Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Former Cedar Creek star Anna Larr Roberson and former Simsboro star Jordan Crawford were both honored by Conference USA Tuesday as the duo earned some new hardware.

Roberson, a senior forward for the Lady Techsters, earned second team all-Conference USA honors despite missing half the league season due to injuries. Crawford, a freshman guard for the Bulldogs, earned a spot on the C-USA All-Freshman Team following an outstanding rookie season.

Roberson was joined by teammate Keiunna Walker, who earned first team all-league honors as well as all-defensive team accolades after the pair helped lead the Lady Techsters to a 19-11 record, including a 12-8 mark in league games.

Roberson earns her second career all-conference selection giving her back-to-back second-team honors. Roberson was also selected to last year’s All-Tournament Team and was a 2022-23 preseason selection.

Despite missing nine games due to injury, Roberson continued to produce with 12.7 PPG and 6.6 RPG, which ranks in the top five in the conference. She scored double figures in 14 games this year, including a season-high 23 against Vanderbilt. She also produced five double-digit rebounding outings, including tying a career-high 15 against South Alabama. Roberson picked up three double-doubles this season to give her 20 for her career, which ranks No. 21 in program history.

Walker, the 2022-23 Preseason Player of the Year, finished second in the league in scoring (17.9 PPG), reaching double figures in 28 of 30 games, including 24 straight. She capped off the regular season with a season-high 30 points at FAU and put up 20-plus on 11 occasions.

Outside of her scoring ability, Walker also demonstrated her impact on the defensive end. Routinely drawing the toughest assignment on the floor, she tallied 34 steals and three blocks but has been most known for her ability to draw charges. Walker has earned 49 drawn charges on the year and is credited with 131 for her career.

The fifth-year guard has seen her name move up the all-time scoring list this season, currently sitting at No. 8 with 1,940 points. She is 46 points away from moving into the top-five all-time.

Crawford was joined by two of his Bulldog teammates in Isaiah Crawford (third team all-CUSA) and Keaston Willis (honorable mention).

Jordan Crawford was one of three Bulldogs to play in all 31 games while also making 20 starts. The three-time C-USA Freshman of the Week honoree leads LA Tech in total assists with 97 (eighth most in the league) and is second on the team in total steals with 35.

The Ruston native ended up being one of only 19 freshman in the country (and one of only two in C-USA) to have at least 95 assists and 35 steals this season. He owns one of just three double-doubles by the Bulldogs this season when he registered 13 points and a season-high 12 assists versus Jarvis Christian. He recently tallied 14 points in the final two conference games versus FIU and Florida Atlantic.

Coming back from his second season-ending knee injury as a collegiate player, Isaiah Crawford proved once again that he is one of the most versatile players in C-USA. The forward started in 30 games, leading LA Tech in points (13.6), rebounding (5.1), and steals (2.0) per game while also ranking second on the squad in assists (2.7) and blocks (0.7) per game.

The Fort Worth, Texas native had 21 double-digit scoring games, including six 20-point scoring performances. He had a season-high 25 points on the road against the top two teams in the league in Florida Atlantic and North Texas. Isaiah ended up being the only player in C-USA to rank in the top 15 in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, and blocks during league play.

Meanwhile, Willis continued to prove he is one of the best shooters in the conference after averaging 12.3 points per game while shooting 37.8 percent from downtown. His sharpshooting got even better during league play at 41.3 percent, second best in the conference.

The Sulphur Springs, Texas native averaged a team-best 31.6 minutes per game while registering 20 double-digit scoring games (season-high 23 versus UAB). He finished the regular season with 76 made threes, the fifth most in the league and tied for the sixth most in program history.

Grambling Police arrested a 48-year-old woman after allegedly entering another woman’s house and threatening her.

The victim told responding officers Friday morning that she saw Laquisha McGlothen walk up to her residence and knock on the door. The victim said she did not answer the knock but McGlothen came into the residence anyway without consent.

McGlothen allegedly threatened to beat up the victim and that she had come to the residence before uninvited.

McGlothen told GPD officers that she knocked, no one answered, and she went in the home without permission. She said she went to the residence to see if her estranged husband had filed their divorce papers.

McGlothen was arrested at the scene and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for home invasion and simple assault.

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. 

A Ruston man was arrested by Grambling Police last Friday after discarding drugs as officers approached him.

A woman called GPD about 9:00 p.m. Friday reporting an unwanted man standing outside her apartment. A responding officer saw a man fitting the description standing at the intersection of Wilkerson Drive and Martin Luther King Ave. As the officer approached, Joshua J. Kelly, 33, dropped two items on the ground beside him.

The officer recovered the items and found them to be methamphetamine and a glass smoking pipe. Kelly was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center.

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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. 

Dear Ask the Paperboy:

Last year during early March, the U.S. Senate passed legislation that would have made daylight saving time permanent starting this Sunday, March 12. But now I understand that although we will spring forward Sunday, we will fall back come November 5, same as always, Lord willing we are still here. Right? Wrong? Let me know before Sunday. You’re on the clock starting … now!

Sleepily in Shreveport

Dear Sleepy,

Yes, to the first part; Congress considered making daylight saving time permanent, but it didn’t hap’n, Cap’n. Last year at this time, the proposed legislation went from the Senate to the House and the House was locked. By the time someone found a key, everyone in the House was in a foul mood and said NEG, that they “needed more time” to study its effects one way or the other because, apparently, the 100 years that daylight saving time has been around has not been enough time to really and truly think this thing through. Paperboy wishes daylight saving time were permanent because then it would be Headache Saving Time, since Paperboy’s head is all “confrused” twice a year. Finally, the bill was reintroduced by a senator just last week, has bipartisan support, and has been referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, Transportation, Headaches, and Clocks. My sources tell me the biggest thing we in the Don’t Touch That Timepiece! lobby have going for us is support in the extremely partisan cow bloc, made up of bovines who don’t want to be milked at one time during March and another time during November. Who would? Cows don’t know a clock from an udder; they just know when the sun comes up. Cows keep life simple.

