Two men were arrested early Monday morning after a traffic stop revealed drugs.
Shortly before 2 a.m., Deputy D. Johnston observed a vehicle weaving from side to side on LA Highway 33 near Hodges Road. When advised of the violation, the driver, Donnie M. Heard, 35, of Ruston, said the car’s suspension was bad. A records check revealed Heard did not have a driver’s license and was wanted on two warrants held by the City of Ruston. He was noncommittal when deputies asked to search the car.
Heard was arrested and a drug canine came to the scene to conduct an open-air “sniff” around the car. The K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics in the car. Suspected cocaine and marijuana were found in several locations in the vehicle.
Due to the location of the suspected drugs in the vehicle, Heard and Ryterion J. Fields, 22, of Strong, Ark., were arrested. A third person, Carrie Archie, was issued summonses for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Fields was booked for possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. In addition to those three charges, Heard was also booked for no driver’s license, open container, improper lane usage, and warrants for speeding and no driver’s license.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Simsboro’s Jordan Crawford was named the Louisiana Class B all-state team MVP selected by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
Crawford was joined on the all-state first team by teammate Nick Maryland while Chilaydren Newton earned second team all-state honors.
Choudrant’s Chris Williams joined Newton on the all-state second team. Williams and Maryland were both named first team all-Lincoln Parish Journal earlier this month while Newton was named second team.
Crawford was named the District 2-B Boys Most Valuable Player after averaging 15.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 3.0 steals and 1.0 blocked shots per game for the state champion Tigers. He was named the co-Player of the Year by the Lincoln Parish Journal while leading the Tigers to their fourth state title in the last five years.
Maryland averaged 16.0 points per game while Newton averaged 18.0 points per game for the Tigers while Williams averaged 20.0 points per game for the Aggies.
On the girls side, Choudrant’s Kylee Portilloz and Simsboro’s Ikeia Brown were both named honorable mention all-state. Both young ladies were also named first team all-Lincoln Parish Journal earlier this month.
LSWA BOYS CLASS B ALL-STATE BASKETBALL TEAM
First team
Jordan Crawford Simsboro 6-2 Sr. 16.0
Kenneth Montgomery Zwolle Jr 6-0 Jr. 19.0
Dustin Welch Anacoco 6-3 So. 20.0
Nick Maryland Simsboro 6-3 Sr. 16.0
Aaron Garcia Lacassine 6-0 Jr. 20.0
Second team
Player School Ht. Cl Avg.
Jamaria Clark Doyline 6-2 Jr. 31.0
Chilaydren Newton Simsboro 6-4 Jr. 18.0
Bret Jinks Fairview 5-8 Jr. 17.0
Chris Williams Choudrant 6-2 Sr. 20.0
Ethan Roberts Saline 6-3 Sr. 18.0
OUTSTANDING PLAYER: JORDAN CRAWFORD, SIMSBORO
COACH OF THE YEAR: MICAH RASBERRY, LACASSINE
Honorable mention
Brylon Tyler, J.S. Clark; Jamaria Markray, Doyline; Jake Forbes, Holden; Steve Seamons, Forest; Gage Remedies, Florien; Tyren Thomas, Zwolle; Landon Strother, Fairview; Conner Ashford, Lacassine; Bennett Briggs, Christ Episcopal; Decorien Dixon, Country Day University Academy; Alex Kovall, Episcopal of Acadiana; Chase Taylor, Anacoco
A woman was arrested by Grambling Police Monday after a traffic violation led to a brief vehicle chase.
Amber J. Parker, 22, of Memphis, Tenn., was reportedly stopped for speeding in a school zone. A records check revealed Parker’s driver’s license was suspended. Parker reportedly became argumentative and sped away, nearly striking officers. A short pursuit followed in which Parker allegedly committed numerous traffic violations before stopping near the Grambling State baseball field. As she was taken into custody, she would not allow officers to handcuff her and refused to get into a patrol car. Officers had to physically place her inside the vehicle.
Parker was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for three counts of resisting an officer, aggravated flight from an officer, and two counts of aggravated assault. Bail was set at $130,000.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
With Tuesday’s news that Southern Miss, Marshall and ODU would be departing Conference USA at the end of June, the league has released the updated 2022 football schedules Wednesday.
While the first four weeks stay the same with the non-conference portion of the schedule, the entire eight-game league slate is revised.
Tech will have its bye week on Oct. 1 and then will play eight straight weeks of Conference USA contests with home games against UTEP, Rice, Middle Tennessee and UAB and road games at North Texas, FIU, UTSA and Charlotte.
This will be the inaugural season under new head coach Sonny Cumbie, who brings a high-octane offensive philosophy and a hard-hitting, physical defensive style to Ruston.
Kickoff times, promotional schedules and Homecoming date will be announced at a later time.
Louisiana Tech football season tickets for the 2022 campaign will go on sale April 4 at 10 a.m. More information on purchasing season tickets will be released next week.
Tech kicks off the 2022 season at Missouri (Sept. 3) in Columbia, Mo. The Bulldogs will then host their home opener against Stephen F. Austin (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 (Sept. 17) and South Alabama (Sept. 24).
Following its bye week, Tech begins the month of October with a return to the Joe for the conference USA opener against UTEP (Oct. 8). The Bulldogs then flip-flop home and away with a visit to North Texas (Oct. 15), followed by hosting Rice (Oct. 22), and a trip to Miami to face-off against FIU (Oct. 29).
LA Tech will open the month of November at home as the Bulldogs host Middle Tennessee (Nov. 5). The Bulldogs will then complete the 2022 schedule with back-to-back road games at UTSA (Nov. 12) and Charlotte (Nov. 19) before closing with a home contest against UAB (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 18th annual Championship Game is scheduled for Friday, December 2. Details on football championship format will continue to be discussed by the 11 members and released at a later date.
For the first time in two years, Grambling State University’s Office of Career Services held an in-person Lonnie B. Smith Career Fair recently at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.
