By Kyle Roberts

Play golf with longtime Ruston resident Mike Walpole, and you can only assume that he’s been a scratch golfer for his entire life.

And after his third place finish in the Super Senior Division at the Louisiana Golf Association Amateur at Tamahka Trails in Marksville, La., where he shot 73 on Thursday, April 27, and 75 on Friday, April 28, his commitment to the game clearly shows.

“I’ve played in this league for the last three years,” Walpole said. “It’s the best golfers basically in your age range across the state; it’s a good way to gauge where you are in relation to other golfers in the state.

“I really enjoyed it. It’s a tight course; you can’t spray the ball off the tee. Thankfully, I drove the ball well, and I was able to turn my drive both ways when I needed to.”

Hearing that and seeing his scores, again you’d assume that he’s had decades to perfect his game. Turns out, the 67-year-old only ten years ago decided to really start taking the game seriously.

“I started golf as a youngster, but I did not get serious about it until I was 57,” Walpole said. “Until then, I had only broken 80 three or four times.”

It was then that he started working on flexibility and more weights in order to improve. A couple of years later, Walpole took some lessons and started to really improve his score at his home course at Squire Creek. He credits the practice facilities and the staff at the course for helping his begin his journey from an 8-handicap to a .5.

Walpole’s trip to Marksville started on Wednesday, April 25, for a qualifying round and then the tournament on Thursday and Friday, April 26-27. Walpole’s age put him in the super-senior category of players 65 years and older.

And no gimmes or improving your lie: standard tournament rules applied, meaning the ball had to be in the cup on every hole.

Walpole certainly had a chance to win the tournament and acknowledged that a few three-putts on the final day of the tournament was what kept from finishing higher.

“You’d like to think you don’t have any three-putts,” Walpole said of the last day of competition.“

Already well-known for his successful architecture business, Mike loves spending time with his family, his grandkids, and when he can, the golf course as well,

And by playing the best golf of his life now, it means there is hope for some us of yet.

Walpole laughed at that in agreement. “Yes. It’s hope for everybody.”

by Malcolm Butler

Cedar Creek School is embarking on a $5 million athletics strategic plan.

Head of School Cindy Hampton said that the plan is just one piece of the puzzle for the k-12 school as it prepares for re-accreditation and looks for ways to grow its overall enrollment numbers.

“This is just one piece of our overall strategic plan for our re-accreditation,” said Hampton. “We are up for re-accreditation next year. We have an overall strategic school-wide plan. Athletics is one component of this overall plan. Now, this is a lot more visible than the academic side. This will be more in the public eye than our in-house policy changes. We can use this more for marketing. This will grab people’s attention.”

The plan has already been approved by the Cedar Creek Board of Directors and $1.5 million in commitments have been pledged towards the projects.

An email was sent out to Cedar Creek parents over a month ago communicating the plan which will be geared towards upgrading athletic facilities.

“We have to invest in these kids,” said Cedar Creek board member Lance Hall. “We have the luxury of being a k-12 on-campus facility. Our ability to create a strong (middle school program) should transition to a successful high school program. It’s dynamic for us, and it comes from having the right facilities and development program in place.”

“We need to show success in all areas,” said Hampton. “Having a strong, stable coaching staff will help stabilize and help build for the future. I think when you have success (in athletics) that will just permeate and vice versa. When you get the right kids in that are mission appropriate, your academics will be enhanced and your athletics will be enhanced. It can be a win-win.”

According to Hampton, Cedar Creek’s enrollment hovers between 600 to 650 students per year with the average tuition around $8,000 per year (the school provides discounts for families with multiple children enrolled). The vast majority of the schools budget comes from enrollment dollars.

As enrollment numbers grow so would the yearly budget, allowing additional funds to go directly towards in-school needs, including the ability to increase the number of teachers and salaries if chosen.

“We have to be very good stewards of our finances,” said Hampton.

Hampton, Hall and others at the school feel that upgrading its athletic facilities will be a strong step in not only attracting families but retaining the ones they already have.

“From a parent’s perspective, if I see a school that is progressing and trying to get better and not just being satisfied with the status quo, that sends a message to me,” said Hampton. “Okay, they are visionaries. They are thinking about the future. They are not just thinking about the kids they have right now, but they are thinking about their future. That is the message we need to send.

“Everybody wants to be on a winning team. Everybody wants to be in a winning program, whether that be academics, athletics or arts. Everybody wants to be on a winning team.”

The email outlined seven pillars of the strategic plan, including a financial commitment and game-plan for raising the necessary funds to retain attract and retain coaches, add coaching positions, and address the facility needs.

“The athletics portion of this strategic plan has two different prongs,” said Hampton. “We have restructured our corporate sponsorships. It’s a pilot program this year, and we will see how that goes. And the second part of that will be getting a capital campaign started as quickly as we can. We will get a capital campaign together to see where we go. As you talk to people, new ideas arise. It’s going to be fluid as we go through this process.”

One aspect of the fundraising includes increasing annual corporate sponsorship dollars with a goal of raising the yearly total by three times from $65,000 to $200,000 within one year. Some of the increased funds would also go towards additional support for the spirit squads at the school. The plan also calls for a capital campaign that would fund upgrades and renovations in almost every Cedar Creek athletic venue.

Projects include:

1. LED lights for our football, softball, and baseball fields
2. Construction of a new secondary gymnasium that could support PE, cheer and dance groups, pee wee, middle school and varsity basketball
3. Renovations to the Brick House gymnasium
4. Resurfacing of the track
5. A digital scoreboard for football
6. An new all-sports strength and conditioning performance center
7. Upgrades to baseball facility
8. Total resurfacing of football field with natural grass
9. Cosmetic upgrades to athletics fieldhouse

A specific timeline for all of the projects isn’t complete, but work will begin as soon as this summer. Creek officials believe that this will also aid in stabilizing its faculty and staff over the long run.

“Our whole plan about athletics is to help grow enrollment which will enhance the entire school, including the ability to raise teachers pay,” said Hall. “We want families to aspire to come to Cedar Creek because athletics and academics are equally important and equally successful. This investment in athletics will provide us an avenue that allows Cedar Creek to grow.”

Cedar Creek has hired three new head coaches over the past three months, including Katie Hall (girls basketball), William Parkerson (football) and Chad Yates (baseball).

Hampton said she feels as though the school is an important piece of elementary and secondary education in Lincoln Parish.

“We are a big part of this community,” said Hampton. “When families move into our area, sometimes they need a smaller environment for their children. Not every child can thrive in a big environment so Cedar Creek does serve a need in this community.”

This story was originally published on October 19, 2023.

____________________________________

By Kyle Roberts

“You’re kidding? I thought he was from Texas!”

That, or something like it, is the most common response I get when I tell people that Ruston High head football coach Jerrod Baugh is a 1995 graduate of West Ouachita High School, located south of Calhoun in the small community of Cadeville.

Take Exit 103 on I-20 and find your way south for about 10 minutes and you’ll eventually come to a large school, seemingly in the middle of nowhere.

