Choudrant athletics director and boys basketball coach Ryan Smith said the changes will take some getting accustomed to.

“Hopefully we’ll make these changes in our league and camp games this summer to get a feel for what it’s like,” Smith said. “I can see it going both ways. Teams will now be able to foul more with less consequence.  So will it lead to more fouls or less fouls? I just don’t know.”

Ruston High School boys basketball coach Ryan Bond said he likes the idea of the consistency it will add to all levels of the game.

“I like it – the college game is going to be the same, the professional game is going to be the same,” Bond said. “It’s just going to be more consistent across the board. I mean the U.S. and international ball, it’s all going to be the same now. So I like that aspect of it.

“Fouls will reset each quarter now. So you start the second quarter, or the fourth quarter, and you don’t have to worry about being sent to the foul line early on, because no one will be in the bonus yet. Hopefully that will make for smoother play – it won’t be as chopped up.”

Lady Bearcats coach Meredith Graf also likes the idea of more consistency with college rules.

“That’s a good thing,” Graf said. “It has its good and bad. High school can be round sometimes because people will play a certain style where when there’s not as athletic or as skilled a team, it can get ugly sometimes.”

Graf said the change could be advantageous, depending on ability at the charity stripe.

“For me, to get to the line more with those earlier fouls, in a perfect world you should be able to take advantage of that,” Graf said. “But in the same breath, remember that layups and free throws are the two hardest shots in basketball.

“The thing is, are you going to be able to take advantage of more chances when you get them? And I think we’ll get more of them, obviously. But I think there’s a lot of positives to it. Hopefully it will encourage people to foul less.”

Like Smith, Graf said one of her biggest concerns at this point is making sure her players are aware of the changes.

“They’re going to have to process how the game will be played differently because of the changes,” Graf said. “We have to make them conscious of that.

“And honestly, sometimes I don’t really know if a kid really knows the rules and how they can affect the game. Sometimes they’re just out there with ability but don’t understand all the rules. So I think it might take some time to adjust in that way. But overall, I think it should be a positive. It works on the college level so I can’t see how it couldn’t be beneficial on the high school level as well.”

Another rule change comes for the throw-in procedure for front-court violations. Now, when the ball is in team control in the offensive team’s frontcourt and the defensive team commits a violation, a common foul prior to the bonus, or the ball becomes dead, the corresponding throw-in by the offensive team will be at one of four designated spots determined by where the infraction took place.

The designated spots are either the nearest 28-foot mark along each sideline or the nearest spot 3 feet outside the lane line on the end line. The one exception is when the defensive team causes a ball to be out of bounds, the throw-in shall be the spot where the ball went out of bounds.

Another change is that.when an official administers a throw-in to the wrong team, the error can be fixed before the first dead ball after the ball becomes live unless there has been a change in possession.

Other approved rules changes include:

• Rule 2-1-3 establishes the official placement of a shot clock operator at the scorer’s table for those states utilizing the shot clock.

• Rule 3-4-5 clarifies that multiple styles of uniform bottoms may be worn by teammates, but they must all be like-colored and adhere to uniform rules outlined in Rule 3-6-2 regarding logos and trademarks,

• Rule 3-5-6 addresses undershirts and allows teams to wear a single solid color or solid black for visiting teams with dark jerseys. This provides an opportunity for schools with hard-to-find colors to have all players wear a black undershirt.

• Rule 9-3-3 was amended to allow a player to step out of bounds and return to the court if they gain no advantage. A player is penalized only if, after returning inbounds, the player is the first to touch the ball or avoids a violation.

By Cheyanne Admire 

The Willis-Knighton Cleft Clinic offered a new medical education experience for first year graduate students recently.

The Cleft Clinic evaluates clients every month to assist and better understand their needs. This opportunity was given to Louisiana Tech speech-language pathology graduates to help them gain experience through witnessing more than one branch of knowledge within a hospital setting.

“The residency programs were created as a part of the clinic’s commitment to train future physicians. We want them to really excel as future leaders,” said Dr. Joseph Bocchini, chief academic officer.

The overall mission for the clinic is to provide high quality graduate medical education to residents to excel in patient care, education and research. Residents will strive to continuously improve the health and well-being of patients while living the core values of excellence, compassion, diversity, integrity and outreach.

