A Minden man was arrested early Monday morning after his alleged suspicious behavior was spotted by Ruston Police.
About 10:00 p.m. on Christmas Day, the owner of a Farmerville Highway business reported a man had pulled open the doors to her closed business and stuck his head inside to look around. The owner said the business was obviously closed but was left unlocked while she left briefly.
Sergeant Kayla Loyd spotted the vehicle backed into a handicap parking space on Park Ave. across from Railroad Park about 1:30 a.m. Monday morning. The vehicle aroused suspicions since all the stores on Park Avenue were closed. The man in the driver’s seat, Fabian Weston, 32, said after he had a disagreement with his partner in Minden, he drove to Ruston to clear his head. Sergeant Loyd saw latex gloves and wipes on the ground directly beside Weston’s vehicle. A headlamp was seen on the center console of the car. When other officers arrived at the scene, the front door of one of the Park Ave. businesses was found open.
Weston was removed from the car and advised of his rights. Sergeant Loyd called the owner of the Farmerville Highway business who stated one of her friends had passed by and noticed a vehicle parked at the closed business and called her. The friend said the man pulled open the doors to her business, then went back to his vehicle. The owner said when she got to the business, the suspect was gone but she desired to press charges since he had no reason to be at the business at 9:30 p.m. on Christmas Day.
Weston was arrested and his vehicle was searched, revealing a small amount of suspected methamphetamine and a smoking pipe, both zipped up in a Bible.
Weston was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for criminal trespass, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
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.
This Best of the LPJ for 2022 story was originally published on April 8, 2022.
By Karen Otwell
This is the story of a 16-year old young man, full of life and energy, who loved his family and his friends. But it is a sad, tragic story. On Saturday, June 3, 2003, I left my house near Choudrant to go to Ruston. About a mile down the road, I rounded a curve and saw fire trucks, ambulances, sheriff’s deputies and state troopers in the parking lot of our local church. My first thought was the church had burned down but as I slowed and passed by, I saw what was left of a vehicle—totally crushed, wrapped around a tree, and burned beyond recognition.
My first thought was no one could have survived that crash. It was the worse wreckage I had ever seen in my life. Two minutes later, I discovered my beautiful, precious 16-year old son was trapped in that car. He was killed instantly with a severe head injury and burned up along with the vehicle. In one split second my son, his life, and part of me were gone forever.
The reason: alcohol—drinking and driving.
This is my son. Cory Dale Otwell, born June 16, 1986, died June 7, 2003. Killed at the young age of 16. Just nine days later he would have turned 17. I celebrated his 17th birthday by going to his grave, falling on top of it and crying as hard as I have ever cried in my life.
While Cory was with us, I can honestly say he loved and lived his life to the fullest each day. You rarely saw him without a smile on his face. Cory was a very loving person, and he was never ashamed to show his love. He was never too old to hug me and his dad and tell us he loved us in front of his friends. Cory was the baby out of six children. Close to his older brothers and sister, he always found time to spend with them. Our world revolved around him, and his world revolved around us. There has not been a day since his accident that we have not cried or hit our knees from the intense pain of losing him and wonder how we are going to make it another day without our beloved Cory.
The pain is never ends. Family get-togethers are devastating. Holidays are times of anguish and sorrow. There are no Christmas presents under the tree for Cory. I can no longer buy him gifts. Cory is gone forever. Death is final. There are no second chances. When Cory left this earth, he took most of my heart and his dad’s heart with him.
While Cory’s first love was his family, his second love was baseball. Cory started baseball at age five and never quit until death took him out of the game forever. Cory always dreamed he would play major league baseball. He told us he would support us so we could make each of his ball games. Three different coaches told us Cory had the athletic ability to take his baseball to a higher level. His dream will not come true. We will no longer share those dreams because he made one fatal mistake that cost him his young life forever.
Cory and a friend had been to a party, and both had been drinking. The friend was driving that fateful morning. Two very precious lives were ruined that morning. Cory’s life taken
away forever; the friend was charged with vehicular homicide and must live the rest of his life with the guilt and shame of taking another person’s life. While Cory’s father and I live with the pain, his friend will live with the guilt.
Louisiana has one of the highest alcohol related fatality rates in the nation. Car crashes are the leading cause of death among young people today. Many of those accidents occur because the teen driver has been drinking. Drinking by teens is not a harmless rite of passage; it is not just part of growing up. It is killing our sons and daughters. In a two-week span before and after Cory’s accident, eight young people were killed in north Louisiana in alcohol-related accidents. The deaths continue today.
We never think it will be one of ours who dies. When Cory walked out the door that Friday afternoon, I never dreamed it would be the last time I would ever see him alive, I would ever hear his voice, or tell him I loved him. We never thought it would or could happen to us.
As a former sheriff’s deputy, I saw what our officers do daily to stop this terrible waste. But law enforcement alone will not save our youth. You have a role, too. Love your kids. Protect them the best you can. Know what they are doing. Who are their friends? Where are they going? Share with them the dangers of drinking and driving. They believe they are invincible. They believe they are adults, but they still need supervision. Do whatever it takes to protect them—the alternative is unthinkable.
Lincoln Parish sheriff’s deputies arrested two people on drug charges while investigating a vehicle in a mobile home park on U.S. Highway 80 Friday night.
Deputy D. Johnston was searching for a vehicle involved in a domestic violence incident when he saw a parked car occupied by a man. The deputy stopped to ask the man if he had seen the vehicle involved in the domestic incident. At that point, Johnston smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the car and saw a female lying down on the seat as if she was hiding.
When the man and woman were asked to step out of the car, the deputy saw Zantorria K. Brantley, 24, of Grambling, arch her back and make a movement as if she was placing something in her pants. Loose marijuana was then seen on her pants.
Brantley and Chadwick K. Jones, 39, of Ruston, were secured in handcuffs but Brantley’s were later removed so she could put on a coat due to the cold weather. She then discarded a bag of suspected marijuana.
A search of the vehicle located suspected methamphetamine, over 100 units of Ecstasy, digital scales commonly used to weight drugs, and a box of plastic baggies.
A records check revealed two warrants for Brantley through Ruston City Court.
Both Brantley and Jones were booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of Ecstasy with intent to distribute, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Brantley was additionally booked for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and warrants for expired inspection sticker and speeding.
