A Simsboro woman was arrested Thursday after drugs were found in her vehicle during a traffic stop.
A Lincoln Parish Deputy saw a white Toyota Tacoma cross the centerline into the opposing lane on U.S. 80 shortly before 1 p.m. Thursday.
The driver was asked multiple times for her driver’s license and other documents, while the front seat passenger, Jay Ferguson, became verbally argumentative, contesting the stop.
The driver, Rachel Danielle Pee, 33, was found to have a suspended license. During subsequent investigation, drugs and related paraphernalia were found in the vehicle, including a digital scale with suspected methamphetamine residue, an Ecstasy tablet, a bag containing various drug paraphernalia and suspected crack cocaine and an open bottle of vodka.
Ferguson was issued a citation for possession of drug paraphernalia and released.
Pee was arrested and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for possession of a Schedule I controlled substance (MDMA “Ecstasy), possession of a Schedule II controlled substance (cocaine), possession of drug paraphernalia, open container, driving under suspension, and improper lane usage.
Bail was set at $5,750 but a hold was also placed by the Probation & Parole Office of the Louisiana Department of Corrections.
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.
Both Ruston High School soccer squads got non-district wins Saturday against North DeSoto with the girls winning 2-0 and the boys winning 3-1.
For the Lady Bearcats, a strong offense overcame a pressing Griffin team that had nearly as many shots on goal as Ruston did.
“It’s important to get shots early and fast against a team like theirs,” Ruston head coach Jacquelyn Bean said. “That was the difference between today’s outcome and this past Thursday night’s loss against Tioga. Today we took more shots, and it paid off.”
Ruston scored in the first ten minutes off a corner kick by Morgan Foster that was assisted by Mia Tapia. Tapia created a second opportunity afterward for teammate McKenzie Oakley who scored a tap-in goal through the box.
“Those shots are much harder to convert than they look,” Bean said. “It takes incredible awareness and timing to tap it in at the back post. We’ve practiced those a hundred times and to see it pay off and make a difference in a match is special.”
Senior goalkeeper Emily Stutzman took the shutout defending the net.
On the boy’s side, rallied back after getting down early 1-0 that began with a spark from Jaiden Langiulli near the end of the first half with his first goal of the day to tie the match at 1-1. Jack Elliot gave Ruston the lead with a goal in the 46th minute on an assist from Langiulli, who then scored his second goal off an assist from keeper Trenton Richard off a punt to secure the win.
“It was a grind of a game,” Ruston head coach Erich Hankamer said. “I’m so proud of the boys. They fought for 80 minutes.”
The boys return to action Tuesday, Jan. 17, at home at ASH, while the girls will play at West Ouachita on Thursday, Jan. 19.
Joran Parker (2) led the Bearcats with 17 points Friday against Ouachita at the RHS Main Gym. (Photo by T. Scott Boatright)
By T. Scott Boatright
Sometimes mentality means as much during ball games as physicality.
Ruston High School boys basketball coach Ryan Bond feels that part of the game was costly to his Bearcats Friday night.
Ouachita’s Jonathan Bradshaw’s layup a split second before the final buzzer sounded proved to be the difference Friday night as the Lions escaped with a 57-56 win over the Bearcats at the RHS Main Gym.
That came after Ruston led by as many as 10 points (52-41) iwith 5:05 remaining.
In a back and forth game throughout all 48 minutes, the physical contest was tied at 8-8 at the end of the opening stanza while Ouachita took a 21-20 lead into the locker room at intermission.
The third quarter saw much of the same, with a layup by Ruston’s Lonnie Dimmer with 1:13 remaining in the third quarter giving the Bearcats a 32-29 advantage heading into the final stanza.
Ruston pushed its advantage to 39-30 with 4:45 remaining on a pair of inside buckets by Malcom Pierce followed by a Jordan Parker layup, but the Lions roared back by scoring eight straight to make a one-point contest with 2:55 left on the clock.
A long jumper by Ouachita’s Tyler Modica put the Lions up 40-39 at the 2:32 mark of the second quarter, but Ruston’s (25) nailed a pair of free throws with 1:53 remaining to put the Bearcats back on top 41-40.
But the Bearcats failed to slow down Ouachita’s attack in the final meeting, setting up Bradshaw’s final second heroics.
RHS coach Ryan Bond said mentality was as costly as anything else for his Bearcats.
“There’s a lot of things that cost us, and a lot of it isn’t court-related,” Bond said. “It was outside of the basketball court. All year we’ve had a cohesive unit. We picked a terrible time the last couple of days to not be cohesive.
“Off the court, there are some things that have gone on that I’m not going to go into detail about,” Bond said. “If you throw it right to them and turn it over, if you can’t make free throws and layups, and don’t guard, then you’re not going to win. We’ve talked over and over again about what a good team Ouachita is and the fact they’ve got pride, they’ve got tradition. But you still have to play defense.”
Bond didn’t see that in his team against the Lions.
“Numerous times tonight, we’d say something in the huddle and they went out and did the exact opposite,” Bond said. “Double digits turnovers in the fourth quarter when we average 13 per game on the year? You can’t win like that. It’s uncharacteristic, but the good thing is that we’ve got a lot of district (games) lef. We still have a lot of basketball games left. It’s disappointing because the guys have worked and worked for it.”
But in the end, Bond feels they let it get away.
“They’re kids,” Bond said. “Ultimately, it’s my fault. All we can do now is get ready for Pineville and go from there.”
Parker led Ruston with 17 points while Lontavioys Dimmer, Zhy Scott and Aiden Anding added 11 points each for the Bearcats.
Bradshaw topped all scorers with 18 points while Zion Weeks added 16 for the Lions.
Ruston (18-2 overall, 1-1 in District 2-5A) will next play at Pineville (13-6 and 0-2 in District 2-5A) on Tuesday.