Summer is here. The long-awaited season of warmth and light has arrived, bringing with it a sense of joy and gratitude. During this past long weekend, we welcomed the opportunity to celebrate the simple pleasures of life: the beauty of nature, the bounty of the earth, the fellowship of family and friends. 

Summer is here. On this holiday weekend we honored the fallen heroes who gave their lives for our freedom and peace. We commemorated them with solemn ceremonies and heartfelt prayers. And we continue to thank God for their sacrifice and their service, remembering them throughout the year as we enjoy the blessings they fought to preserve. 

Summer is here. We delight in the wonder of fireflies, twinkling like stars in the darkening backyards. It’s as if nature is throwing her celestial switch to light up the new season with these illuminating, magical messengers. The sight is so stirring we almost burst into applause.  

Summer is here. We savor the taste of homemade ice cream, of peaches fresh from the orchard, of tomatoes and cantaloupes and watermelons straight from the garden. We appreciate the freshness and flavor of this bounty, grown with care and love. We thank God for providing such abundance and variety. 

Summer is here. We pack our baskets with sandwiches and salads and head to the park for a picnic. We spread blankets on the grass and our repasts across the wooden tables and enjoy the soothing shade of the trees. In the sunshine, we play games and laugh with our children or grandchildren – or great-nieces. We share songs and stories and memories. 

Summer is here. We take walks around the pond or down by the bayou and feel the gentle breeze on our faces. Closer to home, we sit on the porch or patio, reading that best seller or chatting with loved ones or even new acquaintances. We pull out the old photo albums and retrace the lives of our ancestors. 

Summer is here. We attend Vacation Bible School and church camp. We pitch our tents and light our campfires and spend a night under the stars. We roast marshmallows and make s’mores. We gaze at the Milky Way and marvel at God’s creation. 

Summer is here. We load the car and head to the beach, soon to be surrounded by sun and sand.  We unleash both creativity and curiosity – swimming, building sandcastles, collecting shells. We listen to the seagulls and then cheer the sun as it gently drops below the waves … Or we drive to the mountains to revel in the fresh air and greenery. We hike trails, climb rocks and cross streams and feel a sense of tranquility and awe. 

Summer is here. It’s a time to rejoice and to reflect, to relax and to renew, to connect and to cherish. It’s a gift from God, who loves each and every one of us. It is a reminder of his grace and his goodness, his power and his presence. It’s a time to work on cultivating our own fruit – the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 

Summer is here. It’s also a time to remember that not everyone has access to the joys and blessings enumerated in this column. Many people in our world suffer from poverty, hunger, disease, violence, oppression or injustice. Many people in our community are lonely, sick, grieving or struggling. And many ways exist for us to help them with our prayers, our donations, our actions or our words. 

Summer is here. Let us embrace it with gratefulness and joy. Let us also share it with compassion and generosity. 

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. 

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.

Wednesday, May 31
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

Saturday, June 3
73rd annual Louisiana Peach Festival
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market

Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Rodney Heath Jr. made more history tonight by qualifying for the men’s 100m NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas, with the first-ever program sub-10 100m sprint going 9.99 (9.983) to finish with the 10^th overall fastest time.

Heath Jr. came into the regional as the 16th-ranked runner and, after running a 10.13 in his NCAA East Regional first-round, moved up to No. 13 and automatically qualified for the Friday night final after taking second place in his heat.

The NCAA Championships are scheduled for June 7-10. The field will comprise of the top 12 runners from the East and West Regions. The semifinal race will reduce the 24 runners to eight for the championship race.

Heath Jr. is the first LA Tech athlete to reach the NCAA Championships since Cole Courtois qualified in the pole vault in 2019.

By Teddy Allen

The many chances Louisiana Tech had to extend a trying 2023 season were left stranded here on the base baths of Reckling Park on a toasty Friday afternoon.

The Bulldogs just couldn’t buy a timely hit.

Tech left 12 runners on base — 10 in the first six innings — and lost to Charlotte, 4-1, in an elimination game on Day 3 of the 2023 Conference USA Tournament, hosted by Rice University.

The defending C-USA Tournament champs and preseason pick to win the league, No. 6-seed Tech finishes 28-31. No. 3-seed Charlotte, 31-26, plays Middle Tennessee Saturday as the tournament continues through Sunday’s championship.

