Funeral services for Mrs. Karin Henriette Emilie Koch Kendrick, age 82 of Ruston, LA will be held at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at Owens Memorial Chapel in Ruston with Pastor Perry Culver officiating. Burial will follow in the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Ruston under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston.
Karin was born June 25, 1941 in Stettin, Germany to Karl Max Fritz Koch and Erna Berta Liedtke Koch and passed away July 4, 2023 in Ruston to join her husband Icy Don Kendrick in Heaven. Her earliest memory was getting hit on the head with a shoe while their apartment was being bombed. Karin spent many of her early years in Hamburg, Germany before moving to Koblenz, Germany. She then moved to Kaiserslautern, Germany where she met Icy at an airman’s dance. Two days later, he proposed to Karin. She then came to the United States in 1961 with her husband. After a few years, Karin became a US citizen. She was an early and active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church. Karin enjoyed riding on the back of Icy’s motorcycle while traveling around the southern US. She especially enjoyed the seashore, whether it was the beaches of Florida’s gulf coast or New England’s Atlantic coast. Any trip to New England had to include clam chowder. Karin was a member of the “German Ladies Club,” and they frequently dined and attended movies together. She was a long time employee of Lewis & Co. Her little dog Rascal was her companion for walks at Cook Park. Rascal seldom left her side and misses her greatly.
Karin is survived by her son Icy Don Kendrick, Jr. (Maggie) of Weatogue, CT; two grandchildren Emilie Iris Kendrick and Max Qilin Kendrick of Weatogue, CT; daughter Kelly Karin Kendrick Overstreet (Michael) of Wister, OK; and special friend Brigitte Frost.
Serving as pallbearers will be James Frost, James Frost, Jr., Jaidon Willis, Jessie Lolley, Max Kendrick and Ernie Young.
Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 PM, Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at the funeral home.
It is with heavy hearts and profound sadness that we announce the passing of a remarkable man, whose life was a beautiful tapestry of kindness, gentleness, and humor. He entered this life on March 18, 1969 and on July 15, 2023, our beloved Michael Thomas Folk, left this world, leaving behind a legacy of warmth and joy that will forever be etched in the hearts of all who knew him.
Michael received his education in Ruston, Louisiana graduating from Cedar Creek High School in 1987. He attended Louisiana Tech University and graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He began his career at T.L. James and Company, which was founded by his great-grandfather, and it was there that he met his wife, Laurie. He was later employed with Folk Law Group, Lowe’s, and most recently the State of Louisiana Office of Child Support and Enforcement Services.
His genuine care for others knew no bounds, and he always found a way to brighten someone’s day with a heartfelt smile, a kind word, or a ready joke. He offered a listening ear and a comforting presence in times of sorrow and celebration alike.
One of Michael’s defining traits was his unmatched sense of humor. With a quick wit and an infectious laugh, he had a unique ability to turn even the most challenging situations into moments of lightheartedness. His humor was a gift he readily shared, lifting the spirits of all fortunate enough to be in his company.
Friends and family knew Michael as a dependable pillar of support, always ready to lend a helping hand without hesitation. He found joy in simple pleasures, cherishing the beauty of nature, listening to music, and savoring every moment spent with loved ones. He was a private pilot, a certified scuba diver, enjoyed boating and water sports, building Lego, gaming with his children, and all things aviation and weather-related.
As we bid farewell to Michael, we find solace in the cherished memories he leaves behind. He was a rare gem, a person whose gentle nature, kind heart, and laughter enriched the lives of those fortunate to know him. Though he may be physically absent, his spirit will forever reside in our hearts, guiding us to be better, more compassionate individuals.
Michael is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 28 years, Laurie L. Folk; his children, Alexia Folk, Elizabeth Folk Cochran and husband Guy, Christian Folk, Jonathan Folk and wife Brittney; his grandson, Blaine Folk; his mother, Mary Folk; his father, Tommy Folk and wife Marion; his sister, Sarah Copes and husband Clint; his brother Stephen Folk and husband Charles; his mother-in-law Brenda Bright; his father-in-law, John Brown; his brothers-in-law B.J. Ruth, Matt Brown and wife Lindsey, Michael Brown and wife Tania; and numerous nieces and nephew, cousins, relatives and friends who will carry his memory with them throughout their lives.
Michael is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents John Thomas and Frances Folk, and his maternal grandparents, Sam and Mary Sharp, as well as his aunt Fran Folk.
On Tuesday, July 25, 2023, a memorial service will be officiated by Pastor Tom Lowe in the Chapel at Christ Church, 208 Lincoln Street, West Monroe, Louisiana, where we will gather to remember the incredible life of Michael Thomas Folk and bid him a heartfelt farewell.
As we mourn the loss of our dear Michael, let us also celebrate the joy he brought into our lives. May his spirit forever inspire us to be kind, gentle, and full of humor, keeping his legacy alive in our actions and hearts. He will be profoundly missed and forever loved.
Special thanks to Dr. Keith Calhoun; Dr. Blaine Borders and his staff who became like family to us; and to the myriad of surgeons and caregivers at Baylor St. Luke Hospital in Houston, Texas.
Sadie Huenefeld and Adam Wiedemeier won state titles on their way to all-state honors during the Louisiana Spring Open State Championship Swim Meet in Sulphur last week.
Wiedemeier captured a total of four state titles, claiming the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 200m freestyle, and 100m butterfly while Huenefeld captured her state title in the 50m freestyle.
The Bulldog Aquatic Club also captured the Sportsmanship and Team Spirit Award at the meet which included the fastest 15-and-over swimmers in the state.
Coach Rocky Smith was pleased with his team’s total effort.
“I thought the athletes swam very well,” said Smith. “Their drive to compete really showed this weekend. I was particularly proud that we won the Sportsmanship and Team Spirit Award. This is the first time Bulldog Aquatic Club has ever won that award. That is a testament to these great athletes. I was also very proud we were able to field so many relays. It was a great weekend for Bulldog Aquatic Club.”
The athletes competing are as follows (note by age group and events are in performing order):
FEMALES
Karalinn Hoover (15) was 16th in the 50 Breaststroke, 10th in the 400 Individual Medley, 17th in the 200 Breaststroke, 19th in the 400 Freestyle, 18th in the 200 Individual Medley, and 19th in the 100 Breaststroke.