After holding the fairs virtually the past two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 53rd annual version brought students face to face with prospective employers.
Fifty GSU students were able to attend the fair dressed for success thanks to a JC Penney Suit-Up event held on March 20 that was coordinated by GSU Director of Career Services Kellye Blackburn with the help of David Wilson from Accenture Business Services.
“Thank you David Wilson and the Accenture team for bringing my dream to provide Grambling students with new professional clothes to life,” Blackburn said. “I approached Mr. Wilson with my JCPenny Suit Up Sponsorship idea because of Accenture’s commitment to making an impact in the community through philanthropic efforts.”
Each of the 50 students who attended the JCPenny Suit up event on March 20, received a $100 JCPenney Gift card to purchase professional clothing. The remaining 25 gift cards will be given to students to purchase business attire at the Fall 2022 Suit-Up event.
“I look forward to a continued partnership with Accenture as Grambling strives to become Accenture’s HBCU of choice when seeking to recruit top talent,” Blackburn said.
The career fair is named in honor of the late Smith, a Safety and Engineering professor in GSU’s Department of Industrial Arts who for 34 years also served as the university’s Director of Placement. Smith passed away in 2005.
Blackburn said she was pleased to finally be able to have GSU students meet once again face-to-face with prospective employers.
“I’m really happy to be open and back live on campus,” Blackburn said of Tuesday’s event. “We’ve got 63-plus employers, 20 industries represented including federal agencies, top Fortune 100 companies, and more than 20 school districts. We had more than 150 students registered before the event.
“The last three fairs have been virtual over the past year and a half and those actually had many more employers participating. We had 150 employers for last spring’s career fair and 200-plus participated in the virtual fair last fall, so we get more diversity virtually for those employers who might not be able to travel to rural Louisiana for a fair. We had 120 employers participate in a virtual fair in February, so I’m kind of a fan of both virtual and in-person.”
Blackburn said that it’s important that students get an early start on the career fairs as opposed to waiting until their senior years to start attending.
“Career development is really important for students of all classifications to come out to a career fair just to learn about the job market and learn about industries and what types of opportunities are available so that they can build their skills to match what employers are looking for.”
Junior psychology major and GSU tennis team member Georgina Kaindoah was one of the students taking early advantage of Tuesday’s career fair.
“It’s been difficult but you just kind of find the balance between school and tennis,” Kaindoah said. “It’s about time management and planning. And athletics helps with that because you need that to play a sport like tennis as much as you do to succeed academically. Both are about discipline. And you want to work hard and start early in whatever you do, be it academics or athletics. That’s why I wanted to come today and begin making contacts that will help me in the future, even though I’m still a junior.”
GSU Vice President for Advancement, Research and Economic Development Melanie Jones was on hand for the event.
“(The) career fair is an incredible opportunity to connect our students with internships and rewarding careers aligned with their academic major and other personal or professional priorities,” Jones said. “It is exciting to host this event in person, affording all participants — employers and students — the chance to engage in meaningful dialogue, experience each other’s authentic qualities, and connect in ways to help better determine alignment — something that just cannot be achieved in the same way in a virtual setting. Additionally, it is always a privilege to host our hiring partners on-campus, where they get a firsthand experience of all the exceptional things about GSU.”
Junior senior Deja Southall, a business management major from Chicago, and Skyler Raines, a junior biology major also from Chicago, attended the event together.
“We went to a few concerning biology, my major. It was a cool event. There were a lot of schools there looking for graduate students, and that’s something to consider. I’m glad I came,” Raines said.
First Baptist Church of Ruston will host a community-wide joint service on Sunday, April 3 at 6 p.m. in the Main Campus worship center.
First Baptist Church is proud to join Life Church, The Bridge, Temple Baptist, Calvary, Cook Baptist, Emmanuel Baptist and St. David in hosting this community worship service.
Chris Witt from Life Church will be providing the message.
This is a great opportunity for the community of Ruston to come together in worship. Live service and online service will be available.
__________________________________
First Baptist Church has multiple Sunday service times throughout the year.
8:30 a.m. Traditional Service (Main Campus); Contemporary Service (Depot Campus)
9:45 a.m. Contemporary Service/Connection Groups (Main Campus)
11 a.m. Contemporary Service/Connection Groups (Main Campus)
Contact Info: 318-255-4628
Love … Win … & Grow.
(This is a paid advertorial. To advertise with the LPJ, email lpjnewsla@gmail.com.)
A Ruston woman was arrested for domestic abuse battery Sunday after the alleged victim sought medical treatment.
A Lincoln Parish deputy sheriff responded to the North Louisiana Medical Center Sunday regarding a domestic violence case. The victim stated his wife was drunk and bit him on the eye. He said a woman had come to the residence and he was talking to her, and this made his wife angry.
The deputy observed a bleeding laceration above the victim’s right eye.
Deputies went to the Tall Timbers Mobile Home Park to locate the alleged suspect, Maria Lobo, 30, of Ruston. She was found lying in the open doorway of the residence surrounded by beer cans and bottles. Ruston Ambulance Service was contacted to respond. Lobo woke up but had to be helped down the steps due to her unsteadiness.
When questioned about the incident, she said she and her husband got into an argument and “it just happened.” Once she was cleared by EMS personnel, she was arrested and transported to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
For the second straight season, Louisiana Tech’s women’s bowling team has earned a spot in the 2022 NCAA Bowling Championships.
The Lady Techsters saw their name pop up during the NCAA Selection Show Wednesday at 4 p.m. during a selection show party held in the Joe Aillet Stadium press box.
Head coach Matt Nantais and Co. were one of six programs from the Southland Bowling League that are among the 16-team field, joining Vanderbilt, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin, Youngstown State and Arkansas State.
Other qualifiers include Medaille, Bowie State, Wilmington, McKendree, North Carolina A&T, Sacred Heart, Alabama State, Fairleigh Dickinson, and Mount St. Mary’s.