A Dallas, Texas, man was arrested in the Grambling State University dining hall Saturday after being repeatedly told he was barred from the premises.
GSU police responded to the McCall Dining Hall where the manager reported a man who was not supposed to be there refused to leave. James Williams, 31, had been advised by GSU officers on January 6 that he was not to return to the dining hall because of his disruptive behavior.
When I asked the present his student ID number to pay for his lunch, the number Williams provided did not work and he was asked to pay. Williams then walked past the manager and into the dining hall and ate lunch without paying. He was given verbal warnings to pay for the food and he said he did not have any money. He was arrested for returning to the premises after being forbidden to do so (criminal trespass) and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Each Monday and Friday, the Lincoln Parish Journal will post a list of non-for-profit upcoming events happening in the parish. If you would like to add your event to this list or advertise your for-profit events, please email us at lpjnewsla@gmail.com.
Monday, Jan. 16 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome 5:30: Ruston Planning and Zoning meeting (Ruston City Hall)
Tuesday, Jan. 17 10 a.m.: Storytime at Lincoln Parish Library
Wednesday, Jan. 18 7-8 a.m.: Veterans Coffee Club (PJ’s Coffee) 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome
Thursday, Jan. 19 10 a.m.: Ribbon cutting for Don Chuy 5 p.m.: Tween STEAM (Lincoln Parish Library) 6 p.m.: Lincoln Parish Library Teen Craft Night 6-7:30 p.m.: Business After Hours (Joe Alliet Stadium Press Box) 8 p.m.: La Tech men’s basketball v WKU
Friday, Jan. 20 10 a.m.: Ribbon cutting for Panda Express
Saturday, Jan. 21 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 10 a.m.: A Day with Dr. Sandra Richter (Trinity United Methodist Church) 4 p.m.: La Tech men’s basketball v Middle Tennessee
A Farmerville police officer was injured Friday evening when he was struck by a vehicle at the scene of a previous crash.
Officers were working at the scene of a crash on La. Highway 33 in front of D’Arbonne Woods Charter School about 6:30 p.m. Friday. The officer who was injured was assisting with traffic control when a vehicle traveling southbound on La. 33 struck him.
Pafford Emergency Medical Service was on the scene for the earlier crash and treated him. He was transported to a medical facility in Monroe.
The officer’s injuries are not life-threatening.
Police said there is no indication the drivers involved in either accident were impaired. The Farmerville Police Department said more details will be provided as they become available and asked for prayers for Officer Robinson.
Ruston’s Jaliyah McWain goes up for two of her team-best 16 points Friday night against Ouachita. (Photo by T. Scott Boatright)
By T. Scott Boatright
In a tight game from start to finish, the Ruston Lady Bearcats saved their best for last Friday night against Ouachita Parish High School at the RHS Main Gym.
Leading 32-29 heading into the final stanza, the Lady Bearcats outscored Ouachita 16-12 over the final eight to escape with their second District 2-5A win of the season.
“I’m very proud of how our team competed tonight,” Bearcat head coach Meredith Graf said. “The first half we were not playing together the way we know how, and that was our biggest adjustment at half time. We continued to play hard and trusted each other to do their job which ultimately gave us the edge we needed to sneak past a very good Ouachita team. We will continue to work to get better every game and take each game as it comes.”
The game was tied 8-8 at the end of the first quarter, but a putback by Ruston’s Aakeyliah Jones with 39 seconds left in the second sent the Lady Bearcats into the locker rooms at intermission holding a 21-20 advantage.
A three-point play on a layup plus free throw with 1:13 remaining in the third quarter gave the Lady Bearcats a 32-29 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The teams traded buckets until the final minute, with Ruston’s Jaliya McWain sinking a layup to put the Lady Bearcats on top 44-40.
Ruston took over in the final minute, with McWain’s layup with 14 seconds left on the clock accounting for the game’s final points.
McWain led the Lady Bearcats with 16 points and nine rebounds while Jones added nine points and five boards.
Ruston (7-6 overall and 2-0 in District 2-5A) will next play at Pineville (6-15, 0-3) on Tuesday.
Allie Furr (11) drives past an OCS defender in Cedar Creek’s 47-35 win over the Lady Eagles. (Photo by Darrell James)
By Malcolm Butler
It had been almost four years since Cedar Creek’s girls had beaten Ouachita Christian on the hardwood.
That streak is over.
The Lady Cougars used a balanced offensive attack and a full-court pressing defense in defeating the Lady Eagles 47-35 Friday night at the Brickhouse, the first victory over OCS since February of 2019.
It’s just one win, but it was a big one for the Lady Cougars (14-4, 2-0) in a number of ways. OCS entered the game ranked No. 3 in the Division IV power ratings while Creek was No. 8.
“Our senior class hasn’t beaten OCS before,” said senior guard Allie Furr. “We came in wanting it really bad. We felt we had a good chance. We knew if we came out and played like we felt we could we had a good opportunity.”
Furr, who came into the game averaging more than 20 points per contest, scored just eight against the OCS zone defense. However, head coach Gene Vandenlangenberg complimented the play of his point guard.
“Allie was okay with playing her role,” said Cedar Creek head coach Gene Vandenlangenberg. “She was playing the scoreboard. As long as we are ahead and we are playing okay, she is going to accept her role. That’s maturity she is showing. She realizes the big picture. She will score 25 if she needs to, but tonight it was a fun game. It was a big crowd and the atmosphere was great.”
“It shows how much trust we have in each other,” said Furr. “I wasn’t really worried about my scoring. Lizzie (McAdams) and Olivia (Underwood) and Leah (Sutherland) and Elli (Dickerson) were all making their shots. As long as I got the ball to them, then they were making good plays. I wasn’t worried about me scoring if they were doing their job. I was focusing on getting them the ball.”