Mary “Emma” Huenefeld (17) was 37th in the 100 Backstroke, 29th in the 50 Breaststroke, 47th in the 100 Freestyle, 28th in the 200 Breaststroke, 21st in the 200 Backstroke, and 43rd in the 50 Freestyle.
Sadie Huenefeld (15) was 5th in the 200 Freestyle, 14th in the 100 Butterfly, 6th in the 100 Freestyle, 12th in the 400 Freestyle, 5th in the 200 Individual Medley, and 1st in the 50 Freestyle.
McKenzie Jones (16) was 14th in the 800 Freestyle, 16th in the 200 Freestyle, 30th in the 100 Butterfly, 32nd in the 100 Freestyle, 18th in the 400 Freestyle, and 20th in the 200 Backstroke.
The relay team of Hoover, Huenefeld, Huenefeld, and Jones was 6th in the 800 Free Relay, 13th in the 400 Freestyle Relay, 14th in the 200 Freestyle Relay, 15th in the 400 Medley Relay, and 12th in the 200 Meter Medley Relay.
MALES
Cade Campbell (17) was 63rd in the 200 Freestyle, 61st in the 100 Butterfly, 31st in the 400 Individual, 58th in the 200 Individual Medley, 39th in the 50 Butterfly, and 66th in the 50 Freestyle.
Robert Campbell (17) was 7th in the 100 Backstroke, 6th in the 100 Butterfly, 8th in the 400 Individual Medley, 5th in the 200 Butterfly, 6th in the 200 Individual Medley, and 8th in the 200 backstrokes.
Christopher “Owen” Frick (15) was 17th in the 200 Freestyle, 7th in the 100 Butterfly, 13th in the 200 Butterfly, 19th in the 400 Freestyle, 24th in the 200 Individual Medley, and 22nd in the 50 Freestyle.
Jack Groce (16) was 20th in the 800 Freestyle, 45th in the 200 Freestyle, 16th in the 400 Individual Medley, 41st in the 200 Butterfly, 34th in the 200 Breaststroke, and 59th in the 400 Freestyle.
Samuel Jackson (15) was 56th in the 100 Backstroke, 59th in the 100 Butterfly, 25th in the 100 Freestyle, 62nd in the 400 Freestyle, 41st in the 50 Butterfly, and 26th in the 50 Freestyle.
Tillman “Colton” Reeder (17) was 11th in the 200 Freestyle, 17th in the 100 Butterfly, 12th in the 100 Freestyle, 15th in the 400 Freestyle, 21st in the 200 Individual Medley, and 17th in the 50 Freestyle.
Adam Wiedemeier (18) was 1st in the 200 Freestyle, 1st in the 100 Butterfly, 1st in the 100 Freestyle, 6th in the 400 Freestyle, 2nd in the 50 Butterfly, and 1st in the 50 Freestyle.
The men’s’ relays were 6th in the 800-freestyle relay, 4th in the 400-freestyle relay, 11th in the 200-freestyle relay, 5th in the 400-medley relay, 7th in the 200-medley relay.
The Relay Team of Jackson, Cade Campbell, Reese Campbell, and Groce were 20th in the 800 Freestyle Relay and 23rd in the 400 Medley Relay.
The Relay Team of Robert Campbell, Reese Campbell, Cade Campbell, and Groce were 23rd in the 400 Freestyle Relay and 23rd in the 200 Freestyle Relay.
The Relay Team of Robert Campbell, Frick, Reader, and Wiedemeier were 4th in the 800 Freestyle Relay, 6th in the 400 Medley Relay, and 7th in the 200 Medley Relay.
The Relay Team of Jackson, Frick, Reader, and Wiedemier were 5th in the 400 Freestyle Relay and 5th in the 200 Freestyle Relay.
There was a mixed relay team which consists of two boys and two girls, and it was 8th in the 200-freestyle mixed relay.
That’s the term Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker uses to describe some recent media reports — mainly coming from other parts of the state — that the timeline for Buc-ee’s coming to Ruston has been delayed.
And frankly, Walker just shakes his head and grins when he reads or hears the rumors.
“Total complete misinformation,” said Walker. “From Day 1 the date has always been sometime in 2025. And that’s where we are still at.
“I would say just wait and see. We know what has been done. We know what is being done. And I can’t see anything at this point of time that would stop it. I don’t have a crystal ball, but everything I’m seeing says its right on schedule.”
Walker recalls the first meeting when Buc-ee’s representative Stan Beard came to Ruston.
“At the beginning it was Beaver (Aplin) and myself,” said Walker. “Then as Beaver said, ‘We have gotten it to the two-yard line and we just need to get someone to push it across the goal-line.’ He said that will be my guy, Stan Beard.
“So in the first meeting that Stan was at, we were sitting in my conference room and I made the comment, ‘If ya’ll come …’ He stopped me and said, ‘Mayor, let me explain something. If I am here, that means we are coming to Ruston.'”
Since the announcement about the nation’s most popular travel center broke in January, plenty has been written by media outlets throughout the state. Most of it positive. But some of it with more of a negative tone from other areas around the state.
After all, Lincoln Parish will be the beneficiary of a business that will completely change the geographical footprint around Tarbutton and the bottom line within the parish.
“For the people out there saying there is no way, yes, there is a way,” said Walker. “A lot of people said we couldn’t get $6 million for the road and we got it. I just wish people would get on board instead of being naysayers. We have way too many good things happening in Ruston and Lincoln Parish.”
According to Walker, the traffic study that the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development requires should be complete by the end of August — completing the six-month study on time.
“The great thing is we already have the $6 million that we don’t have to go find it,” said Walker, referring to the state appropriation that will fund Phase 1 of the road infrastructure around Tarbutton. “It’s been approved by the House and the Senate and the Governor has signed off on it. We can start working on the roads once all the planning is done.”
Phase 1 includes the roadways that will be built around Tarbutton Road, allowing all traffic to enter and exit off of I-20 and to access Buc-ee’s.
