Ardagh Glass Packaging’s announcement of the impending closure of their Simsboro facility appears to have been a complete surprise to local officials and employees.  It is not clear whether the local management team had any indication of the closure.  All media correspondence and information have been provided by their corporate communications department.  The news would be concerning for most communities, but with Lincoln Parish’s shortage of “anchor” employers, it is extremely concerning news.  I would define an “anchor” employer as one that employees 100 people or more, favorably impacts other businesses in the region, and brings in earnings from outside the region.   

I have seen this situation playout all too often over my 30+ years in business.  I have stood in front of over 150 employees on three different occasions and announced plant closures.  Those decisions were not mine alone by any means, but I was given the assignment of making the announcement to the people.  I can attest that those announcements and ensuing discussions are every bit as difficult as you would imagine.  Even though I understood the business justification, I was always impacted by the impact on the people.  The people that came to work every day and did everything asked of them only to still lose their job due to circumstances outside of their control.  Those are gut-wrenching events to say the least!

In the Ardagh case, I read where their corporate press release mentioned enhancing overall performance, optimizing performance, and committing to customers.  I saw where they referred to weakening customer demand as a factor in their closure decision.  Whether it was a decline in Budweiser sales, the impact of an overall economic decline in demand, a change in State tax incentives, or some combination of all these factors, the fact remains that the facility will be closing and closing soon.  The one thing that I have not seen in any of the corporate press release information is a reference to the people impacted.  I have not seen any comment of remorse, concern, or support for the people comprising this workforce.  I am confident the local management team is doing all they can for the people, but these managers are impacted as well.  

I hope we are not returning to a time when large corporations manipulate facilities and people as merely cost items on financial statements with no regard for the human factor.  I recall mass layoffs and total disregard for people being so prevalent back in the 1980’s.   Those were times where trust was lacking, and loyalty was taken for granted.  As the national government continues to work to fight inflation by slowing the economy, I am afraid we may see more examples of business closures and mass layoffs.  

So where do we go from here in Lincoln Parish?  We need to continue to pursue economic development.  We need to seek to get every vacant restaurant building back in service.  We need to seek to get every vacant building back in use.  Getting vacant buildings occupied and productive is good for any community.  However, we also need to continue to seek those “anchor” employers that I mentioned earlier.  We need companies that produce products or services that bring outside revenues and wealth into our community.  Local service-oriented businesses are good as they keep local money in the parish, but we need to also have businesses that bring in money from outside the region.  Economic development is tough work and requires many people and multiple levels of local and state government working together.

We need economic development first and foremost for the people of Lincoln Parish. Our people need reliable work opportunities.  Furthermore, economic development attracts people, generates tax revenues, and attracts other businesses.  We need to all support the efforts of our local officials, local Chamber, and others involved in seeking answers to this challenge.  I don’t know if we are going back to the future or not, but we need to be taking charge of our future!

Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Louisiana Tech Soccer completed their 2023 recruiting class with the addition of goalkeeper Emma Duguay, head coach Steve Voltz announced Tuesday. 

“We’re fortunate to find another goalkeeper with the qualities that Emma possesses,” said Voltz.” We appreciate her passion for the game, and she will also be an excellent fit for our culture. We are looking forward to her addition to our goalkeeper group.”

Duguay is out of Montreal, Canada, and has spent time with Celtix Du Haut-Richelieu. She joins Denmark native Sam Houston transfer Laerke Holst and incoming freshman Mackenzie Kelso out of Highlands Ranch, Colo. To round out the goalkeeper position. 

“We now have a young but extremely dynamic keeper room,” said Voltz. “These three will be able to come in and add a ton of competition to the group, which is exactly what we need heading into the season. Our new keeper’s coach, Lauren Smith, will do a great job developing and cultivating these players, and we are excited about what she will get out of them.” 

“I chose LA Tech because it has everything I’m looking for in a school and a team,” said Duguay. “During my conversations with Coach Voltz, I discovered that we have a similar vision of soccer and what being part of a team means. Most importantly, they were really kind to me, and I can’t wait to work and progress with them.”

LA Tech has added ten new members to the program, giving the Techsters a total roster size of 26 for the 2023 season. Tech is coming off their highest Conference USA finish since 2018, first postseason tournament appearance since 2019, and picked up a program-high five all-conference honors last year, including the program’s first-ever conference Freshman of the Year, in Flavie Dube. 

Tech’s roster will be anchored by fifth-year members Sophie Fijneman, all-conference performer, and captain Josie Studer. 

Service Location:

Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses

434 Walker Road

Jonesboro, LA

Saturday, July 01, 2023 at 1:00 p.m.

