The NJCAA has selected South Arkansas Community College freshman forward Kylee Portilloz as Division II Basketball Player of the Week, the first national honor ever received by a SouthArk student-athlete.
Portilloz was selected for the week ending Feb. 21 after putting up 27 points and snagging 19 rebounds en route to the Stars’ 69-62 upset victory over National Park College in overtime on Feb. 18.
Portilloz also was named Region 2 Player of the Week for the week ending Feb. 19.
Wins have been hard to come by this season for the Stars (2-17, 1-8 in Region 2 play), particularly after roster numbers fell all the way to six players in the second half of the season. The Stars even were forced to cancel or forfeit several games early last month when, due to illness and injury, they could not field a complete team. They finished one game this season with only three players on the floor after multiple players fouled out.
Despite the challenges, Portilloz, of Choudrant, has put together a dominant season, leading Region 2 in both scoring (19.2 points per game) and rebounding (11.9 rebounds per game). In Saturday’s win, Portilloz never left the court, which included the extra minutes of an overtime period. Her game-high point total came with nine of 11 free throws.
Portilloz now is in the top 15 in the nation among D-II schools in both points per game and rebounds per game.
The Cedar Creek Cougars recorded their first win of the season on the diamond, defeating Mangham 5-4 Saturday during the Robe Classic in Crowley Friday and Saturday.
Creek dropped a pair of close games against Lake Charles College Prep (L, 8-7) and Sacred Heart (L, 4-2) to move to 1-3 on the young season.
“We didn’t get the results we wanted as far and wins and losses but we got better overall,” said head coach Trey Long. “We could have gone 3-0 instead of 1-2, but we competed every game and gave ourselves the opportunity to win. We had the lead in all three games but were only able to hold on and finish one of those. Now we have to take another step and learn how to finish games when we have the lead.”
Ladd Thompson (2-3, run) and JP Moak (2-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI) led the Cougars at the plate in the win while Max Brister (1-4, RBI) and Noah Durrett (1-3, run) also recorded hits.
Blake Wade picked up the win on the mound, allowing three runs on eight hits with five strikeouts in 5.1 innings while Brister got the save, tossing the final 1.2 innings in relief.
In Creek’s 8-7 loss to Lake Charles College Prep, Durrett (1-4, run, RBI), Moak (1-2, 2 runs), Thompson (1-3, run, RBI), Jordan Vail (1-4, RBI), Wade (1-3, run, 2 RBI), Gavin Hall (1-4, RBI) and Brister (1-1, 2 runs) led Creek offensively.
Vail tossed 4.0 innings, allowing three runs on six hits with six strikeouts. Thompson worked in relief, allowing four runs on three hits and one walk in 1.1 innings of action. Moak tossed the final 1.2 innings, allowing one run on no hits and one walk with four strikeouts.
In the 4-2 loss to Sacred Heart, Thompson (1-3, run) and Wade (1-2, RBI) had the only two hits while Vail recorded an RBI.
Mock (5.0 IP, 4 runs, 4 hits, 4 walks, 6 strikeouts) and Hall (1.0 IP, 2 hits) saw the action on the mound.
Creek will host Winnfield Tuesday at 6 p.m. (JV at 4:30 p.m.) and will be one of the host sites for the Trey Altick Tournament Thursday through Saturday. The Cougars will play Newman Thursday at 7 p.m., Stanley Friday at 7 p.m. and Weston Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
2 cups of trinity vegetables (celery / bell pepper / onion)
4 tablespoons of cajun seasoning
1 tablespoons of Italian season
1-2 tablespoons of Louisiana hot sauce
4 bay leaves
Cooked rice (jasmine is my favorite for red beans)
Cooking Directions:
Place red beans into instant pot with 6-8 cups of water and cook on high pressure for 20 minutes. Release pressure on pot and drain beans.
Saute sausage and trinity in instant pot until vegetables are soft
Add back your drained red beans
Add 4-5 cups of water or just until the beans are covered by liquid (pro tip: sometimes I will substitute Modelo beer for water to give the beans a really rich flavor)
Add all of your dry seasonings, 1 ham hock, and 4 bay leaves and stir it well
Cook on high pressure for 20 minutes.
Stir beans for 2-3 minutes to thicken the broth. You can also “smash” some of the beans against the side of the pot as you stir to create a creamy texture for the red beans if you wish!
Serve it over some rice, cornbread, add some hot sauce or whatever you like. ENJOY!
The North Central Louisiana Arts Council has initiated a brief arts survey for Lincoln Parish and needs input from the public.
The nonprofit arts organization requests residents to take a brief online survey to determine what types of arts/cultural programs the public prefers in the north central Louisiana area.
BASEBALL: Ruston High’s baseball squad (1-4) won one and lost three in the North DeSoto Tournament over the weekend, beginning with a 13-5 win at home against the St. Frederick Warriors on Thursday, Feb. 23, before losing at Byrd 11-4 on Friday and then at Parkway 3-2 and at Captain Shreve 8-7, both on Saturday.
“We played very well against St. Frederick,” Ruston head coach Zack Smith said. “I thought we pitched well. Talan Billberry started the game for us; he’s a sophomore, and it was his first time pitching for varsity. I thought we ran the bases really well and really hit the ball.”
Senior Justin Szymanski finished Thursday’s game with two hits and three RBI, while sophomore Jake Simmons added two RBI.
Billberry went three innings and only allowed one hit while striking out one, as well.
“I’m really happy with what Szymanski is doing at the plate,” Smith added. “He’s really leading this ball club right now. We have to get some guys going that do well for us.”
While Ruston would drop the next three, Smith said that he is confident about the season moving forward.
“It’s baseball and we understand how this works,” Smith said. “We’ve got a lot of seniors on this team and they’ve been though it. We’re hoping that with that experience and the culture we have here, that we’re going to have something positive. We’re not worried about the end result right now; it’s about the process.”
SOFTBALL: The Ruston High Lady Bearcats took a 21-0 win over Peabody in three innings on day one of the Pineville Tournament Friday, Feb. 24, before losing two straight on Saturday: first to Montgomery 3-2 and then Holy Savior Menard 11-8 in extra innings.