The 49ers won three of five from the Bulldogs this season.

A few numbers from the ’23 finale will have a bitter “what-if” aftertaste.

First, the Bulldogs outhit the 49ers, 9-7. Coming into Friday’s game, Tech was 19-0 this season when not being outhit.

That record is now 19-1.

But where the season died was on the bases. The Bulldogs left two on in the first, loaded the bases in both the second and the sixth with one out, and the 49ers turned double plays in the fourth and fifth.

“We set some innings up and didn’t get it done,” Tech coach Lane Burroughs said. “We hit into a couple of double plays that … I thought those balls were scorched and unfortunately, they went into somebody’s glove.

“One thing about our players though: they never quit fighting,” he said. “Tough year, but they kept fighting all year long. Those are some life lessons we learned this year that these guys will carry throughout their lives. There are going to be days you don’t want to get up and fight — but you’ve got to.”

Charlotte built a 3-0 lead on just two hits — a solo homer in the first by Cam Fisher, his 28th, the program’s single-season record, and a two-run homer by Jack Cunningham after Fisher had walked to lead off the fourth.

Tech senior righty Landon Tomkins, 6-2, was the hard-luck loser. He pitched five innings (87 pitches) and gave way to Ethan Bates, the team’s ERA leader (3.02 with 10 saves), who gave up one run in the seventh on a two-out double and single, struck out five and didn’t walk anybody.

Tech broke through in the eighth. Leftfielder Adarius Myers, 7-for-13 with a home run for the tournament and 3-for-4 on the afternoon, opened the inning with a ground-rule double, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly from Kyle Hasler, catching in place of C-USA first-teamer Jorge Corona, who missed the tournament with an arm injury — until the final out of Friday’s game.

Corona’s at-bat came as a pinch hitter in the ninth. Dalton Davis, the Bulldogs’ hottest hitter down the stretch, led off the ninth with a standup double, his 18th hit in Tech’s final 10 games of the season. But after a strikeout and groundout, Corona was caught looking at a 2-2 strike to end the season.

Courtesy of GSU Athletic Communications

The 2023 baseball season came to close for the Grambling State University baseball team Saturday afternoon, as the Tigers fell to Bethune-Cookman 14-4 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Tournament. 

The Tigers held a 2-0 lead, but 14 unanswered runs by the Wildcats was too much to overcome. 

Bethune-Cookman (33-26) outhit Grambling State 15-5. Trevor Hatton accounted for two of GSU’s hits, going 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI. Kyle Walker and Cameron Bufford also drove in runs for the Tigers, each notching an RBI.

In the first inning, Walker registered GSU’s first hit of the game with a one-out double off the left field wall. Later in the inning, Bufford drew a walk with two outs to put two runners on base. Hatton cleared the bases with an RBI triple that careened off of the right field padding, giving GSU a 2-0 lead. 

However, the lead was short lived as the Bethune-Cookman rallied for six runs in the top of the second, snagging a 6-2 lead. The Wildcats continued to pour on runs, pushing their way to 14-2 lead in the fourth inning. 

GSU added two runs in the seventh inning. 

Lorenzo Petersen (6-3) got the start on the mound for the Tigers, but struggled to find a rhythm. He surrendered six runs on five hits with a pair of walks and one strikeout.

Kendrick Bershell, Miguel Baez, Jacorey Boudreaux, Brett Washington and Ethan Bates all made relief appearances for GSU. 

BCU’s Santiago Gomez (2-3) earned the win, going 5.0 innings, allowing two runs on three hits with three strikeouts and three walks. 

Grambling State finishes the 2023 season with an overall record of 29-26. 

A Memorial Graveside Service for Jerry C. Rodrigues will be held Tuesday, May 30, 2023, in Simsboro City Cemetery, Simsboro, LA, at 10:00 A.M., officiated by Rev. Jason Cole, and under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes of Ruston, LA.

