Hydi Boyd applies the tag to an Opelousas Catholic runner during Saturday’s 4-2 loss. (photo by Darrell James)
By T. Scott Boatright
Cedar Creek’s early lead didn’t hold up in the long run Saturday as the Opelousas Catholic Lady Vikings rallied for a 4-2 win in Division IV Select School softball playoff action at Lady Cougars Stadium.
Playing while riding strong emotions while seeing injured teammate Allie Furman introduced as a starter before being announced as a pregame scratch – Furr tore her ACL in Cedar Creek’s second round win over Ouachita Christian and took the field for Saturday’s starting lineups on crutches – the Lady Cougars struck first with catcher Peyton Muse walking before being replaced by pinch runner Olivia Lee, who scored on a double slapped by Lillian Soto.
Opelousas Catholic tied things up with a run in the top of the fourth inning before taking a 3-1 avantage in the top to the fifth on a pair of runs aided by fielding errors committed by the Lady Cougars.
The Lady Vikings’s final run came on a solo homer in the top of the sixth inning.
Cedar Creek coach Julie Riser admitted her team was playing with heavy hearts.
“We gave it our all and played well,” Riser said. “Obviously, losing Allie was a big deal. And they felt it. The team I had out there gave it all they had. They just came up short.
“I’ve coached Allie and Lillian since sixth grade. They’ve always been all in since then. It’s hard to see them go but I appreciate the time they’ve put in.”
Riser also admitted putting Furr in the starting lineup was somewhat of an afterthought.
“I got here and started filling out the lineup and she wasn’t on it. And I struggled with it. So we talked about it and I just started her and subbed her out before the game started. I talked to her about it and it was emotional, but she was good with it.
“She started every game here since she started playing. So today was no different.”
Yesterday was the seven-year anniversary of my father’s death.
In December of this past year, my mother passed away.
And then, earlier this spring, two of my fellow Tech coworkers also passed.
In other words – it’s been a bit of a hard time.
I would like to add here, “But I’m looking on the bright side!” or “But I know things will get better!” but y’all, that isn’t always the case. Sometimes it’s a bad day and I congratulate myself on going to work and being a decent human being. And then there are those days where I am bitter, picturing the wonderful grandparents my parents would be – and were – to my kids and what we lost due to death and sickness.
I don’t know if it’s just me or maybe you’re experiencing this too, but it seems like this year has hit harder in terms of tragedy. Two of my students – less than a month apart – lost a parent. One of them had a beloved pet die right before a huge presentation in my class. The two Tech coworkers we at the university lost – it was a loss. It was felt throughout the campus community.
We all are carrying struggles, burdens, grief, troubles. I joke with my students that I’m running toward summer like my feet are on fire, but the truth is, I just need a break. They need a break. Heck, we all need a break. And often, especially if you don’t work in school, breaks are hard to find.
Whether you’re grieving or know someone who is, I think one of the most important things to remember is this: you’re not alone.
You’re not alone.
If you’ve lost a loved one, you’re not alone. If you are dealing with a crisis, you are not alone. If you are struggling and worrying and full of anxiety, you’re not alone.
We’re all trying to do the best we can with the time we have on this Earth. Some of us seem to have it together better than others, but I promise you that everyone struggles. Every single person. Don’t look at the shiny, pretty photos on Instagram. Don’t check out the new house or the new car. We’re all struggling – together.
It’s not a “misery loves company” thing either. No one wants to struggle. No one wants to be unhappy. But oftentimes, it’s nice to remember that we’re not alone.
The postseason outing for the Ruston High School Bearcats was shorter than hoped for as the No. 14 Destrehan Wildcats took a 2-0 series win on Friday and Saturday by final scores of 8-1 and 11-3 in round one of the 2023 LHSAA Non-Select Division I playoffs.
Ruston finishes the 2023 season with a final record of 21-13.
“I thought we probably had our best week of practice going into this weekend,” Ruston head coach Zack Smith said. “Our coaching staff felt like we were prepared, and we just didn’t play well. First game, we didn’t hit as well as we needed to, and in the second game, we didn’t pitch well or play good defense, and we didn’t have timely hitting. We had some opportunities to score some runs, but we didn’t get the timely hitting. That’s what I’ve been stressing to them: we need to pitch well, play good defense and get timely hits in order to beat really good teams. We just didn’t do that, and there’s no excuses.”
In the Friday matchup, Ruston drew first blood with an RBI-single from senior Dyson Fields to score senior Cade Patterson in the top of the second inning. It would be the only run the Bearcats would score as the Wildcats scored eight unanswered runs in innings three, four, and five for the 8-1 win.
On Saturday, Destrehan shot out of the gate with five runs in the top of the first inning. Ruston answered with three runs in the bottom of the second, but it would not prove enough as Destrehan would extend the lead in the top of the third en route to the 11-3 victory.
For Smith, the long trip over the weekend has left little time to fully reflect on the season as a whole but still offered some initial thoughts on what he’ll remember about this year’s time.
“These kids always fought hard,” Smith said. “They never gave up and never quit. They fought in every game no matter what the score was. We’re obviously disappointed because our goal is to win games and go far in the playoffs and represent Ruston High baseball as best we can. We came up short; and that’s baseball.
“We appreciate the ten seniors and what they’ve done for us for four years, and everything they’ve given me for two years now. We’ve got to pick up the pieces and try to get better as a program and move forward.”
A man was critically injured early Friday morning after a vehicle struck his bicycle in Ouachita Parish.
About 3:15 a.m. Friday, Louisiana State Police responded to a hit and run crash on La. Highway 34 north of La. 557.The crash critically injured 60-year-old Christopher Rice of West Monroe.
The preliminary investigation indicated Rice was riding a bicycle south on Highway 34.At the same time, an unidentified vehicle was traveling south on Highway 34.For reasons still under investigation, the unidentified vehicle struck Rice, who was ejected from the bicycle.
Rice sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Anyone with information regarding this crash is asked to contact Louisiana State Police Troop F at 318-345-0000.
Although the exact cause of this crash remains under investigation, Louisiana State Troopers wish to remind bicyclists to never assume that a motorist can see you. Simple precautions such as wearing an approved bicycle helmet, reflective materials, and avoiding distractions are key to preventing crashes and avoiding injuries. Louisiana law requires bicyclists to remain as close to the right side of the roadway as practicable and obey all traffic laws. Motorists should remain alert and remember the three-foot rule when passing bicycles.
