After graduating from Ruston High School Class of ’21, Abbey Warren took her culinary skills to Nicholls State University where she hones her craft at baking.
“I knew from my freshman year that I wanted to go to Nicholls,” said Warren. “I’ve always been into baking as a kid. Once, I got cookie dough from the school to sell, and I baked it. I went around my neighborhood selling it and made about $100 that weekend.”
Warren said this was when her love for baking really grew.
“I was hooked after that,” said Warren.
During her time at Nicholls, she has taken normal classes like English and history with four-hour culinary classes each week.
This summer, she completed nearly 540 hours at Biltmore Estates, North Carolina, as part of an internship.
The first half of the internship was spent at Deerpark restaurant where Warren worked next to her manager to prepare pastries or baked goods for banquets and events.
“It could be anywhere from five people to 500 that we were making desserts for,” said Warren. “It was very challenging.”
Warren would have shifts going from as late as midnight to seven in the morning the next day.
For her second half of the internship, she began working at The Bistro restaurant which had a much more rushed atmosphere.
“I would work prep two days a week, then work line three days a week,” said Warren. “It takes a lot of patience, but it’s a lot of fun.”
Warren has had past experience this past spring; she worked at Berckman’s Palace for the Master’s Golf Tournament in Augusta, Georgia.
“It’s one of the only golf tournaments that never moves,” said Warren. “Berckman’s Palace is the VIP restaurant. I worked in commissary prep, so chopping foods.”
Her first three days were eight-hour shifts and the last seven days were 12-to-14-hour days.
“That one was rough, but my internship was a really good learning opportunity,” said Warren.
Warren starts back at Nicholls today, where she will be taking classes on cooking Cajun creole.
“I learned a lot about myself, how I work and who I work best with in different management styles,” said Warren. “I’ve gained a lot of confidence in the kitchen and it was a good use of my summer.”
With temperatures slated for as high as 106 this coming weekend, Cedar Creek’s jamboree game against Mangham is now moving to Thursday night.
According to Creek head coach William Parkerson Sunday night, the Cougars will now play at 8 p.m. on Thursday at Rebel Stadium in West Monroe.
Originally, the game was slated to start at 3 p.m. Saturday. However, the forecast is calling for highs around 105 and Bayou Jamb officials are making the smart decision to shift games around.
Seven games were slated for Friday and Saturday, including five games on Saturday starting late morning and running through the entire day.
However, now the seven games will be spread over three days starting with Thursday.
Parkerson said he was relieved about the change.
“No doubt this is a good move,” said the Cougars head coach.
Ruston High coach Jerrod Baugh told the LPJ Sunday night that the Bearcats game against West Monroe is still schedule for Friday night at 8 p.m.
The Bayou Jamb press conference is slated for this morning at 10 a.m. at West Monroe and additional details are expected to be announced.
Ruston Police arrested one man and seized two rifles, drugs, and drug paraphernalia during the investigation of a fight last Sunday evening.
Officers responded to Allen Street about 5:30 p.m. Sunday evening regarding a reported fight in progress. There they found a victim who said a group of young men from the Sikes Street area had jumped on him.
Police patrolled the area looking for the suspects and located a group at a boarded-up house marked with ‘no trespassing’ signs. While interviewing the group, officers found two backpacks under the carport. No one in the group would claim the backpacks. A search of a backpack revealed a M4 carbine with no buttstock, making it more concealable.
The rifle contained a fully-loaded magazine and was equipped with a “brass catcher.” Brass catchers are designed to capture empty shell casings as they are ejected from a rifle. They can be used to prevent evidence from being left at a crime scene.
When one of the men seated in a vehicle at the location was approached, officers smelled raw marijuana. Johntarius E. Thomas, 20, of Ruston, admitted he had marijuana in the car. A search was conducted, and a Radical Arms M4-style rifle was found on the back seat. A records check indicated the rifle was stolen.
Also recovered in the car search were multiple bags of marijuana and digital scales.
Thomas was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, illegal possession of stolen things, possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled substance, violation of the controlled substance drug-free zone (church), and criminal trespass.
Bail for Thomas was set at $35,000.
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.
Police may have stopped a shooting from occurring when they arrested a man carrying a firearm on the Grambling State University campus Wednesday.
Brad Anthony Woods, Jr., 30, of Leesville, was arrested by GSU Police shortly after 11:30 a.m. Wednesday after officers received a tip about a shooting allegedly about to happen.
GSU Police received information that someone was going to Martha Adams Hall, part of the campus’s residential housing, with intent to shoot a student. Officers found Woods outside an entrance to the building and approached him.
In reply to questioning by officers, Woods said he was not a GSU student, and he that had a gun in his pocket. A Glock 26 9mm pistol with a loaded 15-round magazine was recovered from Woods, according to police..
At the GSU police station, Woods told police he was going to see his brother and did not want to leave the weapon in his car. Police searched the car and found an empty 31-round pistol magazine on the front passenger floorboard.
Woods was booked into the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for carrying a firearm on school property. His bail amount was not available.
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.
Bigger question. Are you ready to win $200 in cash and prizes each week?
Starting in September, the Lincoln Parish Journal will hold the Karl Malone Toyota College Football Pick’em Contest presented by Martin Presence and Heard Construction.
Last year it was NFL games. This year it’s what the deep south lives for …. college football.
Anyone is eligible to participate and each weekly winner will go home with a $200 cash prize. Each week the winner will be the participant with the best record out of 15 selected college football games (ties will be broken by two separate tiebreakers consisting of guessing the total points scored in two of our weekly contests).
The Karl Malone Toyota College Football Pick’em Contest presented by Martin Presence and Heard Construction will be conducted for 13 regular season weeks of the college season starting with Week 1 games (Sept. 2).
There is no entry fee, just like there is no cost to subscribe to the Lincoln Parish Journal. It takes 20-30 seconds to sign up and not much longer than that to make your picks.
