A Ruston woman was arrested last Wednesday after she allegedly began an argument while armed with a knife.
Ruston Police responded to a Clinton Circle residence last Wednesday morning regarding a disturbance reportedly involving a knife and a gun. A man at the residence told officers Patricia Williams, 37, had approached his girlfriend’s residence to argue with him. The man said Williams was carrying a knife at the time.
The man said he saw the knife, and understanding Williams wanted to argue with him, retrieved a firearm to defend himself if Williams attempted to enter the apartment.
Williams told police the man stood inside the front door of the residence holding the firearm until the area’s security guard arrived and separated them.
Williams also told officers initially there was no knife, and she only approached the man to argue. However, witnesses to the incident said a knife was present on the porch where Williams was located during the confrontation. Williams then changed her account and admitted she was holding a kitchen knife when she approached the man at his girlfriend’s residence.
Williams was arrested for aggravated assault 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.
With the recent news of the Ardagh Glass Plant’s impending closure, we are all reminded about the need for a continued focus on economic development.Businesses of all sizes are impacted by the current economic slowdown, and we can’t take any business or associated jobs for granted.The challenge of sustainable financial success is also a key issue at our local universities.With fewer young people entering four-year colleges today, the competition for students is ramping up.With costs increasing as student numbers decrease, it is becoming increasingly difficult for our universities to continue to offer a broad range of degree programs in a cost-effective manner.
So, what can we do?We can support those working on economic development for the region and student enrollment increases for our universities in the region.One way we can support this effort is by merely taking care of our community and property.Ruston is fortunate to have many rental house opportunities for students desiring to live off campus.Off-campus housing is a key component of the college experience and a key ingredient for any successful college town.The problem in Ruston is that far too many of these rental properties are neglected and give a terrible impression of the city, but particularly around the La Tech campus.Yards go un-mowed for weeks at a time.Sidewalks are not edged.Trash is continually overflowing from dumpster areas.
Far too many property owners are enjoying the “passive” income and are all too passive about their responsibility of property ownership.The same concern holds true for vacant lots and closed businesses.The grass is not being mowed and the buildings are just left without any semblance of responsibility.It’s not every piece of rental property or vacant lot, but there are far too many.
We will never know how many parents come to Ruston to take a tour of Tech, see everything I describe above, and enroll their children somewhere else.The staff at Tech may never get a fair chance to share what Tech offers because the prospective student and family are so turned off by the neglect that they see driving around the campus area of town.
This same issue holds true of companies considering Ruston for expansion or relocation.It doesn’t take too long driving around the campus area or downtown area to see the neglect.If property owners don’t care enough to take care of their property, why would a prospective business think this community will take care of their business or their customers.It matters!
I have lived in different areas of the South and have seen economic growth be successful.I have seen local universities grow enrollment.I can attest that the community played a role in all those cases.Those communities weren’t perfect.They had challenges just like our community.However, they got serious about growth and realized that appearances and first impressions matter a lot!Ruston has some great things going with downtown upgrades.We have some individuals that do a great job with their businesses and private property.There are just too many examples in prominent areas that are just so disappointing.
We can do better.We need all property owners to take responsibility for their property so Ruston and the surrounding areas can be at our best as we seek to grow jobs, grow the local economy, and grow our local universities.Just three simple words would be a good start ….mow the grass!
I am writing this in the heart of the summer. If you are reading it during the stomach, lung, or bowel of summer — pick an organ — you can bet your last kidney that at this moment, somewhere along America’s highways and byways, there is a kid in a car asking his parents, “Are we there yet?”
It’s as sure a sign of summer as singing Santa Claus is Coming to Town is a sign of Christmastime. (Wonder if Rudolph ever asks Santa, “Hey, Big Man, are we there yet?”)
“Are we there yet?” is the bastard cousin of “How much farther?” and the illegitimate stepchild of “When are we gonna be there?!” Extra points if the lines are delivered with a whine and a squirm, as if the child, sweaty and starving, were asking from the confines of a straightjacket in the back of a rusty van.
“Are we,” a high-pitched voice of 5 years of age, shaky and tortured, “THERE yet?”
Vacation with the kiddos.
Good times.
This essay is nothing more than a reminder to traveling parents that the more things change in family travel, the more they stay the same. “Are we there yet?” is as American as the Grand Canyon. That childhood question echoed from the bowels of the Mayflower, from the shade of covered wagons, and from the backseat of a two-door 1967 Impala, white, black hardtop, when the road it traveled between Carolina and our grandparents in Louisiana was just a vision of the Interstate 20, we know today.