Dear Ask the Paperboy,

I see the Tarbutton Road Exit has opened in Lincoln Parish and a Buc-ee’s is a-comin’. This is the biggest news in these parts since Whataburger opened. But my query is, why is it called Tarbutton Road?

Life in Lincoln

Dear Life,

Paperboy feels it had to have been the name of someone who lived on that road before it had a name. As is often the custom in rural America, the name of the road, and sometimes a parish or town, is named for the early bird. You snooze, you lose. There are no Tarbuttons around now that I know of, but there are plenty in Texas and Mississippi and, with a name like that, they are all cool. My friend Teddy Allen feels if he’d have been named Teddy Simonetti or Teddy Takata or Teddy Tarbutton, he would have gotten some respect. Great names. They bring something to the party. Plus, it’s a fine road and a top-shelf exit. Hat tippage.

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Written by Khloe Green
Submitted by adviser Katelynne Levesque

Recently the FBLA members of I.A. Lewis participated in the 2023 FBLA Regional Conference at Louisiana Tech University, competing against the sixth through eighth grade chapter members of multiple other schools in the Lincoln School System in both objective tests and presentations.

The following students received honors during the event:

— Gracie Bourgeois placed superior on  “Business Etiquette

—  Khloe’ Green placed superior on “Career Exploration” and “Learning Strategies” 

— Harper Thompson scored excellence for “Exploring Economics”

— Emily Thompson scored superior on “FBLA Concepts”

— Luke Pendergrass scored excellence on “Financial Literacy” 

— Rhyan Hester placed superior on “Interpersonal Communication”

— Reginald Giles placed excellence on “Leadership” 

— Braylen Gipson place excellence on “Running an Effective Meeting” 

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On the presentations/ performance events, I.A. Lewis had Gracie Bourgeois place excellence on “Business Etiquette,” Emily Thompson place superior on “Elevator Speech.” Luke Pendergrass place first on “Exploring Business Issues,” and Rhyan Hester place excellence and Briley Mack place superior on “FBLA Mission and Pledge;” and for “Critical Thinking” Caleb Breeding, Braylen Gipson and Harper Thompson placed excellence.

Even though all of the members didn’t place on their test and presentation, students still gained experience while participating in the Regional Conference. By attending the conference students became familiar with the activities and order of fashion at the conference, learned many business techniques, approaches, saving habits/tips, and ideas for the future as FBLA members; and grew more familiar with the officers of FBLA clubs in the Lincoln Parish. The group of students is now looking forward to participating in the state conference in Lafayette and be one of the many representing Ruston.

By T. Scott Boatright

Playing in Marsh Madness – the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s basketball tournament – is a big thing, and requires big-time preparation.

Toward that end, the two Lincoln Parish teams still alive in the state boys basketball tournament – Ruston High, the No. 2 seed in the Division I Nonselect school bracket, and Lincoln Preparatory School, the No. 2 seed in the Division IV Select school bracket, worked out Tuesday at Louisiana Tech’s Thomas Assembly Center before heading down to Lake Charles today to prepare for the tournament that will be hosted by McNeese State’s Barton Coliseum.

 “It’s just a chance to get in a bigger arena and practice,” said Bearcats coach Ryan Bond Tuesday evening. “We appreciate (Louisiana Tech) get in there and practice, but how much it will help I don’t know because it’s still a lot different than (Barton Coliseum)

“There’s a lot of open space behind both goals down there. But any time you can get into a bigger place – a different place — it’s a slight advantage when you’re taking shots during a game.”

Panthers coach Antonio Hudson said getting used to different depth perceptions is the biggest takeaway from workouts at the TAC.

“It was good to get them out to a big arena and let them get the feel of it, especially the new guys,” Hudson said. “I’ll bet they know how long it is because I ran them enough. But it was big to get them in this kind of atmosphere when you think about depth perception and things like that.”

That perception of depth might be especially important for a team like Lincoln Prep that hasn’t played on a true home court in years as a new school building nearing completion has been under construction.

“At this point I don’t think doing something like this can do anything but help us,” Hudson said. “We’re used to dealing with adversity, so a tough practice like today isn’t that big a thing for this team. We’ve been there before. This isn’t their first team shooting in an arena like this. 

“And this has been going on for more than just this year. It’s been that way the last three to four years – we haven’t had a place to really call home. The success we’ve had is really just a testament to the kids and this program.”

Both coaches said the biggest advantage of practicing in the TAC will be felt at the free-throw line.

“When you’re playing in a bigger arena than you’re used to, you have to be more focused,” Hudson said. “It’s about depth perception.

“But in any arena, the length and distance is still the same, and 3-point length is the same,” Hudson said. “The thing this does is get you focused and zoned in extra hard on your target. You have to have that focus so you – it’s not erase, but focus – enough so that you don’t see that background.”

Ruston practiced in the TAC on both Monday and Tuesday and said he noticed one thing about working out in a bigger arena.

“All good shooters, like Aiden Anding and Joran Parker and Lontravius Dimmer for us, they’ve been shooting the ball pretty well,” Bond said. “So I think we’re going to be fine. I’m confident in our guys.”

Bond jokingly said he considered borrowing a tip from the Gene Hackman classic prep basketball movie “Hoosiers.” 

“I kidded with someone that I wanted to bring out the tape measure like in ‘Hoosiers’ to show the team the distance from the basket to the free-throw line, or anything else, is the same no matter how big it is.

“But the players wouldn’t have known that reference. It’s still 15 feet to the free-throw line. I think the biggest thing I noticed when we made it when I was at Weston is that they were shooting the threes from the college 3-point line. They have a line somewhat taped off, but it’s still not a high school line like the players are used to. So the biggest thing is to get them to focus on the fact they’ve got to put more arch on their shots and make sure they get the basketball there.”

