By Kelsey Horath

There is something special about pulling out ingredients and cooking with a loved one. Between the whole process of cooking the meal, setting the table and enjoying the night’s creations, cooking might become one the favorite date time activities. 

Cailee Fruge Whitten and her new spouse Caleb Whitten have taken nights out of the week to cook together for the last two years.

“Caleb and I began dating during the COVID shut down in 2020, so many of the restaurants were closed,” Fruge said. “That’s one reason we started cooking.”

Since applying these cooking dates into their schedule, the newlyweds have found many perks to cooking at home like saving money and quality time. 

“Cooking (at home) means saving money, while spending quality time together,” Fruge said. “Cooking together provides us the opportunity to be with each other and not get distracted by life.”

Allowing time to simply cook a meal with another presents some many opportunities to relax, unwind and have a meaningful conversation. 

Brandi and Todd Whitlock cook together still after 14 years of marriage and three children later. This special time set aside at night to cook has always been a priority for the two.

“Cooking together really involves so many aspects that you need in a marriage,” Brandi Whitlock said. “We have had to learn to work together and we have to communicate with one another when making meals together.”

Whitlock said they have also learned each other’s strengths and weaknesses by cooking together and know who is best suited for each job in the cooking process.

“All these skills have helped our marriage become stronger,” Brandi Whitlock said.

As time passes and life moves forward, more events and activities will be added to the schedule and life will remain hectic. However, making cooking a priority will help ease the stress of a long day and give you time to reflect with someone you love. 

“I know life is going to get busier whether it be with careers or kids but cooking together will help us have a definite time we can be together,” Cailee Whitten said. “It provides us an opportunity to be intentional about communicating about our days or each other.”

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By Brad Dison 

A New York television show was due to begin broadcasting in two weeks.  In the 1950s, television was broadcast live before a studio audience.  There was no editing.  The production had one serious problem; they were having trouble casting an actress to play the lead character’s wife.  They had considered numerous actresses but could not find one who fit the role.  The lead character had the final say in who played his wife.  Actresses were either too tall, too short, too big, too small, too loud, or too quiet.     

Audrey Cotter was performing in the Broadway production of Top Banana and had appeared on several television shows including The Amazing Mr. Malone (1951), The Bob & Ray Show (1951-1952), and Lux Video Theatre (1952).  She agreed to help the production find the right actress.  She suggested just about every actress she knew, but the leading man always had a reason why none of them would fit the part.  Finally, Ms. Cotter said she knew the perfect actress for the part, herself.  

Ms. Cotter, an experienced professional actress was immaculately dressed in the current style, her makeup and hair were flawless, her movements were graceful – the leading man knew she was all wrong for the part.  He quickly pointed out that the character was supposed to be a blue-collar housewife who, along with her husband, portrayed their daily struggle for survival in New York City.  He explained that she was “all wrong.”  She was too young, too pretty, and, above all, too glamours for the part.  No one would believe she could be married to him.  Ms. Cotter left the meeting feeling rejected, although being rejected for being too young, too pretty, and too glamorous must have softened the blow somewhat.  

Ms. Cotter was not too serious about getting the part until she was turned down.  She became a determined woman.  On the walk back to her apartment, she told her agent to return to her apartment the following morning with a photographer.  Ms. Cotter stayed in bed until the agent and photographer rang her bell.  She let the men into her apartment.  Her hair was mussed up, she wore no makeup, she wore a blouse—she had torn one of the sleeves for the occasion—and donned an apron.  She walked into her cluttered kitchen and the photographer took several pictures.  They developed the photographs and sent them back to the casting person with no name attached.     

The lead man looked at the pictures.  Her shoulders were slumped, one hand rested on the countertop as if to keep her from collapsing from utter exhaustion.  Rather than a smile, Ms. Cotter’s expression was one of disdain as if she were about to ask, “What can happen next?”  The lead man said in rapid succession, “Oh, My God. That’s [her]. Who is she?  Where is she? Can we get her?”  

Ms. Cotter got the part.  The lead man was unaware until sometime later that he had already rejected her for the part.  Although the television sitcom lasted just a single year, Ms. Cotter’s character became one of the most beloved in television history, Alice Kramden.  

Few people know the actress as Audrey Cotter.  The world knows Alice Kramden by her stage name, Audrey Meadows.  The man who rejected her for the part played her husband in the show.  His name was Jackie Gleason.  She, along with her husband, Ralph, and upstairs neighbors Ed and Trixie Norton, were… The Honeymooners.   

Source: “Honeymooners Stars Audrey Meadows and Joyce Randolph on the Joan Rivers Show.” YouTube. Last modified August 4, 2020. Accessed July 17, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zpcywEQHxQ. 