Benjamin Williams 
Monday 09/29/1947 — Sunday 06/18/2023  
Family Gathering: Friday 06/30/2023 2:00pm at King’s Funeral Home 
Visitation: Friday 06/30/2023 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home 
Wake: Friday 06/30/2023 6:00pm to 7:00pm at King’s Funeral Home 
Celebration of Life: Saturday 07/01/2023 11:00am, Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 521 Mt. Olive Church Road, Grambling 
Interment: Saturday 07/01/2023 Following Service, Grambling Memorial Garden, Highway 80 West, Grambling  

Lizzie Mae Temple 
Tuesday 09/10/1940 — Tuesday 06/20/2023  
Family Gathering: Friday 06/30/2023 2:00pm at King’s Funeral Home 
Viewing: Saturday 07/01/2023 12:00pm to 1:00pm, St. Rest Baptist Church, 831 Saint Rest Road, Quitman 
Celebration of Life: Saturday 07/01/2023 1:00pm, St. Rest Baptist Church, 813 St. Rest Road, Quitman
Interment: Following Service, Mt. Zion Cemetery, Quitman  

By Malcolm Butler

Long-time educator and former Lincoln Parish Police Jury Administrator Doug Postel is the new Executive Director at D’Arbonne Woods Charter School.

He will begin in the role effective July 1.

Postel, who was the center of unwanted attention during the final five months of 2022 when he was asked to step down in his LPPJ role and then ultimately voted out in early January despite strong public support, will bring three decades of education and administrative experience to the charter school.

According to Postel, his path to applying for and being hired for the job was a God thing.

“Finally after the fourth person contacted me and told me that they really felt like I needed to apply, I was like ‘Okay, Lord. I think i need to listen because I think you are trying to tell me something.’ That’s why I applied,” said Postel. “I was not looking for anything back in the education realm. But when I opened my heart and my mind and listened, I felt this is what God had for me.”

The Haughton native holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Louisiana Tech in addition to extensive post-graduate work in educational leadership. 

Postel’s experience includes one year at Homer High School (teacher), 14 years at Choudrant High School (teacher, assistant principal, principal), 12 years at Louisiana Delta Community College (campus director, dean of advancement), one year at Louisiana Tech University, and almost three years with the police jury.

Postel said he is excited about the opportunity and feels confident in the existing structure at the school.

“In order to be successful you have  surround yourself with really good people,” said Postel. “When I did my homework, I found that they have a great team already assembled up there. They need someone to provide them some stable leadership. I think I can do that.

“They have excellent people up there. Because it’s a charter school, the executive director serves more as a superintendent rather than a principal. There are still principal-like duties involved. It’s just supporting the great people already in place to help them do their job to the best of their ability.”

He and his wife, Nicole, live in Ruston and have two adult sons, Chandler and Graham.  He spends his free time traveling, reading, gardening and volunteering with a host of community and church organizations.  Doug also dedicates his time as the PA announcer for Louisiana Tech football.

——————–

Chartered in December of 2007, D’Arbonne Woods Charter School’s mission and educational focus is centered on improving the quality of public education in Union Parish … one child at a time. DWCS is a Type II charter in rural northeast Louisiana that provides targeted and research based curriculum delivery that meets the unique needs of its students.

It currently has an enrollment of approximately 975 students in grades K-12 served by a faculty and staff of 120. The school is housed in a new, state-of-the-art facility located on the shores of Lake D’Arbonne.  It is ranked an “A” school by the Louisiana Department of Education.

By T. Scott Boatright

The Ruston Sports Complex turned into a “Field of Dreams” Tuesday night for the Ruston 11U All-Stars baseball team.

Kevin Costner’s classic “Field of Dreams” was about a son building a dream to get one last chance to play a game of catch with the ghost of his father on a baseball field built on a Iowa cornfield. 

That dream started with Costner hearing a voice in his head telling him, “If you build it, he will come” – he being the ghost of Costner’s character – Ray Kinsella’s father.

On Tuesday, it was 11 fathers who walked out onto the turf at the Ruston Baseball Complex to take on their sons for a game of baseball.

The idea was the brainchild of Max Causey, who got to take on his son Barnes and the 11U All-Stars.

“I had seen on social media through the years various moms vs. sons games,” Causey said. “And I thought, ‘We’ve got an athletic group of dads, why not a dads vs. sons game?’ So that was the impetus, and it ended up being a battle to the end.”

The All-Stars admitted that watching the “Has Beens,” as the Dads Team called themselves, walk out onto the field was more than a little surprising.

