Courtesy of Louisiana Tech Athletic Communications
Louisiana Tech redshirt sophomore running back Marquis Crosby was named to the 2023 Doak Walker Award Watch List, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced Wednesday. Presented annually, the award honors the nation’s top college running back.
Crosby had a breakout redshirt freshman season in 2022, rushing for 918 total yards and nine touchdowns on 183 carries. The Hattiesburg, Miss., product ranked sixth nationally among all freshmen in total rushing (918) and fourth among CUSA backs in yards per rush (5.0).
He eclipsed the century mark in rushing during four games, highlighted by a 197-yard rushing performance during the Dogs’ 52-17 win over Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 10. As a result of Crosby’s efforts, he earned honorable mention Freshman All-American Honors from College Football News following the 2022 season, becoming just the fifth player in program history to achieve the honor.
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name ten semifinalists in November, and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will be announced in November. The committee will cast a second vote in December to determine the recipient. The National Selection Committee consists of past recipients, former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members, and selected special representatives.
The 2023 Doak Walker Award recipient will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards.
The award is named for SMU’s three-time All-America running back, Doak Walker. It is the only major collegiate award that requires all candidates to be in good academic standing and on schedule to graduate within one year of other students of the same classification.
Louisiana Tech will play a fast, exciting brand of football when Head Coach Sonny Cumbie‘s Bulldogs open the 2023 season with an 8 p.m. CUSA showdown against FIU on August 26 inside Joe Aillet Stadium.
LA Tech has six home games at Joe Aillet Stadium during the 2023 season. After the week zero conference matchup with FIU (August 26), LA Tech will host non-conference foes Northwestern State (September 9) and North Texas (September 16). Tech closes out the home slate in conference play with Western Kentucky (October 5), New Mexico State (October 24), and a homecoming bout with Sam Houston (November 11).
Season tickets for the 2023 Louisiana Tech football season are on sale now. Fans can purchase season tickets online at LATechSports.com/tickets or by calling the LA Tech Ticket Office at (318) 257-3631.
Courtesy of Louisiana Tech Athletic Communications
Louisiana Tech Volleyball head coach Amber McCray finalized the 2023 roster with the announcement of five transfers.
Rounding out the team are Luisa Araujo (Uberlandia, Minas Gerais, Brazil), Alex Singleton (Spring, Texas), Lauren Albrecht (Kihei, Hawaii), Grace Luevanos (Leander, Texas), and Meghan Scharpenberg (Spartanburg, South Carolina).
“We are thrilled about the final additions to our 2023 roster,” said McCray who enters her fifth season as head coach. “These five transfers bring in some much needed experience to a fairly young squad this season, and they add depth to literally every position.
“Luisa and Grace will provide two more attacking options to our mix, Alex adds serve receive and defensive experience from another talented mid-major league, while both Lauren and Meghan will be counted on for their leadership and intangibles to anchor our group of setters this fall. We are beyond excited they all decided to continue their playing careers and education at Louisiana Tech, and we can’t wait to watch them continue to grow and develop here.”
Araujo is a 6-foot middle blocker who spent the past two seasons at Panola College. She saw action in 64 matches, amassing 480 kills for an average of 2.14 kills per set. She also tallied 181 blocks, 146 digs, 67 assists, and 50 service aces in route to being a two-time All-Region XIV honoree.
Singleton is a 5-foot-7 libero/defensive specialist who spent the last two seasons playing in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) at East Carolina. She played in 80 total sets, registering 127 digs for an average of 1.59 digs per set, as well as 15 assists and 13 service aces.
Albrecht, a 5-foot-8 setter, comes to Ruston having spent her first two seasons in collegiate athletics at Fairmont State where she was a team captain for the Fighting Falcons. She played in 35 matches as a sophomore, anchoring the team with 650 assists to go along with 255 digs. She was a key component in helping FMU reach the 2022 NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Tournament. She logged 20 sets as a freshman over the course of 17 matches.
Luevanos is a 5-foot-11 outside hitter who spent her freshman season at Lamar. She played in 37 sets in her rookie year, recording 88 digs for an average of 2.38 digs per set. She also posted four assists and seven service aces.
Meghan Scharpenberg, a 5-foot-7 setter, played this past season at Francis Marion, appearing in 14 matches with 33 sets played. She totaled 50 digs and 37 assists while also being named to the FMU Swamp Fox Athletic-Academic Honor Roll and Conference Carolinas Presidential Honor Roll. She Played two seasons at Spartanburg Methodist College, earning All-Region honors in 2021 after averaging 7.21 assists and 2.38 digs per set … Helped Pioneers to 29 wins and an appearance in the NJCAA Southeast B District championship tournament.
Funeral Services for Dr. Barry L. Johnson, age 80, of Ruston, LA will be 11:00 A.M., Saturday, August 12, 2023, at Kilpatrick Funeral Home Chapel in Ruston. Officiating will be Rev. Marty Jacobsen under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home of Ruston. Interment to follow in Kilpatrick’s Memorial Gardens in Ruston, LA. Visitation will be Saturday, August 12, 2023, from 10:00 – 11:00 A.M., at the Kilpatrick Funeral Home Chapel.