To my dad’s credit, he never looked in the rearview mirror and said to his towheaded son, “Did I raise an idiot? I’ve raised an idiot. If we were there, we would not be here. The car would be stopped. Go back to sleep or read.”
“But I need to pee.”
That’s another classic. Children have always needed to pee. But they’ve never needed to pee more than when they are toddlers and, in a restaurant, — usually right when the food comes — or when they are elementary school-aged and in a car on a long trip. Somehow, a child’s bladder instinctively knows when it is farthest from a truck stop, and this is when it sounds the “I need to go” alarm.
The only explanation is that our Maker invented this behavior to keep parents humble and help us practice patience.
(Word to children: If a child is reading this, you also have a role to play. If a giant hand resembling your fathers suddenly appears in the backseat, seemingly with eyes of its own, grasping for what could be you, slide your own self into neutral. And if a voice resembling your fathers says, “Do NOT make me pull this car over!” don’t press the action. I was a kid once and in a vehicle that actually DID pull over, as threatened: it was not pretty.)
So … no, parents. Do not panic. This summer, do not think that these things happen only in your Impala, only in your SUV. They are happening to someone right now, and there’s really nothing any of us can do about it.
Just try to enjoy the ride.
Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu or Twitter at MamaLuvsManning.
Only two days left to nominate individuals for the Lincoln Parish Journal’s 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. tomorrow. All nominations should 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”.
Funeral services for Jo Nell Urban, age 96 of Ruston, LA will be held at 10:0 AM, Thursday, July 6, 2023 at Owens Memorial Chapel in Ruston with Rev. Dana Thrash, Jennifer Thrash and Brandon Thrash officiating. Burial will follow at 2:00 PM in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Pineville, LA under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston, LA.
Jo Nellwyn Roberts Urban took the hand of Jesus and left her earthly body to go home on July 2, 2023. She was born on September 14, 1926 in Alexandria, LA to George F. and Anne LeBlanc Roberts. Jo Nell graduated from Bolton High School in 1945 and attended Louisiana College. She married Ray Ulman Urban on October 13, 1946. Their union together produced four children, six grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren, all whom she loved and adored.
Jo Nell was a retired Sales Rep. for Dillard’s Department Store in Pierre Bossier Mall. After retirement, she moved to Garland, TX to live with her brother and sister-in-law and became active in the Methodist Church while there. She later moved to Ruston to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren. While living in Ruston, she found her fur-ever companion, a Boston Terrier named Bubbles. She and Bubbles had 12 years together of true companionship and love. No doubt that Bubbles was there to greet her when she arrived in Heaven.
Jo Nell was blessed with the love of God, her children and family, great health and friends who loved her dearly. Unfortunately, Alzheimer’s dementia took its toll on her and she fought a tough but brave battle. Jo Nell is now free and home where she belongs. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister, Betty Roberts and brother, George F. Roberts, Jr.
Jo Nell is survived by her children, Ray Urban, Jr. (Linda), Charlie Urban, Lisa Urban Cochran (Lee) and Jennifer Urban Thrash (Dana); grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sister-in-law, Bennie Henry Roberts and nieces and nephews. Interment will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery next to her parents and sister.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or any animal rescue of your choice. 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.
Serving as pallbearers will be Bradley Thrash, Ethan Thrash, Hunter Williams, Peyton Williams, Cohen Williams, and Jase Pritchett.
Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM until service time Thursday at the funeral home.
Beverlee Joyce Biscomb James November 13, 1940 – July 1, 2023 Visitation: Episcopal Church of the Redeemer- Ruston, LA, Thursday, July 6, 2023, 9:30 am – 10:45 am Service: Episcopal Church of the Redeemer- Ruston, LA, Thursday, July 6, 2023, 11:00 am Cemetery: Kilpatrick’s Memorial Gardens, Thursday, July 6, 2023
Jo “Jo Nell” Urban September 14, 1926 – July 2, 2023 Visitation: Thursday, July 6, 2023, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home Funeral Service: Thursday, July 6, 2023, 10:00 AM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home Cemetery Committal: Thursday, July 6, 2023, 2:00 PM, Forest Lawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum, 4000 Monroe Hwy, Pineville
The 2023-24 Ruston-Lincoln Chamber Executive Board Pictured left to right: Will Dearmon, Elizabeth Turnley, Ty Storms, Thomas Graham, Lindsay Tomlinson, Danny Walpole, Eric McCulloch (not pictured: Oliver Neal)
The Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the 2023-2024 Board of Directors for its fiscal year beginning in July 2023. The Chamber’s Board of Directors provides valuable insight and leadership for the organization’s strategic direction, programming, development, and more.
