Grambling State University Police arrested two in a campus residence hall Tuesday after responding to a report of a disturbance.

Officers found Makayla Wilkins, 19, of Akron, Ohio, in a second floor hallway of Knott Hall bleeding from her mouth and a cut on her hand. She stated Cameron Davis, 20, of Baton Rouge, had battered her and thrown her out of his dorm room. Wilkins alleged she was two months pregnant. Officers noted Wilkins was so agitated, they could obtain very little information from her.

Both were taken to the GSU PD station for further questioning.

Wilkins stated she had taken Davis’s phone into the bathroom to go through it. Davis reportedly picked the lock to enter the bathroom and threw Wilkins out of the room.  

Davis stated when he attempted to retrieve his phone, Wilkins struck him in the face twice with her fist.

After viewing video of the hallway, Wilkins was arrested for battery of a dating partner.  She allegedly resisted arrest and officers had to use force to apply handcuffs.

Davis was also arrested, and both were transported to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center.  Both were booked for batting of a dating partner and Wilkins with an additional charge of resisting an officer.

Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

UTEP at Bulldogs

After playing three straight on the road, Louisiana Tech is back at home on Thursday night to face UTEP at 6:30 p.m. inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court.

The contest will be streamed on ESPN+. Tech fans can hear the broadcast on 107.5 FM with the pregame show starting at 6 p.m. Fans can also access it through the LA Tech Athletics app.

LA Tech (18-6, 9-3) is in a tie for second in the West Division standings after picking up its second straight road win, an 82-77 victory over Charlotte.  Four Bulldogs scored 14+ points and the team committed a season-low five turnovers (tied for fewest ever in a C-USA game for the program) and had a +12 turnover margin.

Kenneth Lofton, Jr. anchored the team in almost every statistical in Charlotte with 18 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals.  The Naismith Trophy Midseason Team selection is averaging 19.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.7 steals over his last six games.

After putting together a six-game winning streak, UTEP (14-10, 7-5) has dropped its last two games to North Texas and Marshall.  The Miners sit in fourth in the C-USA West Division standings.

UTEP is led by the two-headed monster of Souley Boum and Jamal Bieniemy.  Boum is averaging a league-best 19.7 points per game while Bieniemy is averaging 16.0 points per game.  The highest scoring duo in C-USA have combined to score 48 percent of their team’s points this season.

LA Tech leads the all-time series versus UTEP, 17-12.  The Bulldogs have won two straight, including a 64-52 win back on Jan. 6 in El Paso, Texas.  They have also won four of the last five and 10 of the last 13 meetings in the series.

_____________________________________________________

Lady Techsters at UTEP

Louisiana Tech heads back on the road after completing a four-game homestand to face off against UTEP for the second time in three games inside the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas Thursday, Feb. 17 at 8:00 p.m.

Tech currently one game back of Southern Miss for first place in the C-USA West division standings.

Louisiana Tech (14-9, 6-6 C-USA) has now won six of their last eight but had their four game win streak snapped by Charlotte (59-56) last Saturday at home.

Tech, who battled back from as many as nine down to the East Division leaders, had a one-point lead with just over a minute remaining but could not answer on the final possession to see their recent red-hot streak come to an end. 

Tech beat this same UTEP squad in Ruston 68-65 after leading by as many as 19 in the third quarter. Three Techsters scored in double figures including Salma Bates with 11 to go along with Walker (17 points) and Roberson (12 points).

The Lady Techsters continue to be one of the top defensive teams in conference USA ranking No. 3 in scoring defense (58.6 ppg), No. 5 in blocked shots (3.3 bpg) and No. 5 in turnovers forced (18.2 tfpg).

The Techsters are averaging 66.2 ppg this season on 41.9 percent shooting and rank as the No. 1 team in conference USA in free-throw percentage (.764).

UTEP (13-10, 5-8) enters the weekend having lost three in a row including five of their last six, most recently falling to Marshall on the road, 60-48.

Three of their six losses (at FAU, Rice, at LA Tech) have been by three points or less.  The Miners do however, hold wins this season over Middle Tennessee, Old Dominion, and UTSA (twice) and North Texas and are 9-3 at home this season.

UTEP is led by double-digit scoring tandem junior Destiny Thurman (12.9 ppg) and sophomore Katia Gallegos (11.7).

Louisiana Tech and UTEP will meet for the 24th time in program history with LA Tech holding a 15-8 advantage. Tech is 6-5 in games played in El Paso.

The series has historically been one of runs with Tech winning the first nine meetings dating back to 2001-02. UTEP then won six of the next seven followed by four Tech wins in a row and then followed by back-to-back UTEP wins.

LA Tech won the last meeting a week ago in Ruston, 68-65

Grambling State University supporters got revved up Monday as it was announced NY Racing owner John Cohen, a GSU alum, will have a car and driver return to the NASCAR Cup Series this week, bidding to qualify for the season-opening Daytona 500 which will be held Sunday.

The No. 44 car is a Chevrolet Camaro sponsored by Grambling State University and HBCU League Pass Plus and is painted black and adorned with Grambling State logos and GSU gold-colored number and lettering.

“As an HBCU and Grambling State football alumnus, it’s a thrill to be on board with HBCU Pass Plus and get a chance to have the team compete and try to earn a spot in the Daytona 500,” Cohen said. “This wouldn’t have been possible without the partnership we have with Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing, and Hendrick Motorsports.”  

