whether he’ll get a shot at FBS play based on his sheer size and strength alone or if an FCS school would be the better route for him.

“He’s a legitimate shot, probably as a guard on the FCS level,” Hall said about Marcel. “But the fact he’s versatile enough to also play center makes him even more attractive to colleges. I know he was able to help us a couple of times with that role this season. It’s very hard to find a good college center with his feet and strength. He’s a great snapper who does a good job with both the quarterback under center and in the shotgun and on punts.

“I think FCS would be his best bet because those schools can give him a year or two to put in him and help him get his weight under control. Then they’ll have a heckuva player. The big DI schools want you to be able to come in and play right now.”

Ta’Rell Simmons (6-0, 160) had an outstanding season as Lincoln Prep’s quarterback, but probably better projects on the college level as his original position as a Panther — wide receiver.

“He can play that doggone receiver position,” Hall said about Simmons. “I hate I had to pull him from receiver to quarterback, but I really didn’t have a choice. But he never complained. With him, it’s team first. He ran with it, but between him and (Dmitry) Payne, you’re talking about two guys that accounted for most of our scoring. And Simmons can play defensive back, too.”

Hall sees his biggest weapon — Payne — as signing as an athlete to play college football after his return to the gridiron this season after taking a year off and excelling as a return specialist, receiver, ball carrier and defensive back.

“Payne is a shut-down corner,” Hall said. “I used him at cornerback as a sophomore and he was doing great until a shoulder injury shut him down for the last four games. He scored enough times on returns this season (eight) where someone should want him to do that. If it was me I would sign him as a returner and let him play cornerback, too. He’s already defined as a cornerback and knows things like the ‘step and slide,’ he knows the ‘mirror motor,’ he knows everything that most college guys are just starting to get on that level.”

Even with nine seniors moving on, Payne believes he has a solid group of returnees for 2022, starting with Braylin Mayfield, a receiver who saw late season action behind center for the Panthers.

“Mayfield is definitely going to be the quarterback,” Hall said. “He had a rocket for an arm and we’ll spend the offseason teaching what he needs to know to help us at quarterback next season. He’s really mobile, too. He has the potential to be the prototype quarterback college coaches really look for.”

Running back and defensive back Chauncy Harper has started since he was a freshman and will be back for his senior season, and the Buggs brothers — Jamarion (wide receiver/cornerback) and Jamarius (running back/strong safety and defensive end) was both coming off productive seasons as junior starters and will be asked to play increased roles next season, as will others like lineman Lathan Elmore and linebacker/defensive end Jacobie Bedford.

“What we’re going as a staff is working to better develop more younger guys,” Hall said. “We’re going to spend a lot of time working with our junior high players. So we’ll have a good group returning next season, but in 2023, once we have those guys in junior high now with solid football IQs as young high school players, look out. That’s when I expect us to be really good.”

Editor’s Note: This is Part One in a two-part series. Check back tomorrow for part two.

Through collaborative efforts between local researchers and health care providers, along with community participation and engagement, progress is being made in gathering data that allows scientists to better understand how COVID-19 and variants might impact public health. 

Louisiana Tech, Grambling State, and LSU Health Shreveport (LSUHS) have teamed with local organizations like the GSU’s Foster Johnson Health Center, TechCare, and The Health Hut to provide the opportunity for high quality testing and viral genome sequencing for minority and marginalized communities. 

The group is performing viral genome sequencing using samples from area residents who have tested positive for COVID-19. Genome sequencing reveals the sequence of the nucleotides in a gene, like letters in a word. Nucleotides are organic molecules that form the structural unit building blocks of nucleic acids that make up the genetic code found in RNA or DNA. 

The team is specifically interested in looking across the population at SARS-CoV-2 sequences to identify novel variants in the virus that causes COVID-19 so there can be an efficient response by public health officials. A critical element of this work is community engagement and representation; it is the only way that the team can assess and respond appropriately to changes in the virus. 

“We now have a website along with a dashboard to share with the community what we are doing and what we are seeing,” said Dr. Jamie Newman, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies in the College of Applied and Natural Sciences at Tech. “Foster Johnson Health Center and The Health Hut have been some of our strongest partners in providing COVID-19 samples from informed and consenting patients. That participation is critical to community representation and a more accurate depiction of what’s happening with COVID-19 in our communities.” 

Reliable viral genome sequencing will help accelerate timely analysis and inform response measures to keep countries one step ahead of the virus and counter emerging threats in the future. 

