Funeral services for Mr. Robert Lynn Payton, age 82 of Ruston, LA will be held at 10:00 AM, Thursday, October 26, 2023 at Owens Memorial Chapel in Ruston with Rev. Chris Witt officiating. Burial will follow in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Ruston under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston.

Robert was born April 21, 1941 in Ruston to the union of Malvin Warren Payton and Esther Ilene Holtzclaw Payton and passed away October 23, 2023 in Ruston. He served in the United States Army and worked for the Postal Service for 39 years before retiring as a clerk for Postal Operations for the Ruston Post Office. Robert loved his two grandsons.

He enjoyed technology, including surfing the internet. Robert was preceded in death by his brothers Barney Payton and Travis Payton; and his sister Betty Parker. Robert is survived by his wife of 52 years Shirley Payton; children: Jeff Payton and wife Christie of Rayville, LA, Shawn Payton and wife Holly of Ruston and Tony Payton and husband Ken Newsom of Rayville; grandchildren Nathaniel Payton and wife Kesten and Elijah Payton; great-grandchild Jasper Payton; brother Ronald Payton and wife Nancy of Springfield, MO; and sister-in-law Audrey Payton of Minden, LA. Serving as pallbearers will be Nate Payton, Elijah Payton, Shawn Payton, Mike Payton, Paul Holman and Jeff Crain.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff of Premiere Hospice for their care of Robert.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM-7:00 PM, Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at the funeral home. To leave an online memorial message for the family, please visit http://www.owensmemorialfuneralhome.com.

Sheila Davis Pierce 
December 21, 1960 – October 19, 2023 
Visitation: Victory Life Church of Ruston, Wednesday, October 25, 2023, 9:00 am – 10:00 am 
Cemetery: Kilpatrick’s Memorial Gardens, Wednesday, October 25, 2023 
Memorial: Victory Life Church of Ruston, Wednesday, October 25, 2023, 10:00 am 

Robert Payton 
April 21, 1941 – October 23, 2023 
Services pending 

Joy Campbell 
October 24, 1925 – October 21, 2023 
Visitation: Wednesday, October 25, 2023, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home 
Funeral Service: Wednesday, October 25, 2023, 2:00 PM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home 
Cemetery Committal: Wednesday, October 25, 2023, Greenwood Cemetery, 515 Everett St, Ruston

By Malcolm Butler

The Lincoln Parish Clerk of Courts office processed the paperwork late last week where JP Morgan Chase Bank purchased 2.95 acres of land along the I-20 West Service Road to the west of Ruston Assembly of God Church.

The $2.5 million transaction was between JP Morgan Chase Bank and I-20 Madera Development, LLC. Members of I-20 Madera Development, LLC, include Bertram H. Jones, Jr., Molly D. Jones Gray, Stephanie J. Jordan, and Steven B. Jones.

In late September, the Lincoln Parish School Board and Police Jury voted in favor of providing a tax abatement for “Project Middle”, a $30-plus million capital investment operations center for JP Morgan Chase.

This vote paved the way for the purchase of the land.

“This is a tremendous addition to our city,” said Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker. “We appreciate the confidence that JP Morgan Chase has not only in the city of Ruston but in Lincoln Parish and north Louisiana. This is another piece that will help us recruit additional businesses and families to our city.”

In order to secure Chase’s new Operations Center in Ruston, the parish provided the company with a competitive incentives package that includes property and sales tax abatements. A Payment In Lieu Of Taxes agreement will be awarded contingent on the company’s creation of up to 200 full-time positions in Lincoln Parish over a course of time.

JP Morgan Chase asked for a 15 year tax sliding property tax abatement, as well as a 50 percent abatement on tax from construction equipment and an abatement of five years on sales taxes on computers and technology. The property tax abatement will be dependent on the number of jobs created: starting at 25 percent for 0-24 jobs and capping at 75 percent for 151-200 jobs.

The Ruston facility will have a front operation office center with staff processing and computer processing of data with image scanners along with a vault that will be a large part of the square footage of the building.

Completion of the facility is projected to be by the end of 2025.

By Malcolm Butler

After playing four games in 17 days, Louisiana Tech will play its first in the last 14 days when the Bulldogs host New Mexico State tonight at 6 p.m. at Joe Aillet Stadium.