After my brother’s junior year of high school I wanted to do something that might inspire him to achieve more in his final year as the varsity quarterback. I framed a picture of him directing the offence. Underneath the picture was a quote by Henry Ford that said, “Whether you believe you can do it or not, you are right.”
Take a second to read that statement and think about it. For most people it takes a couple of seconds for the real meaning to sink in. I wish I could take credit for my brother’s success and fame, but I can’t. In fact, and he would kill me for bringing this up, they did not even win a game their senior year. His success came from hard work, dedication, and a God given talent. The beatings that my friends and I put on him as a younger brother probably had a lot to do with it, but that is just my way of taking a little selfish pride out of the deal.
For those of you that read my column on a regular basis or have been in my office, you know I am into quotes or inspirational sayings. When I was in the masters program at Tech I was trained to listen to peoples’ metaphors and phrases. In counseling people tend to say I feel like I am stuck in the mud, I feel like I have nowhere to go, or I’m scared that my next wrong move will be like an atomic bomb. “To listen to someone’s speech and descriptions will help you connect to where they are,” is what I was once told. Well that got me to thinking, and those of you that know me know that does not take much. If peoples’ speech and descriptions will help you connect to where they are can it help them get to where they want to be?
Can what you read and think change your future? The answer is without a doubt, yes! The way you look at things and expect things to be will guide how you are motivated to achieve and influence how you deal with adversity. That saying had nothing to do with any of the wins on the field or his accolades, but a mental toughness and work ethic that came from believing in quotes like that did.
The quotes you read, the positive people you surround yourself with, or the scripture you love will not do the work for you. You still have to take the advice and positivity and apply it to your life. They will not save you from the circumstances you are in, but they will help you through those same circumstances. They will not do the work for your body, but they will lead your mind. And where the mind goes your body will follow.
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One of the new features we are implementing in this article is to take article ideas from the readers. This would be a great way for readers to get questions about general topics answered by a professional. We will do our best to cover every topic throughout the year. You can submit your topic ideas by email, counselorbrandon1@gmail.com, or send them in writing to Faith in the Family, 200 South Trenton Street, Ruston, LA, 71270. For more specific individual topics, please take a risk and call for an appointment.
Simsboro baseball coach Scott Hiers is pictured talking to his team following Friday’s game. (Photo by T. Scott Boatright)
By T. Scott Boatright
Even decent speed can kill when dealt consistently on the Class B baseball level.
The Simsboro Tigers found that out Friday night in the opening round of the Division V Select School Boys baseball playoffs on the SHS Baseball Field.
Doyline pitcher Noah Spears seemingly mesmerized the Tigers’ batters with a mix of fastball and offspeed pitches as the Doyline Panthers defeated Simsboro 3-0 in seven innings.
Spears faced 21 batters during the no-hitter, recording 18 strikeouts in the process.
Using something around a 85-mph fastball mixed with occasional change-ups, Spears stymied the Tigers’ batting order, giving up only a single to Mark Hollaway while recording 18 strikeouts.
“We crowded the plate. Our plan was to try to push him out of the zone,” said Simsboro coach Scott Hiers of the game plan against the Panthers. “We could have been standing in the middle of the plate. He was just throwing it to the mitt.
“He’s just a good pitcher. He threw strikes with his fastball, he threw strikes with his breaking ball and commanded the zone. He didn’t have a single walk.”
“Two years in a row in the playoffs we’ve faced a buzzsaw.” Hiers said. “If we ever want to win one of those, we’ve got to learn to hit pitching. We didn’t do that. And we had a good plan. For the most part, we executed that plan. We just didn’t get it done. Pitching and defense wins at any level, and they had that.”
Spears opened and then closed the game with three perfect innings, striking out all three Simsboro batters in both. He struck out the first 11 batters he faced before giving up a groundout to close the fourth inning.
“We needed to be perfect. We needed to push that into extra innings. Our kids played really hard. They had a great attitude the whole way through. In years past we would have folded and lost 10-0, but up until the very end tonight we had a shot. And that’s all anybody can ask for.”
The game was scoreless until the Panthers scored a run in the top of the sixth inning when Caysten Mingo tripled with two outs before scoring on a Dakota Stewart double.
Doyline added two more in the top of the seventh.
Simsboro closes out its season at 18-11.
“We’re still a work in progress, but the important thing is you can see progress being made,” Hiers said. “Baseball is becoming important for these players and this school. And it’s the perfect place for it.
“Right now, we just need to keep pushing forward. Keep working to get better and make this baseball program what it should be. This was just another learning experience. We’ll learn from it. And we’ll get better because of it.”
Junior Brook Melnychuk tossed a complete-game in Tech’s 7-2 win over UTEP Saturday in El Paso.
Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
Softball
Behind a season-high 13 runs, 13 hits and four home runs, the Louisiana Tech Softball team defeated UTEP 13-2 to win its sixth-straight game and sweep the series at Helen of Troy Softball Complex.
Tech (29-18, 11-7) won Friday’s game 10-7 and Saturday’s contest 7-2 and outscored the Miners 30-11 during the three-game series. The Lady Techsters are tied for fourth in the C-USA standings — only 1.5 games out of first place — with league leader Charlotte coming to town this coming weekend.
Mary Martinez made the start and was impressive during her four innings in the circle. The freshman allowed just one run on three hits and struck out five.
Offensively, Kylie Neel led the way with a home run, a double, and four RBI. Amanda Gonzalez and Katelin Cooper both went 2-4 with two RBI. Cooper (2-run HR), Neel (solo HR), Jordyn Manning (2-run HR), and Caroline Easom (solo HR) all hit home runs in the contest.
LA Tech is on a six-game winning streak and is now 29-18 overall and 11-7 in Conference USA play. Tech is tied for fourth in the Conference USA standings with the win today and sits a game and a half back of first-place Charlotte.
Allie Floyd, Brook Melnychuk, and Martinez each picked up wins in the circle during the series while Neel and Cooper each hit two home runs. Bailey Wright recorded three doubles in three games.
Baseball
Louisiana Tech ran into some bad luck and a good team on the road, an unfortunate combination that led to a three-game sweep at the hands of Dallas Baptist, Conference USA’s leader in hitting, fielding, and pitching.
After dropping Friday’s opener 9-1, the Bulldogs were swept, 11-3 and 10-5, Saturday before 1,367 on an afternoon that began in the 70s and ended on a cool and breezy evening at Horner Ballpark. Because of the rain forecast Sunday, the clubs played two Saturday.
