Flossie Ware Price 
September 22, 1930 – December 04, 2021 
Graveside service: 2 p.m., Dec. 7, 2021, Kilpatrick’s Memorial Gardens 

---

---

RUSTON, La. — After wrapping up a 10-3 season in 2021, the Ruston Bearcats have more reasons to celebrate now that the All-District 2-5A team has been released.

Leading the way was junior running back Dyson Fields, who was named the offensive MVP of the district and the first team running back after finishing with 1,659 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns in the regular season alone.

“I’m very pleased for Dyson,” Ruston high school head coach Jerrod Baugh said. “He took it personally that people thought we were rebuilding at running back (after Bull Hargrove graduated), and we saw him at summer and fall camp working really hard. He never verbalized it, but he may have thought he had something to prove.”

With senior fullback Devian Wilson nursing a foot injury early in the season, Fields was the primary offensive focus in the majority of non-district games.

“We really had to lean on him big time early in the season, and he took that challenge,” Baugh said. “It’s a testament to not only him, but our offensive line. He’s the one who gets the yards, but there are lot of things around him that make that work. He gets that too, and he really appreciates his teammates.”

The Bearcats also had two offensive linemen make first team in Jayden Woods and Micah Scheer. Wide receiver Dawson Willis and quarterback Jayden Osborne also were named first team on offense. Wilson earned the spot at fullback, as well.

On defense, linemen Dennis Williams and Geordan Guidry earned first team nods, as did linebacker Jaydon Mayfield, cornerback B.J. Green, and safety D’Angelo Harper.

Ruston added lineman Bernard Johnson, tight end Ahmad Breaux, and kicker Brady Beason to second team offense, while Brilun Elmore earned second team defense. Beason was also named second team as punter.

Honorable mentions went to Christian Davis, Ray Owens, Mon Maddox, Jordan McWain, Nate Johnson, Mason Skipper, and Will Regan for the Bearcats.

“I was pleased with the number of kids we had on there,” Baugh said. “I’m proud for those who make it, but that doesn’t mean that we aren’t proud of the kids who didn’t. We have some very good teams in our district. Anytime you have three teams make the quarterfinals, it’s hard to choose who needs to be on what team. We were very well represented on this list.”

Former Ruston assistant and current Ouachita head coach Todd Garvin was named District 2-5A Coach of the Year. Last year, Garvin was on Baugh’s staff for Ruston before going back home to Ouachita Parish High School.

“I think that was very good,” Baugh said. “Anytime you get into a job where there’s changeover, a lot of times, that’s associated with having to struggle for a couple of years before you can get your plan implemented like you need to. I think he and his staff did a great job of getting those kids on board and playing well. You can see the progress their team made through the year. It’s well deserved.”

PHOTO CREDIT: Reggie McLeroy

A man who was attempting to fight fellow employees and resisted officers was arrested at Zaxby’s on Dec. 2. 

Jerimiah Mayfield, 21, of Ruston, was charged with resisting an officer by force or violence, resisting an officer by providing false information and disturbing the peace. 

Ruston Police Department officers received a call about a worker causing a disturbance. When officers arrived, the other employees pointed to Mayfield as the individual causing the disturbance. Mayfield stated to officers that he was going to leave then, but officers said he could not. Mayfield started backing away as officers announced their intention to restrain him, but Mayfield refused numerous times. 

After a struggle, Mayfield was restrained. Mayfield then told officers that his name was not Jerimiah Mayfield but gave officers a false name. Mayfield later refused to give his date of birth. Mayfield continued to resist arrest by pulling away from officers until backup arrived.  

Mayfield also had two Ruston City Court warrants.  

---

A Grambling man was arrested after a report a business owner caught him sawing off and stealing a truck’s catalytic converter.

James Willie Burks, Jr., 70, was arrested for criminal damage to property over $500, criminal trespass, and theft after the representative of a Grambling business called police reporting he had caught a man stealing a catalytic converter. The complainant told officers Burks crawled out from under a GMC truck parked at the business with the converter in one hand and a metal saw in the other. When Burks was confronted, he dropped the converter and left.

A catalytic converter converts toxins like carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons into less harmful byproducts, such as water vapor and carbon dioxide.

Thieves are motivated to steal catalytic converters because they contain precious metals like platinum and rhodium. Converter theft have become a nationwide epidemic. While a stolen catalytic converter can fetch a few hundred dollars at a metal recycler, a victim will pay at least $1,000 to replace it. 

Grambling Police located Burks at his Main Street residence where he admitted he cut the converter off the truck. He was transported to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center and booked. Bail was set at $4,500.

---

The 45th Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl will kick off on Saturday, December 18 at 2:30 p.m. CST on ABC, and the matchup is set, as the No. 13 BYU Cougars will take on Conference USA’s UAB Blazers in Shreveport. 