Jerry was born on September 13, 1934, in Bastrop, LA to Gozy and Lorena Domino Rodrigues.  He passed from this life on May 24, 2023, following a lengthy illness.  Jerry served his country in The United States Air Force, and later worked as a Construction Survey Engineer for T.L. James Construction, in Ruston, LA. He was, also, a member of First Baptist Church of Simsboro.  He is preceded in death by his parents, Gozy and Lorena Domino Rodrigues, and his brother, Gozy Mack Rodrigues, Jr.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 63 years, Alene Barmore Rodrigues; daughters, Lisa Cochran, Sharon Ledford and husband Jerry; grandchildren, Tiffany Wiltcher and husband Jerry, Dustin Cochran, Colton Cochran; great grandchildren, Gavin Allen and wife Heather, Baylee Doss, Rena Doss; sister, Willie Annette Lain and husband Gary; brother, Bart Rodrigues and wife Barbara; brother-in-law Leon Barmore and wife Rachel, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Jerry C. Rodrigues 
September 13, 1934 – May 24, 2023 
Service: Simsboro City Cemetery, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, 10:00 am 
Cemetery: Simsboro City Cemetery, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, 10:00 am 

Carrie Jordan Trull 
May 13, 1939 – May 23, 2023 

by T. Scott Boatright

Lincoln Parish drivers should be on alert because traffic on the Hwy. 167 overpass in Ruston is down to one lane after a piece of the concrete highway reportedly fell to Interstate 20 Saturday evening.

According to all reports, no one was injured.

The left lane of the southbound overpass has been closed as a result.

That overpass is maintained by the Louisiana Department of Transportation (DOTD).

The Cooktown Road and the US 167 overpass in Ruston are the two oldest Interstate 20 overpass bridges from the East Coast to southwest Texas where I-20 finally ends, intersecting with I-10.

The Louisiana DOTD has plans to replace the Cooktown Road overpass with a three roundabout system of roadway exchange but has not yet announced plans for upgrading the Hwy. 167 overpass.

A man wanted in connection with a hit and run accident was arrested late Tuesday night after he attempted to run from officers when found inside a local bar. 

Ruston Police investigated a crash that occurred on West California Avenue near Monroe Street Tuesday evening. Sometime later, an officer spotted a vehicle that was smoking from heavy damage to the front of the vehicle run a stop sign. By the time the officer learned the vehicle matched the description of the hit and run suspect, it had disappeared.

At about 10:30 p.m., the victim in the hit and run reported she was informed the driver of the suspect vehicle was Miles Kelso, 24, of Dallas, Texas, and that he was at Sundown Tavern on Park Avenue.

When officers arrived at Sundown, Kelso ran out the back door and attempted to hide. He was taken into custody and appeared to be highly intoxicated. Kelso denied driving, stated he was not involved in a hit and run, and said he was unsure of the location of his vehicle.

Employees at Sundown told officers when Kelso arrived, he said he was involved in an accident and the police were looking for him.

Kelso was taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center where he was booked for hit and run, running a stop sign, and resisting an officer by flight. Bail was set at $1,000.

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 

By Malcolm Butler

For the third time in as many years, Simsboro High School will have a new boys basketball coach.

Adam Wodach follows Randy Carlisle, who spent just one year on the Simsboro sideline before resigning in April to pursue other career opportunities.

Simsboro principal Lacey Holcomb introduced Wodach to Tigers hoops parents and players during a meet-n-greet last night.

Wodach comes to the Boro after a one-year stint as the assistant girls coach at Sterlington High School but has plenty of experience on the boys side, serving as the head coach at both Sunray (Texas) High School (2019-21) and Tioga (Texas) High School (2021-22).

“Adam has the experience and the knowledge of the game and that is what drew me to him,” said Holcomb. “He came in with such a positive attitude and so motivated and ready to hit the ground running. I felt he could bring some positive things to the program.”

During his two years at Sunray High School, he led the program to its best finish in 15 years at a primarily dominant football school, including a trip to the playoffs his second season. While at Tioga High School, he doubled the win total in both district play and overall from the previous season leading the team to the playoffs.

Wodach — whose sister Lea Wodach is the associate head softball coach at ULM –said there was plenty to like about the Simsboro job.

“I think it has a lot of things that I’m looking for in my next stop,” said Wodach. “I have bounced around a little bit. But I am looking for a place to call home for a while. I am a basketball guy. And for the first time in my basketball (coaching) career, I won’t have to coach football. I love basketball. And everyone told me that Simsboro is a basketball community. And that excites me.”

