Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents are investigating a fatal boating incident that occurred in Lincoln Parish on March 22.

The body of Stanley L. Morrow, 57, of Dubach, was recovered around 7 p.m. on March 22 from James Lake.

Agents were notified about a submerged kayak in James Lake around 5 p.m. on March 22. LDWF agents along with Dubach Police Department and the Lincoln Parish Fire Department immediately began searching for the missing boater.

LDWF will be the lead investigative agency for this fatal boating incident. It is unknown at this time what caused the kayak to capsize and for Morrow to enter the water. Morrow’s body was found without wearing a personal flotation device and his body was turned over to the Lincoln Parish Coroner’s Office to determine and official cause of death.

Kyle Crigger struck out eight batters over the final four innings and Taylor Young drove home the go-ahead run with a bases loaded walk in the top of the 12th inning as Louisiana Tech defeated No. 14 LSU 7-6 in a game that lasted 5 hours and 12 minutes at Alex Box Stadium.

It marks the second time this season that LA Tech has defeated the Tigers on the diamond.

“You had everything in this game tonight,” said Tech skipper Lane Burroughs. “There were  lot going on. At the end of day the message to the team before the game was compete. Word of the day. Compete. Even if we had lost this game, I thought we competed our tails off.

“By the end of the game, we had guys playing out of position. (Thaxton) Berch was playing second, and he hasn’t taken a ground ball in five months. (Riggs) Easterling was playing third and he hasn’t done that. That’s who we are. There are millions of dollars worth of players over there (in the other dugout), and we are just a bunch of guys competing our tails off.”

After Tech (15-6) took an early 4-0 lead, the Bulldogs found themselves trailing 6-4 heading into the top of the ninth inning.

“I thought we went dead offensively between the third and the ninth innings,” said Burroughs. “We didn’t take good swings. There were a lot of punch outs tonight. 40 between the two teams. But there were a lot of good arms too. 

“When they took the lead we could have easily cashed it in. But we didn’t. Taylor (Young) may have broken his hand, but he stayed in the game. It’s not looking good. It’s swollen and black and blue, but he refused to come out of the game. He said, ‘I’m not coming out.’ That says a lot about him.”

However, an error and three straight walks forced home a run to cut the deficit to 6-5. Steele Netterville then grounded into a double play but the tying run crossed the plate in the form of Easterling to knot the game at 6-6.

Crigger, Tech’s usual closer, got extended innings. He entered in the bottom of the ninth inning and proceeded to strike out eight batters without allowing a run to score over the final 4.0 innings.

“I was going to put a stop to that if we had gone another inning,” said Burroughs. “I wasn’t going to let him pitch five innings. Thanks goodness we scored the run, and he got the next three outs. What a competitor. He wants the ball, and all he does is pound the strike zone. He threw some beautiful change ups and sliders, and got a lot of swings and misses. He was fantastic.”

It didn’t come without some stressful pitches.

LSU had the winning run on third with one out in the bottom of the 11th, but a failed suicide squeeze attempt cost the Tigers the base runner.

Then after the Dogs took the 7-6 lead in the top of the 12th, LSU put runners on the corners with no outs before Crigger struck out the next three batters all swinging.

“I believe that this game rewards you,” said Burroughs. “We came out here, and we competed. We deserved to win. The game rewarded us.”

Tech used four pitchers in Greg Martinez, Ryan Harland, Ryan Jennings and Crigger.

“Greg Martinez was really good in the start.” said Burroughs. “Ryan Harland goes out there; a hometown boy who I’m sure grew up coming to LSU games. All he did was punch out two. I thought (Ryan) Jennings was outstanding in relief. And Crigger, four innings, eight strikeouts. I thought our pitchers were outstanding.”

Tech will host FIU in a three-game Conference USA series this weekend, starting with Friday’s 6 p.m. first pitch at JC Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.

Photo: Tom Morris

 The Ruston Farmers Market has announced two new features of the market, funded by a grant from Jonesboro State Bank’s Pledge 10 grant program.  

The Ruston Farmers Market is open Saturdays, year-round, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and visitors can see the new learning garden and Kids’ Corner. 

The learning garden is located in front of the market building at 220 E. Mississippi Ave. Large planters host a variety of local, seasonal vegetables and flowers. This garden provides a space for the community to learn about sustainable and simple ways to grow their food with upcoming lectures and hands-on classes from local experts and farmers. Also, regular visitors to the RFM can see the growing process go   from seed to harvest.  

In the Kids’ Corner, visitors will find a variety of fun activities, toys and learning opportunities for the youngest visitors. There are art supplies, garden tools, cooking toys and lots of room for imagination.  This space provides not just a dedicated area for play, but its location makes it a safe zone for parents to see their children play while shopping throughout the market.  

Former Louisiana Tech coaches Mike White and Joni (Crenshaw) Taylor have both found new places to call home.

And they both went from SEC schools to … well … SEC schools

In fact, the two were like ships passing in the night.