But it was at this school that Baugh, now one of the top high school football coaches in Louisiana, started his love for, you guessed it … basketball.

“My dad was a basketball coach in Eros, when there was still a school there,” Baugh said of his father Roy. “He taught math and coached girls’ basketball for two or three years, and then got into the computer business as a data processor writing computer programs.”

Coaching did not stop for the family, as Baugh’s mother Nova went back to school to finish her college degree once all of the sons were at the age to go to school.

“Then my mother coached girls’ basketball and taught language arts at Ouachita Junior High before getting hired at Calhoun, where she coached until she retired,” Baugh said.

Baugh’s love of basketball did indeed begin to shift to where he has had most of his success: on the football field. In junior high in Calhoun, he began playing contact football and started as a tight end before moving to quarterback.

At the time, West Ouachita High School was in the middle of a tectonic shift for a small program in the early 90’s: the Chiefs had moved from 2A to 4A due to student enrollment, which was a sharp jump in the level of competition for a team that appeared on the rise in 2A with a talented junior high team coming in from Calhoun Middle.

“We had several guys that you could still hold back in the eighth grade, and we were really good in junior high,” Baugh said. “We played schools like Ouachita and Ruston, and we were undefeated coming through eighth grade. And we had a good group of guys coming in behind them, as well.”

Baugh suited up for the Chiefs as a freshman in 1992, playing safety and backup quarterback.

As fate would have it, a legend in North Louisiana took over the helm of the Chiefs program leading into his sophomore season: Pat Collins, I-AA national championship winning head coach at Northeast Louisiana University (now ULM) and head coach at Ouachita, Longview, and of course, West Ouachita.

And in no time, Collins was impressed with Baugh’s analytical mind and work ethic, keeping him one step ahead of the competition in whatever role he served.

“He had a real toughness,” Collins said. “And he was ready to give credit to those who deserved it and would do everything he could to try to make things better for everybody. He and I both have our degrees in math, so maybe that’s one reason we hit it off.

“But I always felt that Jerrod was going to be in 100 percent at whatever he does. And that impressed me.”

After not making the postseason his sophomore season under Collins, Baugh would lead West Ouachita into the playoffs both his junior and senior seasons as quarterback, running an I-formation offense that is similar to what Ruston High runs today.

“We were probably 35 percent of the time throwing the football,” Baugh said. “We had a really good running back and did a lot of play action passing that made it easier on me. Of course, I’m not the tallest guy, so we would sprint out a bunch and throw the ball. We didn’t have any big, tall receivers, but we had a couple of really good receivers, and I thought we were getting pretty good.”

Under Collins’ tutelage, Baugh began to shift away from basketball and started to appreciate the strategic pieces of football. From there, a bond between the two led Baugh from Calhoun to Ouachita to Longview, Texas, all with Collins primarily as the head coach.

But West Ouachita holds a special place in Baugh’s heart, in large part due to the family legacy that he, along with his two brothers Dean and Duston, have left as Chiefs on the gridiron.

“I always take a look at their roster, see the last names and wonder if I played with some of their dads,” Baugh said. “It’s neat to see. West Ouachita gets a bad rep sometimes for not being able to get things going. I think (head coach Mike) Rainwater is doing a great job. I think the injuries they’ve taken in some important spots has been detrimental. But one thing you’ll see on video is that those kids always play very hard.”

And now Baugh’s nephew Harper, Duston’s son, will be suited up on the opposing sideline, wearing No. 57 as an offensive lineman and linebacker. Talking about Harper and his family stirs emotion within Baugh that is evident when he shares their bond.

“I got really close to my nephews when they were younger,” Baugh said of Duston’s sons. “I think Harper knows that at the end of the day, I like to win. We used to have game nights, and it didn’t matter what kind of game we played. They were going to have to catch it just like everybody else.

“I fully plan to go out there and do my best to win, and Harper knows that. We’re all very competitive. That’s the way we grew up; we were pretty sore losers if it didn’t go our way amongst ourselves.”

Ruston and West Ouachita will play Friday night at Red Sims stadium for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

This story was originally published on June 21, 2023.

____________________________________

By T. Scott Boatright

Unemployment in Lincoln Parish  is about to take a jump after Ardagh Glass Packaging – North America announced to employees on Tuesday that it is shutting down its Simsboro glass plant, located off the Industry exit on Interstate 20.

The company said it expects the closure to be completed by next month, a release sent today to the LPJ by Ardagh Vice President of Marketing, Communications and New Product Development Gina L. Behrman.

That release reads as follows:

“Ardagh Glass Packaging – North America (AGP – North America) continues to focus on enhancing our overall performance as a leading supplier of glass packaging to the food and beverage industries.

“Our multi-year performance optimization program, involving targeted investments in enhanced capacity and ongoing cost optimization, underpins our ability to continue to provide existing and prospective customers with high quality, American-made sustainable glass packaging.

“Pursuant to this program and in response to recent weakness in market demand, we have today announced certain adjustments to our manufacturing footprint involving the closure of our Ruston (Simsboro), Louisiana, and Wilson, North Carolina glass production facilities, effective mid-July 2023. Existing customers of these facilities will continue to be supplied from alternative locations in our network.”

In 2018, around 450 people were working at the plant, which was more than the 350 workers the facility needed to employ to stay in compliance with its deal with the state.

As news of the impending closure spread Tuesday afternoon, it was being said by some that changes to the company’s deal with the state of Louisiana could have played a role in its decision to close the plant.

“Be like Louisiana,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson after the state became the first in the nation to receive full approval of its Initial Proposal for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program.

Volume 2 of the proposal was approved this month, while Vol. 1 was approved in September. This milestone means that Louisiana can move from the planning phase to the implementation phase and begin accessing the $1.355 billion allocation to expand broadband networks throughout the state.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said in a press release, “Louisiana is taking a major step toward ensuring that no one in the state is held back by a lack of Internet access. I congratulate Governor Edwards and the team at ConnectLA on this terrific achievement for Louisiana’s workers, businesses, communities, and families.”

Gov. John Bel Edwards said, “We will start executing shovel-ready projects in 2024 under the BEAD program.”

By Wesley Harris

“The world is a little less bright today . . . but heaven is much brighter.”

That assessment by Rhonda Boyd in reminiscing about Dr. Tommy Grafton, longtime Louisiana Tech educator, summed up the thoughts of many who mourned his passing on December 22.

Grafton served as an educator for many years with his last position at Louisiana Tech, focusing on health and saving young people from the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.

Grafton pulled community resources together to work with youth, calling on athletic superstars and even the spouse of a well-known but addicted Hollywood actor to get his programs’ message across. His latter years at Tech involved overseeing alcohol abuse prevention programs and community coalitions to promote prevention.

Boyd, a kinesiology instructor who worked alongside Grafton, said, “When I came to Tech, Tommy hired me as a health educator for Project Northland, an underage alcohol prevention program for sixth, seventh, and eighth graders. He gave me some great advice when I began teaching that I have never forgotten: ‘When it comes to health education, you will not be able to save everyone, but if you save one—if what you share and teach causes one person to live better and make healthy decisions—then you have been a success.’”