Wodach played at Tesoro (California) High School for four years before serving as a member of the coaching staff as an assistant on the varsity from 2012-2018.

The following year he served as a graduate assistant at Cal-State Northridge on a staff that included Mark Gottfried, Jim Harrick and Mo Williams. Gottfried is a veteran collegiate coach who served as head coach at Murray State, Alabama, North Carolina State and Cal-State Northridge. Harrick is a 48-year veteran of college coaching and led UCLA to the NCAA national title in 1994-95. Williams was a 13-year NBA player who was part of the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers championship team.

“I was blessed,” said Wodach. “I thought I knew basketball until I was a grad assistant that year and then I realized I didn’t know as much as I thought.”

Wodach earned his bachelor’s degree from Cal-State Fullerton and his master’s degree from Arkansas State.

“Mrs. Holcomb was phenomenal in the interview process,” said Wodach. “We both asked each other some really hard questions to make sure it was going to be a good fit. I’m not from the area, but I understand Simsboro is a coveted basketball job.”

Wodach said he planned to see the Tigers players on the court today.

“I am going to let them play for about 30 to 45 minutes, and then do a little coaching,” said Wodach.

Hands-on, practical training is something employers are looking for in potential hires, and funding recently awarded to Grambling State University’s Department of Computer Science and Digital Technologies will provide just that for GSU cybersecurity students.

GSU received $74,261 from the Department of Defense’s (DOD) National Security Agency (NSA) that will be used to create an Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing Lab.

“We will use the funds to buy computers for the lab and support students who are enrolling in the CompTIA Security+ certification and the summer workshop,” said Dr. Prasanthi Sreekumari, assistant professor and interim chair of the Department of Computer Science and Digital Technologies at Grambling State. “An ethical hacking and penetration testing lab is a specialized environment where authorized individuals perform security assessments and simulated attacks on computer systems, networks, and applications to identify vulnerabilities and strengthen overall security.”

“The primary function of an ethical hacking and penetration testing lab is to evaluate the security posture of an organization or system by replicating the techniques and methods used by malicious hackers. This allows organizations to proactively identify weaknesses, address vulnerabilities, and enhance their security measures to protect against real-world threats.”

Sreekmari said the lab will be located in the Department of Computer Science and Digital Technologies.

“The main goal of this lab is to provide a safe and controlled space for students to practice their skills and identify vulnerabilities,” Sreekumari said. “Faculty members will supervise and guide students in their learning process. Through this lab, students will gain the knowledge and skills needed to conduct security assessments and simulated attacks.”

The project will not exclusively focus on training designed for governmental entities.

“While ethical hacking and penetration testing labs are commonly utilized by government entities, such as national security agencies, they are not exclusively restricted to their use,” Sreekumari said. “Private companies, educational institutions, and security consulting firms also establish their own labs to assess and fortify their security infrastructure.”

“The purpose of these labs is to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive information and critical systems. By conducting ethical hacking and penetration testing, organizations can identify potential entry points, misconfigurations, weak passwords, and other security gaps that could be exploited by unauthorized individuals.”

Sreekumari has been named principal investigator for the project with Dr. Dileon Saint-Jean and Harvey Farley assisting in overseeing it.

Cedar Creek School celebrated 50 graduates during their commencement exercises as part of the Class of 2023.

The school conducted its graduation at Howard Auditorium on the campus of Louisiana Tech University on Thursday, May 18.

Devika Dua was the school’s Valedictorian this year while Reagan Nguyen was the Salutatorian.

Below is a list of the Class of 2023 along with a list of awards and recognition.

