By Sarah Brackin

After becoming dormant the past year, Louisiana Tech’s amateur radio club is determined to make its comeback by inviting people to join their fox hunt at 5 p.m. today.

It is like hide and seek but with directional antennas and a radio signal.

The “fox” that the hunt is referring to is a small transmitter that sends out Morse Code set to say the call sign and “Fox.” It is a controller that will turn the radio into transmit mode and send over a microphone signal through the radio. 

Sam Lopez, one of the radio club’s members, said, “Anyone can join. We only have a limited number of radios and antennas so we’ll be split into groups based on that but anyone can tag along if they want to.”

Participants will meet outside Nethken Hall, 501 Dan Reneau Dr., Room 204, where the groups will be split. Two people will form one of these groups and be in charge of hiding the fox somewhere on Tech’s campus, where they will stay for the duration of the game.

Although anyone can participate in the fox hunt, in order to use the radio or join the club, members will need to get their radio license as per government policies, so the rest of the participants will pair up with a radio club member and scatter around the campus. 

Since the antennas are directional they will only detect signals in a certain direction.

The secretary of the W5HGT, Toby Latino, said, “We actually built the antennas as a club and I came up with a prototype and the plans and I typed everything out and got it all set up so we were able to host that about two weeks ago and now we’re going to use them in the Fox Hunt.”

Each team will use these antennas in different areas and attempt to be the first one to locate the transmitter 

Second year student McKenzye Reedy said, “ The directional antennas are plugged into an adapter and we hook them onto our radios. It will emit the wave and travel, so as we scan it gets the signal we pick up.”

“It will either get stronger or weaker depending on which way we’re facing so the fox is constantly admitting the signal as we’re moving around,” Reedy said. “It helps us know which direction we need to go to find the fox.”

In the future it can be a competition or a team effort, however, in this mock fox hunt it will be more of a friendly atmosphere and get people to learn for the first time.

The President of the radio club, Jordan Savoie, said, “Last time there was a fair number of people who hadn’t been to meetings before and said that they’re interested in it… an activity that gets us out to general public is very helpful for improvement.

“Eventually we are planning to do a larger one, maybe in one of the parks, somewhere we’ll probably get lost. Hopefully it will be fun once we are good enough and people are able to help each other with it.”

As the hunt is taking place, the members of W5HGT will explain some of what they are doing with the radios. They tend to spread the interest of the radio club to others.

Latino said, “Don’t be intimidated by any kind of technical talk or meetings we might give. It’s all about having fun. We would love to have anybody and everybody who’s interested.”

By Brennan Hilliard

Brittany Beck, a doctoral candidate pursuing a Doctorate of Business Administration with a concentration in marketing and a teaching assistant at Louisiana Tech University, has used her instruction time to help students better Ruston by including service learning projects in her curricula.

A service learning project is an educational approach where a student learns theories in the classroom and then applies them while volunteering with a business.

Beck first introduced the projects in her digital marketing class in the fall quarter of 2022.

“What I had the students do was work with local partners in the community, whether it be local businesses or nonprofits and the goal of that project was to give students hands-on experience working in the industry, getting them as close to the industry as possible while still in that controlled classroom environment,” Beck said.

While projects of this kind benefit students by giving them hands-on experience, they also benefit the businesses by providing them with insight that they might not have.

“So what that project was, was creating a digital marketing strategy for these local businesses and helping them achieve greater conversions,” Beck said. “So that means essentially generating new customers, more foot-traffic in their stores… things of that nature.”

But while service learning projects can be valuable for both parties, they don’t come without their challenges.

“Quite frankly, it is challenging for the students to work with these business partners, because the business partners themselves are balancing a lot of different things,” Becak said. “A busy schedule, trying to manage their business and then on top of this, trying to communicate with students to help with this project.”

Working with a business in this capacity can give students valuable insight into how small businesses operate.

“Students also get a look at what it’s like to work within a small business environment, which can be very different from what they might expect,” Beck said.

According to Cameron Hunter, a senior at Tech who is majoring in marketing, Beck’s service learning projects’ challenges make them all the more valuable.

“She gears her classes in a way that makes sure students get the most possible from them,” Hunter said.

Hunter is currently enrolled in Beck’s social media marketing class and was enrolled in her digital and content marketing class in the fall quarter of 2022.

“Personally, her classes have given me hands-on experience in the digital marketing field that I greatly needed,” Hunter said. “She is one of the best teachers I have had during my time at Louisiana Tech.”

Alyssa McReynolds, a senior marketing major at Tech, said Beck’s digital and content marketing course gave her a very valuable experience that she hadn’t gotten in her college career up to that point.

“We sit in classrooms for a majority of our lives but this class challenged us to actually use the lessons we were learning in class and implement it in the world,” McReynolds said.“I’m truly grateful for this class and the opportunities I got and how it challenged me to become a better marketer.”