All contest decisions by LPJ management are final. Weekly winners will be notified Monday and will be requested to take a photo that will run in the following week’s LPJ.
Every participant will receive a FREE subscription to the Journal, if you’re not already signed up for the easily-navigated, convenient 6:55 a.m. daily e-mail. Enjoy it all, for FREE, and enter each week’s contest. You could collect $200 each week!
An alleged drug-impaired driver whose license had already been suspended was arrested on Interstate 20 in Ruston early last Saturday morning.
A Lincoln Parish patrol supervisor spotted a Honda westbound on I-20 weaving from side to side through Ruston. When the car was stopped, the deputy saw loose marijuana on the driver’s shirt and could smell the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle.
A search found a cup containing marijuana in the car’s center console and a records check showed Tra’Voris D. Richardson’s driver’s license was suspended. The 21-year-old Arcadia man also showed signs of impairment with slurred speech and unsteady balance.
Richardson was taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center where he refused to submit to a breath test. However, he did submit a urine sample and preliminary testing showed the presence of three controlled substances.
Richardson was booked for first offense DWI, possession of marijuana, improper lane usage, and driving under suspension.
Bail was set at $1,500.
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.
Lawson Lillo (1) breaks away for a long gain during the Cougars scrimmage against Lakeside (photo by Darrell James).
By Malcolm Butler
Ladd Thompson connected on a 70-yard scoring strike to Kade Luker and Noah Durrett scored on a 17-yard run to highlight Cedar Creek’s Friday night scrimmage at Lakeside.
The night saw each team get nine offensive possessions during the scripted, controlled portion of the scrimmage and then line up and play one 12-minute quarter.
Creek’s defense was stellar the entire evening, not allowing a single score while forcing eight 3-and-outs during Lakeside’s 12 offensive possessions on the night.
Parkerson, who had said earlier in the week he wanted to see his team “line up correctly and play fundamental football,” was pleased with aspects of the night.
“We lined up good,” said Parkerson. “We have to clean up some fundamentals. I told them we have to clean up some mental mistakes and penalties. We probably could have scored four or five more touchdowns, but penalties just killed drives.
“I thought we played hard. I thought we were physical. We executed pretty good at times, but it was the first time with live bullets. There will be a lot of good stuff to learn from.”
The night didn’t start very well for the Cougars. Three of the first five snaps from scrimmage resulted in fumbles while starting center Brett Johnson went down with a left ankle injury on just the second play of the night.
Creek entered the evening with just 27 healthy players and has already lost offensive lineman Joseph Luffey for potentially the season with a knee injury during the first week of practice. Parkerson was unsure of Johnson’s long-term status.
“We don’t know (his status yet),” said Parkerson. “We hope for the best. They say they don’t know, but we will hope for the best. We will get him checked out in the morning and hopefully we will get some good news.”
Offensively, Creek showed some signs of life throughout the night. Thompson hit Lukar on a 70-yard TD on just the second offensive possession of the night. The two just missed on two more long pass plays later in the scrimmage.
However, it was the Cougars rushing attack that began to pick up steam as the evening wore on. Worthey and Lillo both ripped off multiple 20-plus yard runs while Durrett hit paydirt on the ground for Creek.
“The first series we really struggled to get the dive going,” said Parkerson. “But after that we got the dive going which opens up everything in this offense. Gray Worthey and Noah Durrett did a good job running in between the tackles and (Lawson) Lillo had some good runs to the outside.”
Thompson wasn’t 100 percent full go at QB for Creek. Parkerson said his signal caller was put on a bit of a leash in order to not aggravate a muscle tweak sustained in practice last week.
“There were a couple of times if Ladd is healthy that he pulls it and he scores,” said Parkerson. “But hey, we will get him healthy for the regular season.”
A number of young Cougars made some nice plays. Freshman Ryan Coleman caught a 41-yard pass from Lukar when the Creek second team offense was under center. Coleman also made a nice play defensively, intercepting a Lakeside pass on the first offensive possession of the night by the home team.
“He had the pick,” said Parkerson of Coleman. “It was a nice pick for his first play on defense on the varsity. Kade Lukar had the touchdown (reception). He is another ninth grader. We had a bunch of young guys step up with is good to see.”
Sophomore lineman Bryce Martin was also a bright spot for the Cougars, making numerous tackles behind the line of scrimmage during the night.
“(Bryce) flashed a good bit and did a nice job on the offensive line as well,” said Parkerson.
During the latter part of the scrimmage — a 12-minute live quarter — the Cougars had a number of opportunities to score, driving inside Lakeside’s 20-yard line on two separate occasions. However, on the final play of the night, Thompson threw an interception that was returned 102 yards for the only score of the night by Lakeside.
The Creek defense didn’t allow a single first down to Lakeside in the quarter in three possessions as James Myers recorded an interception for the Cougars.
Cedar Creek will face Mangham on Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Bayou Jamb at Rebel Stadium in West Monroe.
Louisiana Tech University conferred 253 degrees on new graduates in the Summer 2023 Commencement ceremony at the Thomas Assembly Center, the University’s 345th commencement overall.
Dr. Hisham Hegab, retiring College of Engineering and Science (COES) dean and a 1989 graduate of Tech, delivered the commencement address. Hegab was named dean in July 2014 after serving as interim dean of the College during the 2013-2014 academic year.
He offered Tech’s newest alumni three key ways to live their life after their graduation.
“During this speech, I hope to provide you with three pieces of advice to take with you,” Hegab said. “Number one, take the time to fully appreciate the important moments in life… Number two, be open to opportunities that life places in your path… Lastly, make serving others part of the mission of your life.”
He also told the graduates to realize the importance of their significant opportunities and savor the new journeys they will embark on.
“Remember there is a beautiful life ahead of you with opportunities to experience joy, growth, and servanthood,” Hegab said. “May you find fulfillment and purpose while pursuing your dreams.”