Tech came in on a four-game win streak but is now 20-21 and 9-9. Dallas Baptist, 31-9, 15-3, has won 14 straight and has not lost since March 31 when Tech beat the Patriots in Ruston.
Leaders in CUSA, DBU and UTSA have won a combined 60 games overall and 30 in league play with a month to go in the regular season.
Tech remains on the road next week with a single game Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Southern Miss, then three CUSA games at Middle Tennessee in Murfreesboro beginning Friday at 6 p.m. Tech is scheduled to be back in Pat Patterson Park at J.C. Love Field Tuesday, May 2 against Northwestern State.
Football
The Louisiana Tech Football team concluded its spring ball slate with the conclusion of the spring game Saturday at Joe Aillet Stadium following the groundbreaking ceremony of the Sarah and A.L. Williams Champions Plaza at 10 a.m. outside the northeast corner of the stadium.
The Spring Game pitted the offense against the defense with a modified scoring system. The defense began the scrimmage with a goal line stand by forcing and recovering a fumble, but in the end, the offense outpaced the defense, 54-27.
“Our guys came out and competed today. I’m really encouraged with these guys,” said head coach Sonny Cumbie. “There are a lot of areas we can get better at, but the growth we have had over these 15 practices is a testament to the intent they have had each day to improve.
“Our QBs made plays today, extended plays with their legs, and kept plays alive, especially when we were in negative situations. So I’ve been pleased with both and where we are right now, but now it is about the progress we can make over June and July before Fall camp.”
LA Tech will open the 2023 season at home with a Conference USA matchup against FIU inside Joe Aillet Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 26. The Week Zero game will be the first of six home games in Ruston for the Bulldogs, including a non-conference in-state matchup with Northwestern State (Sep. 9).
North Texas on Sep. 16 will be the first of four C-USA tilts, followed by WKU making the trip from Bowling Green on Thursday, Oct. 5. New conference mates New Mexico State (Oct. 24) and Sam Houston (Nov. 11) will also visit the Joe, with Sam Houston serving as 2023’s Homecoming game.
Tech will make two non-conference road trips beginning on Sep. 2 to SMU and Nebraska three weeks later, on Sep. 23. The Bulldogs’ first C-USA road test will take place in El Paso against UTEP (Sep. 29) before visiting Middle Tennessee on Oct. 10. Tech will play two of its final three games on the road against new C-USA against Liberty (Nov. 4) and Jacksonville State on Nov. 18 to wrap up the regular season slate.
Kick times and the broadcast schedule will be announced at a later date.
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Track and Field
Louisiana Tech men’s and women’s Track & Field teams registered twelve PRs Saturday at the LSU Alumni Gold in Baton Rouge.
On the track, Kayla Watson and Nike Praetzel started things off in the women’s 100m H by registering their collegiate bests with times of 14.04 and 14.38, respectively. In the men’s 400m, Desmyn McCall ran the best outdoor time of his career with a 53.53.
Rodney Heath Jr. continues to etch his name in the LA Tech record books tying the third fastest time in the men’s outdoor 100m with a 10.22 to grab a top-10 finish out of 51 athletes. Heath Jr. has three of the top five times in program history, including the program record of 10.12 from earlier this season in Austin at the Texas Relays.
In the women’s 200m, all three Lady Techsters that competed ran their personal bests in the event. Chanel Honeywell ran a 24.79, Faith Tarver posted a 24.91, and Nike Praetzel notched a 25.62.
On the men’s side of the 200m, Jamie Sancho posted a personal best of 20.98 and Heath Jr. added a PR with a run of 21.17.
Tech added four PRs in Saturday’s field events, including two in the women’s discus. Elizabeth Sebera threw a 42.41m (139′ 1”), and Shania Parkinson threw a 42.12 (138′ 2”), which was good for eighth and ninth place, respectively.
In the men’s javelin, Tyler O’con grabbed fourth place with a personal best of 60.77m (199′ 4”), while Tim Fitzgerald grabbed sixth place with a PR of 16.49m (54′ 1.25”) in the men’s shot put.
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Tennis
On an overcast Saturday with cold, gusty winds at the Waranch Tennis Complex, Louisiana Tech came up short in the semifinals of the Conference USA Women’s Tennis Championship, falling 4-0 to top-seeded FIU.
No. 4-seeded LA Tech (20-6) had been playing some its best doubles of the season, and that showed against the 38th-ranked team in the country in FIU (17-4) who had two tandems nationally ranked.
The duo of Olga Bienzobas and Alexia Romero got down 0-3 early to 75th-ranked Yasmine Kabbaj/Oyinlomo Quandre on court two. But, the Lady Techsters fought back to ultimately win in a tiebreaker, 7-6 (3).
With the Panthers taking court three, the opening point came down to court one where Ana Rodrigues and Najah Dawson were battling the 79th-ranked duo of Kamila Umarova and Ekaterina Khairutdinova. The LA Tech tandem fought back from down 4-5 to go up 6-5, but FIU ended up winning in a tiebreaker, 6-7 (4).
Singles proved to be a challenge as LA Tech got down a set on all six courts. However, the squad kept battling. At the time when the Panthers clinched the match with straight-set victories on courts three, five and six, Bienzobas and Leonie Schuknecht were about to split sets on courts one and two.
After dropping the first set, 1-6, Bienzobas was up 6-5 in the second versus Khairutdinova. Schuknecht’s match played out similarly, getting down 1-6 but had three set points lined up at 5-4 before the match was stopped.
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Golf
The Louisiana Tech golf team makes the two hour drive to Texarkana, Arkansas where they will compete in the 2023 Conference USA Men’s Golf Championship.
The 10-team, four-day event will be held at the Texarkana Country Club and fans can follow the results at http://www.golfstat.com.
LA Tech heads into the C-USA Championship as the No. 4 seed after finishing the regular season with the fourth highest ranking in the league.
The Bulldogs have had three weeks of preparation having last played in the Mossy Oak Collegiate where they finished 16th as a team. Prior to that, LA Tech had posted three top-10 finishes in three of the previous four events.
James Swash continues to anchor the ‘Dogs with a stroke average of 73.48. He enters the postseason as the sixth-ranked golfer in C-USA, hoping to rekindle last season’s performance at the championship where he finished tied for seventh as an individual (shot the lowest round of any player with a 66).
Thomas Henson, who has the second-best stroke average on the team with a 74.10 and has four top-20 finishes, is ranked 13th in the conference. Henson has played in all 10 events this season, as has Lake Juban who is ranked 25th in the league and has a stroke average of 74.67.