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JoAnn Fuller Holtzclaw 
November 4, 1934 – July 25, 2022 
Visitation: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – Ruston, Thursday, July 28, 2022, 9:30 am – 10:00 am 
Service: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – Ruston, Thursday, July 28, 2022, 10:00 am 
Cemetery: Douglas Cemetery, Thursday, July 28, 2022

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By Charlette Hilton

What do one of Ruston’s most stately and recognizable homes and a transplanted New York/New Jersey native have to do with each other? One is filled with the memories, photographs and memorabilia of Ruston and the people who have loved and lived here since the 1800s.

The other came to the area as a young man full of dreams and a love for all things historical and fell in love with Ruston, its rich and colorful history, and the people who live here. How fitting that the two seemed fated to end up together.

In December of 1975, Mary Olive Davis Green and Charlotte Davis Parrott donated one of Ruston’s oldest landmarks, the Kidd-Davis house, to the Lincoln Parish Museum and Historical Society.

The Kidd-Davis house was constructed in 1886 by Milton B. Kidd and was occupied by his family until 1921. The Kidd family sold the house to the Robert Wesley Davis Family. The Kidd-Davis house has had many changes and additions over the years and has provided gracious living and entertaining quarters to many generations of Ruston families. Countless bridal showers, society meetings, field trips, and many other events have been held in the Kidd-Davis house since its donation in 1975. Photos, memorabilia and written histories now reside within its walls. Weddings, wedding receptions and many portrait sessions took place on the grounds underneath the recognizable gazebo.

However, in 2019, the catastrophic tornado ripped through Ruston and while the Kidd-Davis house survived, her gazebo did not, and the grounds were severely damaged. Right on the heels of the tornado came the pandemic which shut down all non-essential businesses, and that included the Kidd-Davis House.

During the two years since the doors closed, the Kidd-Davis house has fallen into a state of disrepair. Donated photos, furniture, memorabilia and items of historical significance have piled up and are in dire need of organization. The air conditioning system is failing and cannot adequately cool the house and most of the rooms need deep cleaning and freshening up. Quite frankly, the Kidd-Davis House needed a savior.

Right on cue entered Rick Godley with the energy and vision to fulfill that role beautifully. Godley, who was working in New York in the late ’70s and early ’80s, made his way south following dreams of becoming a salesman and moved to New Orleans in 1981.

North Louisiana and the Piney Hills were part of Godley’s sales route, and during his many visits, he said he could not resist the lure of the town, the people and the history. Even as a young salesman in 1982, Godley made an impression on those around him. 

Godley, who recently left the world of radio, said he wanted to find new ways to meet his need to connect with the people, culture and history of Lincoln Parish.

“When I was in radio, I was all about local and helping people,” Godley said. “So, when I got out of radio, I was searching for what to do with my life.”

He did not have to search for long. He quickly realized that people were online for just about everything.

“They go online for news, music, social interaction and most information,” Godley said.

From this line of thinking, Godley came up with ATL, which stands for All Things Local, All Things Lincoln and even All Things Louisiana.

“ATL is for local businesses, local non-profits, local events, local real estate and the city of Ruston. If you can dream it, I can stream it,” Godley said.

It was Godley’s passion for Ruston and Lincoln Parish and the history and people who live here that spurred him to accept the position of director at the Lincoln Parish Museum and Historical Society.

“With all the changes and uncertainties of the past few years, we find that we have a unique opportunity to start over, a Second Renaissance if you will. In other words, we can create a remarkable future going forward for our museum,” said Godley. “Our museum is in desperate need of some TLC before we begin hosting exhibits and educational exhibits for our communities. Our goal is to get our house in order and be the epicenter of the Sesquicentennial of Lincoln Parish next year.”

The Sesquicentennial will be the 150^th anniversary of the establishment of Lincoln Parish.

Even though Godley has a desire to revive the Ruston museum, he said he cannot do it alone. Volunteers and donations are a necessity in order to restore the museum and its secrets and memories.

“This is the time to turn the page in the history book of the Lincoln Parish Museum and Historical Society whereby we give thanks and revere our past, considering the present while we grow towards the future,” Godley said.

Godley has launched Operation Rapid Reboot, his plan for moving forward with renovating, cleaning and organizing the museum.

“Since 1975 the people in this community have helped sustain this precious resource and we are grateful. I am in the process of getting quotes for overall cleaning both inside and outside the building. We need funds for installing new energy efficient lights, landscaping, and the rebuilding of the gazebo. We also need to rejuvenate our gardens,” said Godley.

“I know people want to support this project. They already are and we are going to need active committees of leaders and doers. We need organizers, catalogers, grant writers, cleaners and people who are willing to take initiative and get things done.”

Those who wish to support the Lincoln Parish Museum and Historical Society and Operation Rapid Reboot are encouraged to reach out to Godley.