Ranked No. 13 in the final College Football Playoff Rankings, BYU will be the highest-ranked team to play in an Independence Bowl in the game’s 45-year history. The last and highest-ranked team entering an Independence Bowl was LSU in 1997, when the Tigers entered the bowl ranked No. 15.

“Both BYU and UAB have had great seasons this year, and we are excited to have a compelling matchup in Shreveport on Saturday, December 18 on ABC,” said 2021 Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl Chairman Frank Auer. ” Our bowl has a reputation for providing teams with the best experience possible, and we plan on doing the same for BYU and UAB this year.”

Coach Kalani Sitake has led the Cougars to a 10-2 regular season and No. 13 College Football Playoff ranking in 2021, after an 11-1 season and No. 11 final ranking in 2020. It’s the first time BYU has had back-to-back seasons with 10 or more wins since 2008-09.  The Cougars beat six teams from the Power 5 in 2021, including a perfect 5-0 against Pac-12 opponents. BYU also claimed the Beehive Boot in 2021 with in-state victories over Pac-12 champion Utah and Mountain West champion Utah State.

After BYU had five players selected in the 2021 NFL Draft, including quarterback Zach Wilson going No. 2 overall to the New York Jets, Sitake’s team this year has excelled under the leadership of quarterback Jaren Hall and running back Tyler Allgeier, who has more than 1,400 rushing yards while being tied for the nation’s lead with 20 rushing scores.

BYU will be making its first bowl appearance in the state of Louisiana, and just its third game ever in the Bayou state. The Cougars played in the Superdome against LSU in 2017 and Tulane in 2009. This year’s game will be BYU 39th bowl overall dating back to the 1974 Fiesta Bowl. Among their 39 bowl appearances, the Cougars have played in 20 different bowl games in 12 states. BYU’s 39 postseason bowl invitations ranks tied for No. 20th among college programs — more than storied programs such as UCLA, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin and Stanford. The Cougars have gone bowling in 16 of the past 17 seasons.

The Blazers (8-4, 6-2 C-USA) are playing in the program’s fifth bowl game and their fourth since returning to action in 2017. UAB has been bowl eligible all six seasons under the direction of head coach Bill Clark (2014, 2017-2021). Clark sports a 48-26 record in his six seasons as UAB’s head coach.

UAB enters bowl season with the nation’s 15th-ranked defense and a ground attack featuring sophomore DeWayne McBride who currently has the fifth most single season rushing yards in school history with 1,188. Quarterback Dylan Hopkins has helped lead an efficient Blazers offense, ranking second in C-USA in quarterback rating (164.5).

---

The Louisiana Workforce Commission is offering Louisiana mothers a childcare relief payment to help them return to work, if desired. 

The Child Care Relief Fund has been established to help women in Louisiana who are ready to return to work but are facing challenges with affording childcare. The fund will provide a one-time $500 payment for childcare upon verifiable proof of new employment. 

The Child Care Relief Fund application can be found at www.lahumanresources.com. Once mothers apply and provide proof of new employment, the $500 will be paid directly to the licensed child care provider.  

Funding is limited. 

For more information call 255-610-6522. 

---

It was a weekend of wins for Louisiana Tech’s basketball teams as both the Bulldogs and the Lady Techsters picked up victories.

Bulldogs 78, Santa Clara 75

Kenneth Lofton, Jr., recorded another monster game and the Bulldogs recorded a big-time road win defeating the Broncos at the Leavey Center Saturday afternoon in California.

Junior – who was a game-time decision on whether he would even play – scored 31 points and grabbed 14 rebounds and Louisiana Tech (6-2) withstood a furious rally by the home team as the Broncos (6-3) rallied from a double-digit deficit before falling late.

“We talk about being gritty and tough and we were that today,” said Tech head coach Eric Konkol. “After the crazy travel day we had yesterday and not being able to practice.  The guys showed a lot of mental toughness, making big shots down the stretch.  It was a very physical game.  Santa Clara worked with a lot of different speed and length to try to keep the ball out of the paint, but Junior finished so many players.  His teammates kept looking for him and did a great job.”

After trailing for the first 10 minutes of the game, Tech took a 33-32 halftime lead and stretched it out to 62-52 on a three-pointer by Kaleb Stewart with 8:20 to play in the game. However, Santa Clara – which already had double digit wins over Stanford, Nevada, and TCU this year – rode the back of junior guard Jalen Williams, who finished with 28 points.

The Broncos tied the game up numerous times over the final three-plus minutes, but Junior answered each and every time for Tech. He gave Tech a 70-68 lead with a bucket with 1:43 to play and then after a free throw by Williams for SCU, Lofton scored again to up the advantage to 72-69 with 1:00 minute to play.