Cohen, who played linebacker at Grambling State from 1993-97 and has also owned trucking and mortgage companies, said the reason he’s involved in racing is his love for the sport. 

“I wanted to get into something I had a passion for,” said Cohen, who started NY Racing in 2009. “I’m passionate about HBCUs and Grambling State University. And racing is something I’m passionate about. If it has a motor and goes fast, I’m passionate about it. It all started with motorcycles and I just kind of worked my way up. I’ve always liked and followed racing.”   

Cohen, who is a marketing partner of Urban Edge Network, Inc., will use Richard Childress Racing-built cars and Hendrick Motorsports engines with veteran driver Greg Biffle behind the wheel. His NY Racing team has made a handful of appearances in recent years, most recently in the 2018 Coca-Cola 600 with J.J. Yeley doing the driving. 

“Urban Edge Network, Inc., is excited to announce our relationship with black-owned NY Racing,” said Todd F. Brown, CEO of Urban Edge Network, Inc. “John is an alumnus of Grambling State University. We’re excited to bring our HBCU audience across 101 campuses into the NASCAR arena virtually and physically. We know that our fan base supports sports that reflect and invite [African Americans] into the experience. We’re looking forward to branding and partnering with Fortune 500 companies to support this fully black-owned team as they’ve supported other NASCAR teams in the past.” 

At 52, Biffle is the oldest Daytona 500 entrant. The champion of the second-tier Busch Series in 2002, Biffle won 19 times in his 510 Cup Series starts for Andy Petree Racing, Petty Enterprises, and Roush Fenway Racing from 2003-2016.  He later made two appearances in the Truck Series, winning at Texas for Kyle Busch Motorsport in 2019. 

“I’m really excited to have the opportunity to drive the Next Gen car and help NY Racing make its entry into the 2022 season,” Biffle said in a team release. “I’ve always said since the day I stepped away from full-time competition that I would return under the right circumstances.” 

Jay Guy, who has been a crew chief for more than 300 NASCAR Cup Series races and earned a win with David Ragan in 2013 at Talladega Superspeedway, will serve in that role for Cohen’s team this week at Daytona. 

“It’s all about representing HBCUs and especially Grambling along with a sport I love,” Cohen said. “I’ve been trying to bring racing to a wider audience since 2009. I hope that having the car look like it does with all the Grambling branding on it will help make that happen.”

By Leslee Bennett

Mardi Gras is approaching fast, and the Louisiana Tech Band of Pride is preparing to perform March 1 in the Rex Parade. 

Dr. Chris Heidenreich is particularly excited to be asked to participate in one of Fat Tuesday’s biggest parades. Louisiana Tech’s Director of Bands has never been to Mardi Gras. 

“I had heard other students talk about Mardi Gras parades in general and with this one being daytime and their 150th anniversary, it just seemed like everything was lining up that this one would be a lot of fun,” Heidenreich said. 

Heidenreich is not the only one who’s going to Mardi Gras for the first time, though. It will also be freshman band member Kera Middleton’s first time. 

“I lived in Louisiana until I was 9, and I haven’t had a chance to attend any Mardi Gras activities since I moved to Arkansas,” Middleton said. “I’ve always wanted to go to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and since I was given this opportunity to march in the Rex Parade, I figured this was the best time to go.” 

Middleton is also excited to get the experience of being in the parade rather than watching it. 

“It feels great to be able to march in an official Mardi Gras parade,” Middleton said. “I feel like not many people get this opportunity, especially if they’re not from the area.” 

This parade is also a way to get more recognition for the Band of Pride and Louisiana Tech University. 

“I think since it’s down south where we have a lot of alums and we have a presence, just seeing us on TV physically being in the parade is really important for that visual aspect,” Heidenreich said. “Just putting our name out there in a place in the state that has so many other schools is really important.” 

The parade will be a 3.1-mile march where the band will play a rotation of a few songs –  Louisiana Tech Fight Song, Go Dogs, Neck, and Do Whatcha Wanna. 

The parade march will be more casual than others done in the past, Heidenreich said. He wants this performance to be “laid back like a true New Orleans band.” 

The Rex Parade will roll at 10 a.m. on March 1 in downtown New Orleans. 

GRAMBLING, La. | Grambling State University Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics, Dr. Trayvean Scott, announced the hiring of new Lady Tigers head volleyball coach Chelsey Lucas on Monday. 

“We are excited to welcome Chelsey Lucas back to Grambling State University as our head women’s volleyball coach,” Scott said. “She is a fierce competitor and knows how to win at all levels. She brings a level of excitement and a wealth of knowledge to our program. I am thrilled to be able to bring in a talented coach, who knows the institution and our conference.” 

Lucas, a 2007 graduate of Grambling State University and a former Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Defensive Player of the Year, along with being a first-team all-conference performer, returns to her alma mater after spending the past three seasons at the University of Arkansas in Pine Bluff.  

“I want to give thanks to God for allowing me to have a new start to something that I truly love to do,” Lucas said. “Also, I would like to thank Dr. Scott and all of his staff that worked very hard during the process to get me here and to just understand what it takes to have a winning culture.” 

While at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Lucas’ teams compiled a 37-44 overall record and a 27-17 mark inside the SWAC, including going 13-3 in 2021. 