Bond feels the Bearcats practices have gone well.

“We had a long day yesterday,” Bond said. “We lifted and had shooting. And we practiced after school at the TAC. Today a majority of the guys had an ACT and pre-ACT day. There’s a lot going on but the guys have been really working hard.

“I’ve been pleased. I haven’t kicked them out of practice or anything like that. We’ve had some good practices. We might have a bad play happen, but I’ve been really happy with the guys. They’re excited. They’re going to have a little silliness. But I know at 6:15 Thursday night they’re going to come out real hard because they want to get to that state championship game. They want to win it. But that starts on Thursday against a good basketball team.”

The Bearcats will leave for Lake Charles at noon today after a short practice to prepare for Thursday’s 6:15 p.m. semifinal showdown against third-seeded Ponchatula.

“We’ll go to the hotel first, and then we’ll go to the arena,” Bond said. “I don’t know, but I doubt any of our guys have ever been in there. So we’ll check it out. I know we’ll catch at least some of the Winnfield game.”

The Panthers will leave for Lake Charles at 9 a.m. today and will practice at Sam Houston High School.

“We’ll go down and go to the 1 o’clock game, then we’ll go check into the hotel. We’re going to practice at Sam Houston High School, too.”

Hudson admitted his biggest concern is making sure his Panthers are properly focused on the challenge that lies ahead, beginning with third-seeded Crescent City. That game is set for a 1:15 tip-off on Thursday.  

“It’s our mentality,” Hudson said of his biggest concern heading into Marsh Madness. “ I’m not trying to take anything away from any of the three great teams that are down there playing for the Division IV Select playoffs along with us. We’ve been one of the top three or four teams all year.

“But we have to remain focused. We have to make sure that we pay attention to the little details and execute what we do – both on and off the court.”

A Ruston woman was charged with DWI Sunday after admitting she “took Xanax and smoked weed” before being stopped by a sheriff’s deputy.

Maria Carmen Trejo, 31, was initially stopped for an equipment violation on Tarbutton Road. The deputy smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the car and saw signs of impairment when talking to Trejo and administering field sobriety tests.

Trejo said she had only consumed one drink but had taken some Xanax and had smoked weed (marijuana). Xanax bottles and a paper bag containing marijuana were found in the car.

Trejo was arrested and a breath at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center showed no indication of alcohol.  She was booked for DWI-first offense and possession of marijuana.

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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. 

Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Louisiana Tech opens up the 2023 Conference USA Basketball Championship tonight versus FIU at 8 p.m. at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco. This will mark the first time the Bulldogs and Panthers face off in the league tournament.

The contest can be heard on KXKZ 107.5 FM and through the LA Tech Athletics app and it can be seen on ESPN+.

LA Tech closed out the regular season with a near upset of C-USA regular season champion Florida Atlantic, falling in the final seconds, 76-72, in Ruston. It was another near miss of upsetting the Owls as the Bulldogs fell in overtime against FAU in their first meeting in Boca Raton.

FIU put an end to its five-game losing streak by winning on the road at Rice, 90-83, to end the regular season. The Panthers avenged an earlier loss to the Owls in a game that featured 14 lead changes and 12 ties.

LA Tech leads the all-time series with FIU, 10-8. The two teams split the series this season with the Panthers winning, 66-62, in Miami about a month ago and the Bulldogs taking it, 77-76, in overtime this past Thursday in Ruston.

LA Tech overcame a 16-point deficit in the second half to defeat FIU a week ago. Five Bulldogs scored in double figures, led by Keaston Willis who had 18. The ‘Dogs had a +14 rebounding margin and managed to overcome their 21 turnovers.

Seven points or less has decided the last eight meetings between the Bulldogs and Panthers (and four points or less has decided the last five meetings).

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Thomas Henson recorded his fourth top-20 individual finish of the season in leading Louisiana Tech to a sixth-place finish as a team at the Tiger Invitational, hosted by the University of Auburn at Grand National Lakes Course.

LA Tech jumped up one spot during the third and final round, shooting 288 (E) to finish with its second best three-round total of the season at +4 (280-300-288=868).

After totaling 11 birdies through the first two rounds, Henson managed only one birdie in the round to shoot 74 (+2). Even so, he put together his second best tournament as a Bulldog by shooting 214 (68-72-74) to finish at -2 and tied for 18th individually.

Grant Smith had his best career tournament as a Bulldog, tying for 24th after shooting 216 (68-78-70) for Even par. He bounced back from a tough second round to have the best round for LA Tech on Tuesday.

Freshman Riley Hnatyshyn had the second best round on the final day, shooting his first collegiate round under par at 71 (-1) to finish with a three-round total of 221 (72-78-71). He tied for 47th individually.

Lake Juban had the third best score in the final round for the Bulldogs, shooting 73 (+1) to end with a three-round total of 220 (72-75-73). He tied for 38th individually.

Hunter Battles tied for 69th carding a 226 (76-75-75).

_________________________________

Despite seven scoreless innings in the circle from freshman pitcher Allie Floyd, the Louisiana Tech Softball team dropped its midweek matchup to ULM, 3-1 on Tuesday evening at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.

A two-run home run in the top of the ninth by the Warhawks Ashlan Ard was the difference maker, propelling ULM to a 3-1 victory.

Floyd went the distance, pitching all nine innings while striking out four and allowing three runs on seven hits and no walks.

Brooke Diaz was the bright spot in the Lady Techsters lineup, hitting her first home run of the season with a solo shot to left-centerfield to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth, while also doubling in the fourth inning. Sierra Sacco and Jordyn Manning would also collect hits, but that is all Tech could muster at the plate.

Tech had an opportunity to win it in the bottom of the seventh with runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs, but a fly ball to right field turned into a double play as pinch runner Jina Baffuto was thrown out at home trying to score from third. Sacco then lined out to centerfield to end the inning and extend the game.