Elizabeth Turnley, executive director of Russ Place, will serve as chairwoman of the board, succeeding Eric McCulloch, an Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Thomas Graham, insurance producer with the Lincoln Agency, LLC, will serve as chair-elect and vice chair of the Finance Committee. Oliver Neal, senior project manager at Meyer, Meyer, LaCroix & Hixson, Inc., joins the executive board as vice chair of the Membership Development Committee. Lindsay Tomlinson, operations strategy analyst vice president at Origin Bank, will serve as vice chair of the Organizational Development Committee, Ty Storms, attorney at Storms Law Offices, will serve as vice chair of the Legislative Committee, and Danny Walpole, vice president of Walpole Tire & Service, will lead the Events & Programs Committee as vice chair.
“The Chamber’s Board of Directors is comprised of business leaders that truly care about our community’s future, and I’m excited to guide this group as we work together to serve the Chamber’s members,” said Elizabeth Turnley, Chair of the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber Board. “We have a lot of exciting initiatives planned for the coming year, and I look forward to continuing our work of supporting a robust business community in Ruston-Lincoln Parish.”
In June, the Chamber’s Board of Directors attended a luncheon at Squire Creek Country Club sponsored by Origin Bank to celebrate their achievements and recognize outgoing board members. The board members concluding their service include Brandon Sutherland, Morgan Thornhill, Callie Grubb, and Ryan Madden.
“We are fortunate to have such a dedicated board of directors that work tirelessly to guide the Chamber in fulfilling its mission to advocate for a strong business community,” said William Dearmon, President and CEO of the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce. “From our workforce development grants to collaborative industry summits, the Chamber is working to elevate our community impact and support economic opportunities that allow our local businesses to prosper.”
Below are the members of the 2023-24 Ruston-Lincoln Chamber Board. Those serving on the executive board are indicated with an asterisk.
Thomas Graham*, The Lincoln Agency
Mark Graham, Holland Real Estate Group
George Lee IV, Temple Baptist Church
Eric McCulloch*, Edward Jones
Oliver Neal*, Meyer, Meyer, LaCroix & Hixon, Inc.
Ty Storms*, Storms Law Offices
Lindsay Tomlinson*, Origin Bank
Elizabeth Turnley*, Russ Place
Danny Walpole*, Walpole Tire & Service
Patricia Willis, The Children’s Shoppe
Ex-officio board members include:
Kevin Klepzig, Lincoln Parish Policy Jury
Sarah McKinnie, Origin Bank
Ryan Richard, Louisiana Tech University
Grace Ruiz, Louisiana Delta Community College
Amy Stegall, City of Ruston, Main Street
Adarian Williams, Grambling State University
Stephen Williams, Lincoln Parish Sheriff
To learn more about the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, visit rustonlincoln.org.
Camryn Tucker, a 21-year-old Louisiana Tech student and genealogist, inherited family heirlooms that date back to the 1860s.
Tucker came in possession of the heirlooms after her great-grandmother passed in May 2022.
“A few weeks after my great-grandma died, we began cleaning her house out. In her closet, I found these photo albums,” said Tucker. “When I opened them, I had no idea who these people were.”
Thankfully, Tucker’s great-grandma’s brother was still alive and living in the house. He was able to help name some of the family members pictured.
“I tried taking the photo album home, but my grandma would not let me,” said Tucker. “I was still curious, so I ended up going home and researching.”
From there, Tucker found a website, FamilySearch, and was able to start piecing together how she was related to those in the photo albums.
As her family continued to clean her great-grandmother’s estate, Tucker had collected many other boxes of family heirlooms. Each box held various items such as letters, immigration passports, pocket watches, social security cards and marriage licenses.
Tucker began working on scanning the items and photographs to create a website for her living family to see.
“My great-grandma has six living children, all of whom have families of their own that I am still very close with,” said Tucker. “I wanted my extended family to have easy access to the pictures and a place to compile my research.”
However, one of the hardest parts of the project is matching the photographed people to their names. Luckily, her great-great-grandmother did her own family research before she passed in 1992.
“Although I never met my great-great-grandmother, I feel very close to her whenever I read her notes and letters about our ancestors that she left behind,” said Tucker.