Walker said the engineering firm is Stantec, a company based out of Baton Rouge. Stantec is the same engineering company that the City hired to complete the Tarbutton exchange at the beginning of Walker’s first term as Mayor.
He said the engineers have already begun work on the plan and are just waiting for the completed traffic study.
“What do we do to make an additional 15,000 cars a day move more efficiently within the confines of what we have there,” said Walker. “This is what you would do for any business coming to that location.
“The engineers have already been working on this and will take what is in that study and implement it into their design. Their design might right now say one thing and the study might show something a little different. That’s what they will mesh together. All the study does is tell the state what needs to happen for the current traffic and the future traffic that will be coming.”
Walker said following the completion of the current traffic study, an Interstate Modification Report (IMR) would be next. It’s a federal report that can’t begin until the current traffic study is complete.
“Most of the data the (IMR) needs will come from the traffic study,” said Walker. “The IMR could take six months, eight months, a year. But the engineers can start the design based on the traffic study. Some of that could be at risk because they don’t know the IMR will approve that but they think it’s going to so they can start working. The engineers can work somewhat in conjunction with IMR.”
The IMR will provide direction on the plan to change how traffic gets onto I-20 going west. Walker said the existing on-ramp simply won’t be adequate with the amount of traffic expected.
Walker said he feels the biggest hurdle remaining is the IMR.
“That’s dealing with federal highway,” said Walker. “But this isn’t the first Buc-ee’s that has ever been built. So they know what is needed.
“Bottom line come February or March of 2024, we hope the two studies are finished. We have that a lot of the engineering is done. And if it all meshes together correctly, then it can go out for bids.”
Jeremy Bolom discusses taxes, rental fees during Thursday nights meeting. (Photo by T. Scott Boatright)
By T. Scott Boatright
The Lincoln Parish Library Board of Control focused on the LPL’s Events Center as it held its monthly meeting on Thursday.
Updating the Events Center policy concerning taxes was the first order of business.
Renting a room at the Events Center now requires registration with the Lincoln Parish Sales and Use Tax Office
Included in the Events Center policies list now includes the following condition:
Groups and individuals who rent the Events Center space and charge admission fees or sell products or services are required to register with the Lincoln Parish Sales and Use Tax Office (251-8621). A copy of the Sales and Use Tax Registration must be submitted with a rental request form. Proof of tax exemption is required for fundraising events. For more information see https://www.revenue.louisiana.gov/publications/20215(9_11)BR.pd
The Library Board of Control also discussed at length the potential of changing rental prices for use of Events Center rooms and equipment.
Thoughts about the fees discussed during previous board meetings were that those fees are not high enough to even allow the Events Center to pay for itself, let alone make any kind of profit.
LPL Director Jeremy Bolom presented a list of potential new fees that was discussed by eight of the nine Board of Control members. Board member Eric McCullough was not present at the meeting.
“For the most used rooms, I put a little extra bump on the (proposed) fees because those are the ones people are requesting specifically,” Bolom said. “The Dubach Room is the little room that has the stage and is right off the kitchen, so that is the one most people want because they see the stage as bonus space.
“They often put the guest of honor up there. None of the other rooms have that. And the convenience of having the kitchen right there is something else they want.”
Bolom said another change he was recommending was not charging a fee for use of some of the tables the Events Center has available to rent.
“The round tables we have available for rent never get rented,” Bolom said. “So it would be easier just to allow people to book those tables and just make sure they know they have to reserve them to know how many should be put out to be used.”
Bolom said that one issue that needs to be discussed is whether or not rental fees for weekend use should be higher than weekday use.
“I didn’t do that with this proposal, but that’s the way the (Ruston) Civic Center does it,”
Bolom did propose reduced fees for multiple-day room rentals.
“A group might want to rent for multiple days and want to decorate and all that and then we’d tell them it’s twice the price (for weekend rentals),” Bolom said. “I look at it like we can get the extra money if they come in a day earlier (to decorate). But that’s just my recommendation.”
Bolom said his proposed fees would be higher than most other venues in Lincoln Parish, including the Civic Center and Lincoln Hall.
“We’re a bigger place, so we can offer more square footage,” Bolom said.
Bolom said another change in his proposal is changing what is considered a half-day rental from four to five hours.
“Especially if you increase by that hour that might make people not so concerned about a price increase,” Bolom said. “
Bolom said there are rental requests in place though the end of the year and even a few into 2024 but that he doesn’t propose any fee increase to those agreements already in place.
“I think any changes (increases) would be made only for rentals made going forth after a decision is made as to what we want to charge,” Bolom said.
Board member Bill Jones said he believes the current fees are much too low and that what he was hearing from Bolom was the question of how big initial increases should be.
“I’m willing to try any increase but I can see the hesitation,” Jones said. “We could split the difference between increases discussed earlier and these.”
Board President Amy Miller said she would also like to see a reduction for nonprofits to be considered as part of a proposed fee schedule.
In the end, the Board of Control unanimously moved to postpone any decision to allow the Events Center committee to look at Bolom’s proposals and hopefully come up with a recommendation of its own to be discussed during the board’s August meeting.
The front bed at Jan Grigsby’s house after Custom Curbing installed a concrete landscape frame around the flower bed in her front yard.
Jan Grigsby is one happy client.
The longtime Ruston native recently hired Custom Curbing to add a concrete landscape border along her flower beds in both her front and back yards.
And Grigsby is happy she did.
“I saw it from one of my neighbor’s house, and I loved it,” said Grigsby. “It has defined my yard. I can’t tell you how many people have come by and said ‘Your yard looks so good.’ It has really defined my yard. I also got him to do my backyard. It has really made all the difference.”
Custom Curbing is owned by Aaron Cash and is based out of West Monroe. The company has been around for almost three decades and is making a splash in Lincoln Parish recently.
“Basically, we put really nice borders around flower beds,” said Cash. “The business was established in 1996 so we have been serving northeast Louisiana for almost 30 years. It’s like adding a beautiful frame around your landscape. Our longtime slogan is ‘Frame Your Landscaping.'”
Cash said much of the business comes from neighbors seeing the finished product at other neighbors’ houses. And based on Grigsby’s satisfaction, it’s understandable.