Rounding out the lineup is Hunter Battles who will compete in his ninth event and has a stroke average of 75.25 and Will Patrick who is back in the field having not played since the Border Olympics in early February.
Each Monday and Friday, the Lincoln Parish Journal will post a list of non-for-profit upcoming events happening in the parish. If you would like to add your event to this list or advertise your for-profit events, please email us at lpjnewsla@gmail.com.
Monday, April 24 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome 6 p.m.: Toastmasters International meeting (Louisiana Center for the Blind, 101 South Trenton Street)
Tuesday, April 25 9:30 a.m.: Ribbon cutting at Bojangles (2202 Farmerville Highway) 10 a.m.: Family storytime (Lincoln Parish Library) 6:30-8:30 p.m.: Grambling State/Louisiana Tech choir concert (T.H. Harris Auditorium, GSU) 7 p.m.: Chautauqua Speaker Series: Native Americans in North Louisiana (Lincoln Parish Museum) 7 p.m.: Lady Techster softball v. Grambling State
Wednesday, April 26 7-8 a.m.: Veterans Coffee Club (PJ’s Coffee) 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome
Thursday, April 27 10 a.m.: Ribbon cutting for Cricket Wireless (205 W. California Ave.) 3:30 p.m.: Ribbon cutting for Bella Rouge Venue (5384 LA 563, Simsboro) 6 p.m.: LPL Journaling Club (Lincoln Parish Library) 6-8 p.m.: NCLAC presents 50@50 (Creative Exchange, 301 N. Trenton St., #1)
Friday, April 28 Compassion Journey event (Trinity United Methodist Church; 38-251-0750) 6 p.m.: Lady Techsters softball v. Charlotte 6 p.m.: Grambling baseball v. Prairie View A&M
Saturday, April 29 Compassion Journey event (Trinity United Methodist Church; 318-251-0750) 7:30 a.m.: Weekend of the Cross 5k (Trinity United Methodist Church) 8:30 a.m.: Piney Hills Classic MTB Festival (Lincoln Parish Park) 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 2 p.m.: 4Paws Canine Carnival (4Paws Dog Park, 290 Rodeo Rd., Ruston) 2 p.m.: Lady Techsters softball v. Charlotte 2 p.m.: Ruston High School Senior Art Show (Creative Exchange, Ruston) 3 p.m.: Grambling baseball v. Prairie View A&M
Sunday, April 30 Compassion Journey event (Trinity United Methodist Church; 318-251-0750) 1 p.m.: Grambling baseball v. Prairie View A&M 1 p.m.: Lady Techsters softball v. Charlotte
It came down to one play to determine the winner of Grambling State University’s Spring Black and Gold Football Game Saturday afternoon at Eddie G. Robinson Stadium – the last one.
And the Gold Team stopped the Black Team on a two-point conversion on that final play to escape with a 28-27 win in a contest that featured significantly more offense than the one second-year head coach Hue Jackson saw in his scoreless first Spring Game with the Tigers last April
“I’m appreciative of the fans who came out, I’m appreciative of the two honorary coaches we had in Mike Zimmer and Marvin Lewis, and I’m glad the way the game went.” Jackson said. “We came out injury free, the end came down to a two-point conversion attempt – You can’t ask for any better than that.”
Zimmer, former head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, oversaw the Gold team while Lewis, who was head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals from 2003-18, handled those duties for the Black Team.
Leading 14-7 at halftime, the Black Team stretched that lead to 21-7 midway through the third quarter on a short scoring scamper by freshman quarterback Myles Crawley, but Gold Team quarterback Julian Calvez countered with a short touchdown run of his own that pulled it back to a one-score game at 21-14.
The Gold Team had a chance to tie things up late in the third quarter, but on the first play of the fourth quarter Calvez was intercepted in the end zone, turning the ball over to the Black Team.
After forcing the Black Team to punt on the ensuing series, the Gold Team tied things up with 7:30 remaining, running back Keilon Elder bust through a hole and put on the afterburners, racing 81 yards to paydirt to make it 21-21.
Quarterback Quaterius Hawkins drove the Black Team down near the Gold 20-yard line, but a pair of consecutive sacks backed the Black out of scoring range as they punted from the Gold 34, downing the ball at the Gold 5.
After a four-yard run on first down, redshirt transfer quarterback Amani Gilmore, a transfer from North Texas, hit a streaking Antonio Jones in midstride down the right sideline and the sophomore receiver never looked back to turn in a 91-yard scoring reception to put the Gold Team on top 28-21 with 1:25 left on the clock.
But Hawkins steadily directed the Black team 65 yards down the field on the ensuing series, hitting senior receiver Lyndon Rash on a 24-yard scoring strike with 29.2 seconds remaining.
That’s when Jackson decided it was do or die for the Black Team and called for the two-conversion.
Hawkins’s fire a pass out to tight end Cavadis Kinghten in the right flat, but Knighten was stopped around the three with his helmet flying off to ensure the play was called dead.
At that point Jackson knew he had seen enough and called it a game.
Jackson praised the play of Jones, who made several solid catches, after the game.
“He’s been phenomenal,” Jackson said. “He’s had a great camp. He’s done it every day. I can’t say I’m surprised, but he has taken that challenge of making the jump to the next level of his abilities and you can see that really happening.”
“Lyndon Rash had a good day. I’m glad he’s on our football team. Rashon Dickerson, a new player for us, had a great game. (Julian) Calvez – he’s always going to make plays and it was great to see Miles Crawley play as well, too.”
Jackson didn’t give one of his quarterbacks a definitive starting nod after the game – Hawkins and Calvez shared significant action behind center in nearly all games last season with Hawkins starting the first half of the season before Calvez took over the starting role the second half of the 2022 campaign.
“I think that’s still a competition,” Jackson said of his quarterback depth chart. “Obviously Calvez is the returning starter, so if people want it they’re going to have to take it from him. He ain’t going to give it away, I can promise you that. That’s what makes it fun. I think we have talent on our football team and I think that talent is competing against each other, which is only going to make everybody better.
“So we have some real competition going and I’m fired up about that. Then I look at the defensive side – Sundiata Andrson is just a terror. We tried to double team him and make his life hard out there and he fought well through it. Lewis Matthews, Ryan Fields, Chris Daigre, Quincy Mitchell – there’s just so many of our guys I can now talk about where I couldn’t a year ago because I really didn’t know them and they didn’t know me. I know what they’re capable of now. And I know they give us a chance to become a better team.”