“I want to thank everyone in advance for helping launch the Second Renaissance of The Lincoln Museum and Historical Society,” he said. “Please feel free to reach out to me with any creative ideas to maximize our mission in the most efficient, expedient and effective way.”

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LPSB Superintendent Ricky Durrett talks about the challenges the school board faces in the current state of education, what is being done this summer to self assess security within LP schools and the new cell phone policy around the parish. 

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A Dubach woman reported someone was trying to break into her apartment Monday night, leading to the arrest of a Ruston man.

Lincoln Parish sheriff’s deputies responded to the Dubach Apartments late Monday regarding someone attempting to break into the residence.

The victim told deputies she was in fear of her life because Andre Jones tried to break into her apartment. She stated he repeatedly said he was going to hurt her and do terrible things to her while he was trying to get in. The victim said he was trying to beat and pry open her front door and also attempted to get in her apartment through the bathroom window. Deputies found the bathroom screen was bent back, an outdoor closet was rummaged through, and fresh pry marks were found on the front door.

Jones, 41, was located and arrested. A records check showed he was wanted by the Union Parish Sheriff’s Department on a bench warrant for theft of a motor vehicle. He was taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center and booked for attempted home invasion, simple criminal damage to property, criminal mischief, and the Union Parish warrant.

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. 

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By T. Scott Boatright

When James Cooper gave up his role as head baseball coach at Grambling State University last November, he did so hoping to be able to eventually get a chance at showing his managerial skills on the next level.

But he didn’t realize how quickly that might happen.

Cooper served as head coach at GSU from 2010 until last fall, and was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2010 and ’17.

But when opportunity arose, Cooper chose to take a chance while admitting that deciding to leave Grambling was one of the toughest decisions in his  life.

He’s spent the first part of this season assisting the New York Yankees minor league system with baserunning and outfield instruction as the coordinator, working with the FCL (Florida Complex League) Yankees in the MLB Rookie League.

But on Monday life threw another curve ball at Cooper as he got the chance to manage the FCL Yankees as they played a doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies’ Rookie League Team.

And the former Houston Astros draftee picked up a hit in first “at bat” as a “pro”  manager, leading his Yankees to 3-2 win in extra innings before the second game was called due to lightning in the sixth with the score tied at 1-1.

Cooper’s opportunity came after their AA affiliate’s manager took paternity leave and was replaced by the FCL Yankees manager, with Cooper being asked to replace him in the interim.

“It’s a lot like being a college head coach — more duties involved than being an assistant,” Cooper said. “Getting the plan submitted to the players and the game and operations staff, getting into contact with the bus driver because it was a road game today. You’re in charge of whether you’re going to go “in and out” or “show and go,” calling the infielder or putting in a play for a first and third defense.

“Being a baserunning coach, I was already in charge of a majority of our stolen base attempts, so that didn’t change at all. In extra innings in this league you start with a runner on second base and that was one of the tougher decisions I’ve had to make today was to not pinch run for a slower guy because I wanted to keep his bat in the lineup in case the game got extended. But it all worked out good and I got my first managerial win.”

Cooper said he didn’t have to change his coaching style moving from college to minor league ball.

“What I can tell you is that when you’re dealing with a player that’s kind of already established, including his personality and his productivity, with an established work ethic and a play he wants to execute, once he finds out you’re in it to help make him better, and believes that, then you have his undivided attention,” Cooper said.

“So my goal and my focus is to come in and be prepared, know who I’m working with and the pros and cons involved with each athlete — things they do well and things that need to be fine-tuned — and help them put together a plan and show them how to get better.”

Cooper admits that he hoped the opportunity would come, but that he didn’t expect to happen so fast, even on an interim basis.

“I didn’t expect it in my first year, but after I got in and started working with people, I did start to notice that it feels like they might be working to fast-track me up,” Cooper said. “So hopefully I’ll get to move up higher and maybe even eventually get to the Big League. Certain meetings I’ve been invited to and with some conversations I’ve had with certain people since I’ve been in the (organization), I can tell that that’s probably something they’re thinking about for the future. I just have to go out there and prove myself.

“And I got that first chance today. And I’ll keep riding this chance and hopefully one day soon I can start doing it on a more permanent basis.”

College Baseball Hall of Fame coach Wilbert Ellis was head coach at Grambling when Cooper was a star outfielder for the G-Men and said he was thrilled to see not only get the opportunity to manage on the Rookie Level but to see him win his first game doing so.

“I’ve sent a bunch of players to the Big Leagues, but I’ve never had a manager move up,” Ellis said. “This is real exciting for not only Grambling State University, but maybe more it’s exciting for young Black baseball players to see one of their own receive this kind of opportunity. He’s proving what can be done if you work hard.