Tech got a stop and then following a timeout, Lofton threw down a thunderous dunk to up the lead to 74-69.

Tech hit 13-of-13 free throws including both ends of a 1-and-1 by Cobe Williams with 10 seconds remaining and Amorie Archibald with 2.9 seconds to left to seal the win.

The Bulldogs host UL-Lafayette Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Thomas Assembly Center.

Lady Techsters 69, Mississippi Valley State 56

Anna Larr Roberson scored 18 points and grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds and Keiunna Walker and Jadonna Davis each scored in double figures to lead the Lady Techsters to a 69-56 win Sunday afternoon at the Thomas Assembly Center.

Tech (6-2) overcame 24 turnovers, including 17 in the first half, in picking up its sixth victory of the season.

“I was not particularly pleased with our focus and concentration today,” said Tech head coach Brooke Stoehr. “Credit Mississippi Valley State. I thought they played very hard and were aggressive for 40 minutes. We had way too many turnovers and have to be more patient and selective on the offensive end of the floor.

“I didn’t think we communicated and rotated defensively the way we’re capable of as a group. We have some time between now and Friday to improve and correct some things as we move forward.”

Tech led 34-31 at the half and then pushed the advantage out to as many as 14 points midway through the third quarter before Mississippi Valley State (0-6) made a fourth-quarter charge. MVSU closed to within 53-47 with 7:34 to play and 57-51 with 5:04 remaining but the Lady Techsters got back-to-back buckets from Roberson to push it back to double figures.

Roberson recorded her 400^th career rebound during the first half while Walker recorded her 900^th career point. It was Roberson’s 10^th career double double while Walker ended up with a carer-high eight assists.

Davis recorded a season-high 10 points while Robyn Lee added a career-high seven rebounds. Lotte Sant added nine points on a trio of three-pointers.

Photo: Sadie Patton

---

Choosing that perfect wedding dress is a vital part of one’s wedding day. With different fabrics, designs, and embellishments, often the choices can seem overwhelming. Therefore, we will have a series of stories highlighting various wedding gown silhouette options.  

In the first part of this silhouette series, the A-line gown and Modified A-line gown will be highlighted to discuss what it is, its popularity and for what type of wedding it is best suited. 

An A-line gown has a fitted waistline and a flared skirt. This type of gown is a very popular style because of how flattering it looks when worn. No need to worry about what one’s body shape is — this gown’s silhouette highlights the bride. Not only that, but it can be customized – high neckline, low neckline, beads, lace, sweetheart sleeves – the imagination is the limit when determining the perfect A-line dress. 

Additionally, what sweetens the deal even more is that this type of dress fits the majority of wedding themes: romantic and sentimental, minimal and classic, sleek and stylish – it can be easily suited in any of these weddings. 

While an A-line dress’s skirt extends from the bride’s natural waistline, a modified A-line gown fits more on the bodice and hips, and the skirt then flares to the hem, which forms that classic A-shape. The modified A-line dress’s skirt therefore fits a little closer to the body than the A-line, and generally the skirt is not as full as an A-line. 

The modified A-line is seen as a little trendier than the A-line, according to Best for Bride. But even for brides seeking a traditional wedding, modified A-line dresses also are a very popular choice for brides. 

---

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. 

Monday, Dec. 6
5:30 p.m.: Ruston City Council meeting (Ruston City Hall)

Tuesday, Dec. 7
10 a.m.: Ribbon cutting for new Beehive (724 Celebrity Dr.)
5-8 p.m.: Ruston Community Theatre’s “Matilda Jr.” auditions 
6 p.m.: Lincoln Parish School Board meeting (410 S. Farmerville St.)
6 p.m.: Trailblazer Tuesday: USDA Programs and Opportunities (Lincoln Parish Library)
6:30 p.m.: We the People Meeting (Lincoln Parish Library community room)

Wednesday, Dec. 8
2 p.m.: Tech’s Aspire dedication ceremony (Aspire Plaza, between the College of Business building and Keeny Hall)
5-8 p.m.: Ruston Community Theatre’s “Matilda Jr.” auditions 

Friday, Dec. 10 
6:30 p.m.: Lady Techster Basketball vs. Sam Houston (Thomas Assembly Center)
9 a.m.- 5 p.m.: Big Creek Trade Days
6-8 p.m.: Downtown Ruston Carriage Rides (Railroad Park)