C. Reagan Sutton was born on February 25, 1935, and passed on to eternity on February 13, 2023. He was born in Hodge, LA, to Lucille Cathey Sutton and C. Russell Sutton. After graduating from Ruston High School in 1953, he earned his B.S. in Business Administration in 1958 from LA Tech University and was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. He wed the love of his life Joyce Mathewes in 1958; they shared 64 years of devoted marriage.

Reagan began his career with the Lincoln Parish Police Jury in 1959, first as Secretary-Treasurer, then as Parish Administrator. During his 30 years of public service, he facilitated the creation of the Lincoln Parish Detention Center and Lincoln Parish Park, as well as the upgrades of Lincoln Parish Library, Lincoln Parish Health Center, and Lincoln General Hospital. On the state level, he served as treasurer, secretary, vice-president, and president of the Louisiana Police Jury Association.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lucille and Russell Sutton, and his beloved sister Barbara Sutton Kavanaugh. He is survived by his wife Joyce, daughter Karen Sutton Sanders and husband Bobby, son Joey Sutton and wife Kathy, and daughter Jennifer Sutton Farrar and husband Roman. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Natalie Sanders Barham and husband Adam, Meredith Sanders Richards and husband Devin, Chase Sutton and wife Kim, Michael Sutton and wife Caroline, Beau Farrar, and Tate Farrar. He was also blessed with 7 great-grandchildren: Sutton Kate Barham, Anna Lyles Barham, Millie Richards, Emma Sutton, Hannah Sutton, Jack Henry Sutton, and Sloane Sutton.

Visitation is scheduled for Thursday, Feburary 16, 2023, 5:00-7:00 pm in Temple Baptist Church Sanctuary.  Funeral service will be the following day, Friday, February 17, 2023 at 2:00 P.M., also in Temple Baptist Church Sanctuary. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Cemetary. Officiating will be Dr. Reggie Bridges and Rev. Dale Oden, under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home of Ruston.  Reagan’s grandsons and grandsons-in-law will serve as pallbearers, Honorary pallbearers include Gary Acklin, Matt Barham, James Davison, Tommy Gregory, Charles Griffin, and Gray Hipp.

Online condolences may be extended to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com

Funeral services for Ed W. “Skip” Stinson, III, 65, of Ruston, LA will be held at 10:00 am, Thursday, February 16, 2023 at Temple Baptist Church in Ruston. Brother John Nugent and Dr. Reggie Bridges will officiate. Interment will follow at Mulhearn Memorial Park under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home Ruston.

Skip died February 13, 2023. He is the husband of Denise Hutson Stinson. Father of Paige Stinson Smith and her husband Jason, Olivia Stinson Garner and her husband Zach, and Mattie Louise Stinson. Grandfather to three grandchildren, Dawson Scott Irving Sills, Parkes Elizabeth Smith, and Hutson Claire Smith.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Ed and Martha Stinson. He is survived by his brother, Paul Spencer Stinson and his wife, Karen of Monroe and his sister, Andrea Elizabeth Stinson of Ruston. Skip was a member of Temple Baptist Church of Ruston. He also attended the Sunday night bible study at First Baptist Church of Bernice. Skip attended Louisiana Tech University and was a graduate of Northeast Louisiana University. He worked as a geologist in the Monroe Gas Field since 1977.

Pallbearers will be David Farrar, Mike Colvin, Edmund O’Quin, Don Thames, Doug Davison, Scotty Newsom, Keith Bowen, Tim Thrailkill. Visitation will be held Wednesday, February 15, 2023 from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Ruston.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Bernice, Children’s Legacy Campaign, 502 Cherry Street Bernice, LA 71222 or The American Heart Association.

Online condolences may be extended to the family at  www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com

Graveside services for Mrs. Lottie Lurl Callaway, age 84 of Ruston, LA will be held at 2:00 PM, Thursday, February 16, 2023 at Salem Cemetery in Dubach, LA with Bro. Charlie Reeves officiating. Burial will be under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston.

Lurl was born April 12, 1938 in Chatham, LA to Estelle and Marvin Chatham, and she left this earth to meet our Lord and Savior February 11, 2023 in Ruston with her daughters by her side following a battle with pulmonary fibrosis. She was a caring mother and raised her two daughters Jan and Amy with her devoted husband Billy Van Callaway, who preceded her in death by 25 years. Through Jan and Amy, the Lord blessed Lurl with three grandsons: Kyle Hardy Cater, Benjamin Larkin Fuller and Kendall Van Carter. In her final days, she often spoke of her love for her children, grandchildren and others who had meant so much to her throughout her life. Lurl was very proud of her brother Keith and has spent many years helping to care for him. Outside of her family, her two passions were sewing and quilting. Lurl was an excellent seamstress and was an avid quilter who created many beautiful, hand-sewn quilts for her family and friends. Patch by patch, she stitched the quilts together, personalizing them for each recipient. It was a labor of love, and they will be treasured over the years. Before her retirement, Lurl was employed with the Methodist Children’s Home in Ruston. Following her retirement, she volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children (CASA). Lurl also enjoyed the time she spent as a volunteer with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of NELA. Her church Spearsville Church of Christ was one of the most important parts of her life. Lurl was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.