One original French document was from her great-great-great-great-grandfather’s military discharge from the French Army. With her little knowledge of French history, she joined Facebook groups that helped her identify the document.
“Facebook has some very niche groups when it comes to genealogy,” said Tucker. “The ones that I am in are beyond helpful when it comes to dating photos, translating and sharing artifacts with each other.”
To refollow the footsteps of her ancestors’ lives, Tucker has turned to newspapers to trace their movement even reaching out to archives to receive the original articles.
“Everything was published in the newspaper between the late 19th century and early 20th,” said Tucker. “It’s really easy to learn their life story if you know where they lived and can follow what they were doing through historical newspaper sites.”
Another branch of her family were prominent figures in Chicago, Illinois, so there was more documentation online and one of their houses has since been turned into a museum.
To pay it forward, Tucker goes to local cemeteries in Lincoln Parish and helps update gravestones on the popular genealogy app, Find a Grave.
“Family history isn’t interesting for everyone, especially among younger people,” said Tucker. “But I think it is so powerful to preserve your families’ stories and pass it on to future generations.”
Ruston Police arrested a man for pornography involving juveniles following an investigation into an earlier complaint of misconduct.
Louis Stanley Cross, 35, of Ruston, was arrested Thursday by Ruston Police outside a residence on Virginia Avenue. RPD had received a complaint on June 24 of sexual assault on a juvenile.
During the investigation, RPD officers obtained a number of text messages and videos sent to a phone number. Investigators were able to trace the phone number to Cross.
At the time of his arrest last Thursday, Cross falsely identified himself as Dana Cross.He discarded a concealed firearm after contact with officers.
Police determined Cross was a convicted felon and that the firearm had been stolen in Ruston.
Cross was arrested on the warrant for five counts of pornography involving juveniles. He was also booked on charges stemming from his arrest—resisting an officer by false information, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and illegal possession of a stolen firearm.
Bail was set at $280,000.
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.
A Ruston man was arrested for attempted second degree murder last week following investing of a shooting near Duncan Park on June 9.
Jarell Antoin Dean, 19, of West Charlotte Avenue, was taken into custody at the Ruston Police Department last Wednesday on a warrant alleging he shot a 13-year old male.
Police responded to that shooting on Arlington Street near Duncan Park and found the juvenile in a house with a gunshot wound.
Dean was identified as the suspect and investigators obtained a warrant for his arrest.
Dean was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center and bail was set at $500,000.
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.
For more information on Andy Halbrook at Edward Jones, CLICK HERE.
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To help achieve your financial goals, you may need to invest in the financial markets throughout your life. However, at times your investment expectations may differ from actual returns, triggering a variety of emotions. So, what are reasonable expectations to have about your investments?
Ideally, you hope that your investment portfolio will eventually help you meet your goals, both your short-term ones, such as a cross-country vacation, and the long-term ones, such as a comfortable retirement. But your expectations may be affected by several factors, including the following:
Misunderstanding – Various factors in the economy and the financial markets trigger different reactions in different types of investments — so you should expect different results. When you own stocks, you can generally expect greater price volatility in the short term. Over time, though, the “up” and “down” years tend to average out. When you own bonds, you can expect less volatility than individual stocks, but that’s not to say that bond prices never change. Generally, when interest rates rise, you can anticipate that the value of your existing, lower-paying bonds may decrease, and when rates fall, the value of your bonds may increase.
Recency bias – Investors exhibit “recency bias” when they place too much emphasis on recent events in the financial markets, expecting that those same events will happen again. But these expectations can lead to negative behavior. For example, in 2018, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell almost 6% – so investors subject to recency bias might have concluded it was best to stay out of the markets for a while. But the Dow jumped more than 22% the very next year. Of course, the reverse can also be true: In 2021, the Dow rose almost 19%, so investors who might have been susceptible to recency bias may have thought they were in for more big gains right away — but in 2022, the Dow fell almost 9%. Here’s the bottom line: Recency bias may cloud your expectations about your investments’ performance — and it’s essentially impossible to predict accurately what will happen to the financial markets in any given year.
Anchoring – Another type of investment behavior is known as “anchoring” — an excessive reliance on your original conviction in an investment. So, for instance, if you bought stock in a company you thought had great prospects, you might want to keep your shares year after year, even after evidence emerges that the company has real risks — for example, poor management, or its products could become outdated, or it could be part of an industry that’s in decline. But if you stick with your initial belief that the company will inevitably do well, and you’re not open to new sources of information about this investment, your expectations may never be met.