Bail for Jones was set at $80,000; Brantley’s bail was set at $98,000.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Davis Walsworth led Creek with 15 points in Tuesday’s win over West Ouachita. (photo by Darrell James)
By Malcolm Butler
Cedar Creek pulled away in the second half as the Cougars defeated West Ouachita 52-38 Tuesday afternoon in the Sterlington Tournament held at the Ouachita Christian gym.
The two teams battled back and forth in the first two quarters. After a 17-17 tie in the first quarter, Cedar Creek grabbed a slim 27-24 halftime lead behind 11 first-half points by Davis Walsworth.
Creek turned up the defense pressure in the second half, holding the Chiefs to just six points in the third quarter (12-6) and eight points in the fourth quarter (13-8) to coast to the win.
Walsworth led Cedar Creek with 15 points while Carter Hill added 11 points. Parker McConnell (7), Luke Waldron (6), Brian Osborne (5), Connor Norris (5), Jack Bell (2) and Conner Johnson (1) rounded out the scoring for the Cougars.
Creek will face Union at 9:30 a.m. today at the Ouachita Christian gym.
Lincoln Parish sheriff’s deputies arrested a Ruston man last Tuesday after a stolen firearm was found in his vehicle.
Nicholas D. Moore, 30, of Ruston was stopped for failure to signal a turn from the service road on to North Vienna Street. During the course of the stop, Moore was asked if he had any firearms inside the vehicle. He hesitated and looked down to his right and said no.
An open air sniff around the outside of the vehicle with a K-9 narcotics dog indicated the presence of narcotics. Upon searching the vehicle, deputies found a Ruger .45 semi-auto pistol under the seat. A check of the serial number indicated it had been stolen in Claiborne Parish.
Moore was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for illegal possession of a stolen firearm and failure to signal.
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.
Ronny Walker is the Week 16 winner of the Karl Malone Toyota NFL Pickem Contest presented by 511 and Black Rifle Coffee Company.
He won $150 in cash and prizes. How would you like to join the winners circle?
It’s easy. Each week pick the 10 NFL games that we list and have a chance to win cash and gift cards.
One lucky (or smart) pick’em guru will walk away with $150 worth of cash and prizes. The weekly deadline is Saturday at 10 a.m. (prior to Sunday’s NFL games).
Anyone is eligible to participate (only one entry per contestant). Each week the winner will be the participant with the best record out of 10 selected NFL games (ties will be broken by two separate tiebreakers consisting of guessing the total points scored in two of our weekly contests).
There is no entry fee, just like there is no cost to subscribe to the Lincoln Parish Journal.
It takes 20-30 seconds to sign up and not much longer than that to make your picks.
All contest decisions by LPJ management are final. Weekly winners will be notified Monday and are will be requested to take a photo that will run in the following week’s LPJ.
Every participant will receive a FREE subscription to the Journal, if you’re not already signed up for the easily-navigated, convenient 6:55 a.m. daily e-mail.
In good ol’ 2022, we celebrated the 30th anniversary of Love Languages, a lady named Amy earned $1 million-plus and made the Jeopardy! TV game show cry “Uncle!”, LSU’s football team won more games than even the Tigers’ most loyal and optimistic fan thought possible, and Port-O-Lets again made their presence known during Mardi Gras as one of the best inventions since indoor plumbing — which turned out to be heavy plastic outdoor plumbing.
Good times.
These were just some of the more light-hearted and trivial happenings of a somewhat gray 2022, a year that had this One Big Thing going for it: it wasn’t 2021 or, Lord help us all, 2020, when our leaders didn’t.
I was born at night, but not last night.
Actually, I was born at 8:15 in the morning, just in time to clock in, and have been carrying my little tool box and lunch pail since. Like you, the past two years have beaten all I’ve ever seen and have tried, overly hard, to beat us down.
But here we are, still flying the flag, like the old man in Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, a little thinner and gaunt, showing some deep wrinkles and splotches, some deep-creased scars, but our eyes are bright and cheerful and undefeated.
We can hardly afford to buy the toot off a whistle if they were selling for a nickel apiece, but we soldier on. The world keeps spinning and we’re happy to be along for the ride into what we trust will be a more upbeat 2023.
2022 was the year that brought us Wordle. Remember last year this time when everybody was Wordleing? The fad has worn off a bit, but last spring, Wordle was almost as popular as Taylor Swift.
2022 was also the year when Top Gun: Maverick became required viewing. Is it the best sequel since The Godfather Part II?
Fair Grounds Field was demolished in 2022 — until it wasn’t. Red tape and bat poop sort of sums up the year; the higher-ups don’t want to admit a mistake and get things back on greased grooves.
Closer to home, we became grandparents in July 2022, a definite highlight. She’s a healthy five months old. Because we are good grandparents, we took her to see Top Gun: Maverick five times and sold all we have except our toothbrushes to get her a Taylor Swift concert ticket. She’ll have to go alone because one is all we could afford but the kid has got to learn to stand on her own at some point.
We did not get her a ticket to Monday’s Cheez-It Citrus Bowl in Orlando when 9-4 LSU takes on 8-5 Purdue/Purdon’t because although we love Chees-Its, one of the highest quality dairy foods you can eat, who knew LSU could threaten a 10-win season? This is a team that started a receiver at quarterback and had 38 players on scholarship in last year’s bowl game, something called the TaxAct Texas Bowl when Kansas State beat what was left of the Tigers, 42-20.
Hat tippage to new coach Brian Kelly and Tiger fans everywhere for their expectation-exceeding results this fall.
Since this is the first time ever the two programs have met and since the only alum of Purdue people in these parts might know is New Orleans Saints forever-hero Drew Brees, you might find it of interest that the nice lady who invented Stovetop Stuffing, Ruth Siems, went to Purdue, as did Orville Redenbacher, the popcorn magnate. Doubtful that either of those things will come into play during Monday’s game — unless the Boilermakers have Stovetop Stuffing and popcorn for pregame. Then we really like LSU to cover the two-touchdown spread. Kick is at noon Monday, Jan. 2.
Registered voters in the city of Ruston have an opportunity to sign a petition that would call for a March election involving liquor sales within the city.
This Best of the LPJ for 2022 story was originally published on Sept. 21, 2022.