“If you look at our scores you could think we are all over the map, but over the past week I’ve watched our girls experience adversity and at times be frustrated but at the same time they continued to come to practice and wanted to get better,” Ruston head coach Lauren Garvie said. “That showed this weekend in the Pineville tournament. They played as a team, their bats came alive and worked hard. I got several compliments from umpires about our girls and how they played.”
Both Saturday games were nail-biters for the Lady Bearcats, but Garvie was pleased with the way her team competed.
Junior Cala Wilson hit a home run in both Saturday games for Ruston, while striking out eight batters in the Holy Savior Menard game.
Sophomore Riley Atwood also went 2-for-3 at the plate on Saturday, while Garvie pointed out sophomore Abby Holton’s error-free play at third base.
“In both games Saturday they started off down after the first inning and both times came back. Our game against Menard being the biggest, we were down 6-0 going after the first and in the third the girls worked hard to tie it and eventually take it into extra innings. That’s competitiveness and I think they are ready to build on that because it’s a good example of who these girls are.”
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, Feb. 27 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome
Wednesday, March 1 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 6 p.m.: LA Tech softball v. Central Arkansas
Thursday, March 2 5 p.m.: GSU women’s basketball v Alabama A&M 6 p.m.: LA Tech men’s basketball v FIU 7 p.m.: GSU men’s basketball v Alabama A&M
Saturday, March 4 8 a.m.: Community garage sale (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center) 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 10 a.m.: LA Tech softball v. Houston Christian 12:30 p.m.: LA Tech softball v. UMass-Lowell 3:30 p.m.: GSU women’s basketball v Alabama St 5:30 p.m.: GSU men’s basketball v Alabama St 6 p.m.: LA Tech men’s basketball v FAU
Sunday, March 5 12:30 p.m.: LA Tech softball v UMass-Lowell 3 p.m.: LA Tech softball v. Houston Christian
Phil Matulia (12) hit a pair of home runs and had seven RBI to help the Bulldogs take a 3-game series from Nicholls State. (Photo by Kelsey Chanler)
Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications and Staff Reports
Bulldogs 10, Nicholls State 1
Bulldogs 3, Nicholls State 2
Nicholls State 8, Bulldogs 0
Louisiana Tech received three solid starts on the mound from Jonathan Fincher, Rawley Hector and Reed Smith as the Bulldogs took two out of three games at JC Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.
Fincher and Hector each picked up wins while Smith was Sunday’s tough-luck loser.
Phil Matulia was 4-for-5 with a home run and 5 RBI in Friday’s 10-1 win by the Bulldogs as Fincher tossed 7.0 innings, allowing just a leadoff home run in the first inning.
Matulia and Jorge Corona came up big at the plate in Saturday’s pitcher’s duel. Matulia tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning with a two-run shot and Corona followed with a solo blast. Hector pitched 6.0 strong innings while Landon Tompkins and Ethan Bates tossed the final 3.0 scoreless frames.
“Clubs that are standing at the end of the year, they go for the kill tomorrow,” said Burroughs following Saturday’s win. “Average teams are satisfied with two wins and winning the series, and that’s why we call Sunday ‘Toughness Sunday.'”
Sunday saw a solid start by Smith go for naught as the Bulldogs were blanked at the plate in the loss.
“Don’t want to take anything away from them, but we just didn’t make any adjustments,” said Burroughs following Sunday’s loss. “I’m just disappointed in our lack of fight at home plate. I don’t think we fought very hard. And overall, we had a lack of focus. It’s Sunday and on Sunday, you gotta bring it. You’ve gotta protect your home and you can’t come out and lay an egg, and that’s what we did. We got beat in every phase.”
Tech (4-3) travels to Oxford to face reigning national champion Ole Miss Tuesday and Wednesday.
_______________________________
Lady Techsters 7, Tulsa 4
Mississippi State 8, Lady Techsters 4
Lady Techsters 7, Furman 3
South Alabama 2, Lady Techsters 0
The Lady Techsters (9-5) split four games in Mobile over the weekend, recording wins over Tulsa and Furman while falling to Mississippi State and South Alabama.
Freshman Allie Floyd and junior Emma Hutchinson each picked up wins in the circle while Floyd was the tough-luck loser in a 2-0 decision to South Alabama on Sunday. Mary Martinez continued to pitch well in relief, seeing action in three of the four games over the weekend.
Brooke Diaz, Kylie Neel, Amanda Gonzalez and Katelin Cooper each recorded multi-hit games in the win over Tulsa, while Floyd picked up the win and Martinez earned her third save of the season.
Jordyn Manning hit her second home run of the year while Caroline Easom and Diaz each recorded multi-hit efforts in the loss to the SEC Bulldogs.
“We saw a lot of real positive adjustments being made today offensively,” head coach Josh Taylor said. “This team continues to improve from week to week and we are confident that we will be where we want to be when Conference USA play begins.”
In Sunday’s win over Furman, Hutchinson picked up the win with 5.0 strong innings in the circle. Easom and Neel each produced multi-hit efforts and Cooper had two RBI.
Floyd’s second strong outing of the weekend came up short Sunday as Tech recorded only three hits in the 2-0 loss to South Alabama.
Tech hosts Central Arkansas Wednesday at 6 p.m.
____________________________
Middle Tennessee 61, Lady Techsters 59
Louisiana Tech women’s basketball team took No. 25 Middle Tennessee down to the wire after erasing a nine-point third-quarter deficit but fell 61-59 to the Blue Raiders in the final seconds Saturday afternoon.
Three Lady Techsters scored in double figures, led by Keiunna Walker with 19 points and three rebounds. Anna Larr Roberson and Robyn Lee scored 14 each.
“I thought this was a great college women’s basketball game,” said Tech head coach Brooke Stoehr. “Middle Tennessee is ranked for a reason, and they don’t beat themselves. Give them credit for making plays down the stretch. It hurt us that we had two starters sit most of the game with foul trouble, and we took some tough shots, making scoring difficult.
“I thought this was a great college women’s basketball game. Middle Tennessee is ranked for a reason, and they don’t beat themselves. Give them credit for making plays down the stretch. It hurt us that we had two starters sit most of the game with foul trouble, and we took some tough shots, making scoring difficult.”