In many areas of life, reality may differ from our expectations — and that can certainly be true for our investments. Being familiar with the factors that can shape your expectations can help you maintain a realistic outlook about your investments.
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Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors cannot provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your attorney or qualified tax advisor regarding your situation. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones, Member SIPC
A Swartz man was arrested last week after Lincoln Parish deputies responded to a report of a disturbance on East Sibley Road.
When deputies arrived, they found Richard W. Terry, III, 52, outside. Terry said it was his house and his wife was inside with another man.
A woman inside said she had been separated from Terry for five years. She said Terry came to the residence beating on the windows and yelling he was coming inside. She said Terry has never lived at the house and obtained the address from her son’s phone. Restraining orders had been in place in the past, but they were now expired, she said.
The woman said Terry had never moved past their separation and when he showed up, she did not respond, fearing for her safety. She showed deputies 207 text messages Terry had sent her in the previous two days. She had not replied to the messages, she said, and wanted him banned from the residence.
Terry was arrested for stalking, resisting an officer, and criminal trespass. The resisting charge stemmed from Terry’s attempt to pull away from deputies when they attempted to restrain him when first responding to the call.
Bail was set at $2,500.
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.
File photo by Emerald McIntyre/Louisiana Tech University
A research proposal written by Dr. Gergana Nestorova, Assistant Professor of Biology and the program chair for the graduate program in Molecular Sciences and Nanotechnology (MSNT) at Louisiana Tech University, has been chosen to take part in NASA’s Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).
“The NASA EPSCoR Rapid Research Response (R3) program is a collaborative effort involving NASA EPSCoR, NASA Centers, and mission directorates,” Nestorova said. “Its primary objective is to facilitate collaboration between NASA EPSCoR researchers and NASA itself in addressing targeted research questions that are current priorities for the agency’s programs and missions.”
The goal of the project is to develop a bacterial enrichment device for rapid, selective, and sensitive microbial genotyping of spacecraft surfaces. Nestorova alongside Dr. Giorno-McConnell, Associate Professor in Biology at Louisiana Tech University, and Dr. Kasthuri Venkateswaran, Senior Research Scientist at JPL Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group will aid NASA in the development of technologies for rapid bacterial genotyping in space.
“Successful completion of this project will mark a significant milestone in rapid pathogen detection and genetic analysis of the spacecraft microbiome,” Dr. Sumeet Dua, Executive Associate Vice President of Research and Partnerships for Louisiana Tech said. “It will provide valuable research training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, contributing to the advancement of space exploration and positively impacting the state of Louisiana.”
The ability to perform microbial analysis in a low-gravity environment is important for maintaining crew health and mitigating risks associated with microbial contamination. The successful implementation of this project would serve as a stepping stone for future orbital and sub-orbital testing of the technology.
The project will focus on fabricating and testing a lab-on-a-chip platform for rapid, single-step genotyping. The funding amount for the project will be used to provide support, conference travel, and research training for both graduate and undergraduate students.
The project has a duration of one year and starts on Sept. 1.
“Dr. Nestarova and her team are pushing the boundaries of space health and safety, ushering in a new era of microbial detection for the betterment of space exploration,” Dua said. “The results of this study will not only pave the way for integrating her platform with on-chip amplification and gene expression analysis but also have far-reaching implications for future space missions.”
Swartz – On Monday, July 3, 2023, shortly after 12:30 a.m., Troopers assigned to Louisiana State Police Troop F began investigating a single-vehicle crash involving a pedestrian on LA Hwy 139 at Luke Drive. This crash ultimately claimed the life of 34-year-old Demetria Cooks of Rayville.
The preliminary investigation revealed that a driver of a vehicle traveling north on LA Hwy 139 observed a pedestrian wearing dark clothing lying in the roadway. The driver dodged the pedestrian and turned around to render assistance. Simultaneously, a 2023 Toyota Crown was also traveling north on LA Hwy 139. For reasons still under investigation, the Toyota struck the pedestrian.
As a result of this crash, Cooks was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries and was later pronounced deceased. The driver of the Toyota was properly restrained and uninjured. Impairment on the part of the driver is not suspected. However, routine toxicology samples were collected and will be submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.
Troopers urge anybody with information relating to this crash, to please contact Louisiana State Police Troop F at 318-345-0000.
Troopers wish to remind all pedestrians to maintain a heightened level of awareness while walking near or on the roadway. Simple precautions such as wearing reflective materials, avoiding distractions, and walking a safe distance from travel lanes while facing oncoming traffic could help prevent many pedestrian related crashes. Pedestrians must also assume that approaching motorists cannot see them, especially at night.