After an 8-8 tie following the opening quarter, Creek came out in the second quarter strong. Underwood hit a three-pointer on the first possession and McAdams followed with a three-pointer on the next possession as the Lady Cougars led 14-8. However, McAdams picked up her second foul with 6:50 remaining in the half and went to the bench.
The Lady Cougars full-court pressure and 1-3-1 halfcourt zone kept OCS off-balance in the entire game. Creek led 17-10 late in the second quarter when McAdams picked up her third foul with less than a minute to play and the Lady Eagles scored four quick points before the half to cut the Lady Cougars lead to 17-14.
“OCS has always done a good job of bottling things up for the point guard in that 2-1-2 zone,” said Vandenlangenberg. “We knew that opens shots were going to be hard to come by. That’s why we pressed them. I think we are better when Allie has the ball in the open court. When we play just a half court game, she can’t always do that.”
With Creek leading 22-19 midway through the third quarter, Lillian Soto converted a conventional three-point play and McAdam hit a three-pointer as the Lady Cougars pushed the advantage to 30-19. Creek continued to utilize its full-court press, forcing turnover after turnover by the Eagles.
“In the beginning of the game, we didn’t press and they jumped out to a 6-2 lead,” said Vandenlangenberg. “It felt like that was the pace they wanted to play at. They wanted us to have to play defense for 30 to 40 seconds. That’s not how we are wired. Once we started pressing, you saw the tempo pick up. We created some turnovers. But the most important thing is we weren’t having to play defense for 30 to 40 seconds because they were taking quicker shots. The press did what it was supposed to do and we fed off of that.”
“That’s how we like to play,” said Furr. “We like our games fast paced. If we can apply that type of pressure, then we have a good chance to win games.”
OCS (17-4, 0-1) used a 7-2 run to close the third quarter and trim the Creek lead to 32-26.
Furr got the Lady Cougars off to a strong start in the final stanza with a steal and a break-up layup followed by a Sutherland 18-footer from the baseline and a Soto putback. McAdams’ 18-footer with 3:52 to play in the game gave the Lady Cougars a 40-30 lead and OCS would get no closer the rest of the way.
McAdams led Creek with 13 points while Dickerson added 10 points. Sutherland and Furr each scored eight points.
Carter Hill scored a game-high 21 points to lead Creek to a 66-51 win over OCS Friday night. (Photo by Darrell James)
By Malcolm Butler
Cedar Creek scored 31 points in the fourth quarter to record a 66-51 come-from-behind win over Ouachita Christian Friday night at the Brickhouse.
Trailing 39-35 entering the final stanza, the Cougars (8-9, 1-1) outscored the Eagles 31-12 over the final eight minutes of play to pull off an important District 2-1A win over their rivals.
“We had to keep shooting the ball even though we had been struggling the whole game,” said head coach Lance Waldron. “We tried to get people in different spots to get some shots to see if we could find somebody to get a rhythm. We couldn’t buy a basket and OCS was on fire for a little while. I felt like we just needed to keep shooting.
“We have confidence in the guys. We kept telling them we believed in them. We have been doing a lot of shooting in practice. We felt confident it would eventually go our way.”
Connor Norris opened the game with a three-pointer on Creek’s first possession as the Cougars jumped out to an early 3-0 lead. However, OCS (2-8, 0-1) connected on four first quarter three-pointers and took a 16-12 lead at the end of the first quarter as the Cougars struggled offensively early in the contest.
“I have been hearing since I got here about circling OCS on the calendar,” said Waldron. “We have been working hard getting ready for this game. I think we wanted it a little too much early. I think the guys were a little too excited. We looked fatigued which can happen when you have such an adrenaline rush. I think that may have had something to do with our shots not falling early. It happens. This was an exciting environment.”
OCS led 19-12 early in the second quarter when Davis Walsworth capped a 6-0 Cedar Creek run with a three-pointers, closing the gap to 19-18 with 5:40 remaining in the first half. A second Norris trifecta tied the game at 21-21 as the two teams continued to battle back and forth.
OCS led 27-23 at halftime.
The game remained close in the third quarter as the Cougars switched to a full-court press, causing the Eagles some trouble. Brian Osborne’s conventional three-point play with 31 seconds remaining in the third quarter brought the Cougars to within 39-35.
“We changed up our defense about three times in the game,” said Waldron. “We finally found something that they were uncomfortable with. They started coughing it up. I think that was a big difference in the game. We forced a lot of turnovers.”
Trailing 41-35 early in the final quarter, Cedar Creek erupted for a 15-0 run. Jack Echols drained a three-pointer to start the run while Carter Hill scored two interior buckets and Walsworth drained a three-pointer. Another Echols three-pointer followed by a Walsworth layup capped the run as the Cougars led 50-41 with 5 minutes to play.
After OCS closed the score to 50-47 with 4:11 to play, Walsworth banked home a floater and Connor Johnson then scored six straight points, including going 4-of-4 at the free throw line, to once again push the Cougars lead to double figures at 58-47. A Norris three-pointer with 1:21 to play was the final nail in the coffin.
Waldron praised the efforts on the glass of Norris and Osborne.
“Connor Norris and Brian Osborne really did a great job on the boards against this team,” said Waldron. “OCS has a lot of athletes and they have a lot of size. For Brian and Connor to get in there and rebound the way they did, I was very proud of them.”
Hill led Creek with 21 points while Walsworth added 15 and Norris had nine.
Lawson Lillo and Quincy Lewis both won their weight class as the Cedar Creek boys competed in a strong field at a powerlifting meet at Sam Houston High School in Lake Charles on Saturday.
Lillo and Lewis were among 13 Cougar competitors with nine finishing on the podium and another three finishing in the top five of their respective weight classes.