Just a week after the announcement came that White was leaving Florida to become the head coach at the University of Georgia, more news came out yesterday that Taylor was leaving Athens to take the head job at Texas A&M.

White was the head coach at Louisiana Tech for four seasons, recording a mark of 101-40, including three straight conference championships.

Under White’s leadership, the Bulldogs advanced to the NIT in each of his final three seasons in Ruston, including quarterfinals appearances in 2014 and 2015. In all three NIT appearances, Louisiana Tech posted a road victory over a major-conference opponent, toppling Florida State in 2013, Georgia in 2014 and Texas A&M in 2015 on their home floors.

Gene Frenette, who covers Florida for the Florida Times-Union, wrote last week:

“For reasons partly connected to the Gators’ struggles on offense, as well as a UF fan base that suffers from too much entitlement, White was increasingly the subject of social media wrath the past couple years. He didn’t like how it started to impact his wife and kids, so the 45-year-old coach stunned the college basketball world Sunday by bolting for an inferior program within his own league.

“Seriously, when do you ever see a basketball coach not being fired ever leave a Power 5 program for another one in the same conference, one that has been to just three NCAA tournaments in the last 20 years? When do you see a coach resign to go to a rival school that he’s beaten in the last six meetings, holding an 11-3 record against them? 

“It’s a testimony to how untenable the situation had gotten at Florida from White’s vantage point. He was 142-88 overall and 72-52 in seven seasons with the Gators, but clearly didn’t like the direction things were going. So he made the unheard-of decision to take one of the worst jobs in the SEC, leading a program that was 41-85 in league play during his time at Florida.”

Tech fans, who were enamored with White and his success in Ruston, can all hope that he has plenty of success in Georgia.

Meanwhile, Taylor – who served as an assistant coach for the Lady Techsters from 2005 through 2008 – leaves a storied program in Georgia for one that might not have as long of a history of success, but has more recent history of success in Texas A&M.  Taylor replaces another coach with former LA Tech ties in Gary Blair, who retired following this season. Blair led the Aggies to the national title in 2011.

“I am extremely excited and humbled to have the opportunity to lead the Texas A&M women’s basketball program,” Taylor said in a statement. “You are talking about a program that is rich with tradition and an institution that leads not only in the SEC, but in the country. I am excited to get there and meet the team and immerse myself and our family into Aggieland.”

In seven seasons at Georgia, Taylor was 140-75 (62-48 SEC). She took the Lady Bulldogs to four NCAA tournaments but never reached the Sweet 16. This season, Georgia fell to 3-seed Iowa State 67-44 in the second round.

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By Malcolm Butler

Special to the LPJ

It’s been 27 years since I got the phone call that no one ever wants to get.

March 23, 1995.

I was working graveyards in the computing center at Lincoln General Hospital (now Northern Louisiana Medical Center).

Graveyards is a good term for it. I was not built to be awake in the middle of the night (and at times I wasn’t, but that’s a story for another day).

On this particular night, I was awake and reading a Lewis Grizzard book. I don’t remember exactly which one. And trying to stomach some coffee (only time in my life I ever tried to drink coffee) to help me stay vertical.

The office phone rang; keep in mind that this was before cell phones. I figured it was one of the nurses stations calling about a computer issue. Or maybe my good friend Paul, who worked the switch board at the hospital for years.

It was neither of those things. I wish it had been.

On the other end of the line was my mother. Her voice shaking to the point I could barely make out what she was saying. But I obviously knew something was wrong. It took me a couple of times asking her to repeat herself for me to finally understand.

Heck, as I think back, maybe she was talking clearly, and I wasn’t wanting to understand.

The Dallas police had just left her apartment after informing her that my sister, Lucia, had been killed in a one-car wreck. Alcohol was involved.

Lucia was just a week away from turning 27 years old. She would be a week away from turning 54 if she was still alive.

________________________________

Lucia had moved to Dallas a few months earlier. She was living with my mom as she started a new job. She was beautiful. Full of life. Loved horses and the outdoors. And people loved her.

But she and my brother-in-law Clark had separated, and I wasn’t happy about it. Heck. I wasn’t happy with her.

Clark and I were like brothers. We were both sports fanatics. We played slow pitch softball together. We did a lot of things together.

In fact, I was so mad at the situation that I hardly spoke to Lucia the last three or four months of her life. Man, does life have a way of making you wish you had do-overs sometimes.

Lucia had gone to a bar with a friend that night. There, they met some friends of Lucia’s new friend. Evidently when it came time to leave, Lucia wasn’t ready to go. So she stayed, knowing she would catch a ride home with her newest friends.

Too many drinks. A new sports car. And liquid stupidity cost three people their lives that night. Police said based on the skid marks and the condition and location of the car, the car had to be going over 100 miles per hour when it left the road.

Everyone was killed … except the driver. He walked away from the crash almost unscathed.

I never blamed him. Not completely. Lucia had made a poor decision. All four people in the vehicle made a poor decision. And it cost three of them their lives.