During the 2021 campaign, Lucas coached All-SWAC Blocker of the Year, Haley Gomez, along with second-team selections Zyonn Smith and Nikole Akamine. Gomez made program history when she became the first two-time SWAC Blocker of the Year in the program and conference history. 

Prior to her taking over the reins at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Lucas spent three seasons at SWAC member institution Alcorn State. While at Alcorn State, the Lady Braves saw gradual success on the court, posting a 10-20 overall mark in 2018, which was seven more victories than the previous season and a 6-12 record in the SWAC, an improvement of six wins. 

In 2018, the Lady Braves’ six conference wins were the most in the program since the 2003 season. Alcorn ranked second in the nation in aces per set at 1.98. Individually, sophomore Fiapaipai Iosia ranked third in the nation with in aces per set at 0.66. 

Lucas first entered coaching in 2007 as an assistant coach at Terrebonne High School in her hometown of Houma, La. and as head coach of the Bayou Bandits club team. She was then hired as Houma Junior High School’s head volleyball coach in 2009 before taking the same job at Riverside Academy (Reserve, La.) in 2011. 

Also in 2011, Lucas was named club director of the Louisiana Southern Swing Volleyball Club in the midst of immediate success at Riverside. She led the Rebels to back-to-back LHSAA Division IV semifinal appearances in 2012 and 2013. 

Prior to Alcorn, Lucas also spent three seasons as head volleyball and track and field coach at East St. John High School (Reserve, La.).  

As a player, Lucas was named SWAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2006, anchoring the backline for Grambling State during its run to the SWAC Regular Season title. A 2006 All-SWAC first team selection as a senior, Lucas led the conference with 396 digs, highlighted by a SWAC season’s best 43-dig performance at Texas Southern.  

Mary Ann Dronet-Lee, known affectionately as Ms. Mary, is a pre-k teacher at Bethel Christian School. Although retired in 2010 after teaching in Acadia and Calcasieu Parish schools for 33 years, she moved north and heard the call to teach again. She taught at New Living Word from 2011-2013 as pre-k4/5 lead teacher, earning Teacher of the Year in 2011-2012, and then moved to Bethel Christian School where she is teaching now in her ninth year (43 years and counting at the end of this year).

Her family is in the health care business, even her children, but Dronet-Lee is the educator in the family. She did have a younger brother work as a child-specific aide.

“I did not decide to become a teacher until my sophomore year in college, when the words ‘help children’ kept popping in my head,” Dronet-Lee said. “I decided then to double major in special education and elementary education.”  

Clifton Elementary and Bethel Christian School are Dronet-Lee’s favorite schools, she said. Both are small schools that she felt really cared about students and the faculty and staff. It is fitting as Dronet-Lee’s basic principles of teaching are “to provide a positive attitude about themselves and the world around them, and to be accepted and taught as an individual to enhance their learning and growth.”

Dronet-Lee said she enjoys observing her children’s excitement as they retain what they have learned or suddenly “comes to light.” She tells students to remember, “I got this, because I put my all into getting this,” and parents to, “Let go and let kids do it on their own – especially putting on their own shoes (even if on the wrong feet) just to see that smile because they did it all by themselves (a priceless Kodak moment).”

Dronet-Lee said she believes that if you love interacting with children and joining them in the excitement of “I did this all by myself,” and that if you love seeing innocent expressions and sayings and receiving hugs, being a pre-k teacher is right for you. 

Dronet-Lee hears it all with the kids. From “I finished eating my milk” to “You mean you don’t live here?” to simply explaining how a white color is not broken when coloring on white paper, she feels blessed and has been a blessing, even called “mom” on occasion by mistake.   

Dronet-Lee said that she enjoys that Bethel offers smaller classes, one-to-one assistance and opportunities to teach good behavior, manners and courtesy towards one another. Bethel offers clubs and sports that keep students involved, interacting and learning good sportsmanship. With smaller class sizes, teachers can provide extra time and attention to each student. As a Christian school, students also learn more about scriptures and how they apply to behavior and life.

“Bethel also has the ‘meet at the pole’ — prayer and music — and chapel every Wednesday,” she said. “Bless the children.”

The University of Louisiana System and the Louisiana Governor’s Office have updated their COVID-19 guidance.

Tuesday, the ULS, of which Louisiana Tech and Grambling State are members, stated that mask requirements are no longer in place. However, the ULS encourages to wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status and especially when the individual has an increased risk for severe disease or a weakened immune system or when the individual lives with someone with those factors.

Additionally, yesterday, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards extended Louisiana’s COVID public health emergency order to support Louisiana’s response to the pandemic, but without any remaining required mitigation measures.

The Governor’s Office, the Louisiana Department of Health and the CDC still recommend that all people wear masks when they are indoors in public or in a large outdoor crowd while all areas of the state are considered high transmission areas for the coronavirus.

“While we remain in an Omicron-fueled surge, we are definitely on the down swing,” Edwards said. “There is a lot of COVID out there in Louisiana, and fortunately we have many more tools available to us now to prevent severe illness and death including safe and effective vaccines, booster doses, therapeutic interventions, and better quality masks.”

Edwards urged individuals to be aware of their own personal risk against COVID-19 and encouraged vaccines and booster shots.