Jacoby Smith, son of Ruston High School baseball coach Zack Smith, was one of those All-Stars momentarily stunned when the “Has Beens” took the field.

“We thought it was going to be another team,” Jacoby said. “Even when some of the dads started walking out we didn’t know what was happening. But then when more and more kept on coming out on the field and yelling and everything, we realized that was who we were going to be playing.”

The game wasn’t really about the score, but like many father/son match-ups, the scoreboard kept things fun and in the end made the outcome even more meaningful for the All-Stars.

Trailing by three runs going into the bottom half of the sixth and final inning, the 11U All-Stars rallied to take a 11-10 come-from-behind win over the “Has Beens” in a game in which the players, umpire Choo Kirkendoff and any friends and families in attendance in the stands all walked away winners.

“This was about lifelong memories,” Causey said. “We wanted it to be an epic night that the kids will never forget. They’re 11, and I really believe they’ll remember this forever.

“The outcome was probably exactly what it needed to be. We had some action, some homers, some funny plays – it was just an awesome night.”

It was the Dads who took an early lead as Steve Davison stole home in the top of the first inning before adding a pair of runs in the top of the second inning when Ryan Kilpatrick and Anson Culpepper both scored.

But the All-Stars battled back to tie things up 3-3 in the bottom of the third with three runs on two hits, including a two-RBI double by Kingston Culpepper.

“I couldn’t believe it,” said All-Star Rhodes Kilpatrick after the game. “I thought at first the fathers were there to help warm-up before the game, and I didn’t think that’s who we were going to be playing. But that was a great game. It was a lot of fun.”

The Has Beens used a pair of two-run homers – one by Patrick Ramsey and one by Davison – to build what appeared to be a commanding 8-3 advantage. 

But the All-Stars weren’t close to finished.

“It’s a lot of fun when you get guys who still think they can do it going up against young kids who really can,” Davison said. “It was good to see the right team won the game, but we stressed them a little bit, so we were glad to do that. I think that was a good thing for them.”

A former baseball player for Louisiana Tech, Davison admitted the night brought back some memories.

“It was a lot of fun,” Davison said of his long-awaited return to the field. “You never really get over missing it. It was good to get out, break a little sweat and compete a little bit.”

It also strengthened father/son connections for all out on the field.

“This was about fun, and bragging rights and a little smack talk and things like that,” Davison said. “They got the win, but the dads had a few highlights we can remember, too.”

Things got interesting in the bottom of the fifth, when the All-Stars matched the Has Beens’ four runs in to the top half of the stanza with four of their own, thanks largely in part by three singles along with four hit batters by Davison, who had taken the mound for the Dads that inning.

“There was a little smack talk going on out there,” Davison said. “They were crowding the plate on me, so I had to try to establish that inside, unfortunately to my team’s detriment.”

The Has Beens added a pair of runs in the top of the sixth to build a 10-7 advantage before the heroics by the All-Stars in the bottom half of the inning.

Another former LA Tech Bulldog baseballer – All-Stars coach Jordan Taylor – got into the action by pinch hitting in the bottom of the half of the sixth. But Taylor flied out to second before an RBI double by Jacoby Smith followed by an RBI single by Barnes Causey sent the All-Stars into a walk-off celebration.

The Ruston 11U All-Stars included Smith, Causey, Brycen Bennett, Ryder Walpole, Grey Ramsey, Henry Walpole, Grant Alexander, Joseph Davison, Rhodes Kilpatrick John Cole Parker and Kingston Culpepper.

Eli Wilson, another integral member of the Ruston 11u All-Star team, was out of town and unable to participate or the game may not have been as close.

The Has Beens roster included Zack Smith, Steve Davison, Jason Alexander, Brad Bennett, Jeff Parker, Ryan Kilpatrick, Anson Culpepper, Jay Walpole, Max Causey, Danny Walpole and Patrick Ramsey.

“It was so much fun,” Jacoby Smith said of the night. “It was a lot different than a normal game because all the pressure was off. It was only about having fun.”

And that, Jacoby said, was the biggest lesson he learned from the Dads.

“Baseball is still a game and just about having fun – that’s what I learned,” Jacoby said.

The Lincoln Parish Journal is seeking nominations for a series it is conducting on the Top 20 under 40 “Rising Lincoln Leaders.”

Our parish is full of young, rising professionals and leaders, and we want to recognize some of them through this summer series.

Nominee criteria includes:

• 39 years of age or younger
• works in Lincoln Parish
• resides in Lincoln Parish

Deadline to submit nominations is by 5 p.m. on Friday, July 7th. All nominations shoul be emailed to LPJNewsLA@gmail.com with the subject line of Rising Lincoln Leaders.