_______________________________

Following the phone call, the next few hours were a blur and still are. I think I was in shock. Had to be. I remember calling my boss to tell him I had to leave and why. I remember driving to my grandparent’s house on Pinewood Lane and waking both of them up to tell them in person. I called my dad.

I remember trying to find Clark. Honestly, I can’t remember if I did that before or after telling my grandparents. Clark lived in Ruston on Sybil Street. He wasn’t at his apartment; turns out the Ruston PD had come over to inform him and he had left to go to a friend’s house.

I called the mom of Lucia’s best friend in Ruston. I didn’t want Lee Anne to hear it off the street, but by that point I didn’t have the emotional bandwidth to be the one who told her.

As soon as the sun came up, I rode with my grandparents to Dallas to pick up my mom and bring her back to Ruston. What a long, draining day. It’s a day that I hope no one ever has to experience.

Unfortunately, my story isn’t unique. Sure, it may have some uniqueness to it, but it’s a call that thousands upon thousands of people have received. It’s a day that too many people have experienced.

I don’t write this to get people’s sympathy. Trust me. I came to terms with this a long, long time ago. But I work around college students daily. I see the DWI stories in the Lincoln Parish Journal daily. The young. The old. Heck, those are the lucky people (if they learn from their mistake).

But every year on this anniversary I post photos of Lucia on my Facebook page with a brief synopsis of what happened on March 23, 1995. It’s a way for me to remember her. And more importantly, it’s a way for me to honor her life by trying to prevent someone – anyone – from repeating her mistake.

Twenty-seven years numbs the pain and clouds over some of the details. But it will never completely erase the memories of that call and of the news that changed my family’s life in so many ways.

A mom and dad lost a daughter. A brother lost his only sister. And friends lost a friend.

And all because of a poor, yet permanent, decision.

Kaitlyn Middleton is a Ruston High School junior who takes all honors classes and has been on the principal’s list every nine weeks of high school. She has been selected to attend the district literary rally every year and has also qualified and attended the state literary rally as well. She has played on the varsity golf team since her freshman year. Like most students taking honors classes, Middleton spends many hours studying and learning at the highest level. What sets her apart, however, is that on top of her already vigorous schedule, Middleton has started her own business – Simply Sweet.

Middleton said had always baked with her grandmother and enjoyed it. As she got older, she realized that she was pretty good at it.

“I realized that I could sell my products, so I decided to make a business,” Middleton said.

She decided that she would bake for others, naming her business Simply Sweet as everyone simply likes the taste of sweet treats.

Since starting Simply Sweet, Middleton said she has found that she loves baking. Making her business revolve around her favorite hobby makes it even better.

Even though I love baking, I really love seeing people’s faces when they get their sweets and I love to make customers happy,” she said.

As a baker, Middleton has made several smiles over her short career so far. She not only creates some of her own ideas and desserts, but she also takes special orders.

“I love that I get to take people’s ideas and turn then into real life sweet creations,” she added with passion.  

Recently, Middleton was invited to share her business and ideas at the Louisiana FBLA Northeast Regional Conference held at Louisiana Tech. Her booth featured various handouts and concepts for others to view and place orders. Assisted her with her booth and presentation was her friend Callie Stegall. The duo brought many baked goods for sale and sample, and they sold out long before the event ended. 

“The FBLA conference was good exposure for my business, and I gained followers and made a few sales,” said Middleton. “It also allowed me to interact with fellow business owners and see how they run their businesses.”

Stegall said also enjoyed being a part of the event.

“Working at the FBLA regional conference was a rewarding experience that I would recommend for anyone to do,” Stegall said.

After high school, Middleton is interested in being a JAG officer in the military. She would pursue this by attending a military academy or going to law school and then into the military.

“That path does not really involve baking, but if my business continues to grow and gets big enough, I will consider changing paths,” she said.

Whichever path Middleton decides on, baking will always remain a big part of her life, and for that, Middleton said is grateful for the support she has had, and the “sweet” lessons received from her grandmother.  

The Claiborne Parish Library will host a program by “Anna the Archer,” a competitive archer, bow hunter, and outdoor advocate on Saturday, March 26.

During the program, Anna will discuss the sport of archery, including bow hunting deer and nutria, archery competitions, natural resource conservation, and many other topics.

“My mission is to increase archery participation by educating and promoting positive, ethical and safe archery practices,” Anna said. “I was introduced to archery and hunting in college, and I strive to educate and get others involved in the outdoors.”

When Anna is not in the woods or swamps, she works as a media strategist for the LSU AgCenter in Baton Rouge. She holds a B.S. in horticultural science and is currently completing graduate work in communications.

Archery is growing in Louisiana, particularly through 4-H and school programs. 

The program is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the main library at 909 Edgewood Drive, Homer.

The program is free to the public. Young and old alike are encouraged to attend. Door prizes will be drawn and light refreshments provided.