In the first, Jaylan Gregory scored the first nine points for Middle Tennessee (23-4, 16-2 C-USA) to take a 9-2 lead, but LA Tech (17-11, 10-8 C-USA) responded with an 8-0 run capped off by Lee’s first three-pointer of the season to grab their first lead of the day, 10-9. The Blue Raiders would finish the quarter with a mini 6-2 spurt to grab a 15-12 lead after one.
In the second, with Walker and Roberson sitting on the bench with two fouls a piece, Middle Tennessee built a seven-point lead (19-12), but four quick points from LA Tech’s bench would cut the lead to three. Tech and Middle Tennessee would trade three-pointers during the middle of the stanza, but the Blue Raiders would scratch across the final three points of the half to take a 30-24 lead into the break.
Middle Tennessee built their largest lead of the game at nine (38-29), but Tech found some offensive flow over the final five minutes of the third quarter and used a 12-4 run to bring the game to one (42-41) off a Lee old-fashioned three-point play in the final seconds of the third.
After Tech tied the game on three separate occasions in the fourth, the Techsters found their first lead since early in the first quarter off a Lee driving layup at 51-49 with 3:59 left to play. However, the Blue Raiders regained the lead off a Kseniya Malashka and-one with 2:07 remaining (56-55).
After Roberson hit two free throws, Middle Tennessee hit a three to take a 59-57 lead with 1:16 left. Two Walker free-throws would tie the game again at 59, but Malashka would hit a turn-around jumper with three seconds remaining and block Tech’s final attempt to snap the Techsters’ five-game win streak.
________________________
Middle Tennessee 63, Bulldogs 49
Louisiana Tech was held to its season low in scoring as the Bulldogs fell, 63-49, to Middle Tennessee on Saturday afternoon inside the Murphy Center.
It was much of the same for LA Tech (13-16, 6-12 C-USA) who again faced a large deficit that they could not overcome. And that deficit came in the first half as the Blue Raiders erupted for 26-8 run to close out the stanza with a 20-point advantage.
“My thoughts today are very similar to my thoughts on a lot of our games,” said head coach Talvin Hester. “We have to learn and play and fight for 40 minutes. At the end of the day, we have spurts where we are great. We also have spurts where we are not very good. I thought we shot ourselves in the foot in the first half with bad shot selection. And then we turned it around. I put a lineup out there that fought and did good things for us.”
The Bulldogs made just eight field and went 1-of-12 from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Middle Tennessee (18-11, 11-7 C-USA) had its way offensively, shooting 50 percent from the field and sinking seven triples.
MTSU continued to stretch out its lead in the second half as well, going up 57-28 after Justin Bufford hit his third three-pointer of the game with 10:50 to go.
LA Tech had complete the control the rest of the game, limiting the Blue Raiders to just one made field goal for the remainder. The Bulldogs outscored the home team, 21-6, to close out the game, but it was too late, too late.
Isaiah Crawford battled his way to a game-high 17 points to go along with nine rebounds. Kenny Hunter also provided a quality outing, registering his first career double-double with 11 points and a career-high 15 boards.
LA Tech was also held to a season low in field goal percentage at 27.5 percent as well as a season-low three three-pointers. MTSU shot 40.4 percent for the game, getting double-digit points from three Blue Raiders including Elias King who had 13.
Today, adidas proudly announces the extension of its partnership with Grambling State University, an HBCU and member-school of the University of Louisiana System. Ahead of the renewed five-year partnership that kicks off on July 1, GSU debuted the officially licensed Grambling State University x D.O.N. Issue #4 exclusive colorway in the 2023 NBA All-Star Weekend HBCU Classic on February 18. Details for the collaborative release include Grambling State University’s logo on the tongue, a striped sock liner and black and gold upper honoring the GSU Tigers.
“It’s really exciting to be a part of this moment with adidas and Grambling State University,” says athlete partner Donovan Mitchell. “Im proud to be giving back to the community, both with adidas extending its partnership and with the release of the D.O.N. Issue #4 exclusive colorway at All Star Weekend.”
Grambling State University has a rich history as a cultural disruptor, providing immeasurable opportunity to the Black community within Louisiana as far back as 1896. With sights set on continuing this legacy and championing growth in individuals and communities alike, the adidas and Grambling State University partnership will embark on an array of initiatives that will further the vision of one of the most integrated, valuable sideline partnerships in HBCU history:
Internship for one Grambling State University student in adidas’ North America headquarters in Portland, OR
Annual funding to support hiring a fellow from the McLendon Foundation Minority Leadership Initiative
Elevated on-field, licensed and sideline product including three footwear silhouettes in 2023 to celebrate the elevated partnership (and more in subsequent years)
Access and support for participating in the NIL Affiliate Network student athletes
Shared programming our brand partners Black Ambition and Athlete Ally
Inclusion in future adidas brand campaigns including Remember the Why and Honoring Black Excellence
A storied institution, Grambling State University will have an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the importance of athletics, academics, and culture of the HBCU community on a national stage in partnership with adidas, a brand founded on the tenets of community and pinnacle performance.
The Grambling State University men’s basketball sailed to an easy 69-55 victory over Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) opponent Florida A&M on Saturday afternoon at the Al Lawson Multipurpose Center.
Carte’Are Gordon dominated the contest with a game-high 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting to go along with five rebounds and a three steals. Jourdan Smith was also a catalyst in the win, registering a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Shwandarius Cowart contributed 13 points, three steals, two rebounds and two assists in the winning effort.
Grambling State (19-8 overall, 12-3 SWAC), who never trailed in the game, used an 8-0 run to open the game. FAMU (7-20, 5-11) didn’t score its first points until it was awarded three free throws with 13:51 to go in the half.
After the Rattlers trimmed GSU’s lead to two, 14-12, with 6:43 remaining, the Tigers began to roll. GSU closed the half on on 17-5 run to carry a commanding 31-17 lead Into the locker room.
FAMU was no match for Grambling State in the second half, as the Tigers ballooned its lead to 32 points, 60-28, with 7:49 remaining in the game.