Tech will head to the Arlington Region where it will face North Carolina A&T. Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin with Sam Houston serving as the No. 4 national seed.
Tech has 31 wins over Top 25 teams this year, including 18 wins over Top 10 teams and 11 wins over Top 5 teams.
The 2022 National Collegiate Women’s Bowling Championship will have regional competition for the first time. Regional competition will take place at four predetermined sites April 8-9, 2022.
The winner of each regional will advance to the NCAA championship. The championship matches will be played April 15-16. The championship rounds will be played at Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl in Columbus, Ohio. The Mid-American Conference and the Greater Columbus Sports Commission are the hosts.
The regional and championship brackets will be double-elimination, with each round consisting of a best-of-three match that includes the use of three team game formats- baker total pin fall, five-person team match and a best-of-seven baker match play.
Regional competition will conclude with one team from each regional bracket advancing to compete in the championship. The champion will be determined using a best-of-seven baker match play. The championship final will air at 8 p.m. Eastern Time, Saturday, April 16 on ESPNU.
William Porter Working in the Teller Cage of First National Bank of Austin circa 1892
By Brad Dison
When Mary Porter was in her final year of high school, she wrote an essay entitled “The Influence of Misfortune Upon the Gifted.” She had no way of knowing how well that title fit the life of her son, William Sydney Porter. In 1882, twenty-year-old William Sidney Porter decided to relocate from Greensboro, North Carolina to rural Texas to alleviate his persistent coughing. While in Texas, William worked as laborer on a sheep ranch, as a surveyor, as a newspaper writer and cartoonist at the Houston Post, and finally, in 1891, as a paying and receiving teller for the First National Bank of Austin. During his tenure at the bank, William worked part time on a humorous weekly newspaper of his own creation called The Rolling Stone.
It was while he was working for the First National Bank of Austin that misfortune struck. In 1894, William’s boss accused him of embezzling $1,100.00. William defended himself as well as he could, but the bank’s accounting ledgers were rarely balanced due its “loose methods.” He explained that he had been a loyal employee of the bank for four years. There was nothing William could say that would save his job. After being fired, William worked on The Rolling Stone full time. He was lucky not to be prosecuted.
In 1895, William moved with his family to Houston to work at the Houston Post after The Rolling Stone failed to turn a profit. William’s luck ran out when the First National Bank of Austin was audited. After reviewing the bank’s ledgers, the federal auditor found evidence of embezzlement. William’s ex-boss told the auditor that William had been fired for embezzling money. William was indicted on the embezzlement charge and arrested in Houston. William’s father posted bail and William was released. His trial was set for July 7, 1896.
On the day before his trial was to begin, after much discussion with his wife, William fled to New Orleans then took a ship to Honduras. At the time, Honduras had no extradition treaty with the United States. William’s wife, Athol, and daughter, Margaret, were to join William in Honduras at a later date. Misfortune struck William again when his wife contracted Tuberculosis. Despite being a fugitive, William quickly returned to Austin to be with his wife. William’s wife, 29-year-old Athol Estes Porter, died on July 25, 1897.
While grieving over the loss of his wife, William stood trial for embezzlement. He tried to persuade anyone who would listen that he was innocent, but on February 17, 1898, he was found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison. He began serving his prison sentence at the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio the following month. It must be noted that William’s predecessor in the job had a nervous breakdown and his successor tried to commit suicide. The First National Bank of Austin, the loosely-run bank in which William was convicted of embezzling of money, eventually failed.
William was able to turn the misfortune of prison into a fortunate situation. One newspaper reporter claimed “The prison term, to a man of Porter’s sensitive temperament and culture—he was of the best blood of Virginia and North Carolina—was crushing, yet it revived and stimulated his genius.” For the entirety of his prison term, William wrote short stories with a fervor. He knew no one would publish stories sent from a convicted criminal in the penitentiary, so William enlisted the help of a friend. Each time he completed a story, William mailed it to his friend. Upon receiving it, his friend discarded the prison envelope, addressed a new envelope to William’s publisher, and the publisher was none the wiser. To ensure that no one learned that the stories were written by a convict, William chose a pen name that he had used on occasion.
William’s stories became wildly popular. Newspapers proclaimed after his death that his “name and fame…is secure in American literature. He was one American writer who was touched with the fire of genius. After Poe, he was the greatest American master of the short story, and in depicting American life he excelled Poe and was equal to Mark Twain.” William entered prison “a man chastened by misfortune.” He emerged as an American icon, a man “whose genius had been stimulated and inspired.” William Sydney Porter became famous for stories such as “The Gift of the Magi,” “The Ransom of Red Chief,” and “The Caballero’s Way” in which he introduced his most famous character, Cisco Kid. His pen name was … O. Henry.
Sources:
Austin American-Statesman, August 1, 1897. P.3. 2. The Chattanooga News, November 3, 1916, p.4.
Breanne Mertz and Louis Zmich, College of Business doctoral candidates at Louisiana Tech University, received an award for Best Paper during a special doctoral student research session focusing on future trends in consumer behavior at the 2022 American Marketing Association conference.
The paper titled “#SocialMediaWellness: Exploring a Research Agenda for Healthy Social Media Consumption,” stresses the need for social media wellness by introducing a conceptual definition of social media wellness, exploring consumer’s perceptions and experiences of social media usage through topic analysis, and providing a research agenda for scholars to pursue.
“There is a hunger to understand the balance between our digital and physical lives, and a need to talk about it,” said Zmich. “Hopefully, our research can begin to shift the conversation from “social media is bad/good” to how these platforms are specifically designed to keep one engaged for hours on end, so having an issue with social media consumption is not a fault.”
Mertz and Zmich co-authored the paper with Dr. Kelley Cours Anderson, Ashley Hass, and Dr. Timothy Kaskela. The group will also present their paper at the upcoming Stukent Digital Summit, which provides instruction and training for educators.