“We took all juniors and seniors,” said head coach Jacob Angevine. “I wanted to get a good road trip before the state meet in Lafayette in March. This was the first meet for most of our boys since the state meet last year so it was good to knock the rust off. I am super proud of how our guys competed this weekend.”
Lillo won the 148-pound weight class with a total of 1265 pounds while Lewis captured the 198-pound weight class with a total of 1350 pounds.
Five different Cougars finished as the runner-up in their weight classes, including Blake Wade (810 pounds) in the 123-pound weight class, Parker Newman (1060 pounds) in the 148-pound weight class, Lane Thomas (1160 pounds) in the 165-pound weight class, Jordan Vail (1105 pounds) in the 198-pound weight class, and Landon Amidon (1230 pounds) in the 220-pound weight class.
Austin Webb (1105 pounds) finished third in the 165-pound weight class and Owen Robinson (1135 pounds) finished third in the 181-pound weight class.
Noah Durrett (860 pounds in the 148-pound weight class), Reagan Pike (1080 pounds in the 181-pound weight class), Nicholas Thompson (1105 pounds in the 220-pound weight class) and Conner Rolen (1025 pounds in the 242-pound weight class) also competed for the Cougars.
Other schools that competed included Sam Houston, Church Point, Rosepine, Elton, Crowley, North Vermilion, Vermillion Catholic, Peabody, Beau Chene, Patterson, St. Louis Catholic, Central (BR), and Notre Dame.
Louisiana Tech, women’s basketball team used a defensive stretch in the fourth quarter holding UAB to just 1-17 shooting and built their largest lead of the game at 12 and held off a furious UAB comeback down the stretch to win on the road 61-55 over the Blazers.
“I am proud of our team for finding a way to win on the road today,” said Tech head coach Brooke Stoehr. “Our defense was solid in keeping them out of transition and defending the three-point line. UAB shoots it so well from three and spreads you out. It makes it hard to defend. Holding them to 55 today was big for us.”
Tech’s defense held the league-leading Blazers to 21 points below their average and just 28 percent shooting (18-64). Tech shot 39 percent from the floor on 22-57 and hit 15-20 from the line (.750).
Keiunna Walker produced her fourth straight game with 20-plus tying her season-high with 26 points. Robyn Lee joined Walker in double figures with 12 big points off the bench.
Neither team could find much rhythm or separation in a defensive-minded first half. However, LA Tech (11-6, 4-3 C-USA) put together a 9-2 run in the second quarter to build their largest lead of the half, 22-16, on three straight baskets by Walker.
UAB (9-6, 1-5 C-USA) quickly answered with back-to-back threes and cut the lead back to 2. Walker added two free throws, followed by a bucket by Lee inside the final minute to give Tech a 28-23 lead at the half. Tech held UAB to a 1-10 start from the field and just 30 percent for the half (8-27).
In the third, Tech built its lead to eight (36-24), with 6:10 remaining thanks to a 6-0 run, but UAB would not allow the Techsters to pull away. Both teams traded blows the over the remainder of the period, and after back-to-back buckets from Mackenzie Wurm and Lee, Tech took a seven-point advantage heading into the final stanza (46-39).
After Walker picked up her fourth foul early in the fourth, Lotte Sant hit a big three to give Tech a double-digit lead which Lee extended to 12 off a layup (55-43). Tech’s 12-point lead was quickly cut to four due to an 8-0 Blazer run (57-53) with 33 seconds remaining. UAB managed to shave a point off the lead and make it a one-score contest, but three made three throws from Walker helped ice the game.
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UAB 81, Bulldogs 74 (Saturday)
Louisiana Tech suffered just its second loss at home this season, falling 81-74 to UAB on Saturday afternoon inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court.
“[The last five minutes] came down to maturity,” said Tech head coach Talvin Hester. “We let them get into our heads a little bit. We lost Isaiah to a double technical after already having four fouls. At the end of the day though, the game came down to offensive rebounding. That is a toughness thing. It was the ones they were getting at the free throw line that really frustrate you as a coach. We have to be tougher and hit bodies.”
LA Tech (10-8, 3-4 C-USA) got a combined 50 points from its backcourt of Cobe Williams and Keaston Willis, but UAB dominated the glass to the tune of 21 offensive rebounds that they cashed in for 30 second-chance points.
“We knew UAB was big and like to bang,” said guard Keaston Willis. “We gave up 21 offensive rebounds and 30 second-chance points. If we eliminate that to even half, we probably come out with a win. It is the little things we have to get better at.”
Williams and Willis had 23 of the team’s 35 first-half points as the Bulldogs held a slim 35-34 advantage at the midway point.
The lead was short-lived as UAB (13-5, 4-3 C-USA), playing with one of the nation’s best scorers in Jordan Walker, went on a fast 10-0 run to take its largest lead of the game at 44-34.
LA Tech punched back though, producing an 8-0 run that included a three-pointer and offensive rebound/putback by Quandre Bullock to get to within one.
The two teams traded baskets for the longest time, but it was after the eighth tie of the game at 60-60 that the ‘Dogs began to separate themselves. It was a four-minute stretch that saw the Bulldogs limit the Blazers to just two points while the home team knocked down six free throws and got a pair of buckets in the paint by Willis and Williams.
LA Tech had its largest lead at 70-62 with 4:46 to go. However, UAB took advantage of Isaiah Crawford picking up his fifth foul via a technical, and ended the game on a 19-4 run.
Williams finished with a career-high 27 and Willis had a season-high 23.
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Lady Techsters 6, Wyoming 1 (Saturday)
Tulsa 6, Lady Techsters 1 (Saturday)
Lady Techsters 7, Omaha 0 (Sunday)
The Lady Techsters tennis team got off to a strong start winning two out of three matches this weekend at the Hurricane Invite at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center in Tulsa.