During the ceremony, President Les Guice announced he had designated Hegab as dean emeritus and professor emeritus of the College of Engineering and Science in recognition of his exceptional service, leadership, and dedication to the University during his 28 years of guiding, researching, and teaching.
Also in the ceremony, Jeffrey Pike was honored with the Distinguished Service Award for his work as a COES senior lecturer and a head commencement marshal for the University. Pike served as an officer in the United States Army for 22 years.
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.
Monday, August 21 Pre-k and kindergarten boys only (Lincoln Parish schools; grades 1-12 still all attend) 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome 6 p.m.: Toastmasters International meeting (Louisiana Center for the Blind, 101 South Trenton Street) 5:30 p.m.: Ruston Planning and Zoning Meeting (Ruston City Hall)
Tuesday, August 22 Pre-k and kindergarten girls only (Lincoln Parish schools; grades 1-12 still all attend)
Wednesday, August 23 All Lincoln Parish students attend 7-8 a.m.: Veterans Coffee Club (PJ’s Coffee) 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome
Saturday, August 26 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 8 p.m.: Tech football v. FIU (Joe Aillet Stadium)
Sue Edwards Kinman was born in Mendenhall, Mississippi on January 2, 1928, to proud parents, Kiley and Berta Edwards. Dottie Edwards was her older sister and Billy Edwards was her younger brother. Sue followed her father’s footsteps by making Mississippi College her Alma Mater where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and another in Music. She continued her pursuit of higher education by earning a graduate degree in English Literature from Ole Miss while teaching at Louisiana Tech University. Many students can recall having Ms. Kinman and have described her as a rigorous English teacher with a wealth of knowledge. She faithfully spent her professional career teaching at Tech for 27 years.
She had a life-long passion for reading, playing the piano, traveling, and playing bridge. Sue’s family was easily her biggest and proudest accomplishment. A tenacious mother, an adventorous grandmother, and a hilarious great-grandmother; Sue left her family with a wealth of stories and laughter that will be passed along for generations to come.
Sue quietly passed away on August 6, 2023. She is proceeded in death by her son-in-law John Chris Stephenson. Sue will always be lovingly remembered by her son Buck Kinman and his wife Karen, her daughter Martha Sue Stephenson and her family; grandson Chris Stephenson and his wife Jessica, grandson Kiley Stephenson and his wife Julie, and granddaughter Katie and her husband Matt. Sue’s great-grandchildren are Christopher Stephenson, Tatum Stephenson, Caleb Babineaux, Cooper Stephenson, Levi Stephenson, Fiona Steed, and Lucy Steed.
Funeral services for Mr. Nolan Brent Coleman, age 84 of Ruston, LA will be held at 10:00 AM, Monday, August 20, 2023 in the Family Life Center of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Ruston with Rev. Paul Watts officiating. Burial will follow in the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Ruston under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston.
Nolan was born October 16, 1938 in Delhi, LA as the twelfth of fourteen children to James Robert and Mary Olivia Coleman and passed away August 18, 2023 at St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe, LA as the result of a massive stroke. He was a 1956 graduate of Delhi High School where he was involved in FFA. Nolan earned his bachelors and masters degrees in mathematics from Louisiana Tech University where he met the loves of his life, Margaret Ann Norris Coleman and the Bulldogs. After moving to Mississippi for a year to teach math, he and his wife became homesick for family and returned to Ruston. There, Nolan began the first of 30 years teaching math on the Louisiana Tech campus. He enjoyed attending just about any and all LA Tech sporting events. Over the years, Nolan witnessed the growth of many sports and the birth of the Lady Techsters dynasty, women’s volleyball and many others. Behind the scenes, he would help cook food for the athletes with Bill Cox. Nolan was ever loyal long before that was a mantra. He spent summers as a younger man roofing houses and driving school buses with his teaching friends who were off for the summer and mowing lots of grass, which, later became a family venture. Nolan also enjoyed maintaining his multi-acre yard that was known for its beautiful flowerbeds. He enjoyed supporting his kids, grandkids and great grandkids in their endeavors. “Pops” could be counted on to attend it all. He was loyal in his friendships he formed from working at LA Tech, from drinking coffee at the Huddle House and from eating fish at either Quitman or the Flying Burger. Nolan was a faithful member of Emmanuel Baptist Church for 56 years. As a committed fan of Southern Gospel music, he travelled many miles to enjoy the sound of 4-part harmony with a message about Jesus and His love. All of these things Nolan did with his wife of 61 years. He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings: Jamie Copes, Lee Otis Coleman, Daisy Coleman, Minnie Coleman, Mabel Fuller, Myrtle Patrick, James Robert Coleman, Jr., C.W. Coleman, J.L. Coleman and Marcia Coleman; granddaughter Rachel Smith; and grandson Kelly Bagwell.
He is survived by his wife; siblings: Bertha Slayter, Polly Taylor and Leo Coleman; children: Brent Coleman (Jan), Geni Smith (Mark) and Susan Bagwell (Keith); grandchildren: Jared Coleman (Megan), Jordan Coleman (Michelle), JayCee Bearden (Tristan), Ashton Beach (Cody), Andrew Jenkins, Laura Sisk (Bryce), Adam Smith and Casey Bagwell; 10 great-grandchildren; and a host of other family and many friends.
Serving as pallbearers will be Jared Coleman, Jordan Coleman, Tristan Bearden, Cody Beach, Adam Smith, Mark Smith and Keith Bagwell. Honorary pallbearers are Braden Bagwell and Cam Bagwell.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Emmanuel Baptist Church Sanctuary Remodeling Fund or to Louisiana Tech Athletics.
Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 PM, Sunday, August 20, 2023 at Owens Memorial Chapel in Ruston. To leave an online memorial message for the family, please visit www.owensmemorialfuneralhome.com.