“In just the past five years, time spent on social media has increased by 38 percent despite research pointing to various negative repercussions such as decreased well-being, compromised mental health, and even suicidal ideation,” said Mertz. “Such repercussions have been examined by various disciplines, however, most research within the marketing discipline (both in research and pedagogy) focuses on optimizing social media in ways that strategically yield the greatest returns for businesses. Though important, this research emphasis overlooks how social media usage can negatively affect consumers.”
Both Mertz and Zmich are fourth-year Doctor of Business Administration students with concentrations in marketing. Mertz’s research focuses on topics related to well-being within the domains of services marketing and consumer behavior, while Zmich’s research interests sit at the intersection between social media and sales.
“I specifically explore topics related to well-being within the domains of services marketing and consumer behavior,” said Mertz. “In my research related to services, I examine how the treatment of employees (e.g., workplace dignity) can have a positive impact on organizational outcomes and employees. Within the consumer behavior domain, my dissertation and other research explore topics related to consumer well-being and maladaptive behavior within the context of social media usage.”
Zmich works with social media influencers to test what mechanisms are at play when someone purchases from an influencer or sponsoring company.
“My dissertation, for example, works with a regional influencer and tests their audience on how specific levels of creativity lead to increased or decreased purchase intentions,” he said. “I believe that the most impactful data comes from the followers, the sales managers, and the salespeople on the ground making moves for the company. As such, I try to work with those companies/people to explore topics that increase both engagement and sales.”
Both candidates have held notable positions in the marketing research world, including time as American Marketing Association DocSIG officers. Zmich served as Chair, Chair-Elect, and Assistant Vice Chair of Special Projects and Partnerships, while Mertz served as Chair of Media Relations and Coordinator of Best Practices.
The two will graduate this year and have accepted Assistant Professor roles—Mertz at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, and Zmich at the University of Tampa in Tampa, Florida.
“It is difficult to adequately put into words how the doctoral program has impacted me,” said Mertz. “In short, I can confidently say that during this program, I have grown more academically, personally, professionally, and relationally than in any other time of my life. I now have the chance to have the same positive influence and impact on my own students that my professors had on me during such a pivotal point in life.”
Zmich agrees. “The College of Business faculty become your friends and colleagues throughout the program, encouraging you to seek answers to your burning questions,” he said. “Instead of simply guiding one through the program, they continuously mentor, encourage, and provide the resources needed to get impactful work done. That’s been what I am most grateful for—having people in my corner to offer a hand when needed, and become a friend and colleague once the finish line is crossed.”
Gerald Wayne Reeves, 73, of Ruston, Louisiana, passed from this earthly world to his heavenly home suddenly on the morning of March 27, 2022, from what is believed to be a heart condition.
Gerald was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, on September 2, 1948, to Patsy R. Gaddis and Billy L. Reeves. After graduating from Fairpark High School in Shreveport, he attended Louisiana Tech University and earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
Gerald began his retail career with West Brothers of Minden, Louisiana, and worked in South Louisiana and in Arkansas. He then began his work with Bealls Department Store as the Manager in Camden, Arkansas, where he met “Mrs. Rosemary” the love of his life. They were married in May of 1975 and moved to Minden, Louisiana, to continue as a Bealls manager. He finished his career as the Director of the Louisiana Tech bookstore where he was affectionately known as “Uncle Gerald.” There he touched the lives of many students, employees and other faculty members who he continued to love to see around town from time to time.
During those years at Louisiana Tech and into retirement, he loved to spend time with his friends, “the Bubba Boys”, and other “Brothers” as he would call them. They enjoyed coffee in the mornings, traveling, and watching Louisiana Tech baseball games when not spending time with his grandchildren. He even found time to work part-time for Bienville Medical Inspiration Outpatient Counseling Center.
Gerald and Rosemary attend Temple Baptist Church in Ruston. He was a faithful follower of Christ. Through the years he served as a Deacon at First Baptist Church in Minden, Louisiana, and was 4th Grade Sunday School teacher. He was a wonderful Bible Drill leader and enjoyed chaperoning youth mission trips.
Anyone who knew Gerald knew him to be kind, genuine, and incredibly funny. He could make anybody laugh with his antics. He was the kind of man that never met a stranger. He always wore a smile, and his big, bountiful energy could be felt the minute he walked into a room. His loud hollers of, “Hey, brother” or “Haooo” announced his presence and was an invitation to his world. His laugh was loud and contagious and will be greatly missed.
Known by his family as “Nanoo” after his first granddaughter, Emma Jane, affectionately labeled him, he was the pillar the family depended on. He was deeply loved and will be missed more than words can express.
Gerald is preceded in death by his father, Billy L. Reeves; his special nephew Allen Vaughan; great-nephew Justin Vaughan; and his beloved German Shepard, Cooper. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Rosemary Nussey Reeves; daughter and son-in-law Stephanie and Mike Reeves of Simsboro, LA; son and daughter-in-law Brian and Dianna Reeves of Keller, TX; four beloved grandchildren Emma Jane, Michael, Sophia, and Spencer; his mother Pat Reeves of Shreveport, LA; his sister Beverly Reeves, and two brothers, Billy Reeves (Renee) and Randall Reeves (Marica); his sister-in-law and brother-in-law Connie and Mike Vaughan; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Debbie and Tony Nussey; sister-in-law Christine Olvey, along with several special nieces and nephews whom he loved very much.
A memorial service to honor Gerald will be held Thursday, March 31, 2022, at 2 pm at Temple Baptist Church in Ruston, Louisiana, under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes. A time for visitation will be prior to the service at 1 pm with burial to follow the service at Kilpatrick Memorial Gardens. Officiants will be Reverend Reggie Bridges and David Harrell with special music provided by Richard Hood. Pallbearers will be Billy Chanler, Dr. Michael Chanler, Matt Hunter, Tony Nussey, Gary Vaughan and Tim Vaughan. Honorary Pallbearers are Jerry Drewett, Danny Fitzpatrick, Ed Griswold, Joe Thomas, Sammy White and Ronnie Wiggins. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Temple Baptist Church.