Lurl is survived by her sister Sue Emory; brother Keith Chatham; daughters Jan and husband William Fuller and Amy and husband Wade Carter; grandchildren: Kyle Carter, Kendall Carter and Ben Fuller and wife Makayla; special friend Howard Hollis; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of family and friends.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff of Alpine Rehabilitation Center and to Premier Hospice for their kindness and care during Lurl’s final weeks. Each of them were a blessing to the family.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation or to Shreveport’s Holy Angels.

Visitation will be 5:00-7:00 PM, Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in Ruston. To leave an online message for the family, please visit www.owensmemorialfuneralhome.com.

Funeral services for Mr. Bobby Lynn Miller, Sr., age 77 of Ruston, LA will be held at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Ruston with Rev. Paul Watts officiating. Burial will follow in the Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery in Spearsville, LA under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston.

Bobby was born November 26, 1945 in Spearsville to Delores and Robert Miller, and he passed away February 8, 2023 in Ruston. Bobby was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was the eldest of four siblings and was a loving brother and son. During his senior year of high school, Bobby gave his life to Jesus during a revival service at Liberty Baptist Church in Spearsville. He enjoyed being on the basketball team before graduating from Spearsville High School. In addition to serving in the Louisiana Army National Guard, Bobby also worked at a garment factory in 1965 in Spearsville. When he first laid eyes on his co-worker Maxie “Paulette,” he knew at first sight that he would marry her. On July 26, 1966, Bobby married Paulette. The two shared 56 years of marriage, three children, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Bobby was an avid hunter and loved to be in nature.

He also enjoyed vacationing with his family, especially to Branson, MO which is where they had made many, many cherished memories together. Bobby was a kind and compassionate man who brought smiles to everyone he met. As a truck driver, he shared his faith with countless people that he encountered across the country. With his good-natured “picking” and humor, Bobby truly never met a stranger, and he loved to share about how the Lord had worked in his life to heal him time and time again from life-threatening illnesses. He gave God all the glory. Bobby was known as “Pappy-Lou” by his biggest admirers, and there was nothing that brought him greater joy than his family. He would be the first to brag on their accomplishments. Bobby thrived on family get-togethers, and his wit and humor were the center of their gatherings. Aside from his relationship with the Lord, he considered his family to be the greatest gift that God had given him. Bobby cherished his children, his grandchildren, his great-grandchildren and his beloved Paulette, and they all loved him back deeply. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Danny Miller of Spearsville; sisters-in-law Alice and husband Tom Nix of Farmerville, LA and Mary Jo and husband Charles Johnson of Ruston; and brother-in-law Bob Stewart of Arcadia, LA.

Bobby is survived by his loving wife; children: Paula and husband Ronnie Dowling of Ruston, Bobby Miller, Jr. of Ruston and Stefanie Parker of Simsboro, LA; grandchildren: Melane and husband Kenny Slocum of Simsboro, Lauren and husband Jack Walters of Simsboro, Kylee Parker of Simsboro and Silas Parker of Simsboro; great-grandsons Eli Slocum of Simsboro and Andy Slocum of Simsboro; brother Jimmy Miller and wife Jeanette of Truxno, LA; sister Linda Millien of Farmerville; and a host of in-laws, nieces, nephews, family and friends.

Serving as pallbearers will be Jimmy Miller, Eli Slocum, Jack Walters, Kenny Slocum, Mark Johnson and Ronnie Dowling.

Visitation will be 10:00-11:00 AM, Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Ruston. To leave an online message for the family, please visit www.owensmemorialfuneralhome.com.

Bobby Miller, Sr. 
November 26, 1945 – February 8, 2023 
Visitation: Wednesday, February 15, 2023, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM, Emmanuel Baptist Church, 1200 Farmerville Hwy, Ruston 
Funeral Service: Wednesday, February 15, 2023, 11:00 AM, Emmanuel Baptist Church, 1200 Farmerville Hwy, Ruston 
Cemetery Committal: Wednesday, February 15, 2023, Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery, 500-748 Liberty Church Rd, Spearsville 

Lottie Callaway 
April 12, 1938 – February 11, 2023 
Visitation: Wednesday, February 15, 2023, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home 
Graveside Service: Thursday, February 16, 2023, 2:00 PM, Salem Cemetery, 11793 HWY 151, Dubach 

Larry Wayne 
Sunday, March 7, 1965 — Friday February 10, 2023   
Viewing: Friday 02/17/2023 3:00pm to 5:00pm at King’s Funeral Home 
Celebration of Life: Saturday 02/18/2023 2:00pm at King’s Funeral Home 
Burial: Saturday 02/18/2023 at New Fellowship B.C. Cemetery, Hwy 9, Blue Ridge, LA 

Elsie McKinnie 
April 30, 1928 – February 12, 2023 
Visitation: Wednesday, February 15, 2023, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home 
Funeral Service: Wednesday, February 15, 2023, 11:00 AM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home 

By T. Scott Boatright

One of the area’s most successful basketball coaches, former Grambling Laboratory High School’s Michael Lyons, passed away early Monday morning in a Shreveport hospital at the age of 72 after being airlifted there on Sunday.