Saturday, Dec. 11
8 a.m.: Tech Family walking group (Aspire Plaza)
8 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Christmas Market at Briarhill Farms (11692 Clay Ansley Hwy)
8:30-11:30 a.m.: Hazardous Waste Material Collection and Recycling (2609 Farmerville St.)
9 a.m.: Deep South Little Britches Rodeo (North Louisiana Exhibition Center)
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market
9 a.m.- 5 p.m.: Big Creek Trade Days 
10:30 a.m.: Choudrant Christmas Parade
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Christmas in the Village (Choudrant Park)
5 p.m.: Lincoln Parish Library closes early for Christmas parade
6 p.m.: Ruston-Lincoln Christmas Parade
6-8 p.m.: Downtown Ruston Carriage Rides (Railroad Park)
11 a.m.: Louisiana Tech Men’s Basketball vs. UL-Lafayette (Thomas Assembly Center)

Sunday, Dec. 12
10 a.m.- 4 p.m.: Big Creek Trade Days

---

Betty Jo Barham 
October 21, 1933 – December 2, 2021 
Visitation: 9-10 a.m., Dec. 6, 2021, Dubach First Baptist Church, 7876 Hico Street 
Funeral service: 10 a.m., Dec. 6, 2021, Dubach First Baptist Church, 7876 Hico Street 
Cemetery Committal: Dec. 6, 2021, Unionville Cemetery, 6598 Hwy 822, Dubach  

Abner Norman 
September 09, 1940 – December 03, 2021 
Visitation: 5-7 p.m., Dec. 5, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 2300 W. California Ave. 
Funeral service: 2 p.m., Dec. 6, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 2300 W. California Ave. 

 

---

---

---

Meet Cedar Creek’s Anna Grace Lee

Parents:  Shane and Alisha Lee

Siblings: Alivia Lee, Cooper Lee

School: Cedar Creek School

Grade: 11th

Spirit Squad: Emerald Entertainers

Honors: National Honor Society Member, Junior Lieutenant on Emerald Entertainers, Varsity Softball Starter as a Sophomore, and a runner for the Varsity State Cross Country Team that placed runner up in 2021.

Favorite Subject in School: Math

How long have you been dancing and what is it about it that you enjoy? I’ve been an Emerald Entertainer for three years now. I love how close all the girls are and how I can come to them with anything and they will always support me.

Top 3 favorite movies? Inception, Little Women, Knives Out

What is something you cannot live without? Spotify

What kind of impact do you want to leave on this world? I want to be an encourager, and help people to know that they matter even if they might not “fit in” and remind them that they don’t need to conform to the rest of society to be happy.

Who is your hero? My parents would have to be my heroes because they have shaped me into who I am and they inspire me everyday.

What do you love about your school?  I love the family aspect of Cedar Creek. It is so comforting to know that everyone around you cares about your success and will help you achieve it to the best of their ability.

What is your favorite high school moment? There are so many, but one that stands out would have to be my first time as a freshman walking onto the football field and dancing in front of the whole school under bright lights. I will always remember the rush of excitement mixed with nervousness I felt in that moment.

What are your plans after high school? I plan to go to college and major in kinesiology and become a physical therapist.

---

By T. Scott Boatright

 

The energy going through the air Wednesday afternoon during the introduction of former Texas Tech offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie sent lighnting bolts of red and blue dancing in the air at Louisiana Tech University’s Davison Athletics Complex.

And it left many of those on hand for the introduction, including Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker, in a fired up mood. 

“I think it’s a fantastic hire,” Walker said. “I’ve been watching videos and reading stuff about what he might bring. Offense has always been something that brings people to the stadiums. Skip did a great job and brought us to another level. And I think Sonny can bring us to an even higher level.”

Longtime Tech football supporter Andy Halbrook said he was equally impressed.

“I’m excited about this hire and think he’s going to do great things for Louisiana Tech,” Halbrook said. “My hat’s off to (Tech Vice President for Athletics Eric Wood and Tech President Les Guice). They moved smart, they moved fast and I think it’s going to be really good for Louisiana Tech.”

Tech Vice President for Athletics Dr. Eric Wood thanked former Bulldogs head coach Skip Holtz for his nine years guiding the Bulldogs as well as the assistant who worked under Holtz before moving on to explain the move the university decided to make.

“When we started this process our goal was to find a leader of young men, who also coaches football at a high level,” Wood said. “But the goal was to hire a leader of young men. One who would hire other leaders of young men to serve as assistant coaches and support staff. One that embodies the Tenets of Tech, who would develop our student-athletes holistically as they compete to grow in the classroom, compete to become better versions of themselves and compete for championships.”

Ed Jackson, Assistant A.D./Student Development, Diversity and Inclusion at Tech, has spent 28 years at the school as a football coach or in athletics administration and said he feels the move was a good one.

“Excitement. Enthusiastic. Energy. Offensively creative mentality,” Jackson said about Cumbie. “This is a guy I think can make an impact.”

Jackson said the Bulldogs’ new head coach can relate to the players.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do because I truly think this change can make that impact,” said Jackson. “A head coaching job is a tough job, and as a head coach you have to constantly improve. The days of a coach being at one place for 20 or 30 years — that’s a prehistoric dinosaur. And I think this change will recharge the team and give them energy moving forward.”