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
*, Available only through participating retailers and Humana’s mail-order pharmacy, Humana Pharmacy, always consult with your doctor or medical provider before taking over-the-counter medications.
**, This benefit is not to exceed 100 miles per trip.
Dr. Jethro Terrell July 20, 1937 – March 22, 2022 Family Gathering: 2 p.m., April 1 at King’s Funeral Home, 1511 W. California Ave., Ruston Visitation: 3-5 p.m., April 1 at King’s Funeral Home, 1511 W. California Ave., Ruston Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m. April 2 at New Rocky Valley Baptist Church, 2155 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Grambling Interment: April 2 at Grambling Memorial Garden, Hwy. 80 W., Grambling
Rachel Clark Hardin October 27, 1976 – March 28, 2022 Visitation: 1-2 p.m., Saturday, April 9 at Longstraw Baptist Church, 1799 Styles Ranch Rd., Choudrant Memorial service: 2 p.m., Saturday, April 9 at Longstraw Baptist Church, 1799 Styles Ranch Rd., Choudrant
The tears were flowing during Tuesday’s introductory press conference of new Bulldog basketball coach Talvin Hester.
As Hester looked at his mom sitting on the front row of the Dr. Guthrie Jarrell Room in the Davison Athletics Complex, he couldn’t hold back his emotions.
“It’s a surreal moment,” said Hester. “When you accomplish something that you have been working towards your whole life and you see the people that supported you along the way (sitting here), I’m thankful for them. My tears weren’t for me. It was for all of them. Now I have to make them proud. I have a job to do. All the lights and cameras will go away, and we have to win basketball games. That is what is next.”
Hester was announced as the 19th head coach in Bulldog basketball history during the noon presser, following in the footsteps of Eric Konkol. Hester served as an assistant coach on Konkol’s staff for three years prior to moving to Texas Tech this past season. Texas Tech advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
Hester addressed a crowd full of Bulldog faithful on Tuesday with his wife Jamieka and daughter Rhyan sitting by him on the stage while a number of other family members watched with tearful eyes as he spoke of fulfilling lifelong dreams.
“In every journey in life, somebody helps you,” said Hester. “Some people help you. You have to have help to get there. For those people to help me and to come back and support me, it brought me to tears. The truth is I wanted to smile the whole time, but the tears were for my mom and for my family.”
Hester comes to Tech with 20 years of collegiate coaching experience under his belt, including his three-year stint on Konkol’s staff in Ruston (2018-21). He said he knows how to role up his sleeves and work and he is ready to do that with the Bulldog program.
“Talvin Hester is a guy who got it out of the mud,” said Hester. “I came from a Division III junior college and worked at pretty much every level of DI that you can imagine. I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I didn’t come from royalty. I plan to keep working, instill work in my players, bring in a staff here that is built to work and try to make this university proud.”
Tech Director of Athletics Eric Wood said the process was intense and stressful, but that he feels they landed the right man for the position.
“Every AD will tell you they always have a list,” said Wood. “You are just naturally keeping an eye on folks in case you have an opening. You always have a list for when it’s go time. It’s an emotional time. You are making a decision for the University and the city and most importantly those student athletes. It weights on you to make the right choice for your institution at the right time. It’s a stressful process, but we ended up with the right coach and I’m thrilled.”
Along with stops at Texas Tech and Louisiana Tech, Hester spent the majority of his coaching career in the south, especially in the Lone Star State. He spent time at Oral Roberts, Houston, Texas State, Stephen F. Austin, San Jose State, Prairie View A&M, Texas College, Texas Wesleyan and North Lake College during his career.
“When we started this process, it was a blank slate,” said Wood. “I knew Talvin worked here, and he was at Texas Tech making a run to the Sweet 16. It was truly a blank slate. He just fits here. He has worked under some great guys. He knows X’s and O’s. He’s not just a recruiter, he’s full of integrity and ethics. I felt he would be the right fit for Louisiana Tech right now. He crushed the interview and he separated himself from being an assistant to showing us he could be a head coach.”
When asked what makes Louisiana Tech a special job, Hester was quick and simple with his response.
“The people in this place are unbelievable,” said Hester. “I think that is why you have seen multiple coaches have a lot of success here. This community surrounds this school. And the people who come here fall in love with it. The players want to play for the people here. It makes it a dynamic situation and a dynamic place.”
And Wood believes Louisiana Tech just hired a dynamic coach.
“We got the right guy at the right time for Louisiana Tech,” said Wood.
Lincoln Parish residents are urged to exercise caution this Wednesday as storms progress into the area from now until the afternoon hours.
The National Weather Service in Shreveport has monitored severe weather over the last couple of days and said that while damaging wind is the biggest concern, there is a possibility for tornados and even large hail.
In the early hours of this morning, the squall line should be coming into the state and then moving through during the morning into Lincoln Parish. However, all storms are expected to be gone somewhere during the afternoon.
The National Weather Service also advises that these times are an estimate and they could remain for an hour or two after the prediction or all the storms could sweep through Lincoln Parish around the mid-afternoon.
If a tornado does occur, move to the lower levels of your home and away from exterior rooms and rooms with windows. Do not go outside during a tornado.
Coming off a big weekend at the Texas Relays, the Ruston High School Track and Field Team will be back at it again on Friday as RHS hosts the “Hoss” Garrett Relays.
After Garrett played football for and graduated from Louisiana Tech, he began his coaching career at Forest High School in 1934 before taking over football and track coaching chores for Arcadia High School in 1936 and then moving to Ruston in 1937.
Garrett’s football teams won state championships in 1941, 1947 and 1951 as he compiled a 270-122-19 before retiring in 1973. Garrett was also known for making his football players compete in track and field for training and conditioning purposes. Garrett passed away in 1986.