All in all, Jackson said he felt it was a successful spring he hopes sets up a better season for his Tigers in 2023.
“We’re trending forward. We didn’t score in last year’s (spring) game. So there was about an eight-touchdown difference,” Jackson said.
“I’m excited about where we’re headed and I’m excited about what we’re doing. I have a big vision and can see what we have to do and where we need to go, and that’s my job – to lead it that way. And I think we’re going to get there.”
Sheila Anne Stevenson Reed Wednesday 09/07/1960 — Tuesday 04/18/2023 Family Gathering: Friday 04/28/2023 2:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Visitation: Friday 04/28/2023 3:00pm to 7:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Service: Friday 04/28/2023 6:30pm at King’s Funeral Home Celebration of Life: Saturday 04/29/2023 11:00am, Mount Zion Baptist Church, 2586 Highway 150, Grambling Interment: Saturday 04/29/2023 Following Service, Grambling Memorial Garden, Highway 80 West, Grambling
Lyle Kelley July 30, 1947 – April 20, 2023
Charles V Crawford, Sr. Friday 11/03/1978 — Wednesday 04/12/2023 Visitation: Monday 04/24/2023 9:00am to 1:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Celebration of Life: Monday 04/24/2023 1:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Interment: Monday 04/24/2023 Following Service, China Grove Cemetery, 699 Mondy Road, Grambling
The Lincoln Parish Library (LPL) Board of control set up special, summer-only hours while also updating its Library Code of Conduct policy as the main orders of business during its April monthly meeting Thursday evening in the Jack Beard Room of the LPL.
Summer hours for the LPL will run from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays as well as the usual 1-5 p.m. Sunday hours from June 5 – Aug. 4.
LPL Director Jeremy Bolom said those hours won’t preclude after-hours events.
“However, there will be days that we’ll be here (after 6 p.m.) because I’m not stopping adult programming at 6 p.m. only because of the summer closing hours because I don’t want to mess up their schedules,” Bolom said. “So I’m leaving the adult programming schedule as we’ve been doing it.”
That motion passed unanimously.
The Board then discussed updates to the library’s Code of Conduct policy, approving three changes/additions..
“I wanted to bring this up because there’s always something that happens in the library that makes you surprised that you even have to discuss it with a patron, but then they question it, too,” Bolom said. “So the line (change) at the top – that means it will not be allowed for patrons to ‘monopolize library materials,facilities, etc.’ ”
Board President Amy Miller then asked if that was intended for people checking out too many books or checking one out over and over again?
Bollom said yes, but then explained that was only part of the reasoning behind the request to add the new stipulation another was because the library has seen encounters with patrons wanting to claim chairs someone else is already sitting in, even walking up to those patrons and saying “That’s my chair.”
Another was not allowing big, cushioned chairs in the library to be moved for safety and liability issues.
But the change Bollom called “the biggest” was the Board’s unanimous approval to allow beverages in the library contingent upon having a drink-through lid or being a bottle with a screw top cap.
“With a coffee shop across the street, it’s been a struggle,” Bolom told the Board. “They’re still sneaking them (drinks) in and we don’t have any problem with it. We understand why people bring in a bottom of water on a hot, summer day.”
Bollom also stressed that beverages not being allowed around any of the library’s electronic devices was another part of that policy change, and that Icees will still not be allowed inside the library.
Also discussed during the meeting were several vacancies the library is facing.
One of those is filling the void left by the departure of Diana Humphries.
Miller brought up a letter the Board had received from Wesley Harris expressing his interest in taking over the vacant seat,and saying that she believed the Lincoln Parish Police Jury would soon be filling that position soon.
Lincoln Parish Administrator Courtney Hall, who was in attendance, then asked if the Library Board was going to make a recommendation? Miller then asked if the Jury would like one?
“The policy used to be that a recommendation would come from the Library Board, unless the policy has changed since I left, I’ll have to check,” Hall said.
Miller went on to say that she felt the LPPJ should be making the decision.
“The Jury is the one that should be appointing this Board, and I want the candidates that want to do it to go to them,” Miller said.
The biggest vacancy for the library itself comes after LPL Children’s Coordinator / Library Events Center Manager Marcie Nelson recently accepted a position as president of the North Central Louisiana Arts Council.
“So I’m advertising for a Children’s Coordinator while trying to figure out how to coordinate the Events Center, because she did that as a secondary thing,” Bolom said. “So I’m looking for a Children’s Coordinator, but I’ve never done it with this secondary kind of catch to it.
“Right now we don’t have that many events. We can kind of muddle through with staff covering them though the summertime, but if it gets busy later we might have some issues.”
During his Director’s Report Bolom told the Board about an upcoming program he’s come up with that he hopes can be impactful – The First Lincoln Literarium.
Set for 2-5 p.m. on May 6, the program at the Events Center will feature book signings, readings and author panels.
“It’ll be presented like a regular book fair with book signings and if I can find enough people with similar interests we can have panels with a prepared questions forum and that kind of stuff,” Bolom said. “It’s a first-year program, so you never know. But I’m hopeful.”
Winn Parish Sheriff Cranford Jordan announced Thursday evening the arrest of a 42-year-old Winnfield woman related to the shooting death of Calvin High School agriculture teacher and softball coach Chad Camp last Saturday night.
Jessica M. Shea, whose address was cited as 661 Ed Carpenter Road of Winnfield, was arrested Thursday afternoon at 6:05 by WPSO deputies, said Jordan in a news release.
She was charged with one count of obstruction of justice and four counts of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.
Shea was housed in the Winn Parish Detention Center and no bond was set Thursday evening.
Jordan’s statement said “this arrest was in relation to the death of Kevin Chad Camp on 4-15-2023.”
Camp’s 17-year-old son, Andrew, was arrested that night and charged with manslaughter. He remains in custody, with no bond, and he will be tried as an adult.
Jordan called the shooting death a result of “a family situation.” He said manslaughter is the appropriate charge in this case. Louisiana law says manslaughter applies to a homicide committed in “sudden passion or heat of blood immediately caused by provocation sufficient to deprive an average person of self-control and cool reflection.”
Coach Camp led Calvin to two consecutive Class C state softball championships in 2021 and 2022 after a state runner-up finish in 2019. The Covid pandemic cancelled the 2020 season.
The team won its first-round playoff game at home Monday afternoon, but was defeated on Tuesday and eliminated from the playoffs.
Camp was also well known regionally as Calvin High’s Future Farmers of America advisor.