By Malcolm Butler
The citizens of the city of Ruston have an opportunity to sign a petition that would lead to a March vote on expanded sales of liquor in local grocery stores.
The Louisiana Economic Growth Committee working closely with Walmart and Brookshires Grocery Company is currently seeking signatures from registered voters within the city of Ruston. The petition began Sept. 15 and has 60 days to obtain the Louisiana state law required-minimum of 25% of the registered voters (2,454 signatures) in order to get the proposition on a ballot.
Currently Ruston stores can only sell beer and low volume wine, with less than 6 percent alcohol by volume.
Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker met with members of the media Tuesday to provide more insight and answer questions pertaining to the situation.
“I think the main thing I want to emphasize today is that this is something that gives the people of Ruston the opportunity to make the decision about what they want as far as alcohol,” said Walker.
Currently, there are three of five propositions involving alcohol sales that passed in 2002 and that are currently in place (see the five propositions below). However, the other two propositions failed in 2002, the two allowing for the sale of hard liquor in grocery stores and in bars within the city limits.
Walker has an opinion on what he feels is best for the city.
“If someone were asking me what I would want for our city it would be (propositions) 1, 2, 4 and 5 (to pass),” he said.
Many citizens may have concerns over what the passing of one or both of the additional propositions could mean for the City of Ruston. Walker stressed that while the petition process is taking place over the next two months, city officials are working diligently to be able to have ordinances in place to protect Ruston.
“We are working right now on ordinances that will help us to be able to control some of this,” said Walker. “Liquor is already highly regulated in the city of Ruston now. But we want to be sure that whatever the citizens vote for is done in a way that the city of Ruston has always been known for – that’s doing things first class in the way they should be done. We will address all of those issues after the citizens say they want to vote.”
Walker said if the 25% goal is reached that the ordinances will be presented and any additional questions will be answered during the December 5th Ruston City Council meeting. He said he felt there was no need to address them until it’s known that the citizens want to vote on the alcohol propositions.
The petition may only be signed by individuals who are registered voters within the city of Ruston, including college students. Anyone who is not registered to vote in the city of Ruston may not sign the petition. If they do, their signature would be deleted by the Register of Voters which will verify all of the signatures following the 60-day petition window.
One thing to note is that if the 25% goal is reached, the City Council must set an election date (March 25, 2023) and that all five of the alcohol propositions (even the three that passed in 2002) would go back on the ballot.
Walker said there are a number of reasons that he is in support of Propositions 1, 2, 4 and 5 passing. One of them is financial.
“The sales tax of course is an issue,” said Walker. “It will benefit not only the city of Ruston, but the Lincoln Parish Police Jury, the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office, and of course the Lincoln Parish School Board because their sales taxes are based on helping with salaries for teachers. That’s an issue, no doubt about it.
“Our city has a tax incremental district and two of the biggest grocery stores that would possibly be selling alcohol are located within that tax incremental district. That means we get 40 percent back of what goes to the state. So that would be a huge increase. And all that money has to be spent within that tax incremental district for infrastructure and things like that.”
However, there are additional reasons that Walker feels it would be good for the city of Ruston.
“I have had so many people ask us to do this for several reasons,” said Walker. “One, the convenience of being able to purchase it in Ruston. But also there has always been talk about the need for another grocery store in the city of Ruston. We have had three (separate) grocery stores look at (locating to) Ruston over the last eight years. Every one of them the first question is ‘Can we sell alcohol?’ ‘No.’ ‘Then we are not coming to Ruston and Lincoln Parish.’”
Walker said he has been in discussions with Pineville, a city that passed their liquor laws three years ago. He said he and his administrative team have learned a lot from the Pineville mayor and administrators on what they would have done differently.
“They are one of the reasons we are looking at doing some things if this passes to control it a little bit better,” said Walker. “Where things can go or not go.
“I don’t think we need 50 liquor stores in our city. So we would try to control that through possibly the size of the stores that could sell alcohol. One of the things that Pineville realized was that their zoning was not up to speed as far as being able to control where a liquor store or a bar or a daiquiri shop would go.
“So that is something that our planning and zoning (committee) and our city attorney Bill Carter are looking closely at right now so we can have a better handle on it before we get to that point. If this comes to the city council in December, after that we will be able to present to the citizens that these are the things we plan on doing to try to make this fit our city better.”
Key Issues Relating to Louisiana Local Option Alcohol Elections
60 Days allowed to circulate a petition
30 Days (not counting weekends and holidays) ROV can take to certify signatures
2,454 = 25% of Ruston active voters – number of signatures needed
2,900+ = signatures of qualified voters will be submitted to petition advocates (20% over certification – 30% of active voters)
9,814 = number of active voters in Ruston as of Sept. 14, 2022
Sept. 14, 2022 Date Petition was issued
Oct. 21, 2022Target Date to submit petitions
Dec. 5, 2022regular city council meeting (1st Monday of month)
Dec. 28, 2022Last day for city to inform LA SOS an election has been ordered
March 25, 2023Proposed Election Day
Proposition No. 1
Authority to sell beverages of alcoholic content containing not more than 6% alcohol by volume by package only and not for consumption on the premises in the city.
Passed in 2002: For 2699/Against 2053 (57 percent)
Proposition No. 2
Authority to sell beverages of alcoholic content containing not more than 6% alcohol by volume for consumption on the premises in the city.
Passed in 2002: For 2753/Against 1966 (58 percent)
Proposition No. 3
Authority to sell beverage alcohol containing one-half of 1% alcohol by volume and above for consumption on the premises in the city.
Failed in 2002: For 1708/Against 2927 (37 percent)
Proposition No. 4
Authority to sell beverage containing one half of 1% alcohol by volume and above by package only and not for consumption on the premises in the city.
Failed in 2002: For 1547/Against 3082 (33 percent)
Proposition No. 5
Authority to sell beverages of high and low alcoholic content permitted only on the premises of restaurant establishments which have been issued an “R” permit as defined by law in the city.
Passed in 2002: For 2615/Against 2071 (56 percent)
All of us in positions of authority and responsibility are faced with the requirement of making decisions on a regular basis. Some of these decisions are clear based on our values, purpose, and sufficient information. Other decisions are not clear. A leader’s ability to ask questions, gather information, evaluate options, filter through values, align with purpose, and make a decision when things are not clear provides the organization with the ability to keep moving forward. No one will make the best/right decision every time. Mistakes will be made. Every wrong decision is an opportunity to learn for future decisions. In some cases, the leader can make an adjustment and correct or modify the decision to improve the situation.