Lilli Adcox

Lainey Adkins

Cameron Bennett

Eli Black

Mason Bosch

Chloe Brashear

Kenley Brasher

Tatum Brasher

Madison Bratton

Madelyn Carroll

Emily Chance

Kirsten David

Taylor DeMent

Brooklin Diffey

Devika Dua

Jack Echols

Jack Ensminger

Tate Farrar

Allie Furr

Garrett Garlington

Komal Gill

Maggie Gilmore

Carter Hill

Annie Jones

Anna Grace Lee

Quincy Lewis

Abby Martin

Elizabeth McAdams

Addison McConathy

Caden Middleton

Peyton Muse

Kate Myers

Parker Newman

Reagan Nguyen

Connor Norris

Brian Osborne

Grace Perkins

Reagan Pike

Perry Ricks

Owen Robinson

Jake Smith

Lillian Soto

Jed Stephens

Lane Thomas

Nicholas Thompson

Jordan Vail

Ella Viator

Brady Wade

Davis Walsworth

Austin Webb

Additional awards and recognition for the 50 graduates can be seen in this document below:

By Hillary Husband, Ruston Resident

Ten years ago the Nation’s Registry of bone marrow donors saved my life, and today, I write to urge Congress to act quickly and in a bipartisan manner to approve the Life Saving Leave Act to afford more patients that same opportunity to survive.

At the age of 14, I was diagnosed with leukemia and after seven years of treatment and three relapses, I desperately needed a bone marrow transplant. Fortunately for me and thousands of other patients around the nation, Congress had the foresight more than 30 years ago to establish a bone marrow registry of potential volunteer donors. Through this national registry, I found a match from a person I had never met before, and he stepped up to save my life. However, too many potential donors are declining to donate because they cannot take time off work and fear losing their jobs. 

That is why the Life Saving Leave Act is so important. This Act would extend the same basic job protections that kidney and organ donors have to bone marrow donors. I am grateful that our Congresswoman Julia Letlow met with me on Capitol Hill to discuss why it is crucial to ensure potential donors can say “yes” to saving lives. 

We are fortunate to have Letlow, a true ‘Steel Magnolia,’ representing us in Congress. I urge her to continue supporting the Life Saving Leave Act, so more people in Louisiana and across our nation can have hope for a second chance at life.

Louisiana Tech’s comeback in the ninth inning Thursday wasn’t too late. It was just a little too little.

Trailing 7-1, the Bulldogs scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth, and the final two outs were a line drive to the wall in left off the bat of Walker Burchfield and a moon ball to the wall in right from Brody Drost.

When those were caught, Tech had lost, 7-6, to Middle Tennessee on the second day of play in the 2023 Conference USA Baseball Championship at Reckling Park on the campus of Rice University.

Tech will play Charlotte Friday at 2 p.m. in an elimination game. The Bulldogs beat Charlotte, 13-8, in the tournament opener Wednesday.

The Blue Raiders earned its spot against Tech by beating No. 2-seed UTSA, 5-1, Wednesday, and Charlotte eliminated the Roadrunners by beating them, 11-2, in Thursday’s opener and first elimination game.

The Bulldogs are 28-30; Charlotte is 30-26. The two teams have split four games this season.

In the Tech-MTSU 12:30 p.m. game under sunny skies Thursday, once Tech had climbed to within a run on a two-run ground-rule double by Dalton Davis and a three-run homer by Ethan Bates, the shots by Burchfield and Drost provided the dramatic but disappointing ending.

“I don’t know how those balls didn’t get out,” Tech coach Lane Burroughs said. “We really crushed some balls early and had nothing to show for it. The one run (through eight innings) will look like we didn’t get a lot done, but I thought we had some pretty good at-bats … we just couldn’t get the big hit. But give our hitters some credit; we never stopped. Those last two balls (to the wall), we get just a little more of either one and we win the ballgame.”

Tech starter Ryan Harland gave up two runs in the first on a leadoff single, walk, a one-out double and a fielder’s choice. The sophomore lefty, starting for just the third time this season and making his 29th appearance, left after 21 pitches with a runner on second and one out in the second inning.

Greg Martinez came out of the pen to relieve him and retired five straight batters but, because of a blister on his right hand, was unable to complete his warmup tosses to start the fifth. Enter Reed Smith, the winner in Wednesday’s opener after throwing only three pitches in Tech’s 13-8 decision over Charlotte. In three innings of work Thursday, Smith gave up just one run when the Blue Raiders made it 3-0 in the fourth as they took advantage of a two-out walk, a single and an error.

The Bulldogs got on the board when Burchfield, Tech’s senior designated hitter batting cleanup with First Team C-USA catcher Jorge Corona sidelined with an injury, led off the bottom of the fourth with his sixth homer of the season and his second of the tournament to make it 3-1.