Former RHS coach Billy Laird will be inducted into the Nashville (Ark.) Hall of Fame. (Courtesy Photo)
By T. Scott Boatright
His ties to Lincoln Parish were long and strong beginning with his days as a Louisiana Tech quarterback and then later as an assistant coach for the Bulldogs and eventually head coach of the Ruston High School Bearcats.
But the late Billy Laird was a man loved by many anywhere and everwhere he went.
Before becoming head coach of the Bearcats, Laird, who passed away in 2015 in Shreveport at the age of 71, served as head coach at Nashville High School in Arkansas from 1992-2003, where he led the Scrappers to their first state football championship in 1996 when they finished 15-0 and won the Arkansas Class AA state title.
Laird, who also served as an assistant coach at Arkansas, Northwestern State and Tulane, posted a 130-34-1 coaching record in 12 seasons at Nashville and led the Scrappers to five state championship games.
And it’s for that reason that Laird earlier this week was named to be part of the first class to be inducted to the Nashville Scrapper Hall of Fame.
Laird first quarterbacked in high school for Shreveport’s Byrd High School before moving over to Woodlawn High School when it opened in 1960, went on to turn in three outstanding stellar seasons as Louisiana Tech’s quarterback, Laird was drafted by the then-called Boston (now New England) Patriots in the 15th round of the 1966 AFL Draft, played one season with the Patriots.
Laird was an All-State choice at Woodlawn in 1961 and was All-Gulf States Conference at Tech from 1963-65, earning honorable mention All-American accolades in 1965.
He received his bachelor’s degree from Arkansas in 1968 and coached the freshman team there the following season under the legendary Frank Broyles.
Laird then returned to college football, serving as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at NSU from 1979-82 under the legendary A.L. Williams and coaching players including Bobby Hebert, Mark Duper, Ed Orgeron, Victor Otis and the late Joe Delaney among others.
One of those others was J.P. Dunbar, who ended up serving as Laird’s defensive coordinator at Ruston High, reinforcing what was already a longtime bond between the two.
“I was a senior playing defensive back at Northwestern State when he joined the staff as offensive coordinator,” Dunbar said. “When I finished playing, I stayed on scholarship as a student assistant coach and started helping coach the Northwestern secondary while working on a second undergraduate degree.
“Then when he came to Louisiana Tech, I was finishing up my second degree at Northwestern so I came with Coach Laird to Tech and helped coach the tight ends and wingbacks there while working on my master’s degree. Billy was the offensive coordinator.”
That wasn’t the last time Dunbar and Laird coached together.
Dunbar was defensive coordinator at Ruston when Tommy Reeder was dismissed as head coach of the Bearcats.
“That’s when they (RHS) hired Pat Collins, but Pat stayed for about an afternoon and decided it was something that wasn’t right for him so he turned the job down,” Dunbar said. “Kenny Henderson was principal at Ruston then and I was named interim head coach.
“He called me in and told me he thought he needed to interview me for the head coaching job. We talked a little bit about it. I asked Kenny what he wanted for a head coach, and he admitted that he wished he had somebody that was more experienced as a head coach and had maybe won some state championships.”
So Dunbar asked Henderson if he had anybody in mind.
“Kenny told me he had a guy whose son had played quarterback for Ruston some years ago and was off in Arkansas somewhere,” Dunbar said. “So I asked him if he was talking about Billy Laird?
“He said, ‘Yeah,’ so I just took my cell phone out and started looking up Billy’s number. Kenny asked me what I was doing, and I told him I was calling Billy Laird. Kenny asked if I knew him. I said, ‘Do I know him? You’re talking about my second dad.’ So Billy gets on the phone and later comes down and talks to Kenny about it and becomes the head coach of the Bearcats.”
Dunbar said Laird’s coaching magic was all about the person he was.
“Billy was loved at Northwestern the day he got there,” Dunbar said about his old hunting and fishing partner. “He brought a fire that made him a guy who could motivate anybody and bring out the best in them. He did it at Tech, He did it at Nashville and he did it at Ruston.
“I experienced that as a player and later as his defensive coordinator at Ruston. He was always that way from the day I first met him. “We just hit it off at Northwestern and just became good friends for life. As a matter of fact, he served as best man at my wedding.”
Current Delta State head football coach Terry Cooley said he learned the same thing when he quarterbacked Nashville High School to the Scrappers’ first Arkansas title game appearance in 1993 under Laird’s guidance.
“Coach Laird changed my life,” Cooley said. “ He helped me as a player in Nashville. He developed me as a quarterback which allowed me to get a football scholarship to play on the college level.
“As a coach, I always think about the things he taught me and how he handled situations. I am sure there is a lot of his coaching style in me. Coach Laird was a classy coach and an even better person. Our relationship was special. I called him Pops because he was my second dad. We were very close and I was blessed to have him and his family in my life.”
Three faculty members at Ruston High School were named the most recent recipients of the Garrett Foundation yearly donation.
Kandi Hammons (Family and Consumer Science), Nick Brown (Bearcat Nation Network), and Sarah Wages (Bearcat Robotics) have been awarded the funding thanks to the foundation’s generosity in honor of legendary football and track coach Hoss Garrett and Mary Alice Garrett.
“The Garrett Foundation is important to Ruston High School because so many of our clubs and organizations are dependent upon fundraisers and donations,” Ruston High principal Dan Gressett said. “We want to offer our students and club sponsors the best possible experience, regardless of what club it is. Having the Garrett Foundation helps us accomplish that. We would like to thank the Garrett Foundation for their generosity and support of all things Ruston High.”
The Garrett Foundation was established in 1996 with an original gift of $50,000 from an anonymous donor with the interest accrued on the gift used to help RHS clubs and organizations. Every year, a list of proposal’s will be submitted for review to the school, and from there, the Garrett Foundation’s board reviews and makes a decision on the award.
For Brown, the foundation has provided an opportunity to expand the broadcast ability for the school through both radio and video.
“Ruston High School is thankful to be supported by the Garrett foundation,” Brown said. “Dr. Pat and Loyce have been so encouraging to our media students from day one. These funds will sponsor our radio stream KBNF 101.3 FM and stream links found on our school’s homepage. We appreciate their continued support and are honored to continue their parent’s legacy at RHS.”
Donors can give to the fund to help the initial capital increase, which will allow for more opportunities for the school and Ruston students each year by making checks to RHS/Garrett Foundation and mailed or given to the administration at Ruston High. Deposits are also accepted at Argent for the Garrett Foundation.