Huey P. Warner April 18, 1940 – August 16, 2023 Visitation: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – Ruston, Thursday, August 24, 2023, 9:30 am – 10:30 am Service: Greenwood Cemetery, Thursday, August 24, 2023, 11:00 am Cemetery: Greenwood Cemetery, Thursday, August 24, 2023
Sebon Dunn Thursday 03/17/1955 — Tuesday 08/15/2023 Services already held
Nolan B. Coleman October 16, 1938 – August 18, 2023 Funeral Service: Monday, August 21, 2023, 10:00 AM, Emmanuel Baptist Church, 1200 Farmerville Hwy Cemetery Committal: Monday, August 21, 2023, Forest Lawn Cemetery, 2500 West California Ave, Ruston
Janice “Jan” Williamson May 1, 1943 – August 17, 2023 Services pending
Charlotte Ann (Williams) King August 5, 1947 – August 10, 2023 Service: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – Ruston, Saturday, September 2, 2023, 10:00 am
Noah Durrett (10) ran for one of Creek’s two TDs Friday night. (photo by Darrell James)
By Malcolm Butler
Ladd Thompson connected on a 70-yard scoring strike to Kade Luker and Noah Durrett scored on a 17-yard run to highlight Cedar Creek’s Friday night scrimmage at Lakeside.
The night saw each team get nine offensive possessions during the scripted, controlled portion of the scrimmage and then line up and play one 12-minute quarter.
Creek’s defense was stellar the entire evening, not allowing a single score while forcing eight 3-and-outs during Lakeside’s 12 offensive possessions on the night.
Parkerson, who had said earlier in the week he wanted to see his team “line up correctly and play fundamental football,” was pleased with aspects of the night.
“We lined up good,” said Parkerson. “We have to clean up some fundamentals. I told them we have to clean up some mental mistakes and penalties. We probably could have scored four or five more touchdowns, but penalties just killed drives.
“I thought we played hard. I thought we were physical. We executed pretty good at times, but it was the first time with live bullets. There will be a lot of good stuff to learn from.”
The night didn’t start very well for the Cougars. Three of the first five snaps from scrimmage resulted in fumbles while starting center Brett Johnson went down with a left ankle injury on just the second play of the night.
Creek entered the evening with just 27 healthy players and has already lost offensive lineman Joseph Luffey for potentially the season with a knee injury during the first week of practice. Parkerson was unsure of Johnson’s long-term status.
“We don’t know (his status yet),” said Parkerson. “We hope for the best. They say they don’t know, but we will hope for the best. We will get him checked out in the morning and hopefully we will get some good news.”
Offensively, Creek showed some signs of life throughout the night. Thompson hit Lukar on a 70-yard TD on just the second offensive possession of the night. The two just missed on two more long pass plays later in the scrimmage.
However, it was the Cougars rushing attack that began to pick up steam as the evening wore on. Worthey and Lillo both ripped off multiple 20-plus yard runs while Durrett hit paydirt on the ground for Creek.
“The first series we really struggled to get the dive going,” said Parkerson. “But after that we got the dive going which opens up everything in this offense. Gray Worthey and Noah Durrett did a good job running in between the tackles and (Lawson) Lillo had some good runs to the outside.”
Thompson wasn’t 100 percent full go at QB for Creek. Parkerson said his signal caller was put on a bit of a leash in order to not aggravate a muscle tweak sustained in practice last week.
“There were a couple of times if Ladd is healthy that he pulls it and he scores,” said Parkerson. “But hey, we will get him healthy for the regular season.”
A number of young Cougars made some nice plays. Freshman Ryan Coleman caught a 41-yard pass from Lukar when the Creek second team offense was under center. Coleman also made a nice play defensively, intercepting a Lakeside pass on the first offensive possession of the night by the home team.
“He had the pick,” said Parkerson of Coleman. “It was a nice pick for his first play on defense on the varsity. Kade Lukar had the touchdown (reception). He is another ninth grader. We had a bunch of young guys step up with is good to see.”
Sophomore lineman Bryce Martin was also a bright spot for the Cougars, making numerous tackles behind the line of scrimmage during the night.
“(Bryce) flashed a good bit and did a nice job on the offensive line as well,” said Parkerson.
During the latter part of the scrimmage — a 12-minute live quarter — the Cougars had a number of opportunities to score, driving inside Lakeside’s 20-yard line on two separate occasions. However, on the final play of the night, Thompson threw an interception that was returned 102 yards for the only score of the night by Lakeside.
The Creek defense didn’t allow a single first down to Lakeside in the quarter in three possessions as James Myers recorded an interception for the Cougars.
Cedar Creek will face Mangham on Saturday, August 26 at 3 p.m. at the Bayou Jamb at Rebel Stadium in West Monroe.
(This is one of 20 profiles on the recipients selected by an anonymous committee out of an extensive list of nominees for the 2023 Rising Lincoln Leader Award. The Lincoln Parish Journal thanks Mayor Ronny Walker and the Ruston Chamber of Commerce for their support of this award. Photo by Kevin Hawkins at HawkinsPhoto.com).
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Name: Mike Smith
Age: 34
Employer: Smith Law Offices & District Attorney’s Office for the Third Judicial District of Louisiana
Title: Owner; Assistant District Attorney (Misdemeanor, Traffic, and Juvenile Divisions)
Hometown: Ruston
How long have you lived in Lincoln Parish: 34 years
Civic-volunteer organizations: Rotary Club, Kiwana’s Club, Teach 1 to Lead 1
Career/professional highlights: Prosecuted 2 felony jury trials in 2022 which resulted in convictions
Judge Jeff Robinson, Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, on Mike Smith: Mike and I have worked together at the District Attorney’s Office for five years. During that time I got to know Mike as a hard-working prosecutor who was tough on criminals but also showed compassion when needed. Mike also has been a successful civil law practitioner as well as a successful real estate entrepreneur. Mike’s greatest success is being a husband and father of three. I have found Mike holds himself to the highest of moral and spiritual standards. Lincoln Parish is blessed that Mike chose to come back home and put down roots.
Q&A with Mike Smith:
What makes Lincoln Parish special?