Boyd said Grafton was a source of encouragement and inspiration to her. “No doubt he saved MANY in his years of education,” she said.

Addie Smith also worked as an alcohol and drug educator under Grafton’s supervision. Smith was coordinator of a local community coalition known as the North Central Alliance Partners in Prevention funded by a grant Grafton wrote.

“Dr. Grafton was very dear to me,” the current I. A. Lewis School counselor said. “He was more than just a boss. He was a mentor and fatherly figure in my life. He was generous, encouraging, and kind to everyone.”

Smith and Grafton stayed in touch after she moved to counseling for Lincoln Parish Schools. “I am so thankful we were able to visit by phone just last week. He told some stories and wanted to know about me & my family.”

Boyd and Smith both expressed thanks for Grafton’s role in their lives. “Thank you for believing in me!” said Boyd.

“I’m so grateful for all the things he taught me about living, honoring God, and putting others first,” Smith said. “I will miss him terribly, but I am happy to know he is rejoicing in heaven with the Father he knows so well!”

Funeral arrangements for Dr. Grafton are pending through Farrar Funeral Home of Farmerville.

Timothy C. Babcock, born on October 7, 1950, peacefully went to be with the Lord on December 24, 2023, following a recent decline in his health. He was only 73 years old.

Tim is survived by his loving wife, Beverly “Ginger” Babcock, devoted son, Stephen Babcock and his wife Jessie and granddaughter Audrey of Baton Rouge, LA, brothers Steven Babcock, wife Rita, of Wapato, WA and Dennis Babcock, wife Janice, of Kennewick, WA, sister Janice Babcock of Bolivar, MO, and stepdaughters Mallory Smith of Ruston, LA, Rebecca Mooney of Nashville, TN, and Rachel Drago of Denham Springs, LA. He also leaves several nieces, nephews, loyal friends, and extended family members behind. Tim was predeceased by his father, Don Babcock, and mother, Alene Babcock.

Born in Portland, Oregon, Tim moved to Simsboro at the age of 16, ultimately finding his lifelong home in Ruston in 1970. A graduate of Louisiana Tech University with a business degree, he embarked on a successful career as a real estate broker and developer before discovering his true passion as a real estate appraiser.

Beyond his professional life, Timothy was a dedicated community servant, actively involved in organizations such as the Kiwanis Club, Boys and Girls Club, Jaycees, Teen Challenge, Celebrate Recovery at Calvary Baptist, and the March of Dimes. He served two terms on the Lincoln Parish Police Jury, leaving an indelible mark on the community he cherished and shared with his friends and family. He organized the first-ever employee appreciation event for city/parish workers during his tenure on the Lincoln Parish Police Jury and was instrumental in creating Operation Celebration on July 4, 1991, where about 500 singers participated in a musical salute to Lincoln Parish veterans at the Thomas Assembly Center.

A talented musician with a deep love for music, Tim served as the song leader at Central Baptist Church throughout the 1970s and 1980s and played the organ in the worship band at Calvary Baptist Church in the 2000s. He was also a choir member and Sunday school teacher at several area churches. Tim’s fondness for the Hammond B3 organ was clear as he donated and played several Hammond B3 organs to churches over the years.

Tim’s impact extended far beyond his professional accomplishments, leaving a lasting legacy of commitment to community service and bettering those around him. He will be fondly remembered for his unwavering dedication to Ruston, the churches he attended, and the lives he touched through his various endeavors.

Tim’s funeral is at Temple Baptist Church on Friday, December 29, 2023. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. A service officiated by Reggie Bridges, pastor of Temple Baptist Church, will be held immediately afterward. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston, LA.

Michael Terrell Prater 
Tuesday 09/26/1972 — Saturday 12/16/2023 Age: 51 
Visitation: Friday 12/29/2023 3:00pm to 5:00pm at King’s Funeral Home 
Celebration of Life: Saturday 12/30/2023 11:00am, New Hope Baptist Church, 204 W Vaughn Ave., Ruston 
Interment: Saturday 12/30/2023, Grambling Memorial Garden, Highway 80 West, Grambling 

Kevin A. Mitchell 
Wednesday 12/13/1967 — Tuesday 12/19/2023  
Memorial Service: Saturday 12/30/2023 2:00pm at King’s Funeral Home 

Rev. Charles Ralph Penuell 
June 19, 1944 – December 22, 2023 
Visitation: Saturday, December 30, 2023. 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM, Douglas Church, 1642 HWY 821, Ruston 
Memorial Service, Saturday, December 30, 2023, 1:00 PM, Douglas Church, 1642 HWY 821, Ruston 

Simsboro School enjoyed the holidays before winter break with a Christmas program and a Deck the Halls Art Walk Dec. 19-20. 

For the two days before break, the auditorium was packed with friends and family who attended to watch their children sing Christmas songs and recite poetry. Families then attended an art walk, where each student had a piece of art and an ornament on display. 

Music was directed by Melane Slocum, and the art gallery was directed by Leigh Nugent.  

This was the second annual Christmas program and Deck the Hallls Art Walk for Simsboro School, and faculty, staff, students and families are looking forward to many more years of celebrating Christmas with their students in this special way. 

By Kyle Roberts

MONROE, La. — A last-minute addition to the Ruston High (7-7) boys’ basketball schedule ended up with a win for head coach Ryan Bond and his crew over the Carroll Bulldogs Friday, Dec. 23, at the Holiday Hoopfest on the campus of Wossman High School.

The Bearcats cruised to a 75-50 win after three separate Bearcats scored in double-digits.

“The guys played well,” Bond said. “Our defensive effort was great. Joran Parker was very good on both ends of the floor. We had some guys sick and nicked up, but they battled.”

The ‘Cats led 30-23 at the half before outscoring the Bulldogs 45-27 in the second half.

Parker led all scorers with 17 points, while senior Zhy Scott finished with 14. Junior Aidan Anding added 12 points.

Parker finished the night with three three-pointers, while Anding added two.

Ruston returns to action Thursday, Dec. 28, at the West Monroe tournament.

What a ride it was.

Head coach Jerrod Baugh and the Ruston Bearcats took our community on a memorable journey this year, capturing the 2023 Nonselect School Division I title with a 31-17 win over Zachary in the Caesar’s Superdome.

Baugh and the Bearcats captured the school’s ninth state title, its first since 1990 and they did so in a first-class fashion.

In recognition of the state title run, the Lincoln Parish Journal commissioned local graphic designer Courtney Pugh of Donnie Bell Design to create a commemorative edition and limited poster featuring photos from official GeauxPrep’s state title game photographer Josh McDaniel (FourSix3).

The poster is for sale with 25 percent of all proceeds going directly to the official Ruston Bearcat Football Club.