Barry L. Johnson was born January 27, 1943, in Tilden, NE to Elden D. and Marjorie (Fields) Johnson. He was baptized and confirmed at The Evangelical and Reformed Church in Tilden. He attended both grade and high school there, graduating in 1961. He excelled in football, basketball, and track, as well as academics. Barry was crowned Homecoming King as a senior.
He attended Doane University, in Crete NE, and was a 1969 graduate of Southern School of Optometry in Memphis, TN. There, he would meet his future wife, Ruth Baker. They made their home in Ruston, where he began and maintained his optometry practice until his retirement.
Barry enjoyed their beautiful home and caring for the yard, and its many plantings. Antiquing was a big part of his life and they both enjoyed adding to their many “treasures.” Barry was active in his community with his volunteer work, weekly bible studies, and serving on boards, and in various organizations.
He and Ruth loved cruising and made many travel friends over the years. Barry loved people, and so enjoyed opening their home to their many friends for dinner parties and front porch socializing.
Barry is survived by his brother, Gerald, and wife Kathy, of Fremont, NE; nephews Jeffrey Johnson and his children Jacob, Samuel and Olivia; Dr. Joel Johnson and his wife Kelli and their children Jared, Andrew, Grant, and Matthew; niece, Dr. Erin Johnson Krogman and her husband Ryan and their children Mason, Weston, Kyle, Karlee, and Caden; sister-in-law, Joanne Naylor; in addition to many true and faithful friends.
Pallbearers will be Jackie Archer, Bobby Conville, Jr., Robert Temple, John Shirley, Danny Carroll, and Ty Storms. Honorary Pallbearers will be Jeffrey Johnson, Dr. Joel Johnson, Dr. Erin Krogman, Bernie Johnson, and Henry Roane.
Our special thanks to all those who cared for Barry throughout his journey and provided him comfort, love, and support at Alpine and Ruston Nursing and Rehabilitation.
Catina S. Bowman Sunday 03/04/1973 — Wednesday 08/02/2023 Memorial Service: Wednesday 08/09/2023 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Celebration of Life When: Saturday 08/12/2023 11:00am: White Oaks Funeral Home, 110 S. 12th St., Oakdale
Minister Samuel Edward Powell Saturday 04/19/1947 — Friday 08/04/2023 Family Gathering: Friday 08/11/2023 2:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Visitation: Friday 08/11/2023 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Celebration of Life: Saturday 08/12/2023 11:00am at King’s Funeral Home Interment: Saturday 08/12/2023 Following Service, Fellowship Church Cemetery, Highway 507, Simsboro
Sonny Cook July 29, 1941 – August 7, 2023 Funeral Service: Thursday, August 10, 2023, 10:00 AM, New Prospect Baptist Church 3438 Hwy 167, Dubach Cemetery Committal: Thursday, August 10, 2023, Cook Cemetery, 1997 Cooktown Road (HWY 544), Ruston
City of Ruston employee Ben Rosson was airlifted to Oschner LSU Health Shreveport Monday night following an electrocution accident.
By Malcolm Butler
A day after City of Ruston employee Ben Rosson suffered life threatening injuries from a high voltage electrocution while on the job, his family members provided some encouraging news throughout the day and night Tuesday.
Although many details of the accident are still unknown, what is known is that Rosson suffered an electrical shock while on a job in close proximity to Northern Louisiana Medical Center.
According to Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker on Monday night, Ben Rosson was rushed to NLMC where he was then airlifted to Oschner LSU Health in Shreveport. No additional details were known publicly at the time.
However, more of the information came to light in a Facebook post update by Ben’s mother Jessica Rosson Tuesday around lunch time.
“Update on Ben. He is off the vent and awake. God is so good. We still need prayers but they are definitely working. … He was electrocuted (Monday) and it stopped his heart. He was dead. That’s hard to say your son was dead. But people were in the right place and the right time to get him help fast. He has some burns to both hands, his arm and side. He still has a recovery ahead …. ” — Jessica Rosson
The news got even better Tuesday night when Ben’s wife, Kirstyn, told the Lincoln Parish Journal directly that “Ben is alert and making great progress! They expect him to make a full recovery. No time frame has been provided. Not much else has been said, but the family does appreciate all of the prayers and concerns at this time!”
Laurel Nerren, Communication Director for the City of Ruston, sent out a statement from Mayor Walker Tuesday afternoon.
“Ruston City Lineman Ben Rosson was involved in an electrical fire incident on Monday afternoon 8-7-2023. Ben was taken to the North Louisiana Medical Center where he received amazing care and was than airlifted to Shreveport to continue treatment. Ben is improving at a great rate and currently he and his family are needing many healing thoughts and prayers.”
Additional follow up requests for more details on the specifics of the incident have not been released at this time.