Lincoln Parish is more than just a place on a map to me—it is my hometown, and it holds a very special place in my heart. After finishing law school in Mississippi and getting married to a girl from Florida, we had opportunities to pursue our careers elsewhere… But none of them could compare to good ole Ruston. I have always known that this is where I want to raise my family. It is a truly unique blend of small-town charm and big-hearted people. It’s a place where neighbors are like family and where local businesses are supported with pride. I am fortunate to have many family members who have come before me and provided me with a goal to live up to by treating this community as family.
How do you see your role in improving Lincoln Parish?
As a local prosecutor for Lincoln Parish, my primary role is to serve and protect this community that I hold dear. I am committed to pursuing justice with integrity, fairness, and compassion for all members of our community. Beyond the courtroom, I also enjoy investing in local real estate, focused on revitalizing and creating quality affordable housing options for our residents, while also contributing to the economic vibrance of Lincoln Parish. In both my professional and personal ventures, I am dedicated to making Lincoln Parish a safer, stronger, and more prosperous place for us all.
Who has played a pivotal role in your professional development and why?
Both my father and grandfather have played pivotal roles in my professional career; namely by being an example of how to genuinely care for people and not taking myself too seriously. Growing up, I constantly heard stories about my grandfather, Dr. Joe, who cared for so many people in this community in their time of need, regardless of their circumstances. Both he and my dad did an important job while maintaining a sense of humor about themselves and pursuing genuine personal relationships with their patients. I’ve grown to realize just how important it is to take my job seriously without forgetting to laugh, and to prioritize treating clients as we would want our family members to be treated.
Lincoln Parish Library Board of Control President Amy Miller is pictured flanked by Board members Eric McCullough (left) and Richard Pyles during Thursday’s meeting. (Photo by T. Scott Boatright)
By T. Scott Boatright
After months of dliberation, the Lincoln Parish Library (LPL) Board of Control has determined updated employee compensation/job descriptions as well as increased Events Center pricing after passing motions concerning both during Thursday Board meeting at the LPL’s Community Room.
Rental prices at the Events Center will increase in what Events Center Committee Chair Bill Jones said was a long-needed move.
“Our rental prices have been far too low for far too long,” Jones said. “They’ve been so low that the Events Center isn’t coming close to even paying for itself. We need to do this to be financially competitive with other providers in the area that are charging much higher rates.”
In addition to changing rental rates, the Board of Control also tweaked Events Center policy including offering nonprofit organizations renting out space at a 10% discount provided they have the proper 501c3 paperwork proving they are a nonprofit.
The cost of renting the entire Events Center facility from $1,200 to $2,000 per day with a charge of $1,500 per each additional day of use. A deposit of $500 will continue to be required for use of the auditorium, Ruston Room or the entire facility.
Individual one full-day rentals for Events Center rooms will be as follows:
• Dubach Room $600 (up from $300)
• Choudrant Room $500 (up from $300)
• Simsboro Room $500 (up from $300)
• Dubach and Choudrant Rooms $900 (up from $500)
• Choudrant and Simsboro Rooms $800 (up from $500)
• Auditorum $1,200 (up from $600)
• Ruston Room $900 (up from $800)
Half day rentals will increase accordingly. For a full list of new prices see the pdf at the bottom of this article.
As far as a new director for the Events Center to replace Marcie Nelson, who moved on to become the president of the North Central Louisiana Arts Council, the Board of Control passed a motion to combine those duties with the ones already being provided by LPL Marketing Specialist Kacey Richard.
“We think those duties will mesh well and we’ll move her office into the Events Center,” Jones said. “And that will free up our library staff to do library work. This will also require that we hire some additional part-time people to handle any after hours closeup of the Events Center.
“Bear in mind (LPL Director) Jeremy Bolom has been doing those duties along with his normal library duties.”
The Board also unanimously passed an updated sliding wage scale based on years of experience at the library and also changed some of the job descriptions (roles and duties) of employees without the need for any additional hires.
In other business, the LPL Board of Control will continue operating under the same hours as 2023 with the exception of closing the library at 5 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.
Bolom also told the board he would check into library revenue sharing monies received from the state of Louisiana.
“I was told that it was supposed to be $32,000 at the end of last year,” Bolom said. “I think it’s supposed to come in chunks, but we only got it once last year. We haven’t got that kind of amount ($32,000) for a really long time, but we only got $10,000 at the end of last year. It’s been as low as $5,000 or $7,000. We’ve only got $10,712 of it.
“That’s been the one flag I will check with the State Library on — I don’t know why the amount changed.”
Eight of the Board of Control’s nine members were present at the meeting with Deborah Gilliam being the lone absentee.
Hot temperatures and a late C.E. Byrd freshman team bus put the 2023 Fall Scrimmage start for the varsity Bearcats well past sunset.
And it was junior defensive tackle Peyton Bell and junior running back Jordan Hayes that shined brightly in the night for the fans in attendance, leading Ruston to a 20-0 shutout win over the Yellow Jackets.
“Peyton made some big plays,” Ruston head coach Jerrod Baugh said. “Byrd was trying to run some option stuff away from him, and Peyton is so fast that he’s able to come off the edge from the backside and just run people down because he can run so well. And so a lot of those plays really, he wasn’t even on the front side of the play. He was just hustling on the back end and running some stuff down. And that’s what you got to see. He complements those other guys up front and the linebackers really well with the things that he can do whenever the ball is run away from him.”
Ruston’s defense forced an early three-and-out for Byrd’s offense after a long kick-off return to start the live scrimmage, which led to an 80-yard touchdown run by Hayes with 9:35 to go in the first of the two 12-minute halves.
Bell would finish with seven tackles on the night, while Hayes ran for over 150 yards and two touchdowns.
Ruston’s defense held again on Byrd’s second offensive set, but the Bearcat offense was unable to get a first down on the ensuing drive.