Tech will host North Texas in a three-game C-USA series Friday thru Sunday at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.

Early voting for expanding alcohol sales in the city begins this week for Ruston voters.

Early voting will take place March 11-18 (excluding Sunday, March 12) from 8:30 a.m.  to 6 p.m. Only voters registered inside the City of Ruston are eligible to vote in this election. 

In October of last year, nearly 3,300 signatures were collected to petition the city of Ruston to add a vote on March 25, 2023, for residents to decide on expanding alcohol sales to grocery retailers within the city limits. 

“We want to thank the thousands of Ruston voters who agreed an election should be held,” John Hatch of Hatch Consulting Group said in an interview this past fall. “We were allowed 60 days, and Ruston voters answered the call in less than 30.” 

In order for the vote to be added, a total of 2,454 signatures of residents within the city limits of Ruston had to be gathered. 

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Courtesy of GSU Athletic Communications

The Grambling State University men’s basketball team had the accolades continue to pour in, as Cameron Christon and head men’s basketball coach Donte’s Jackson were named Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Player and Coach of the Year, respectively, by the conference on Tuesday evening.

Christon and Jackson weren’t the only members of the program to be honored. Senior guard Shawdarius Cowart was named second-team All-SWAC after a stellar season.

Christon, who was also named to the first-team, was one of the most dynamic players in the SWAC, averaging 12.8 points per game helping lead Grambling State to its first 20-win season in 43 years. He also ranked in the top 15 in the SWAC in multiple categories. He was 11th in points per game, 10th in total rebounds (161) and was 12th in three-pointers made (45). Christon racked up a game-high 25 points twice this season and notched a double-double versus Alabama A&M on Feb. 6

Jackson, in his seventh season leading the Tigers, was named SWAC Men’s Basketball Co-Coach the Year alongside Alcorn State’s Landon Bussie, after guiding GSU to historic regular season finish. Grambling State eclipsed the 20-win mark for the first time since the 1979-80 season. GSU also tied its Division I record for wins in a season, going 22-8 overall, with a 15-3 mark in conference play.

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This is the second time Jackson has been named SWAC Coach of the Year, as he earned the honor following the 2017-18 campaign.

Cowart was big on both ends of the floor for Grambling State. The Pensacola, Fla. native is currently second in the SWAC in total steals with 56. On offense, Cowart averaged 11.3 points per game, which landed him inside the top 20 in the league. He’s also fifth in total assists with 94. He was also third on the team in rebounds, pulling down 109 boards.

The Grambling State men’s basketball team begins SWAC Tournament play as the No. 2 seed as faces No. 7 seed Bethune-Cookman on Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Barrow Arena in Birmingham, Ala.

Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Fans and alumni are encouraged to submit nominations for the Louisiana Tech Athletics Hall of Fame as the University is set to induct another class in the fall of 2023.

Submissions are due by Friday, March 31.  The class will be announced this spring and enshrined during a home football weekend.

Dr. Donna Thomas, who currently serves as the faculty athletics representative and chair of the Louisiana Tech Athletics Council, is also the chair of the anonymous 7-member Athletics Hall of Fame committee comprised of athletic department officials, alumni representatives, and faculty members.  The current members of the Louisiana Tech Athletics Hall of Fame make up an eighth vote within the council.

The Louisiana Tech Athletics Hall of Fame currently includes 113 members, a list that can be viewed on LATechSports.com by clicking on the LA Tech Hall of Fame link located under the INSIDE ATHLETICS menu bar.  The nomination form can also be found on that same web page (HERE) or requested by emailing Associate A.D. for Strategic Communications Kane McGuire at kmcguire@latech.edu.

Anyone interested in knowing if a nominee is already on the Hall of Fame nominee list from previous years contact Kane McGuire.  Multiple nominations are not required.

In order for an individual to be eligible for consideration, they must meet the following criteria.

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Athletes must have distinguished themselves through outstanding individual achievements at Louisiana Tech and/or distinguished themselves after college through professional career, outstanding community, civic or University service. A former student-athlete shall be first eligible for selection five full academic years after completing his/her eligibility at LA Tech.

Athletic staff and University officials who have made significant contributions to the athletic department either in an official capacity or in a volunteer service, displayed unwavering loyalty to LA Tech athletics and contributed significantly to the advancement of athletics at the University. There is no prescribed waiting period for these individuals.

LA Tech held an induction ceremony in the fall of 2022 to celebrate the Class of 2021, which included Richie LeBlanc (Baseball), Roy Pace (Golf), Bryant Wesco (Track and Field), Debra Williams (Women’s Basketball), and Tramon Williams (Football). The ceremony was originally postponed due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns. Two-time Ray Guy Award winner Ryan Allen (Football), who was also part of the Class of 2021, will be enshrined this fall after not being able to attend last October’s ceremony.

Memorial services for Mrs. Ashley Brooke Davis, age 50 of Bernice, LA will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, March 11, 2023 at the family home located at 118 Tonways Rd, Bernice, LA 71222 with Rev. Marty Payton officiating. Services will be under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston, LA.

Brooke was born October 8, 1972 in Warren, AR to Patricia Thurman and Eugene Martin, and she passed away peacefully surrounded by her family March 4, 2023 in her home in Bernice after fighting a hard 10 month battle with cancer. She graduated from Winnfield Senior High School in 1991 and found herself at home in both Arkansas and Louisiana. Brooke was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed spending her time outdoors. She spent many winter days deer hunting in Kansas and, in the spring and the summer, she could be found boating and skiing at Morro Bay. Brooke loved to work in her garden and to cook for her family and friends. She was loved by many and will be missed by all. Brooke was preceded in death by her grandparents Adeline Helms Williams Friedlander and Nolan “Pinchie” Williams; parents Patricia Ellen Thurman and Alvie Eugene Martin; niece Erika McKenzie Higgs; and brother-in-law Tony Higgs.