Tech (2-1) defeated Wyoming and Omaha while falling to the host Tulsa Hurricane.
“It was an awesome way to start the season,” said Tech head coach Amanda Stone. “It had been a while since we had our doubles teams together so it was nice to sweep Wyoming there. I think we are going to keep improving in that area as the season goes along. Then, the top of the lineup took care of business in singles.”
Arguably the biggest highlight of the weekend came in the loss to Tulsa with Leonie Schuknecht defeating Tulsa’s Laia Conde Monfort, the reigning AAC Player of the Year ranked as high as No. 91 in the country last season (6-3, 3-6, 7-5).
“I am playing with confidence,” said Scuknecht. “The atmosphere was great today and it is the best feeling being able to compete for me and my team. I have been working to take that next step to beat these top players. This is a very special team with great and competitive players. I am really excited for this year and what is to come.”
LA Tech will be back in action on Saturday, Jan. 21 when they play host to Stephen F. Austin in their 2023 home opener. First serve is set for 10 a.m. at the LA Tech Tennis Complex.
Shawnadrius Cowart notched a triple-double, but it wasn’t enough to lift the Grambling State men’s basketball to victory as the Tigers lost 81-73 at the F.G. Clark Activity Center to Southern University on Saturday afternoon.
Cowart stuffed the stat sheet racking up 14 rebounds, 12 points and 10 assists. He added two steals.
Cameron Christon also had a strong performance, scoring a team-high 25 points, Christon’s 25-point performance matched a season-high and was one short of tying his career-high which was set on March 11, 2021 versus the Jaguars. He also snagged four rebounds.
Grambling State (10-7 overall, 3-2 SWAC) shot a higher percentage from the floor than Southern (9-9, 5-0). The Tigers went 41.4 percent of its shots, compared to SU’s 38.3 percent. However, it was Southern’s ability to knock down 3-pointers that served as the difference. The Jaguars we 10-of-26 from long distance (38.5 percent). GSU struggled from behind the arc, draining just 18.2 percent (4-of-22) of its attempts.
GSU who trailed seven at halftime, rallied back early in the second half, but ran out of steam in the final minutes of the contest.
In the first half, The Tigers and Jaguars battled back and forth. GSU was held a 16-14 lead with 10:37 to go in the first half. Southern then went on an 18-6 run, building 32-22 lead at the 3:43 mark. The Jaguars led 38-31 at the half.
The Tigers exited the locker room with a different energy, opening the second half with 17-6 run over the first seven minutes, pushing in front of SU 48-44 with 13:00 to play.
After Southern cut the gap back down to one, Cam Christon drained a midrange jumper extending GSU’s lead to 50-47 with 12:07 to go. The Jaguars knocked down back-to back threes to go up 53-50 with 11:06 left.
With 8:31 remaining as SU clinging to a 55-54 lead, Quintin Murrell splashed 3-pointer, pushing GSU back in the lead 57-55.
After SU tied the game at 58-58, Grambling State had a chance to take a two-point lead, however two missed free throws kept the game tied. SU scored the next four points to go up 62-58 with 6:15 to go.
The Tigers tied the game twice down the stretch, but wasn’t able to regain the lead.
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Southern 59, Lady Tigers 49
The Grambling State University women’s basketball team suffered a 59-49 setback at the hands of rival Southern University at the F.G Clark Activity Center on Saturday afternoon.
Center Amanda Blake registered a double-double, scoring 10 points with 10 rebounds. She also rejected four shots and grabbed two steals. Her 10 points tied her season-high set against New Orleans on Nov. 18.
Colbi Maples paced GSU (4-12 overall, 3-2 SWAC) with 15 points on 4-of-10 shooting from the field. She also snagged seven rebounds and tallied two assists and two steals.
As a team GSU shot 34.0 percent from the floor (17-of-50) and 35.3 percent (6-of-17) from behind the arc. The Lady Tigers went 9-of-13 from the free throw line (69.2 percent). GSU committed 20 turnovers.
After Southern (7-9, 4-1) jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead, a driving layup by Leah Morrow started a 9-0 run for GSU. A jumper by Amanda Blake put the Lady Tigers on top 9-7 with 4:04 to go in the first quarter. A basket by Kaci Chairs capped the run, giving the Lady Tigers a an 11-7 lead. The Jaguars pushed back ahead, leading 19-14 at period’s end.
In the second quarter, Leah Morrow trimmed SU’s lead to 19-18 after knocking down a free throw and a 3-pointer. Jurnee McLaurin tied the score 20-20 on a free throw with 5:41 left in the half. The Jaguars closed the half with a 12-6 run to lead 33-26 at the break.
Southern dominated the third quarter, building a 47-34 advantage with 1:18 to go. Amanda Blake closed the scoring in the period with a layup. The Lady Tigers trailed by 11 going into the fourth.
Grambling State did its best to keep pace with the Jaguars in the final quarter. Trailing 49-38, a 3-pointer by Colbi Maples made it a 49-41 game. Following a bucket by SU, freshman Jazmyne Jackson came off the bench, knocking down a trey of her to make the score 51-44 with 6:03 to play.
After basket by maples made the score 53-47, Southern took full control of the contest, putting the Tigers away late.
Funeral services for Mrs. Charlene Aurora Burks Vail, age 89 of Ruston, LA were held Sunday, January 15, 2023 at Hodge Assembly of God Church in Quitman, LA with Rev. Geary Phillips and Rev. Elton Gunter officiating. Burial followed in the Jonesboro Cemetery in Jonesboro, LA under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston.