There are two unique versions of the 18 x 24 inch poster, each printed on 100-pound glossy:

a) a LIMITED edition ($75) with ONLY 75 copies available that features a gold gilded tint and a numbering system to differentiate each poster

b) a COMMEMORATIVE edition ($25) with an unlimited number of sales based on orders.

The posters will be available in late January-early February with additional details provided on pickup/sales dates and locations. However, orders are being taken now.

To order and secure a copy of either poster, email lpjmerchandise@gmail.com and include your name, email address, cell phone number, version of the poster (LIMITED or COMMEMORATIVE), and total number wanting to purchase. The LPJ will take orders on a first come, first serve basis and will continue to sell while supplies last.

The LPJ will take payment via credit card (an email invoice will be sent which can be processed by the buyer with a credit card) or cash. No checks will be accepted.

Don’t miss your chance to purchase this beautiful keepsake depicting the Bearcats title run in 2023. Email lpjmerchandise@gmail.com and include your name, email address, cell phone number, version of the poster (LIMITED or COMMEMORATIVE), and total number wanting to purchase.

Special thanks to Origin Bank and Forth Insurance for their support of this project.

The Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested a 23-year-old Ruston resident last Friday night after he reportedly crashed his pickup truck on South Barnett Springs Road.

Deputies responded to a single vehicle crash at about 8:30 p.m. Friday night. Investigation at the scene showed that for reasons unknown, the truck left the roadway and crashed. Tyler L. Smith of Ruston said he was unsure what had happened. He was bleeding from a head injury and was transported to the North Louisiana Medical Center by Ruston Ambulance Service.

Smith was interviewed in the emergency room. When asked what caused him to leave the roadway and crash, Smith said he was unsure because he had been drinking. A deputy asked Smith if his drinking had affected his ability to drive, and Smith replied yes. He also admitted to taking a medication that makes him drowsy.

A blood sample was obtained for lab analysis. After treatment, Smith was arrested and taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center where he was booked for first offense DWI, careless operation of a vehicle, and a warrant for failure to appear in Ruston City Court on a charge of possession of marijuana.

Bail was set at $6,500.

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. 

Ruston Police arrested a Quitman woman and a Ruston man early last Tuesday morning after they were found passed out in a vehicle at the gas pumps of a local convenience store.

Police responded to the EZ Mart at 1500 South Vienna Street about 5 a.m. Tuesday to investigate a report of a Dodge Charger parked that had been parked at the gas pumps with the engine running for several hours. Officers found a man passed out in the driver’s seat and a woman passed out on the back seat.

The driver was awakened and a large plastic bag in the driver ‘s side door containing suspected marijuana was spotted.

The woman, Aleisha Horton Johnson was awakened, and a records check showed she was wanted for failure to appear in Ruston City Court on a no liability insurance charge. Johnson said she did not know the man behind the wheel of her car. A search of the vehicle yielded a small black zipper pouch containing methamphetamine in the driver side door and a spoon with suspected methamphetamine residue in Johnson’s purse.

The man said his name was Jakae Caleb Modest with a birth date indicating he was 16 years old. However, identification was found in Johnson’s purse showing his name was Donald Jenkins, 39, of Ruston. Jenkins was wanted on two bench warrants for failure to appear in Third District Court.

Jenkins and Johnson were taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center. Johnson was booked for possession of marijuana, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and the failure to appear warrant.

Jenkins was booked for possession of marijuana, possession of methamphetamine, resisting an officer by providing false information, and the two bench warrants from Third District Court.

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. 

By Judith Roberts

My 2016 Christmas was supposed to be the year’s redemption.  

We started the year early on with my father’s passing due to dementia. I was seven months pregnant with our daughter, Penny, at the time. My heart broke that my daughter – the one whose name he picked out three years previously – would not meet her grandfather. Would not experience his humor, his kindness, and his love. He would never hold her like he held our firstborn, never know the legacy he was leaving behind with our little girl. 

When Penny was born, I was so thankful. We had spent a small stint in NICU with Alice, but with Penny, she was healthy enough to go home quickly, and our household of three turned into a household of four. 

But then – something went wrong. 

It started when she was five weeks old with a nighttime trip to the emergency room. After following up with her pediatrician the following day and a short hospital stay, it was determined that she had an issue with renal reflux, which, while it could have been worse, broke my mama heart. During her hospital stay, my baby had to have a spinal tap. At five weeks old.  

She had another flare up a few months later, and our pediatrician warned us that this could be a long-term issue, one that would follow her around for, if not the length of her childhood, possibly her entire life.  

But Christmas was coming. 

I was excited – I wanted to be excited. I wanted the joy and magic of Christmas to exude through my children, where I could get lost in the mystery and wholesomeness of the season and not think about how hard this year had been. I wanted to focus on Jesus and the story of the first Christmas and how much He meant to me. 

We visited my aunt in Mississippi on Christmas Eve, and Penny seemed off. Tired. Cranky. She was quite a spoiled baby at any rate (even commented on by our pediatrician at one point!), so I tried to put my anxiety at ease, thinking that it was just her being in a new environment with a lot of new people. Nothing to worry about. 

By that evening, once we arrived home, we realized she was running fever. Again. And any fever she had at this point was always followed by a trip to the ER. 

I remember sitting, holding this precious, precious little infant in my arms, wondering why her first Christmas was spent in the ER. Why instead of putting her in her sweet little crib and whispering about presents in the morning and being with her father and sister, she and I were settling into a hospital room on the peds floor.  

It wasn’t fair. 

I was so angry. Bitter even. My baby deserved better than this, I thought. Heck, I deserved better after this year. Why did this have to happen? 

Life just happens.  

The good, the bad, the ugly – we don’t get to escape the last two and just keep the first one. We don’t get to say that we only deserve the good. We have to take the punches when they come and just hope when they do come, we’re ready for them, whether that be a solid relationship with Christ, a close community of friends and family, a good therapist – or a mix of all three or something else. 

When Penny was hospitalized that first Christmas, I was ready. I was mad at first – but I was ready. I cried out to God, I railed against Him – because He could take it. He was ready for me, and He could handle my anger. 

Once we settled in, we brought up her little walker from the house, and since she was the only patient on the peds floor, she got the run of the hall, exploring and making friends with the nurses and doctors. We had a steady stream of visitors, and, because our older daughter was only 3, we still had our little family Christmas morning. 

When Penny was released from the hospital, we told Alice, our older daughter, that this was the night of Christmas Eve. And she was 3, so she believed it. And we did the traditional Christmas morning just fine – just a couple of days late. 

Now, when we tell Penny the story of her first Christmas, we talk about the struggles we went through, the trials we endured and how incredibly thankful we are for her health and for the care she received from doctors, nurses, family and friends during that time. We joke about how Christmas came late and how wonderful it was. We talk about how Christmas is more than just a date on the calendar – that it means more because it is more. 

Oh, and in case you’re wondering, Penny hasn’t had an issue with renal reflux since that Christmas Eve. We are still conscious that it’s part of her medical history, but we don’t worry about it like we did. We call her our little warrior princess – and we tell her about that Christmas when, even through suffering, we celebrated the true joy of Christmas – our Savior.  