The news reverberated around Lincoln Parish as well as Union Parish, where Lyons was serving as athletics director and assistant principal of discipline.

It was at Grambling Lab, where he coached from 1979 to 2008, that Lyons made himself known as one of the most formidable coaches in the state, amassing a career coaching record of 1,170-198. He posted a 737-100 record with the boys’ basketball from 1979 to the 2008 and a 434-98 record with girls’ basketball from 1979-1999 while winning six state championships and 40 district championships.

Lyons earned 41 different “Coach of the Year” awards during that span.

Former NBA standout Paul Millsap, who led the national in rebounding three different seasons as a Louisiana Tech Bulldog, played for Lyons at Grambling Lab, as did former Tulane standout Jerald Honeycutt and former LSU star Antonio Hudson, the current boys basketball coach at Lincoln Preparatory School.

“It’s a shock,” Hudson said. “Me and Coach had a close personal relationship. It’s hard to talk about without getting emotional. … It’s just a shock. I’m at a loss for words.

“When your heroes get older you know what’s going to happen and eventually that day is going to come. But I don’t know if you can really ever be prepared. I don’t think so. But I’ll tell you what, you can see the outpouring of love on Facebook, and you can feel it in some of the calls and text messages I’ve received today from people who are concerned.”

Hudson’s former coach at LSU, John Brady, was one of those well-wishers.

“Coach Brady called and gave his praise to Coach Lyons,” said Hudson. “Coach has had an effect not just on me or not just in this area, but even statewide.” 

Lincoln Preparatory School Executive Director Gordan Ford played football under Lyons at Grambling Lab and also served as Lyons’ statistician.

“So many of us — 10 or 12 of us — at Lincoln Prep right now went to school under him at Grambling Lab whether he was a coach or assistant principal there,” Ford said. “I was actually there when he started as a PE teacher. Before he became an administrator he was my PE teacher in middle school. 

“In those days, they coached everything. So Coach Lyons was the boys basketball coach, the girls basketball coach, girls and boys track coach and he was defensive coordinator for the football team.”

Ford called Lyons’ passing a gigantic loss.

“In Grambling — at Lincoln Prep — he means the same thing that Coach Eddie Robinson means to the university,” Ford said. “There are very few men like that who affect so many people, and all in a positive way.”

Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Coach Leon Barmore got to know Lyons in the early 1970s.

“Mike was my assistant when I came back to Ruston High School in 1971,” Barmore said. “Mike was a wonderful man and a wonderful coach for me. I knew that as we worked together that everywhere he would go as a head coach, he was going to be very good, and he was.

“He had a great knowledge of the game. I just think Mike really and truly, down deep in his heart, loved his players, he loved his school and he loved this area. I didn’t see him much over the years, but I certainly kept up with him over the years and the championships he brought to Grambling High School, and I’m very saddened by his loss. We’ve lost a great coach and a great man.”

Former Ruston High School basketball coach Jack Thigpen got to know Lyons when they were both leading their teams in cross-parish games against the other.

“He was a real gentleman and a heckuva of a basketball coach,” Thigpen said. “I enjoyed competing against him when our teams played. He was always very cordial and a legend among north Louisiana high school basketball coaches.”

Michael Jiles first played for Lyons at Grambling Lab before also coaching alongside of him and even writing sports news articles about him.

“I think the writing part of it got me even closer to him,” Jiles said. “And then we got even closer when I ended up working at Grambling High. He was like an uncle to me, and we still continued to call each other. We talked almost every week. 

“He was so much of an inspiration to me, such a big part of my life — it hurts. This hurts. He impacted so many lives and so many young men and young women at Grambling High and in Union Parish. He was a legend and will be missed tremendously.”

Jiles said that he was impacetd by every way Lyons lived his life, even down to the way he dressed.

“He was also classy. He  never had a wrinkle in anything he wore — always a sharped-dressed man,” Jiles said. “He exemplified what a man should be. He showed us how to lead a household, how to properly handle finances, how to be a good father and things like that. He was just that type of guy. He taught me so much. 

“There will never be another like him. He was one-of-a-kind.”

By Malcolm Butler

Ruston made an impression back in 2019.

When the Dixie Youth Baseball Division I and II World Series found itself in need of a place to go this summer, the organization came calling.