This crucial part of the fight to understand current and future health threats is possible because of The Rockefeller Foundation, which took swift action at the outset of COVID-19 to invest in strategies and partners to address the pandemic in the US and globally. One of those initiatives, which is part of The Rockefeller Foundation’s Pandemic Prevention Institute, is a set of “Regional Accelerators” that participate in applying various methods of data collection and analysis to most appropriately and responsibility assess the status of the virus and the presence of it in communities.  These Regional Accelerator teams work together and with a global network of invested partners, committed to building data sets and analytics needed to detect, mitigate, and prevent pandemics. 

The goal across all of this work that is exemplified by the Louisiana-based collaborators, is to increase the ability of health-care providers to respond quickly when a pandemic threatens and to build trust-based relationships with under-represented communities and the organizations that serve their health needs.  To date these efforts have reached the communities of Grambling, Ruston, and Minden and are quickly spreading to include other communities along the Louisiana I-20 corridor and into areas of Mississippi. 

The project began in late spring. 

“COVID-19 models suggest that we need to sequence 5 percent of all positive cases to detect emerging variants early,” Dr. Paul Kim, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at GSU, said. As Newman is doing at Tech, Kim is leading the efforts at Grambling. Dr. Jeremy P. Kamil at LSUHS serves as the project leader. 

“Before we started in late July 2021, less than 0.5% of positive cases in Lincoln Parish were sequenced compared to roughly 2% in the US,” Kim said. “We’ve increased the rate of sequencing in our Parish by several fold which gives us a better chance to catch the next variant and respond to it before it spreads out of control like Delta..” 

Under the grant, Louisiana Tech faculty and students partner with TechCare, The Health Hut, GSU Foster Johnson Health Center, and most recently, the Minden Family Care Center to collect, record, and analyze data on positive COVID-19 cases in Lincoln Parish. The research information can be found on the website focused on the project. 

“It’s important for LSU Health to be involved in this collaboration because we cannot afford to leave Louisiana and, more specifically, north Louisiana and the I-20 corridor, and other less urban areas ‘off the map’ when it comes to science and technology, especially science and technology that can protect our health,” Kamil said. “And when it comes to coronavirus or other novel respiratory infections, we need to make sure all states and regions are developing the capacity to rapidly detect new viruses and even to figure out which already known viruses are bubbling up and causing a problem. 

“The technology is more accessible than ever, and COVID-19 has taught us that we can save lives by making sure that we generate this data rapidly and that means doing it locally,” he said. “It also means we have to sequence viruses that are causing mild colds in kids, because what causes a mild cold in a child might send an elderly person to the hospital. In the future, we will be able to track infection activity like a weather report. And there’s no reason that students from Grambling or Louisiana Tech should not be able to learn how to take part in this important work.” 

By Thomas Stodghill, IV

Many college students are looking forward to being home for Thanksgiving with family and spending time to relax before returning to classes. 

This break can give students time to catch up on much needed sleep, watch shows on different streaming services, but most importantly, spend time with friends and family for Thanksgiving. 

Kosi Anadi, a Louisiana Tech industrial engineering major from Slidell, said he is looking forward to seeing his hometown family and friends. He is excited to eat his mom’s cooking as well. His favorite Thanksgiving memory is catching up with old friends and family.

“Our conversations never skip a beat, despite our time away from one another,” Anadi said.

Sophie Edwards, a Tech marketing major from Baton Rouge, said she is looking forward to spending time with her sister and cuddling her two puppies at home.

Edwards said her favorite memories of Thanksgiving are sitting on her grandparents’ porch, watching her cousins play baseball, and listening to her grandfather play the fiddle.

Leslee Bennett, a communication major from Grayson, said she is spending her Thanksgiving break a little differently. She is going to Nashville with her parents to see a Brett Eldredge concert.

Bennett said her favorite memory of Thanksgiving is when she gets to relax on her parents’ porch and read or listen to music.

Acclaimed north Louisiana writer and Lincoln Parish Journal scribe Teddy Allen and influential central Louisiana reporter, editor and publisher Garland Forman Jr. have been selected for the 2022 Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism from the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.

The duo will be inducted in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame next June, LSWA president Raymond Partsch III and Hall of Fame chairman Doug Ireland announced Tuesday.

Allen, who has been north Louisiana’s preeminent feature columnist for over 30 years, has been nationally recognized for his writing while working in Shreveport, New Orleans and Ruston. Author of three books, Allen has been a focal figure for the university communications department at his alma mater, Louisiana Tech, since 2008, and has been part of the Hall of Fame selection committee for two decades-plus.