Last weekend RHS boys triple jumper BJ Green, who has signed to compete for the University of Oklahoma, took first place at the Texas Relays.
Ruston’s 3,200-m relay team of Andrew McKaskle, Babineaux, Nelson Blackburn and Bryar Madden finished 10th at the Texas Relays while the RHS Distance Medley boys relay team of Andrew McClinton, Joshua Anding, Carson McPherson and Caleb Babineaux finished 13th while the Bearcats’ 1,600-m relay team of Anding, McPherson, Josiah Whitaker and Brady Beason came in 19th in that event.
Ruston’s 800-m boys relay team of Jaden Osborne, Beason, McClinton and McPherson added a 17th-place finish while the Bearcats 400-m relay team also competed, as did Beason and Paige in the individual boys sprints.
The RHS girls competitors also did well at the Texas Relays, led by senior and Louisiana Tech signee Bryanna Craig’s second-place finish in the high jump. Craig also finished 20th in the 100 Hurdles event at the Texas Relays.
Ruston’s girls 1,600-m relay team of Jada Williams, Craig, Kiona McAllister and Shinaya Branch added a 13th-place showing for the Lady Bearcats while Williams also finished 20th in the 100-m dash.
“It was a great weekend and great experience for our athletes at Ruston High,” Whitaker said. “When you have national caliber athletes on a team, you want to put them in the best positions possible to compete against other national caliber athletes. That’s why we went to the Texas Relays — to give our kids the chance to compete against the best.”
Now the focus for Whitaker and his athletes is on the “Hoss” Garrett Relays.
“Ruston track and field prides itself on the traditions started by Coach Garrett and then carried over by Dave Anderson, who we honored during last year’s “Hoss” Garrett Relays by naming our track after him,” Whitaker said. “I always tell people that we stand on the shoulders of giants with Dave Anderson and ‘Hoss’ Garrett. And now with me taking over, I believe it’s my responsibility to keep that tradition alive.
“We honor ‘Hoss’ Garrett before the meet. Our kids — we go to the gravesite and we speak our peace and our seniors say their peace and what the program means to them. ‘Hoss’ Garrett is big for us, especially this year. We’ve been in Texas almost every weekend in March, so to come back home and compete in front of the home crowd is going to be special.”
Just as Anderson was honored last year, Whitaker said there are special plans for this year’s “Hoss” Garrett Relays.
“We’re going to honor our state champion indoor team — this is the first time the girls ever won an indoor state championship, so we’re going to acknowledge those athletes, we’re going to acknowledge our boys team and then we’re going to acknowledge our first-ever female national champion — Bryanna Craig (heptathlon).”
Byrd, Ouachita, Pineville, Wossman, D’Arbonne Woods and Cedar Creek will all compete in this year’s “Hoss” Garrett Relays.
“We had another big-name school, Lake Charles College Prep, pull out at the last minute. They’re doing some good things down there but had to back out,” Whitaker said. “So it’s not going to be a huge meet, but it still should be a great one.
“It’ll be competitive for us and will give our younger kids the chance to show their stuff in front of the home crowd. We’ve seen a whole lot of competition the past couple of weeks we’re going to put our kids in a few events just to let the home crowd see what they can do and then we’re going to shift our focus toward winning a state outdoor championship.”
Admission will be $7 with children 5 and under being able to enter free of charge. The pre-meet ceremonies will start things off at 3 p.m. with field events beginning at 3:30 p.m. and running events at 5:15 p.m.
A Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Officer made a routine traffic stop that turned into an arrest for multiple drug charges.
A LPSO deputy was conducting normal patrol duties when a vehicle that failed to stop at a red light at North Trenton and the North Service Road was spotted. The vehicle also changed lanes without a turn signal.
The deputy then initiated a traffic stop and contacted the driver, Travis J. Kennington, 34, of Ruston, who stepped out of the vehicle to talk further with the deputy. The deputy found a clear plastic baggie filled with suspected methamphetamine on Kennington’s person. Kennington was then restrained and placed in the patrol unit.
The deputy then made contact with Kennington’s passenger while a probable cause search of the vehicle was performed. A male juvenile was also in the backseat and came out of the vehicle while the search was performed. The deputy found a glass smoking pipe in the driver’s side door panel and a glass jar filled with suspected marijuana in a bag on the rear seat. Kennington said he owned the items.
Kennington was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and illegal use of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a minor. Bond was set at $5,000.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The phrase Tech Family is one heard quite often in Lincoln Parish.
And the Tech family showed plenty of excitement Tuesday afternoon as former Texas Tech assistant Talvin Hester was introduced by Tech President Lew Guice and Vice President for Athletics Eric Wood as the 19th head coach in the history of the Louisiana Tech University men’s basketball program.
Dunkin’ Dog fans seemed to unanimously feel the move to bring back Hester, who had served as an assistant under department Tech men’s coach Eric Konkol from 2018-21, was a slam dunk for the Bulldogs.
“We’re excited because he’s a proven product,” said longtime Tech supporter Skip Russell. “He’s been very successful everywhere he’s been. The basis of a good program is recruiting, and he’s good at that.
“I think that no matter what else happens, if you don’t go out and get good players who are also good kids, then your program is not going to be worth much. And Coach Hester has proven that he can do that. And that makes a big difference in what he puts out on the court and what we as fans appreciate and love about the team.”
Hester became emotional as he spoke during Tuesday’s introduction, and that was something Dunkin’ Dogs fan Fred Blake said was a positive.
“He’s got a heart — you saw how he cried,” Blake said. “When you have a heart like that, it means that you’re willing to share with people, and in this case, his team. The main thing he said for me is that he’s got God in his life. That’s important. That’s his guide. As long as he feels like that he’ll be fine. Because if God isn’t with you, then you’ll have to face the consequences. Through his words and actions, Coach Hester shows he has all the support anyone needs.”