Brooke leaves behind her husband Tommy Davis; children: Hanna and husband Reagan Williams, Cody Maloy and wife Brooke and Hunter Maloy; step-children: Meghan and husband Nick Slusher, Kelsey and husband Evan Ward, Ryleigh Davis, Brooks Avery Davis and Jordyn Davis; grandchildren: Carter Williams, Owen Williams, Elaina Williams and James Thomas Slusher; sisters Ellen Higgs and Amy Hooter; niece Brooklyn Harger; nephews Dalton Harger and Tyler Hayes; great-niece Scarlett Hayes; great-nephews Jayden Hayes and Brooks Hayes; and a host of family and many, many dear friends.

Serving as pallbearers will be Tommy Davis, Tim Coggins, Marc Coggins, Perry Myers, John Floyd Lindsey, Dusty “Mop” Stephenson, Ryan Hanson, Tom Carney, Kevin “KY” Kelley, Thomas Stanfield, Scott “Big Shot” Ford and Mike Skipper.

To leave an online memorial message for the family, please visit www.owensmemorialfuneralhome.com.

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Mary Louise Lee 
May 6, 1941 – March 5, 2023 
Visitation: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – West Monroe, Wednesday, March 8, 2023, 10:00 am 
Service: Douglas Cemetery, Wednesday, March 8, 2023, 1:00 pm 
Cemetery: Douglas Cemetery, Wednesday, March 8, 2023, 1:00 pm 

Randie Rae Pierce   
Sunday 09/21/1947  — Saturday 02/25/2023       
Family Gathering: Friday 03/10/2023 2:00pm to 3:00pm at King’s Funeral Home   
Visitation: Friday 03/10/2023 3:00pm to 5:00pm at King’s Funeral Home   
Celebration of Life: Saturday 03/11/2023 1:00pm at: St. Peter Baptist Church, 899 St. Peter Road, Ruston  
Interment: Saturday 03/11/2023 Following Service, St. Peter Church Cemetery, St. Peter Road, Ruston 

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By T. Scott Boatright

Ruston’s aldermen approved resolutions to create a new economic development district surrounding the impending construction of a Buc-ee’s franchise within city limits and made moves amending the city’s zoning code in regard to the alcohol sales amendment election set for March 25 during Monday’s monthly Council Meeting at City Hall.

Regarding the zoning code amendment ordinance, the approved changes will allow the city to regulate the number of bars (defined as establishments selling alcohol only) as well as where packaged liquor could be sold should all five election propositions be passed.

“The ordinance actually creates the Entertainment Overlay District providing for boundaries – I-20 on the north, Vienna and Bonner on the east, California on the south and Tech drive on the west,” said city attorney Bill Carter. “If the ordinance is adopted it will be considered a separate zoning district and will supersede other zoning districts.

“As well,  the ordinance also provides what we call separation requirements once a bar is approved, another bar cannot be approved closer than 1,320 feet. Also, drive-through sales from bars or package liquor stores are prohibited. 

“Additionally, any bar approved will do so under conditional use rules provided for in the zoning code. It goes through the Zoning Commission and the Zoning Commission can put any conditions that it seems fit to apply.” 

Walker said the ordinances were passed to try and control the number of bars within the city, if any at all, and to decide where packaged liquor can be sold and what size stores would do such selling.

“This is just the final piece of all those changes and I think the most important piece is the fact they’re all conditional use and have to come before the Planning and Zoning (Commission) each time,” Walker said.

Regarding the new economic development district, Carter called on Monroe attorney Wes Shafto, who has provided bond council to the city of Ruston, to explain the move to create an economic developed district to be named “Economic Development District No 2 of the city of Ruston, Louisiana” defining the boundaries thereof from which certain area local and potentially state sales and use tax increments will be determined and used to finance economic development projects within the district.

Ruston’s aldermen unanimously amended five resolutions dating as far back as 1993 to pave the way to introduce an ordinance

“Forty% of state tax revenues are allowed to go toward development like you’ve seen over the frontage roads and even repairs to overpasses have been attributable to this program,” Shafto said. 

Shafto the new district will bring any development surrounding the area off of Tarbutton Road that a Ruston Buc-ee’s will be constructed under those tax district regulations.

“It’s a win/win for both the city and the state,” Shafto said. “The state gives up a portion of its sales tax proportions but still keeps 60% of it. So it’s hugely beneficial to the state.”

Mayor Ronny Walker said former Mayor Hilda Taylor Perritt began this process back in the 1990s.

“It’s the best thing she did for our city because during the years since the establishment of this we’ve spent close to $50 million in roadwork for frontage roads, bridges, the new (Tarbutton) Interchange – all of that was made possible by the tax incremental district, so we’re very fortunate to have this in our city and to expand it into more areas,” Walker said. 

Ruston’s City Council approved the sale of property the city acquired from Campus Community Church in 2017 to Lifepoint Church of Ruston, Inc., in another unanimous vote.

“We have moved RPAR (Ruston Park and Recreation) offices to the grounds of the Indoor Sports Facility at the Sports Complex, so now the church the city acquired in 2017 is now available and no longer in use,” Carter said. “In a case of good timing, the city received an offer from Lifepoint Church, which desires to purchase the building and 6.5 acres of the approximate 13 acres the city purchased in 2017 to utilize as their own church facility.

“So we’ve negotiated a purchase prize of $915,000 that includes a deduction based on some damage done due to a busted water pipe that occurred during the freeze in December.”

Ruston’s City Council voted unanimously to approve that sale.