Tech linebacker Tyler Grubbs said he already can feel that energy.

“I can feel he brings a lot of energy,” Grubbs said. “And as a young team, I think that’s something that will do well for us. We’re going to trust in him, and I believe he’s going to put us on the right path.”

Grubbs said he was also fired up when Cumbie talked about Tech defenders aggressively swarming to the ball in the way Grubbs is known for.

“I love that,” Grubbs said. “Just having a whole team with that kind of mentality, I think it’s going to be great for us.”

Longtime Tech fan Steve Lee said for him, it was simply a change that had become necessary.

“We did need a breath of fresh air,” Lee admitted. “That became obvious on Saturdays looking at the stands. So I’m hoping this change will be good for everybody, but hopefully especially good for the Bulldogs.”

 

---

A 12-year-old boy that lives on the Lincoln/Union Parish line, small in stature who eats/breathes/lives all things outdoors.  You might think I’m writing a throwback story about myself but let me introduce you to Zeb Ates.

Zeb is no ordinary kid. He has faced plenty of adversity in his young years, but he is the epitome of what hard work, dedication, and true grit can succeed.  Each of these characteristics were utilized for a 5 year journey with a buck on their family property near Bernice.

The story of Zeb’s buck begins in 2016.  They got their first trail cam pic of him and knew they had a 2.5-year-old superstar.  Immediately, the decision was made to pass him up that year to see what he would grow into.  Like anyone would be, they worried a neighbor would shoot this young buck, but little did they know how intelligent this particular deer was.  The Ates family nor anyone else would see this buck for the next three years other than on trail cam pictures.

In 2018, the buck blew up into an absolute giant (150-plus inch buck).  Once Zeb got his first daylight picture of him, he got his priorities in line.  He knew it was now or never.  Zeb and his mom, Amy, hunted this deer for 5 days straight; sitting all day.  He may or may not have missed school those days, but if anyone at D’arbonne Woods Charter is reading this, keep assuming he was under the weather those 5 days.

In 2019 the buck disappeared.  Their worst fears were running through their heads.  Had he been shot by a neighbor, hit by a vehicle, or killed by a predator?  Had all the blood, sweat, and tears poured into this deer been all for naught?  The Ates family felt like they were hunting a ghost; until November 20^th that is. Zeb’s dad, Alan, was on the trigger and the ghost surprised him.  Fortunately for Zeb, the buck didn’t present his dad with an ethical shot so he passed.  This was the first time they had seen the deer in daylight hours and the Ates family was starting to put the pieces of the puzzle together.

The 2020 season comes around and Zeb was all in on this buck.  Every spare second of energy he had was dedicated to this one deer.  They were monitoring him on trail cams and knew they might have an opportunity in late season.  He was beginning to show his face closer and closer to legal shooting light in mid-December.  On December 20^th, the wind was right and they knew this was the best chance at the buck.

Zeb was armed with a 22-250 TC Encore and as the light faded, the anticipation was high.  As luck would have it, Zeb’s buck made an appearance.  He lined up the crosshairs and pulled the trigger.  The deer immediately went down.  Celebrations began in the stand as the final chapter had been closed on the buck they had worked so hard for.  The deer laid motionless on the ground for 1.5 minutes then got up and wheel barrowed himself out of the area.  The Ates family looked for the deer for 2 months and never found any sign of him.

In October of 2021, a trail cam picture showed the deer was alive and well.  The Ates knew something different had to be done.  This deer was intelligent and had the game figured out.  Hunting at odd times of the day, the family hoped to outsmart the deer, but they kept coming up empty.  In early November, Zeb got sick and Alan got rained out from work.  Alan went out on his side-by-side to sit and observe a woods road on their property that looked back towards a ground blind.  As he is watching, a deer comes out at 50 yards and it is THE BUCK, staring intently at the ground blind and never looking in his direction.  Alan raised his gun, clicked the safety off and earned father of the year points by lowering it back down.  He went home and told Zeb “I love you with everything I have son, so I passed up your buck.”

It was at this moment that the Ates family had gotten their biggest clue.  Alan knew this buck was patterning them and the surrounding hunters.  Based on the trail he was traveling and the way he reacted to the blind. He knew the buck was dodging everyone in the area.

Armed with this new information, Zeb set out and made a homemade blind with natural ground cover where Alan’s side-by-side had been sitting.  They left it alone for 20 days and waited for the conditions to be right.  November 24^t (the day before Thanksgiving and Amy’s birthday) was the day.  Waking up well before dawn, they headed for the blind.  