As a team, Grambling State shot 44.8 percent from the floor (26-of-58), including knocking down 46.2 percent of its three-pointers. The Tigers held the Rattlers to 34.1 percent shooting, limiting FAMU to just 14 made baskets in 41 attempts. Florida A&M was more efficient from the charity stripe, going 24-of-31. GSU converted 11-of-20 attempts from the line.
Noah Meren and Jordan Chatman both led FaMU with 11 points each.
________________________
Lady Tigers 61, Florida A&M 46
The Grambling State University women’s basketball team cruised to a 61-46 victory over Florida A&M at the Al Lawson Multipurpose Center on Saturday afternoon.
GSU (8-18 overall, 7-8 SWAC) had three players score in the double figures. Leah Morrow led with 15 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals. Miracle Saxon added 12 points, eight rebounds , one assist and one steal and Amanda Blake registered 12 points, six rebounds, one assist and two steals.
Grambling State was dominant in the paint outscoring the Rattlers 34-20 in the inside. The Tigers used solid ball movement and converted second chance opportunities to build their lead over FAMU (5-22, 3-13).
________________________
Tigers 3, Alabama A&M 2
The Grambling State University baseball team bounced back on the second day of the Andre Dawson Classic, defeating Alabama A&M 3-2 on Saturday afternoon.
Terry Burrell III paced GSU (2-4) at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a pair of singles.
Connor Rudy got the start on the mound for the Tigers, racking up five strikeouts in 6.0 innings pitched. He surrendered two runs on six hits. Kendrick Bershell (1-0) got the win, working 3.0 innings, allowing two hits and keeping the Bulldogs off the board.
In the second inning, Cameron Bufford squared up a pitch and sent it to centerfield for a leadoff triple. Jose Vargas brought in to score on a sacrifice fly, making the score 1-0. Later in the frame, Tiger Borom scored on a wild pitch, extending the early advantage to 2-0.
Alabama A&M (4-3) responded in the bottom of the inning with a leadoff solo home run by Jared Tribett. The Bulldogs tied the game in the in the fifth inning on an RBI single by Chevalier Dorris Jr.
In the top of the eighth inning Julian Murphy drew a leadoff walk. Later in the inning, Kyle Walker gave GSU the lead for good 3-2 when he scored Murphy on a grounder to shortstop.
AAMU’s Roman Sorrell was tagged with the loss, allowing one run on one hit and a walk in 0.1 innings tossed.
Donald Lavelle Skains January 13, 1940 – February 23, 2023 Visitation: Temple Baptist Church Chapel, Monday, February 27, 2023, 10:00 am – 11:00 am Service: Temple Baptist Church Chapel, Monday, February 27, 2023, 11:00 am Cemetery: Douglas Cemetery, Monday, February 27, 2023
Willard Hayes Harrison Thursday 08/08/1940 — Friday 02/17/2023 Family Gathering: Friday 03/03/2023 2:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Visitation: Friday 03/03/2023 3:00pm to 5:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Notes: Observation window 5pm until Saturday, March 4, 2023 Celebration of Life: Saturday 03/04/2023 2:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Burial: Saturday 03/04/2023, St. David Cemetery, Vienna
Trey White, III August 3, 1963 – February 24, 2023 Visitation: Thursday, March 2, 2023, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home
Carter Hill (3) scored a game-high 21 points in the Cougars 53-50 win over Westminster. (Photo by Darrell James)
By Malcolm Butler
Despite missing 14 free throws in the ball game, it came down to the free throw line late in the Select School Division IV first round playoff game between No. 16 seed Cedar Creek and No. 17 seed Westminster.
Senior Davis Walsworth hit two free throws with 32.1 seconds to play and two more with 17.1 seconds to play to extend the Cougars lead to four and Cedar Creek held on for a 53-50 win over Westminster Friday night at the Brickhouse.
After building as much as a 14-point lead, the Cougars had to hang on for dear life down the stretch.
“We got off to a really good start in the first half,” said Creek head coach Lance Waldron. “I thought we ran the floor really well. We got up and down trying to run our fast break. I thought we had a lot of success with it in the first half. We took some bad shots but anytime you can get some transition buckets it’s a good thing. I thought we did a good job of that. The guys were getting to their spots and making things happen.”
Creek took a 12-5 lead at the end of the first quarter thanks to five points by Carter Hill, four by Walsworth and three by Brian Osborne. Parks McConnell got the Cougars going early in the second quarter with a shot off the glass and then Hill scored seven straight points to extend the Creek advantage to 23-11 with 2:28 to play in the first half.
Sophomore Jack Bell hit his second shot of the quarter with 2:05 to play and then following a Westminster bucket, Connor Norris scored off a nice pass by Osborne as the Cougars led 27-13.
Cedar Creek had an opportunity to extend its lead late, but Walsworth missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 4.0 seconds to play and Westminster came up with the rebound and hit a half court heave to cut the advantage down to 27-16 at the break.
“The players did a really good job of running down the clock,” said Waldron. “We wanted to take the last shot (of the half), and we got it down to four seconds and we got fouled. But we gave the ball back to them (after the missed free throw) and they had just enough time to shoot one from half court and it went in. We wanted to take that last shot, but sometimes it doesn’t work in your favor.”
Westminster seemed to use the momentum as they came out of the halftime locker room. Creek held a 32-20 lead after a Connor Johnson layup with 6:10 remaining in the court, but Westminster ended the quarter on a 12-1 run, closing the gap to 33-32 at the end of the third quarter.
Westminster used its interior game to claw its way back into the game, feeding the post and getting offensive rebounds and putbacks.
“The second half we came out a little flat and let them get back into the game,” said Waldron. “Then it turned into a battle. Our plan was to double team whenever they got it inside. And sometimes we did double team them but sometimes it didn’t matter. They were able to work around it. They are just good on the inside.”
Westminster took its first lead of the game just 10 seconds into the fourth quarter and led 39-36 with 6:35 to play. The two teams traded leads over the next four minutes before Johnson’s bucket with 3:39 to play gave the Cougars a 45-44 lead. Walsworth followed with a layup and then following a Westminster bucket that closed the lead back to one, Norris converted on an offensive rebound and putback to make it 49-46 Cougars with 2:15 to play.
Any chance of a comeback was doused by Walsworth’s four free throws over the final 32 seconds of the game.