Setting up a pair of public hearings was the primary order of business during a short-agended Lincoln Parish Police Jury meeting held Tuesday night at the Lincoln Parish Courthouse.
District 1 Juror Theresa Wyatt was the lone LPPJ member not in attendance for Tuesday’s meeting.
In their first order of business, Jurors convened a Board of Review to set and approve a public hearing date of 7 p.m. on Sept. 12 for the assessment of personal and public property in Lincoln Parish.
“There’s a 15-day period where that information is open from Aug. 15 to Aug. 29 at the Assessor’s Office,” said Parish Administrator Courtney Hall.
The LPPJ also approved the scheduling of a public hearing for 10 a.m. Sept. 18 at the Lincoln Parish Housing Program Office.
“This is something we do annually and includes a Violence Against Women Plan, Civil Right certifications and things like that,” Hall said. “It also discusses missions, goals, and objections of the Section 8 Housing Assistance Program administered by the Police Jury.”
In other business, the LPPJ adopted a resolution authorizing the Jury president to execute annual public Housing Authority certifications of compliance and approved a resolution to adopt Lincoln Parish’s Hazard Mitigation Plan.
As a final order of business the LPPJ amended its policy regarding public comments during Jury meetings to allow remote public participation by persons with American Disabilities Act recognized disabilities.
That can be primarily by Zoom, a communications platform requiring an internet connection and a supported device, that allows users to connect with video, audio, phone, and chat. But should a member of the public not have that ability, Hall said that it could be a simple system using a phone/speaker phone set-up.
“Anyone wanting to make public comments still has to fill out information letting the Jury know what they want to discuss, but this will allow anyone not physically capable of attending meetings in person to still make public comment if they so desire.”
The Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating an early Monday morning homicide that claimed the life of a juvenile.
Deputies responded to a traffic crash scene on Beacon Light Road just before 3:00 a.m. Monday. It was discovered one of the occupants of the vehicle had been shot. The victim was transported for medical treatment but died later in the morning.
The name of the victim has not been released by authorities.
Beacon Light Road is just outside southeast Ruston.
LPSO detectives are asking that anyone with information regarding this shooting to please call 318.251.5111. Information can also be submitted to CrimeStoppers of Lincoln Parish. CrimeStopper information can be given in several ways: by calling 318-255-1111, texting a tip to “TIP515 plus your message” to CRIMES (274637), or through www.rustonlincolncrimestoppers.com
As qualifying began yesterday for the upcoming political races across the state of Louisiana, candidates in our area code — both incumbents and challengers — began to officially register at the Lincoln Parish Court House.
Many Lincoln Parish residents’ eyes are squarely focused on the races that are developing for the 12 district seats on the Lincoln Parish Police Jury. Or at least they should be. I know mine are.
And rightly so.
After the roller coaster ride the current makeup of the police jury took our parish on in 2022 and even into the beginning of 2023, many voters have expressed a desire to see some changes in certain districts. And if I am being honest, I am one of those.
I am relatively new to following the police jury and other local government entities as closely as I have over the past two years, this correlating to when I became a co-Publisher for the Lincoln Parish Journal. However, it didn’t take long to see there was a woeful lack of transparency in regards to a number of important topics.
And I don’t think it’s too far-fetched to say some personal agendas.
Fire, ambulance and rescue was arguably the most important topic during 2022 while the vote to not re-appoint former LPPJ Administrator Doug Postel was another. I won’t spend a lot of bandwidth in this column rehashing details as plenty has been already written about, but I will provide some links to some previous stories on the two topics.
My advice to voters is to read them and others and to educate yourself on how your police juror voted on these two topics. Maybe you agree with them. Maybe you don’t. But arm yourself with an educated knowledge of those two subject matters and others.
During the last eight to 12 months plenty of voices openly expressed disappointment, shock and anger with how the LPPJ operated as a unit. It sure wasn’t smoothly or as a cohesive unit. And at times it was downright negligent.
Again, one man’s opinion.
But this is one man who sat in almost every single Ambulance, Fire and Rescue Committee meeting on a weekly basis for months as well as every police jury meeting during the volatile stretch. I had no preconceived notion when I started going to those meetings. I was a blank slate.
I talked to a lot of the parties one on one, trying to educate myself. What wasn’t I seeing or understanding. Because as I listened to more and more of the information being discussed, it became evident to me that there was only one clear, safe choice for the immediate future of Lincoln Parish.
It’s one thing to have another opinion. We all have plenty of those, and they don’t always sit simpatico.
It’s another thing to listen to financial figures and to human manpower numbers and to equipment discrepancies and to the comments of health care experts and fire department experts — and I could go on and on — and yet still vote against what was the one overwhelming clear choice that would best save lives and protect the families in Lincoln Parish.
Seven of the 12 jurors ultimately voted for the City of Ruston proposal, thus for the immediate safety of our parish and its residents.
(Read the October 12, 2022, story about the ambulance, fire and rescue vote by the LPPJ by clicking HERE.)