The morning was slow; only two deer had been seen.  Zeb being worn out and recovering from illness, fell asleep in the blind.    Alan was cold and thought they may be wasting their time.  Thought set in that they should leave but they had worked too hard for this deer and decided to stick it out.  At 10 a.m. Alan spotted the buck coming down the same dim trail he had seen him almost a month ago.  Zeb woke up immediately, steadied his new .243 rifle and made a perfect 130-yard shot.  A few seconds later, Zeb heard the crash.  The deer he had poured his heart and soul into had just fallen.

Alan and Zeb took up the blood trail shortly thereafter.  After a short tracking job, Zeb looked up and all he could see were antlers sticking up above the vegetation.  Neither father nor son took off after the buck; being so filled with emotion over this incredible journey they had been on, they embraced one another for over a minute hugging each other and soaking it in. The 5-year-endeavor had finally come to fruition.

What a buck it was!  A giant 8-point with a small kicker, this deer would end up scoring 137 5/8”.  All the hard work Zeb had put into this deer, the countless bucks he has passed, and the all-around family effort that went into this deer made it all worthwhile.

Congratulations Zeb! You are an amazing kid and an excellent hunter!

 

---

The Lincoln Parish Sheriffs Office responded to a Ruston burglary call and ended up arresting a man on a litany of drug-related charges.

Deputies with LPSO responded to a residential burglary on Arnold Road. The homeowner stated he believed his cousin, David Horn, broke into his house and stole four firearms.

A search warrant was obtained for Horn’s residence and, on Dec. 1 at 9:30 p.m., searched the house. While searching the bedroom, one of the handguns that was reported stolen was recovered.

Deputies also located approximately three grams of marijuana, approximately 1.7 grams of methamphetamines, approximately 8.2 grams of synthetic marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Horn was placed under arrest and transported to the Sheriff’s Office, where he admitted to the burglary. 

Bond was set at $50,000.

---

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, Dec. 3
4:30-7:30 p.m.: Uptown Downtown hosts Pictures with Santa
5:30 – 10 p.m.:  Lincoln Lights Up the Pines (Lincoln Parish Park)
5 p.m.: 2nd Annual Shooting Stars Series Finals (North La Exhibition Center)
6-8 p.m.: Downtown Ruston Carriage Rides (400 W. Georgia Ave.)
7 p.m.: RCT presents “A Christmas Carol” (Dixie Theatre)

Saturday, Dec. 4
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Christmas on the Farm (Outdoor Wilderness Learning Center, Dubach)
Noon to 7 p.m.: Holiday Arts Market (The Norton Building)
2 p.m.: 4 Paws Christmas Event (290 Rodeo Rd., Ruston)
5:30 – 10 p.m.:  Lincoln Lights Up the Pines (Lincoln Parish Park)
6-8 p.m.: Downtown Ruston Carriage Rides (400 W. Georgia Ave.)
7 p.m.: RCT presents “A Christmas Carol” (Dixie Theatre)

Sunday, Dec. 5
1:30 p.m.: Photos with Santa at Lincoln Parish Library
2 p.m.: RCT presents “A Christmas Carol” (Dixie Theatre)
2 p.m. Lady Techster Basketball vs. Mississippi Valley State (Thomas Assembly Center)
5 p.m.: Simsboro First Baptist Church Community Tree Lighting

---

A Ruston Police Department officer responded to a vehicle crash Nov. 30 at the intersection of Tarbutton Road and the South Service Road in Ruston that led to the driver’s arrest.

Officer G. Warren of the RPD found the vehicle crash and made contact with the suspect, Lindy Fordham of Ruston. Warren noticed that Fordham’s speech was slurred and that she was off balance. Fordham told the officer that she was pulling out of a private drive and collided with another vehicle because she misjudged the distance of the vehicle.

Warren transported Fordham to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center, where she provided a voluntary breath sample of .171 g% Blood Alcohol Content.

Fordham was charged with failure to yield and her first DWI. 

---

by Doug Ireland, Journal Services Sports

Lots of people checked their Powerball tickets Wednesday at 10 p.m., hoping they hit the jackpot, and could claim a prize that will be worth over $100 million in take-to-the-bank money.

Not Brian Kelly. He already won. Notre Dame’s all-time winningest football coach is the newly minted, emphasis on the word “minted,” man in charge at LSU.

Lincoln Riley also won a big pot of gold. He was the guy nearly everybody thought was going to be the LSU football coach. Instead, he headed west, not south, from Oklahoma and is the new top Trojan at Southern Cal.

They are each poised to collect more than $10 million annually for at least the next decade from their new jobs, after shocking everyone at their old ones. Riley became embroiled in speculation last Friday that he was going to be the new head Tiger, and didn’t refute anything until the postgame press conference after OU’s loss to Oklahoma State late Saturday night, when he denied a direct question whether he was heading to Baton Rouge.