“We were able to come out on top in the end,” said Waldron. “We made some shots and got some big rebounds, but it was in doubt there for a while. We hit some really key free throws which made a huge difference. Davis really hit four big ones for us that closed it out.”
Hill led Creek with 21 points while Walsworth added eight points, Johnson scored seven, Osborne added six and Norris chipped in with 5 points
With the victory, Cedar Creek now plays at No. 1 seed Northwood-Lena Monday at 6 p.m.
“We get to go play the No. 1 team in the state,” said Waldron. “We couldn’t ask for anything more than that. Who playing basketball right now wouldn’t want to go play the No. 1 team in the state? If they don’t want to do that then they need to stay home. We are excited about that opportunity. We will see what we can do.”
Eli Callender (10) totaled 11 points for Choudrant Friday night during the Aggies’ Division V Boys Nonselect School playoff win over Florien. (Photo by T. Scott Boatright)
By T. Scott Boatright
Oftentimes the outcome of a game that’s been tight the whole way through boils down to simple composure at the end.
And that’s exactly how eighth-seeded Choudrant cooked up a 53-48 opening-round win over Florien Friday night in Division V Nonselect School playoff action at the CHS Gym.
Florien, the 25th seed, went long in its attempt to move on to the second round as the Black Cats poured in 12 3-pointers, with six of those coming in the final quarter of play.
“It was just an intense game from start to finish and I’m so proud of the way the ghys stayed strong and kept their composure in the fourth quarter, especially at the free-throw line,” said Aggies coach Ryan Smith. “Florien kept pouring in threes and sending us to the line, but we made them when we needed them.
“They hit 12 threes, and they weren’t just catch-and-shoot threes. They came in all kinds of ways – there were off the dribble threes, there were turnaround threes. They were on fire and their defense was in your face. That was a tough one. A hard-earned win.”
Choudrant built a 7-4 lead in the first quarter before Florien battled back to tie things up near the end of the stanza on a 3-pointer by Jalen Stewart, the first of his five treys on the night.
And the Aggies went up by as many as four points at 14-10 in the second quarter on a Mike Jones’ putback with 4:50 left on the clock and then again at 20-16 on a Eli Callender layup with 1:30 remaining in the opening half before the Black Cats battled back again, scoring the final four points before intermission to tied things up 20-20 at the half.
Callender took it to the basket to score from underneath three times in that second quarter and finished with 11 points for the Aggies.
“He doesn’t always use it, but Eli has a special skill just taking the ball right to the basket,” Smith said. “A lot of times defenses get caught off guard with it. I joke with him because he labels himself as a third baseman who plays basketball, too.
“But I told him tonight, I said, ‘Look, you’re turning into a great basketball player and a third baseman, so I hope he can now just keep building on it. He was feeling it and we needed it big time because of all the attention Florien was giving Parker (Batteron) and Lachlan (Thompson).”
Choudrant again pushed out to a small lead in the third quarter before the Black Cats battled back still again, cutting the Aggies’ lead to 30-28 heading into the final eight minutes of play.
The fourth quarter was all about the Aggies surviving the Black Cats’ long-range bombardment while taking care of business at the free-line themselves.
And while Florien netted six treys in the final stanza — three each by Stewart and Tucker Johnson, Choudrant responded by making good on 12 of 20 attempts from the charity stripe to escape with the win.
“We went on that run in the third quarter that sparked a lot of momentum for us, but then we got down in the fourth,” Smith said. “But thankfully we got some calls as far as how aggressive they were playing defensively and we went to the free-throw line and won with poise, discipline and free throws.”
“That’s something we’ve preached all year. We’ve lost a lot of those kinds of games. A lot of our games this season have gone down to the end. So I told the team in the locker room after it was over, that I’d lose all those again if that’s what prepared us to finish like we did tonight.”
Jones led the Aggies with 16 points, scoring seven of those in the fourth quarter with a pair of putbacks and three free throws on four attempts while Thompson chipped in with 12 and Batterton added 11.
“Mike was just relentless on the boards all night, offensively and Lawson Stevens had so many huge defensive rebounds. Their inside game on the boards played a huge role in the game and I am just so proud of the way they kept on battling.”
Next up for the Aggies (27-9) will be a second home game, this one set for 6 p.m. Tuesday against 24th-seeded Atlanta, a 62-49 overtime winner over ninth-seeded Phoenix on Friday night.
Jalen Outley (13) totaled six points he scored for Simsboro Friday night as the Tigers defeated Hackberry. (Photo by T. Scott Boatright)
By T. Scott Boatright
Simsboro coach Randy Carlisle liked the beginning and ending of Friday night’s 77-64 win for the 15th-seed Tigers over 18th-seeded Hackberry in the opening round of the Division V Non-Select School playoffs.
It’s the middle of the win over the Mustangs that has Carlisle concerned despite being proud of his team’s win.
“That was hard to do the way they were shooting NBA (distance) threes, I mean, Good Lord, they were shooting some kind of shots and making them,” Carlisle said of holding on for the win. “Those threes kept them in it – kept us from putting them away.”
The Mustangs made 10 3-pointers on the night, overcoming a 21-point halftime deficit at 43-22 to pull within 13 points heading into the final quarter of play at 60-47.
And Hackberry would get as close as 11 points back with 1:51 remaining before a free throw by Earnest Chatman at the 1:40 mark of the fourth quarter pushed the Tigers’ advantage to 73-61.
Simsboro’s Trumarion Smith followed that up with a quick steal and a score to push the Tigers’ lead to 75-61 five seconds later.
While admittedly relishing the win, Carlisle also admitted it was the fact that his team didn’t take advantage of chances they received that has him concerned.
“We did some crazy things at crazy times,” Carlisle said. “We’ve got to play smarter than that. We were fortunate to get out of here with the win.
“When you’ve got somebody down the way we did tonight, that’s when you go for the kill by taking and making smart shots. You’ve got to shoot high-percentage shots. But we didn’t do that. We didn’t shoot high-percentage shots. We were still just jacking them up there without any thought no matter what. You can’t get away with that and go on a playoff run. That’s what I’m trying to get this team to understand.”
Chatman led the Tigers with 25 points while Smith added 16, Itavious Brown chipped in with seven and Kelip Wright and Jalen Outley hit for six points each to help spur the Tigers to the win.