Forman is the only person to serve as president of both the Louisiana Press Association and the LSWA. While winning hundreds of state writing and editing awards including news, sports and outdoors coverage from both organizations, the Pineville native and Louisiana Christian University alumnus has been a pivotal leader for the LSWA and for over 25 years has been on the Hall of Fame selection committee.

The DSA honor, to be made official next summer in Natchitoches, means Allen and Forman will be among an elite 12-person Class of 2022 being inducted in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. They were selected from a 29-person pool of outstanding nominees for the state’s top sports journalism honor.

The Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism recipients are chosen by the 40-member Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame selection committee based on nominees’ professional accomplishments in local, state, regional and even national circles, with leadership in the LSWA as a beneficial factor and three decades of work in the profession as a requirement.  

Distinguished Service Award winners are enshrined in the Hall of Fame along with the 455 current athletes, sports journalists, coaches and administrators chosen since 1959. Just 69 leading figures in the state’s sports media have been honored with the Distinguished Service Award since its inception 39 years ago in 1982.

Allen and Forman will be among the 2022 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Class to be spotlighted in the annual Induction Ceremony on Saturday evening, June 25, at the Natchitoches Events Center. The Induction Ceremony culminates the 2022 Induction Celebration beginning Thursday afternoon, June 23, with press conference at the Hall of Fame museum at 800 Front Street in Natchitoches.

The selection of Allen and Forman was announced Tuesday by LSWA president Raymond Partsch III.

“We could probably fill a wing of the Hall of Fame with the amount of hardware that Teddy and Garland have won in their storied careers, which is saying something. But for me, what stands out about this year’s DSA honorees is how they are truly two of the most unselfish individuals that you will be blessed to encounter in our business,” said Partsch.

“From Teddy stepping up to serve as master of ceremonies for the LHSOF Induction year after year to Garland’s tireless work with both the LSWA and LPA, their sacrifices and behind-the-scenes efforts have been immensely valuable to both the LSWA and the LSHOF. We have been truly blessed to have both Teddy and Garland to be a part of our state’s storied sports history and there is no better way to honor them than having them inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.”

One of Louisiana’s more beloved writers, of sports and other things, Allen has piled up awards from the LSWA and many other entities since the mid-1980s. He worked for the Shreveport Journal and The Times in Shreveport, then for the Times-Picayune in New Orleans, first covering LSU and then expanding his role to step into the slot as primary columnist as the iconic Peter Finney gradually downshifted his contributions.

Recently joining the Online Journals group of 10 northwest Louisiana parish publications, headlined by the Lincoln Parish Journal and the Natchitoches Parish Journal, Allen was previously a featured columnist for Gannett’s north Louisiana papers over the last three decades.

After returning to Shreveport with The Times in the early ‘90s, Allen moved east to his beloved alma mater, Louisiana Tech (bachelor’s 1982, master’s 1984), in 2008 as a writer and editor in the university communications department. Over the last decade, he has done radio broadcasting for Tech sports (football color analyst, and recently, some baseball play-by-play) and serving as a master of ceremonies for many events at the university and for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony for the better part of the last two decades.

He has multiple times won prestigious honors including the Associated Press Sports Editors national feature writing award and the LSWA Story of the Year, Columnist of the Year, and Sportswriter of the Year awards. For his general interest columns, he has earned both the Ernie Pyle Award as the top columnist in Mississippi and Louisiana and been named Columnist of the Year in the LPA.

Allen’s work has been featured in the Poynter Institute’s annual “Best Newspaper Writing.”

He is co-founder of DesignatedWriters.com, an online publication including columns, features and video segments.

By Thomas Stodghill, IV

The team at Experience Ruston is planning several events for the holiday season.

The first event is the Kickoff to Christmas, which will be held Nov. 27. This event is free to the public and it will be held in Railroad Park. This will feature kids’ crafts, holiday music, the annual tree lighting ceremony and a visit from Santa Claus.

Tori Davis, marketing director of Experience Ruston, said the event is fun for everyone.

“Kickoff to Christmas is definitely a community favorite that is a perfect event for the whole family,” Davis said.

The second event to kick off the holiday season is Lincoln Light Up the Pines, which will go from Dec. 2-4. This will be held in Lincoln Parish Park, and it is the parish’s only drive-thru Christmas light display.