Charlene Vail, our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother, was born June 4, 1933 and went to her “New Home” with the Lord January 13, 2023 at The Arbor Assisted Living Home in Ruston. The Arbor became her home in 2016, and she loved her life there and developed a large host of friends. She was, for most of her life, a resident of Jonesboro LA, and she was a graduate of Jonesboro-Hodge High School. Charlene married James “Cotton” Vail in 1953, and they made Jonesboro their home for most of their lives and made Jonesboro where they raised their three children. She was employed by the Advance Shopping Center in the early 50’s working in the fabric department and eventually working as a machine operator in the bag plant at the Continental Can Paper Mill in Hodge. She worked at that job for a short time until her supervisors learned of her clerical and secretarial skills. They quickly moved her into Sales-Service, and her career “took off”! After working in that job at the mill for just a few years, she was moved to the Continental Woodlands Division office and became a top-level secretary in wood procurement. It was there that she excelled with her typing, dictation and shorthand skills. She became the first person that you would meet and be greeted by when you walked in the front door. Her bosses always spoke highly of her and depended on her, and her work always met the highest professional standards. Along with being the best at her work, she was even better at being a mother and a three-level grandmother. The other thing at which she was exceptional, and the most important to her in her life, was being a true Servant of God! She accepted Christ as her Savior at a very young age and did her best to live her life before her family, her co-workers and all she met in a way that was pleasing to God. We, as a family, believe that she did that job extremely well. Charlene and James were members of Hodge Assembly of God Church. She was preceded in death by her parents T.C. and Erma Burks; husband Cotton; daughter Suzanne Vail; and great-granddaughter Brianna Newman.
She is survived by two sons: Ronnie Vail (Martha) of Ruston and Jimmy Vail (Janice) of Winnfield, LA; sister Judy Burks Brown (David); grandchildren: Matt Vail (Teri) of Quitman, LA, Jana Myatt (Heath) of Magnolia, TX, and Lance Ledford (Amanda) of Jonesboro; 8 great-grandchildren: Paige, Cami, Scotty, Chance, Hollin, Cambrie, Jacie, Leelee; great-great grandson Camden James (C.J.); nine nieces and nephews who all loved their “Aunt Charlene”; and a host of family and friends.
Serving as pallbearers were Matt Vail, Chance Vail, Lance Ledford, Heath Myatt, Alton Smith and David Brown.
The family would like to express our appreciation to The Arbor assisted living home of Ruston, Ms. Muriel Ryder, administrators and the entire staff there who have cared for, attended to and loved our mother for the last seven years. We also want to thank Dr. Holly Kidd for her love, care and dedicated attention to our mother.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Charlene’s name to Hodge Assembly of God Church in Hodge.
Funeral services for Ms. Carol Anne Williamson Mitchell, age 75 of Liberty, MS will be held at 10:00 AM, Monday, January 16, 2023 at Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in Ruston, LA with Rev. Stan Pody officiating. Burial will follow in the Mineral Springs Cemetery in Dubach, LA under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston.
Ms. Mitchell was born September 30, 1947 in Fort Eustis, VA and passed away Friday, January 6, 2023 after a lengthy illness. Ms. Carol, as she was affectionately known, moved to Ruston in 1963 and graduated from Ruston High in 1965. She thoroughly enjoyed her experience as the secretary for the late great Coach Eddie Robinson. Ms. Carol went on to live in Ruston for many years, enjoying her work as the office manager for Dr. George Belchic, MD in Ruston and later at his practice in Bogalusa, LA. From Bogalusa, she relocated to Covington, LA, where she devoted her time to raising her grandson Mitchell. Ms. Carol remained in Covington until Hurricane Ivan required her to relocate to Mississippi. She was known as an outstanding seamstress and a divine chef! One was never disappointed to have the chance to enjoy her cuisine! Ms. Carol never passed up an opportunity to share her epicurean delights with others. She was an avid New Orleans Saints fan. She was so excited when her grandson took her to the Superdome to see a Saints game. Ms. Carol was preceded in death by her grandparents Mr. James H. “Jimmy” and Ms. Bessie O’Neal Williamson of Vienna, LA and parents Robert and Minnie “Butch” Williamson of Dubach.
Ms. Carol is survived by sons David and Danny of Centralia, WA; daughter Caroline of St. Amant, LA; grandson Mitchell Benham and wife Leona of Liberty, MS; sisters Martha Shelver and husband Stanley of Arnold, MO and Kathy LeMaster and husband Jake of Keller, TX; two great-granddaughters; and a host of nieces and nephews who called Ms. Carol “their favorite aunt” as well as a growing number of great-nieces, great-nephews, many cousins, and friends.
No visitation is scheduled. Memorial donations may be made to the Mineral Springs Baptist Church Building Fund, 118 Pea Ridge Road, Dubach, LA. 71235-3371 or to the American Diabetes Association, ADA Research, ATTN: Individual Giving Department, PO Box 7023, Merrifield, VA. 22166-7023.
Funeral Services for Jesse Lynn Bennett, age 70, of Ruston, will be Sunday, January 15, 2023, at 2:00 P.M. at Kilpatrick Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation will be from 12:30 – 2:00 P.M. Officiating will be Rev. Karl Norris, with Interment to follow in the Sibley Cemetery in Choudrant, under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home of Ruston.
Jesse Bennett was born on April 05, 1952, to Earl R. and Kathleen Bennett, in Honolulu, Hawaii and passed from this life on January 12, 2023, at his home in Ruston, surrounded by his family.
Jesse graduated from Choudrant High School, where he also played basketball. He attended Louisiana Tech University for 2 years and majored in Art. Jesse then enlisted in the United States Air Force and served his country for 6 years. He then founded, owned, and operated J & B Sheet Metal for over 37 years, before retiring. After retirement, he spent most of his time watching “Gunsmoke” and spending time with his beloved dog, Zara. Jesse was a motorcycle enthusiast and loved NASCAR, especially Dale Earnhardt, Sr.
Jesse Bennett was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Kathleen Bennett; his wife, Sheila Bennett; and brothers, Ronnie and Dickie Bennett.