In 2023, Troop F has investigated 18 fatal crashes, resulting in 20 deaths
Louisiana Tech head volleyball coach Amber McCray announced the 2023 Lady Techster Volleyball schedule Monday morning, which features 11 home matches inside the Thomas Assembly Center.
“This fall will truly be a new year for our program with many new faces on our team and a chance to compete against many new opponents,” said McCray. “We have a strong preseason that we will use to get acclimated with one another and find our groove in order to prepare us for a conference schedule that will once again still be highly competitive despite the changes in our league. 2022 was a year of numerous strides for Louisiana Tech Volleyball, but our staff and players are hungry for more as we look ahead to this fall and all the new opportunities it brings. “
The Lady Techsters will kick off the regular season at the Arkansas State Invitational in Jonesboro, Ark. where they will face North Alabama, host Arkansas State, and Little Rock.
Tech will then travel to Arlington, Texas to play in the UTA Invitational where they will take on Presbyterian on Sept. 1 as well as Incarnate Word and host UTA on Sept. 2.
The Lady Techsters will then host their three-day home tournament inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Sept. 7 versus Little Rock, Grambling State on Sept. 8, and Lamar on Sept. 9 before heading to Natchitoches for the Battle of the Boot.LA Tech will match up with Southern and Southeastern on Sept. 15 and Northwestern State on Sept. 16.
Conference USA play begins on Sept. 22-23 with a trip to Miami, Fla. to face FIU twice. The CUSA schedule will consist of eight weekends of matchups, facing their conference opponents twice in back-to-back days.
LA Tech will host New Mexico State (Sept. 29-30), Middle Tennessee (Oct. 13-14), WKU (Oct. 27-28), and Jacksonville State (Nov. 9-10) in the TAC. In addition, LA Tech will travel to Sam Houston (Oct. 3-4), UTEP (Oct. 20-21), and Liberty (Nov. 2-3).
The CUSA Championship will take place Nov. 17-19 in Lynchburg, Va. on the campus of Liberty University.
Flavie Dube (12) earned first team all-state honors by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
Three Louisiana Tech women’s soccer players were recognized on the 2022 All-Louisiana Team in an announcement by the Louisiana Sports Writers Associate (LSWA) on Friday.
Flavie Dube earned first-team honors, while Kalli Matlock and Emma Jones picked up honorable mentions.
Dube, the reigning Conference USA Freshman of the Year, led LA Tech in her first season in goals, assists, points, and shots on goal while averaging 56 minutes per contest during her freshman season.
The Ontario native is the program’s first-ever conference Freshman of the Year award winner and also picked up a second-team All-Conference USA nod.
Matlock, a Louisiana product out of Shreveport, was one of only three players to play and start in all 19 matches this season, logging 1,322 minutes of action, and received Academic All-District recognition this season from the College Sports Communicators.
She was second on the team in goals, assists, points, and shots on goal, playing most of the season from the defensive position. Tech’s defense held opponents to one or fewer goals nine times and recorded three shutouts.
Jones, who returned from a torn ACL in the 2021 season, started 18 of 19 matches and captained her team to a fourth-place finish in the CUSA standings, their best since 2018 and the first Conference USA Championship tournament bid since 2019.
The Hutto, Texas native and Texas State transfer won CUSA Offensive Player of the Week for her two goals, including the game-winner, at Florida Atlantic. Jones ranked third on the team in goals, points, and shots on goal, earning second-team All-Conference USA at the forward position.
This is the first All-Louisiana honor for Dube, Matlock, and Jones, and ties the most All-LA mentions for the program since three were honored in 2019.