Among other business, Ruston’s aldermen:

• Appointed Ward 4 alderman John Denny to the Lincoln Parish Sales and Use Tax Committee
• Approved a resolution authorizing the city to enter into a contract relating to the Louisiana Tech Railroad Multi-Use Path/Trail project
• Authorized the city to enter into a professional services agreement with BHA, Inc., for engineering services relating to a new relay and distribution heeded at the Tennessee Avenue Station
• Authorized the city to enter into a contract in connection to $52,000 for restroom improvements for Russ-Town Industrial Park improvements
• Approved a resolution describing actions that will be taken by the city in regards to the Municipal Water Pollution Prevention Environmental Audit Report in order to maintain compliance and prevent effluent violations per permit requirements constrained in the Louisiana water discharge permit system
• Authorized the city to enter $1,136,000 contract related to the University Hills Water Improvement Project
• Introduced an ordinance adopting amendments for the period of Oct. 1, 2021 through Sept. 30, 2022, to the annual budget of revenues and expenditures for that same fiscal year.

By T. Scott Boatright

 

GRAMBLING – The city of Grambling has a new official attorney after Judge Bruce Hampton swore Shreveport lawyer Ronald F. Lattier into office during Monday night’s rescheduled City Council meeting.

That meeting was originally set for Thursday but was postponed until Monday because of the line of severe thunderstorms that rolled across north Louisiana late Thursday, prompting multiple weather warnings.

Lattier replaces Pamela Breedlove who had served as Grambling City Attorney since 2009 under former Mayor Edward Jones.

During last month’s initial meeting under new Mayor Alvin Bradley and Grambling’s City Council that featured four new members, there was apparent friction as Breedlove faced questions concerning business in Grambling’s Economic Development District.

Bradley said that after that meeting he had decided to go another direction with the city attorney position, but apparently Breedlove felt the same, turning in her letter of resignation the next time the two met.

After voting unanimously to accept Breedlove’s resignation, Grambling’s City Council unanimously approved a motion to name Lattier, former attorney for the city of Shreveport, as her replacement.

“Mr. Lattier comes with high marks and checked off all the boxes as it relates to being city attorney and knowing governmental legal matters,” Bradley said. “He graduated top of his class from Southern (University) Law School – we’re not going to hold that against him – and holds a Bachelor of Arts (degree) from Northeast Louisiana University, now ULM, and was an honor grad from Woodlawn High School in Shreveport.

“He also has his own law office in Shreveport and comes highly recommended.”

After Grambling’s City Council voted  unanimously to accept the recommendation for Lattier to take over as city attorney, Hampton stepped forward to swear him into office.

“I will not let you down – give me a little time and we’ll work all of this out,” Lattier told the Council. “As I told you before, I do things by the book … and I look forward to a long lasting and fruitful relationship with the city of Grambling.”

In other business, Grambling’s City Council approved the hire dates of firefighters Remmington Webb, dating back to Oct. 4, 2020, and Hahsan Jackson dating back to Aug. 15, 2022.

“This next item under old business is really, really old business,” Bradley said as he began explaining the situation. “These hires were made before we took office. Why these young men are on the agenda tonight is that we are going to try and right a wrong. They should have been voted on and added to the minutes by (the previous) Council. The only way they can receive supplemental pay, which comes strictly from the state and is not an added expense for our current budget, is to have that documented.

“I could have kicked the can down the road, but that’s not right. These young men have been working; however, the knowledge of them working was not recorded in any of the (previous) Council meetings. That’s why I brought it forward tonight.”

Grambling’s Council also approved to add on to the agenda and then OKed the hires of Reginald Knighten as a probational entry level full-time firefighter for the Grambling Fire Department as well as naming Jaylen Houston as a part-time firefighter as well as approving the hire of Mark Tennent as a certified Grambling City Police Officer.

During Monday’s meeting the City Council also authorized Bradley to sign a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the state of Louisiana for the Water Sector Program Award and to sign a change order and certificate of completion for the Community Center Expansion Project.

Bradley said that during an inspection the new expansion work did not include proper fire doors as required and that those doors have been replaced with up-to-standards fire doors.

The meeting ended with a surprise announcement as Councilwoman Delores Smith, owner of The Collegiate Shoppe on Main Street in Grambling, will begin holding a closing sale beginning on March 16.

That apparel store, which was founded by Smith’s father Calvin Wilkerson in 1956,was once the largest Black-owned clothing store in the South and in 1976 achieved top ratings from Dun and Bradstreet, a corporation based in Jacksonville, Florida, that provides commercial data, analytics, and insights for businesses.

 

By Doug Ireland/Journal Sports

Louisiana Tech sports luminaries Mike McConathy and Leo Sanford were saluted for lifetime accomplishment at the annual National Football Foundation S.M. McNaughton Chapter Scholar-Athlete Awards Dinner last Thursday night at East Ridge Country Club in Shreveport.

Chapter and national officials made a National Football Foundation Gold Medal presentation to Sanford, the longtime chapter president who has been on the NFF board since its creation in 1980. Sanford, a member of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, Ark-La-Tex Museum of Champions and the Louisiana Tech Athletic Hall of Fame, was a star center and linebacker at Shreveport’s Fair Park High School and at Louisiana Tech before becoming a Pro Bowl player in the NFL with the Chicago Cardinals and winning the 1958 NFL championship alongside Johnny Unitas for the Baltimore Colts.

He has been an active leader in Tech alumni activities and a donor to academics and athletics at the university, and has received recognition from the university for those endeavors. Sanford, 93 years old, was surrounded by Tech supporters and friends, and received a long standing ovation during the ceremony.

McConathy, whose playing days at Tech in the mid-70s earned him status among the elite players in Bulldogs history alongside greats like Mike Green, Karl Malone and Jackie Moreland, was presented the chapter’s Distinguished American Award for his far-reaching impact on high school and collegiate athletics and lifelong involvement with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Northwestern State football coach Brad Laird – a Ruston High football great and former Bearcats’ head coach — gave a stirring introduction of McConathy, who became the winningest college basketball coach in state history during his 23 seasons at Northwestern in a 39-year college coaching career. He is also a member of the Tech Athletic Hall of Fame and the Ark-La-Tex Museum of Champions, and NSU’s Hall of Distinguished Educators and N-Club Hall of Fame.