More information is available on the Claiborne Parish Library Facebook page. Check out Anna’s website at annathearcher.com. 

A college student from Homer was killed Tuesday afternoon in a single-vehicle crash in Claiborne Parish, according to Louisiana State Police. 

The accident happened just before 4 p.m. on Louisiana Hwy. 534 near Union Grove Road, claiming the life of Jordan Shelton, 20, a women’s basketball player at Southern Arkansas University Tech. 

According to state police, Shelton was driving a 2014 Chevrolet Camaro northbound on LA 534 just west of Homer. For reasons still under investigation, Shelton ran off the road and over-corrected. As a result, the Chevrolet traveled back across the highway, entered a ditch, and struck a tree.

Shelton, who was not restrained, was transported to Claiborne Memorial Medical Center where she was pronounced deceased.

State police said an unrestrained passenger in the vehicle was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Impairment is not suspected to be a factor in this crash; however, routine toxicology samples were taken and submitted for analysis. 

The crash remains under investigation. Shelton, a graduate of Homer High School, was a student athlete at Southern Arkansas University Tech. The school issued the following statement Tuesday: 

“With great sadness and heartbreak, Southern Arkansas University Tech learned of the loss of one of its beloved Lady Rocket Basketball players today. Jordan Shelton, number 12 on the 2021-2022 Lady Rockets Team, made friends on and off the court as she was a good friend, an outstanding student, and a solid member of the team. Her reliable playing talent helped the Lady Rockets to a regional title this year for the NJCAA Region 2 Division 2 Conference. Jordan was also recognized as a two-time All-Region Player by the NJCAA.”

Louisiana Tech University has announced the names of students on its Winter Quarter President’s and Dean’s honor lists. 

Students whose names are followed by an asterisk earned recognition as members of the president’s honor list. That distinction signifies achievement of at least a 3.8 academic grade point average on a minimum of nine semester hours completed (100-level or higher), with no grade lower than a B. 

To be eligible for the dean’s honor lists, a student is required to earn at least a 3.5 academic grade point average with no grade lower than a C on a minimum of nine semester hours completed (100-level or higher). 

Courses yielding satisfactory/failure grades and courses audited do not count toward eligibility for either recognition. Only undergraduates with no incomplete grades are eligible to make either list. 

Honor students are listed below by their hometowns.

• Choudrant: Bethany Grace Ates, Sarah E. Brackin, Victoria Michelle Breeding, Autumn Bliss Downen, Jewelle B. Houston, Logan Michael Stevens*, Carrington Grace Story, Faith O. Williams* 
• Delhi: Alvin Ray Kie 
• Dubach: Schyler Gabrielle Dumas, Sara Grace Foster*, Sara E. Gast, Chloe E. Green*, Ashtyn Marlee Hodge*, Joshua Logan Johnston, Morgan Elizabeth Keen, Haydn Mark Shoemaker*, Isaiah Jake St. Cyr, Ashley Elizabeth Thorson, Julia Claire Trull 
• Ruston: Georgia May Albritton*, Garrett McIntyre Aldridge*, Scott McIntyre Aldridge, Lathe Everrett Allen, Abigail Catherine Ambrose*, Benajah C. Ambrose, Anna Claire Amidon, Reece Garrison Aultman, Genesis Jerusha Ayala*, Hallah Isys Bakari, Ashton Kaine Barber*, Jacob Michael Barnes, Anna Grace Bennett, Jacob Aaron Bertrand, Cameron Scott Blackstock*, Trevor Blackstock*, Tyler Christian Block, Grace Olivia Borden*, Noah Alexander Borden, Abigail E. Bridges, Evelyn Vickers Butler*, Sarah Califano*, Kailee Elizabeth Carter, Alexis Nicole Caskey, Kevin A. Claros-mendez*, Cadie Colleen Coleman*, James G. Colvin, Sadie Grace Colvin*, Bonnie Elise Cooper, Leigh E. Cox*, Annalee Grace Davis*, Preston C. Debetaz, Kailyn Michelle Decoux, Samrina Dhami, Maryam El-awadi, Craig Evan Ellis, Lauren E. Ensminger, Emily Jane Farmer*, James Beauregard Farrar, Michael V. Feduccia, Jonah Frederick Fitzgerald*, Kennedy North Ford, Dylan Cade Foster*, Turner Elizabeth Frasier*, Raymond J. Freasier*, Allison Paige Freeman*, John Cooper Gaudet, Eleanor Alece Gladney*, Katherine S. Guillot, Clayton Davis Guyotte*, Graham Hanes*, Alexander Slade Harris*, Gabriel James Harrison*, Mia Jon’ Hashimoto, Grayson Elise Hipp, Justin Everett Holmes, Brendan Michael Hood*, Alana F. Hudson*, Nickalaus Wayne Impson, Anna Katharine Inman*, Ella Caroline Inman*, Ashton D. Jackson, Kristin Nikole Jackson, Lydia E. Jett, Autumn L. Johnson*, Jessica Irene Johnston*, Bethany Camille Joiner*, Grayson E. Jones, Noah McKoin Jones, Hansol Kang*, Raytavious D. Kelly, Anna Jane Loftus*, Hannah Raine Madden, Caroline Matthews*, Cameron McCarthy*, Morgan Anna McCready, Madelin Paige McGaugh, Emma A. McGee*, Madeline Nicole McVay, Alexsandra Mendez*, Lauren Alexandra Menzina*, Luc Bernard Meyers*, Olivia Grace Miller*, Alma Sloane Moegle*, Bethany Danielle Moore, Katelyn Elizabeth Moore, Kaiden W. Morace*, Andie Elisabeth Moss*, Jenny Kate Moss, Silvia Nativi, Christian Norris*, Ella Louise Norris, Jacob Michael Norsworthy, Destiny Lynn O’Connor, Alexis Cheri Odenbaugh*, Emily A. Owens*, Alena Kathryn Pace, Jamie E. Palmer*, Anjli A. Patel, Chanley Patterson*, Sadie Grace Patton, Jalia Marie Payne, Elijah Wesley Payton, Ashley Nicole Peters, Caleb Long Phillips*, Catherine L. Picou*, Rosemary Anne Pilgreen, Taylor L. Plunkett*, Anna Elizabeth Pody*, Ellie Elizabeth Puljak*, Emma K. Purifoy*, Kambell Elizabeth Rabalais*, Earl J. Raue*, Madison Kathleen Remrey*, Savannah Lee Riley, Gabriel David Rivera, Kalista Constance Roberson, Caylin J. Roberts*, Noah Mitchell Ruff, Luis Sanchez, Alexandra Nicole Sanders, Emma Alice Scheaffer, Jordan Elizabeth Scott, Hayden Clay Shivers, Joel Thomas Stephens, Robert Samuel Stewart, Hope E. Strickel, Caroline Burt Summersgill, Rebecca Christine Taylor*, Lauren Ashley Theis*, Ella Rose Thomas*, Anna Katherine Tollett*, Emma Grace Trammell, Clairyssa Lynn Tripp, Kalea Payton Trull, Jessica Ann Upshaw, Shelby E. Verrette, Caleb Ray Whitten, Ryan Jacob Williams*, Chrystiana S. Woodard*, Elizabeth Brianna Woodard*, Justin Tyler Wrubel 
• Simsboro: Michael Alexander Easterling, Brooklyn Lester*, Mallory N. Mitchell, Harlie Noel Robinson*, Aaron Reed Williams 