For the record: Those who voted for City of Ruston Ambulance and Fire proposal were: TJ Cranford (District 4), Logan Hunt (District 5), Glenn Scriber (District 6), Matt Pullin (District 7), Skip Russell (District 8), Joe Henderson (District 9), and Annette Straughter (District 12).
Those who voted against the City of Ruston Ambulance and Fire proposal were: Theresa Wyatt (District 1), Hazel Hunter (District 2), Richard Durrett (District 3), Milton Melton (District 10), and Sharyon Mayfield (District 11).
(Sidebar: One day in the near future I hope the Lincoln Parish Fire District is funded and equipped to be able to handle the full load of these responsibilities outside of the city of Ruston, but based on the information available back in September of 2022, they simply weren’t. And it would have been dangerous and unfair to task them with a load they weren’t ready to handle.)
And then there was the Doug Postel soap opera. Daytime TV was jealous of that drama. It started with cloak and dagger close-door meetings where resignations were asked for and it ended months later with eight members of the current Lincoln Parish Police Jury voting NO to his reappointment. An upopular vote that came with no transparent reason.
(Read the Sept. 8, 2022 story and letter from 4 jurors in regards to Postel being asked to resign under “allegations” by clicking HERE.)
It came despite a very vocal, very one-sided showing of support by parish residents in Postel’s favor prior to the vote in the January police jury meeting. Those who were there and who witnessed it are still talking about that night.
Every police juror has the right to vote their mind. And committee’s aren’t always going to vote unanimously. But the ability to hear your constituents, and then communicate to those same constituents is a must, especially on a local level.
When you don’t, you simply pave the road for your replacement in the next election. I believe there was a lot of asphalt laid down by some of the jurors over the past year.
Eight of them voted against Postel, and none of them would provide much — if any — reason. Some hid behind “it’s an HR matter.” Some just hid. They simply stayed silent despite being questioned that night by their fellow police jurors who voted in favor of Postel’s reappointment.
(Read Scott Boatright’s story from the January, 2023 LPPJ meeting by clicking HERE.)
For the record: Those who voted in favor of reappointing Postel were: TJ Cranford (District 4), Logan Hunt (District 5), Glenn Scriber (District 6) and Matt Pullin (District 7)
Those who voted against reappointing Postel were: Theresa Wyatt (District 1), Hazel Hunter (District 2), Richard Durrett (District 3), Skip Russell (District 8), Joe Henderson (District 9), Milton Melton (District 10), Sharyon Mayfield (District 11) and Annette Straughter (District 12)
There is a big part of me that believes many of the jurors thought this would blow over and be forgotten about by the time October elections rolled around. However, based on “Flip the Jury” signs around the parish and the amount of chatter I have heard from residents recently, I don’t think people have forgotten.
I sure haven’t.
So in October when the time comes for registered voters in Lincoln Parish to cast their vote for their district seat, my hope is they are well-informed when they step into the voting booth. My hope is they use their vote to break the silence. My hope is they demand transparency, and that they make a change if they feel one is needed.
In my opinion it’s time to have a police jury that doesn’t hide behind, “No comment.”
Members of the Ruston 10u All-Star team hold up their third place trophy following an 8-3 loss to Team Louisiana on Tuesday.
by Malcolm Butler
Just minutes after falling 8-3 to Team Louisiana in an elimination game at the Dixie Youth World Series at the Ruston Sports Complex Tuesday morning, members of the host Ruston 10u All-Star team were taking photos and soaking up more of the week-long (really months long) experience.
In a tournament that started Friday, the host boys battled through tough opponents, found ways to win close games, and ultimately made a impressive run to finish in third place.
And although they came up just short of the championship game, the Ruston 10u All-Stars represented their community and their families well.
“The main message (after the game) was just how proud we are of them,” said Manager Cody Channell. “They have spent their whole summer working for this moment and they earned it.
“The grind. The sweat. They came together. It took us a minute, but I am so proud of them. When they get our age, they will reflect back and be proud of this moment too.”
Team Louisiana took an early 1-0 lead. But if not for some clutch pitching by starter Brantlee Doolittle to get out of some early jams, the deficit could have been much larger.
Brantlee faced a bases loaded, no outs jam early and surrendered just one run and then kept Team Louisiana completely off the scoreboard in another runners in scoring position one out situation. When Ruston needed a big out in those early innings, Doolittle dug deep.
“He was so impressive,” said Channell of Doolittle, who worked 4.0 innings before reaching his pitch limit. “He gave us a shot. We road him all summer long. He always gave us a chance to win and I couldn’t be more proud of him.”
Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the third inning, Ruston came up with a two-out rally. Jameson Sutton walked to start the rally followed by Bear Brasher and Doolittle both reaching safely to set the stage for Cooper Stoehr. After watching a 1-2 pitch barely miss just off the plate to even the count, Stoehr laced a pitch into right centerfield, scoring both Sutton and Brasher to give Ruston the 2-1 lead.
The score remained that way until the top of the fifth inning when Team Louisiana started playing strictly small ball. After the leadoff hitter reach on an HBP, four straight players laid down bunts, leading to a pair of runs as Team Louisiana grabbed a 3-2 lead.