Previous Distinguished American award winners include Sanford, Sen. J. Bennett Johnston, Denny Duron, Orvis Sigler, Tim Brando, James Davison, Terry Slack, Billy Montgomery, and Ivan Smith Jr., along with McConathy’s father Johnny McConathy and the namesake of the local NFF chapter, Milton McNaughton.

Ten 2022 senior prep football scholar-athletes, nominated by their head coaches, received accolades and scholarships during the event. The 10 were Hunter Addison of North DeSoto, Green Oaks’ Fred Benjamin, Elijah Harper of Red River, Christian Jones from C.E. Byrd, West Monroe’s Blake Loring, Adam Parker of St. Mary’s in Natchitoches, Haughton’s Peyton Polk, Kam Robinson from Captain Shreve, Hayden Rolfe of Logansport and Northwood’s Mason Welch.

The event, attended by over 330 guests, culminated when North DeSoto’s Addison was announced as the McNaughton Chapter’s nominee for the National Football Foundation’s nationwide scholar-athlete of the year honor. He will be spotlighted during the 2023-24 year in the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

Northwood’s Welch was spotlighted as the KTBS/Johnny’s Pizza House Scholar-Athlete of the Year after being nominated last fall for the 2022 NFF Scholar-Athlete Watch List. Fourteen standouts were spotlighted during Tuesday segments on the KTBS 6 and 10 p.m. sportscasts and on the station’s award-winning Johnny’s Pizza House Friday Football Fever weekly highlight show, and received a Griffin’s Game Ball in tribute to the late KTBS and KSLA news and sports personality, who served on the McNaughton Chapter’s board.

Jess Curtis was recognized as the chapter’s Coach of the Year for leading Many High School to back-to-back state championships, including an unbeaten season last fall. He is the new coach at Natchitoches Central.

Longtime Byrd High coach Mike Suggs received the chapter’s Contribution to Amateur Football Award after being introduced by former recipient Alan Carter, who hired Suggs at Byrd as offensive coordinator over 30 years ago.

Among other prior recipients are Eddie Robinson, Lee Hedges, Bert Jones, Joe Ferguson, Alton “Red” Franklin, Stan Humphries, Doug Williams, Jimmy “Chick” Childress, Rodney Guin, Broderick Fobbs, Joe Raymond Peace and Sam Goodwin.

Piney Hills Harmony Chorus of Sweet Adelines will present a preview of its regional competition package during Friends and Family Night at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 9. 

The event is a dress rehearsal for the chorus’s upcoming performance at Sweet Adelines International’s Region 10 competition March 24-25 in Houston, where choruses and quartets from four states will participate. The Friends and Family Night will be in the fellowship hall of the Presbyterian Church of Ruston, 212 N. Bonner. 

This is the first time Piney Hills Harmony will compete since COVID-19 forced the international organization to cancel competitions in early 2020. During COVID, the chorus missed only one rehearsal and held Zoom sessions from March 2020 until June 2021.  

At Friends and Family Night, in addition to the chorus’s presentation, a quartet from within the chorus will also perform – Forte! The quartet is composed of Candice Bassett, Lynette Murphy, Sheila Nugent and Judy Sisson. 

Bassett also serves as director of the chorus, and Murphy, as assistant director for musical expression. They will share duties in Houston, with Bassett directing “Love Letters Straight from the Heart” and Murphy directing “L-O-V-E.” “We have worked hard to rebuild since the COVID-19 pandemic kept us from singing together in person,” Bassett said. “We lost members to health issues, family issues and just the fact that singing together on Zoom was not the same experience. 

“We have worked hard to rebuild since the COVID-19 pandemic kept us from singing together in person,” Bassett said. “We lost members to health issues, family issues and just the fact that singing together on Zoom was not the same experience.

“We are proud of our members who have stayed through the hard times and the new members who have found us on the other side. This will be a joint effort of both sides of the equation as we take the stage and sing at competition once again.”

Participating Piney Hills Harmony members come from Lincoln, Caldwell, Ouachita and Union parishes.

“Sharing the harmony of song and sisterhood is what keeps us strong and what we feel will resonate with the audience,” Bassett said. “We want to share that experience with those close to us who won’t get to see us in person in Houston.”

Admission to the Ruston performance is free.

A fourth Grambling State University student was arrested Friday after a Thursday incident in which a group of men forced their way into a campus dorm room and assaulted and terrorized the students inside, threatening them with a pistol.

Sidney Franklin, 19, of Montgomery, Ala. was arrested Friday evening for home invasion as the investigation continued after three earlier arrests Thursday evening.

Two occupants of a suite in Pinchback Hall on the GSU campus reported a former roommate and three other individuals entered their rooms and assaulted them. Police found all four room dorms in the suite had been kicked open and damaged.

The two victims said they were beaten and that one of the men brandished a semiautomatic pistol. The man with a pistol allegedly threatened, “If you say anything, you’re gone.” The men rummaged through the rooms during the assault.

GSU Police observed cuts and bruises on the faces of the victims and estimated damage to the dorm at $10,000.

Franklin reportedly told GSU Police he served as the lookout watching for the police during the incident.

The three men were identified and taken into custody Thursday included the former roommate, Melvin Priestly, 19, and Carteare Gordon, 22, both of St. Louis, Mo., along with Derreion Hinton, 19, of Jacksonville, Tex., were booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for home invasion.

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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 Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested a Ruston man last Thursday for drug possession after he was stopped for an obscured license plate.

Jeffrey Williamson, 54, was traveling on U.S. 167 when a deputy noticed the license plate was folded in a manner that made it unreadable.

During an investigation after the vehicle was stopped, a search was conducted, and a small film canister was located in a void under the steering column. The canister contained suspected Trazodone and methamphetamine. Williamson reportedly told the deputy he obtained the Trazodone from a friend at work.

Williamson was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, possession of a legend drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, and improper display of a license plate.