The Union Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested a man Tuesday after receiving information that a stolen vehicle from Georgia was in the area.
Deputies located the vehicle and performed a traffic stop in the Spearsville area.
The driver was identified as Noah Duran, 18, of Cumming, Georgia. The vehicle was confirmed stolen by the reporting agency and Duran was arrested. Also in the vehicle was a 16-year-old female runaway from Georgia.
Duran said he was helping the juvenile run away from home in Georgia, allegedly to get her away from an abusive family member. He said they planned to go to Arkansas together.
Duran was booked into the Union Parish Detention Center for felony illegal possession of stolen things and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. He is being held for Georgia authorities on number felony charges.
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.
These are all things that Cedar Creek School and the hiring committee conducting interviews for the next head football coach must be focused on when making its final selection.
The last three to five years has been anything but stable for the Ruston-based private school, on and off the football field.
Between a merry-go-round of head football coaches to the direct impact of a Covid 19 world to the turmoil surrounding a lawsuit that led to even more changes within the Board of Directors and administration, the school has experienced some rough waters.
It’s been a tough time at times for the Creek. There has been a lack of stability within the football program since Ben Haddox stepped away in 2018. However, it feels as if the sun is starting to peak out from behind the clouds.
Covid 19 is a thing of the past when it comes to schools, at least to the level that the nation saw for about a 12- to 18-month period. The day-to-day operations of schools across the country seem to be back to pre-Covid norms.
The criminal portion of the aforementioned lawsuit ended last fall with the Assistant Attorney General (the civil portion of the lawsuit against the school will be decided sometime this summer).
Lomax Napper sits at the top of the Cedar Creek School Board of Directors. And from all indications, the board is focused on what is best for the school as Cedar Creek looks to move forward.
And on the competitive playing fields, Creek teams have recorded some nice wins over the past few years despite the turmoil.
Gene Vandenlangenberg led the Lady Cougar basketball team to the school’s first appearance in a state title game (2022) since joining the LHSAA ranks. He recently led the Cougar golfers to a district title earlier this week. Vandenlangenberg, who was one of those pillars at the school for the past two decades, announced his retirement from the basketball coaching circles following this season. Katie Hall was hired as his successor – a move that feels like a home run.
The Creek boys and girls powerlifting teams have won state titles under the direction of head coach Jacob Angevine over the past few years.
Veteran softball coach Julie Riser has the Lady Cougars back to the playoffs and into a quarterfinal match-up against Opelousas Catholic this weekend. Can the Lady Cougars win one more to return to the state tournament for the first time since this senior class were seventh graders?
Craig Moss led Creek cross country to numerous team and individual state titles on both the boys’ and girls’ side. Boys basketball and football both made playoff appearances this school year. The school appears to be headed in the right direction. At least it feels that way.
However, the impending football hire is important for the school, the program and the kids.
Too much change has occurred within the program too frequently since Haddox left the sideline in 2018. Shannon Brown wasn’t the right fit. Matt Middleton – who served two different stints within 18 months — didn’t stay long enough to know what he ultimately could have accomplished with the program. And Steven Ensminger and the school mutually parted ways after only four months last summer.
So, it’s been a roller coaster ride for the Cougar football program; and I’m not talking about the mini-mine train. I’m talking about one of those roller coasters that I simply refuse to ride. A dizzying one to say the least, bordering on nauseous at times.
The hiring committee has an opportunity to provide the fan base some non-medicinal Dramamine to calm that nauseous feeling.
Led by a group of Creek administrators, board members, alumni, and supporters, the question is can this group find the right fit this time? That’s the big question. It’s an important question. It feels like a must-get-it-right hire.
As the process wraps up its third week since the school announced Middleton’s resignation on April 5, the hope is that the next Cougars head football coach will grow roots within the school. No program – high school, college or professional – will have much success when there is constant turnover at the top.
So, it’s imperative that the next coach is the right coach. X’s and O’s will be important, but the ultimate choice in candidate must fit the school culture and become invested in the program and the kids for the long haul.
After a tough match, Ruston High School student Biak Chin and her teammates were listening to the last part of the awards ceremony at the Bayou Regional Robotic Competition in Kenner, when one of the last announcements surprised the whole team.
“Well, first they presented two [rookie] awards… so I didn’t know that we were gonna get the Rookie All-Star. So, when they announced our name I was like, ‘what?’” Chin said. “When I went down, I was still like in disbelief and I looked at my sister and she said ‘We’re going!’ (to the world championship) And then she started tearing up.”
It was quite the moment for the Ruston High School Robotics Team. From a $6,000 NASA grant, to getting to compete against 600 teams and winning the All-Star Rookie Award in their first regional competition, then getting the amazing opportunity to go to the world championship in Houston, Texas, this week. It was all they could have hoped for and more, all in their first year.
Ruston High’s robotics team started in October, then in January they found out what the year’s game or challenge was that the robot needed to complete. The team had until the end of March to plan, build, and test their robot for their first competition. Every team in the world starts on the same six-wheel chassis, but from there they can add whatever they want – and add they did. A huge, rugged-looking mechanical arm is what allows their robot to pick up cones and cubes in different courses and score them on a grid with three different levels and at different heights. The robot uses a roboRIO as the brain and runs on JAVA. The robot is controlled by two Xbox controllers, one person controlling the movement of the robot and the other operating the claw, which proved to be the most challenging part of the robot.
“The claw… took a lot of effort for us and during the last competition we attended, the claw actually fell apart. So we had to fix it, but we didn’t have much time. That was the most difficult part,” RHS student Rachel Osatoyinbo said.
When the students were able to repeatedly repair the claw in the heat of the moment, that is what impressed one of the team’s advisors the most. Since then, the claw arm has been completely rebuilt and redesigned.
The team finished its its last preparations and left for the world championship this week, participating but unfortunately not winning at the World Championship, where 600 teams from across the globe, with every continent represented except for Antarctica, competed. And the Ruston Robotics Team got there in its first year However, spirits are still high on the team.
“I’m excited,” Chin said. “I never thought we would have this wonderful opportunity,”
On Sunday evenings, when I’m basking in the glow of a well preached sermon, I wander to the History Channel. (My wife wants to know how often I have a well preached sermon.) The History Channel used to be about history. Now they are about aliens, Nostradamus, ancient aliens, Pawn Stars and aliens driving UFO’s. It is better than when they were hung up on Nostradamus and the Mayan Calendar. Did you receive the invitation to my Mayan End of the World party back in 2012? It was a great party!