“It’s no secret that they’re aren’t as many Black youth involved in baseball as there should be, and what ‘Coop’ is showing those potential players is that anything is possible, regardless of race. All it takes is basic talent, hard work and dedication. The Yankees are a winning organization from top to bottom and for ‘Coop’ to get this chance shows what they think of him, and he’s making the most of it. That’s an exciting thing.”

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Ruston Police arrested a man Sunday after he was accused of entering a female acquaintance’s apartment and attacking her.

At about 11:30 p.m. Sunday, officers responded to Sanders Lane regarding a woman stating Gabriel B. Mayfield was inside her residence. Dispatch could hear Mayfield threatening the victim with a baseball bat and making statements such as “I’ll break your wrist.”

When officers arrived, they could hear the victim screaming for help and Mayfield yelling at her. When officers entered an open door into the apartment, they saw Mayfield with a baseball bat in his hands raised in a swinging motion. The victim was leaning back in a chair with all her arms up in a defensive manner. Mayfield was ordered to drop the bat and lay on the floor with his arms spread. He complied after the order was given several times. When he was handcuffed and searched, a strong odor of alcoholic beverage was detected.

Mayfield said he initially came to collect money from the victim and admitted opening the sliding glass door without permission before changing his statement. He then said the victim opened the door, then pushed him in the chest, and ran to grab the bat. Mayfield stated the victim bit him after he took the bat from her and that he did not strike her, but she fell and hit her head on a table.

The victim said she woke up to find Mayfield beating on her door. She said Mayfield grabbed a chair and attempted to smash the glass sliding door to gain entry. She said she ran to the bedroom and Mayfield came inside the residence. They wrestled with the bat before he took it from her and struck her in the head. The victim said she fell into the chair where she was when officers arrived.

The victim said Mayfield would not let her leave the bedroom and she asked for several minutes to leave and go to the bathroom. The 911 call recorded the victim pleading for Mayfield to let her leave and Mayfield’s response was only if she came with him.

Mayfield, 62, of Ruston, was arrested for aggravated battery of a dating partner, false imprisonment with a dangerous weapon, and unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling.

Bail was set at $40,000. In addition, Louisiana Department of Corrections Probation and Parole placed a hold on Mayfield to pursue additional action.

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. 

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By T. Scott Boatright

Grabbing a national championship is always a thrilling experience.

Grappling for seven of them is even more dynamic.

Dynamic would be a good description for the performances of five local competitors from  of Ruston, who all captured national jiu jitsu titles in their respective weight divisions over the weekend at the Foley Events Center in Foley, Alabama.

Bennet Williams (7-8 year old; 60-69.9 pound class), Reed Williams (10-11; 80-89.9 pound class), Abram Hebert (10-11; 90-99.9 pound class) and Nate Blundell (14; 140-149.9 pound class) all captured youth national championships in the No Gi Division. 

Trey Halder took home a national championship in the adult 160-169.9 pound weight division.

“This is obviously a very large and prestigious tournament to compete in with very tough competition from all over the country,” said Triad Martial Arts Academic owner and instructor Josh Lee. “In jiu jitsu tournaments, there are typically two categories that are contested — the gi division, which is a uniform worn by jiu jitsu grapplers, and the no gi division, in which just shorts and shirt are worn. Most people compete in both. 

“Out of the seven kids that we took to the competition, in the no gi division we had four kids who placed first and became national champions. In the gi division we had three kids who placed first and became national champions. We had a host of other medals with all of our Triad kids placing in the top three of their divisions.”

Blundel, Hebert and Williams also took national titles in the Youth Gi division.

Halder captured national championships in both the Gi and No Gi divisions.

Of the competitors at the national championships, only Blundell and Halder had any jiu jitsu experience before Triad of Ruston opened seven months ago.

According to Breakingmuscle.com, during a Brazilian jiu jitsu match such as the one the Triad athletes competed in, things start as two competitors step to the center of the mat. 

They are then directed by the referee as to the rules for their division; for instance, certain moves are not allowed at lower levels for safety reasons, and lower level competitor matches are shorter than those of more experienced competitors.

Competitors are then directed to shake hands and square off with matches beginning from a standing position. 

The competitors then engage with each other, sometimes hand fighting to get a good grip on the gi, sometimes wrestling to execute a takedown. The action usually eventually goes to the ground, where the competitors vie for position on one another. 

Different positions earn different numbers of points, which the referee awards at his or her discretion. Matches can be won either by submission, by points, or by overtime or referee’s decision in the case of an even score. 

At the end of the match, the referee raises the winner’s hand like is done in boxing and mixed martial arts fighting and the opponents hug and shake hands.