“We worked on (defending the bunt) a lot,” said Channell. “It’s just fundamental baseball. But once we made a mistake, they just kept doing it and the pressure gets to these young kids. It’s tough on them. You know they are 10. They know what to do but in that moment with the fans and the game situation it’s just tough.”
After a three up, three down inning for Ruston in the bottom of the fifth, Team Louisiana capitalized once again in the sixth inning, plating five runs three hits, a walk, an HBP and a couple of errors to extend their advantage out to 8-2.
Ruston fought to the very end, plating a run with two outs in the bottom of the sixth before the final out was record.
Team Louisiana will face Team Florida – a 7-6 winner over Team Arkansas in extra innings — in the championship game.
I am officially announcing my candidacy to be re-elected as Police Juror for District 12. I want to first thank you for allowing me to be your voice on the Lincoln Parish Jury. It has been my pleasure and honor to serve each of you. I again humbly ask for your support and vote in the upcoming October 14th election. I have stated in the past and will continue to state that Lincoln Parish is the best place to live, work and raise a family. There is still work to be done in our community, but Straughter keeps her sleeves rolled up to help get it done.
During Annette term, she has been active on many committees and one that is dear to her is the Health and Welfare Committee, where she is the Chairperson. This committee is currently overseeing the upcoming new Health Hub that will house the new Lincoln Parish Health Unit, Office for the Health Hut, The HELP Agency and Coroner’s Office. She also worked with the local DOTD to get a four way stop sign in place on Highway 150 (Old Grambling Road) and Highway 818. Safety comes first with Straughter.
Annette also believes in being proactive and thinking out of the box to help meet the needs of the citizens of the Parish. When funding was cut to the Lincoln Parish Park, Annette developed the Lincoln Parish Park festival to raise money for the park. She reached out and was able to secure a grant to help fund the festival. The festival is in its third year and Straughter states she plans to keep this festival going annually. She also actively gives back to the community by donating food boxes to the elderly in her district, she is a non-business Adopt-A-School partner for Cypress Springs Elementary School and Ruston Junior High School. In the past she did a blanket drive and donated blankets to the TRIAD office for the elderly and a fan drive where fans were donated to the HELP Agency. Straughter believes in educating our youth as well. Learning reading schools were low at I. A. Lewis school in the past, she donated bicycles as an incentive for those children that improved their reading scores.
Annette is a member of Christ Temple Baptist Church. As a nurse, she works at Northern Louisiana Medical Center in One Day Surgery Center. Straughter used her medical knowledge to help make the right decision voting to give the City of Ruston ambulance the contract to provide services to the citizen of Lincoln Parish. Straughter is also a Notary Public and CPR Instructor for the American Heart Association.
Annette Straughter states ” I will always fight for my not only District 12 but the entire Lincoln Parish to help improve it.
A Choudrant woman was arrested Thursday afternoon by Louisiana State Police after she was stopped for a traffic violation and suspected methamphetamine was found in her car.
A state trooper was parked on U.S. 80 near Willow Glen Drive when Gina Furci, 53, was observed driving without a seat belt. Furci was stopped on Louisiana Hwy. 33 where she stated she had her seat belt on, but it was under her arm.
During the course of the investigation, a Ruston Police K-9 officer arrived at the stop. The K-9 alerted to the odor of narcotics inside the vehicle. A search of the vehicle located a small baggie containing suspected methamphetamine on the front seat.
Furci was arrested and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for no seat belt, expired inspection sticker, and possession of methamphetamine. Bail was set at $5,000.
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.
Landon Amidson (52) and the Cougars are in week two of fall practice. (photo by Malcolm Butler)
By Malcolm Butler
Although far from ready for its season opener, Cedar Creek has made some positive strides through the first week and a half of practice according to first year head coach William Parkerson.
Prior to Tuesday evening’s workout, Parkerson said he was happy with the progress his players made through the first full week plus one day of practice.
“We got better every day,” said Parkerson. “We got better every day. From Monday to Friday, we looked like a totally different football team. As long as we keep getting better each day we will be all right.”
Besides repetitions and the expected hard work from his players, Parkerson attributed an increased player-coach relationship to the progress.
“Getting comfortable with what we are doing,” said Parkerson. “Getting comfortable with how we are practicing and what we are asking of them. Them getting to know us and us getting to know them. Just comfort.”
Monday saw the Cougars don full pads for the first time. And according to their gridiron boss, it was a typical first day in pads.
“It started off good, but as the excitement of the pads wore off we kind of hit a wall so to speak,” said Parkerson. “The extra 20 pounds took its toll. But it started off good. We were missing our center too so snaps were all over the place. The defense was really good. The offense not so much.”
Creek started out with 29 players reporting for fall camp, but after one season-ending injury to sophomore Joseph Luffey (knee) and one player deciding to quit, the Cougars roster is down to 27 healthy bodies.