“I am so pleased,” said Grigsby. “When I go outside, I look at it and just smile. They did such a super job. So many people have said, ‘Oh, Jan. Your yard looks so much better.’ And Aaron and his guys were so pleasant to work with during the process.”
Cash said that at the end of the day, it’s all about the client being happy with the finished product.
“We typically stick with earth tones; tans, and browns, and greys and charcoals,” said Cash. “We want to use colors that will be in style for years to come. Typically, that is earth tones. I see what their needs are and give them my advice on what would look better and how to alleviate some problems such as beds washing out or the grass encroaching in the beds.
“We also remove lots of dangerous metal edging that has become rusty and jagged and replace it with our concrete border system. We figure out the best designs and go from there.”
According to Cash, a “typical” job costs between $1,200 and $1,500, but the price can vary depending on style/color of curb, amount of ground prep, drainage work, root work, travel distance, number of areas, etc.
A average job can be completed within a day.
For more information, individuals can call 318-598-YARD or click on the CONTACT link on the website.
A Ruston man was arrested Sunday as Lincoln Parish deputies were investigating a fight in which ten people were doused with pepper spray.
In investigating the fight on Dunn Road near Grambling, deputies learned approximately 10 people had been hit with pepper spray, with one person being transported to the hospital due to having asthma.
Witnesses told deputies one of the suspects resided nearby. Two men were found in the doorway and were asked if the suspect was home. The suspect then walked to the doorway where deputies asked his name three times and he refused to identify himself.
An attempt was made to place the man in custody, and he tensed up, pulled his arms away from deputies, and attempted to walk backward. The man was taken into custody and further investigation identified him as Antonio J. Mayfield, 20.
Mayfield was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for resisting an officer by failure to identify himself and resisting by use of force or violence. 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.
Tech head coach Sonny Cumbie talks football during Thursday night Women’s Clinic. (photo by Hunter Corneliusen)
By Kelsey Horath
Louisiana Tech Football held the second annual Women’s Football Clinic last night at the Davison Athletics Center and Joe Aillet Stadium.
All proceeds made during the clinic were donated to the Domestic Abuse Resistance Team (D.A.R.T.). This organization provides help to domestic and dating violence victims and their children in North Central Louisiana in the parishes of Jackson, Lincoln, Union, Winn, Claiborne, Bienville and Grant.
“Our football program is extremely excited to host our second annual Women’s Clinic here to benefit D.A.R.T. and to bring awareness to that organization,” Bulldog head coach Sonny Cumbie said.
During the event, attendees had the opportunity to hear more about the organization from D.A.R.T. Community Advocates Kris Barney and Terrie Autrey.
Mortissa Harvey, Director of Title IX Compliance at Louisiana Tech, also shared the importance of partnership with D.A.R.T.
“D.A.R.T was founded back in 1994 by a group of concerned citizens who really saw the need in our community to have a safe haven, a safe shelter, for our victims,” Barney said. “One of the things that we do is serve everybody that needs a place.”
Attendees were given a football facility tour and allowed time to interact with different coaches and players from the team as part of the event.
Coaches’ spouses were also a part of the event, sharing their experience of being married to a coach and what football season looks like for them.
“This event is special because it helps bring women more into the game of football,” Director of Football Operation Jacob Martinez said. “Football is for everyone. So to bring women into a part of what we do on a daily basis here at LA Tech is huge.”
Attendees had the chance to do a promotional photo shoot wearing a jersey and utilizing props before heading to the field for practice and drills.
“The event is so fun, and I am so excited to be here,” Tech graduate Sara Howell-Floyd said. “I couldn’t wait to get out there and run drills, even though I may not have been the best.”
The event ended on the field with laughter and good fun as coaches, players, the D.A.R.T. organizers and attendees already looking forward to what next year’s event will hold.
Ruston High School will host its annual summer Bearcat football camp for kindergarten through ninth graders on Tuesday, July 25, and Wednesday, July 26 from 9 a.m. to noon both days.
“We look forward every year to see the upcoming Bearcats,” Ruston High head football coach Jerrod Baugh said. “We have been doing it long enough now that we have kids playing for us that have come up through the camp every year or just about every year. I think it has helped to create an excitement about being a Bearcat.”
Registration will be Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. on the first day of camp at James Field at Hoss Garrett Stadium on Ruston High School’s campus.
Registration for campers will be $50 and will be due when campers arrive which will cover the camp cost and get each participant a camp t-shirt.
Participants will need to wear shorts and t-shirts and bring cleats with them.
Contact Jerrod Baugh for more information at (903)918-2359.
While you likely already knew that, I’ll bet you didn’t know that the first buffalo wing was actually served in 1964 at the Anchor bar in–
*Record scratch* Wait, you thought we were talking about pizza? We are– just trust me; I’m getting there.
As I was saying, at the Anchor bar in, well, wouldn’t you know, Buffalo, N.Y., by owner Teressa Bellissimo. She tossed together wings her special spicy sauce and served them with a side of celery and blue cheese dressing.
The rest is history.
And now you know that Buffalo wings do come from Buffalo after all. *rimshot*
Today’s recipe is another from Half Baked Harvest: Buffalo chicken sheet pizza. For this, however, I encourage you to try the pizza dough recipe that you can find here (This “Tasty” recipe makes enough for four pizzas; just divide the ingredients into fourths).
I like to let the dough sit covered in a bowl on the counter for 48 hours before cooking.
For the rest of it, find the recipe here. I highly recommend making the homemade ranch dressing for the base, and don’t skimp on the red pepper flakes. Make our friend Ms. Bellissimo proud!
It has been my pleasure to serve as Police Juror for District 10. My focus is and has been the welfare and safety of the people and the communities of our district and the city of Ruston. I have served as vice president of the Lincoln Parish Police Jury for three years and was appointed by Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards to serve as Commission for the Sparta Groundwater Conservation District for Lincoln Parish, a position I hold to this day.
It has always been and still is my mission, as police juror, to suggest and make necessary changes in my district for a better living and lifestyle for my neighbors. We are working constantly to affect changes in the area of repairing our roadways and bridges, and providing better and safer communities for our families in this district.