After the Yellow Jacket’s run offense ran most of the clock out of the first half, Ruston had first down on its own 20-yard line with :38 on the clock and only ran a couple of plays before the end of the half.
The Bearcats had the ball to start the second half of play, but the series was cut short by an interception at the Ruston 32-yard line. Ruston’s defense again held Byrd to a three-and-out leading to another missed field goal by the Yellow Jackets near the eight-minute mark.
It would lead to another stellar run by Hayes, this time from 71 yards out while breaking multiple tackles for his second touchdown.
Junior tailback Dylone Brooks punched his way into the end zone for the last score of the night with 2:20 left to play.
The defensive effort ended up in a shutout for Ruston.
“We’re going to need to lean on the defense to kind of hold us,” Baugh said. “And, you know, we kind of sputtered around a little bit. The first, of course, Jordan ran the first touchdown, but then kind of spit and sputtered a little bit offensively; really inconsistent, but with inexperienced guys, that’s what we’re going to see early on and we’ll be trying to work on that, obviously.
“But defensively, we’re going to have to play consistently to try to help us. So we’ve got some things obviously to work on. We’ll come in tomorrow and watch video and work out, and kind of move our normal Saturday morning workout to Friday. And so that was really good with us moving this scrimmage up and we get an opportunity to do that tomorrow.”
Prior to the varsity taking the field, Ruston’s freshmen squad was also able to showcase some sets on both offense and defense in two rounds of controlled sets. Freshmen Ahmad Hudson, and Jayden Anding were among a strong group that made a great showing for the future of the program.
“I thought the freshmen did well,” Baugh said. “You know, we started out the fall camp and they are a big group for us, especially trying to practice with the older guys. So we’ve had them split into two different groups and kind of play offense/defense stuff with those and hadn’t really practiced them all together.
“I thought they came out and worked together as one group. And so that was, that was good to see. I was kind of concerned with what that was going to look like, being that we’ve spent most of the time with them separated. But I thought they did, did really well and got out and competed really well so far.”
Lincoln Parish School district is excited to announce that four Lincoln Parish teachers have been chosen to be Louisiana Department of Education Teacher Leader Advisors for the 23-24 school year.
Teacher Leader Advisors play a critical role in creating tools and facilitating professional development for fellow Louisiana educators.
Teacher Leader Advisors:
evaluate publisher-submitted curricular materials for quality;
update the ELA Guidebooks content and analyze texts;
score and annotate student work samples;
develop and facilitate professional development sessions for fellow Louisiana educators;
participate in focus groups related to LDOE’s academic strategy;
review new course framework documents for updated social studies standards;
develop high-quality instructional tasks and resources for math, science, social studies, and literacy; and
raise awareness among Louisiana educators of the tools and resources available in the Louisiana Teacher Toolbox.
The four Lincoln Parish teachers chosen were Tammy Johnson, Jill Sutton, DeEtte Wick, and April Winstead. Below you will find more information about each teacher.
Tammy Johnson
Tammy Johnson holds a Master of Education in reading and educational leadership. Ms. Johnson has seventeen years of instructional experience and will be returning to the classroom as a first grade teacher for the fourth year. Prior to that, she was a reading interventionist for five years and taught third grade ELA, math, science, and social studies for nine years. Ms. Johnson will be a Mentor Teacher for the second year. Ms. Johnson has led several professional developments throughout her instructional career for both teachers and parents. She is a member of the Reading Recovery National Council and the International Literacy Association where she completed proposal reviews for the October 2019 conference. This is her third year as a Teacher Leader for her current district and her third year as a Teacher Leader Advisor.
Jill Sutton
Jill Sutton earned her Master of Arts in teaching from Louisiana Tech University. Mrs. Sutton has taught biology for fifteen years mostly in Lincoln Parish. Currently, she is the instructional science coach for Ruston High School where she teaches tenth grade Pre-AP and twelfth grade AP Biology. Mrs. Sutton received her Mentor Teacher Certification during the 2019-2020 school year and has hosted resident teachers over the past four years. Her work with pre-service teacher programs was extended this year as she was chosen to serve on the Louisiana Believe and Prepare Science Collaborative to develop a course with materials for incoming K-5 science teachers. In 2019, Mrs. Sutton served on the Biology Range finding Committee for the 2025 Louisiana Educational Assessment Program where she worked with standards and criteria to provide input in scoring extended response items for the state assessment. Mrs. Sutton also has created district-wide curriculum pacing guides and assessments over the past five years for Lincoln Parish. This is Mrs. Sutton’s first year as a Teacher Leader Advisor. She is excited to use her experiences listed above as well as her training with science curriculum to develop resources for secondary science.
DeEtte Wick
DeEtte Wick earned a Master of Education degree with a reading specialist certification from Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana. Mrs. Wick has been a sixth through eighth grade middle school English teacher at A.E. Phillips Laboratory School for eleven years. Before teaching in Louisiana, she taught fourth and fifth grade in Roseville, Minnesota for four years. During her time in Minnesota, she worked for the district to embed standards-based assessments into classroom curriculum. She also provided professional development for fifth grade teachers on standard alignment in classroom assessments for fifth grade math and social studies. During her time at A.E. Phillips, Mrs. Wick has represented her school as a Teacher Leader for five years. As a Teacher Leader, she has redelivered material to teachers at her school as well as provided professional development for other parish schools. In the spring of 2020, she completed the certification process to become a Content Leader for middle school English language arts. As a Content Leader, she has led professional development days on how to use the Louisiana Guidebooks effectively. As a member of the Louisiana Reading Association, she recognized the need for more professional development for middle school teachers. In 2015 she became a presenter and delivered a session on engaging middle school students using the Louisiana Guidebooks. She was a member of the English Item Review Committee for state testing analyzing state testing questions and data for standard alignment.