A bit earlier that evening, in Tiger Stadium, during the second half of the spectacular finale of fired head coach Ed Orgeron, word began circulating among the very well connected that there wouldn’t be a Lincoln driving to the LSU football facility.

Everybody fond of the purple and gold was ebullient about the game’s outcome and thrilling finish, won with 20 seconds left 27-24 by the Tigers over Texas A&M at the expense of the man initially at the center of speculation about the LSU post, Aggies’ coach Jimbo Fisher.

LSU beat one of its biggest rivals. The Tigers sent out the colorful, passionate and loyal Coach O in unforgettable style while knocking off those aggravating Aggies led by Fisher, the man who spurned the Tigers five years earlier; or, if you prefer an alternate version, LSU finally shed itself of Coach O and his ineffective staff while knocking off those oddball Aggies led by Fisher, the man who spurned the Tigers five years earlier, thereby opening the door for that crazy Cajun to take the helm.

Whatever the perspective, Tigers were hootin’ and hollerin’ about stunning A&M, until a seemingly astute reporter asked Riley a pointed question in aptly-named Stillwater, Okla. 

LSU’s anticipated coronation of the Sooners’ brilliant young coach was off. Turns out, the reporter was too specific with his inquiry. By lunchtime Sunday, Riley, family and some of his staff were packing bags for the Left Coast.

Talk about a plot twist. For many Tiger fans, and in the eyes of much of the national and Louisiana media, the heir apparent had been kidnapped and found a new home. What seemed to be a master move by LSU’s low-key but highly effective coaching search manager, athletics director Scott Woodward, was apparently up in smoke. There were possibilities, but compared to Riley, they all seemed like three-day-old Thanksgiving leftovers – palatable, just not worthy of great enthusiasm.

Florida took a flier on Ragin’ Cajun coach Billy Napier, who was on the outer edges of LSU’s sphere of interest. No Napier? No matter. Iowa State’s Matt Campbell, Mark Stoops of Kentucky, Michigan State’s Mel Tucker, former Tiger defensive coordinator and successful second-year Baylor head coach Dave Aranda, even former Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl champion coach Doug Pederson (who played at ULM, then the NFL, and began coaching in Shreveport at Calvary Baptist High School 15 years ago) were appealing options. A ride on the Lane (Kiffin) Train, not so much – his excellent work in Oxford hasn’t erased doubts raised by his (apparently) formerly frisky lifestyle as a single man, along with his brash personality.

Next to nobody had Notre Dame’s Kelly on LSU’s list. Not the three-time national coach of the year. Not the guy whose record in the last five seasons (54-9) was virtually identical to Riley (55-10) at OU. Not the coach who has more victories (284 in 31 total seasons, said LSU’s announcement) than any active coach in big-time college football, and the second-best winning percentage in major college football (behind only you know who). Not the man who led the fabled Fighting Irish to the College Football Playoffs in two of the last three seasons, and a 113-40 record in his 12 seasons in South Bend.

Nope. Because just last week, Kelly was asked if he would ever leave the Irish, and snapped off a flippant answer dismissing the suggestion. Even a $250 million deal (his figure) would still have to pass his bride’s muster, the Kelly gang loved South Bend so much.

Behind the scenes, however, there were tremors. Notre Dame players don’t have a spacious, cutting-edge academic study center – they often do homework in the hallways of the Irish football facility. They don’t have their own training table (code for bottomless buffet), but have to retask a recruiting lounge into a dining area. These concerns and others were discussed by Kelly and his boss, UND athletics director Jack Swarbrick, but nothing was happening. Swarbrick said Tuesday he noted some “Freudian slips” by Kelly recently revealing some “restlessness” and said he wasn’t astounded at Kelly’s departure. He was the only one.

Today, Kelly, for a dozen seasons in charge of the storied football program on an iconic campus featuring Touchdown Jesus, is in his first few days on the job across the street from Mike the Tiger’s lair. The former Golden Domer now has LSU’s Golden Girls cheering for him. 

He’s not Nick Saban of Alabama, or Clemson’s Dabo Sweeney, or Lincoln Riley. But he is universally regarded on that level in the college game. Still, nobody, except his agent Trace Armstrong, saw him moving to another college. He’s often been suggested as an NFL coach, with the Chicago Bears said to have him on their short list for that anticipated opening.

But Armstrong saw opportunity, and knew his client preferred coaching on campus. Armstrong’s reward:  he will collect as much as three percent, the industry standard for negotiating coaching contracts, of Kelly’s LSU haul.

Even more spectacular than that roughly $300,000 annual commission? Armstrong is also Riley’s agent. He’ll be cashing in those California dollars, too.

Did Riley have both USC and LSU on his table, and when he went west, Kelly bolted for the Bayou State?

Or were they just better fits where they’ve landed – Kelly with one of this century’s most dominant programs, with all the resources in place, and Riley ready to restore the luster at once-proud USC?