Hester’s mother-in-law, Ruston native and Louisiana Tech business office education graduate Virginia Simmons Jackson was on hand for the announcement.
“This is wonderful for us,” she said. “My husband and I lived in Austin (Texas) for 24 years but moved to Longview when we retired. We’ve been making that long drive to Lubbock (Texas) to see our family. That was an eight-hour drive, this is going to be two.
“I’m so proud to have my son-in-law coach at my alma mater, close to where I live and in my hometown. This is wonderful for me.”
Former Dunkin’ Dog Dickie Crawford, now Vice President for Student Advancement at Louisiana Tech, said he also feels good about the new top dog for men’s hoops.
“I think it’s outstanding,” Crawford said about Hester’s hire. “He’s a quality guy that wants to be here, that loves the university and loves the community, and wants to grow and develop young men. It was a no-brainer decision. I’m excited for him and excited for Louisiana Tech.”
Crawford said Hester’s familiarity with the program will help make a positive impact on the Bulldogs and their fans.
“I think being familiar with the program, the university and the community will really help,” Crawford said. “He knows the expectations for himself, for the university and for the students coming in to play. That will help him hit the ground running and help to build for success quickly.”
Ed Jackson, Tech’s Associate AD for Student Development, Diversity and Inclusion said he felt Hester was the right choice to take over the Dunkin’ Dogs.
“I feel like Louisiana Tech is primed to do great things,” Jackson said. “If you look around and see all the action, and the excitement about the entire program, I don’t see anything but great things, and by bringing in this hire here, I think Tech has elevated itself to another level, just like we’ve done in football and like we’re going to do in every other sport. I think the time was right.”
Jackson was another who said he felt what Hester brings to recruiting is a reason for Tech fans to feel good.
“Recruiting is the life’s blood of sports,” Jackson said. “”Coach (Hester) has done a great job with recruiting, he has great connections with the guys that are here. To me, you can be good at the Xs and Os, the plays and all of that, but you have to have some Jimmys and Joes to make it all work, to make a difference. I think Coach Hester can bring that to the program. I think excitement is in the air and I think that if we support him and give him a chance, he’s going to do great things here.”
Longtime season-ticket holder Gary Stokely said he was happy about the hire because he knows the current Dunkin’ Dogs are happy about it.
“The players love him,” Stokely said. “The players approached Dr. Wood and told him they wanted Coach Hester. Rarely do ADs pay attention to what their student-athletes say or want. They’re going to do what’s best for the program. But this kind of all aligned itself like it was meant to be.”
One of the Dunkin’ Dogs most fervent fans, Mike DeCarlo, who joins fellow Tech librarian Boris Teske to spend many home games hopping and dancing to district opposing free-throw shooters, said Hester’s hiring made him feel like jumping for joy.
“For me it’s what he’s going to bring defensively,” DeCarlo said. “You might not be able to make a basket, but if you still play tough defense you’re still going to be in it. And I think Coach Hester will bring that. I’m excited about baseball right now, but also already looking forward to football and basketball.”
Over the weekend, Ruston Police officers responded to a call at WalMart Super Center in reference to a shoplifter inside the store wearing a blue and orange hoodie and pajama pants.
After receiving identifying details from the caller, the officer found the suspect, Jeremy Hardyway, 26, of Ruston, in WalMart. Hardyway stated that he had stolen socks stashed in his pants.
The total amount of merchandise was $60.
The RPD officer was also advised that Hardyway had two active warrants, both for theft.
Hardyway was taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center and booked for theft less than $1,000. Bond was set at $10,000.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
For the past few months, Conference USA has been having a stare down with three of its current members: Old Dominion, Marshall and Southern Miss.
The three schools announced last fall they would be departing for the Sun Belt Conference. This came about the same time that UAB, Rice, UTSA, North Texas, FAU and Charlotte announced they would be joining the AAC.
That’s fine. Those schools have that right.
However, C-USA bylaws state any member who departs for another league has to give the conference at least a 14-month lead time.
Thus, those nine programs would be obligated to Conference USA through the 2022-23 athletic seasons.
Not so fast my friend.
Shortly after the announcement, speculation and “noise” began to come out of those three camps (USM, ODU and Marshall) about their desire to join the Sun Belt this July.
In fact, not only did those three schools make the announcement that they would, Marshall filed a lawsuit against Conference USA after the league stated they would hold the schools to the bylaws of the contract each signed when becoming a member.
The lawsuit, which was filed in Cabell County Circuit Court in Huntington, West Virginia, was seeking jurisdiction in West Virginia and aims to avoid arbitration. In mid-February, Conference USA filed a demand for arbitration against Marshall, seeking to compel the university to arbitrate its dispute with the league in Dallas.
This came just days after Conference USA released its 2022 football schedule, which included all three schools, and pledged to “exhaust all necessary legal actions” to ensure the outgoing members would participate this fall.
The Sun Belt promptly released its football for this fall which also included Southern Miss, Marshall and ODU.
It’s been a stare down that reached the courts.
Who was going to blink first?
Well late Tuesday afternoon, Conference USA sent out a statement on its social media platforms:
“Conference USA, Marshall University, Old Dominion University, and the University of Southern Mississippi have reached a resolution that allows the schools to withdraw as members at the end of the academic year. Conference USA will move forward into the 2022-23 academic year with 11 members. The Universities will compete as members of the Sun Belt Conference.”
So, starting July 1, 2022, Conference USA will become an 11-member league for the 2022-23 season before then becoming a nine-member league on July 1, 2023.
North Texas, UTSA, FAU, Charlotte, Rice and UAB will depart for the AAC following June 30, 2023 (following the league’s bylaws). Liberty, Sam Houston State, Jacksonville State and New Mexico State will join LA Tech, WKU, Middle Tennessee, UTEP and FIU on July 1, 2023 to form the new C-USA.
Welcome to the landscape of college athletics these days.