Indecisiveness and lack of willingness to act may be the worst choice for a leader. When the leader freezes due to uncertainty and doesn’t make a decision, the organization is also frozen. Very seldom do problems, issues, or situations resolve themselves. Typically, things get worse when decisions aren’t made. Problems often get worse. Engagement levels decline. Unresolved issues expand. People lose trust, and leaders lose credibility.
A prime example of the negative consequences is what our country is currently experiencing along our southern border. Regardless of your political position on immigration, the humanitarian crisis in El Paso, and other cities along the border should be getting everyone’s attention. The lack of direction and decision making from the Federal Government is creating a huge issue impacting so many lives. The problem continues to get worse daily as leaders at our federal level cannot come to a decision on what to do. We can also point to the federal budgetary process as another example of the problems created by failing to make a decision. Continuing to push forward with extensions on spending levels (Continuing Resolution) with no budgetary plan or attempt to balance spending with revenues is another clear example of leader’s failure to make decisions and act.
We can point to more examples of governmental inaction, but the propensity to not make tough decisions can impact any organization as well as any leader. Tough decisions require difficult discussions and a willingness to listen to other’s opinions as leadership teams seek to move forward. Complete agreement may not always be possible, but an agreed upon set of core values and shared purpose can be the foundational aspects of gaining alignment in many cases. Leadership teams that have that foundation can refer to those core principles to evaluate options. Even when that foundation does not exist, leaders still need to do the hard work and get to a decision point as quickly as possible. We never want to rush and make a regretful decision, but we also don’t want to delay and cripple the organization. Be quick but don’t rush!
People deserve good leadership. Leaders must make timely decisions. Ask questions, engage people in discussion, and gather as much information as you can quickly. Filter options through your values and purpose. Debate, discuss, and do the hard work, but make a decision. As you move into 2023, be a decisive leader and be a leader worthy of following.
This Best of the LPJ for 2022 story was originally published on June 29, 2022.
By Malcolm Butler
He’s back!
The 2021 Lincoln Parish Journal Coach of the Year Matt Middleton has returned to Cedar Creek in the same role he left in January.
One day after a joint announcement that the school and Steven Ensminger, Jr., had mutually decided to part ways, Cedar Creek announced that Middleton was returning.
“Cedar Creek School is excited to announce that it has partnered with Coach Matt Middleton to serve in the capacity as athletic director and head football coach,” said the release from the school. “Coach Middleton has a long history of molding young student athletes into well-rounded individuals. The school and Coach Middleton have made a multi-year commitment to each other and look forward to many years of success, both on the field and inside the classroom.”
Middleton was introduced as the Cougars head coach in April of 2021 and guided the Cougars to a 6-5 record, which including a historic win over Oak Grove, a near-miss against OCS and a berth in the Division IV playoffs.
Following the season he resigned from Cedar Creek in mid-January to accept the offensive coordinator position at Southern Arkansas University. His new contract with Cedar Creek is a multi-year deal.
“I am extremely excited,” said Middleton. “I didn’t foresee this happening but I can’t tell you how ecstatic I am to be back with those kids. And with a great school. It’s even more exciting for me because my entire family will be there too. I couldn’t ask for anything better. I’m ready to get rolling.
“Their commitment to me and to the program is huge. And my commitment back benefits both parties and puts us in a situation to be in a longstanding relationship for years to come. That’s what I want.
“A lot of people might think this is just about (my son Caden’s senior year), but this is so much more than that. I have a 5-year old starting kindergarten, and I hope and pray we will be here (for him to finish at Cedar Creek). I am excited about the long-term part of it. I have bounced around some in my career, but I want to plant some roots and look forward to a bright future.”
Middleton told the Lincoln Parish Journal in January that the decision to leave Creek and return to college coaching wasn’t an easy one.
“Probably one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever had,” said Middleton in January. “I am leaving what I consider a loaded team. I think they could possibly play for a Division IV championship next year. I still think they have a great opportunity.”
Now it will be the veteran, highly-emotional Middleton who will be guiding the veteran group into action this fall.
A team meeting is set for Thursday morning as Middleton will address his Cougar players for the first time since last January when he informed them he was departing. Creek’s decision to lure Middleton back has drawn early rave reviews.
“What Matt did in his six months with the program when he came to Creek was really revolutionary for the school,” said Scott Hill, Creek alum and father of Cougar multi-sport star Carter Hill. “From upgrading facilities to consistency and structure and to very high expectations, the kids bought into the program.
“Matt has fun, but when it’s time to work he expects high level commitment. He drives them hard, but he celebrates the victories with them. He is right there with them through thick and thin. He returns an (enjoyable) style of football (on both sides of the ball). They know he is a winner. The kids are familiar with him and had bought into his coaching style.”
The West Monroe native began is coaching career as a graduate assistant at Louisiana Tech in 2002 before serving as the wide receivers coach at Grand Valley State in Michigan in 2004. He was the offensive coordinator for two different stints at Arkansas-Monticello in 2007-08 and again in 2011 through 2013.
Middleton was also the offensive coordinator for former Tech assistant coach Clint Conque at Central Arkansas in 2009 and 2010.
On the prep level he served as assistant head and JV coach at Evangel Christian Academy (2003-04), head coach and athletics director at Caldwell Parish High School (2005-06), head coach and AD at CENLA Christian School (2007), and as head coach at Prairie View (2014-16.)
His first head coaching opportunity came in 2015, when he was hired by Prairie View Academy, before taking the West Ouachita head coaching job in 2017 where he spent four years before coming to Cedar Creek.
Middleton was named the District 2-1A Coach of the Year and the Lincoln Parish Journal All-Parish Team Coach of the Year in 2021 after guiding the Cougars to a successful season. He won Coach of the Year honors in 2015 and 2016 at Prairie View Academy.
This Best of the LPJ for 2022 story was originally published on November 14, 2022.
By Kyle Roberts
Robert Reeder has quite a story.