“It was good to see everybody involved — everybody played hard, that’s how we won,” Carlisle said. “But you’re not going to beat really, really good teams without playing smart the whole way through.”
Next up for Simsboro (15-17) will be a Tuesday night game at second-seeded Anacoco (35-5), a team Carlisle knows all too well — the team Carlisle coached for two seasons before taking over the Tigers last spring.
“Look, we have a lot of talent,” Carlisle said. “This team has worked hard and is getting better game by game. But to even have a chance to take that next step we have to play smarter basketball than we have all season long. And we certainly have to play smarter basketball than we did tonight.
“Anacoco is good enough to win it all. I went with them to the finals and semifinals the last two years and they have pretty much everybody back. I know what it’s going to take for us to stand a chance, and that’s going to be playing smart. Taking smart shots. Playing smart defense. It’s going to be the toughest test this team has faced all season long. We’ll see how much they’ve learned along the way.”
Elli Dickerson led Creek with 12 points in its quarterfinal loss to Northwood-Lena Thursday. (Photo by Darrell James)
By Malcolm Butler
Playing the No. 2 seed on the road, Cedar Creek head coach Gene Vandenlangenberg knew his Lady Cougars would almost have to play perfect basketball for four quarters if they wanted to earn their second straight trip to the state tournament.
The Lady Cougars came close in the first half before running out of steam and out of time over the final two quarters in a 67-37 loss to Northwood-Lena on Thursday night.
With the loss, the Lady Cougars season concludes with a 22-8 record.
“I am proud of the girls,” said Vandenlangenberg. “We played hard. I think on the road we just made too many mistakes. And they started rolling in the second half. The switch came on for them. I think we felt like we had a chance at halftime, but you could just feel the momentum leave us early in the third quarter.
“I am proud of this team. Twenty-two wins. Quarterfinals. I thought they represented Cedar Creek in an outstanding manner and carried on a high level of play. I think we accomplished seven of the eight goals we set.”
Elli Dickerson scored all 12 of her points in the opening two quarters to help Creek stay within striking distance, trailing just 30-22 at the half. Dickerson netted eight in a first quarter that saw the Lady Cougars trail 19-11 and then four more in the second quarter.
Creek made just 1-of-11 free throws in the opening two quarters or could have been in even better position at the half.
“I think we should have been winning at halftime,” said Vandenlangenberg. “We got off to a great start, and we were taking it to them. We were being aggressive, and we got into the double bonus early. But we missed a lot of free throws. We had a couple of spurts where we turned the ball over … unforced stuff. We were rushing and with no one even on us. So some turnovers hurt us.”
As competitive as the first half was for Cedar Creek, the second half was not. Northwood-Lena outscored the Lady Cougars 23-6 in the the third quarter to extend its lead to 53-28 heading into the fourth quarter.
“We were just tired in the second half,” said Vandenlangenberg. “As active as we were on the boards … we competed well in the first half. We got their best post in foul trouble. They are good. They are really good; physical, athletic, quick.
“But in the second half we didn’t compete on the boards like we did in the first. The officials let both teams play. But we just didn’t fight for some rebounds and some loose balls. It hurt us. Once they got a 15-point lead in the second half, they just flipped the switch. Everything started falling for them, and they were having a blast at our expense.”
Lizzie McAdams added 12 points and Allie Furr chipped in with five in the loss.
Sabrina Fisher led Northwood-Lena with 15 points while Na’Kiyah Allen added 14 points.
Northwood-Lena will play Central Catholic in the state semifinals. Central Catholic defeated OCS 56-44 Thursday night.
Lincoln Preparatory School students recently planted seeds at Grambling’s City Hall that will be used to plant vegetables in a pair of community gardens planned for the city. (Photo by KWENITA LEWS-GARNER)
By T. Scott Boatright
Members of Lincoln Preparatory School’s TAPS (Teen and Police Service) Academy recently showed more than a growing interest in helping avoid food insecurity for residents of Grambling.
In fact, they showed off their Panther green thumbs by helping plant seedlings that will soon be placed at a pair of community gardens — one behind City Hall on King Street and the other at the site of previous community gardens on Gum Street.
It’s all the brainchild of Grambling City Council member DeVaria Ponton, who was sworn into her first term of office on Jan. 1. Her campaign platform included an initiative to bring back the city’s community garden program.
Ponton, a master gardener who grows much of the produce she eats, said she developed her love of growing vegetables during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I was involved with Grambling’s first community garden back in 2012 and had never forgotten it,” Ponton said. “So when the pandemic hit nobody was comfortable about getting out and going to the store unless they really had to. So it just made sense to start growing my own.
“At first it was only tomatoes and cucumbers. And they grew really well. So much so that I started growing more and more of all kinds of different vegetables that I like. And I found out that with a little work and love, anyone can grow a lot of their own food.”
And as she decided to run for Grambling’s City Council, she realized that now is a good time to bring back Grambling’s Community Garden program.
When Ponton first participated in Grambling’s initial Community Garden program, the city had then been recently designated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a food desert, which means that it had been determined that residents of Grambling lacked access to high quality fresh and affordable foods.
Grambling now has a full-service grocery store, but concerns for city residents remain.
The USDA last year ranked Louisiana as the third hungriest state with 14.5% of residents experiencing food insecurity.
Only Mississippi (15.3%) and Arkansas (15%) ranked worse.
Lincoln Parish ranks 26th out of Louisiana’s 64 parishes in terms of food insecurity – not being able to have access to sufficient, adequate quality food.
“Even with the grocery store, it’s no secret that our whole country is facing high prices, and sometimes temporary shortages, of food because of inflation and other issues we’re all trying to work through,” Ponton said. “So that was another reason to realize it was time to bring back the community garden.”
But there were other reasons Ponton was driven to rebuild the program.
“Grambling was once a farming community, it was once a big part – a cornerstone – of our community,” Ponton said. “So farming and gardening is part of our history, too, just as Grambling State University is.
“And our school children need to know their history and the roots they came from. It seemed like getting them involved in the Community Garden would be a great teaching tool for them.