I am so proud to see how our communities have grown and progressed in District 10. For example, Moore’s Dairy subdivision and the village of Choudrant Trailer Park on Chandler Road. Also, another example of our district’s growth is the new Health Hub/Heath Hut facility, a health facility to be located on Mills Street. Groundbreaking for this facility is scheduled for the fall of 2023.
I will continue to maintain a good working relationship with the city of Ruston and anyone else supporting change in upkeep and maintaining of our communities.
John Killinger wrote, “Old age is haunted territory. The ghosts of all our experiences converge upon us, drifting in and out like merry wraiths at a convention of specters. The older we become, the more of these ghosts there are and the more easily they appear to come and go. Some days we can’t get anything done for watching and listening to them.”
A couple of years ago I was home in north Alabama. My brother and I had cemetery duty. In the family plot there is a tallish obelisk which was leaning dramatically. It is the marker of my grandfather’s first wife who died in childbirth a century ago. Every few years it has been my job to “straighten out Cleo’s marker.” As my brother and I were working on it, I was suddenly struck with the realization that I am related to more people in the ground than above ground. Talk about a perfect setting to be reminded of the ghosts of the past.
Certainly, the family members we miss are some of the ghosts that figuratively roam in and out of our memory. The great family stories about those peculiar relatives we all have. The stories of the heroic actions of our patriarchs are always inspiring. In my family there are stories, many of them are the other kind. My great grandfather lost most of an entire county in Alabama in a poker game. Another great grandfather ran a broom factory. I grew up playing around broom parts, kerosene, old cars, and houses with basements. I loved how and when I grew up. Our family gatherings were loud and crowded.
The other ghosts that pop into our minds are a pair of regret ghosts. Regret comes in two forms, things we did or said and things we failed to do or to say. Those lists grow daily, don’t they? I’m trying to avoid that “left undone or left unsaid” ghost.
These ghosts grab our attention, and we find ourselves trying to drive forward while looking in a rear-view mirror. They also keep us from experiencing the power of the present moment.
I’m trying a ghostbusting antidote that I read in the Bible. It might help you too!
“Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.” How are you and your ghosts running the race?
After a 16-year NFL career Eli has rolled into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, joining Archie and Peyton in Natchitoches and making the Mannings the only father-brother combination among the hall’s 479 inductees. (Photo courtesy of Ole Miss)
This is one part of a series on the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2023. The Induction Celebration in Natchitoches is July 27-29, with information and tickets available at LaSportsHall.com or by calling 318-238-4255. The Lincoln Parish Journal is a proud supporter of the LSHOF.
By TED LEWIS, Written for the LSWA
It couldn’t have been easy being the guy they called Easy.
Consider the accomplishments of his father and brothers that Eli Manning was challenged to live up to on the way to his own considerable football stardom:
By the time he was a freshman at Newman, older brothers Cooper and Peyton had been highly recruited stars for the Greenies. And as if to put more pressure on Eli, Peyton wrote in his yearbook, “Watch out, world. This one is going to be the best one.”
By the time Eli got to Ole Miss, Peyton had been an All-America and Heisman Trophy runner-up at Tennessee then the first pick in the 1998 NFL draft. That’s not to mention Eli chose to play at the school where his father, Archie, was a living legend. The school speed limit was his number – 18.
By the time of the 2004 draft where Eli matched his brother by being the No. 1 pick, Peyton was coming off the first of his unmatched five NFL MVP seasons.
Eli even had to follow Peyton’s hosting gig on Saturday Night Live, still considered the best-ever by an athlete.
Plus, Eli would spend the entirety of his 16-year NFL career in the media pressure cooker of the Big Apple.
He cooly handled it all, though — becoming the career passing leader for his high school, college and NFL teams, the last where he was the longest tenured player in the 98-year history of the New York Giants and quarterbacked Big Blue to two unlikely Super Bowl championships with two MVP performances, one more than Peyton’s total.
Not bad for someone whose parents questioned whether he had the competitive inclination to follow the route of his father and older brothers.
“It took me a little while before I was comfortable with the idea that maybe I didn’t have to match my family, or at least didn’t have to do it exactly the same way,” Eli said. “I loved playing football, I loved my teammates and I loved the commitment and preparation it took.
“It was never about keeping up with my family.”
Or, as his mother, Olivia, put it more succinctly, “Eli was always a little different from the others.
“He was quieter and calmer and kind of hard to rattle. Eli just rolled along.”
And now, Eli has rolled into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, joining Archie and Peyton in Natchitoches and making the Mannings the only father-brother combination among the hall’s 479 inductees. The Class of 2023 Induction Celebration is July 27-29 in Natchitoches, with tickets and information available at LaSportsHall.com or by calling 318-238-4255.
“He more than deserves it,” said Peyton, five years Eli’s senior, who was inducted in 2019.
“More than anything else, Eli developed his own identity at every step along the way.
“He was tough-minded, durable, and always took accountability throughout his career. I’m honored to be in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame with him.”
Added Archie, who was inducted in 1988, “Eli had the right disposition to handle everything that came his way.
“He was always low-key, quiet and humble. Eli just didn’t worry about things.”
Well, not always.
When he was a senior at Newman and the Greenies were playing a Thursday night game, Eli made an urgent pregame call from the locker room to his mother asking her to be sure to tape Seinfeld.
Years later, when Jerry Seinfeld heard the story, he sent Eli an autographed DVD set of the entire series. Such are the benefits of celebrity in New York.
Of course, there is a burden as well.
Although Eli famously never read what was written about him (Olivia would alert him when there was something she knew he would be called on to respond to), he acknowledges that the notorious media pressure in New York is a very real thing.
“Early on, it was difficult for me because everything in New York is overanalyzed,” Eli said. “You have to learn pretty quickly not to listen to it.”
Eli replaced Kurt Warner as the Giants’ starter just past midway through the 2004 season when the team was 5-4. He proceeded to lose his first six starts, not getting a victory until the season finale against the Dallas Cowboys.
During that skid, Eli received advice from Yankees’ great Derek Jeter.
“He told me that New York was the greatest place to be if you were winning and the toughest if you were losing,” Eli said. “The best thing to do is to keep your head down, keep grinding and don’t let it get to you.