I was alerted of this by a dear friend and loyal reader of the Lincoln Parish Journal a few weeks ago. At first, it seemed like his story would be about his race running and finishing with some impressive hardware in a few interstate competitions for track over the past year.
But it was over a cup of coffee in the Reeder’s home that I realized there was a fantastic story to tell: one of a man with deep roots in the North Louisiana running circuit back in the 50’s and who will never know the words “old” or “quit.” As we visited together in his living room on a Friday morning in north Lincoln Parish with his adoring wife and biggest fan, Lajuana, I found myself humbled in the presence of a soft-spoken man who rediscovered a deep passion for running and racing just three years ago after hanging up his shoes for nearly five decades.
Robert Reeder literally learned how to run again at the age of 79 and has now, three years later, become one of the top runners in the southern United States in the 50-meter, 100-meter and 200-meter dashes with recent times of 9.33 seconds, 18.57, and 41.26, respectively.
Hailing from Haynesville just a few parishes away, Robert graduated from Haynesville High School in 1958 and that was the last time he ran competitively in track for about 60 years.
“Growing up in Haynesville, I ran track, and I loved to run,” Robert said. “I’ve been in track meets with Ruston people such as Pat Garrett, James Anderson, and Sammy Simonton. I’ve always had a passion for it. It was probably my favorite sport; that and baseball.
“We were in Shreveport about three years ago, and I was getting fitted for some new shoes. The salesman there was the ex-principal of Haynesville High School Frank Trammel. (Trammel was also a member of the Northwestern State track team that won a national championship). He’s still involved in track, and he said ‘Robert, you need to get involved with the Senior Olympics.’ I couldn’t even run anymore. I had been working in the oil field for the last 45 years, and I hadn’t even seen a track in so long. I let the comment pass at first, but I couldn’t get it off my mind.”
The comment gnawed at Robert for a while. Four or five months went by, and Robert dug into the courage deep within and decided to give it a shot. But first, he would have to relearn how to run.
It was at a meeting at his gym that the stars aligned perfectly; a trainer willing to take him on and lead him back into running shape.
That trainer is a very familiar face to Lincoln Parish residents: Ed Jackson, former Bulldog football player, Los Angeles Raider, assistant football coach, and now Assistant Athletics Director for Student Development at Louisiana Tech.
“Ed Jackson was a miracle,” Robert said. “I still see him three times a week, and he’s got me where I’m competitive. He’s become a very good friend, and I just love him to death. He’s a self-made man and has really done well being a trainer. He can look at me and tell me what I need. He really brought me back where I could compete.”
Jackson shares the same affinity for Robert; you can easily tell by the way he talks about him.
“What inspired me the most about him is that he never seeks any fame or fortune,” Jackson said. “I’m amazed at how many medals he’s got; he gets three medals nearly every time he goes. He originally tried to do it all by himself. When I got him, his rhythm and coordination were off. He had to relearn how to run. He’ll tell you that himself.
“I told him that once he built strength back in his body that running would be natural again. Your body is designed to get the flow of it. We started leg work, squats and lunges; then we started flexibility in his back and shoulders. He got better and better. He doesn’t ever stop working.”
Working with Jackson proved incredibly beneficial.
Over the course of three years, Robert has become a force as a senior runner. He’s medaled in the 50-meter, 100-meter and 200-meter in races in Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Mississippi. He’s run in Texas, as well, but given the high regard and demand for senior runners in the Lonestar State, he was not able to medal there. Larger states have complete track teams for seniors. Louisiana does not – racers register and compete individually on their own.
Right now, Robert trains on Choudrant High School’s track, the closest track to their beautiful home, something for which he and his family are very appreciative.
Recently, Robert has started showing interest in pole vaulting, which track and field enthusiasts will understand requires a specific setting and equipment (they’ve even priced putting in a pit in their backyard at home, but the cost for even a used pit is very extensive). Unfortunately, there are no available pits for Robert to train locally – they understandably cite liability issues – so, he travels hours away to Jonesboro, Ark. for vaulting practice.
Robert laughs at how he found a vaulting coach.
“I saw an ad from a trainer that said ‘Accepting all ages,’” Robert said. “So I went ahead and called him. He’s a man named Earl Bell. He answered the phone, and I asked him if he was serious about taking all ages, if his ad was true. So he asked me, ‘Well, how old are you?”
Robert answered honestly. Earl sat on the phone and paused for a long period of time.
“He said ‘I haven’t had anyone your age call me,’” Robert said, and followed with a hearty laugh. “Finally, Earl just told me to come on up. That’s how I got started with vault practice.”
And so, Robert will press onward. It seems now that it has become less about winning the hardware and more about raising awareness of what opportunities are available to seniors.
“You don’t have to sit and do nothing,” Robert said. “There are so many ways to stay active and healthy. I’m glad that I’m running again.”
In speaking with Jackson, he summed up this entire story perhaps best of all with his last quote of our interview.
“I enjoy every moment working with him,” Jackson said. “I tell him all the time that he ought to be on national TV for his story. People don’t know that he has accomplished a lot; he’s a hidden gem for this area.”
RHS defensive coordinator Kyle Williams comforts a pair of his players following Friday’s state title game loss to Destrehan. (Photo by T. Scott Boatright)
This Best of the LPJ for 2022 story was originally published on December 10, 2022.
By T. Scott Boatright
NEW ORLEANS — The tears flowed fast and hard following Ruston’s 17-10 title game loss in the Division I Nonselect School championship game in Caesar’s Superdome..
So should hope for the future.
No, the Bearcats didn’t win their first state championship since 1990. But they did play in their first championship game since 1998.
And yes, Ruston losing a number of longtime impact players, including three-year starting quarterback Jaden Osborne, powerhouse running back Dyson Fields, hard-hitting defensive end Jamious Blackmon and wide receiver Aaron Jackson, who returned to Ruston after spending his junior season at Neville and helped give the run-oriented Bearcats one of their better passing attacks in years.
But Ruston is also jam-packed with talented underclassmen led by junior linebacker/fullback Jadon Mayfield, who was named the Bearcats’ title game MVP after totaling a team-best nine tackles against the Wildcats.
They will also return other outstanding talent on the defensive side of the ball including junior defensive linemen Ahmad Breaux and Geordan Guidry, junior strong safety Nate Johnson and sophomore linebacker Zheric Hill.