“Basically, the goal is to win by submissions,” Lee said. “There’s a time limit on matches (three minutes for youth and five minutes for adults), so whoever has the most points when time expires wins. 

“They get points by takedowns or by taking dominant or Mir positions. And obviously, a submission ends the fight.”

The Mir lock is a shoulder and elbow lock that has its roots going as far back to Japanese jiu jitsu. It was popularized in mixed martial arts fighting  by Frank Mir.

Mir is an American mixed martial artist who most recently competed for Bellator MMA in the Heavyweight division. He formerly competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) for sixteen years and  is a  former two-time UFC heavyweight champion and holds the record for the most finishes and the most submission victories in UFC heavyweight history.

According to BJJSuccess.com, modern Brazilian jiu jitsu tends to be focused on sports, with few gyms teaching students how to use techniques in a self-defense setting.

Japanese jiu jitsu tends to mostly focus on self-defense techniques.

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Unless you were born with four-leaf clovers in both hands, you are semi-cursed with the Give-Take Principle, or the GTP. Also called the Law of Staying Behind. 

Whenever you get a little extra money, something will happen to snatch that money right out of your greedy little paws. Seldom does this fail. 

My first real run-in with this reality was December, 1987. I went to The Great Louise at the newspaper — besides having a heart as wide as the Red River, she knew Everything about Everything — handed her an envelope and told her I’d accidentally been given an extra paycheck that week. 

“That’s your Christmas bonus,” The Great Louise said. 

Those were the days. 

When the tears had cleared enough for me to see, I drove my truck straight to what was then Pioneer Bank — “The bank with the open door from 9 ’til 4” — deposited my check, wept some more, then started to crank my truck. 

Key broke off in the ignition.  

Cost 80 bucks to fix. Merry Christmas to the locksmith, not so much to me. 

Fate giveth money, fate taketh money away. 

For some reason at the first of this month, we had a little extra money. So it was not a big hit when the envelope came in the mail, as it does every six months, with the car insurance due. 

$461.57. 

But also in the mail was the annual termite prevention bill. 

$289.00. 

An attention-getting one-two punch, but not one that would put you on the mat. 

Except then the electric bill notice came by email. I was scared to open it. 

And … for good reason. It shattered the previous monthly record by nearly $200. 

Good thing I was sitting down. 

Something was going on. The Give-Take Principle. The indisputable Law of Staying Behind. 

It was more expected than surprising that evening when the musty smell under the sink turned out to be a plumbing leak in an old cast iron pipe, a pre-PVC situation. Easily fixable — once a carpenter moved a cabinet and cut some holes in the wall. 

Plumbing cost? $509.00 the first day, $1,013.20 the second. 

Carpentry? Jury is still out on that one, but we’re saving up. 

It would have been easier to save up if, during the weekend before the plumbing was totally fixed, the plumbing in the back of the house hadn’t backed up. So, while plumbing was getting fixed in the kitchen, the “clean-out” guys were on the roof, running a roto-rooter thingy down the old cast iron pipes back there, ones that will eventually leak of course, and mercifully cleaning that out. 

$330.00.

Thought it was going to be worse so was grateful. What was worse were the two new tires I had to get the next day. 

$427.74. Gotta have tires.  

Two days later I took those tires and the rest of my car to my stud mechanic friend because my AC had gone out, the battery was draining, and surely that meant alternator trouble and another story for another time but the bottom line equals $357.19 and I wept like a small wet child for joy because I thought it would be much worse. 

It’s at times like this I’m grateful to mow grass. Nothing can get to you when you’re out there mowing grass. So that’s what I did — until my mower broke. 

Of course, it did. 

The next day I put it in my repaired car and left my repaired home and drove it to the shop and left it. The next day I called to check on it. 

Needs just one part. Just That One Part. 

Unfortunately, Just That One Part is on backorder. 

Of course, it is… 

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu. 

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Courtesy of LA Tech Athletics Communications 

Louisiana Tech head coach Sonny Cumbie, offensive lineman Joshua Mote and defensive lineman Keivie Rose will join head coaches and student-athletes from around the Conference USA at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Wednesday at the 2022 Ryan C-USA Football Kickoff.

This will be the first year the annual media event will be held in person since 2019. It will also be the first time the event will be held at Globe Life Field, home of the MLB Texas Rangers. All representatives will participate in a live ESPN+ show which begins at 10 a.m. CT. The event is hosted by ESPN’s John Schriffen. LA Tech is expected to appear on the show at 11 a.m., for a 10-minute segment.

The Sonny Cumbie era grows closer with the season opener scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 1 in Columbia, Mo. against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium on ESPNU.