April Winstead
April Winstead earned a Bachelor of Science in secondary science education with a concentration in general science and biology from Louisiana Tech University. Mrs. Winstead also received National Board Certification in Adolescence and Young Adulthood Science. She has her Science Content Leader Microcredential certification. Mrs. Winstead has taught in Louisiana for twenty-eight years. She began at Woodlawn Junior High in West Monroe, Louisiana, where she taught earth science and gifted physical science for six years. For the remaining twenty-two years, she has been at Ruston High School. There she has taught mainly biology and AP biology, as well as Dual Anatomy and Physiology as Louisiana Tech adjunct faculty. Currently and for the last two years, Mrs. Winstead spends half of the day in the classroom teaching biology and Dual Anatomy and Physiology, and then the other half of the day she serves as the Lincoln Parish Science Facilitator where she works with coaching and supporting science teachers and science learning in Lincoln Parish. Mrs. Winstead has served on The LEAP 2025 Biology Standard Setting Committee as well as the LEAP 2025 Biology Content and Bias Item Review Committee. Mrs. Winstead worked as a trainer for the National Math and Science Initiative for three years. Mrs. Winstead was a Finalist for the 2016 Louisiana Teacher of the Year.
The Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested a woman on a traffic stop early Saturday morning it was discovered she was wanted on an arrest warrant.
A sheriff’s patrol supervisor stopped the vehicle for improper display of a license plate about 1:30 a.m. on Tarbutton Road. A records check of the driver, Keaira M. Gayfield, 20, of Ruston, showed she was a wanted by the Ruston Police Department on a charge of simple battery. She was arrested and taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center.
While she was being booked, Gayfield admitted to deputies she had marijuana hidden in her shorts. A baggie containing suspected marijuana was retrieved and she was booked on the battery warrant and for possession of marijuana.
Bail was set at $1,000.
About an hour later, the same patrol supervisor stopped a vehicle on Interstate 20 near milepost 83 for improper lane usage. While talking to the driver, the deputy detected an order of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. The driver and the backseat passenger, Jatavious T. Graham, 24, of Arcadia, were asked to step out of the vehicle.
When asked if there was anything illegal in the vehicle, Graham said there was a bag of marijuana on the back seat where he was sitting. The marijuana was recovered, and Graham was arrested.
Graham was booked into the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bail was set at $10,000.
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.
Above: FRONT ROW – (l-r)Dr. Daniel Dotter (seated), Dr. Kashley Brown, Jacqueline Winston, Pearl Wise, Mackisha Brumant, Andra Richards, Alexus Angrum, Dr. Sharonda Hatter, Wanda Jacobs, Antoinette Kelly; MIDDLE – Willie Jefferson; BACK ROW – Adrian Peterson, Dr. Karletta White-Langhorn, Shurunda Thrower, Dr. Junior Hopwood, Costance Hester, Dr. Tazinski Lee, Dr. Matthew Sheptoski, and Dr. Quentin Holmes. Photo by Carlton Hamlin\Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing, Grambling State University
Nine doctoral students attended orientation Monday as the inaugural cohort for the new Ph.D. program in Criminology and Justice Administration at Grambling State University. Held in Grambling Hall auditorium, this is the first Ph.D. program ever offered by the institution.
“Welcome to our inaugural cohort for this new program,” said Grambling State President Rick Gallot as he was introduced. “As a group of us were in Baton Rouge fighting to get the program established and underway, I couldn’t see your exact faces, but I could see you in the concept that you would be here on campus as we welcome you to this program.”
“This really means a lot, not just because it’s our first and only Ph.D. program, but when you think about the work we’ve done for many, many, many years in our Criminal Justice Department, on the undergraduate level and the master’s level, and now being able to expand this now to the doctoral level at this time is really important because the work and research that you all will do will actually impact people’s lives.”
Gallot told the group that as Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards is preparing to leave office after completing his second term as governor, one of his plans is to attempt to clear out and reduce the number of the state’s death row inmates.
“That’s going to be an incredible area to research, with what has happened with death row and how Angola (the state’s primary penitentiary) has been transformed during Gov. Edwards’ administration,” Gallot said. “Obviously there’s the whole George Floyd effect and how that we’ve seen happen in our country.”
Gallot said that as a student currently working on a dissertation himself, he knows the challenge ahead for them.
“I know that you all will have things you’re trying to juggle and work through, but just keep persisting,” Gallot said. “As Dr. O’Rourke from our system office always tells me, just keep swimming. Be tough — there’ll be challenges, but just keep swimming one class at a time, one day at a time and you’ll get there.”
“Thanks to all of you for entrusting us with this journey you are taking here at Grambling State University. We certainly want to be here to be supportive, to challenge you, and to also see all the amazing work you’re going to do. So, on behalf of everyone I say thank you, welcome, and I look forward to all of you being part of this initial cohort of our first and only PhD program.”
Members of the inaugural class include: Alexus Angram, Mackisha Brumant, Constance Hester, Euckle Hunter, Willie Jefferson, Andra Richards, Shurunda Thrower, Jacqueline Winston, and Pearl Wise.
GSU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Connie Walton told the group that she knows they will do great things under the leadership of Dr. Tazinski Lee, head of the Criminal Justice Department, Graduate Coordinator Dr. Karletta White-Langhorn, and their team of faculty members.
“Just remember, you’re going to set the bar high for the cohorts that come behind you,” Walton said. “I know you all are going to do great things under the leadership of Dr. Lee and the faculty – they plan to build a great program – one that is both rigorous and very rewarding.”
“You’re going to, as President Gallot told you, make an impact and make our world better. So, I’m going to put on my calendar four years from now looking for you (as Ph.D. graduates). Some of you may do it in less than four years. When you walk across the stage and we’re able to confer the first Ph.D. on a student, you will finally reach the prize — become a Doctor of Philosophy and more importantly, leaders. I’m looking forward to that day.”
Dr. Carolyn Hester, dean of GSU’s College of Professional Studies, said she had to come up with a new kind of speech to talk to this historical cohort.