2022 LSWA All-Louisiana Women’s Soccer Team
Player of the Year: Gracie Armstrong, Northwestern State Newcomer of the Year: Gracie Armstrong, Northwestern State Freshman of the Year: Ida Hermannsdottir, LSU Coach of the Year: Sian Hudson, LSU
First Team Gracie Armstrong, Northwestern State Ida Hermannsdottir, LSU Mya Guillory, Southeastern Flavie Dube, Louisiana Tech Lindsi Jennings, LSU Emma Monnet, Louisiana Christian Wasila Diwura-Soale, LSU Inge Konst, ULM Olivia Draguicevich, Northwestern State Natalee Henry, Northwestern State Chloe DeShazer, Northwestern State
Honorable Mention Hallie Field, Northwestern State Emma Jones, Louisiana Tech Lena Goppel, ULM Angelina Thoreson, LSU Kalli Matlock, Louisiana Tech Nicole Henry, Northwestern State Mara Grutkamp, ULM Gabby McDonald, Centenary Rachel Young, McNeese Karleen Bedre, Louisiana Mollie Swift, LSU
Beverlee Joyce Biscomb James November 13, 1940 – July 1, 2023 Visitation: Episcopal Church of the Redeemer- Ruston, LA, Thursday, July 6, 2023, 9:30 am – 10:45 am Service: Episcopal Church of the Redeemer- Ruston, LA, Thursday, July 6, 2023, 11:00 am Cemetery: Kilpatrick’s Memorial Gardens, Thursday, July 6, 2023
The night sky will once again be lit up in celebration of Independence Day as Temple Baptist Church hosts its 26th annual patriotic program and fireworks, named LoveLincoln Freedom Fest.
Reggie Bridges, senior pastor at Temple, said the program provides the community a context to thank God for the political and social freedom granted in this country.
“Every good gift comes from above, including our political and social freedom,” Bridges said. “We are so blessed to have this freedom, and we should take a moment to thank Him for it. And I believe we should also demonstrate our gratitude for those He has used to secure that freedom for us. We specifically pause to recognize our veterans and their vital role in protecting our liberties.”
One part of the program is the Procession of Patriots, which all veterans are encouraged to attend.
“If you are willing to take part in this powerful part of the service, just meet in the church’s fellowship at 7 p.m. (tonight),” Bridges said. “Our worship ministry team — choir, orchestra, audio and visual personnel — put a great deal of effort in planning and presenting our LoveLincoln Freedom Fest. Some components are always a part of our celebration: The Pledge of Allegiance and ‘The Star-Spangled Banner,’ the march of our veterans, the playing of ‘Taps’ in remembrance of the fallen, prayers of gratitude, and the singing of various patriotic songs including our entreaty that ‘God Bless America.’ This year, we will also have some of our children involved in the service as well as they represent the 50 states united in one ‘America the Beautiful.’ I’m convinced it will be very moving for all who attend.”
Bridges added that this event is free and open for anyone who wants to attend.
“We hope that families from across North Louisiana will join us for both our program and the fireworks. We truly believe that they will be encouraged, inspired, and hopefully, challenged,” he said. “We have had over 1,700 people in one program before, but typically one service will have about 1,400 participating together. The doors of the Sanctuary will not open until 7 p.m., but people will begin arriving on campus before that. Of course, there will be thousands more who enjoy the fireworks from various locations around our campus. Some will find their parking spots hours beforehand. And while I love the fireworks, I believe you miss the full import of the night if you fail to attend the program.”
The patriotic program will begin at 7:30 p.m. and generally lasts an hour. The fireworks will begin when it’s determined it’s dark enough, which Bridges said is usually a few minutes after 9 p.m. and conducted by Pyromania Fireworks.
“I believe this is one of the moments where we can unify together,” Bridges said. “Unfortunately, there are too many things that divide us, but this celebration should be shared by all. We simply give thanks to God for our freedom, recognize our military personnel for their service, and commit to responsible citizenship. Who can’t get behind that?”
RHS graduate Kendrick Jones is pictured flanked by his parents, Kelly and Kendrick Goldsmith. (Photo by T. Scott Boatright)
By T. Scott Boatright
Bearcat bloodlines are the ties that bind when it comes to Ruston High School graduate Kendrick Jones’ decision to continue this athletic career on the collegiate level at Northwest Kansas Technical College in Goodland, Kansas.
Jones has signed paperwork to attend Northwest Tech to run for new head coach Keitavious Walter, a Ruston High graduate who said Jones’ uncle is Walter’s mother’s dad.
A cornerback for the Ruston football team, Jones didn’t join the Bearcats’ track and field team until his senior year.
But he made sure to make that single season count in a big way.
The Bearcats’ 800-meter team of Dylar Richmond, Darius James, Jordan McWain and Kendrick Jones finished eighth at the Louisiana Class 5A state meet in May with a time of 1:28.61, while the 400m team of James, McWain, Jones and Dylone Brooks took ninth at 42.85.
Ruston’s 1,600m team of Richmond, Bryar Madden, Taylor Roller and Jones also finished ninth at the state meet with a time of 3:33.16.
Bearcats Track and Field coach Trey Smith said that it was the intangibles brought to the team that played a big role during his single season of competing in the sport.