For the second time in five years the Ruston Sports Complex will host the event scheduled to run from July 26 to August 9. Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker said it is a result of the job that was done the first time around in 2019.

“They were scheduled to go to another city this year and ran into a problem, and they reached out to us immediately,” said Walker. “It’s huge. They already know our facility and our community. They told us after the last time they would love to come back. I think them coming to us points directly to the wonderful experience all the participating teams and families had back in 2019.

“The thing that stands out is they came to us. They play these tournaments all over the country and for them to reach out to us when they needed a place to go speaks volumes.”

Ruston hosted the DYB World Series in July and August of 2019. The event drew in 76 teams from across the country and 13,000 fans, resulting in an economic impact of over $6.2M for North Louisiana. The event was later honored as a 2019 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by sporting events planner publication Sports Destination Management.

“We are all about large regional tournaments, national tournaments, coming here,” said Walker. “That is why we immediately trademarked the saying that Ruston was the ‘Sports Capital of the South.’ We feel like we really are.”

Walker said he isn’t 100 percent sure how many teams will participate this summer, but that he feels it will have another huge economic impact on the Lincoln Parish area.

“If we have the exact same number of teams (as we did in 2019) then I would expect the (economic impact) may be even larger,” said Walker. “We have more restaurants and hotels and Air B&Bs now. More RV spots. It’s going to be huge for our area once again, and we couldn’t be more excited to be the host.”

Not only will the event create more dollars for our area, but it will provide a great opportunity to showcase Ruston and the surrounding area.

“We are looking forward to welcoming DYB teams and their families to Ruston, LA,” said Amanda Carrier, Experience Ruston President/CEO in a release put out by the city on Monday. “This event had a tremendous impact on our community in 2019 and we anticipate another successful event.”

Experience Ruston will be working with area hotels, restaurants, and attractions in the coming weeks to prepare for the event.

Ruston High School’s competition cheerleading squad took fourth place overall at nationals this past weekend in Orlando, Fla., after competing against 45 others schools from around the country.

“We are extremely proud of this team,” Ruston head cheerleading coach Collin McDonald said. “They competed three times over the weekend and each time continued to get better. They put their all into this season, and with eight seniors we are graduating a lot of talented girls who won a National Championship in 2020. We have a very talented younger group that will be asked to step up in big ways next year.”

The top four teams in the national competition were only separated by a total of 1.5 points.

Ruston qualified for national competition after competing at the North Texas Regional back in November. 

Ruston Police arrested a Farmerville man Saturday after marijuana was smelled coming from his vehicle on a traffic stop.

Rakeyman J. Fields, 24, was stopped for operating a vehicle without a license plate. When the officer approached the car, the smell of raw marijuana was detected. Fields was unable to provide registration for the vehicle.

Based on the odor, Fields was asked if he had anything illegal in the vehicle. He stated yes and said he had marijuana. A search of the vehicle located just over 20 grams of suspected marijuana in a sunglass holder compartment. Scales and multiple baggies used in the packaging of drugs were located throughout the vehicle.

A records check indicated a warrant for Fields for failure to appear in Third Judicial District Court in Union Parish for a speeding charge.

Field was arrested for possession of marijuana and the bench warrant 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. 

GIRLS BRACKETS

By Malcolm Butler and Scott Boatright

Four of the five Lincoln Parish girls high school programs have earned a spot in the 2023 Louisiana High School Athletic Association playoffs as the brackets were released Monday by the LHSAA.

Ruston High, Cedar Creek, Lincoln Prep and Simsboro will all be heading to the postseason starting later this week.

Ruston High (13-14) is the No. 25 seed in the Non-Select School Division I playoffs and will head to face the No. 8 seed Chalmette (19-4) Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Chalmette ended the season by winning 12 of its last 13 games while winning the District 8-5A title.

“Anything can happen in the playoffs,” said Ruston High coach Meredith Graf. “I believe my team has been well tested throughout the regular season. We will give it our best shot Thursday.”

Cedar Creek (21-6) is the lone parish program that earned a first round bye. Head coach Gene Vandenlangenberg’s teams are co-District 2-1A champions. The Select School Division IV No. 7 seeded Lady Cougars will host the winner of the first-round match-up between No. 10 seed Hanson Memorial (18-8, 7-5 in District 7-1A) and No. 23 seed Glenbrook (6-14, 3-7 in District 1-1A).

“They play Thursday night,” said Vandenlangenberg. “I got film on Hanson Memorial. I am going to watch the film tonight. We played them three years ago in the first round. We are familiar with them. They play in a good district with Highland Baptist and Central Catholic and some others. They will be well-coached.

“We are going to play our game which is up-tempo. We like that. I feel like Hanson Memorial will beat Glenbrook. I would be shocked if they didn’t although it’s a new season. What we did in the regular season can’t be taken away from us. Now it’s a one game type of deal where if you lose, you re done.”

Vandenlanenberg said the second round match-up would be played Monday at the Brickhouse. He also said he is looking to schedule a game this week as a tune-up for the playoff game.