The Raiders added a run in the eighth on a leadoff home run by Briggs Rutter off Tanner Knight, Tech’s fourth pitcher of the day, to make it 4-1. Lefty sophomore Caden Copeland relieved with a runner on first and no outs; Middle managed two more runs for a 6-1 lead, each run coming on a two-out triple by Brett Coker, a liner that just eluded a diving Drost in center. The triple came immediately after a call of out at first was reversed, the back half of a potential double play that would have ended the inning.

The Raiders added a run off no hits – a hit batter, error, walk and fielder’s choice – in the top of the ninth for a 7-1 lead.

Jaden Hamm, normally a MTSU starter and the team’s leader in strikeouts (90 with 35 walks), pitched the final three innings, more than any of the other three Raider pitchers on the afternoon, and set the Dogs down in order in the seventh and eighth.

Then came the ninth.

Tech loaded the bases in bottom of the ninth with two walks and a pinch-hit single from Baylor Cobb, his first hit of the season. That brought up Davis, Tech’s leadoff guy and hottest hitter, who slammed a ground rule double to make it 7-3, still with no outs and runners on second and third.

Bates followed with a no-doubt three-run home run to right to cut the lead to 7-6.

Then came three flyouts, the final two at the wall, and the game was over.

The Bulldogs left a pair of runners on base in the first, fifth, and sixth.

A Downsville man was arrested Tuesday after he allegedly struck a coworker at their place of employment.

Lincoln Parish deputies responded to UPS Road about 1 p.m. Tuesday. The victim told deputies Everado Almedia-Cortez, 46, walked up to him while he was talking to another worker. Cortez allegedly hit the victim and then jumped on top of him and struck him multiple times. 

Deputies viewed a video from the business that showed Cortez hitting the victim who went to the ground. Cortez got on top of the victim, grabbed him by the head, and hit him multiple times.

Cortez said the victim was “talking trash” to him and they both started swinging. However, the victim is not seen hitting Cortez in the video. Cortez was arrested for simple battery and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center.

Bail was set at $1,000.

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 

Do you have some old furniture you want to get rid of? Don’t want to have to haul it off yourself? You know it can be used by someone else?

First West Thrift Store in West Monroe is now offering FREE furniture pickups in Ruston each Monday starting June 5. Contact them at 318-410-0999 to schedule the pickup.

First West Thrift Store partners with over 20 ministries in northeast Louisiana and over the past four years they have invested over $1 million in those causes.

“Our mission is to see to it that no one misses the grace of God,” said store manager Phillip Thigpen. “We do this by supporting ministries in our area who are touching people in their time of need.

“Our heart is not to not duplicate services but rather come along side ministries and support them financially in their ministry.”

Some of the ministries that First West Thrift Store support include Life Choices of North Louisiana (Ruston); Life Choices of NE Louisiana (Monroe), Salvation Army Homeless Shelter, The Renewal Center, Mercy Multiplied, Prison Ministry, Grace Place, Rays of Sonshine, Broaden Horizons, Project Help, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

“We are not able to do this without the donors, shoppers and volunteers,” said Thigpen. “Each person who support us are the ones who are touching lives. Like we say you Give Through Us.  We want to thank you for all your support.”

The First West Thrift Store is the largest Thrift Store in north Louisiana with over 13,000 square feet of retail space.  They have the largest used furniture selection in north Louisiana and also sell household items, home décor, clothes, electronics, books and much more. They also have a “Brands and New Clothing” section. 

You can follow them on Facebook page First West Thrift Store to when there theme days are and to follow special sales days

Monday is Senior Discount Day (55 and older)

Wednesday is our Military Discount Day

Friday is our College Student Day

Shoppers receive 20 % off with an ID on these days (furniture is not included). The store also offers free furniture pick-ups.

The fourth Tuesday of every month, First West Thrift offers all regular price clothing for $1..

Store hours are Monday thru Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Donations can be dropped off at their location Monday thru Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

First West Thrift Store is located in downtown West Monroe at the corner of 4^th Street and Mill Street.

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Amen.

The word is said at the end of prayers. The word is bellowed out in a church meeting to affirm what was said by the speaker.