Samuel Wilson was born in 1766 in Arlington, Massachusetts, then one of the North American colonies of the British Empire.  Tension between the mother country and the American colonies was a topic of discussion in the Wilson home even before Samuel was born.  In 1765, the year before Samuel Wilson was born, the Parliament of Great Britain imposed a direct tax on the American colonies.  The Stamp Act required almost all printed materials including legal documents, newspapers, magazines, and even playing cards, to have an embossed revenue stamp.  Printed materials not containing the revenue stamp were contraband and deemed illegal.  More taxes and other forms of control followed including the Townshend acts, the Tea Act, Intolerable Acts, and the Quebec Act.  The situation had reached a boiling point, and in February of 1775, nine-year-old Samuel’s home state was declared to be in a state of rebellion.  Two months later, large-scale fighting erupted at the Battles of Lexington and Concord.  

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Nandigam Gajendar 
November 29, 1940 – March 20, 2022 
Visitation: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – Ruston, Thursday, March 24, 2022, 9:30 am – 11:00 am 
Service: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – Ruston, Thursday, March 24, 2022, 11:00 am 

Lovie C. Brown    
April 5, 1940 – March 17, 2022     
Funeral: 11 a.m., Thursday, March 24 at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 521 Mt. Olive Church Rd., Grambling    
Interment: Thursday, March 24 at Grambling Memorial Garden, Hwy. 80 W., Grambling    

Sullivan Johnson Jr.    
January 3, 1942 – March 15, 2022    
Graveside service: 3 p.m., Saturday, March 26 at Rhymes Cemetery, Hwy. 15, Rayville 

Stanley Lee Morrow 
August 15, 1964 – March 22, 2022 
Service pending 

Cedar Creek School has announced the selection of Cindy Hampton as its permanent head of school. Hampton has been serving as interim head since October of 2021.

The school’s former assistant principal of academics, Hampton has been an educator for 39 years, the last 28 at Cedar Creek. She began her tenure at Cedar Creek as a science teacher, teaching physics, chemistry, and AP biology courses and was head of the science department before being named assistant principal in 2007.

“In her nearly 30 years at Cedar Creek, Mrs. Hampton has risen from teacher to assistant principal to interim head, ably proving her leadership skill to the entire school community,” Lomax Napper, president of Cedar Creek’s board of directors, said of Hampton’s selection.