“As we went through the year, through indoor season and then outdoor season, I could definitely see his love of the sport grow more and more and I’m super excited to see him get the opportunity to go on to the next level, especially in that junior college system where it’s going to be fire,” Smith said. “I have to commend Kendrick on the leadership he brought to the team this year. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of seniors to build a team around during my first season coaching here.
“Every day, no matter what position it was, no matter what relay or event it was, Kendrick did whatever was needed for the team. That’s something he’ll bring with him and will be a big thing for him moving forward. I told him his coach is going to be asking a lot from you along those lines because he’s shown what he’s capable of.”
Smith said there’s another reason he’s excited about Jones’ decision to run at Northwest Tech.
“I think it’s next May when the national junior college championships will be held in Monroe,” Smith said. “So it’s going to be fun to see Kendrick come back home and show what he’s learned over that first college year as he moves his athletic and academic careers forward at Northwest Tech.
“The main thing is that Northwest Tech is getting a proven athlete who knows all about hard work and taking care of business. I look for some outstanding things from him as he moves on to this next phase of his life.”
Jones admitted having Walter as his head coach played a role in his decision to attend Northwest Tech.
“My cousin coaching there was a big part of my decision,” said Jones, who plans on earning a degree in mechanical engineering. “That kind of made it easy and I’m excited to learn from him because I know what a great runner he was and I think there’s a lot he’ll be able to teach me and use to make me a better athlete.
“And just getting the chance to run on his team is exciting. I’m really looking forward to it and to continue running on the collegiate level.”
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”.
A Spearsville man already in custody on sex crime charges was arrested again last week on new allegations he molested an 11-year-old child.
Earlier this month, the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division received a complaint from the parent of an 11-year-old child regarding a possible molestation that occurred in 2021.
UPSO began an investigation, and a forensic interview was conducted with the victim. The investigation revealed the victim was inappropriately touched and raped several times within one day in late 2021 while at a residence near Spearsville. The victim and family members of the victim identified the offender as John A. Thompson, Jr., 55, of Spearsville. The victim was 10 years old at the time of the incident.
On Wednesday, deputies contacted Thompson at the Union Parish Detention Center where he is incarcerated awaiting trial for previous sex crimes involving juvenile victims. Thompson was arrested on a warrant for the following new charges: first-degree rape – victim under 13 years old (3 counts), indecent behavior with a juvenile (3 counts), sexual battery (3 counts), and oral sexual battery.
Thompson is also a registered sex offender who was arrested for molestation of a juvenile, sexual battery, and aggravated rape in 2011.
Bail for the new charges was set at $2 million. Thompson’s total bail now stands at $3,050,000.
This investigation is ongoing as other victims may be identified. If you have any information regarding this case, please contact UPSO investigators at 318-368-3124.
In another case, a second Spearsville man was arrested last week for allegedly molesting a young child.
Earlier this month, the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office received a complaint from the parent of a five-year-old child regarding inappropriate sexual activity.
During the investigation, UPSO learned Jimmy C. Kingrey, age 55, of Spearsville, allegedly touched a five-year-old child in a sexual and inappropriate manner. The alleged incident occurred at his residence near Spearsville. Investigators conducted a forensic interview with the victim and later obtained warrants for Kingrey’s arrest from the Third District Court.
On June 24, UPSO deputies went to Kingrey’s residence in Spearsville and placed him under arrest. He was booked into the Union Parish Detention Center for indecent behavior with a juvenile, aggravated crimes against nature, and first-degree rape–victim under 13.
Kingrey’s bail is set at $1.5 million.
A third Union Parish man was arrested last Wednesday after UPSO patrol deputies responded to a residence near Farmerville after a 911 call was placed. The 911 dispatcher could hear a male over the open phone line say he “would not rape you again.”
Deputies met with the resident who stated the only other person in the residence was Alundree Tierre Andrews, 39, of Farmerville. Deputies separated and interviewed both parties. A UPSO investigator responded to the scene and interviewed the resident who alleged Andrews committed rape earlier in the day after refusing to perform oral sex on Andrews. The victim reported calling 911 for assistance repeatedly until police arrived. During the encounter, the victim sustained minor injuries requiring medical attention.
Andrews denied any involvement in the incident.
Investigators obtain a warrant for Andrews’ arrest from a Third District Court judge. The following day, deputies located Andrews in Farmerville and arrested him on the warrant. Andrews was booked into the Union Parish Detention Center for second degree rape. Bail was set at $500,000.
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.