In the quiet aftermath of Christmas, as echoes of festive cheer gently fade, I find myself in a contemplative space. This particular holiday season has led me to explore the deeper currents that flow beneath the surface of our celebrations. Maybe you feel the same. 

The twinkling lights that have adorned homes like scattered constellations are fading away one house at a time, with the remaining ones casting a soft glow on the canvas of my thoughts.  

For the past several weeks, almost-daily drives throughout the area have brightened my and Hooshang’s thoughts, and these excursions are now being transformed into cherished memories. Their flickering brilliance seems etched into the tapestry of time. In their gentle luminance, I see a reflection of an abiding truth – one that extends beyond the boundary of tinsel and gift wrap. 

Christmas, I’ve come to realize, is not merely a day to mark on the calendar but a state of being. It’s a reminder that light exists even in the quiet corners of our lives, patiently waiting for us to notice its subtle radiance. In the ordinary moments that follow the festive whirlwind, there is an invitation to discover the extraordinary. 

Christmas trees, once the centerpiece of joyous gatherings, now stand as sentinels in the quietude of living rooms across the globe. Their branches, once weighed down by ornaments, now reach upward like silent prayers. In that image, I find a metaphor for the resilience that resides within us – the ability to stand tall, even in moments of solitude, and to find beauty in simplicity. 

As the post-Christmas serenity settles around us, I reflect on the beauty that emerges when we embrace the present moment. The Christmas story, with its humble beginnings in a stable, whispers that significance can be found in the most unassuming places. It challenges us to see beyond the surface, to recognize the profound in the everyday. 

In the hush of these days, a sense of gratitude arises – an appreciation for the ordinary gifts of life. It’s a gratitude not rooted in grand gestures or elaborate festivities but in the awareness of breath, the warmth of connection and – as we noted in my previous column – the simple act of being present. Christmas, it seems, offers an invitation to savor the richness of the now. 

Amid the peaceful moments, I’m reminded of a profound truth: Jesus, the light of the world. In the midst of our daily lives, he stands as a beacon, illuminating the path with love and grace. The Christmas season, with its emphasis on light and love, echoes the timeless message that in Jesus, we find a guiding light that transcends the shadows. 

The hustle and bustle of the season have given way to a stillness that carries its own kind of enchantment. This tranquility is a gentle reminder that Christmas, with its emphasis on light and love, is not confined to a single day. It’s a timeless spirit that lingers, inviting us to cultivate kindness, foster connection and seek beauty in unexpected places. 

As we step into the day after Christmas, let us carry this spirit forward. In the rhythm of our lives, may we remain attuned to the light that resides within and around us. Let us continue to unwrap the gift of introspection, finding joy in the ordinary and embracing the enduring light that guides us through the fabric of our days.  

For, in the gentle cadence of post-Christmas reflections, we discover that the true magic of the season is not in the grandeur of the celebrations but in the quiet whispers of the heart. 

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Sallie Rose Hollis lives in Ruston and retired from Louisiana Tech as an associate professor of journalism and the assistant director of the News Bureau. She can be contacted at sallierose@mail.com.

By T. Scott Boatright

The cries of disbelief might still be echoing through the Lincoln Parish Library Events Center following Tuesday night’s Lincoln Parish Police Jury.

An overwhelming turnout of parish residents present at the meeting unanimously showed support for Lincoln Parish Administrator Doug Postel, with 14 of those publicly speaking prior to the vote — all in favor of Postel. The showing also included more than 20 parish employees from various areas who all stood at once in support of Postel preceding the vote.

Despite the one-side showing of support — and despite not a single citizen or juror saying anything negatively about Postel or his performance — the LPPJ voted 8-4 in favor of not re-appointing Postel for another year.

Voting in favor of retaining Postel were jurors T.J. Cranford, Logan Hunt, Matt Pullin and Glenn Scriber.

Those voting against bringing Postel back to the position he was given in the summer of 2020 to replace former Parish Administrator Courtney Hall were newly-reelected LPPJ President Richard Durrett and Vice President Milton Melton along with jurors Theresa Wyatt, Hazel Hunter, Skip Russell, Joe Henderson, Sharyon Mayfield, and Annette Straughter.

Russell initially abstained from the vote, drawing a vocal response from his constituents and other Postel supporters in attendance.

Upon hearing the negative response from the crowd, Russell asked if he could reconsider his vote and then firmly said “No!” as to his vote to renew Postel’s contract.

Postel then packed his belongings and left the meeting as a discussion of appointing Assistant Parish Administrator Kevin Klepzig as Interim Parish Administrator.

Ruston’s Lynne Gnemi led off the public comments portion of that discussion.

“Nobody here has the courage to tell us why you voted no,” Gnemi said. “There has not been one statement from all of you to support a no vote, and I am appalled.”

Ruston’s James Skinner tried to follow Gnemi but was cut off by parish attorney Lewis Jones, who said that portion of the meeting was to be only about discussion of potentially naming Assistant Administrator Kevin Klepzig as Interim Parish Administrator.

After further discussion, jurors voted to appoint Klepzig as Interim Administrator until a permanent Administrator is named. That motion passed with only Cranford and Hunt voting against it.

During additional public comments toward the end of the meeting, Ruston resident Lucius McGehee Jr. kicked things off by asking jurors to reconsider reappointing Postel to his previous position as Parish Administrator.

Ruston’s Randy Braddock then asked for a two-sentence response in public from all jurors who voted no on retaining Postel, starting with Durrett.

“This is a public comment period, not a question and answer period,” Durrett replied.

Braddock then asked Jones that “absent a ballot box, what recourse does the public, the voters, the citizens, the taxpayers, have in light of a decision such as this?”

Jones responded by saying “Nothing other than potentially filing recall petitions if you could get enough signatures. If not, wait for re-elections of these jurors.”

Chris Garriga then spoke for the second time on the night, saying that he felt sorry for the parish workers who had stood up earlier in the meeting to show their support for Postel.

“This is an embarrassment for our parish on what should be a record-setting day (after Jurors earlier in the meeting approved tax breaks to bring a Buc-ee’s to Ruston),” Garriga said. “I feel sorry for our workers who just stood in support of our administrator. You just slapped all of them in the face. And not one of you can do their job. Not one.

“You probably don’t even have keys to some of their offices to open them. It’s completely embarrassing from our public leadership. You can roll your eyes and do all you want, but I promise you, in 11 months some of you will not be sitting in those seats.”

 District 4 resident Daniel Taylor told the jurors that many of them don’t listen to what their constituents say.

“The majority of you have proven you didn’t listen to what we say,” Taylor said. “You basically took the voice of everybody away tonight. And I can tell you tonight that we’re going to work to take your seats away from you for doing that.

“It was disgraceful what we witnessed tonight. Everybody in the room tonight that stood up was 100 percent in favor of Mr. Postel. And not one of you who voted against it listened to that. Instead you voted against it. And we will come after your seats. Fortunately, I live in a district with a representative who listens to us and our voices, so I’ll support that. But I’ll work in your districts to take your seats.”