Prior to coming to Cedar Creek, Hampton taught at Solomon Junior High School and St. Joseph’s Catholic High School in Greenville, Mississippi, at Northside High School in Lafayette, and at Farmerville Junior High School and Farmerville High School in Union Parish.

She graduated from Oak Grove High School and attended the University of Louisiana-Monroe, ultimately earning a B.S. in Biology Education from the University of New Orleans and a M.S. in Biology Education from Delta State University.

“I am honored and humbled to be selected as Cedar Creek’s next head of school,” Hampton said. “I would like to thank the board for its confidence in me. I love our school community and am delighted to have the opportunity to continue to grow the school as its next leader.”

Hampton and her husband, Bruce, have been married 42 years and have two children and five grandchildren.

By T. Scott Boatright

After more than 50 years, The Grambling High Foundation (GHF), and Louisiana Tech University (Tech), which acts on behalf of A.E. Phillips Laboratory (AEP), are free from judicial oversight regarding a desegregation lawsuit initiated by the United States in 1966.

“It feels amazing to put all of this behind us,” said Lincoln Prep Executive Director Gordan Ford. “I just told someone today was the first time in seven years I woke up and was not concerned that someone from Washington, D.C., was going to try and shut our school down.”

In July 1977, the United States District Court filed a motion to desegregate the Grambling Laboratory Schools and AEP, which is located on Tech’s campus.

After years of inactivity followed by actions taken in recent years, including the creation of Lincoln Preparatory School in Grambling, Judge Robert James on Monday signed a Memorandum Order declaring unitary status, dismissing any further court action involving the decades-long desegregation order.

In 1984, this Court approved a consent decree which required GSU to take a number of actions intended to desegregate the Laboratory Schools.

Those actions seem to have finally put to rest the issue, which in 2009, after many years in which this case was largely inactive, came under jurisdictive study when the Court directed the United States to conduct a unitary status review, including a review of then-remaining issues with GSU’s and Tech’s laboratory schools. 

That review resulted in a Motion for Further Relief being filed by the United States. GSU and Tech both opposed the motion and moved on their own for declarations of unitary status, with the Lincoln Parish School Board supporting the position of both GSU and Tech.

Then in September 2013, the Court held a conference with counsel during which the parties agreed to enter into negotiations in an attempt to resolve the lab school issues. The GSU lab schools were comprised of three schools: Alma J. Brown Elementary School (K-5), Grambling Middle School (6-8) and Grambling High School (9-12), which educated students and served the Grambling community for more than 100 years.

That led to Jan. 6, 2014, when counsel for the parties met to discuss the proposals to resolve the outstanding desegregation issues at the laboratory schools. 

At a second meeting held on March 10, 2014, GSU’s counsel reportedly informed the Court and the parties that, in conjunction with the GHF, it had filed an application to convert its laboratory schools to a charter school.

That charter school opened for the 2016-17 school year as Lincoln Preparatory School.

In January of 2020, the U.S. District Court ruled that barred the GHF from operating Lincoln Prep on the GSU campus for the following school because of delays in meeting desegregation requirements involving the percentage of white students attending the school.

So Lincoln Preparatory became a nomadic school starting the 2020-21 school year, with classes split between various sites in Grambling and Lincoln Parish and athletics teams forced to play at other locations.

The Lincoln Prep Panthers played a 2021 home football playoff game at Louisiana Tech, and last month the Panthers boys basketball team played a pair of “home” games at Scotty Robertson Memorial Gym on the Tech campus.

But last November ground was broken on a new school now under construction at 1455 West Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. in Grambling.

Ford said expectations are for the 654-student school to start the 2022-23 school year in that building, and hopefully even to be able to play football there next fall.

“After the case dismissal, there are no restrictions for next season,” Ford said. “We’re getting ready to start construction on our own football stadium, and we’re hoping to be able to play in that stadium (next fall). But if not, then we would be able to play at Grambling (State). And hopefully we’ll have the gymnasium done by early 2023 at the latest.”

Ford said that for many Grambling natives, the moment is bittersweet.

“This is a lawsuit that was filed in 1966 to integrate the schools,” Ford said. “And actually our school and I.A. Lewis are the only majority Black schools that survived at all from Lincoln Parish. Lincoln High School, Lincoln Elementary, Hopewell … all of those other Black schools are long completely gone … forever. So there’s some bittersweetness to it after having to go through this lawsuit and go through the history of it knowing what it did to the Black community.

“It’s good that it integrated, but the cost was pretty high. There were a lot of things lost. But we’re still Grambling. We’re still in Grambling. The thing we’re excited about is that this year, we’re going to be able to have graduation in Grambling. It’s bittersweet, but at the end of this we’re better than we would have been, and we’re happy.”

A Jonesboro man was arrested by Ruston Police early Thursday morning after a traffic stop revealed suspected drug paraphernalia and drugs.

Shortly after midnight, RPD Officer stopped a car with an expired temporary license tag on South Farmerville Street. The driver, Dexter Birdon, 57, of Jonesboro appeared extremely nervous.