Please include the following information within the nomination:

• Nominee’s name
• Age
• Employer
• Contact info, including phone
• 750 words or less about why the individual is being nominated for this award; including accomplishments, awards, etc.
• Contact name and info (including phone) of the person submitting the nomination

The Lincoln Parish Journal will run a series profiling each of the Top 20 Under 40 “Rising Lincoln Leaders”.

An alleged shoplifter who fled the Walmart Super Center was apprehended nearby by police Friday.

Ruston Police officers responded to the Walmart on the North Service Road about 10:30 p.m. Friday night. The suspect had fled on foot, reportedly discarding stolen items as he ran.

A patrol officer spotted the suspect running on the North Service Road and took him into custody.

Torranzec R. Melton, 38, of Simsboro, allegedly told officers he took a flashlight and two packages of batteries. The items were recovered in the Walmart parking lot.

A search of Melton’s backpack discovered a prescription bottle in another man’s name containing digoxin, a Schedule IV controlled substance.

Melton was booked for theft by shoplifting, resisting an officer, and possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance. Bail was set at $4,000.

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 Kelsey Horath

Physical therapist Bryan Moore has been practicing for over 13 years but was introduced to the field long before.

Growing up, Moore’s mother was a physical therapist, which gave him the opportunity to learn about the field from a young age. 

“My mom is a physical therapist so I was around the profession early in life and knew what it was all about,” Moore said. 

Watching his own mother return to school to get her license, while simultaneously raising a family, helped drive his choice to pursue the field.

“She actually went back to physical therapy school when I was 10 years old so I watched that experience and was confident that if she could do that with a family, I would be able to succeed as well,” Moore said.

After high school, Moore completed his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Louisiana Tech University and later received his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. He has spent the last four years at Johnson Physical Therapy in Ruston.

Along with growing up in close proximity to the world of physical therapy, Moore’s interest in sports and athletics also played a role in his decision to enter the profession. 

“I have always been interested in sports and the human body so I knew I wanted to pursue something movement related,” Moore said. “The ability to work with athletes in a healthcare role and help them get back to their sport seemed to be a perfect fit.”

Since entering the field over a decade ago, Moore has had the opportunity to work with numerous different patients and be a part of unforgettable healing journeys.

“We treated a young man who played football for Grambling and he had the most devastating knee injury I’ve ever seen, requiring eight separate surgeries in a year’s time,” Moore said. “It was amazing to see him not only return to playing but also get an interception in his first game back.”

Though the journey to recovery can be a tedious and long process for some, Moore finds motivation from the strength patients demonstrate to reach their goals of healing. 

“My motivation comes from seeing people heal and progress through difficult physical challenges and come out of them with a stronger mindset,” Moore said. “I love being able to treat people of all backgrounds and the entire body from an accountant with back pain, to a pitcher with a shoulder injury, to a football player after knee surgery.”

As Moore continues practicing, he wants to further his skills and knowledge to put towards athletic recovery.

“I have a goal of attaining a strength and conditioning specialization in order to further help athletes bridge the gap from rehab to the field and court,” Moore said. 

A man stopped for excessively dark window tint was arrested on numerous charges early Thursday morning.

A deputy with the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office stopped a pickup truck on La. Highway 33 about 1:15 a.m. Thursday morning after observing the vehicle had excessively tinted windows. A check with a portable tint meter showed only 4% light transmission, far below the 40% minimum.

The deputy also noticed the truck’s inspection sticker and vehicle registration were expired.

A drug detection dog performed an open-air sniff around the truck and alerted to the presence of narcotics inside. A search discovered a vial of Depo®-Testosterone and a .22 revolver. The vial and the package did not bear a prescription label.

The driver, Gregory Lane Bradshaw, 38, of Ruston said the testosterone was his but could not identify the physician who prescribed it or when he obtained it.

Bradshaw was arrested and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for possession of a Schedule III controlled substance, possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance in a drug-free zone, no vehicle registration, expired inspection sticker, and illegal window tint.

Bail was set at $40,000.

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. 

Last night, shortly before midnight, Louisiana State Police Troop F was contacted by the Monroe Police Department (MPD) in reference to the arrest of an off-duty Louisiana State Police Sergeant. Officials with MPD indicated that, 49-year-old Shelton Crooks of Monroe was arrested for DWI and hit and run.

Crooks, currently assigned to patrol in the Troop F Monroe area, has been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation with all law enforcement property recovered by the department. Crooks has been employed with LSP since 1999.