“While my order does not include any required mitigation measures, it is very important that people continue to take into account their own personal risk of serious illness if they get COVID, including if they are immunocompromised, have comorbid health conditions or are unvaccinated,” Edwards said. “I hope we never go back to the kind of strict mitigation measures needed before the vaccines. I also pray each day that more Louisianans will go sleeves up against COVID and get their vaccines and booster doses, because we know these save lives.

“As we move deeper into the Mardi Gras season and with the continued return of big events and gatherings, people should be aware that the CDC recommends that in communities with high transmission rates, currently all 64 of our parishes, people wear masks in public in crowds, especially indoors. If you got your booster dose today, you could have supercharged immunity by Mardi Gras.”

While masks are not required statewide in Louisiana, there are still federal regulations requiring them in health care settings and on transit. In addition, local governments, school districts and businesses may choose to require masks as they see fit, based on the level of COVID in their communities.

The Governor’s current order expires on March 16, 2022, though he said he might end it before that date. 

By Brad Dison

One day, 11-year-old Grace Bedell’s father showed her a photograph of a man.  Grace was instantly appalled by what she saw.  She described his appearance as having a “high forehead over those sadly pathetic eyes, [an] angular lower face, with deep-cut lines about the mouth.”  She had never met the man but was determined to help him improve his looks.  Her suggestion was to cover his face with whiskers because, as she said in the letter, “you would look a great deal better for your face is so thin.”  As to soften the blow of her criticism, Grace made a single compliment to the picture in her letter.  She wrote, “I think that rail fence around your picture makes it look very pretty.”  She asked that if the man had no time to reply to her letter, to have his daughter reply in his stead.   She ended the letter with a firm request that he “answer this letter right off.  Good bye. Grace Bedell.” 

Four days later, the thin-faced man read Grace’s letter containing criticisms which would have been a blow to any man’s ego regardless of the age of the criticizer.  He quickly penned the following response to young Grace: 

“My dear little Miss.

Your very agreeable letter of the 15th. is received.  I regret the necessity of saying I have no daughters. I have three sons — one seventeen, one nine, and one seven, years of age. They, with their mother, constitute my whole family.  As to the whiskers, having never worn any, do you not think people would call it a piece of silly affection if I were to begin it now?”

He finished the letter with warm affection, “Your very sincere well-wisher,” and signed his name.

Most people would have quickly discounted the letter and would not have given it a second thought.  However, over the next few days, the man pondered over Grace’s letter.  The debate of whether or not to grow a beard plagued his mind.  Finally, after much consideration, he decided to take Grace’s advice and grew a full beard.

Four months later, the now-bearded man stopped at Westfield, New York, to deliver a speech.  At the end of his speech, the man said, “Last Fall I received a letter from this place—and a very pretty letter it was, too.  It was written by a young girl whose name, if I remember rightly, was Bedell.  Among many other things in that letter was a recommendation that I should let my whiskers grow, and it would improve my appearance.  It was partly from that suggestion that I have done so.  If that young lady is in this crowd I would very much like to see her.”  He noticed that people in the crowd turned their gaze to a specific location.  Grace was present but, due to the size of the crowd, had not seen or heard the man’s speech.  The crowd cleared a path and pushed Grace forward.  The man stepped down from the platform, shook Grace’s hand and gave her a kiss.  He touched his beard and said, “You see, I let these whiskers grow for you, Grace.”  They talked only briefly before the man shook her hand again, stepped into his car, and was whisked away.  Grace never saw the man again.

Grace’s letter was, in part, responsible for the iconic look of a man most of us cannot picture without whiskers, though he wore them for only the last four years of his life.  His bearded portrait graces the $5 bill.  The man whose image so appalled young Grace that she was driven to write a letter of criticism was… Abraham Lincoln.  

Rickie L. Grant  
Dec. 4, 1959 – Feb. 12, 2022  
Visitation: 1-3 p.m., Friday, Feb. 18, King’s Funeral Home, 1511 W. California Ave., Ruston  
Interment: Friday, Feb. 18 immediately following visitation, St. Clair Cemetery, Chatham  

Robert W. Jenkins 
Oct. 29, 1948 – Feb. 15, 2022 
Arrangements pending  

Glenda Stockle 
Feb. 2, 1957 – Feb. 15, 2022 
Arrangements pending

Anna Wharton 
March 12, 1975 – Feb. 15, 2022 
Visitation: 9-10 a.m., Friday, Feb. 18 at Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 2300 W. California Ave. 
Funeral Service: 10 a.m., Friday, Feb. 18 at Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 2300 W. California Ave.  

Taylor Ryan Young 
March 20, 1992 – Feb. 12, 2022 
Visitation: 4:30-6 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 17, at Cook Baptist Church 
Memorial service: 6 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 17 at Cook Baptist Church

Jeff Tilley 
September 16, 1976 – February 15, 2022 
Arrangements pending  

A search warrant led to a weekend arrest of two individuals for a variety of drug-related charges.

At 8 p.m. Feb. 11, Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team executed a state-signed Knock and Announce Search Warrant at a residence in Dubach.

Jerome U. Ashley, 44, of Dubach, exited the residence once the door was breached. Ashley advised officers that his girlfriend was sleeping in the back bedroom. Deputies went into the residence and called the female, who was identified as Tellena Moreno, 37, of Dubach. Both were advised of their rights and handcuffed before the search began.