A number of Lincoln Prep students recently completed the 11-week TAPS curriculum, which covers specific topic areas associated with children and youth safety such as violence, physical and sexual abuse, stalking, domestic trafficking, sexual exploitation and bullying.
The program is designed to change behavior, teach children about responsible decision making, the importance of participating in crime prevention projects and reducing the social distance between themselves and law enforcement authorities.
Last week, members of Lincoln Prep’s TAPS program along with a few Student Council members joined with members of the Grambling Police Department to plant seeds in cardboard tubes from toilet tissue and paper towel rolls as well as biodegradable egg cartons.
“We planted seeds for a spring garden, so we planted zucchini, squash, two varieties of tomatoes, and some herbs,” Ponton said. “We’re just waiting for them to grow. They’ve only started sprouting now.”
Eventually those seedlings will be placed — containers and all, hence the need for biodegradability — at Grambling’s two community gardens.
“I thought it would be a fun yet still productive project for our young students,” Ponton said. “We’re off to a great start and just want to see this program keep growing and growing in years to come, just like the food we’ll be growing.
“These will be rotational gardens, so we’ll keep adding as we harvest and try to keep it going throughout all the seasons. We’ll probably plant the first round of seedlings in a couple of weeks. We’re just waiting for them to develop decent root systems to give them a better chance to grow.”
Grambling Mayor Alvin Bradley said the project is the kind he wants to see continue in his city.
“This is about people working together to help each other, the way it should be,” Bradley said. “It has my full support, which is why I came out to help the kids plant the seedlings. Working together toward a common goal — I can’t see enough of that, so I thank and applaud everyone working to help make this happen.”
A Winnsboro man was arrested by Ruston Police Wednesday after he was found with a stolen firearm.
An officer on patrol observed a vehicle parked at Duncan Park on Arlington Street at about 8:30 p.m. The officer stopped to advise them that all city parks close at dark as signs at the location indicated.
While talking to the driver, Michael Cooks, 19, the officer saw a semi-automatic pistol next to the driver’s seat. The firearm was removed and the serial number was checked which indicated it had been stolen in Monroe.
Cook said he was unaware the firearm was stolen. He stated he paid $250 for it approximately six weeks earlier from an unknown individual.
Cooks was arrested and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for possession of a stolen firearm. Bail was set at $20,000.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The entire publishing staff at the Lincoln Parish Journal would like to congratulate the students that both placed and participated at the North Louisiana High School Rally on Saturday, Feb. 4, on the campus of Louisiana Tech University. The list of students who placed is as follows:
Nominations are open for Louisiana Wildlife Federation’s 57th Conservation Achievement Awards, which recognizes those persons and organizations in Louisiana that made outstanding contributions during 2022 to the natural resource welfare and environmental quality of their community, parish and the state.
“Louisiana’s wildlife and natural resources are a gift that we must work to conserve so future generations can enjoy the outdoors as we do today,” said Rebecca Triche, executive director for Louisiana Wildlife Federation. “Recognizing individuals, organizations and businesses for their conservation efforts in Louisiana encourages and promotes wise natural resource management and use.”
Nominations are accepted for conservation achievement in nine award categories:
Professional – given to an individual in a compensated professional capacity that has made a significant contribution to the management, enhancement, or protection of Louisiana’s fish, wildlife, air, water, soil or forest resources, or related recreational opportunities.
Volunteer – awarded to a person acting in a volunteer capacity during the year that has shown outstanding achievement in the management, enhancement, or protection of Louisiana’s fish, wildlife, air, water, soil or forest resources or related recreational opportunities.
Business – this award honors a company, not a person, that has shown significant achievement in pollution abatement, land use planning and management, conservation education/awareness, and habitat stewardship including providing lands for wildlife conservation and public recreation.
Educator – this is awarded to an outstanding conservation educator, either in a professional or volunteer role, whose emphasis has been on teaching students or the public, rather than on research or administration. Examples include instructors of hunter safety and outdoor ethics, as well as teachers of natural sciences, fish and wildlife management, environmental design and management, and various aspects of environmental education.
Elected Official – awarded to a local, state or federal elected official for their achievements around conservation efforts. All Louisiana elected officials, except the Governor, are eligible in this category.
Communications – this is given for the outstanding work by a writer, reporter, radio or TV broadcaster, photographer, artist, cartoonist, radio or TV station, newspaper, website or other publication for increased public awareness around environmental quality and natural resource conservation or has contributed toward the solution of a major conservation problem in Louisiana.
Organization – this recognizes a state or local organization for outstanding conservation achievement in addressing significant natural resource management and environmental quality challenges. Examples of organizations might include but are not limited to civic organizations, environmental groups, sportsmen’s clubs and garden clubs. In special cases where government agencies or institutions have accomplished extraordinary work above and beyond their normal responsibilities, such organizations will be considered for this award.
Youth – this is awarded to an individual youth, 18 years of age or younger, who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and accomplishment in any phase of conservation work.
Youth Organization – this is given to a youth group, with members 18 years of age or younger, who have provided outstanding conservation or related recreational work in addressing significant natural resource management and environmental quality challenges.
Nominations are due on Sunday, April 9, and can be made online at lawildlifefed.org or may be hand-delivered or mailed to Louisiana Wildlife Federation, 8480 Bluebonnet Blvd., Ste. F, Baton Rouge, LA 70810. Submissions with all relevant documents may also be emailed to lwf@lawildlifefed.org.
Award recipients will be honored at a banquet to be held in Baton Rouge.
Established in 1940, Louisiana Wildlife Federation is a statewide nonprofit organization that represents 19 affiliate organizations and more than 8,000 members dedicated to the conservation of Louisiana’s wildlife and natural resources. Louisiana Wildlife Federation is an affiliate of National Wildlife Federation and together forms a powerful network for conservation locally and nationally.
Former Grambling State running back Maurice Washington will be one of two Tigers playing in Saturday’s HBCU Legacy Bowl all-star game in New Orleans.
By T. Scott Boatright
The Grambling State football program will be front and center on Saturday as the second annual Legacy Bowl is held at Tulane’s Yulman Stadium.
The game will kick off at 3 p.m. Saturday and will be televised live by The NFL Network.