“Teams who have a bye can play another team that also has a bye,” he said. “You don’t want to sit her for 10 days not playing a game. The LHSAA allows it. The girls want to play, but I have to find a team that wants to play.”

The National Weather Service is calling for a chance of severe weather across the south that could impact Lincoln Parish.

As of Monday early afternoon, the NWS called for a slight risk of high winds, heavy rain and potential hail in our area while areas south of Lincoln Parish were in the marginal risk category.

Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning are when the highest risk of any of the above elements hitting our area.

Our area does have a chance for wind gusts of upwards of 35 miles per hour today.

For St. Jude patients, every milestone matters. 

Sawyer Hunt, age 3, and his seven-member family are currently in the midst of living that reality and have been since last June, when he was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.  

Sawyer is the son of Ruston residents Brittany and Brandon Hunt and was featured in a Journal article in August. 

The family’s latest milestone: The planned removal of Sawyer’s nasogastric tube this week. An NG tube is a thin, soft tube that goes in through the nose, down the throat and into the stomach, used to feed formula to a child who can’t get nutrition by mouth or to give children medicine. 

Sawyer has had the tube connected since Day 2 of his St. Jude stay because of issues that he had while taking meds. His heightened senses made taking medicine orally “a nightmare … another traumatic thing with him,” Brittany said. But now the time has come to remove the tube. “Knowing that we have so much longer taking these medicines, it’s just better to get him to take it another way,” she explained. 

Specialized doctors have been working with him to achieve this result. 

Now, when you see Sawyer, you might not even notice that he’s sick. Just a few days before the planned tube removal, Brittany said “the only way you know that something is going on with him” was because of the tube. He spends a lot of his time doing “boy things,” especially building things and playing with anything related to super heroes. 

Sawyer’s latest trip to the main St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis was in late January, with his next scheduled for March 20. Meanwhile, he visits the St. Jude Shreveport Affiliate Clinic every Monday. So far, 20 weeks down and 100 to go. And in regard to milestones, he now has to return to Memphis only every eight weeks, instead of every four. 

Concerning Sawyer’s treatment at St. Jude, Brittany said she wants to describe every person she encounters there as “the nicest person I ever met.” She uses the adjective “sweet” and the designation “angels,” speaking of “how far they go” and “how personal and one-on-one they are.” 

“They involve the kids and make them think they have an option,” she said. “Even though he’s 3, they communicate with him. He’s involved. That just makes him feel better. It makes him feel important.” The staff strives to make it as fun for the children as they possibly can, she said. 

The physicians and nurses bombard the parents and caregivers with information – and that’s good, Brittany said. “They keep you informed of every little thing. They break every single thing down for you.” 

In relation to Sawyer’s treatment, she and husband Brandon are keenly aware of the local St. Jude Radiothon taking place Wednesday and Thursday on KXKZ 107.5. 

Donors like these “are the reason St. Jude is the way that it is,” she said. “They’re the reason children can beat these nasty, awful diseases.” If it weren’t for St. Jude, “God only knows where we would be. There wouldn’t be a place for my son to beat this – to help him live.” She said she is “beyond appreciative.” 

Although she was hesitant to talk about it, a GoFundMe campaign to help with family expenses during this tough time has been set up by Brittany’s sister, Lexi Taunton: “Fundraiser for Brittany Hunt by Lexi Taunton: #SAWYERSTRONG.” Funds raised go to an Origin Bank account in Sawyer’s name. 

Sawyer’s dad, Brandon, currently works in the Gulf of Mexico with Transocean, an offshore drilling contractor, but did not work for three months after Sawyer was first diagnosed. At that time he was employed in Trinidad and Tobago. He is the family’s sole source of income as Brittany is busy caring for Sawyer and his four siblings: Felicity, 15; Cash, 12; River, 5; and Lennon Grace, 2. 

As the radiothon is set to begin, one of Brittany’s Facebook posts seems appropriate: “Thank you so much for every single thought and prayer that has been sent our way. Knowing my boy is loved the way he is, by so many people, makes my heart the happiest.”  

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The 42nd broadcast of the region’s St. Jude Radiothon is scheduled from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday on station Z107.5. To donate, call 1-800-787-5288 or donate online via the station’s Facebook (Z107.5) or Instagram (Z1075fm) pages. In-person donations will be taken during side events at the Ruston Walmart Supercenter and Super 1 Foods. 

By E’Yanna Davis

Today is the last day to visit the exhibition, “Inherited Moments” at Louisiana Tech’s F. Jay Visual Arts Center.

“Inherited Moments” highlights works of art and photographs around familial beings showing how family and the ever-changing motion of life helps develop the people who are around.

H. Jennings Sheffield, an artist who specializes in having her day-to-day routine photographed, tells a story with her works of art and how it came to be.