Before the meeting was abruptly adjourned, Hunt asked Durrett and other fellow jurors why they voted against returning Postel to his position.

“I will not comment,” said Durrett, who quickly adjourned the meeting without a motion to do so.

Durrett was once again asked after the meeting by the LPJ why he voted against Postel.

“It’s a personnel matter, and I won’t comment on it,” Durrett said.

Melton was also asked one on one following the meeting why he voted Postel out.

“No comment,” said Melton.

After the meeting Russell admitted he kind of straddled the fence on the Postel situation.

“I did, because originally, I was opposed to the things that were going on in the office and I have some things that concern me,” Russell said. “But even after all of this, I’m willing to sit down and talk about it without getting so emotional. I realize it was a tough deal for a nice, nice gentleman. I realize that.”

Postel spoke to the Lincoln Parish Journal after he left the formal meeting.

“It is obvious that a majority of Lincoln Parish Police jurors do not care anything about the voice, their constituents, or the people of Lincoln Parish,” Postel said. “I was very touched by the outpouring of support on my behalf by both members of the community and by the employees who showed up, as well. It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve the people of this parish as their administrator. 

“We’ve accomplished great things over the past two-and-a-half years and it is my prayer that our wonderful employees continue the work we started.”

By Malcolm Butler

Late in the fourth quarter of a Sunday afternoon NFL game this year, Ruston native Max Causey jogged over to the sideline to have a conversation with an unnamed head coach of one of the league’s 32 teams.

Causey, in his first year as an NFL down judge, had just thrown a flag for a holding penalty that negated what appeared to be the go-ahead score. The infraction forced the team to kick a field goal instead of taking the lead.

So, during the TV timeout, he wanted to have a conversation with the coach.

“My dad was a coach,” said Causey, a former Louisiana Tech quarterback two decades ago. “My granddad was a coach. I know how coaches are. I truly appreciate the position that they are in. I am sensitive to that, but I also have a job to do as an official. I want to have conversations with coaches about what I saw. I want it to be an open dialogue.”

According to Causey, the conversation wasn’t the calmest with a highly upset coach, but he feels it’s the best way to handle such moments.

“I get that they are mad and angry but when it’s appropriate and I have time, I want to go to them and tell them what I saw,” said Causey. “I want them to tell me what they saw. If they express what they saw to me … a lot of times I will say, ‘If that’s what happened then I missed the call, but here is what I saw.’

“So, in this particular situation I threw the flag. They get pushed back and instead kick a field goal. So, it’s a score but not the go-ahead score. I went over to the coach during the TV break knowing he was going to be upset with me. But I wanted to share with him what I saw, and why I threw the flag.”

Oh, the life of an NFL referee.

It was an agree-to-disagree moment for the two parties, something that is common during the course of an NFL season.

Causey, who is the grandson of Tech legendary coach Maxie Lambright and the son of the late Bulldog assistant coach John Causey, has grown up around the sport his entire life. And this year was a dream come true for him – his first as part of an NFL referee crew.

“It was something that I have been working towards for a long time that became a goal 10 years ago,” said Causey. “It was so far away at that point of time. And admittedly so many things had to happen along the way that were totally out of my control. But out of what I could control, I was definitely pursuing it and working hard for it and putting myself in a position to have a chance. To get to be a participant in the on-field experience of an NFL game is a really neat thing.”

Causey’s debut was on Sunday night in the opening weekend of the year when Tampa Bay traveled to Jerry’s World to take on the Dallas Cowboys. His first NFL game and before a national television audience featuring arguably the greatest quarterback in the history of the game in Tom Brady against one of the most storied franchises in league history.

What was that very moment like?

“About 15 seconds before (kickoff) my referee gets on the radio that I can hear (in my earpiece) and says, ‘Hey Max. Welcome to the NFL,’” said Causey.  “I was probably too focused to appreciate it at that moment, but looking back afterwards was something I appreciated for sure.”

Causey, who earned his stripes – literally – calling high school and then college football games – moving up the ranks from Conference USA to the Pac-12, said the moments throughout his first season were so good that he journals them.

“I have lots of stories,” said Causey who said the first penalty he threw was a false start in that Week 1 Sunday night game. “I like to keep the diary to keep track of it. I’ve always done a game breakdown as far as the calls, positioning and mechanics so I can do better. I did that this year. But I was also encouraged to enjoy the experience, so I keep a diary where I kept track of cool stories.”

Such as?

“I’m walking the field in San Francisco before the game and Jerry Rice is right there,” said Causey. “He shakes my hand. His hand swallowed my hand by the way. That was really cool.”

Coincidentally enough, Max’s dad John coached against Rice his senior year at Mississippi Valley when Louisiana Tech defeated the SWAC school 66-19 in the first round of the Division IAA playoffs at Joe Aillet Stadium in Ruston – the same field Max played on as a collegiate student-athletes. Small world.

Causey is the down judge on his crew. He lines up along the sideline on the line of scrimmage. His Sundays consist of living by one of the two teams throughout the four quarters.

 An eye-opening, well probably more like ear-opening, way to spend a Sunday.

Although he said he doesn’t remember experiencing a moment of overwhelming nervousness or reality, he does remember what he would consider the moment of arrival.

“I would say the ‘Oh Wow Moment’ was Green Bay versus Buffalo on Monday night. An hour before the game I walked out onto the field. The Bills Mafia was there,” said Causey. “They had had all day to get ready, and the atmosphere was electric. It was Aaron Rodgers-Josh Allen on Monday night. Even my referee came up to me and said, ‘Remember when I said welcome to the NFL back in Dallas? Well, this is your other welcome to the NFL moment.’ So, he was even feeling it as a 13-year veteran.”

As a rookie in the league, Causey said he was pleasantly surprised by several things.

“Number one was the encouragement that I got from my crew,” said Causey. “I wondered stepping into a veteran crew as a rookie how I would be accepted. They were amazing. Very supportive. Never treated me like a rookie. My crew was very concerned and interested in my experience. They wanted it to be good for me. Just the supportive nature of that made it an amazing season.

“I was also surprised how respectful the coaches are in the league. You feel like it’s a fraternity even though you are on the dark side so to speak. You feel like we are all in this together. The coaches were super respectful.”

Well, at least when they weren’t questioning a call.

So, what was the biggest adjustment from the college game to the NFL?

“Intuitively, you know the guys are bigger, faster, stronger, right?” said Causey. “But it didn’t really jump out at me. The speed of the Pac-12 was difficult to officiate just like it’s difficult in the NFL. So from that standpoint, I don’t think it’s any different. Fans are fans in college and in the pros so I don’t think that really changed.

“But it’s definitely a higher level of football. And there is more expected of us as officials. And there is a higher standard for everybody. That was probably the biggest difference.”

Causey said another difference is how much homework the teams put into knowing the referees as he quickly discovered.