Thought to be the most Division I football games played in a 17-day period ever, the Bulldogs (3-5, 2-2) fell 31-23 at Middle Tennessee two weeks ago — the third one-score loss this year for Tech.

“The time off has been helpful for our players in terms of a mental standpoint to be refreshed,” said Tech head coach Sonny Cumbie. “We have been going extremely hard since July 24. It has been a long time that our guys have had before they can get a chance to catch their breath. I am excited to see their response.”

After playing such a gauntlet of a schedule during the 17-day period, tonight’s contest is the only one in a 23-day period for Cumbie and Co. — a definite glitch in the CUSA mid-week scheduling model and something that must be remedied next year.

Tonight’s game can be heard on the LA Tech Sports Network on 107.5 FM with Malcolm Butler (PxP), Teddy Allen (Analyst) and Jerry Byrd (Sideline) providing the call of the game.

Although Tech leads the all-time series against New Mexico State 5-0 in games played in Ruston, these Aggies are much better than those that Bulldog fans were accustomed to seeing in the old Western Athletic Conference days.

“They have a great football team,” said Cumbie. “They are led by Jerry Kill who is probably the Coach of the Year if you look at the things that he has done, staff he has assembled and the roster that he has assembled. They have done a great job with the transfer portal and with the players that they have from the previous staff.”

Kill was the head coach at Northern Illinois when the Bulldogs defeated the Huskies 17-10 in the 2008 Independence Bowl in Shreveport. He is known for taking struggling programs and turning them back into winners.

“From the last two years he is doing exactly what he has done everywhere he has been and that is finding a way to flip a team and culture to win football games,” said Cumbie. “They do it with a physical nature and are very aggressive on defense and offense. They are one of the top-five teams in the country when it comes to explosive plays.”

The Aggies (5-3, 3-1) are led by dual-threat quarterback Diego Pavia, who leads New Mexico State in passing and rushing this season. The Albuquerque native has completed 117 of his 189 passing attempts for 1,808 yards and 16 touchdowns. On the ground, he has rushed for 527 yards and four touchdowns. Pavia enters Tuesday’s game having scored a rushing touchdown in three consecutive games.

“Diego Pavia has done a phenomenal job if you look at the improvements he has made throwing the football,” said Cumbie. “His improvements from last year to this year has really gotten better in terms of his accuracy throwing the football down the field. He is a complete quarterback and he is dynamic in terms of running the football. He is very explosive. Very powerful. He has a great understanding of what they are trying to accomplish on offense.”

The contest can be seen on CBS Sports Network.

For a second consecutive year, Grambling State University (GSU) College of Professional Studies is celebrating after all 11 of its 2023 School of Nursing graduates passed the National Council Licensure Examination (for) Registered Nurses (NCLEX) exam as first-time test takers. 

A National Council of State Board of Nursing exam is used to test the competency of nursing school graduates in the U.S. and Canada, a passing grade is required to become a registered nurse. 

Last year, GSU achieved a 100% pass rate for the first time in the history of the School of Nursing at GSU as all 16 of its new graduates passed the test. 

The Louisiana Board of Nursing requires an 80% NCLEX-RN passage rate for first-time testers for full state approval. 

Dr. Meg Brown, associate dean of GSU’s School of Nursing, attributed one of the primary factors behind the university’s success in NCLEX scores over the past two years to nursing faculty. 

“GSU’s School of Nursing faculty equips the students with knowledge and skills to care for the residents in Louisiana and throughout the United States.” 

Dr. Brown said the second straight 100% passing rate bodes well for the future of GSU’s nursing program. 

“The significance of a repeat of achieving 100% for first time attempts on NCLEX-RN is validation that the planned curriculum and teaching strategies produce exceptional outcomes,” Brown said. “Another significance is the second straight 100% passing rate is that it creates an expected increase in inquiries for our BSN program.” 

Accredited by the (CCNE), the 12-month curriculum format offers programs in pre-nursing, BSN, RN to BSN, and MSN. 

To learn more about the program, visit gram.edu/nursing. 

Louisiana Tech University has announced the appointment of Dr. Collin Wick as Dean of the College of Engineering and Science (COES). Wick has been with Louisiana Tech for 16 years, a decade of which he has spent in leadership roles within the COES.

“Under Dr. Wick’s leadership, the College of Engineering and Science is poised to further its rich history of innovation and excellence and dedication to our students,” said Interim Provost Donna Thomas. “He is inheriting a diverse team of talented faculty, staff, and administration that strives endlessly to deliver the world-class education that the College is known for, and I have no doubt that Dr. Wick will serve our campus community with loyalty and pride.”