Luffey was one of a number of Creek players competing for a spot on the starting offensive line, an area that is wide open according to Parkerson.
“We are a work in progress as we still try to figure out who those five guys are going to be,” said Parkerson. “Brett Johnson will be our center. And outside of that we are trying to figure out the other four guys.”
As Week No. 2 of practice continues this evening at 6 p.m., Parkerson said the goal is to continue taking steps forward.
“The offense is in so now working on little details,” said Parkerson. “Adjustments to different fronts. The base is in so now its trying to fine tune everything.”
Creek will travel to Lakeside on Aug. 18 for a scrimmage and will then face Mangham on Aug. 26 at the Bayou Jamb at West Monroe.
It’s ain’t easy being me these days. My little plastic phone has been ringing off the hook lately with interview requests because of the Barbie movie.
Being a Big Star takes its toll, even when you have plastic hair. Well … plastic EVERY thing.
Most of you know my story. Kenneth Sean “Ken” Carson, better known as The Ken Doll. “Created” in 1961 and still look like I could get a date to the prom, no prob. Sidekick of the inspirational, wonderful, and fetching Barbie. And yes, since you’re wondering and since I’m asked 847 times a day, in real life she’s exactly as she is in real fake life.
She’s a peach. A pink peach.
Lately, you can’t swing a cat or go by a water cooler without hearing talk of Barbie. Yes, I co-starred. Yes, they paid me a bunch of money. Yes, I wear a “I Am Ken(ough)” T-shirt sometimes — and I wear it well. Told I’m a scene-stealer — DUH! — but of course it’s Barbie, the blue-eyed stunner, who everyone is talking about. She’s the REAL Blonde Bomber. (Take a seat, Terry Bradshaw.)
The movie’s good — so I hear. Haven’t seen it. Don’t like looking at myself on screen. Don’t like people coming in late and talking on their cell phones like they’re in their den. Don’t like paying 35 bucks for popcorn.
Whatever happened to a good ol’ night at the movies?, now upended by the one or two oddballs who act as if they’re sitting on their couch in their underwear, entitled to be as loud and unsettling as they please with no regard to the other people around them who’ve dropped a 20 to enjoy a show in peace and cinematic quiet.
Looo-sers! Ken(ough) has had enough.
BUT, as someone who is actually in the movie, I can report that Barbie is a meaningful and unique piece of art that spends plenty of time poking fun at itself. Barbie and her friends offer up plenty of situations to spark meaningful conversations among modern moviegoers, both Barbies and Kens, and that the “feel” you get is that, while pink is her signature color, Barbie is not above learning that there’s enough pink to go around for everybody.
If you go to enjoy a stylistically modern movie that takes a worldly view of female empowerment and offers a pink convertible-full of nostalgia, you’ll enjoy it. If you go expecting The Ten Commandments or a fiery stance on toxic masculinity, you’ll likely be disappointed.
I’m a Ken wise enough to know already that women retired The Strongest Sex trophy decades ago. Don’t need a movie to tell me that. But who’s asking me, right?
So please, for fun, go see it. (I get a cut of ticket sales, after all.) Enjoy it for you and enjoy it for me. In the unique situation of being All-Kenned-Out, I’ll wait here, and next week I’ll tell you why in The True-Blue Confessions of a Redneck Ken Doll.
Harry Lamar Anderson, Jr. has been named the new Director of Civil Rights/Title IX Coordinator at Grambling State University. Title IX is the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination, harassment, and violence and requires colleges and universities to follow procedures to investigate complaints.
“Mr. Anderson brings knowledge of Title IX, the investigation process and the work required to help ensure a safe and supportive environment free of discrimination, harassment and sexual violence to all members of the Grambling State community,” said COO Penya Moses.
A West Monroe, LA native and Air Force Reserves Veteran, Anderson obtained associate degrees in both Management and Business Administration from Eastfield College in Mesquite, TX in 2005). He obtained his bachelor’s in business administration from Northwood University in 2012 and his master’s in business administration from Bethel University in 2018.
Anderson has worked in Higher Education for the past eight years as a Financial Aid Advisor for Louisiana Delta Community College, Dallas College (Eastfield), The Art Institute of Dallas, Retention Specialist for Louisiana Delta Community College, and has over six years of experience in Title IX with Louisiana Delta Community College.
With a strong passion for education and commitment to serving Grambling State with excellence, he has served at the institution as Title IX Confidential Advisor, and Title IX Investigator before taking the helm as Director.
He is married to Jasmine Anderson, and they are expecting their first child in December. He is also the new pastor of Trenton Baptist Church in West Monroe, LA.
As of Aug. 8, the Louisiana Department of Health/Office of Public Health, has rescinded the boil advisory issued by the Ruston Water System.
The City of Ruston Water System experienced problems with the water supply system for customers located on BOURBON ST., CAMP RD., CANAL ST., CEDAR CREEK RD. CEDAR CREEK DR. CHASE LN., DECATUR DR., ENGLISH TURN, ESPLANDE AVE., FOXX CREEK DR., FOXXWOOD DR., HUNT LANE, POST OAK DR., & RAMPART DR..