According to reports from the MPD, they were contacted after a parked vehicle was hit by Crooks.  Crooks left the scene of the crash and later came into contact with the MPD.  The MPD officer suspected that Crooks was impaired and he was placed under arrest.  This investigation is on-going by MPD.

Larry Payne grew up in north Louisiana before enjoying a majorly successful career in the energy industry, but it was the years he spent as a student at Grambling State University that made one of the biggest impacts on his life. 

Now a retired 38-year career in the energy industry, Payne is still making an impact as CEO of LESA & Associates, LLC, a private Energy Consulting Company. 

But Payne might have made an even bigger impact at Grambling State University in recent years, including a $10,000 donation made earlier this month to his college alma mater. Payne’s story of philanthropy at Grambling State has been years in the making. 

Born in Ruston, Payne’s family moved 20 miles north to Farmerville when he was starting seventh grade and he ended up graduating high school there at Eastside High School. After a year-and-a-half detour to Baton Rouge and Southern University, Payne transferred back home to GSU, where he graduated with a business degree in 1969. He also met his wife, Dr. Eleanor Collins Payne of Jonesville when they were both students at GSU.

After graduating college, Payne was drafted into the Army and later was sent to Vietnam, returning home to the States in 1970 with another year-and-a-half of service left to do. He completed his service at Fort Dix in New Jersey before moving to Houston and beginning a job in the energy industry in 1972. 

During his career, much of which was spent in Houston with stints in Denver and then Tulsa, where he and his wife now live, Payne held various executive positions such as COO, Senior Vice President, Executive Vice President, and Vice President for companies such as SemStream LP, Williams Midstream Marketing and Risk Management, Texaco NGLs, Enterprise, Aux Sable Liquids, and Ferrell North America. 

At LESA, Payne has continued working on various projects for private clients such as Magnum Development, a portfolio company of Haddington Ventures, LLC; and Caliche Development Partners, a portfolio company of Energy Spectrum Capital. Both of those projects involved midstream start-ups and at Magnum, Payne served as interim CEO of Magnum Natural Gas Liquids through that company’s financing and the CEO search. 

Currently, Payne is a member of the board of Unit Corporation, where he is a member of the audit, nominating, and governance committees, and the advisory board of Haddington Ventures. He also served on the board of Buckeye Partners GP from 2014 until its sale on Nov. 1, 2019. 

In 2017, Payne decided it was time to give back to Grambling State, and he started by making a $50 donation to the university. He followed that up with donations of $10,000 in 2018, 2019, and 2021 before making his most recent $10,000 donation to the university earlier this month. 

“Some of the earlier donations I know went to the Gap Scholarship Fund, but I’m not worried about what the money goes toward as long as it can help the university I love,” Payne said. “Being a GSU graduate means a lot to me, and my wife, too, and at this point in our lives just being able to do that and make an impact there is something we want to do. I’ve been blessed and that’s where we got our start. Grambling [State] provided the foundation for us, and we want to help make sure that foundation stays strong into the future.” 

The Louisiana Office of State Parks is seeking public-private partnerships to implement projects designed to enhance visitor experiences and generate additional revenue for the Louisiana State Parks system. A Request for Proposal (RFP) is now open and accessible at OpportunitiesInLouisiana.com for opportunities available in all state parks.

Project examples include both infrastructure and building construction opportunities such as cabins, pavilions, nature centers, road repaving, and RV campground upgrades like adding full sewer hookups. Additional opportunities include amenities such as concessions, boat rentals, bicycle rentals, and agritourism activities.

“To attract new visitors and keep current visitors coming back, our state parks must offer first-class services, amenities, and activities,” said Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser. “By working with entrepreneurs through public-private partnerships, we hope to create self-sustaining parks that will continue to increase savings to taxpayers.”

All projects submitted through the Request for Proposal must support the core tenets of the Louisiana State Parks mission:

• Preserving and protecting natural areas of unique or exceptional scenic value;
• Establishing and operating parks that provide recreational use of natural resources and facilities for outdoor recreation in natural surroundings;
• Portraying and interpreting plant and animal life, geology, and all other natural features and processes included in the various state parks;
• Preserving, protecting, and portraying historic and scientific sites of statewide importance; and,
• Performing functions of the state relating to outdoor recreation development and trails. 

Firms or individuals interested in submitting a proposal must include all mandatory information specified in the RFP. The Office of State Procurement must receive submissions electronically through the RFP portal or in hard copy on or before 10 a.m. Central on October 27, 2023. Fax and email submissions will not be accepted.