Wick most recently served as associate dean of research, a position he will continue to hold, and associate dean of graduate studies, where he spearheaded a proposal for a new doctoral degree program expected to increase enrollment following approval from the Louisiana Board of Regents. Before he was appointed associate dean of graduate studies, Wick was the program chair of chemistry, where he more than doubled enrollment.

Along with his leadership experience, Wick brings a history of mentoring, research, and teaching to the role. Under his guidance, the Graduate Student Council was revived to provide graduate students with a platform to voice concerns, plan events, create professional development opportunities, and enhance their academic experiences.

Wick’s teaching and research experience has helped the University engage new generations of scientists and engineers inside and outside the classroom. Research from his lab has resulted in over 80 peer-reviewed articles, numerous conference presentations, and nearly $13 million in grant funds for the University. He has also taught a range of courses from the freshman to the graduate level. His dedication to teaching earned him the 2023 University Foundation Professorship Award.

Wick earned his doctoral degree in physical chemistry from the University of Minnesota and was a postdoctoral researcher in chemical engineering at the National Technical University of Athens in Greece under an NSF-MPS Distinguished International Postdoctoral Fellowship. Before arriving at Tech, he was also a postdoctoral researcher at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Washington.

Wick’s family includes his wife of 24 years, DeEtte, who is an alumna of Tech with a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. He has two sons at Tech, Thomas, in his third year in the instrumentation and control systems engineering technology program, and Lucas, in his second year in sustainable supply chain management.  His youngest son Ashton, a senior at Ruston High School, is a dual enrollment student at Tech.

“I’m thoroughly humbled and honored to be selected as COES Dean and am grateful for the support of Louisiana Tech and the College of Engineering and Science,” Wick said, “I will do my best to build on the College and University’s culture and legacy of preparing our students to become leaders in their fields, along with providing service to our community and stakeholders.”

A Shreveport man was arrested last Wednesday by the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office after marijuana was found on a traffic stop.

About 12:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, a Lincoln Parish deputy stopped a Chevrolet Silverado pickup for excessive window tint on U.S. Highway 80. During the stop, the window tint was measured to provide 13% light transmission. The Louisiana legal limit is a minimum of 40% light transmission through tinted windows.

The deputy smelled an odor of green marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. Both driver and passenger denied having any marijuana. During a search, two plastic bags of suspected marijuana were found in the passenger’s pocket. 

Joshua T. Budd, 19, apologized for lying about having marijuana. A records check showed he was wanted on failure to appear warrants from Ruston City Court on two traffic charges. He was arrested and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for possession of marijuana and the two warrants. 

Bail was set at $4,000.

By Malcolm Butler

Former Louisiana Tech all-conference forward Kenneth Lofton, Jr., has made the Memphis Grizzlies opening day roster, according to the team’s website.

The 6-foot-6-inch, 275-pound power forward spent most of last season playing for the Grizzlies G-League team, the Memphis Hustle. 

Lofton was named the G-League Rookie of the Year in 2022 after averaging 22.4 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.2 steals while shooting 55 percent from the field.

The Grizzlies rewarded Lofton with a four-year contract following the season, reportedly worth $7 million after he spent his first year on a two-way contract.

Lofton made his first NBA start in the regular season finale last season for the Grizzlies and scored 42 points and grabbed 14 rebounds against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Grizzlies open the regular season Wednesday night at home against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Ruston Police arrested a 36-year-old woman last Wednesday evening after a complaint she was trespassing at a residence on East Arizona Avenue.

Terroniko S. Cooper of Ruston was charged with several offenses after she resisted efforts by Ruston police to arrest her.

When officers arrived at the residence, they saw Cooper in the front yard of the residence holding a beer can. The property owners said they did not know Cooper and wanted her to leave their property, explaining they have had problems with strangers from a nearby convenience store drinking in their yard.

An officer directed Cooper to leave, and she began to yell profanities loudly while walking away. When she reached the street, Cooper became louder, yelling curses that residents at the end of the street 100 feet away could hear.

Cooper was told to stop and that she was under arrest for disturbing the peace and open container. She cursed officers before throwing the beer can on the ground. She then ran before stopping and taking an aggressive stance and saying she was gonna assault the officers.