”I was trying to get different perspectives of the scene from that moment in time, but on different days,“ Sheffield said. ”There’s this children’s book called ‘The Gallop Book,’ and when you turn the pages, it looks like the horse is running. I initially built these images like that so I took the book apart, found the mathematical equation that made that work and continued to break down many equations until I could make the images fit into one two-dimensional plane image.”

Having multiple roles to fill in her life is what inspired Sheffield to go forth with this project. Dealing with different schedules each day can show a lot on how all people have a certain role to fill in their daily lives.

”Some days I’m a professor and I teach, some days I am a student, some days I’m with my kid home sick,“ Sheffield said. ”I really wanted to show that overlaying of roles on top of roles on top of roles but yet keeping enough information so you can make it out.“

It takes Sheffield a long time to complete her artistic journey to showcase these perspectives that she portrays in her works of art.

”The idea of this work is that this is a lifetime project,” she said. “I rephotograph it every five years but it takes me two years to make them so it doesn’t really come out until around every seven years.“

Having many changes throughout the years — becoming a mother, being a student and becoming a professor — Sheffield wants the audience to see that every day is different. Everyone is busy in their lives but has different schedules every day. In a sense, everyone is similar in their own ways.

”That’s what I hope the audience gains,“ Sheffield said. ”As you go through the day, you notice there’s a rhythm. Some hours it’s really crazy and chaotic and then other hours are more quiet and subtle. The amount of work thrown on you, your personal life and even loved ones help develop your roles that you play and make you realize the chaos that is there sometimes.”

By April Clark Honaker

Mason Hixon has been teaching science and at Choudrant High School since 2010. He started teaching there shortly after earning his bachelor’s degree in biology education for Grades 6-12 at Louisiana Tech University. 

Although he’s taught everything from physical science to ACT Prep and coached multiple sports, Hixon currently teaches biology I and environmental science and is the head cross country coach.

Hixon grew up in Hilly, Louisiana. His mom was a teacher at Cypress Springs Elementary, and he attended Cedar Creek School where his interest in teaching was first sparked through tutoring. 

When he was 17, one of the teachers at Cedar Creek introduced Hixon to tutoring and that got him interested in teaching, and he never wavered. “Probably, I was a weirdo because I knew what I wanted to do right out the gate,” Hixon said.

His favorite thing about teaching is getting to see people grow and figure out things. “The most rewarding thing in the short term is seeing someone figure something out and begin to succeed where they were struggling,” he said. In the long term, the most rewarding thing for Hixon is to see former students out in the world working and being successful.

Coaching has changed the way Hixon approaches the students. “Since I started coaching, it’s been a lot about relationships,” he said. “Connections with the kids really took off. It really becomes a lot more personal.”

According to Hixon, the key to establishing positive relationships with the students is remembering that everyone has something going on in their life. Everyone has a bad day sometimes and gets frustrated sometimes. 

“If you approach them like you’re not judging them and keep a positive attitude,” he said, “sometimes they can’t help but reflect that back, but at the same time, you can’t expect everyone to reflect it back. It’s not their job to be happy.” If someone is more difficult to reach, he said you have to listen and figure out why they’re acting the way they’re acting.

Hixon said the expression that you can catch more flies with honey definitely applies. “If you treat folks right, you’ll get a lot back from them,” he said. 

Spending more time with students allows Hixon to foster deeper relationships with them, and he gets that when he’s coaching. In fact, Hixon said there are times during the year when he finds himself spending more time with his runners than with his wife. “That alone gives you more depth of relationship,” he said. “They recognize that you’re invested in them. They know you’re there putting time in to do something for them. It shows them you care about them.”

By Cheyanne Admire

The annual Solo Festival was open to the public this past weekend to watch students from kindergarten to 12th grade perform and compete in voice and piano. 

The event was held at Howard Auditorium, which is located on Louisiana Tech’s campus and an overall trophy was awarded to each age division.  

Students performed in the morning on their own with a judge, and those who judges ranked high were invited to return in the afternoon for an honors recital in Howard Auditorium. They each practiced a song to perform, which had to be memorized and played in front of the solo audience of the judge. 

Judges included multiple musical professionals in the field, including teachers and faculty. 

Anna Baines was once a performer in Solo Fest and now has three kids of her own that are following in her footsteps. 

“Getting to perform in Howard is such an honor,” Baines said. “In a positive way you never really know what’s going to happen until the day of the festival. It’s always a surprise and very exciting.”

Her daughter, Elena Baines, who was a 9th grade contestant this year, said, “Solo Fest is a good opportunity to show off your talent. We have a great music community in Ruston for encouragement and feedback.” 

The Dixie Center for the Arts in Ruston, Louisiana will again host the annual Joe Woods Wildwood Express Show to benefit the Historic Dixie Theater in Downtown Ruston.

This 16th annual Showcase will hit the stage at 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 4.