To view the Request for Proposal, please visit OpportunitiesInLouisiana.com and click on “Bring your business ideas to the parks.”

Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

The Louisiana Tech Softball roster continues to form as head coach Josh Taylor announced the addition of outfielder Alexis Gilio, a transfer from Brigham Young University, on Tuesday.

A native of Lafayette, Colo., Gilio arrives in Ruston after spending her freshman and sophomore seasons in Provo as a member of the Cougars.

“We are excited to welcome Alexis to the LA Tech family,” Taylor said. “Her physicality will have an immediate impact on our program. She has the ability to both stand and swing and slap and has great speed. We are excited to welcome her to Ruston and believe she will have an immediate impact on our program.”

Gilio appeared in 85 games while making 49 starts during her two seasons at BYU. In 2023, she posted a .284 batting average with 27 hits, seven doubles, one triple, five RBI, 22 runs scored, and six stolen bases.

As a Freshman in 2022, Gilio batted .300, collecting 15 hits, two doubles, 15 runs scored, and four RBI. She also possesses difference-making speed, with 17 stolen bases in 21 attempts. In the classroom, Gilio was a West Coast Conference All-Academic Honorable Mention selection as a sophomore.

“I chose Louisiana Tech because everything felt right when I stepped on campus,” Gilio said. “On my visit, I was able to get to know Coach Taylor, and I really connected with him. I love how there is a family atmosphere. Everyone I met was so kind. They have great facilities, and I get the opportunity to play for a very competitive program.”

Gilio was named a 2020 Extra Innings Extra Elite Top 200 recruit for the 2021 class in 2018, 2019, and 2020. She also earned a Select National Training Camp Invite in 2019. Her mother, Michelle, played softball at Michigan State and Loyola University Chicago, while her father, Tony, played baseball at Eastern Illinois University. Gilio’s brother Ashtin recently signed to play collegiate baseball at Georgetown.

Graveside Services for Eleanor Gandy Terzia are scheduled for Saturday, July 1, 2023, 10:00 A.M., at Riverview Cemetery, in Monroe, LA. Rev. John T. Mabray will be officiating the services under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home of Ruston.

Eleanor was born June 23, 1923, to Robert Wiley Gandy and Ellen Pennfield Gandy, and was the youngest of 5 children.   

Eleanor graduated from Tallulah High.  She attended L.S.U. where she was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority.  She then returned to Tallulah, graduated from N.L.U., and married her husband on November 9, 1946.

Eleanor was a member of the Thursday Bridge Club.  She also loved playing bridge with her friends at The Bridge House in Monroe.  She lived a wonderful life and was a joy to be around.  Having lived to the age of 100 was a real joy for her.

Eleanor is preceded in death by her parents, Robert Wiley and Ellen Pennfield Gandy; her husband, Leo F. Terzia, Jr.; siblings, Robert Wiley Gandy, Jr., Mary Helen Loe, William Frederick Gandy, and Dr. Thomas Howard Gandy.

She is survived by her two children; Cynthia Le Henderson and husband Ben of Canton, GA, and son, Leo F. Terzia, III (Buddy) and wife Jennifer, of Ruston, LA; grandchildren, Laura Terzia Bankston and husband Matt of Shreveport, LA, and Gregory Bain Terzia and wife Audrey of Choudrant, LA; and six great grandchildren, Addison, Melody, Lola Belle, Olivia, Abby, and Lexie.

Graveside services for Ronny Whitaker, age 77 of Ruston, LA will be held at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at Hurricane Cemetery in Athens, LA with Rev. Brian Mercer and Rev. Doug Degraffenried officiating.  Services are under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston, LA.

Ronald Edward Whitaker of Ruston, LA, was born on March 4, 1946, in Warren, AR and passed away on Sunday, June 25, 2023, after a lengthy battle with cancer.  He served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam era and retired from BP Amoco after 25 years. Ronny was an avid gardener and enjoyed sharing his vegetables with his family, neighbors, and friends. He also enjoyed fishing with his buddy, Ed and spending time at Crowes Nest hunting camp. He will be greatly missed by his family, special neighbors, and friends.  Ronny was preceded in death by his parents, Byron and Grace Whitaker; sisters: Marilyn Whitaker and Florine Moore and brother, Eugene “Whit” Whitaker.