The Bulldog’s home opener will kick off a five-game home slate during 2022 with a matchup against Stephen F. Austin on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. on ESPN3. The remaining four home games will feature C-USA opponents UTEP (Oct. 8), Rice (Oct. 22), Middle Tennessee (Nov. 5), and UAB (Nov. 26). Homecoming will be on Oct. 22 against Rice at 2 p.m.

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Congresswoman Julia Letlow visited the U.S.-Mexico border near Eagle Pass, Texas, Monday as part of an official delegation led by Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales. During the trip, Letlow met with law enforcement and community leaders, in addition to participating in a ride along with both the U.S. Border Patrol and local sheriffs.

Letlow represents Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District which includes Lincoln Parish.

“It’s clear that we have both a national security crisis and a humanitarian catastrophe at our southern border,” Letlow said. “The Biden Administration is looking the other way while illegal drugs such as fentanyl pour into our country and hundreds of people are dying while trying to cross. 

“Our law enforcement is completely overwhelmed and desperately in need of more resources,” the congresswoman said. “My colleagues and I have brought numerous bills to secure the border, but it’s past time for the President to put forward a solution.”

Letlow returned to Washington Tuesday as the House reconvened for its final votes before the August recess.

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JoAnn Fuller Holtzclaw 
November 4, 1934 – July 25, 2022 
Visitation: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – Ruston, Thursday, July 28, 2022, 9:30 am – 10:00 am 
Service: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – Ruston, Thursday, July 28, 2022, 10:00 am 
Cemetery: Douglas Cemetery, Thursday, July 28, 2022 

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By Malcolm Butler

A new housing unit is scheduled to be constructed on West California Avenue in the very near future.

Lincoln Parish Economic Development Director Phillip M. Smart said that a 240-bed apartment complex in the lot adjacent to Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, in the space that formerly held Church’s Fried Chicken with the additional lot behind it.

“We have a housing crisis in Lincoln Parish and of course in the City of Ruston, we have one especially for our students,” said Smart. “We want students to come, attend our universities, enjoy our city and feel at home. We are in dire need of additional student housing in Ruston.”

Smart said the company – Global Student Housing – has plans to construct the 1-bedroom apartments. The complex will include a parking garage on site. The apartments will be in easy walking distance from the Louisiana Tech campus, the company likes to promote ecofriendly transportation.

“We are pretty pleased with this project and are very excited about it,” said Smart. “Hopefully we can see this come to fruition pretty soon. The  Global Student Housing has already gotten to the part where they are ready to submit for permits to the city. I really think it will be a highlight and bring more life to that area.”

Smart said Global Student Housing is a company that normally caters to international students, but the complex will be open to all students – both Tech and Grambling State. The company will also be looking to construct a similar site for Grambling State University in Grambling. 

The project is scheduled to start once permitting is approved and a rough timeline has the completion set for Fall 2024.

In addition to the housing unit, Smart also talked about some additional businesses that are coming soon, including:

• Panda Express — “The last time I talked to the project manager on that, it was October or November. But of course with supply and demand that time varies. It will hopefully be around October.”
• Bojangles – “This is on Farmerville Highway on the corner of Kentucky and Farmerville. I’ve seen the plans and the layout looks great. I don’t know the timeline, but we know it will be there. We have some citizens that are really excited about more food options.”
• Taco Bandido – “They have submitted plans to go in the old Pizza Hut building. I am overjoyed that it takes another vacant structure and blighted property off of our list. It really helps with enhancing the beautification of Ruston.”
• Grocery store on Farmerville Highway – “I have not seen the plans for the building yet. I have seen that the property has been purchased by Brookshire Grocery Company. We talked about the need and desire to have a location out there, specially for the growth that is north region of Ruston and for the northeast quadrant. I definitely believe it is a need for our citizens and visitors. This location helps with the quality of life where those citizens don’t have to drive across town to pick up groceries.
• Plasma facility – “That is a company out of the Baton Rouge area that will be opening up a new plasma facility (in the old Rite Aid building). It will help with the work force and allow people to (have) good paying jobs there. It allows more medical jobs and medical benefits to our area. This increases the quality of life. It also takes another vacant property off of our list.”
• Old Navy – “We started on that project as soon as I came on board. We made contact with Old Navy in November and have been in contact with them up to this point. They just submitted their plans and their drawings of the new building. I don’t know an exact time frame due to supply and demand. It will be in the same shopping center strip as TJ Maxx and Hobby Lobby. There is a vacant greenfield site all the way at the end by the shoe store. It will be right next to it.”

 

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Emerald Trace Apartments off South Farmerville Street was the scene of a shooting early Saturday morning, but suspects were arrested quickly by police.

Shortly after 4 a.m. Saturday morning, the Ruston Police Department dispatched officers to the apartments regarding the shooting. A caller reported the assailants left in a champagne-colored Honda, possibly headed to Farmerville. Ruston Police quickly located the alleged suspects leaving the city, making five arrests and the recovering four handguns, including one stolen pistol.