Prior to deputies searching the premises, they asked Moreno if there were any narcotics they needed to be aware of. Moreno answered no, but during a search of the bedroom, officers located a clear plastic baggie containing marijuana, a dollar bill containing methamphetamine, several cut straws used to snort methamphetamine that contained meth residue, two units of prescription pills not in a pill bottle and two units of promethazine in a prescription bottle with no label on it.

Inside Moreno’s purse, officers found a clear plastic baggie containing a white powdery residue as well. A search of Moreno’s vehicle was conducted, and agents located several burnt marijuana cigars as well as plastic baggies commonly used to package narcotics.

Moreno said she was unaware of any of the narcotics in her vehicle or the room.

On Moreno’s keychain, an LPNET agent located a small container containing marijuana residue as well. Moreno was transported back to LPNET and then transported to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for booking.

Shortly after making contact with Ashley, Ruston Ambulance Service arrived on the scene to evaluate his medical condition, as he was acting erratic. He was transported to the Northern Louisiana Medical Center and once medically cleared, transported to LPNET for holding and then LPDC for booking.

Moreno and Ashley were booked under multiple drug charges, including possession of marijuana, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Moreno’s bond was set at $6,000.  Ashley was additionally booked for a LPNET arrest warrant for distribution of Schedule II drugs, and his bond was set at $46,000.

Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

RUSTON, La. – Louisiana Tech officials confirmed on Tuesday that the Bulldogs home baseball game against LSU on Feb. 23 is sold out.

Tech hosts the Tigers at JC Love Field at Pat Patterson Park next week, marking the first time LSU has come to Ruston in 25 years.

The Tech Athletics Department announced last week that all available chairbacks and first base berm seating areas were sold out through season ticket sales and both home and visiting team pass lists. Tech students were able to begin claiming single game tickets in the Kennel (right field berm) Monday morning and by noon all 500 tickets were claimed for the LSU game.

No additional standing room tickets are available for the contest and all available premium seating game-by-game areas are also sold.

The Bulldogs open the 2022 season this weekend when they host Wichita State in a three-game series Friday through Sunday.

A limited number of single game tickets as well as some of the premium seating areas (Home Plate Suite, Hot Corner Suite) are available for sale for this weekend’s opening series.

Packages for the Home Plate Suite (unavailable for the LSU game) will include 10 tickets and starts as low as $400.

Packages for The Hot Corner (last year was utilized as the Coaches Corner) will include anywhere from 20 to 40 tickets and will start as low as $500 per game (pricing for both Home Plate Suite and The Hot Corner is dependent upon game). 

Anyone interested in purchasing the Home Plate Suite or The Hot Corner should contact Avrielle Steward at 318-257-5154 or asteward@latech.edu.

Individuals who selected mobile ticketing should have their tickets on their LA Tech Athletics app mobile account. Individuals who selected hard tickets should in the mail over the next week. Individuals who qualify for parking passes will receive those in the mail prior to the Feb. 18 home opener (either via mobile or mail).

A traffic stop led to charges of possession of marijuana, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia Friday night.

A Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Officer noticed a vehicle traveling on LA 522 with no license plate light and made a traffic stop on McCullin Road. The driver was identified as Mickey H. Sherrill, 38, of Dubach.

The deputy asked Sherrill if there was anything illegal in the vehicle, and he turned his head to look at a bag located in the front passenger seat and then told the deputy no.

Due to previous narcotics experience and noticing Sherrill’s hands shaking considerably, the deputy asked Sherrill to step outside the vehicle, which Sherrill did. The deputy asked if he could search the vehicle, and Sherrill gave permission.

The deputy located a clear plastic container in the bag which held multiple narcotic items, a clear plastic baggie filled with suspected marijuana, a clear plastic baggie filled with suspected methamphetamine, a glass smoking pipe and rolling papers.

The deputy asked Sherrill about the narcotics, and he said it wasn’t his bag. When the deputy asked about the pay stubs in the bag with Sherrill’s name on them, Sherrill admitted it was his bag. When asked, Sherrill said he got the meth from a friend.

Sherrill was transported to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center and booked on charges mentioned above. Bond was set at $2,500.

Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Despite plenty of tumultuous waters in the Conference USA pool of 14 league members, the office released the 2022 football schedule on Wednesday.

While Southern Miss, Marshall and Old Dominion continue to make public statements about bolting for the Sun Belt Conference sooner than later, the C-USA office continues to say it expects to see all 14 members stand point through 2022-23.

“Conference USA intends to conduct the 2022-23 athletic year with the full 14 institution members intact,” said the statement released by the league Tuesday. “The C-USA Board of Directors will exhaust all necessary legal actions to ensure members meet their contractual obligations as defined by and agreed to in the Conference USA bylaws.”

Those bylaws say an institution has to give at least a 14-month notice before leaving the league. Time will tell.

So for now, Louisiana Tech fans can plan on the Bulldogs 12-game slate looking as it does below.

LA Tech will host a total of five home games during the 2022 campaign, including four contests against C-USA opponents. The Bulldogs will open league play by hosting UTEP on Saturday, Oct. 1.  

This will be the inaugural season under new head coach Sonny Cumbie, who was introduced to Bulldog Faithful in a December press conference. Cumbie brings a high-octane offensive philosophy and a hard-hitting, physical defensive style to Ruston as Tech fans can look forward to a new brand of football.