The word has an interesting history. It is transliterated from the Hebrew language. In some cases translators didn’t have an equivalent in their language for a word so they would keep the original word. “Amen” is closely related to the Hebrew word for faith. It was transliterated into the Greek language. It found its way into the Latin and then into English. The word “Amen” exists in many languages as “Amen.” When Jesus used it at the beginning of a story it could be translated as “truly.” In church life it came to mean “absolute confidence or trust in.”

“Amen” is the last word in the Bible.

In your life what happens after the “Amen?”

Many Methodist ministers will serve a two point charge some time in their ministry. I served the Arcadia-Mt.Mariah charge for five years. The big church was First Church in Arcadia. The smaller church was the Mt Mariah church north of Arcadia. The Mt. Mariah church service was at 9:00 a.m. the Arcadia service was at 10:30 a.m. They were both delightful churches. The Sunday Morning Liars Club met each Sunday morning under the trees in front of the Mt. Mariah church. The meeting began at 8:30 a.m. When I left that church the guys made me an official member!

On the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, the Mt. Mariah church held “Decoration Day” at the cemetery next to the church. The culinary advantage of Decoration Day was the meal that was provided. It was the largest potluck lunch in the history of Christendom. There were eight, eight-foot tables butted together filled with food. It was glorious. After the meal the families would spend some time in the cemetery cleaning up the family plots.

The Arcadia church agreed to finish early on Decoration Day, so the minister could be present to say the blessing over the meal. It was a seventy year old tradition!

My first Decoration Day was memorable. I finished the service at Arcadia early. I drove with great haste back out to Mt. Mariah. I could not believe the food on those tables. I was overwhelmed by the hundreds of people who had gathered for this sacred event. Everyone there was waiting for me to pray. The whole church day schedule was changed so I could pray this very important prayer over Decoration Day. The elders gathered the crowds up and they stood next to the church.  

I walked in front of the tables to face the crowd. I wanted to be sure they heard my powerful combination Decoration Day and meal blessing prayer. Facing the crowd meant my back to those tables filled with culinary goodies. Someone should have told the preacher to make sure a table of food was between him and the crowd. I was soon to discover that I was in “no man’s land.”

I prayed a great prayer! I arrived at the closing, “In Jesus name.” What happened next was a blur. My mouth formed the sound “Ah” but before I could form the rest of the word “men” the crowd rushed past me to the food. When my eyes opened I saw only the wall of the church. I felt that I was lucky to be in the upright position.

I did not make that mistake again. 

“Amen” can be a dangerous word if you are in the wrong place. If you live as Jesus said, “Amen” is the opening of that great paradox of faith. We live right now but our hope is not yet. We save our lives by losing them. We are made rich by becoming poor. We inherit the world by being meek. We turn the other cheek and pray for our enemies. We follow the One who gave us life through his death.

Living with contradiction is one of the secrets to a joyous life. There are times when things simply don’t and won’t add up. Still we trust in the one who “is the same yesterday, today and forever.”

“Amen ?”

Three age groups participated in Soccer All Stars this year through Ruston Parks and Recreation.

Each team played an equivalent age group from West Ouachita May 13 at RPAR.

The U10 team had 12 kids from the spring season and was coached by Spencer Lynch and Victoria Breeding.

U12 had 15 kids from this spring season and was coached Damon Moreland.

U14 had 17 kids and was coached by Grace Harrington.

Both U12 and U14 defeated West Ouachita, and West Ouachita was the victor for the U10 game.

“Over the past two years our soccer numbers for the spring have more than doubled,” said RPAR’s Amanda Lonadier.

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Cedar Creek recently held their Party in Paradise Celebration 2023.

The school would like to take the opportunity to thank the Cedar Creek friends and families that hosted parties in their homes as part of the event.

They would also like to thank sponsors, fund-the-faculty donors, auction donors, and supporters for making the event a huge success.

In order for our Lincoln Parish Journal staff to spend time with family and friends this holiday weekend, we will not have our usual Monday publication.

However, our Tuesday publication will arrive in your inbox at its regular time at 6:55 a.m. Our Weekly Events notice, which usually available on Monday, will arrive in Tuesday’s publication.

Remember, if you’re not currently subscribed to receive our email five days a week, please sign up by clicking HERE. The Lincoln Parish Journal always publishes free news articles, and they will always be free.

Happy Memorial Day to our parish!