“This loss hurts, but we’ll be back,” Mayfield said during the postgame press conference.
Senior kicker RJ Brown expressed his belief in the younger players he’ll be leaving behind on the gridiron.
“I’m just going to start off by saying this loss hurts,” Brown said. “It hurts really bad. But I have so much confidence in this team next year, it’s just tremendous. That’s all I’ve got.”
Fields did the same during his moment at the microphone.
“I want to give Destrehan a shout out for winning the state championship,” Fields said. “They came out and did what they needed to do to win. But this team will come back next year better.”
Blackmon thanked the RHS coaching staff for the guidance they gave to the senior Bearcats.
“I just want to thank the coaches,” he said. “They helped turn some of us into full-fledged leaders. Things may not have turned out the way we wanted them to, but next year this team will rise to the occasion and will be celebrating.”
RHS coach Jerrod Baugh talked about the way his team overcame a slow start, including their only regular-season loss in the opener against Warren Easton, and determinedly marched to the state championship game for the first time this century.
“You know, this season started with a scrimmage against Byrd and we didn’t play very well and we heard some comments around, I’m not going to say our community necessarily, that we’re not going to be a very good football team,” Baugh said.
“But these kids put their heads down and went to work and trusted what their coaches would tell them to do and trusted in the fact that if they showed up and did the work required of them, they’d be a good football team and turn into a good football program. And I love them for that.”
Baugh said it was a special team to have bonded together as well as with their coaches and make it all the way to the Superdome.
“They did absolutely everything we asked them to do,” Baugh said of his Bearcats. “You could just see it throughout the season and how we grew and bonded together. We changed a lot of guys thinking about how you go about doing things and leaning on each other, trusting each other.”
Baugh also expressed confidence in the lives his seniors will go on and live.
“There’s no better feeling than as a coach watching a group of young men bond together and lean on each other, trusting each other and growing together,” Baugh said.
“It’s going to be a great group of guys again after they leave. They’re going to be great dads, productive people in the community and that’s really what I was most proud of. Losing one football game doesn’t define who they are as a person, it doesn’t define me as a person.”
And while the seniors will depart down the walk of life, Baugh reminded them they’ll always be his Bearcats.
“We’re going to hurt for a while – it hurts whenever you put in that kind of work. But at the end of the day, losing a football game can’t change who we are,” Baugh said. “I know who these kids are. They’re great people and again, I love them and they know no matter how old they get I’m here for them .
“I’ve had the same phone number for 25 years, and I ain’t going nowhere, guys.”
The Bearcats have too much talent not to bounce back. The young Bearcats have now experienced what it’s like to play in a state championship game.
And the next step, the future step, is to use the talent they’ll return to fulfill their goal of taking state.
Funeral services for Mr. Foy “Bubba” Scroggins, III, age 59 of Ruston, LA will be held at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, December 28, 2022, at Hebron Baptist Church in Bentonia, MS with Brother Greg Tipton and Brother James Ryals officiating. Burial will follow in Hilderbrand Family Cemetery in Bentonia, MS under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston, LA.
Bubba was born on September 1, 1963 to Birdie Sue Hilderbrand Scroggins and Foy Scroggins, Jr. in Vicksburg, MS and went to be with his Lord and Savior on December 25, 2022 in Ruston, LA at his home that he shared with his mother, Birdie Homer, faithfully at his side. Bubba worked over 20 years at East Mississippi State Hospital as a Building and Grounds Technician. Bubba’s interests included watching football (Saints, LSU, Ole Miss, and MS State), watching westerns, listening to music, and family history, as he was known as the family historian. Bubba is preceded in death by his father, Foy Scroggins, Jr., step-father, Albert Homer, Jr., and niece P.J. Watts.
Bubba left behind his mother, Birdie Sue Homer of Ruston, LA; two brothers: Phil Scroggins and wife, Lori of Royse City, TX and Tommy Scroggins and wife, Niki of Ruston, LA; two step-sisters: Pam Watts of TN, and Jonella and husband, Robert Lowe of Prentiss, MS; one niece Anna Scroggins Cannon of Ruston, LA; six nephews: Zack Scroggins of Fort Worth, TX, Tyler Scroggins of Ruston, LA, Kristian Scroggins and wife Rebecca of Choudrant, LA, Albert Watts of TN, Chandler Lowe of Hattiesburg, MS, and Andrew Lowe of Hattiesburg, MS; three great nieces: Zoey Cannon, Madison Cannon, and Harper Scroggins; and two great nephews: Beaux Scroggins and Hank Scroggins.
Visitation will be held from 10:00 AM Wednesday until time of service at the church. Bubba will truly be missed by his loved ones. He is now resting peacefully and pain free in heaven. To leave an online memorial message for the family, please visit www.owensmemorialfuneralhome.com.
Johnathn Fritzgerald Rushing Friday 06/25/1971 — Tuesday 12/20/2022 Visitation: Thursday 12/29/2022 3:00pm to 5:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Funeral Service: Friday 12/30/2022 1:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Interment: Friday 12/30/2022, Grambling Memorial Garden, Highway 80 West, Grambling
Foy “Bubba” Scroggins, III September 1, 1963 – December 25, 2022 Funeral service: 11:00 AM, Wednesday, December 28, 2022, at Hebron Baptist Church in Bentonia, MS
American Mattress Outlet will open a store on 208 West Alabama Avenue in Ruston on January 3.
This is a PAID ADVERTORIAL
Ruston is getting a new mattress business.
Robby Compton, who has owned and operated American Mattress Outlet in West Monroe since 2017, is now opening a store in Lincoln Parish.
The new store will open on Tuesday, Jan. 3 and will be located at 208 West Alabama Avenue.
“Opening a store in Ruston has been a goal of mine since we opened in West Monroe,” said Compton. “I have always loved Ruston, and I was just waiting on the right space and the right store manager.
“I think the new store being downtown in perfect. The spot is perfect. We will have the same great products and service that we have always had at our West Monroe location.”
According to Compton, the Ruston store will carry mattress collections from Southerland that include American Sleep, Scandinavian Sleep, Thermo Balance and Signature by Southerland,” said Compton. “We will also carry Bed Tech, American Bedding and MD Mattress.”
Compton said the store will also carry Bed Tech and Malouf adjustable bases as well Malouf sheets and pillows.