The victim told officers he arrived home and found five men standing outside a Honda Accord near his apartment. He parked nearby and phoned his mother to advise her of the men. He then drove to another part of the apartment complex and the Accord followed him.

The victim said he then drove to his apartment and the men exited the Accord and approached him. The victim’s mother approached and produced a Taser. One of the suspects, identified as Dorian Henderson, produced a pistol and pointed it in the mother’s face. Henderson reportedly said he would shoot the mother if she tased his brother.

The victim, his mother, and his sister ran up the stairs to their apartment. According to the victim, Tahgi Andrews ran up the stairs trying to fight him. Henderson shot at the victim’s car and then at the residence before fleeing in the Accord.

A Ruston officer spotted the suspect vehicle headed north on the Farmerville Highway minutes later. Police conducted a “felony vehicle stop” and took five men into custody. 

During a search of the Honda, officers recovered three 9mm pistols, a .38 Special revolver, and approximately 18 grams of marijuana. A computer check revealed the revolver had been reported stolen in Farmerville.

The men were questioned at the police department before booking at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center.

Arrested were:

–Dorian A. Henderson, 18, three counts of attempted second degree murder, possession of marijuana, possession of a stolen firearm, and possession of a firearm in proximity of a controlled substance

–Jaylin Thomas, 19, of Farmerville, possession of marijuana, possession of a stolen firearm, and possession of a firearm in proximity of a controlled substance

–Tahgi Andrews, 20, of Farmerville, possession of marijuana, possession of a stolen firearm, and possession of a firearm in proximity of a controlled substance

–Keyshawn Burch, 20, possession of marijuana and possession of a firearm in proximity of a controlled substance

No motive for the shooting was mentioned in the reports available to Lincoln Parish Journal.

All the men gave home addresses in Farmerville. Bail amounts were not immediately available.

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. 

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A Ruston woman has been arrested after an allegation she threw a large rock through a window in Grambling.

Saturday afternoon Grambling Police responded to University Place Apartments to investigate a property damage complaint. The victim stated she heard a loud noise and discovered a large rock had been thrown through her front double pane windows. The victim said she called her roommate who told her Shabrea Cage had been texting her and making threats. Cage had allegedly accused the roommate of writing profanity on her Toyota Avalon.

GPD officers reviewed video from University Place and saw a black Avalon matching Cage’s vehicle enter the complex about the time of the vandalism and leave three minutes later. 

The property manager estimated the damage at over $1,000 and stated Cage did not live in the complex.

GPD contacted Cage, 26, by phone and requested she come to the station, but she refused, replying “you got to come get me.” GPD officers, accompanied by Ruston Police, went to Royal Crest Apartments on Tech Farm Road and took Cage into custody. She refused to answer questions and was 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. 

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Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications 

Coming off a 3-9 season that saw Louisiana Tech drop five games on the last play of the game, the Bulldogs are picked ninth in the 2022 Preseason Coaches/Media poll released by the league office on Monday.

Five student-athletes from each of the conference’s 11-member institutions were recognized as key players to watch ahead of the 2022 season with Tech’s Jacob Barnes, Tyler Grubbs, Smoke Harris, Josh Mote, and Keivie Rose representing LA Tech.

Despite the preseason prediction, Bulldog fans have plenty to be excited about as the program enters Year No. 1 of the Sonny Cumbie era in Ruston. 

Barnes has already garnered preseason laurels from Phil Steele and Athlon Sports in 2022. He ranks 10th among the nation’s active career leaders in field goal percentage (0.829). Barnes went 12-17 (.810) in field goal attempts in 2021, which was the second-most accurate mark in the C-USA. Barnes has been perfect on PATs in his two seasons with the Bulldogs, going 72-72 while knocking down 29 of 35 field goal attempts in his career.

Grubbs, a two-time All-Conference USA and All-Louisiana selection, has started all 22 of his games as a Bulldog and led the team in total tackles (99 and 97) in each of his first two seasons. The 247Sports freshman All-American selection finished in the top five last season in C-USA tackles per game (8.1) and also led the team in tackles for loss (10.0) while registering a season-high 13 tackles against SMU. Grubbs was also recently named first-team preseason All-Conference USA by Athlon Sports and collected second-team All-Conference USA honors from Phil Steele. The New Orleans, La., native has been one of the best linebackers in the nation since bursting onto the scene in 2020. His career mark of 8.91 tackles per game ranks second nationally among all active players. He is also among the FBS active career leaders in solo tackles per game, ranking 19th with 4.05.