This celebration of the life and legacy of Joe Woods will bring back band members who played in his original band and singers who often have a tie to Joe, and always a connection to the music he performed at the Dixie Theater every Saturday night back in the day when the Wildwood Express was a weekly cultural happening in Ruston.

The tribute show began as a fundraiser for the Dixie but it’s much more than that. The venue, music, and the people on the stage and in the audience represent all that is good about times past in Ruston.

Tickets are available at www.dixiecenter.org.

Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

James Swash and Thomas Henson finished day one of the Border Olympics in the top 15, helping Louisiana Tech close out 36 holes in fifth place on Monday at the Laredo Country Club in Texas.

LA Tech sat in seventh in the standings after shooting 292 (+4) in round one. The Bulldogs moved up a couple of spots after carding a 294 (+6) in round two with 18 holes to go in the 17-team event.

Starting on the back half of the front nine, the ‘Dogs got off to a scorching start. No one was hotter than James Swash who birdied four of his first eight holes, including three consecutive on No. 13, No. 14, and No. 15. He would finish round one with a team-best 71 (-1).

The rest of the team was not far off the pace as Hunter Battles (73), Will Patrick (74), and Lake Juban (74) were near Even par for the round.

Thomas Henson overcame two double bogeys in round one to finish with a 75 (+3). Those big numbers disappeared in round two as Henson registered three birdies and only one bogey to score a team-best 70 (-2), putting him in a tie for 14th individually.

One stroke ahead of him is Swash who combined his 71 with a 73 in the second round, putting him in a tie for seventh at Even par.

Battles is in a tie for 27th (73-74=+3) while Juban (74-77=+7) and Patrick (74-77=+7) are in a tie for 49th.

While LA Tech completed its 36 holes, five teams still have at least one hole left after play was suspended due to darkness. LA Tech, who is seven strokes back of second place, currently trails only Baylor, Coastal Carolina, Houston, and Sam Houston.

NOTABLES

• LA Tech totaled 116 pars on Monday, tied the most of any team in the event.
• The Bulldogs averaged a score of 4.04 on the par fours, the third best in the tournament.
• James Swash shot his sixth round of Even par or better this season, the most of any Bulldog.He has now carded a 72 or better in at least one round of five tournaments (out of six).
• Thomas Henson shot his fifth round of Even par or better this season.
• Hunter Battles tied for the best scoring on par threes, averaging 2.75 (-2).
• Lake Juban made seven birdies through the first two rounds, the most of any Bulldog.

Bobby Miller, Sr. 
November 26, 1945 – February 8, 2023 
Visitation: Wednesday, February 15, 2023, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM, Emmanuel Baptist Church, 1200 Farmerville Hwy, Ruston 
Funeral Service: Wednesday, February 15, 2023, 11:00 AM, Emmanuel Baptist Church, 1200 Farmerville Hwy, Ruston 
Cemetery Committal: Wednesday, February 15, 2023, Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery, 500-748 Liberty Church Rd, Spearsville 

Lottie Callaway 
April 12, 1938 – February 11, 2023 
Visitation: Wednesday, February 15, 2023, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home 
Graveside Service: Thursday, February 16, 2023, 2:00 PM, Salem Cemetery, 11793 HWY 151, Dubach 

By Krystal Guillory

On Saturday, February 11th, the Louisiana Center for the Blind hosted the 2023 North Louisiana Regional Braille Challenge. Contestants competed in academic contests which included spelling, reading comprehension, charts and graphs, speed and accuracy, and proofreading. All tests are timed at 25 minutes each, and students must be able to read and write braille manually using a Perkins Braillewriter. Passion Augustus, a 7th grade student at RJHS, said “It’s like the LEAP but more fun.”

In addition to the tests, students were also afforded the opportunity to make braille themed crafts, create king cake donuts, use orientation and mobility skills to travel to a local eatery, and perform in a talent show. Students sang, recited poems, performed gymnastic routines, and told jokes. Nancy Horst, mom to Kayleigh, said “Braille Challenge is a great opportunity for kids to come together from all areas to test themselves in different skills. The opportunity to meet other students, read and write braille, travel to lunch using their canes, and participate in a talent show makes for a great day.”

The students’ tests were sent to Baton Rouge, where they will be scored along with other braille students throughout the state. Results will be announced on Monday, February 27th. “Braille is literacy for blind children and adults,” said Pam Allen, LCB’s Executive Director. “Special thanks to all those who made this wonderfully meaningful event possible.”

Best of luck to Destiny Monk, Kayleigh Horst, Passion Augustus, Jordan Young, Chasity Martin, and Amarion Rushing.

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The Louisiana Center for the Blind is a training center and community of blind and low vision people, proudly affiliated with the National Federation of the Blind.

We believe blind people can do anything. Every day, we encourage and challenge each  student—and they come to understand their potential as they build the skills and confidence to live the life they want. Because when you believe in yourself and experience a thriving community of positive blind people, nothing can hold you back from pursuing your dreams.