“In one of my games in the early part of the season, I had a coach right before the play was snapped in the middle of the first quarter come up to me and say, ‘Hey Max. I also played college football from 1999 to 2003,’” said Causey. “So, they had done their advanced scouting (on me) and a lot of times they do know our background. That was kind of a wake-up call that this was a different level.”

What about NFL referee-player interactions?

“I like to interact with the players,” said Causey. “I want to work with them. I don’t want there to be any animosity or that type of feeling. I want to work with them and talk to them and help them out.”

An example?

“There was a play in Seattle,” said Causey. “Linebacker made a play on the running back. Pushed him out of bounds.

“Right after the play he started running towards that running back. So, I felt I needed to go be a presence between those two players. I got there and the linebacker was laughing and said, ‘Don’t worry about it. We were college teammates. It’s all good.’ He and I had a good laugh about that.”

With Year No. 1 in the books for Causey, he said there is plenty of off-season work for him to do and a system in place to help him do it. NFL referees participate in a virtual one-day spring clinic in June and then OTA assignments. Causey will also participate in a 2-day clinic in July prior to training camp starting.

But much of the homework starts at home.

“A lot of self study,” said Causey, who said the NFL provides a video system where he can watch every play of every game. “I can break it up by call. By my calls. I can see every snap of every game. I’ve already started doing some of that. Then rules study. Just continuing to improve there to get a full knowledge of all the intricacies of all the rules. Practice tests. Things like that.”

Year two is right around the corner for Causey and Co. And he wants to make sure its even better than the first.

“I’m competitive,” he said. “I know that mistakes happen, but I want to learn from my mistakes. I’m very driven to continuously improve, and it really never stops. The great officials are prepared for anything. For me it goes back to film study and mental preparation … visualizing as many situations as possible to understand how I would react if certain things happen on the field within my area of responsibility.”

By Malcolm Butler

Ruston residents voted Saturday to expand alcohol sales within the city limits.

Not only were Propositions No. 1, 2 and 5 overwhelmingly passed again, but Propositions No. 3 and No. 4 also passed. Proposition No. 3 allows the sale and consumption of alcohol in bars and Proposition No. 4 allows for the sale of alcohol in grocery stores such as Wal-Mart, Super One and Ruston Grocery.

Proposition No. 4 passed with relative ease (59 percent to 41 percent) while Proposition No. 3 narrowly passed (52 percent to 48 percent).

Propositions No. 1, 2 and 5 were already allowed in Ruston.

The Louisiana Economic Growth Committee — working closely with Walmart and Brookshires Grocery Company — successfully obtained the Louisiana state law required 25 percent of signatures from registered voters within the City of Ruston during the fall. The Ruston City Council then set todays voting date during its December meeting.

Due to state law, all five Propositions went to the voters again. This put Propositions No. 1, 2 and 5 at risk for possibly being rescinded, thus putting restaurants at risk of not being able to sell alcohol.

Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker was vocal in his support of Propositions, No. 1, 2, 4 and 5 and was mostly indifferent on Proposition No. 3.  When reached by phone Saturday night, Walker was ecstatic with the outcome.

“When I look at this, the greatest thing is it looks like about a 20 percent voter turnout which is incredible for a single selection,” said Walker. “The people of Ruston went out and voted their conviction after listening to everything that was said for both sides. The fact that around 80 percent of voters said yes to No. 1, 2 and 5 was overwhelming.”

Walker said he had serious concerns about the City’s economic future if Proposition 5 had been voted down.

“I would have been up most of the night trying to figure out a $5 million budget cut and now I don’t have to worry about that,” said Walker. “Since we made the announcement about Buc-ee’s, we have been getting a lot of calls from businesses who are interested in our city. With this vote, it means even more to those businesses to see we are a progressive town.”

Walker said the additional revenue from Propositions No. 3 and 4 will only help our area.

“We don’t need to miss out on the fact that it’s not just the City of Ruston that will make some revenue off of this, but the (Lincoln Parish) School Board — teachers 13th and 14th checks — the (Lincoln Parish) Police Jury gets three-quarters of a percent and the (Lincoln Parish) Sheriff’s Office gets one-quarter of a percent.

“It’s extra revenue we now have that we can spend on employees and pay raises and things we need in Ruston,” said Walker. “We are trying to recruit a business that will mean even more than Buc-ee’s from a tax revenue standpoint. If No. 4 had gotten voted down then it would have killed the deal.”

Walker said he isn’t 100 percent sure when the Propositions will be officially enacted.

Below are the five propositions that were all approved tonight along with the final results.

Proposition No. 1 – CURRENTLY ALLOWED (Originally passed in 2002)

Passed tonight by a vote of 81 percent (1,639) to 19 percent (391)

Authority to sell beverages of alcoholic content containing not more than 6% alcohol by volume by package only and not for consumption on the premises in the city.

Proposition No. 2 – CURRENTLY ALLOWED (Originally passed in 2002)

Passed tonight by a vote of 79 percent (1,599) to 21 percent (428)

Authority to sell beverages of alcoholic content containing not more than 6% alcohol by volume for consumption on the premises in the city.

Proposition No. 3 – NOT PREVIOUSLY ALLOWED

Passed tonight by a vote of 52 percent (1,049) to 48 percent (967)

Authority to sell beverage alcohol containing one-half of 1% alcohol by volume and above for consumption on the premises in the city.

Proposition No. 4 – NOT PREVIOUSLY ALLOWED

Passed tonight by a vote of 59 percent (1,185) to 41 percent (833)

Authority to sell beverage containing one half of 1% alcohol by volume and above by package only and not for consumption on the premises in the city.

Proposition No. 5 – CURRENTLY ALLOWED (Originally passed in 2002)

Passed tonight by a vote of 81 percent (1,649) to 19 percent (380)

Authority to sell beverages of high and low alcoholic content permitted only on the premises of restaurant establishments which have been issued an “R” permit as defined by law in the city.

by Emma Stone

Jodi Dunbar, a junior at Ruston High School, missed only three questions on the day-long ACT last year.

Dunbar stated she had taken the ACT last June and received a 34. This time around, she expressed her shock when finding her score was perfect.

“I was expecting a good score, but I definitely wasn’t expecting a 36,” said Dunbar. “I opened it up and I was in shock for a moment. I thought, ‘Am I reading this right?’”

Dunbar spoke of multiple RHS teachers who offered three-week curriculums dedicated to teaching students how to solve ACT problems before they take the exam. 

In terms of preparing for the exam, counselors gave ACT prep books to Dunbar to take home with her for practice. One school counselor in particular, Diana Humphries, motivated Dunbar to take the ACT one more time.

“Going into this year, she was adamant that I was going to get a 36,” said Dunbar. “So, she gave me a book, and asked me to go home and study.”

Along with books, she tutors other students from as young as fifth grade to high school juniors in math. 

“Since I help others with prepping for the ACT, it is almost as if I am studying with them,” said Dunbar. “It gives me a reason to go look up all the old math stuff I may have forgotten.”

Dunbar takes any class that can keep her learning more from dual enrollment to AP classes to honors. 