Now back to the History Channel. They are showing stuff that built America. I have watched the Cars that Built America. Another episode was about the Industry that Built America. Most recently on Sunday evenings, I have consumed the Foods that Built America. There are a couple of things I want to say about the food version of this series.
The Foods that Built America make me hungry. I didn’t know I could get so caught up on McDonald’s verses Burger King or that I could be bothered by Taco Bell verses everyone. I knew lots about Kentucky Fried Chicken and I learned about Chick-fil-A. The Subway establishments and the competition among the Pizza parlors really roused my taste buds. Tonight’s show is about beer. I’m not so much a beer guy. I drink my annual beer to be reminded that they really ought to pour beer back into the horse.
The Fast Foods that Built America made me hungry. I craved pizza, Subway, McDonald’s, and Taco Bell the whole time I was watching. That was after a week of watching the Sweets the Built America, the Cakes that Built America and the Diet Programs that are needed for America. I wasn’t tempted by any of the food. However, because I had seen the food, I was thinking about the food.
I also was interested in the conflict between companies and the intrigue that caused these barons of the burger business to attempt to broil their competition. Did you know that Dave Thomas of Wendy’s fame started out working for the Colonel? Do you know who the Colonel is?
I didn’t know the History Channel could cause spiritual temptation. But sure enough I was tempted. Of course, in the Gibsland Metroplex you must drive to get Fast Food. So that was out. No one delivers here, that was a no-go. There I sat with my remote control and my rumbling tummy. Because I was watching the history of some tempting food.
The Apostle James wrote that we are lured and enticed by our own desires. Our desires, when we give into them, produce sin and sin brings death. The way James wrote the verse once you yield to temptation you are on the superhighway to death. There are no exit ramps.
In our visual media driven culture, we are tempted by what we see. So, friends, what are you looking at? What do you see on your phone, pad, or computer? Are the images you are allowing into your being tempting you? Are you being lured and enticed by your own desires as you look at these images. A more pressing question, what images are you seeking out?
I wanted to drop by between episodes of watching food of the History Channel to tell you, guard your eyes.
Or in my case, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.” If that is not right, I was doing it from memory, but you got the idea.
On Sunday and Monday, April 23-24, the LINKS Players Fellowship of Squire Creek will host the inaugural Louisiana Links Open at Squire Creek in Choudrant, La. The goal of the event is to raise awareness for the many ministries in North Louisiana that are dedicated to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout this community.
Every Wednesday, the LINKS Fellowship of Squire Creek gathers to pray together, share a devotional, and find ways to affect change, not just on the course, but throughout our homes, communities and to the ends of the earth.
A LINKS Player’s Mission
Love God and others
Integrate Christ’s reign and integrity into all of life
Network friends together in Christ
Kindle compassion for the poor and needy
Share Christ through the game of golf
To learn more about the mission of a LINKS Players Fellowship, visit linksplayers.com
We are very appreciative to our generous community sponsors:
We strongly encourage your support of these ministries that are changing the conversation in the community:
Backpack Program – Boys and Girls Club – Boys Scouts of America – Girl Scouts of America – Baptist Collegiate Ministry – Buddy Ball – Cedar Creek Key Club – Christian Community Action – DART – Kiwanis of Ruston – Gospel Inc. – LA Tech & Grambling – Circle K Clubs – Life Choices – Life House – Lunch on Us – Med Camps of Louisiana – Sheriff’s Community Services – Temple Baptist WinShape Camps – Piney Hills Advocacy Center – Rolling Hills Disaster Unit – Rotary of Ruston – Ruston Civic Guild – Pilots for Patients– Ruston HS Key Club- Ruston-Lincoln Community Foundation – Louisiana Adult & Teen Challenge – Terrific Kids Program – Weekend of the Cross – Wesley Foundation – YoungLife – Temple Men’s Retreat – Temple’s Women’s Retreat
Ruston community members brought their furry friends for a spa day at Louisiana Tech’s annual Pre-Veterinary Medicine Club’s Dog Dip held recently on South Campus.
Dogs of various breeds were offered a bath, flea dip and nail trim for $7.
“We wanted to give back to the community that gives to us,” said Jaylie Waalk, vice president of the Pre-Vet Club.
Despite being short staffed this year, student volunteers were able to raise $1,070 to help fund future events.
Austin Birch, attendee of the event and owner of a chocolate lab, said, “My pup loved getting attention and affection from everyone. I think the club is doing a great job. I’m looking forward to bringing my dog to future Pre Vet Club events.”
The club does host other events that are open to the public, including a yearly Dog Dash 5K run, where participants can bring their dog and run with them.
“We plan on growing a lot in the future,” said Waalk. “We eventually want to do even more to help the community and local animal shelters.:
As part of a child passenger safety seat technician course, there will be a child passenger safety seat check event on Saturday, April 22, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The event will take place at Sam’s Club, located at 5400 Frontage Road in Monroe. No appointment is necessary and it is always free. The event will take place regardless of weather conditions.
It is a proven fact that car seats and booster seats save lives. These devices offer the best protection for children in the event of a crash. However, approximately three out of four child seats are not used correctly. This misuse rate can be attributed to the great variety of child seats available, the great range of children’s weights and heights, and the vast array of vehicles in today’s market. These misuses span all races, educational levels, and socioeconomic status.
During the past 30 years, over 11,000 lives have been saved by the use of child restraints according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It is important that caregivers ensure children are properly restrained in an appropriate child safety seat, booster seat, or seat belt anytime they are traveling in a vehicle.
Every Louisiana State Police Troop is recognized by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as a child safety seat inspection station. Troop F Troopers/technicians are available seven days a week to inspect car seats. Appointments can be made by calling (318) 345-0000. Please take advantage of these free services to ensure the safety of your child.
Each Monday and Friday, the Lincoln Parish Journal will post a list of non-for-profit upcoming events happening in the parish. If you would like to add your event to this list or advertise your for-profit events, please email us at lpjnewsla@gmail.com.
Friday, April 21 3 p.m.: Grambling v. Arkansas-Pine Bluff softball
Saturday, April 22 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.: North Central Louisiana Master Gardeners Spring Plant Sale (The Bridge Church) 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market Noon: Grambling v. Arkansas-Pine Bluff softball
Sunday, April 23 2:30 p.m.: Grambling softball v. Arkansas-Pine Bluff 6 p.m.: India Night (Student Center, Louisiana Tech; call 856-803-6595 for ticket information)