Kickoff times, promotional schedules and Homecoming date will be announced at a later time.

Tech kicks off the 2022 season at Missouri on Saturday, Sept. 3, in Columbia, Mo. The Bulldogs will then host their home opener against Stephen F. Austin Saturday, Sept. 10 inside Joe Alliet Stadium. Tech hits the road the following two weeks to wrap up the non-conference schedule with visits to Clemson on Saturday, Sept. 17 and South Alabama on Saturday, Sept. 24.

Tech begins the month of October with a return to the Joe for the conference USA opener against UTEP (Oct. 1). The Bulldogs then flip-flop home and away with a visit to Southern Miss Saturday, Oct. 8, followed by hosting UAB Saturday, Oct. 15, and a trip to San Antonia to face-off against UTSA Saturday, Oct. 22. Tech closes out October with a bye the week of Oct. 29.

LA Tech will open the month of November on the road as the Bulldogs take on Charlotte in North Carolina on Saturday, Nov. 5. The Bulldogs will then complete the 2022 schedule alternating home and away by hosting Rice on Saturday, Nov. 12 followed by a trip to Denton, Texas against North Texas on Saturday, Nov. 19, and completing the regular season inside Joe Alliet Stadium the face-off against Old Dominion on Saturday, Nov. 26.

It is important to note that all games are subject to date changes and some dates are expected to move in the coming weeks in order to accommodate national television.  A schedule of televised games will be released at a later date.

Conference USA’s 17th annual Championship Game, pitting the champions of the East and West Divisions, is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 5.
 
Each school will play every team in its division once for six games, while playing two cross-over opponents from the opposite division.  Each team will reverse the location of its 2020 games against division opponents and will rotate in new cross-division opponents to begin a two-year intra-division cycle. 
  
 
2022 Schedule

Sept. 3            at Missouri

Sept. 10         Stephen F. Austin

Sept. 17         at Clemson  

Sept. 24         at South Alabama  

Oct. 1             UTEP*

Oct. 8             at Southern Miss*

Oct. 15           UAB*

Oct. 22           at UTSA *

Oct. 29           bye

Nov. 5            at Charlotte*

Nov. 12          Rice*

Nov. 19          at North Texas *

Nov. 26          Old Dominion*                      

Dear Ask the Paperboy,

My understanding is that collaborative is an adjective meaning “two or more parties working together,” i.e., “a collaborative effort.” This week I heard a similar word: “cobladderative.” During a particularly long sermon, the parishioner by me said they were in a “cobladderative situation.” They looked most uncomfortable? Being just a visitor, I nodded politely and didn’t pursue a line of questioning. Any help?

Asking for a Friend

Dear Asking for a Friend,

Paperboy has been there. No fun. It’s not a religious word at all; it’s actually about as human and secular as you can get. You find yourself in cobladderative peril when your personal bladder and a long movie or long sermon conspire to make you have to decide whether to go to the bathroom or hold it until the credits. Or until the “amens.” It’s one of those potentially violent and dicey deals. If you can avoid cobladderation, the day is worth as much celebration as you can offer.

Dear Ask the Paperboy,

With Louisiana Tech and other programs about to start their baseball seasons, I read about Tech’s 2021 “historic” run last spring and in another article read of the Love Shack’s “historical moments.” Are these two adjectives interchangeable? Which is preferable?

History Fan in Ruston

Dear History,

Paperboy just dusted off his Grammar for Dummies, Junior Edition, turned to the “Things I Don’t Know” section and concluded that while both words describe the past — and everything that happens, like your reading of the question above, is now in the past — “historic” means something that’s really important. Tech hosted an NCAA Regional for the first time last spring, making it important/historic. “Historical” can be just about anything from the past that has to do with an event but isn’t necessarily the most important thing from that event: for instance, the box scores from the Regional are historical. If a batter had clobbered eight home runs in a single game, then the box score would be considered historic. (If a second-year home team batter had done it, the feat would be both historic and sophomoric, and the mood in Ruston that weekend would be as it was anyway: euphoric.) Whether or not these answers hold up, time will tell. Either way, just in case something historic happens this spring, get to a ballpark.

Dear Ask the Paperboy,

Speaking of the past, a now-seldom-used term is one of my favorites. I say term: it might even be an idiom. Oh, how I do love an idiom! Anyway, “hue and cry,” as in, “When taxes were raised, there was a great hue and cry.” My question is, Can you have one without the other?

An Idiot for Idioms

Dear Idiom Idiot,

Hue sure can.

Dear Paperboy,

I stayed up all night to see where the sun went. Then it dawned on me.

Clever in Calhoun

Dear Clever,

We see what you did there. Why must you pun-ish us?

Until next time, feel free to submit your queries. This is a collaborative enterprise, after all, and Paperboy never sleeps.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

CLICK to COMPARE: https://www.humanateam.com

If you are enrolled in a Medicare/Medicaid plan rated less than 5 stars, you may switch to a Humana 5-star plan even after the Annual Election Period ends. The 5-star Special Enrollment period runs from December 8, 2021 through November 30, 2022.