John Aaron Green will serve as the Ruston store manager after working at the West Monroe location for the past four years.
American Mattress Outlet’s slogan is: “You don’t have to go into debt to get a great night’s sleep.”
“I think the great folks of Ruston and in Lincoln Parish will be happy with our selection and prices,” said Compton.
A Ruston man was arrested last week after he allegedly produced a pistol during a shoplifting incident.
Ruston police officers were dispatched to the USA Travel Plaza on La. Highway 33 about 3:30 a.m. Tuesday. The clerk told officers he saw Ladevin Patterson, 30, conceal merchandise in his pocket before leaving the store without paying. The clerk followed Patterson outside and told him to return the merchandise or he would be forced to call police.
Patterson went inside the store and argued he had not stolen any merchandise. When the clerk asked what was in his pocket, Patterson allegedly removed a pistol and made a threatening comment. Clark said Patterson did not point the gun at him, but he believe Patterson intended to use it and he feared for his life.
Patterson admitted to officers he had the firearm concealed on his person and removed it to show the clerk and then placed it inside his vehicle before police arrived.
A search of the vehicle produced a 9 mm pistol, a digital scale, a concealment device containing marijuana, and numerous empty bags consistent with the sale of narcotics.
A small amount of marijuana was found in Patterson’s pocket, and he admitted to selling marijuana and being aware he was a convicted felon prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Patterson was arrested and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for possession of a firearm by convicted felon, illegal carrying of concealed weapon, illegal carrying of a weapon in the presence of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, aggravated assault with a firearm, and theft by shoplifting.
A hold was placed on Patterson by the La. Department of Corrections for probation violation.
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.
This is Lauren Casey’s first year teaching second grade at Choudrant Elementary, but she’s been teaching this grade for more than 10 years and was recently selected Teacher of the Year at her school. This is an award she also achieved while teaching at Belle Chasse Academy in 2020.
Casey said that receiving the award was both humbling and validating. “It’s so neat to hear and see what your co-workers think of you,” she said.
She said the award also provided some unexpected reassurance.
“I know I’m where I’m supposed to be and I’m doing what I’m supposed to be,” she said.
In addition, receiving the reward prompted Casey to reflect on how she got to this point in her career. She could not have done it without the help of countless other educators who supported her along the way.
“I’d love to take the opportunity to thank educators who poured into me,” she said, “and now I want to take that opportunity and pour into other people’s children.”
Casey earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education Grades 1-5 and a master’s in curriculum and instruction from Louisiana Tech. While earning her master’s she worked as a reading specialist in Hico. Afterward, she taught several years in the New Orleans area before returning to north Louisiana.
Casey’s first job after her return to Lincoln Parish was at Hillcrest Elementary where she did her student teaching.
“It was neat to come back to the place where I started,” she said.
As a second grade teacher, Casey teaches her students all subjects.
“I actually love being able to teach everything,” she said. “When I teach all the subjects, I can see all their strengths and weaknesses. It’s easier to help them in certain areas when you see them as a whole.”
She loves many thing about teaching, but said, “My favorite thing is seeing the moment when a child realizes what their strength is and they’re empowered by that. When they realize that, their education becomes theirs, and they realize no one can take that away from them. Then they just grow.”
Casey said it helps to figure out what a student loves, especially when it comes to reading. If they’re struggling, connecting what they’re learning to something they love can really change everything.
“They start opening up a bit,” she said, “and it chips away at that wall they have. The next thing you know, they’re reading in class and getting cheered for.” Casey said seeing moments like these is what she lives for.
A Simsboro man was arrested last week after he was stopped for speeding.
A deputy with the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office clocked a vehicle operated by Demetri C. Gray, 37, at 67 miles per hour in a 55 mph zone.
The deputy caught up with the vehicle on Heard Road and contacted the driver and sole occupant. The odor of marijuana was smelled coming from inside the vehicle and 9mm ammunition was seen in the center console. A records check indicated Gray’s driver’s license was suspended.
When told the vehicle would be searched, Gray said there was a “good size” bag of marijuana inside. The search yielded a large plastic bag containing marijuana and a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol
A criminal history check showed Gray was a convicted felon with his most recent conviction occurring in September for distribution of methamphetamine.
Gray was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, illegal carrying of a firearm in the presence of a controlled substance, speeding, and driving under suspension.
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.
This Best of the LPJ for 2022 story was originally published on January 6, 2022.
By Darmecia Woods Crane
One day a person decided to give me a gift. In a place unknown to me, this person wanted to leave me with something special. Something one of a kind and unique, just for me. This person was not a co-worker, who had pulled my name for an annual Secret Santa gift exchange. This person wasn’t a parent of a student I taught. The person wasn’t a member of my community at all. The person was a stranger. By deciding one day to become an organ donor, a complete stranger has become a part of my life forever.
In January 2020, after a 13 year fight with auto-immune hepatitis, I was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis, PSC. Its only cure, organ transplantation. Placed on the United Network for Organ Sharing/Organ Procurement and Transplant Network (UNOS/OPTN) liver transplant waiting list, my days were spent unsure of exactly how this would all end. As the days continued, so did the urgency of my health. And then one special day that all changed.
On May 28, 2020, I received a call to receive a life-saving organ transplant. There was an organ waiting for me. The following morning I would accept my most special gift. The gift of life.
There are no words that can ever express the gratitude I feel in my heart for my donor. A simple decision with a rippling effect. In 2021, the U.S. has performed 40,000 life-saving transplants all starting with one simple decision to become an organ donor. This holiday season consider becoming an organ donor and continue the rippling tides of kindness.
For more information about organ sharing and transplantation, please visit unos.org.
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Darmecia Woods Crane is a graduate of Grambling State and is pursuing her graduate degree in educational leadership at Louisiana Tech. She is employed as an elementary teacher in Lincoln Parish. Darmecia has received several awards in education, including Lincoln Parish Elementary Teacher of the Year 2018-2019. She has two children, Kalep, 19, and Kayla, 16. Darmecia is an UNOS ambassador and continues to share her story and advocate for policies in organ sharing and transplantation. If you have any questions regarding her experience of being an organ recipient please contact her at dcrane38@gmail.com.