“I’m used to talking to undergraduates,” Hester said. “But when you have people who can actually work in the field and who have put forth that effort — you come with different skill sets, but you also come with a certain type of passion. And I say that because I went through it while working on my Ph.D. at an age older than I originally wanted to do it.
“But there was something different about my idea, my desire — and that desire is so very different and so strong, but it’s at a place where you really don’t see it. You just kind of feel it as you go along. I tell undergraduates that the most demanding degree they’ll ever get is an undergraduate degree, and the least demanding is a Ph.D. Why? Because it’s what you want, what you do, and what you’re interested in. My wish for you is that you keep this initial passion and initial zeal. It’s because of those that you will make it and earn this degree.”
More information about the Ph.D. program can be found at www.gram.edu/cja .
A sleeping couple found a man had climbed in a window and went to sleep in a bed in their home near Ruston Saturday morning.
The Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office was called to a Havins Avenue residence about 2:30 a.m. Saturday morning after a man and his wife found a man in one of their beds.
The couple told deputies they were asleep when they heard noises at the back of the residence. They went to a back bedroom where they heard noises and discovered an unknown man in the bed. The couple did not know the man and did not know why he had broken in.
Deputies found that Domingo Nehemias Cruz Cifuentes, 19, had apparently pushed an air conditioning unit out of a window and climbed inside the house. Cifuentes was sitting on a couch when deputies arrived. He had a strong odor of alcoholic beverage on his body, and he stumbled and swayed as he stood and walked.
Cifuentes was so intoxicated that all he could say was he knew a guy who had lived in the residence who stated he could come and stay whenever he needed to. A
Cifuentes was arrested and taken him to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center. He was booked for unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling, disturbing the peace by appearing intoxicated, and two bench warrants for failure to appear in court. Bail was set at $5,500.
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.
I learned that one summer on a mission project in Birmingham, Alabama. It was a college effort to fix some of the homes in a blighted neighborhood. The adult on our project was a notorious carpenter known as Lying John Williams. Lying John didn’t think much of us college kids. I remember one time he told me that although I might be able to quote Shakespeare and spell Charlemagne, I would never make a good carpenter. Part of his evaluation was based on the fact that I didn’t chew tobacco. The rest seemed to be based on the way I held a hammer, which was close to the head rather than out on the end where I could strike the nail with authority. I was a single’s hitter and you learn to choke up for control, right? Actually, it doesn’t matter any longer because all carpenters use nail guns and that is another article all together.
It was Lying John who taught me about true measurements. The second day of the project he handed me a stack to 2 x 4’s and said, “Saw me ten boards exactly seventy-two inches long.”
I pulled out my measuring tape and measured the first board, marking it with the square. I sawed it right on the line. Then I took the second board, laid it across the sawhorses, put the first board on top, and marked it off. When I finished sawing, I laid the third board on the sawhorses, measured with the second board, and so on until I finished all ten boards.
When Lying John reappeared, he took all ten boards and stood them end to end. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Every board was a quarter inch longer than the next board and the tenth board was two and a half inches longer than the original board.
Lying John let them all fall to the ground, picked up the saw and handed it back, “Get to work, College Kid,” he said, “and remember, to get a true measure, always use the same stick.”
Another synonym for Scripture is the canon. The word canon comes from the Greek word which means “rule or measuring stick.” The canon of Scripture, the inspired Word of God, then becomes the ruler by which we are measured and by which we measure our behavior. God does have standards which need to be met. God does place expectations on how Jesus followers should treat themselves and others. We measure up when we follow the canon.
“If it feels good, Do it.” is a selfish cliché that has helped exactly no one to find a meaningful or spiritual transformation. There is another way.
I think about measuring up every time I cut a board. I have made lots of saw dust in my construction projects. I have made lots of mistakes doing things I have no business doing. I have learned the value of watching knowledgeable and skilled craftsmen work. I have been humbled by the opportunity to spend time with them and to help them in small ways.
I’m learning to be a carpenter follower. There are rules to follow in following.
Although Cedar Creek’s roster numbers aren’t where head coach William Parkerson would ultimately like – the Cougars are sitting at 28 players two full weeks before the regular season starts – one place Creek has some depth this year as at another important position.
Coach.
The school made a concerted effort to increase those numbers heading into 2023 as this year’s Cougars varsity football coaching staff sits at nine.
In addition to Parkerson, who will serve as the offensive coordinator for the Cougars, Creek’s coaching staff this season includes: Mark Ware (DC), Jordan Shaffer (Slot Backs/LB), Jacob Angevine (DL/TEs), Tripp Marcus (RB/DB), Joseph Gautney (OL/DL), KJ Malone (OL/DL), River Gross (Slot Backs/DB) and Bryce Meche (WR/DL).
Only Ware, Angevine, and Meche are returning “letterwinners” for the Creek coaching staff.
But even more importantly than numbers, Parkerson feels the men coaching the Cougars are invested and
“What I really like is they have poured into these kids,” said Parkerson. “They are coaching them hard and loving them hard. They are really getting to know them from football to being mentors for them. Like I always say, we want to coach them hard and love them harder, and they are doing a great job with that.”
In order to get that 28-roster number back up into the 40s, Parkerson knows the culture within the program is vital. Kids talk. And the good and the bad within any program is communicated around classmates.
So, Parkerson and his coaching staff are working hard to build lasting relationships with the Cougar players.
“Relationships are everything,” said Parkerson. “If kids know you care about them then they will play harder for you. These guys have done a really good job of getting to know them and treating them like family.”
In addition to quantity, Parkerson also feels he has assembled a high Football IQ group as well.
“We all have a good football background,” said Parkerson. “Even the kids say they have never had this many coaches out here coaching them. They see it. Everybody is getting coached on every play. It’s hard to hide with nine coaches out here. You are getting coached on every play.”
Creek travels to Lakeside tonight for a 6:30 p.m. scrimmage before facing Mangham Aug. 26 at 3 p.m. in the Bayou Jamb at West Monroe.