Use of a Taser was ineffective, and Cooper struggled with officers and tried to kick them. Officers gained control of Cooper and she was taken into custody and handcuffed.

Cooper was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for disturbing the peace, open container, littering, and two counts of resisting an officer. Bail was set at $2,000.

Ruston High filed an appeal for two players that would have been suspended for Friday’s game against Ouachita following the most recent win against West Ouachita.

After review by the LHSAA, both senior Semaj Jones and junior Aidan Anding will now be eligible to play.

“After reviewing video and statements, the LHSAA has been able to verify that Aidan and Semaj in fact did not leave the bench area during the altercation that occurred last Friday night,” Ruston head coach Jerrod Baugh said. “We are very appreciative of Mr. Eddie Bonine and the LHSAA for taking the time to review all the facts.”

The LHSAA has a specific rule for suspending players who come off of the sideline during an altercation. After reviewing film on Monday, both Jones and Anding were ruled to having been involved in the previous play, and their disqualifications were overturned.

Ruston and Ouachita will play at “The Hoss” for 2023 Senior Night. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Ruston Police arrested a 32-year-old man last Wednesday after he allegedly battered two women.

Officers responded to a call to Illinois Avenue Wednesday that reported a man was chasing one of the victims down the street. Officers talked with one of the women who said Jonathan Alonzo of Ruston repeatedly struck another woman at the residence. The woman said Alonzo and the victim were a couple. 

The victim got free from Alonzo, ran away and was not located. The woman said she had tried to break up the altercation between Alonzo and the victim and sustained minor injuries during that attempt. 

Officers were told Alonzo likely traveled in his truck to his mother’s residence on Tarbutton Road. At about 5:45 p.m., police received a call that Alonzo was at the Tarbutton Road residence. He was placed under arrest for battery of a dating partner and domestic abuse battery and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center.

At the time of the officer’s report, the victim had not been found.

To enter this week’s contest, CLICK HERE!

_______________________________

Week #9 of the Karl Malone Toyota College Football Pick’em Contest presented by Heard Construction and Martin Presence is underway.

One lucky winner will claim $200 … with the potential to make it $400 if they are perfect on the week (including predicting the No. 1 tiebreaker exactly right).

This week YOU could be our lucky winner. It just takes a few minutes to click on the link above and fill out a form for FREE. It could mean $200 in your pocket if you choose wisely.

Anyone is eligible to participate for FREE and each week’s winner will go home with a $200 cash prize.  Each week the winner will be the participant with the best record out of 13 selected college football games (ties will be broken by two separate tiebreakers consisting of guessing the total points scored in two other games).

The Karl Malone Toyota College Football Pick’em Contest presented by Martin Presence and Heard Construction will be conducted over the 13 regular season weeks of the college season starting with Week 1 games (Sept. 2) and running through the end of November.

There is no entry fee, just like there is no cost to subscribe to the Lincoln Parish Journal. 

All contest decisions by Lincoln Parish Journal management are final. Weekly winners will be notified Monday and will be requested to take a photo that will run that week in the 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 (or $400 if you can have a perfect week with the correct tiebreaker).

________________________

The Lincoln Parish Journal wants to thank Karl Malone Toyota, Martin Presence and Heard Construction for their title and presenting sponsorships of this year’s college football pick’em contest.

We also want to thank Super Movers, American Mattress Outlet, the Dugout, the Ensure Agency, National Jewelry, Hart Designs, Tanyard Creek, Ginn’s Autobody, Ruston Eye and Vision, Pearce Lumber and Bearcat Nation Network for their Pick’em Partnerships within the contest.

Last week, the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) announced that federal data shows that Louisiana once again hit its lowest-ever unemployment rate.

The unemployment rate is 3.3%, tied with August 2023 for the lowest in series history, and the number of unemployed individuals is 67,930, the lowest in history overall.

“Louisiana continues to set records for low unemployment. We’ve had 30 consecutive months of job growth and have added nearly 280,000 jobs since the worst of the pandemic. In fact, our employment levels are now higher than they were before COVID,” said Governor John Bel Edwards.

“Experts believe that our bipartisan work to grow and diversify our economy will benefit Louisiana for years to come. Economist Dr. Loren Scott recently predicted that Louisiana will add more than 80,000 jobs over the next two years.