“So I stayed polite with everybody, remembered names, didn’t hold grudges and just erased from my memory anything bad said about me.”
Beyond that, Eli took it upon himself to talk to the media on Mondays after losses, instead of waiting until later in the week like most other NFL quarterbacks. When the Giants won, though, Eli would let his teammates reflect on the victory the next day.
“He never had to be ‘Broadway Eli,’ ” said Cooper, whose own promising football career was cut short after high school because of a spinal condition. “Eli had always done a good job of staying in his own lane, so whatever criticism or praise came his way, he didn’t let it show.
“And as time went on, when folks realized that Eli wasn’t going to change, they learned to like him for what he was and appreciated how he stayed consistent, never complained and was a great teammate.”
Maybe that’s why Eli was able to spend his entire career with one team, something that many of the greats – including Peyton – didn’t, for various reasons.
And when he did choose to retire after the 2019 season, Giants owner John Mara announced that no one would ever wear Eli’s No. 10 again.
“That’s such a great honor,” Eli said. “Guys would go to other teams, and they’d tell me, ‘It’s just not the same here.’
“The Giants are an organization where you’re treated well and there is a total commitment to football and building a winning team. That doesn’t mean you’re going to win every year, but you’re always going to do things the right way.”
Eli’s love of all things Giants led to what Archie calls him becoming a “Jersey boy,” settling with his family — wife Abby and their four children — in Summitt, New Jersey where he remains an ambassador for the Giants and an active participant in charitable and community activities, including being a fan at his kids’ hockey, lacrosse and softball games.
Son Chuck, the only boy, will begin flag football next year when he turns five, and, Eli says “He likes to sling it.” So there could be yet another quarterback in the family.
And while Eli may not be a ubiquitous pitchman like Peyton, he has a good share of endorsements, including a current one for Corona beer with Snoop Dog. Compared to Peyton’s current ad for baked beans, how cool is that?
And there’s the Manningcast, ESPN’s alternate look at Monday Night Football featuring Eli and Peyton from their dens, commenting on the game, welcoming guests and generally having a good time ribbing each other.
Eli recently jabbed Peyton about his brother’s legendary game preparation, noting that Peyton usually tapes 45 minutes worth of pregame voice memos to Eli’s eight. And when Peyton recently won a sports Emmy, Eli commented, “I didn’t know you could win one for just telling when coaches should call time out.”
All of that activity doesn’t leave a lot of time for Eli to come home to Louisiana. But he is a charter participant in the Manning Passing Academy, a connection that goes back to his being one of the original campers in 1996 before his sophomore year at Newman.Eli had earlier realized that family name or not, quarterback was his best position, especially since he regarded himself too small or unathletic to play anywhere else.
It was more than that, though.
“There can’t be many feelings in sports better than being under center and knowing you’ve checked to the perfect play because you know exactly what the other team is doing,” Eli said.
“Sometimes you know the outcome of the play before the ball is snapped because of the preparation and commitment you’ve done. I just liked having the ball in my hands.”
Since getting an offer from then-Ole Miss coach Billy Brewer when he was in the fifth grade, the notion that Eli could be quarterback on a par with Peyton was taking place, even though Archie and Olivia had taken great pains for none of their sons to feel pressured into being anything they didn’t want to be.
That was especially true for Eli, whom Olivia — who admittedly had been hoping for a girl — doted on, even taking him antiquing on Magazine Street.
“Mom and I were always close,” Eli said. “I was probably more comfortable hanging out with her than just about anything else.”
Olivia had been the homecoming queen at Ole Miss, and while she would have been happy to see Eli commit to Texas and Mack Brown, she was thrilled when her youngest son made her the first to know he was going to be a Rebel.
During Eli’s years at Ole Miss Archie and Olivia were enthusiastic football parents, including hosting postgame parties for the players in the Grove.
“I think Eli was afraid I was going to move up there,” Olivia said. “But It was a great time for everybody.”
After his college career ended with an MVP performance in the Cotton Bowl (and being a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete, something else Peyton didn’t achieve), it appeared that the San Diego Chargers would take Eli with the first pick in the draft.
But after hearing some things about how players had been treated by the Chargers, Eli expressed a preference to go to the Giants, whose general manager, Ernie Accorsi, felt that he had the ability to surpass Peyton.
Amid un-Manninglike controversy, a draft day trade was made (after the Chargers took Eli anyway), San Diego wound up with Phillip Rivers and three picks and Eli’s long, happy association with the Giants had begun, topped by those two Super Bowl titles.
Eli acknowledges it’s been a good ride.
“I grew up with a wonderful family and friends,” he said. “And now I’m living my second chapter in a terrific place to raise my family and doing things that are important to me while getting time to play a little golf.”
So maybe it wasn’t that much of a burden being Eli Manning.
Like another very famous former resident of New Jersey, Eli did it his way.
Each Monday and Friday, the Lincoln Parish Journal will post a list of non-for-profit upcoming events happening in the parish. If you would like to add your event to this list or advertise your for-profit events, please email us at lpjnewsla@gmail.com.
Friday, July 21 7 p.m.: Ruston Community Theatre presents “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella”
Saturday, July 22 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 7 p.m.: Ruston Community Theatre presents “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella” 7 p.m.: Russ-town Band free concert at the Dixie Center for Arts
Sunday, July 23 2 p.m.: Ruston Community Theatre presents “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella”
Courtesy of the National Football Foundation (NFF), the College Hall of Fame, and the College Football Officiating (CFO)
As the 2023 college football season approaches, the National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame has again partnered with the College Football Officiating (CFO) to highlight the key rule changes that will take effect this fall.
Since 2011, the NFF has partnered with the College Football Officiating (CFO), led by Steve Shaw and chaired by Mid-American Conference Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher, to help generate awareness for the rule changes in college football. The CFO functions as the national professional organization for all football officials who work games at the collegiate level, and the organization has held its annual winter meeting of conference coordinators for football officials each January at the NFF headquarters in Irving, Texas since 2013.