Plenty of people are participating this year, including 54 RV’s, Troup 59 Boy Scouts 6-8, 55 vendor spots, and 40 decorating volunteers. Last year, the park saw around 1,800 cars come through the light show.

The cost for Lincoln Light Up The Pines will be $10 for a car and $20 for a bus.

Jimmie Parker O’Neal 
May 4, 1927 – November 22, 2021 
Visitation: Alabama Presbyterian Church, Friday, November 26, 2021, 10:00 am – 11:00 am 
Service: Alabama Presbyterian Church, Friday, November 26, 2021, 11:00 am 
Cemetery: Sibley Cemetery Choudrant, Friday, November 26, 2021 

Florence Odelle Walton Strickland 
October 27, 1928 – November 22, 2021 
Visitation: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – 209 S. Bonner, Ruston, Friday, November 26, 2021, 9:00 am – 10:00 am 
Service: 
Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – 209 S. Bonner, Ruston, Friday, November 26, 2021, 10:00 am 
Cemetery: Forest Lawn Cemetery, Hwy 80, Ruston Friday, November 26, 2021 

Marie Tims 
August 05, 1926 – November 22, 2021 
Visitation: Wednesday, November 24, 2021, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 2300 W. California Ave, Ruston 
Funeral Service: Wednesday, November 24, 2021, 2:00 PM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 2300 W. California Ave, Ruston 
Cemetery Committal: Wednesday, November 24, 2021, Douglas Cemetery, Hwy 821, Ruston 

By Thomas Stodghill, IV

Christian Community Action in Ruston is asking for the community’s help during the busy holiday season. The organization is not only asking for donations, but also volunteers to help with their food bank.

CCA was founded by local churches in Lincoln Parish in 1984. The organization strives to meet crisis and emergency needs in the community. They believe in carrying out the mandate set by Jesus Christ to care for those in need by delivering services to those who need help in the community.

The need for donations is especially prevalent with the holiday season around the corner. CCA is asking for non-perishable foods synonymous with Thanksgiving meals, such as canned cranberry sauce and canned vegetables.

In addition to donating food, CCA is also looking for volunteers. 

Stephanie Matthews, executive director of CCA, said that volunteers are always needed and that volunteers can come see what fits best for them.

These are not the only ways individuals can help the CCA. 

CCA is collecting cleaning supplies for the community, such as Clorox wipes, bleach, bathroom cleaner, and hand soap. The CCA is asking that the donations for this to be standard size items because they are not allowed to divide these items up.

They wish to give these cleaning supplies to help alleviate family budgets.

On average, the CCA serves around 200 families during a holiday season. Any help or donations would be appreciated.

Tech President Les Guice has shared his family cornbread dressing recipe to the Lincoln Parish Journal readers. 

Guice said early in his teaching career, he had a student from south Louisiana who he hunted with and who taught him how to cook dressing and gumbo. This particular recipe, he said, is only cooked for Thanksgiving.

“Family traditions are what Thanksgiving is all about,” Guice said. “Since my boys have grown up around this kind of meal, I believe the Thanksgiving meal is a way to reflect on the past family times while celebrating the day. This recipe is one of the ways we celebrate something together.”

Make sure to add Guice’s cornbread dressing to your holiday meal this Thanksgiving!

Guice Family Cornbread Dressing

• Make cornbread in an iron skillet (if you expect a lot of people, make 2 skillets and double everything else).
• Cut up and sauté  an onion (2 is better), 3 celery ribs, 1 bunch of green onions, and a bell pepper.
• Cook 1 pound of ground sausage in a skillet.
• Crumble cornbread in a large mixing bowl and blend in vegetables and sausage.
• Add plenty of black pepper, 2 tablespoons of sage, and Tony Chachere’s seasoning salt.
• If you have cousins from south Louisiana, add some cayenne pepper.
• Add 3 or 4 tablespoons of chicken flavored bouillon.
• Taste and add more seasoning because you can never have enough.
• Blend 6 or 8 eggs in a bowl and stir them until blended.
• Pour eggs into dressing mix and gently mix throughout.
• If you have some oysters or ducks, go ahead and add those to the dressing mix (but not both).
• Lightly oil the surface of a large Dutch oven.
• Add dressing mix to Dutch oven and cook in a 450 degree oven for 1 to 1.5 hours (brown crust on top).
• Slice some raw turnips and serve on the side.
• Sliced turkey and giblet gravy make the dressing even better.