“And we’ve done it all while overcoming historic natural disasters and a state government budget crisis. I have never been more optimistic about Louisiana than I am today.”

1. Edna Karr (8) 7-0 140 1
2. Destrehan (4) 8-0 136 2
3. Zachary 7-0 115 3
4. Ruston 8-0 112 4
5. Carencro 8-0 97 5
6. John Curtis 5-2 64 7
7. Catholic-Baton Rouge 5-2 60 8
8. Brother Martin 6-2 47 NR
9. Acadiana 6-2 39 NR
10. East St. John 7-1 30 6

1. St. Thomas More (11) 8-0 143  1
2. Lafayette Christian (1) 7-1 133  2
3. Neville 7-1 118  3
4. North DeSoto 7-1 107  4
5. West Feliciana 7-1 79 7

7. Cecilia 7-1 64 10
8. Warren Easton 3-4 54 5
9. Lutcher 5-2 39 6
10. Teurlings Catholic 5-3 34 NR

1. University (9) 7-1 140  1
2. E.D. White (2) 8-0 129  2
3. St. James 7-1 122  3
4. Sterlington 7-1 109 4
5. Jena (1) 8-0 99 5
6. Parkview Baptist 7-1 82 6
7. John F. Kennedy 7-1 63 7
8. St. Louis 7-1 55 8
9. Union Parish 5-3 46 9
10. Wossman 7-1 36 10

1. Calvary Baptist (9) 8-0 141 1
2. St. Charles (3) 8-0 135  2
3. Newman 7-0 120  3
4. Oak Grove 6-2 106  4
5. Dunham 6-2 97  5
6. Notre Dame 5-3 76 6
7. Many 5-2 71  7
8. Episcopal-Baton Rouge 6-2 65  8
9. Catholic-New Iberia 6-2 36 NR
   10. South Plaquemines 6-2 22 NR

1. Vermilion Catholic (7) 8-0 138  1
2. Ouachita Christian (5) 6-1 136  2
3. Southern Lab 6-1 120  3
4. Kentwood 7-1 101 4
5. Riverside Academy 7-1 91 5
6. Homer 6-2 84  6
7. Logansport 7-1 66 7
8. Haynesville 7-1 62 8
9. St. Martin’s 6-1 47  9
10. St. Mary’s 6-1 43 10

Funeral services, her “party” as she referred to it, for Mrs. Joy Elizabeth Brooks Campbell, age 97, of Ruston, LA will be held at 2:00 PM, Wednesday, October 25, 2023, at Owens Memorial Chapel in Ruston with Bro. Wayne Whiteside officiating. Burial will follow in the Greenwood Cemetery in Ruston under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston.

Joy was born October 24, 1925, in Ruston to Leonard “LK” and Lillian Edwards Brooks and passed away peacefully October 21, 2023, at her residence at Russ Place in Ruston. After graduating from Ruston High School in 1942, she completed her BA in Physical Education at Louisiana Polytechnic Institute in 1945. Joy’s plans to teach high school PE in Port Arthur, TX, were cut short when she met and fell in love with Captain Henry L. Campbell, Jr., who had just returned from serving in the United States Air Force during World War II. They were married in 1946, and the two reared four sons. Joy often worked alongside her husband during his career at a vocational school and served as an underwriter at the Campbell Agency. She was always active in her sons’ lives, including serving as a den mother in the Cub Scouts and working in various capacities with their schools’ PTA’s. Joy was also a founding member of the Culture Guild. For 30 years, she served as a Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Church. At the time of her death, Joy was a member of Cook Baptist Church. Her passion was counseling using the Bible as her textbook. “Miss Joy” counseled countless people who were usually referred to her by word of mouth. She practiced this gift for 62 years until the time of her passing. Joy was also a master storyteller who kept her sons, grandchildren and great-grandchildren mesmerized with all kinds of stories about growing up in Ruston. A favorite was her account involving Bonnie and Clyde, whose accomplices stole a car right in front of her parents’ boarding house and the kidnapping that ensued. Joy was also a remarkable poet; no birthday passed without a poem for the occasion. She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; one sister, Barbara Hammock; one brother, Ernest Brooks; two half-brothers, Leonard Brooks and Jack Brooks; and a stillborn son, Charlie Campbell.