The samples found from OPH’s State Regional Laboratory collected samples on Aug. 7, and they were found to be safe.
Peak Events, LLC in partnership with the Sugar Land Space Cowboys announced Tuesday the inaugural Battle at the Ballpark, a four-team baseball tournament that will include Louisiana Tech along with Army West Point, Air Force, and Creighton.
The tournament will take place March 1-3, 2024 at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Texas with a focus on military appreciation. Each team will face one another in a round-robin format with two games played each day.
“Here in Sugar Land, we are always looking to provide quality events at Constellation Field, and we are excited to help put on a thrilling tournament at our ballpark,” said Space Cowboys General Manager Tyler Stamm.
LA Tech will first take on the Black Knights of Army West Point on Friday, March 1 at 6 p.m. The Bulldogs will then face the Bluejays of Creighton on Saturday, March 2 at 1 p.m. and then close out the three-day event on Sunday, March 3 at 4 p.m. versus the Falcons of Air Force.
Individual reserved and general admission day tickets are available for purchase with day tickets including both games played on the same day. In addition, a general admission weekend pass is also available. The weekend pass will allow general admission access to all six games of the tournament.
Tickets for the 2024 Battle at the Ballpark start at just $15 a day and are available now at www.peak.events/BATB.
Active and retired military personnel will have the opportunity to receive half off day passes for all ticketed seating locations. Military ID will be required and tickets must be purchased in person at the Constellation Field Box Office.
Streaming and broadcast information will be announced at a later date.
Both season and single game tickets are on sale now for the 2023 Louisiana Tech soccer season, which features nine home matches at Robert Mack Caruthers Field.
Season tickets are $50 while single game tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for youth (ages 4-17), and $3 for groups of 10 or more. Fans can purchase their tickets at LATechSports.com/Tickets or by calling the LA Tech Ticket Office at (318) 257-3631.
LA Tech students get free admission to all soccer home matches by claiming their tickets through the LA Tech Athletics app or by showing their student ID at the entrance.
Parking is free and available alongside Stadium Blvd. as well as west of Dr. Billy Bundrick Field. To access the field, fans enter the main entrance gate of the Soccer/Softball complexes and go up the steps on the southwest corner of Robert Mack Caruthers Field.
LA Tech hosts Central Arkansas in an exhibition match on Saturday, Aug. 12 at 5 p.m. (free admission). The regular season officially kicks off on Aug. 17 at Colorado College. The home opener follows a week later against ULM on Aug. 24.
Catina S. Bowman Sunday 03/04/1973 — Wednesday 08/02/2023 Memorial Service: Wednesday 08/09/2023 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Celebration of Life When: Saturday 08/12/2023 11:00am: White Oaks Funeral Home, 110 S. 12th St., Oakdale
Ben Rosson, an employee of the City of Ruston, was electrocuted Monday afternoon while working on a city assignment.
Rosson, who identifies himself as a lineman at Ruston light and power on his Facebook page, suffered serious yet unspecified injuries due to electrocution.
He was immediately transported to Northern Louisiana Medical Center by ambulance and then airlifted to Shreveport around 5:30 p.m.
Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker confirmed the accident late Monday afternoon via phone.
“He received some voltage working on a line,” said Walker. “He was rushed to Northern Louisiana Medical Center to be treated. I just left the hospital (at about 5 p.m.) and they just text me to tell me they are airlifting him to Shreveport.”
Walker provided a brief update at 9:15 p.m. last night.
“We will know more in the morning, but it was looking better tonight,” said Walker.
The cab of an 18-wheeler carrying diesel exhaust fluid ignited Monday afternoon on the North Service Road East just off of I-20. (Courtesy Photo)
By Malcolm Butler
Members of the City of Ruston Fire Department and the Ruston Police Department were on the scene Monday afternoon as the cab of an 18-wheeler burst into flames on the corner of North Trenton Street and the north Service Road East.
Approximately 2:15 p.m. an 18-wheeler carrying DEF (diesel exhaust fluid) burst into flames, causing traffic jams along the south-bound bridge over I-20.
“A lot of the details are a little sketchy,” said Brad Hearne, Chief of Fire Prevention for the City of Ruston. “The drivers wasn’t extremely cooperative with our questions. Something caught fire in the cab and extended to the trailer a little bit. It didn’t get into the contents of the trailer, and there wasn’t anything combustible in the trailer.”
“Something ignited in the cab,” said Fire Chief Chris Womack. “I don’t want to use the word explosive, but it wasn’t just a light fire. There was glass and debris blown out of the vehicle.”
Hearne said there was not any type of (hazardous material) concerns with the fire or the contents of the 18-wheeler.
“It was all contained pretty quickly,” said Hearne. “It was just pretty hot. Once we were able to get through the traffic and get water to it, we were able to get it knocked down pretty quick.”
The unidentified driver did sustain some injuries and was transported to Northern Louisiana Medical Center to be treated. He had already been released by 4:30 p.m.