Ronny is survived by his wife of 52 years, Martha Whitaker; son Ron Whitaker and wife Meredith of Ruston, LA; daughter, Ginger Grimes of Charleston, SC; sisters: Betty Luttering and husband Ty, Connie Guidry and husband Bubba, all of Katy, TX; special sister-in-law, Jean Whitaker of Shreveport, LA; grandchildren: Anna Grace McClain and husband Nathan, Jack, John and Ella Kate Whitaker and Harris and Griffin Grimes; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, American Cancer Society or JDRF, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Funeral services for Rev. Dwayne Monk, age 60 of Choudrant, LA will be held at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at New Hope Baptist Church Patterson Family Life Center in Choudrant with Brother Barry Joyner and Brother Kevin Miles officiating.  Burial will follow in Dry Bayou Cemetery in Wilmot, AR at 3:00 PM under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston, LA.

Rev. Dwayne Lee Monk was born on May 13, 1963 in Pine Bluff, AR to Dannie Glenn (Pete) Monk and Treva Jeanine Lackie Monk and passed from this earth and was welcomed into his eternal home on June 23, 2023.  He was raised in a strong Christian home, where he learned to love the Lord, by his father and mother, Mary Monk.  He worked for Arkansas Power and Light Company/Entergy when the Lord called him into the ministry, where he served for 38 years, leading with a servant heart.  

Dwayne pastored Fairdale Baptist Church in Hot Springs, AR for seven years and then the Lord called him to New Hope Baptist Church in Choudrant, LA. where he has pastored the flock for the past 24 years. He loved his congregation, and served them with a true pastor’s heart.  Dwayne was more than a husband, dad, poppa, pastor, and friend, he was a hero, protector, confidant, fixer, and spiritual leader, not only to his family but to everyone he met.  He never met a stranger.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Pete and Jean Monk, a sister, Glenda Monk Iding and a nephew, Ryan Hurst.

Dwayne is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 39 years, Elizabeth McAlister Monk: daughters: Sarah Elizabeth Monk and Hannah Leigh  Monk; granddaughter, Isabella Jean Green; mother, Mary Brown Monk; brother, Dannie Monk (Anita); sister, Danna Monk Thompson (Chris); sisters-in-law: Robin Mangione (Michael) and Ashley Fleeger (Joe); nephews: Jared Monk(Amy), Cody Hurst (MaKayla), Evan Hurst (Paige), Daniel Thompson, and David Iding (Christina); niece, Cindy Monk; great-nephews: Eli and Asher Hurst, Isaac and Isaiah Iding; great-nieces: Chloe and Callie Monk and a host of friends and brothers and sisters in Christ.

Serving as pallbearers will be Greg Fretz, Joe Fleeger, Jared Monk, Cody Hurst, Evan Hurst, and Kevin Miles.  Honorary pallbearers will be Dannie Monk, Michael Mangione and the deacons and men of New Hope Baptist Church.  

Visitation will be 6:00-8:00 PM, Tuesday, June 27, 2023 at the Family Life Center. 

Rev. Dwayne Monk 
May 13, 1963 – June 23, 2023 
Funeral Service: Wednesday, June 28, 2023, 10:00 AM, New Hope Baptist Church, 339 New Hope Road, Choudrant 
Cemetery Committal: Wednesday, June 28, 2023, 3:00 PM, Dry Bayou Cemetery, County Road 381, Wilmot, Arkansas 

Ronnie Whitaker 
March 4, 1946 – June 25, 2023 
Graveside Service: Wednesday, June 28, 2023, 11:00 AM, Hurricane Cemetery. HWY 519. Athens 

Benjamin Williams 
Monday 09/29/1947 — Sunday 06/18/2023  
Family Gathering: Friday 06/30/2023 2:00pm at King’s Funeral Home 
Visitation: Friday 06/30/2023 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home 
Wake: Friday 06/30/2023 6:00pm to 7:00pm at King’s Funeral Home 
Celebration of Life: Saturday 07/01/2023 11:00am, Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 521 Mt. Olive Church Road, Grambling 
Interment: Saturday 07/01/2023 Following Service, Grambling Memorial Garden, Highway 80 West, Grambling  

Lizzie Mae Temple 
Tuesday 09/10/1940 — Tuesday 06/20/2023  
Family Gathering: Friday 06/30/2023 2:00pm at King’s Funeral Home 
Viewing: Saturday 07/01/2023 12:00pm to 1:00pm, St. Rest Baptist Church, 831 Saint Rest Road, Quitman 
Celebration of Life: Saturday 07/01/2023 1:00pm, St. Rest Baptist Church, 813 St. Rest Road, Quitman
Interment: Following Service, Mt. Zion Cemetery, Quitman  

By Kyle Roberts

Ruston High School’s main gymnasium is getting a fresh facelift — particularly in the main entrance, the upstairs concession area, and the locker rooms beneath the home-side bleachers.