Joy is survived by her four sons: Leonard Campbell and wife Kathy of Baton Rouge, LA, Bruce Campbell of Shreveport, LA, Dale Campbell of Bennett, CO and Brad Campbell and husband Steven Galbraith of Shreveport, LA; two grandchildren; three great-granddaughters; one great-grandson; numerous nieces and nephews; and her caregiver and friend until the end, Bobbie Goodjoint.

The family would like to thank the staff of Russ Place for their excellent care during the final years of Joy’s life as well as Dorothy Tellis and the staff of Premier Hospice. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of the donor’s choosing.

Visitation will be held from 1:00-2:00 PM, Wednesday, October 25, 2023, at the funeral home. 

A Memorial Service for Sheila Davis Pierce, age 62, of Ruston, LA will be Wednesday, October 25, 2023, 10:00 A.M., at Victory Life Church in Ruston, LA.  Officiating will be Rev. Kendal Corkern.  Visitation will be held at the church, prior to the service.  She will be laid to rest at Kilpatrick Memorial Gardens of Ruston.

She was born December 21, 1960, to Billy Joe and Oletta Faye (Sharry) Davis, in El Reno, OK.  She was a graduate of Ruston High School, a devoted mother and was employed as a Medical Coder for N. E. Louisiana Radiology Associates.

Sheila is preceded, in death, by her parents, Billy Joe & Oletta Faye (Sharry) Davis.

She is survived by Sam Pierce; her son, Ben Pierce and wife Kimberley; their children Piper Pierce and Jameson Pierce; her daughter Amanda Styron and husband Daniel; siblings, Joe Davis and wife Barbara, Tommy Davis and wife Gayla, Karen Barton and husband Richard, and Ann Pipes and husband Jeff; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Mrs. Thalia Elaine Cruse Wilkinson, age 92 of Ruston, LA will be held at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at Owens Memorial Chapel in Ruston with Bro. Greg Tipton officiating. Burial will follow in the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Ruston under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston.

Thalia, affectionately known as “Nanny,” was born June 10, 1931 in Enterprise, LA to George Lester Cruse, Sr. and Mary Duke Cruse and passed away October 19, 2023 in Ruston. Known as Nanny to everyone she met, Thala spread love and warmth wherever she went. She attended Enterprise High School and later pursued higher education at business school in Baton Rouge, LA. Thalia found solace in her faith and worshiped at Mineral Springs Baptist Church. She met her husband Roger when she returned from business school to visit her old high school. Their connection was instant, and they were married just one week later. The two remained happily married for over 50 years until Roger’s passing.

Thalia’s greatest joy in life was raising her three boys whom she loved dearly. She had a special love for children and considered several throughout her life to be her adopted children. Thalia had a talent for painting and shared her creations as a way to express her love and appreciation. She firmly believed that, through her artwork, she would never truly die, as she would be remembered. Thalia’s life was not without tragedy, as she experienced the devastating loss of her son Otis when he was a teenager. Now, they are reunited once again. Thalia will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Her warm and loving presence left a lasting impact on those she encountered. Thalia will be remembered as a loving and compassionate woman who touched the lives of many. She was preceded in death by her parents; five siblings; son Otis; spouse Roger Price Wilkinson, Jr.; and daughter-in-law Julie Wilkinson.

Thalia is survived by her two sons: Roger Cruse Wilkinson and Bennie Wayne Wilkinson (Juanita); three grandchildren: Elizabeth Wilkinson Halbrook (Justin), Otis Tyler Wilkinson (Jeannette) and Justin Wilkinson (Scarlett); three great-grandchildren: Summer Halbrook, Rory Halbrook and Ripp Wilkinson; two bonus great-grandchildren: Arabella Worley and Avaleigh Worley; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff of caregivers at Alpine Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center and Heart of Hospice for their exceptional care. The family would also like to express their gratitude to Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston for their assistance during this difficult time.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Thalia’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Visitation will be held from 12:30-2:00 PM, Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at the funeral home.

Anna Lind 
May 3, 1999 – October 19, 2023 
Services pending 

Thalia Wilkinson 
June 10, 1931 – October 19, 2023 
Visitation: Tuesday, October 24, 2023, 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home 
Funeral Service: Tuesday, October 24, 2023, 2:00 PM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home 
Cemetery Committal: Tuesday, October 24, 2023, Forest Lawn Cemetery, 2500 West California Ave., Ruston 

To enter this week’s contest, CLICK HERE!