“He did sustain some (second degree) burns,” said Hearne. “Nothing life threatening. He was the only one injured. He has left our hospital already from what we understand.”
The exact owner of the 18-wheeler wasn’t known but the words Super Ego ran along the side of the vehicle.
“I do know it was a leased vehicle,” said Hearne. “I believe he had stopped and been in the convenience store and was getting back on the road.”
Pictured counter-clockwise from left to right are Ruston aldermen Carolyn Cage, Melanie Lewis, John Denny, Mayor Ronny Walker, and aldermen Bruce Siegmund and Angela Mayfield during Monday’s City Council meeting for the month of August. (Photo by T. Scott Boatright)
By T. Scott Boatright
Sales Tax and Use District expansion and paving the way for a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement to build a housing development were two of the top orders of business for Ruston’s City Council Monday evening during their August meeting at City Hall.
Ruston’s Board of Aldermen unanimously approved city officials to amend the geographical boundaries of Economic Development District I (EDD I) and to extend the levy of the district’s existing sales and use tax into the expanded boundaries of that economic development district.
“This is our periodic amendment to the EDD I based on changes of the entities operating therein,” City Attorney Bill Carter told the City Council before a vote was taken. “A list of the businesses that will be added to the district as well as the ones that will be deleted have been included in the information you’ve received.”
No one from the public spoke on the matter when Mayor Ronny Walker opened a public hearing for discussion, so that public hearing was quickly closed and the unanimous vote was made.
Ruston’s aldermen also unanimously agreed to authorize Mayor Ronny Walker and the city to enter into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with architectural and interior design firm Parish Line Development L.L.C. or affiliate to construct a new housing development near the Ruston Sports Complex.
That development is planned to consist of 70 units – 42 single-family houses and 28 townhouses. It is planned to be a gated, covenant community with the single-family houses being somewhere around 2,400 square feet with four different options that could add a half bath, or office, if desired.
All of the residences in the development – both single-family homes and townhouses, will also have two-vehicle garages.
Ruston’s City Council also approved a resolution authorizing the city to order and call for a Special Election to be held on Nov. 18, which was already a scheduled election day for Lincoln Parish, to submit to the qualified electors thereof a proposition to authorize the city to join the Louisiana Energy and Power Authority.
Created by the State Legislature, the Louisiana Energy and Power Authority (LEPA) consists of 19 Louisiana cities and towns, each maintaining its own independent municipal power system.
LEPA is a joint-action agency working to provide its member communities with firm, stable sources of electricity at the lowest possible cost.
“LEPA is a political subdivision of the state of Louisiana,” Kevin Bihm, LEPA general manager, told Ruston’s Board of Aldermen. “What that means is that we act just like a city — like Ruston and others in the state of Louisiana. We follow the same guidelines, We have public meetings, public bid-laws and all of those things.
“We were formed for cities that either have distribution or electric generation, back in 1979. Ruston had both of those in 1979. I think you’ve foregone the generation but you still have your distribution system.”
Bihm said LEPA sells power to some member cities, adding that was not a requirement, and that there is no cost to be a member city.
Walker said the main thing he’s taken away from earlier discussions with Bihm is the potential assistance it could provide in the wake of storm damage to the electrical grid.’
“This gives us 19 members that we can call on to help us, and they can call on us to help them as well,” Walker said. “We’re stronger as 20 utilities together than we are as one alone.
“I also like the fact that in these days, where it can be so hard to find transformers, we can get LEPA to help us find out if any other member city has an extra transformer the size we need to swap out, buy out or whatever.”
Ruston’s City Council also approved adoption to the 2023 Lincoln Parish Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan and also passed a motion authorizing the city to sell moveable property as surplus movable property — in this case, police vehicles.
“The bottom line is that Simsboro, one of our neighbors, needs some police cars,” Walker said. “The (City) Council knows we have started leasing our police cars now, but we still do have three or four or five old ones out there.
“So, we’re going to find them the two best ones we have and in a neighbor-to-neighbor swap kind of deal only charge them $500 per vehicle. I think this is good for us and good for Lincoln Parish. I think that any time we can help our neighboring cities we need to, so that’s what this is all about.”
In other business, Ruston’s Board of Aldermen introduced an ordinance that if passed would amend Chapter 29 of the Code of Ordinances for the city of Ruston by changing certain parts of the Zoning District boundaries to provide for approval of a preliminary plat for the Greenwood Crossing subdivision.
A raid on a Ruston residence last Thursday morning led to the arrest of one man and the recovery of methamphetamine and marijuana.
The Lincoln Parish Narcotics Enforcement Team and Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies executed a search warrant at a Lewis Street residence about 7 a.m. Thursday morning. The results of the search led to the arrest of Dentavius J. Wright, 33, the alleged occupant of that residence.
Investigators found a bag containing suspected methamphetamine, a bag containing marijuana, packaging materials, and a digital scale.
Wright was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for possession of marijuana, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bail was set at $7,500.
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.