The biggest question that remains is what are the penalties for Southern Miss, ODU and Marshall leaving early? There has to be some financial ramifications, right?
The league’s statement is ambiguous at best.
Following the release of the statement yesterday, social media was full of comments from fans of all 14 schools (and others) who were taking jabs at each other and at the league.
And one of the most frequently asked questions?
What about the Conference USA baseball championship which is supposed to be hosted by Southern Miss in Hattiesburg in May. Is the league going to allow a school that is not only departing, but one that is openly breaking the league’s bylaws to host such an important championship and get home-field advantage?
Kansas is a 4.5-points favorite against Villanova Saturday in the first of two NCAA Tournament semifinal games. Duke and North Carolina will follow at approximately 7:49; the Blue Devils are a 4-points favorite.
Hello, Awesome Saturday Night. Except …
If you see a Kansas fan between now and then, and if he or she is gnawing on tree bark and unable to mumble a complete sentence, move along. Yes, the Jayhawks are favorites. Yes, Kansas has a basketball tradition as rich as anyone’s.
But yes, Kansas come Tournament time is a heartache waiting to happen.
East Coast. West Coast. Midwest. Deep South. Historically, the Kansas basketball program has arguably left more hoop-loving hearts broken all over this great land and on the Final Four Road than any other program that’s ever dared nail up a peach basket.
They’ve got the awesome old-school gym. The simple, bright, cheerful uniforms you could probably wear to church and get away with. That happy-go-lucky Jayhawk mascot.
It’s a program that’s strung together a ridiculous 31 straight NCAA Tournament appearances, the most ever. All the Jayhawks do is win.
Until it’s time to finish. Kansas has only three NCAA Tournament titles in its illustrious history.
Which is three more than lots of programs, for sure. Most anyone would trade for what Kansas has been able to do, generation after generation.
And still, their reputation is that of a Bracket Buster. Kansas giveth, and Kansas taketh away. Saturday will mark the program’s 16th trip to the Final Four, which means that for all their trips to the mountaintop, the Jayhawks have left as King of the Hill only once every five times.
They’ve been runners-up six times, college basketball’s equivalent of baseball’s 1950s’ Brooklyn Dodgers and 1990s’ Atlanta Braves.
Bridesmaids City.
Recent history:
In 2010, Northern Iowa, historically one of the finest programs in all of the great state of Iowa, bounced them out.
In 2011 as the Tournament’s No.1-seed, Kansas was dismissed by VCU in the Elite Eight. (Time flies; Shaka Smart seems like last week.)
2014, they got Stanford-ed, although it’s important to remember that Kansas was Joel Embiid-less thanks to an unfortunate injury.
2016 and 2018, well, we’ll come back to that in a sec.
In 2020, the Jayhawks were ranked No. 1 in some polls and … The Ultimate Indignity … the Tournament was pandemically cancelled.
So here they are again with head-scratching Kansas, never ranked No. 1 this season, yet champions of the Midwest Regional and the only No.1 Regional seed left in the ballgame. If you are a Kansas fan, you are probably preparing for a dagger where it hurts.
But who knows? Bill Self could become just the 16th guy in the college game to win multiple national titles. Kansas could do what the 1952 and Self’s 2008 team did and win it all.
Very un-Kansas-like, they’ve even won it when they weren’t supposed to. I happened to be there hanging around in Kemper Arena in Kansas City in 1988 when “Danny Manning and the Miracles,” a 6-seed, upset No.1 Oklahoma, 34-3 and winners of 21 of its last 22 games, 83-79. The game was tied 50-50 at the half, the small (for a Final Four) arena was an explosion of cheers and colors and gasps and drama, and the whole thing was more fun than a little bit.
And maybe the same will be true this weekend. Maybe. With Kansas being a favorite over Villanova in the Saturday semis, that’s a step in the right direction.
Except … remember we mentioned 2016 and 2018? Kansas played Villanova in the tournament both those years. And lost. First, in 2016 when the Jayhawks were the top-seeded team in the tournament.
And then in 2018, when Kansas lost to the underdog Wildcats … in the semifinals.
Louisiana Tech is celebrating Women’s History Month with a commemorative lecture by Dr. Pamela Tyler titled, “Votes for Women: The Louisiana Story in Black and White.”
Tyler, who is the author of “Silk Stockings and Ballot Boxes: Women and Politics in New Orleans, 1920-1963,” will speak at the event at 4 p.m. March 31 via Zoom.
Elaine Thompson, an associate professor of history, said this commemorative event was supposed to occur in 2020 but had to be postponed due to COVID-19.
“Due to the pandemic, we were unable to commemorate the centennial of the ratification of the 19th amendment in 2020,” Thompson said. “I invited Pamela Tyler, a retired professor of history from University of Southern Mississippi because she is the premier historian of women’s suffrage in Louisiana. Her book ‘Silk Stockings and Ballot Boxes’ is the premier work in the field.”
Thompson said this talk would focus on the way the 19th Amendment affected black and white women in Louisiana so participants will get a fuller picture of its ratification within the state.
“This is a fascinating era in American history,” Thompson said. “It’s hard for us to fathom these days, but in 1920 only white men could vote for the most part; despite the 15th Amendment, disenfranchisement laws passed in the 1890s meant that very few black men could vote, and even many poor, illiterate white men were excluded as well. All women, regardless of race were excluded too. Probably three-fourths or more of the adult American population were excluded from voting. The 19th Amendment guaranteed the vote for women — at least for those who could get past the literacy clause and similar exclusionary laws — and this should be commemorated.”
The event is free and open to the public, but individuals need to register at https://tinyurl.com/3adbp7rm. After registering, individuals will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
“The history department commemorates Women’s History Month and Black History Month every year,” Thompson said. “We welcome the participation of the public and hope to return to in-person events next year. In the meantime, we hope folks will join us online this year.”
This event is hosted by Tech’s department of history, Phi Alpha Theta and the School of History and Social Sciences.