_______________________________

Week #9 of the Karl Malone Toyota College Football Pick’em Contest presented by Heard Construction and Martin Presence is underway.

One lucky winner will claim $200 … with the potential to make it $400 if they are perfect on the week (including predicting the No. 1 tiebreaker exactly right).

This week YOU could be our lucky winner. It just takes a few minutes to click on the link above and fill out a form for FREE. It could mean $200 in your pocket if you choose wisely.

Anyone is eligible to participate for FREE and each week’s winner will go home with a $200 cash prize.  Each week the winner will be the participant with the best record out of 13 selected college football games (ties will be broken by two separate tiebreakers consisting of guessing the total points scored in two other games).

The Karl Malone Toyota College Football Pick’em Contest presented by Martin Presence and Heard Construction will be conducted over the 13 regular season weeks of the college season starting with Week 1 games (Sept. 2) and running through the end of November.

There is no entry fee, just like there is no cost to subscribe to the Lincoln Parish Journal. 

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 that week in the 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 (or $400 if you can have a perfect week with the correct tiebreaker).

________________________

The Lincoln Parish Journal wants to thank Karl Malone Toyota, Martin Presence and Heard Construction for their title and presenting sponsorships of this year’s college football pick’em contest.

We also want to thank Super Movers, American Mattress Outlet, the Dugout, the Ensure Agency, National Jewelry, Hart Designs, Tanyard Creek, Ginn’s Autobody, Ruston Eye and Vision, Pearce Lumber and Bearcat Nation Network for their Pick’em Partnerships within the contest.

________________________

On Sunday, October 22, 2023, shortly before 1:00 a.m., Troopers with Louisiana State Police Troop F began investigating a single-vehicle fatal crash on North Spillway Road near Wildwood Drive.  The crash claimed the life of 21-year-old John Jones of Farmerville.

The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by Jones, was traveling north on North Spillway Road.  For reasons still under investigation, the Chevrolet exited the roadway, struck a tree, and overturned.

Jones, who was unrestrained, was trapped in the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.  Impairment is a suspected factor in this crash.  Routine toxicology samples were collected and will be submitted for analysis.  This crash remains under investigation.

Troopers wish to remind motorists to always make good decisions while in a motor vehicle.  Never drive impaired, fatigued, or distracted.  Follow all traffic laws and always ensure every occupant is properly restrained.  While not all crashes are survivable, taking simple precautions such as these can often mean the difference between life and death.

In 2023, Troop F has investigated 33 fatal crashes, resulting in 41 deaths.

To adapt to program changes, Lawrence chose to relocate the endowment to the Department of Kinesiology. This move now provides the Department with its first endowed scholarship for graduate students, upholding Fred’s legacy of supporting research.

“Coaching gave my dad a passion for human performance,” said Lawrence Higginbotham. “Coach believed being in shape was more than the physiology side, and the Human Performance Lab is taking this aspect to a new level, one that really didn’t exist back in the day.”

Fred believed that everything revolved around education, and in this spirit of academic excellence, the Higginbotham family chose to give back to the College of Education and Human Sciences. Their generous support of the Fred Lee Higginbotham Human Performance Endowment is a testament to their dedication to hands-on research conducted in the Human Performance Lab and their commitment to advancing education and innovation in the field of human performance.

“This scholarship will serve as a motivating factor for attracting students around the world and retaining students within our department,” said Dr. David Szymanski, Department Head of Kinesiology, expressing his excitement at Lawrence’s recognition of their department’s work and his desire to honor his father’s legacy through contributions to Human Performance research.

“I am very grateful to have received this scholarship,” said Christopher Watson, an international student from Canada in the Sports Performance program. “Not only does this provide financial assistance towards my graduate degree but it also validates my efforts in my academic work.”

Fellow graduate student Alyssa Twist, studying Sport & Exercise Psychology, added, “I am sincerely grateful to be chosen as a recipient of the Fred Lee Higginbotham Endowed Scholarship. It is a fantastic opportunity and blessing to receive additional support in my graduate education.”

The Human Performance Lab offers opportunities for graduate students to explore various fields, such as understanding how sports can benefit children with autism and studying how athletes can avoid overworking and getting injured.

“At a graduate level, hands-on experiences are key when working in research, providing students with valuable skills and insights,” said Lawrence Higginbotham.

For more information about the Fred Lee Higginbotham Human Performance Endowment, please visit https://www.latechsportscience.org/.