He is survived by his children, Jessica Taylor and husband Greg, Emily Patton and husband David; grandchildren, Grayson, Morgan, and Grant Taylor; brother, Stan Bennett and wife Lisa; honorary daughter, Katey Parnell; special friend, Barbara Gipson and numerous nieces, nephews, and other family and friends.
Pallbearers will be Nick Bennett, Hank Bennett, Cody Bennett, Billy Bennett, Zack Bennett, Beau Bennett, Cameron Bennett, Hayden Elias, Grayson Taylor, and Grant Taylor. Honorary Pallbearers will be Tim Gaston, Dan O’Neal and Phillip Carroll.
Celebration was in the air at the Lincoln Parish School Board meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 10, of this week. The general public packed the meeting room to the point of overflow as the school board recognized this year’s student and teacher of the year and held elections for 2023’s officers.
The school board considered several items of new business, including a motion conveying support for an annual payment-in-lieu-of-tax agreement on property taxes for 20 years between the Industrial Development Board (IDB) of the City of Ruston and CSMS Management, LLC. This agreement is in anticipation of a proposed Bucc-ee’s location in Ruston, the first such location in Louisiana.
“We’ve worked closely with Mayor Walker in the last several months to put together a package, and [the school board is] a small part of that, to try to bring the Buc-ee’s Travel Center here to Ruston, which I think would be a great thing for us,” said LPSB superintendent Ricky Durrett as he introduced the motion.
He went on to state that the new location would represent “an estimated fifty million dollar investment in our town, bringing about two hundred full-time jobs here.”
As written, the agreement would functionally allow Buc-ee’s to avoid paying property taxes altogether for the first twenty years of the proposed location’s operation. Possible rebates on sales tax were also discussed between the IDB and CSMS Management. However, these proposals were ultimately canned since, according to Mr. Durrett, granting such a rebate would have had a seriously adverse effect on the Minimum Foundation Program which provides funding for pupils in the parish.
Following the superintendent’s introduction, Stan Beard, director of real estate for Buc-ee’s was allowed address the board. Mr. Beard thanked the community for its accommodation, he emphasized the benefits that Buc-ee’s had to offer Ruston:
“We want to make a statement here as the first Buc-ee’s in Louisiana, and we could not have found a better partner than the better of Ruston, the school district, and the police jury”.
Looking to assuage concerns raised by one member of the public regarding potential lost revenue due to the 20-year property tax agreement, Mr. Durrett had these assurances to offer:
“Right now on that property we’re getting about 68 dollars in property taxes….I don’t think we’re losing anything, because we aren’t getting much at the present time.” Mr. Durrett further explained that the potential sales tax on the estimated 40 million dollars per year in revenue the proposed location could generate, would more than compensate for the loss.
In a night of celebratory remarks, former state sentaor Gerald Long struck the most triumphant note by far:
“What you’re doing tonight is creating not only an opportunity for this one entity, you’re creating an opportunity for years to come for this entire community. You want grow that’s sustainable, clean, and will keep people here in town in the community. You have all of that in this one place; this will go down in the history of Ruston and Lincoln Parish as one of the bright stars that’s ever shined in this community.”
The motion passed with unanimous support. The potential Ruston Buc-ee’s would be the 44th Buc-ee’s location in the country, and the first Buc-ee’s location in Louisiana.
The school board also adopted a motion approving a renewable, one-year Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Ruston High School Educational Support Fund. The fund, overseen by Chris Meyer would allow businesses to make tax-deductible donations for educational support projects at Ruston High School. According to Mr. Durrett, the fund would report financials for every project proposed, and the school board would require possible projects to proceed only if the necessary funding was available. The proposal would also allow the school board to perform audits to ensure the availability of funds for projects. The motion passed with unanimous support.
The board adopted several other motions with unanimous support, including an addendum to the pupil progression plan supporting 3rd and 4th grade students who scored below grade level, and a request to declare surplus property for warranty-expired chromebooks brought during the COVID-19 pandemic. All motions passed with unanimous support.
Courtesy of Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
By T. Scott Boatright
Rainbow trout are not a native species to Louisiana, but they are considered a fun and exciting fish to catch.
And now there are plenty to be found in Lincoln Parish.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries began stocking 17 sites across Louisiana with adult-size rainbow trout, including Elmore Mayfield Park in Ruston and City Park in Grambling on Tuesday.
While rainbow trout are native to rivers and lakes in western North America, their popularity as a sport fish has increased stocking efforts throughout the U.S. The LDWF stocks this cold-water species when water temperatures cool off during winter months.
Water has to be at least 68 degrees or lower for trout to survive, so fishers are encouraged to keep their catch and stock up their freezers so the trout will be harvested before temperatures begin warming up.
There is a five fish per day trout catch limit in Louisiana.
The LDWF’s trout-stocking initiative is part of The Get Out & Fish! Program funded by the Sport Fish Restoration Fund, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grant program that provides grant funds to states across the country as well as the District of Columbia and insular areas fish and wildlife agencies for fishery projects, boating access and aquatic education.
Anglers 18 years old and older must possess a Louisiana fishing license when fishing in any Louisiana public waters. Licenses are available for purchase online at https://louisianaoutdoors.com/licenses-and-permits. By purchasing a fishing license, the state of Louisiana receives matching funds from the Sport Fish Restoration Program for public fishing and boating access, fishing programs, education, and fisheries management.
According to takemefishing.org, it’s best to pick a medium-weight one that’s about six or seven feet in length and pair it with a spinning reel and four or six-pound monofilament line.
Those fishing for trout will also need to stock up on sinkers, swivels, hooks and bobbers.
Trout are said to strike at both live bait and artificial lures. Live bait to use includes insects like crickets as well as minnows, fish eggs and nightcrawlers.