Former Grambling State quarterbacks James “Shack” Harris and Doug Williams, founders of the Legacy Bowl, will lead the teams of former Historically Black College and University (HBCU) football stars into the stadium for the event.
The rosters will include a pair of GSU Tigers playing for Team Robinson, which will be led by Southern University coach Eric Dooley.
Those two players who will be representing Grambling will be defensive back Rey Estes and running back Maurice Washington.
In his three seasons at Grambling after playing his freshman year at Riverside Community College in California, Estes played in 25 games as a G-Man, totaling 75 tackles ( 59 solo, 16 assisted), two interceptions, one tackle for loss, 16 passes defended, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.
A transfer from the University of Nebraska, Washington totaled 589 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 61 carries in his lone season as a G-Man, averaging 9.7 yards per attempt.
Williams said the week leading up to the game has gone smoother this year and he expects the event to continue growing.
“The most important thing is the community and the sponsorship, that’s the reason why we’re able to have this game,” Williams said during a press conference earlier this week. “If it wasn’t for those guys who sponsor this and the people around this area and outside the area, we wouldn’t be able to have it.”
Williams said the reason for the game is to give young players from HBCU an opportunity they might not otherwise receive.
“I didn’t do this for me, Shack didn’t do this for him,” Williams said. “We could ride off into the sunset, but we understand – having gone to an HBCU – we understand the opportunity that these guys have not gotten over the years. So we felt like if we create something to give them an opportunity, a platform to showcase their talent, that’s what it’s about. We decided to do it.
“All I hope is that it’s sustainable and that people understand what we’re trying to do and all the sponsors stay behind us and let’s do this for the rest of eternity.”
Working to create that sustainability Williams desires, the event has been going on all week including an HBCU combine that was held Monday for 50 of the top players, giving them a chance to be seen by NFL scouts from all 32 teams.
“You’d be surprised,” Williams said. “A lot of the scouts who were out there Monday had never seen these guys. That in itself goes a long way. Now when they go back to draft meetings, they can talk about these players. The combine did a big thing for these guys.”
A Career Fair for HBCU juniors and seniors was held Thursday and will continue today at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, giving participants a chance to connect with some of the nation’s top employers.
“That’s a big thing — really bigger than the game itself — because we’re working to create better futures for all HBCU students,” Williams said of the Career Fair.
The whole week is designed to create opportunities for HBCU students and former football players alike.
“I talked to a couple of the guys the other day and I asked them, ‘If we didn’t have this, where would you be?'” Williams said. “Because when you look at the (NFL) Combine, HBCUs might have two guys that have been invited to the (NFL) Combine.
“But here, we’ve got 100 guys to showcase — 50 guys that were in the combine get a chance to play in this game and show people what they can do, because I do believe that there are some talented guys in HBCUs. And there’s no reason why 10 to 12 to 15 guys shouldn’t get drafted or signed as free agents and get an opportunity to play. Like last year, we had 40 guys that got a chance to either go to camp, sign as free agents or be drafted.”
Here are some actual answers given by children on their science exams:
“How is dew formed?” “The sun shines down on the leaves and makes them sweat.”
“How can you delay milk turning sour?” “Keep it in the cow.”
“What is the fibula?” “A small lie.”
“Name the four seasons.” “Salt, pepper, mustard, and vinegar.”
“What does ‘varicose’ mean?” “It means nearby.”
“What does ‘caesarian section’ mean?” “It’s a housing district in Rome.”
“How are the main parts of the body categorized?” “The body consists of three parts—the brainium, which contains the brain, the borax, which contains the heart and the lungs, and the abdominal cavity, which contains the five vowels-A,E,I,O, and U.”
“What does the word ‘benign’ mean?” “It’s what you’ll be after you be eight.”
One part of our divine nature is the ability to laugh. With all the hurt in the world, sometimes we need to turn away and find something that makes us smile. The Bible never tells us if Jesus laughed, there is circumstantial evidence that Jesus laughed. The Bible tells us that the children wanted to be close to Jesus. He was so magnetic to children that the disciples, acting as bouncers, tried to keep them from coming to Him.
Jesus said, “Let the little children come unto me, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.” Kids will not hang out with or seek out grumpy people. It won’t happen. They are drawn to a smile and laugher.
That smile of yours and your laugher are both parts of childlikeness. Listen when groups of children are together, those are happy and joyous sounds. We all know why we lose that joy. We grow up!
For just a few moments, be a child again and laugh. Now that you laughed, let’s talk about you having “childlike” faith. We will have that conversation on Sunday.
In a statement Thursday afternoon, New Orleans Police Superintendent Michelle Woodfork praised law enforcement officers who helped protect this year’s Mardi Gras celebration.
Woodfork noted the work of her agency, sheriff’s offices from around the state, and Louisiana State Police to create a safe environment for partygoers.
Despite the efforts, a shooting along the Bacchus Parade route Sunday left one dead and four others injured. Woodfork said a suspect was quickly apprehended by officers. In another shooting, one of Woodfork’s cousins “who was doing nothing” according to the superintendent, was killed.
Woodfork said law enforcement officers confiscated 244 guns in the French Quarter, the Downtown Development District, and along parade routes during the Mardi Gras festivities.
Louisiana State Police troopers on foot patrol removed 44 of the 244 firearms from individuals on Bourbon Street and the surrounding French Quarter area.
A social media post from State Police noted 125 troopers from throughout the state, including locally, engaged in motorcycle patrol, vehicle patrol, foot patrol and air support during a five day deployment in the French Quarter. “These efforts and results have had a direct and positive impact on the security of the Mardi Gras season,” the statement said.
A total of 352 arrests were recorded during the celebration, ranging from public intoxication to murder.
The community is invited to an open house at the Lincoln Parish Health Unit from 1-3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28. The health unit is located at 405 East Georgia Ave. in Ruston.
This is an opportunity to come meet the health unit staff, see the health unit and learn about the organization and how it serves the community. The event will provide resource tables available with vital information, access to immunization records, COVID-19 vaccinations and Medicaid navigation. If getting a COVID-19 vaccination, please have a valid form of Identification on hand.
The open house is free and open to the public, and light refreshments will be served. For any questions, contact the Lincoln Parish Health Unit at (318) 251-4120.