A search of the vehicle revealed two glass devices believed to be used to smoke controlled substances that contained suspected cocaine. Birdon was arrested and placed in a patrol car.

A few minutes later, it was discovered Birdon had taken off a shoe and sock. The sock and a small bag of suspected crack cocaine were found on the floor under the driver’s seat.

Birdon was booked at the detention center for possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and expired vehicle registration.

Birdon remains in custody pending $12,500 bail.

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.  

A day after the news of Eric Konkol’s departure to Tulsa, Louisiana Tech forward Kenneth Lofton, Jr., announced via social media that he was “declaring” for the NBA Draft.

Those words have a different meaning these days as opposed to a few years ago.

In his tweet on Tuesday, Lofton stated: “Bulldog Family – First and foremost, I want to thank God for blessing me and giving me the opportunity to wake up every day and play the game I love. For the past two years, the Bulldog has been amazing! Your unwavering love and support has earned a special place in my heart. …

“With that said, I am declaring for the 2022 NBA Draft while maintaining my collegiate eligibility. This is a great opportunity for me to gather valued feedback from NBA Teams.”

At one time, if a collegiate player declared for the NBA Draft, there was no going back. Once they hired an agent, their collegiate eligibility disappeared. Many times players get bad advice, took the leap of faith, and found themselves without an opportunity following the NBA Draft.

Ruston residents may remember Scottie Thurmon, who left Arkansas a year early and wasn’t drafted. He lost his final year of eligibility with the Razorbacks due to bad advice. He didn’t have the opportunity that is allowed to current student-athletes today.

Why? In recent years, the NCAA in all its wisdom actually did something right. It changed the rule allowing collegiate players an opportunity to “request NBA undergraduate advisory committee evaluation.”

Requesting an evaluation does not automatically enter a student-athlete in the NBA Draft, nor do NBA rules require a student-athlete to apply for feedback to enter the draft (separate paperwork is required to declare for the NBA Draft).

A player such as Lofton can also hire an agent through the evaluation process and yet maintain eligibility with the NCAA (although the agent must be certified by the NCAA). There are a number of other parameters involved in this process, but as long as the student athlete abides by them, he maintains his eligibility.

Once the student-athlete completes his evaluation process, he has until June 1 (at 11:59 pm ET) to remove his name from the NBA Draft and still maintain his collegiate eligibility. The student-athlete must declare in writing to his AD (in Lofton’s case, Dr. Eric Wood) that he plans to return.

Lofton, who just completed his second year with the Bulldogs, will get an opportunity to get valuable feedback from NBA executives, coaches and scouts that will help him make the best decision for his future.

After averaging 16.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game and earning first team all-Conference USA honors, Lofton is testing the NBA waters.

However, unlike yesteryear, he has a life vest that will save his collegiate eligibility.

A Ruston man was arrested Saturday after Ruston Police officers responded to a reported disturbance in progress.

At about 9:30 p.m., RPD officers responded to an area residence to find a woman standing in the roadway with visible injuries. The woman stated Antonio Williams, 50, of Ruston, had thrown her around the house during an altercation. 

Officers observed scratches on the woman’s arms and a bleeding finger. She stated they were caused by Williams.

Williams was interviewed by officers. He stated there was an argument, but it never got physical, and the woman received the injuries from falling.

Williams was arrested for domestic abuse battery and booked at 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.  

Table scraps …

From the “You Really Aren’t Having A Bad Day” Files: It’s been nearly two weeks since several news services reported that two men at a Tennessee farm were killed by a “rampaging camel.” The farm housed several kinds of animals and no reason was given for the camel’s rampage. The bottom line is that, if you get attacked by a camel, and in Tennessee of all places, it ain’t your day…

A baseball team I follow has some long bus trips so I suspected it would be thoughtful and different to get them some playing cards along with some silly things, games children play with like Etch-A-Sketches and a magnetic checker set and some Wooly Willy drawing games, the ones where you put the “magic wand” against the plastic and it pulls little slivers of iron where you want them to go so you decorate the face of Willy. And then I thought how that was the stupidest idea I’d ever had—and it’s a long line—because all these dudes do is play on their phones and listen to music. Would have been a great idea—in the mid-80s…

Can’t give you the link here ’cause we don’t want you jumping to another site BUT in honor of these first days of spring, take 30 seconds and find “Welcome, Sweet Springtime: The Andy Griffith Show” on YouTube or the site of your choice and listen to Barney, very flatly, usher in the new season. Good ol’ 14A in your songbook. Never gets old …

To paraphrase Kris Kristofferson, my NCAA Tournament Bracket woke up Sunday morning with no way to hold its head that it didn’t hurt. Over the span of 48 hours, from the Opening Round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament through Saturday of the Second Round, my little black-and-blue bracket went from “tightness in the joints” to “full body cast.” …