“This is a long time coming,” Ruston High School principal Dan Gressett said. “I’ve been meeting with Coach (Leon) Barmore for two or three years now getting input from him and Coach Jack Thigpen along with others. We have gone over ideas for what could be done, and before, we could never get anything going.

“When we final got going– we had met one morning and had a building meeting, and by that afternoon, there were holes in the walls and the process had begun.”

Freshmen, junior varsity and varsity volleyball will have a new home under the bleachers, while athletic trainer Chris Brister’s class will be placed adjacent.

The main entrance will see a complete overhaul including restrooms, while the upstair concession area will have two bathrooms added on each side.

Currently, April of 2024 is the projected timeline for the completion, with a best case scenario of February; meaning that volleyball and basketball for Ruston High will be played away from the main gym. Plans are still being formulated regarding the temporary homes for fall and winter indoor sports.

“We’ve contacted (Louisiana Tech) about using the TAC for volleyball and basketball, if they can work around us,” Gressett said. “(Tech) will be playing volleyball and basketball at the same time, so that’s not easy to do.

“I’ve talked about using Memorial Gym (on Tech campus), or Ruston Junior High’s facilities, or the (Ruston Parks and Recreation) Sports Complex. There’s a lot of moving parts, and we don’t have anything nailed down as of right now.”

The floor itself, however, is not part of this plan, meaning that it will still be able to serve as a functional gym for practice and for gym classes. Fire marshal regulations will ultimately keep formal competition and large gatherings (such as homecoming assemblies) out of the main gym for the time being due to the lack of existing exits during construction.

Lincoln Parish School Board superintendent Ricky Durrett confirmed in a phone call that the money for the renovation will come from the federal COVID funding ESSER III (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund).

Plans for the renovation were drawn up by Michael L. Walpole, Architect, LLC.

by Malcolm Butler

New Cedar Creek head football coach William Parkerson has completed compiling his coaching staff for the upcoming 2023 season.

With summer workouts underway, Parkerson — who was hired to replace the departed Matt Middleton in late April — has added some important pieces to the Cougars coaching puzzle, including former Creek stars KJ Malone and Tripp Marcus.

Long-time and highly-successful defensive coordinator Mark Ware returns for another year on the Creek sideline and will coach linebackers.

Parkerson knows the importance of keeping the veteran coach.

“Extremely beneficial,” said Parkerson. “He has coached in the (Superdome) like 14 times. He will forget more football than a lot of people will ever know. He has a philosophy that the kids believe in, and they know it. He is a good guy. He possesses all the qualities of a good coach.”

Jacob Angevine and Bryce Meche also return for another year. Angevine will coach the defensive line and serve as the head junior high coach while Meche will coach wide receivers on the varsity level and help with the junior high.

Malone and Marcus will play an important role for Parkerson. Malone, who starred at LSU following his playing days at Creek, will serve as the co-offensive line coach. Marcus, who lettered at Louisiana Tech in track and field, will coach running backs and defensive backs.

Both Malone and Marcus played for Parkerson during his time as an assistant at Cedar Creek, something that the first-year Cougars boss feels will be really important.

“It’s nice to have some former players who played when I was here (as an assistant coach) so they an relate to the current players,” said Parkerson. “They can say (to the current players), ‘Hey, I know what he is saying. I’ve been here and I’ve done that.’  Plus they were really good players that our current kids will all remember. So what they say will carry some weight.

“Our current players were little kids when KJ and Tripp were here and so hopefully it will bring back memories of good times when Cedar Creek was successful.”

Malone said he is excited about the opportunity.

“I love being back in the Green and Gold,” said Malone. “Cedar creek has always been a home for me. Once I heard about Coach P coming back it got me fired up! I always wanted to come back and coach at Cedar Creek, but coach P coming back definitely boosted that. I am just blessed to have gotten the opportunity to come back and coach at this great school. Only God knows the right timing and this was his timing for me.”

As Parkerson begins to instill his philosophy and culture into the Cougars program, he feels Marcus could really prove valuable on the mental side with the players.

“I was as close to Tripp as anybody,” said Parkerson. “I coached him in both football and track and field. He has seen me high, low and everywhere in between. He reads me really well. He read me well when he was a player. He will be really good on the mental stuff. He has experienced the full gamut of William Parkerson the coach.”

River Gross will serve as the co-offensive line coach while Jordan Shaffer will work with the Cougars slot receivers and linebackers while also helping with the Creek baseball program. 

Parkerson said he would handle the Cedar Creek quarterbacks and serve as the offensive coordinator.