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. 

I’m a sucker for spring. My husband is as well.  

We drive around town and into the country, oohing and ahhing at the lush brilliance of the fresh grass, at the gentle greens of certain trees – so soft that they’re actually grayish, and the whites and yellows and pinks and purples of seemingly infinite flowers and buds. 

We walk in the park. We watch the sunset in the air that’s now tinged with that special signature of spring. 

And I post photos on Facebook of spirea (both close up and distant), azaleas (one with Mama and Papa azalea as well as baby Bud), towering oaks with huge, brawny branches just made for a swing (maybe our church leaders will get the hint about what’s available in our back lot), a petite row of dewberry blossoms intermingled with our shrubbery (or are they blackberries?). 

My sister says we probably got our appreciation of nature from our mother. I just wish I had inherited her green thumb as well. Sister has one, and so did Daddy. Me, I haven’t ever even repotted an ivy plant that I received as a gift 20-plus years ago, but it manages to hang on despite there being virtually no soil left. (Say, because it’s still alive under such adverse conditions, maybe I do have a green thumb after all. Maybe I just don’t use it!) 

I professed in an earlier column that I really can never decide which I like better – spring or fall. The season that’s actually occurring always seems to influence my answer. But, truthfully, I think spring is the ultimate winner. 

How can I not side with the time of year that brings to mind refreshing, renewal and rebirth? Is it any wonder that the ultimate triumph in history thus far – Jesus’ resurrection – also begins with the letters “re” and that we celebrate this event of events in the spring? All of those words are so inter-related.  

As an aside, “re” actually means “again” in Latin, and “surgere” means “to rise.” 

So in these days that are sandwiched between winter’s icy grip and summer’s heated breath, we revel in possibilities. We dream of things to come. If not immediate, then in the future. We dream of rejuvenation. 

Of course, I realize that spring’s conflicting weather patterns – warm one day, cold the next – can also bring forth times of turbulence and terror, such as the recent outbreak of tornadoes. And my heart goes out to those who suffer such catastrophes. 

With spring, however, hope does spring eternal. After the darkest of Good Fridays comes glorious Sunday. God always offers hope.  

As we shake off the winter chill, let’s consider some Bible verses about spring that present the possibility of new beginnings. 

“For behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land” – Song of Solomon 2:11-12. 

“The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy” – Isaiah 35:1-12. 

“They waited for me as for showers and drank in my words as the spring rain” – Job 29:23. 

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” – Acts 3:19. 

So whether it’s a long, leisurely walk on a sunny day or splashing through puddles after a sudden shower, let’s soak up spring’s blessings. With God’s guidance, let’s allow this new season to bring to life something new within us.

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Memory verse: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” – Psalm 51:10. 

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Sallie Rose Hollis lives in Ruston and retired from Louisiana Tech as an associate professor of journalism and the assistant director of the News Bureau. She can be contacted at sallierose@mail.com. 

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A Choudrant woman was arrested last Wednesday for drug possession after she was stopped for traffic violations.

Jodi Lynn Brewer, 47, was stopped when a Lincoln Parish sheriff’s deputy saw her vehicle was not displaying a license plate.

According to the deputy’s report, Brewer exited the car rapidly and appeared to shield him from viewing the inside of the car. Brewer said her driver’s license was suspended, the vehicle was uninsured, and did not have valid registration or a license plate.

A search of the car yielded a small amount of alprazolam on the front seat. Alprazolam is a prescription medication sold under several brand names including Xanax. 

When asked if she had any contraband on her person, Brewer acknowledged she had items concealed in her undergarments.

Brewer was taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center where a female deputy retrieved a plastic baggie containing a small amount of methamphetamine and a glass smoking pipe typically used to consume narcotics.

Brewer was booked for possession of alprazolam, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

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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. 

By Kyle Roberts

Ruston High’s baseball squad (6-4) won five games in five days last week starting with home win over Benton on Tuesday before sweeping through the Trey Altick Memorial Tournament on Friday and Saturday.

“We needed things to go the way that they did last week,” Ruston head coach Zack Smith said after his team started the season 2-4. “Overall, I was very pleased with our starting pitching throughout the week. I think our bats started to come alive, and our defense got better. We had been struggling defensively, and we had two games where we had zero errors. We’re happy about it, but we’ve got to move on because we have another big week this week.”

Ruston started with a 9-8 win over Benton High Tuesday night after taking and early 8-0 lead through two innings. Benton would add five in the top of the third, but Ruston would scored an insurance run in the bottom of the third inning to lead 9-5 heading into the fourth.

Senior DH Justin Szymanski finished with a double that led to two RBI. Sophomore Talan Billberry pitched two innings to get the win over Benton.

Ruston would play three games in the Trey Altick Memorial Tournament by taking a 3-2 win over Walker on Thursday, a 1-0 win over John Curtis on Friday, and an 8-0, errorless win over Denham Springs and the a 7-6 win over Northwood on Saturday.

After trailing 2-1 to Walker, Ruston would use a two-run fifth inning to get the victory on Thursday. On Friday, the lone run came off a single from senior catcher RJ Brown in the bottom of the sixth inning to bring home sophomore outfield Jake Simmons. On Saturday, Ruston cruised to the victory over Denham Springs after scoring seven runs in the bottom of the fourth, and then followed with a nail-biting win over Northwood after scoring the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Senior pitcher Dyson Fields picked up the win after pitching 3.0 innings and striking out five batters.

Through the first ten games, Szymanski is leading the way for Ruston by batting .500 with 11 RBI, getting 14 hits in 28 plate appearances.

“He looks really confident with what he’s doing right now,” Smith said. “He is really comfortable at the plate, and he’s really coming through in RBI situations. He’s a real leader for us, and we expect it to continue because he’s worked hard for it; he deserves it.”

Ruston returns to action at home tonight for Byrd before heading south for the East Ascension Tournament over the weekend.