It seems Armstrong, a former Florida star and longtime NFL defensive tackle, was playing chess while his counterparts were playing checkers. The short, pudgy, quiet guy at the next table: the LSU AD, Woodward.

When it appeared he was boxed out of the glamorous Riley sweepstakes, within 24 hours, Woodward completed the mission of scoring a “home run hire” replacing Orgeron.  Whether or not OKC to BR was the original flight plan matters not. Checkmate, y’all.

Woodward took Notre Dame’s king, and few will argue LSU football as of Dec. 1, 2021, isn’t what Kelly said in the Tigers’ press release Tuesday.

“Our potential is unlimited.”

---

Starting this weekend, the Lincoln Parish Journal will return to publishing just five days a week (Monday through Friday).

With the end of football season, the LPJ will publish exclusively on weekdays with breaking news still being provided on Saturday and/or Sunday as needed.

We want to encourage our readers to continue to send us feedback: the good, the bad and the ugly. We want story ideas, suggestions of how we can serve Lincoln Parish better, and anything that our readers feel will help us as we continue to become the No. 1 source of news and sports in our area.

We want to thank your readers for helping us grow by more than 250 percent over the past three months and we look forward to continuing to grow as we head into 2022.

---

I shop locally. I also shop Amazon.

This time of year, there are two phrases that have caused me to smile. The first phrase is, “Your package has been delivered.” I received a text message five minutes ago that one of my Christmas presents has been delivered. It will be on the porch when I get home. I’m not worried about anyone stealing it because Guido the attack dog would get them before they could escape with the Christmas loot. Our house has become a hub for people ordering from Amazon and hiding that from significant others. I know the kids are coming for Christmas because Amazon has delivered their stuff to our house!

“Your package has been delivered” is good news for most folks. In my case, the phrase causes some trepidation. I am a lousy gift giver. I have some sort of mental block about gift selection. Perhaps I gave a bad gift, and someone made fun of me. I have all this anxiety about selecting gifts. My mother wasn’t good at it either. Mom was a pre-Amazon-QVC-shopper. Could it be a genetic trait that runs down the redneck branch of my family tree? I’ll let you know how this giving season turns out.

The other phrase that has brought me a smile this holiday season is a strange one.

“You have been successfully unsubscribed!”

I returned from vacation and discovered my Inbox full of junk. A Pharmacy chain was the most egregious offender. After I successfully unsubscribed from them; junk kept coming. I haven’t heard from them for a day or two so maybe my second attempt to get away from this national pharmacy chain was successful. I received email from everyone who had a product to sell. I think it had something to do with all the stuff I ordered from Amazon. My Inbox is reserved for people I know transacting business that is necessary for preacher types.

We like to belong! But not belonging to an email list has brought a sense of relief. I crave margin in my life. I need space to think, ponder and ruminate on the glories of God’s love and grace. I need to get to the bottom line quickly and I don’t need to be distracted with an Under Armor ad promising I will look twenty pounds younger (I did that on purpose) if I wear their stuff. After all, Under Armor doesn’t cater to industrial sized persons. All that athletic stuff is made in athlete sizes. I am a super-sized athlete.

Being unsubscribed is being set free. So, we have spam, mailing lists, junk mail, marketing phone calls, and unnecessary tweets and stories on our Facebook news feed. This stuff is robbing us of something we don’t possess, time!

You can push the unsubscribe link and set yourself free. You are following the commandments when you do. I look at the unsubscribe link as one way I can keep the Sabbath holy, even in the middle of the Christmas season.

Between the lists, lights, guests, wrapping and decorating, how are you doing with the Silent-Night-keeping-the-Sabbath-holy part of the Christmas season?

---

Myrtis Davis Morgan 
August 1, 1928 – November 30, 2021 
Visitation: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – 209 North Bonner, Ruston, Thursday, December 2, 2021, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm 
Service: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – 209 North Bonner, Ruston, Friday, December 3, 2021, 11:00 am 
Cemetery: Sibley Cemetery Choudrant, Friday, December 3, 2021 

Betty Jo Barham 
October 21, 1933 – December 02, 2021 
Arrangements to be determined 

James Vail 
November 19, 1932 – December 01, 2021 
Visitation: Saturday, December 04, 2021, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM, North Hodge Assembly of God Church, 5254 Quitman Hwy, North Hodge 
Funeral Service: Saturday, December 04, 2021, 11:00 AM, North Hodge Assembly of God Church, 5254 Quitman Hwy, North Hodge 
Cemetery Committal: Saturday, December 04, 2021, Jonesboro Cemetery, 200 Napoleon Ave, Jonesboro 

Jimmy Wyatt 
March 1, 1956 – November 27, 2021 
Private family arrangements 

 

 

---