BUT … to paraphrase singer-songwriter Travis Tritt, “Here’s a quarter, call someone who cares.” Because no one cares about your NCAA bracket. No one but you cares that you had Kentucky and flamed out on ascent or that you pulled a rabbit out of the hat and picked St. Peter’s. No one even cares if your bracket is leading in any of the groups you have joined, because everyone knew SOMEbody was going to win—somebody besides them. Nobody knows the trouble your bracket has seen—but no gives the slightest rat’s rip either. If it makes you feel any better, anything your bracket can do, mine can do worse. We might be enjoying the first days of spring, but it remains a cold, cold world. (Just ask anyone who’s been attacked by a camel, hard by the Tennessee River)…

Speaking of hoops, one good thing that’s come from the pandemic is that very few men’s basketball coaches wear coats and ties on the sidelines anymore. They dress down. They used to look like they were going to call time out, then take up offering. Most women’s coaches still dress up for games, but for them, dressing down is still dressing up when compared to guys. We like to think we’re dressed up if we have our shoes tied…

Country Music Hall of Famer and perpetual wonder woman Dolly Parton has teamed with bestselling author James Patterson to write a climbing-the-charts mystery, “Run, Rose, Run,” a novel about a young female singer with hopes to make it big, but a secret from her past might destroy her. I’m good as long as the secret isn’t that she killed Porter Wagoner…

For all you Bracket Folk, good luck this weekend in the Sweet 16 (and no, do NOT tell us who you’ve picked; it’ll save us both the embarrassment).

And, if at all possible, stay away from camels: any one of them might have picked Kentucky or Wisconsin to win it all and be in a surly mood.

Welcome, Sweet Springtime.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Nothing signifies new beginnings better than springtime, and despite the not-so-spring-like weather, Louisiana Tech football officially ushered in the Sonny Cumbie era Tuesday afternoon inside Joe Alliet Stadium.

Tech kicked off the first of 15 spring practice dates which are set to culminate with the annual Spring Game on Saturday, April 23 at 11 a.m.

Even with the elements, there was a certain energy in the stadium as players started to make their way onto the field and that energy continued to build throughout the day. A new season is always exciting, but a new season with so many new faces seemed to bring an extra level of excitement and enthusiasm to the field.

“I thought overall our players had a great energy and focus to what we were trying to accomplish today,” said Head Coach Sonny Cumbie. “There was a lot of learning and we have things we will need to clean up, but we did not have any pre-snap penalties on offense or defense today. That tells you the guys were concentrating and paying attention. I was very proud of how our players came out for day one.”

Tech not only welcomes their new head coach but nine new position coaches as well as several new support staff members. With so much newness uncertainty can often follow, so a big priority for today was the amount of prep work that went into this first session.

“There was a lot of preparation that went into today, going back to about two weeks ago,” said Cumbie. “There is a lot of coaching the coaches on what we are doing, where we need to be on the field, and the why behind what we are doing so we can all reach a level of understanding to then teach the players.”

One familiar name in a new role is former Tech wide receiver Paul Turner. Turner lettered two years for Tech during 2014 and 2015 then spent the last two seasons on the coaching staff as a defensive graduate assistant in 2020 and a defensive analyst in 2021 before being promoted to a full-time assistant.

“As a player, you just want to make sure you can come out here and perform, physically,” said Turner. “Now as a coach, I get to help these guys see the game through my eyes as a former player. Things like helping them get lined up, understanding scheme, and helping them tweak little things to improve their game day in and day out.”  

When asked about balancing nerves and excitement of the first day, cornerbacks coach Markus Walker said, “It’s always a great feeling to be able to get back on the grass. It was so good to see everyone fly around and compete. Our guys had a lot of juice today, but they were focused.

“I think there were nerves but I think our guys handled that really well today. Coach Cumbie did a really good job of making sure everyone knew where we were going and that alleviated some of that anxiety. I feel like we were very prepared and it allowed guys to just focus on getting used to each other and adjusting to the speed of the game.”

Tech will hit the field for two more practices for this first week of spring on Thursday afternoon and Saturday morning.

“The goal for these first three practices was to create some familiarity, continuity, and settle everyone in to begin creating routines that we can be build off of,” said Cumbie. “I wanted to keep things as similar as possible so they can get into a rhythm and routine of practice and not change a bunch of things up from period to period or day-to-day. A big goal these next two practices is simply to get better and better with our transitions from drill to drill.”

A Dubach man was arrested by state police for his second DWI early Thursday morning.

Louisiana State Trooper James Pelley stopped Michael D. Armstrong, 33, for not wearing a seat belt on U.S. 167 near Reynolds Drive at about midnight. The trooper detected a strong odor of alcoholic beverage on Armstrong who admitted drinking.

After field sobriety tests were administered, Armstrong was arrested for DWI and transported to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for a breath test. The test showed a blood alcohol content of .127g%.

It was determined that Armstrong had a previous DWI arrest and was driving on a suspended license. Armstrong was booked for second offense DWI, driving under suspension, no seat belt, and open container.

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.