Because stocked trout are likely to have been raised on corn pellets, they have a natural attraction to it. Rigging a kernel of corn on a hook is fairly straight-forward. The easiest way is to thread the hook down the middle and double back on the kernel so the hook is tucked in. This will help prevent the rig from snagging while on the bottom of the lake or river.
Outdoorlife.com says the best artificial lure for rainbow trout fishing is a Trout Magnet. Rather than a standard round ball jig, the magnet body attaches to an angled dart-style head.
The body is mealworm-shaped and comes in a variety of colors and the unique head allows the lure to swim and weave, even in currents, with effectively no effort from anglers using them.
For additional stocking information, including specific locations, the stocking schedule, and tips and tricks to catch rainbow trout, go online to www.wlf.louisiana.gov/GOF.
A man suspected in a possible kidnapping in Rhode Island was apprehended as he passed through Lincoln Parish Tuesday.
Tuesday night the Rhode Island State Police contacted the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office regarding a possible kidnapping. Authorities said a woman’s parents were concerned for her and believed she may have been kidnapped by her estranged husband. State Police were pinging her phone traveling on Interstate 20 in Lincoln Parish.
Given the vehicle description, deputies spotted the vehicle westbound on I-20 at the 83 mile marker. The driver, Jose David L. Morales, 23, and his alleged victim were interviewed.
Morales said he and the woman left Rhode Island to get away from her parents. He stated her parents were overbearing and it was simply a misunderstanding.
During a search of the car, clothing and luggage for Morales were found but nothing for the woman. When asked why she did not have any luggage, Morales said they had to leave in a hurry. Two small bags of marijuana were found during the search.
A records check showed no driver’s license for Morales, but a Guatemalan passport was located identifying him.
The woman told deputies she had not wanted to go with Morales at all. She stated her family is from Turkey and she had recently traveled there to get away from him. She said Morales had come to her house in Rhode Island and forced her to go with him and that he was emotionally and verbally abusive.
Morales was arrested and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for aggravated kidnapping, possession of marijuana, and no driver’s license.
Bail had not been set as of Wednesday afternoon and information on possible charges from Rhode Island was 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.
Ruston’s soccer squads split their district matchups Thursday night with the girls losing 2-1, while the boys won their match 4-0.
Jaiden Langiulli scored quickly with a goal in the first two minutes off an assist from Chris Harps. Koy Tolar added a goal in the 25th minute off a header with Carter Tims assisting from a corner kick.
After taking a 2-0 lead into the half, Langiulli scored off another assist from Tims in the 50th minutes before completeing the hat trick off a free kick 35 yards away in the 60th.
“Overall, I’m very pleased with how we started and how we finished,” Ruston head coach Erich Hankamer said. “The boys played a solid 80 minutes tonight.”
Trenton Richard registered his second shut out of the season.
For the girls, a windy night proved difficult as Tioga took a 2-1 win with all goals in the match coming in the second half.
Neither team scored in the first stanza, despite Ruston have seven corner kicks in the first half.
“The wind was a factor,” Ruston head coach Jacquelyn Bean said. “Tioga came out and had the wind in the second half, and we fell apart for a few minutes.”
Tiago scored first in the second half before Mia Tapia for Ruston scored from a penalty kick that she was able to retake after the keeper came off her line to make the original save. Less than two minutes after the equalizer, Tioga got a shot off from 30 yards aided by the wind that went in.
“It’s a heartbreaker to lose like that, especially when you tie it back up and then go back down a couple of minutes later.”
On Tuesday, Ruston’s girls took a 1-0 win over Franklin Parish at home after Lady Bearcat midfielder Bri McLaughlin scored in the 14th minute off of a corner kick with the assist going to Morgan Foster. It would be the only goal scored of the night.
““Franklin kept us on our toes the full 80 minutes,” Bean said. “We kept to our starters and just kept working what we thought would provide another goal. We came close more than once to a second goal to seal the win, but credit to Franklin for never letting off the gas. The girls were happy to win a match against an opponent they dropped points to last season.”
Finally, Ruston Parks and Recreation is having RPAR Day at Ruston High School Soccer for the Saturday, Jan. 21, homes matches against River Oaks for the boys and Grant High School for the girls.
All RPAR soccer players in their jerseys will be recognized on the field at halftime of each game, and Ruston will recognize the seniors from each team between the games. Concessions will be available.
Details for admission are below:
Soccer players in PAR jerseys – Admitted FREE Siblings middle school age or younger – Admitted FREE High School Siblings with school ID – Admitted FREE Parents and other family members – $5 (includes admission to both games)
Ruston Police arrested a Ruston woman Saturday evening after drugs were found on a traffic stop.
Angela C Thomas, 56, what stop for improper playing usage on Mills Avenue about 7:30 p.m. last Saturday. The officer saw two open alcohol containers in the center console. In the course of the investigation, Thomas was searched, and a bag of suspected crack cocaine and a glass pipe used for smoking were discovered in her sock. Another glass smoking pipe was found in a cigarette pack in her purse as well as other paraphernalia used for smoking controlled substances.
Thomas was arrested and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia
Bail was set at $7,500.
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.
Ruston Police arrested two sisters after the investigation of internal thefts at the northside Walmart.
Officers responded to the Walmart on the North Service Rd Sunday evening. The asset protection manager provided information Jonece Williams, 18, had stolen $1,500 worth of items from the store.
Williams was placed under arrest for felony theft. As Williams was being escorted from the store, her twin sister Janice Williams stopped the officer to prevent her sister from being taken to the detention center.
At that time, the asset protection manager stated Janice Williams had stolen over $250 worth of merchandise from Walmart as well. Since the charge was a misdemeanor, the officer attempted to issue a citation in lieu of arrest but she refused to let her sister go to the detention center by herself, demanding to go with her. Janice Williams was arrested, and both were taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