A Humana Advantage Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan has everything Original Medicare has – and benefits you might not get with Medicare Part A and Part B alone. Your Humana Dual Eligible Special Needs plan works with your Medicaid benefits, so you can get the benefits you need – and even more – like:

• Healthy Foods Card – $75 each month for approved groceries
• $200 over-the-counter allowance every three months*
• Hearing benefit includes annual exam and $0 copay for advanced TruHearing hearing aids
• Unlimited rides to your doctors**
• $3,000 dental coverage annually for select services, plus exams, X-rays, cleanings, fillings and more

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By Sophie Edwards

Three years ago, Sophie Fijneman made the 5,000-mile journey from the Netherlands to Ruston to play soccer for Louisiana Tech University.

SOFTBALL

With both teams coming off a successful opening weekend, Louisiana Tech hosts Northwestern State Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.

Both season and single game tickets are available and can be purchased at the box office located at the facility or by logging onto LATechSports.com/tickets. Gates open at 5 p.m.

The Lady Techsters won four out of five games at the Best of the Bayou hosted by ULM at the Ouachita Sportsplex this past weekend. Tech posted wins over Stephen F. Austin, Morehead State, Southern and Mississippi Valley State while falling to SIU-Edwardsville.

Northwestern State won three out of four games in its opening weekend, with wins over UT-Martin, Chattanooga and Arkansas-Pine Bluff and a loss to Baylor.

Fans can follow the game at LouisianaTech.statbroadcast.com (PW: compete) and can access a live video stream through a paid subscription to CUSAtv.com.

_____________________________________________________

GOLF

LAREDO, Texas – Attitude is everything.

Louisiana Tech head coach Matt Terry pinpointed attitude as the reason the Bulldog golf team opened the spring with a strong showing at the Laredo Country Club in extremely tough conditions.

Tech entered Tuesday in fifth place, but shot a team total of two-over-par 290 (the second best team total of the day) to move up three spots and finish second in the 14-team Border Olympics.

It was two days of playing in tough wind conditions on a tough course.

“When is windy like this, when its blowing sideways, having the right attitude is key,” said Terry. “These guys had the right attitude before we ever left Ruston. They knew what to expect. We checked the weather and knew it was going to be windy. It’s a tricky course. A lot of cross winds. There were tough lies when chipping around the greens. Elevated greens. Some run offs.

“Dealing with cross winds and down winds is difficult. It plays different with your shot. I was impressed with how we controlled our golf ball. The bogeys were going to come now matter what in these conditions. It was a matter of keeping the really big numbers off your card.”

Tech finished with four players in the top 12 of a field of 86 golfers.

After Sam and Mac Murphy both fired four-under-par two-round totals of 140 on Monday, it was Hunter Battles and James Swash’s turn on Tuesday. Battles shot a three-under par 69 while Swash added a one-under-par 71 as Tech passed 50^th ranked Baylor, Sam Houston State and Lamar to finish as the runner-up to the host Houston Cougars.

Sam Murphy (71-69-74=214) finished fourth while Mac Murphy (71-69-76=216) finished tied for sixth. Battles (77-72-69=218) moved up 24 spots on Tuesday, to finish in a tie for ninth. Swash (73-75-71=219) tied for 12^th. Grant Smith (76-74-76=226) tied for 33^rd while Lake Juban (85-76-85=246) finished 85^th.

___________________________________________________________

BOWLING

DALLAS — No. 5 Louisiana Tech took home the tournament runner-up after pushing Arkansas State to seven games in the Lady Techsters Classic at USA Bowl this past weekend.

“This weekend was probably the most challenging pattern that we have bowled on in the last few years,” said Tech coach Matt Nantais. “Shot making was at a premium as well as spare shooting. Friday, we did a great job overall in all aspects of the game. Saturday, we did not perform up to our capabilities and I have to figure out what we can do differently to improve it.

“Two tournaments in a row we have bowled great on Friday and Saturday had subpar performances, but we have had great Sundays the last two events. We came up short this weekend in the championship match but we bowled great. This team does not give up.”

LA Tech completed the weekend 6-4 in qualifying matches to put themselves in a great spot heading into Sunday’s bracket play as the tournament’s overall No. 3 seed.  

Tech was in the third overall position heading into Sunday’s final qualifying match against Prairie View A&M who Tech handled (975-825) to secure a spot in the top four and a chance at the tournament title. 

Tech got a shot at revenge with SFA in the semifinal match and after taking a 3-1 lead (214-181, 215-181, 242-161, 200-226) in the Baker best-of-seven, Tech exacted that revenge with three straight strikes in the tenth frame to take the series 4-1 with a 189-177 win. 

That set up a showdown versus Arkansas State who took care of Sam Houston on the other side of the bracket. In game one, down more than 40 pins, Tech strung together five straight strikes to complete the comeback for a 1-0 lead (208-202).

Arkansas State evened the series at 1-1 (215-225) followed by Tech regaining the lead 2-1 after a 247-237 win. It came down to a simple best-of-three series after Arkansas State took game four to knot the championship series at 2-2 (192-219).

Tech took game five 226-170 but lost game six by a single pin (214-215) which forced a winner-take-all game seven that Arkansas State claimed 190-234 for the tournament title leaving the Lady Techsters with their third runner-up finish of the season.

Artists across the globe have collaborated in a virtual residency program presented by the North Central Louisiana Arts Council and the Ross Lynn Charitable Foundation.