Shaw, who became the CFO National Coordinator of Football Officials in March 2020, previously served the Southeastern Conference and Sun Belt Conference as coordinator of officials. He also serves as the Secretary-Rules Editor of the NCAA Football Rules Committee, a position critical to the development of competition rules and policies. Shaw excelled as a head referee for 15 years in the SEC, earning 14 postseason assignments, including two national championship games. He has been a leader in revamping the sport’s officiating mechanics and advancing the use of technology to assist officials.
“The mission of the Rules Committee is to develop and evaluate rules changes that will enhance the sport, protect the image of the game, and enhance the student athlete’s health and safety,” said Shaw. “Player safety has been the highest priority of the committee for many years now resulting in significant changes that have improved the game in terms of mitigating injuries.
2023 Rules Changes
Enforcing all players’ health and safety rules continues to be the top point of emphasis from the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel. The Targeting rule will remain the same in 2023 as the committee feels the rule continues to drive positive player behavior in terms of the use of the helmet. The committee also noted last year’s change to the blocking below the waist rule resulted in data showing fewer player injuries.
The most significant 2023 football rules changes involve adjustments to the timing and clock rules. The rules committee made these changes to drive three strategic initiatives:
Keep the game moving in terms of pace of play.
Moderately reduce the number of plays per game.
Ensure consistency in officiating mechanics managing the game clock.
Stopping and Starting the Clock – First Downs (Rule 3-3-2-e-1)
When Team A (the offense) gains a first down, the clock will no longer be stopped to award a first down except with less than two minutes remaining in the 2nd and 4th quarters. This change is effective immediately for DI and DII and will be implemented in 2024 for DIII.
Consecutive Charged Team Timeouts (Rule 3-3-4-a)
Consecutive charged team timeouts will no longer be allowed by the same team in any individual dead ball period. Each team is entitled to three charged team timeouts during each half, with no more than one charged team timeout available per team, per individual dead ball period.
Extension of Periods (Rule 3-2-3-a)
A period shall be extended for an untimed down in the 2nd or 4th quarter only if a penalty is accepted for a live-ball foul, if there are offsetting fouls, or an inadvertent whistle. The 1st and 3rd quarters will not be extended, and any penalty enforcement will be carried over to the following quarter.
Drone Policy (Rule 1-4-11-d)
Drones are not allowed over the field or the team area when squad members are present within the playing enclosure. Outside the limit lines, game management (or conference policy) will govern drone activity. This governance includes all FAA, state, and local laws including campus policy where appropriate.
Halftime Intermission (Rule 3-2-1-c & 11-1-3)
The field will be available to squad members for halftime warmup no later than three minutes prior to the second half kickoff. When any Squad Member enters the playing enclosure during the halftime intermission, a staff member from that team must be present on the field.
If kickers or other squad members come onto the playing enclosure before the field is available, their activities must be confined to the team area. All team personnel will be respectful of scheduled halftime activities, and all kicks must be into the practice kicking nets until the field is available.
When the field is available to players, the field will be divided into an “L-shaped” configuration with the thirty yard-lines forming the “L” in order to keep the teams separated.
Instant Replay without an Instant Replay Booth Official (New Rule 12-2-1-c)
The optional use of instant replay in games that do not have an instant replay booth official is now permissible and must be in full compliance with Rule 12 (the replay rule) with the following exceptions:
The Referee will be the sole decision maker on any review and may include one additional crew member to consult on the review.
The equipment used in the review must be located outside the limit lines on the sideline or end zone and must be completely outside the team area. The referee and additional crew member must be provided a separate, secure location away from fans and sideline personnel, with a tent or similar type shelter structure.
The Referee will stop the game to review all Targeting Fouls that are called on the field. The only other method to stop a game for a replay review is through a head coach challenge. When the head coach requests a timeout for replay review, the replay challenge flag must be dropped onto the field of play.
Other than for a Targeting review, the crew on the field may not initiate an instant replay review.
The head coach may initiate a Targeting review if the team has a timeout available and a coach’s challenge remaining.
Louisiana Tech’s Dravon Mangum was recognized for his academic achievements Thursday as the Bulldog forward was named to the National Associate of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Honors Court.
Mangum was one of more than 1,800 men’s collegiate basketball student-athletes who earned this recognition while excelling in academics during the 2022-23 season.
Mangum, a graduate student from Roxboro, North Carolina, has a cumulative grade point average of 3.67 while getting his master’s degree in Counseling and Guidance: Human Services.
In his first season with the Bulldogs last year, he saw action in 32 games while making 20 starts at forward. He averaged 7.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.
In order to be named to the Honors Court, a student-athlete must meet a high standard of academic criteria. The qualifications include being either a junior or senior, having a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or higher at the conclusion of the 2022-23 academic year and have matriculated at least one year at their current institution which must be a Division I, II, III, or NAIA member.
The Louisiana Gumbo Cook-Off is returning to the Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival on Saturday July 22, in air-conditioned Prather Coliseum located at 220 South Jefferson Street on the Northwestern State University campus in Natchitoches. In honor of this year’s festival theme, Celebrating Louisiana’s Cultural Gumbo, the festival will see the long-awaited return of the Gumbo Cookoff, in which professionals and hobbyists alike can compete in any of three categories and demonstrate their cooking skills.
Registration and the Cooks’ Meeting will take place at 8:00 am. Tasting and judging will begin at 12:30 pm with winners be announced at 2:30 pm. There is no fee to compete in the Cookoff. Gumbo must be cooked on-site outside of Prather Coliseum.
The Gumbo Cook-Off is the Louisiana Folklife Center’s way of celebrating the state’s unique and storied foodways, as well as the rich culture behind the cooking of gumbo. The ways of preparing gumbo and the ingredients used are as varied as the people who cook it, so there is no better way to embody this year’s festival theme of Celebrating Louisiana’s Cultural Gumbo.
Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker said the city would be utilizing a different economic development model moving forward.
by Malcolm Butler
The Economic Development Director position for the City of Ruston has been a revolving door in recent history.
So following the departure of Jade West who was the most recent person to hold that title, Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker has opted to take a little different approach to filling those responsibilities moving forward.
Walker said Wednesday afternoon the City will now utilize the North Louisiana Economic Partnership (NLEP) to handle industrial and large retail. Meanwhile all restaurant, hotel and small retail businesses will be handled by Laurel Nerren, who will serve as the City’s Communication Director starting August 1.