Police arrested a Ruston man early last Wednesday morning after several types of drugs were found in his vehicle.
Samuel Andrews, 19, of Ruston, was stopped for improper headlights just after midnight on Tech Drive.
When Ruston officers approached the car, a strong odor of marijuana was detected, and a large bag of marijuana was seen in plain view besides the driver’s seat.
When Andrews exited the vehicle another bag of marijuana was seen on the seat where he had been sitting.
A search of the vehicle yielded a 9mm pistol, numerous large bags of marijuana, two doses of suspected oxycodone, two containers of suspected THC wax, two THC edibles, and two bottles of suspected promethazine.
Andrew said all the marijuana was his but denied the THC wax, the pills, and the handgun belonged to him. The large quantity of marijuana was contained in heat sealed bags consistent with intent to distribute.
Andrews was arrested and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of THC, illegal carrying of a weapon in the presence of a controlled substance, possession of a Schedule II controlled substance (oxycodone), possession of a Schedule V controlled substance (promethazine), and improper headlights.
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.
This Best of the LPJ for 2022 story was originally published on February 23, 2022.
By Malcolm Butler
Throughout the office of Louisiana Tech head baseball coach Lane Burroughs at cozy J.C. Love Field hang photos of him as a boy with his late father, Lavelle “Rube” Burroughs.
Daddy Burroughs was a train man.
Rube, as he became known in reference to an 1800’s train robber named Rube Burrow, worked for Norfolk Southern for almost four decades. Rube’s father – Lane’s grandfather – was also a train man.
“There was a long line of them,” Lane said. “I broke the cycle.”
According to Lane, his father had two great loves outside of his children: baseball and trains.
“It’s ironic that one runs past our field,” Burroughs said as he stared out the window, across the J.C. Love Field outfield and beyond the right field wall where – coincidentally enough – a railroad track runs. “(My dad) had passed away before I got this job. He would eat this up. This would be the greatest thing in the world to him. Baseball and trains at the same time.”
Growing up in Meridian, Mississippi, Lane learned to love trains at an early age. Decades later, his office is decorated with model trains. There are a number of photos of Rube with little Lane hanging from the walls, many of them with trains in the background.
“I love ’em,” Lane said. “I love ’em. I never complain when the train comes … that’s what put food on my table when I was little.”
One thing you learn about train folks, there is a pride – almost like the pride a fan base has in its team – attached to their railroad.
“Norfolk Southern,” Lane said when asked where his loyalty lies. “It was Southern Railroad and then it became Norfolk Southern. When you see the Norfolk (Southern run by the stadium), that’s what we call ‘The Rally Train.’ Not the Kansas City Southern.”
The Rally Train. Is it myth — or is its magic real?
“We were playing Arkansas my first year (at Tech),” Lane said. “A Tuesday night. This is a true story. That train came by. We were down 2-1.
“I guess they radioed the guy and said, ‘Hey, there are people on the tracks.’ So, (the engineer) stops. Literally stops. And as he stops, Chace Lunceford hits a two-run triple, put us up 3-2 and we never looked back. We went on to win the game. And that kind of started the legend.
“My wife claims that was my dad driving that train that night.”
Maybe it was just a coincidence. Or just good timing?
“We were playing Sam Houston in a midweek two years later,” Lane said. “It was nothing-nothing in the seventh. And here comes the Norfolk (Southern), and Seth White hits a bases loaded triple … literally as the train goes by.
“So the guys were like, ‘That’s it. It’s real.’ So if you ever hear the horn in the game … if it’s the Kansas City Southern the guys will be like, ‘Oh, that’s not it.’ It has to be Norfolk Southern. That’s the real ‘Rally Train.’”
In year No. 1 of the rebuilt J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park, the Rally Train was working overtime during the Bulldogs 42-win season. Never was it more evident than the Saturday of the 2021 Conference USA Baseball Tournament hosted by the Bulldogs.
Tech had to fight its way out of the losers bracket. It was beat hated rival Southern Miss twice or watch the Golden Eagles play for the league title on the Bulldogs own field the following day.
Hollywood couldn’t have written the script any better.
Game 1: Tech trailed 8-0 in the fifth inning. The Bulldogs needed a miracle … or in this case … the Rally Train to force a second game. Eleven runs later, Steele Netterville’s walk-off double to right centerfield gave the Bulldogs new life and an 11-10 extra inning win.
Hours later.
Game 2: Tech trailed 5-3 in the ninth and was down to its last out. Here comes the Rally Train. And with it, more magic for the Bulldogs. A Cole McConnell single plated one and a Phil Matulia single scored two as once again the Rally Train proved to be more than a myth.
Tech had engineered two of the most miraculous comebacks on a day that Bulldog fans will remember for a lifetime.
And the train? Well, it did what the Rally Train is supposed to do.
As we come to the end of a year and the beginning of another, we gaze both backward and forward – contemplating the past and attempting to peer into the future.
The New Year can be seen as a fresh start, a time for resolutions and pledges concerning habits and behaviors we’d like to weave into the launch of this new time frame.
What better place than the Bible itself to gather ideas as we revisit the past 12 months and anticipate the next dozen pages on the calendar? Here are some verses about the past and the future that can serve to support and encourage us in the beginning of your New Year. Interwoven among them are thoughts of trust, faith, confidence, salvation and more.
Lamentations 3:22-23: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Jeremiah 29:11-13: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Isaiah 43:18-19: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”
Isaiah 43:25: “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”
Proverbs 23:17-18: “Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day. Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.”
Philippians 3:13-14: “… Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 4:22-24: “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Colossians 3:9-10: “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”
II Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here.”
Galatians 3:27: “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”
James 1:17: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
The author of Hebrews (13:8) agrees with James: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” So does Malachi (3:6): “For I the Lord do not change.”
Life is just the opposite. It constantly fluctuates, often with chaos and confusion reigning. But with God we have consistency.
That’s something to remember as we seek new beginnings in this new year. Let’s allow these “New Year’s scriptures” to uplift and inspire and help us sing “Auld Lang Syne” with an accent on what truly matters.
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Memory verse for this month: II Corinthians 5:17 (See above.)
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Sallie Rose Hollis lives in Ruston and retired from Louisiana Tech as an associate professor of journalism and the assistant director of the News Bureau. She can be contacted at sallierose@mail.com.