Harris, another All-Conference USA selection and All-Louisiana selection last season made nine starts at wide receiver while appearing in all 12 games. He was Tech’s most explosive threat on offense and special teams finishing second in all-purpose yards (955) in 2021. Harris led the Bulldog offense in receptions (71), receiving yards (756), and receiving touchdowns (6) while posting at least three receptions in every game and finishing with 195 punt return yards on 22 attempts. Harris also recently picked up preseason All-CUSA honors from Athlon Sports and Phil Steele. 

Mote garnered All-Conference USA preseason honors from Athlon Sports and Phil Steele as well. He was named All-Conference USA honorable mention in both 2020 and 2021. Last season he started all 12 games and helped anchor an offensive front that ranked in the top half of the conference in scoring offense (28 ppg), passing offense (262.6 ypg), passing touchdowns (22) and completion percentage (.602). The Oak Grove, La., product is the Bulldogs’ active career leader in starts with 26.

Rose was named honorable mention All-Conference USA last season. The native of Henderson, Texas, registered 25 total l tackles (11 solo, 14 assists), with 4.0 tackles for loss and a sack in 2021. He also posted four quarterback hurries and two pass breakups in addition to registering a tackle in nine of 12 games, highlighted by four tackles in the season finale at Rice.

The C-USA slate opens on Saturday, Aug. 27, and the league’s 18th Conference USA Football Championship Game is scheduled for the first week in December.

In the recent C-USA preseason poll, LA Tech was selected to finish ninth. UTSA was the favorite, garnering 14 first-place votes, while UAB followed in second with eight first-place votes. Rounding out the top three was Western Kentucky. 

PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

1. UTSA (14)
2. UAB (8)
3. WKU
4. Florida Atlantic
5. North Texas
6. UTEP
7. Charlotte
8. Middle Tennessee
9. Louisiana Tech
10. Rice
11. FIU

The Sonny Cumbie era grows closer with the season opener scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 1 in Columbia, Mo., against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium for a game televised on ESPNU. 

The Bulldog’s home opener will kick off a five-game home slate during 2022 with a matchup against SFA on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. on ESPN3. The remaining four home games will feature C-USA opponents UTEP (Oct. 8), Rice (Oct. 22), Middle Tennessee (Nov. 5), and UAB (Nov. 6). It was recently announced that Homecoming will be on Oct. 22 against Rice at 2 p.m. 

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By April Clark Honaker

Emily Howell is the ELA facilitator for Lincoln Parish Schools while also continuing to teach three classes at Ruston High School. As ELA facilitator, Howell essentially serves as head coach to the ELA coaches at individual schools and, at times, to individual teachers. She supports them in implementing the state curriculum by providing resources and professional development. 

Although it’s common for teachers to give up teaching when they transition to a position with parish-wide responsibilities, Howell said, “I think there are so many great things that happen in the classroom that allow me to grow in my craft as both a teacher and district leader, and I’m not ready to give those hours with students up.” 

And she said she feels supported in that decision by Superintendent Ricky Durrett.

“It was really his vision to have content facilitators who were part time in the classroom five years ago when he took the role as secondary supervisor for the district,” she said.

Howell has been teaching for 17 years and holds a bachelor’s in secondary English education and a master’s in English. Still, she said being in the classroom has kept her connected to the day-to-day lives of the teachers she serves. So much has changed in the last two years that continuing to be in the classroom has really helped when it comes to providing practical support for her peers as well as weighing in on district practices and decisions. 

Given her role as ELA facilitator, Howell is in the business of leading and inspiring other ELA teachers, but she might not be in that position if it were not for a special teacher who inspired her. Howell has wanted to be a teacher since second grade and always played school as a kid, but it was her freshman high school English teacher, Ms. Lisa Cooper at C.E. Byrd High School in Caddo Parish, who inspired her to choose English. 

Cooper pushed her students to excel.

“She really held us accountable,” Howell said. “That’s when I realized kids will rise to rigorous standards if you care about them and show them that they can all be successful.” 

At the beginning of each year, the students often think Mrs. Howell is “too hard,” but she refuses to lower her standards. She said, “When they finally turn that corner and realize they can do hard things, it’s like a culture shift. These kids can do anything.” 

Howell has continued to demand much of her students, even in the midst of COVID with all its added pressures. She said everyone was exhausted at the end of this year, but her students still made her feel appreciated.

“I got more thank you notes this year in my box from students–just thanking me for teaching them,” she said. “That was an unexpected affirmation that I’m right where I am supposed to be.” 

Howell is grateful, too.

“I’m really proud to work for Lincoln Parish Schools, and I am proud that my own children are students in this district,” she said. “We have fantastic leadership, and everyone is rowing in the same direction throughout the district, which is powerful.” 

To first-year teachers, Howell said, “Set high standards, hold the kids accountable, and expect them to be able to do rigorous work.” 

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