NLEP — a 501(c)3 — already provides professional economic development services to a 14-parish region of North Louisiana. Although Lincoln Parish is among the 14 parishes already, Walker said their role would increase with this new model.
“I thought why should we go out and find someone when NLEP is doing it already,” he said. “They have a staff to do it. They are incredible at what they do. They know all the incentives. They know all of that stuff. We just won’t have someone sitting here in the office, but we will have someone assigned by NLEP that will work directly with us on these types of economic development projects.”
The state of Louisiana is divided into eight different regions as divided by Governor John Bel Edwards’ economic development arm with each one of them being handled by a Regional Economic Development Organization.
“I just think it’s a much smoother and much more economically efficient model for us,” said Walker about the new model. “Plus, I look at the fact that we just haven’t been able to keep anyone (in that position) very long.”
According to Walker, NLEP recently announced 600 new jobs in Shreveport.
“NLEP did all of that,” said Walker. “They got the lead and they fulfilled it. We already pay them some anyway because we are in that district, but we are going to increase what we pay them and they will handle all industrial customers. They will handle all of our industrial and large retail such as Buc-ee’s.
“When we hire somebody (for the Economic Development Director position) they are paid for by the citizens of Ruston so they should only work for the citizens of Ruston. But we haven’t really done that. We have covered the entire parish. NLEP already covers the entire parish so it’s just a no-brainer. We probably should have done this year’s go.”
The City currently pays NLEP $12,000 per year, but that will increase with the new model. Walker said he wasn’t ready to say the exact number until it has been approved by the Ruston City Council.
Nerren will begin her new role with the City of August 1. Walker said she would be in charge of communications and social media for the city while also serving as the point of contact for smaller retail development.
Most recently, Nerren has worked for State Representative Julia Letlow as a communications specialist within the state.
“Every week (Laurel) will have a list of all the restaurants that are trying to come to Ruston,” said Walker. “She is going to call every one of them ever week and say, ‘Hey. I just want to check and see if you need anything.’ If they need something they will call her. If she can’t provide it, she will come to me to get direction. I think it will be a really good combination for us.”
Walker did say that the new model would be a total savings for the City’s budget since the salary and benefits of the former economic development director position is factored into the equation.
When Cedar Creek 2023 honor graduate Reagan Nguyen heads to LSU this fall, she will leave a one-of-a-kind parting gift in honor of the school where she spent 14 years as a student.
During her senior year, Nguyen painted a series of canvases featuring beloved children’s book titles. The original artwork is displayed in the newly re-designed elementary library at Cedar Creek.
“We wanted to create a space that fosters a love of reading among students,” Nguyen said. “While the lower elementary library had artwork featuring popular children’s book characters, the area for older students lacked any paintings on its walls. I decided to create book cover paintings that would capture their interest.”
Nguyen’s first painting, Poppy’s Return by Avi, soon inspired a collection.
“I chose to include additional covers, including Restart by Gordon Korman, Hatchet by Gary Paulson, Wonder by R.J. Palacio, Stargirl, by Jerry Spinelli, and A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park—each with their own important messages for older children,” Nguyen said.
Nguyen, an already busy student (she is an AP Scholar with Honor and graduated Salutatorian of the senior class), dedicated evenings and breaks during her senior year to complete the series.
“Ultimately, I painted a total of seven distinct book covers, representing a diverse range of books, and concluding my collection and senior year with a sense of pride,” Nguyen said.
“Art has been a significant part of my life since I was young and has allowed me to express myself in unique ways. From the early days of finger painting and sketching, to exploring different mediums and techniques as I grew older, art has always provided me with a sense of joy and fulfillment.”
Nguyen’s final and most challenging painting, The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera, was recommended by her beloved fourth-grade reading teacher, Mrs. Allison Rufleth, who remains on the faculty.
“Cedar Creek became like a second home to me as I found a sense of belonging and comfort within its walls,” Nguyen said. “The supportive community of teachers and peers made me feel welcomed and valued. In this familiar setting, I could freely express myself, explore my interests, and discover my strengths.”
Nguyen said she embraces “both moments of spontaneity and deliberate decision-making” in her artwork, which she hopes will remain an integral part her life—even as she pursues a major in biological sciences at LSU.
“I am committed to nurturing my artistic abilities alongside my studies,” she said. “My passion for art will always hold a special place in my life.”
Ruston High head football coach Jerrod Baugh has put together his coaching staff for the 2023 season with a majority of position coaches returning from last season along with a few new (and seasoned) faces on the sidelines.
The new varsity coaching faces this season will be Johnathan Millage, who played for the Bearcats and will now coach running backs, and Rodney Bagwell, a very familiar face who has been around the Ruston football program for decades. Bagwell will take over safeties.
“The kids are going to be familiar with these guys, and these coaches are familiar with our system,” Baugh said of Millage and Bagwell, who both coached at Ruston Junior High recently. “It’s really good to be able to move coaches up that have been around not just the terminology, but because the kids know them and they’re comfortable with them. That makes the transition easier.”
Returning for the Bearcats will be both offensive and defensive coordinators in Earl Griffin and Kyle Williams, respectively.
Special teams coordinator Bryan Beck will also take over coaching on the offensive line, while Kai Burrell will coach tight ends. Steven Ensminger will remain at quarterbacks’ coach, while David Taylor will coach the defensive line. Ken Wright returns to coach cornerbacks, and Colt Dunbar will coach kickers and punters.
Chris Brister returns as athletic trainer, while Frasier Hogan will remain the strength and conditioning coach and will help out with defense. Greg Hawkins will head video and also serve as a defensive assistant.
Both Wright and Williams played in the NFL after their high school careers as Bearcats.
Leaving the staff from last season are Broderick Fobbs, Chad Reeder, and Ross Wiersma.
“I’m appreciative of all of the coaches who have spent time here, especially those from last season that helped us get to the state championship game,” Baugh said. “From a continuity standpoint, some years you’re going to have turnover. But I really appreciate their time with the program.”
Ruston High also released season ticket information this week for fans to come watch home games. The regular season begins Friday, Sept. 1, at James Field at Hoss Garrett Stadium against Warren Easton.