The 2021 North Louisiana Virtual Residency Exhibition is available for viewing until March 26. The exhibition is a culmination of artists from across the globe collaborating together in groups during a virtual residency program that began in 2021.

The exhibition features 16 artists from seven different countries with diverse art forms ranging from painting and paper arts, to photography, sculpture, performance art, and more.

This virtual residency began in May of 2020 as a way to offer virtual space, support and community for artists during the early stages of the pandemic. RLCF and NCLAC hope to foster a communal and collaborative environment that brings about connections that would otherwise not exist.

The online exhibition is now available for viewing at nclacgallery.org. The exhibition serves as a way for the artists to communicate the results of their dialogs and explorations during the residency. Each group shares their collaborative project and experience through images, videos, audio and text.

Artist talk videos will be shared each week of the exhibition on the Ross Lynn Charitable Foundation Residency Facebook account, @RossLynnFoundation. The residents and their project titles are: 

April Fitzpatrick & Robyn Gibson (We Can’t Heal What We Don’t Reveal) Chris King & Oluwakayode “Oba” Moyosade (A Tale of Two Kings) Ally Zlatar & Ayesha Mubarak Ali (Where Two Bodies Meet) Sarah Nguyen, Mami Takahashi, & Eden Radfarr (Compilation 001) Kinnari Saraiya & Sangram Mukhopadyay (যত উপর, वैसा नीचे [Translated: As Above, So Below]) Eden Radfarr & Emily Tironi (Material Connections / Children At Play) Beenish Ahmed & Eman Fatima (Ever-Present) Cristina Koutsolioutsou & Shannon Rose Moriarty (Tangible Metafora). 

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A millage renewal election will be held Saturday, March 26, 2022, for (i) Consolidated School District No 1 and (ii) Ruston School District No. 1 

• The deadline to register to vote in person, by mail or at the OMV Office is February 23, 2022.   
• The deadline to register to vote through the GeauxVote Online Registration System is March 5, 2022. 
• Early voting is March 12-19, 2022 (excluding Sunday, March 13) from 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. 
• The deadline to request an absentee ballot is March 22, 2022 by 4:30 p.m (other than military and overseas voters).  
•  The deadline for the registrar of voters to receive a voted absentee ballot is March 25, 2022 by 4:30 p.m. (other than military and overseas voters). 
• On election day, the polls are open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. 

Memorial services for Taylor Ryan Young, age 29 of Ruston, LA will be held at 6:00 PM, Thursday, February 17, 2022 at Cook Baptist Church Sanctuary in Ruston, LA with Rev. Chris Walker officiating.  Services are under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston, LA. 

Taylor Young was a lifelong resident of Ruston, Louisiana where he attended Ruston High School and found his love for music in the band where he played drums. He earned a scholarship to play as part of the percussion studio at Louisiana Tech University. He was a member of PBR percussion fraternity, where he was an active member, alumni, and recently named life member for his service and devotion to the organization. He worked as a team member for Centric Federal Credit Union for the last 4 and a half years. He served as one of their customer service representatives and was recently promoted to assistant manager. He loved the team at the Ruston center and was passionate about serving the local community by helping with their finances and taking part in many community projects. He was an active member of the Lincoln Rotary Club. He attended many meetings and events in order to better serve the community he loved.

As much as he loved music and serving his community, Taylor loved his family. He and his father shared a love of all sports. Football, basketball, baseball, and golf were just a few of the passions they enjoyed, and they were often seen at many a Louisiana Tech sporting event wearing their favorite red and blue. Along with sports, he, his father, and his brother enjoyed playing cards and board games. Their main passion was pinochle, and it was a passion shared with many extended family members. Taylor and his brother shared a lifelong friendship and spent many hours talking, joking, and enjoying each other’s company. Taylor shared a love of food with Mrs. Donna and spent many a meal with his beloved family around him. Taylor and his wife, Emily, met at Cook Baptist Church while in elementary school and reconnected while in the Tech Band. They were married 3 ½ years and enjoyed traveling, watching movies, and spending time with their dog, friends, and family.

More than anything, Taylor loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He was an active member of Cook Baptist Church during his life. He served as the main drummer for their worship team for many years, served on the Social Committee, was a teacher for the boy’s class in Awana club, and was an active member of his Connect Group.

Taylor is preceded in death by his mother, Jimmie Claire Pesnell Young; grandmother, Barbara Young and aunt, Wanda Pesnell Ledford.  He is survived by his wife, Emily Young of Ruston, LA; father, Cary Young and wife, Donna of Ruston, LA; one brother, Logan Young of Ruston, LA; grandmother, Barbara Hammock of Ruston, LA; father and mother-in-law, Scott and Tammi O’Rear of Haughton, LA; sister-in-law, Katie Beth O’Rear of Springdale, AR, several other loving family members and a host of friends. 

Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Matthew Boydstun, Ben Boydstun, Bradlee Martin, Matthew Sanders, Logan Young, Josh Farrar and Jeremy Farrar. 

Visitation will be held from 4:30 PM until service time, Thursday at the church.  In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate donations in memory of Taylor to either:  Ruston High School Band, Attn:  Donna, 900 Bearcat Dr., Ruston, LA  71270  or  Cook Baptist Church Music Dept., 2000 Cooktown Dr., Ruston, LA  71270.