This year’s ACT was offered on a computer for students.

“That was the first time I had taken it on a computer, but there were a few sections that made it so much easier,” said Dunbar.

One key motivator was her brother, Trey Evans, who had scored a 32 back in high school. 

“After I beat my brother with a 34, I sat back and said, ‘This is probably the best I will ever do,’” said Dunbar. “I already had a score range in my head going in.”

As she actively babysits and takes care of her nieces and nephews, she continues to be close to her parents who helped educate her growing up.

“Family is my top priority, so I don’t want to leave the South or be too far from home,” said Dunbar.

After high school, Dunbar hopes to major in biology and enter the medical field as a doctor. 

“Getting a 36 on the ACT is major in helping me financially with scholarships and opportunities,” said Dunbar. “It also lets me look at schools that I might not have been able to look at before.”

by Malcolm Butler

We all have them.

Those people who enter our lives someway, somehow along this road we call life. The ones who make a true difference.

The late Rolly Walker was one of those for me. And I know I’m in a large fraternity when it comes to the Rolly Walker Fan Club. There are a lot of us who would run for president of this group.

Mr. Rolly entered my life through my friendship with his twin sons, Matt and Scott. Almost four decades ago at Ruston High, I became friends with the two and thus Mr. Rolly (and wife Johnnie Lou and daughter Whitney) entered my world.

It was much more than I deserved for sure.

I could write a version of this tribute to Mr. Rolly that would rival War and Peace, but nothing that I will say here will adequately portray the impact he had on me and so many others. It’s impossible for anyone to put into words what he meant over the past 40 years to Lincoln Parish.

Mr. Rolly passed away Sunday after a year-long battle with Father Time and all that it brings our way late in life.

And as much as we all selfishly hate it – the world is a much better place with the Mr. Rollys of the world in it – we know he has gone home. I am thankful for that.

Mr. Rolly spent his life doing at least two things at a Hall of Fame level: loving and raising his family and ministering to so many of us who quite honestly didn’t deserve his wisdom and compassion.

The man is legendary around these parts. A longtime minister at Trinity Methodist Church, he shared his gifts with some other churches during his career as well. A man who started out as an educator and coach early in life found his true calling as a minister. What a blessing he was to so many.

One of my best memories of Mr. Rolly came at the rehearsal dinner for his son Scott and then fiance, Buffy. His words have stuck with me all these years. When addressing the room that night, he talked about how important it is to have great friends in your life.

He was referencing Scott (and Matt’s) group of friends who made up a large part of the room that night. He spoke from a parent’s perspective, something none of us could truly relate to at the time. He talked about how our group of friends — especially at an high school and college age — can have such a huge and lasting impact on our direction in life.

It sounds like an obvious statement now, but it really hit home with me that night. I forget a lot of things these days, but I will always remember those words and how sincere he was. In my mid-20s at the time, it wasn’t something I had thought much about. Maybe it was because I have always been fortunate to have great friends who were a big part of my journey.

But for Mr. Rolly to connect the dots in that moment was special in a lot of ways. It was very wise. Very Mr. Rolly-esque. I will always be grateful for those words and that moment. Small, but meaningful for me.

It was just a small example of the man’s wisdom. He had plenty of other sides.

One being a great sense of humor.

When he wasn’t providing guidance and wisdom, Mr. Rolly enjoyed giving me a hard time about my love for the New York Yankees. Typical of a Boston Red Sox fan. To this day, I’m still convinced to this day he was the one who put a Boston Red Sox bumper sticker on my Isuzu Rodeo.  No telling how long I drove around Ruston with that ugly thing before I finally noticed.

He never would own up to it, but I’m confident. Yeah, the man had quite the sense of humor.

I’ve written before about our group of friends’ annual golf pilgrimage to Robert Trent Jones for the past two-plus decades. Mr. Rolly was a part of that trip for a number of those summer excursions in Alabama. Not too many people could embed themselves into our rag-tag group of wanna-be golfers, but Mr. Rolly did.

His presence made us all better. Not so much with our golf games, but just better. None of us wanted to let Mr. Rolly down.

He always said he could never understand how our group could remain such close friends despite the constant and unrelenting hard time we gave each other on that trip. He was right. It has to be a God thing because we don’t pull punches and yet we are all still the best of friends.

The man loved golf. A lot of his golf game had faded by the time he went on these trips as arthritis made it tough for him to grip his clubs, but he loved being out there with us and we loved having him as part of our group.

Well, most of the time at least. Did I mention the sense of humor?

I will always remember Mr. Rolly stomping on an old pair of sunglasses on a certain tee box in Birmingham, mimicking this writer who had done the exact same thing to my new pair of sunglasses a few years earlier on the same exact tee box. His timing was impeccable. Funny stuff, Mr. Rolly. Funny stuff.

That same year he took an already almost-broken sand wedge to the green on No. 17 on a certain course in Birmingham. Following numerous “failed attempts” to get out of the sand, Mr. Rolly snapped the club in half, throwing it into the lake. Three of the four in the foursome thought it was hysterical. Our buddy Mitch Spillers — who most definitely did the same thing a few years earlier on the same hole — did not. Now that, Mr. Rolly, was most definitely funny.

Then there is still the “mystery” of a bag of sand mailed to Mitch just weeks prior to the following year’s golf trip. Mitch is still convinced it was sent by none other than Mr. Rolly. Again, the man had a sense of humor.

But most of all the man had an ability to relate to people in all areas of life. He was always ready with a kind or encouraging word. I, for one, will miss that.

As he is laid to rest later this week, I know a lot of people in our community will have plenty of Rolly Walker stories. He touched so many people’s lives, and our community is blessed to have had him and his family as part of it for the past 40 years.

Almost 30 years ago, he told a room full of 20-somethings how blessed his sons were to have such a great group of friends.

But if truth be told, we were the ones who were blessed. Our friendships with Matt and Scott provided a pathway for Rolly Walker to enter our lives.

And for that I will forever be grateful.

By Jackson Bain

While it might shock some people to see a black bear, in north Louisiana, it’s more common than one would imagine. With numerous sightings recently in Lincoln Parish and North Louisiana in general, black bears are something to be aware of.

Kevin Houston, a biologist at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, spotted one when he and his daughter were hunting on Youth Day north of Dubach. Houston’s father, who lives in Lincoln Parish, had told him eight Louisiana Black Bears had been spotted recently on hunting club trail cameras. Still, it was quite a sight to see in person.

“So the bear approached the pipe feeder we had and we looked at him through the scope,” Houston said. “We just enjoyed it and kind of laughed about it for a while. When he got hungry, it reached up and got some more corn and then sat back down for a little bit and just did that for about 45 minutes.”

Houston said the experience was more informative than frightening.

“It wasn’t scary. It was certainly interesting,” he said. “We enjoyed watching it. You know, I wouldn’t necessarily want to run into one in the dark, because it’s a pretty big animal, but at the time we certainly felt safe and didn’t have any issue with it. At one point in time it did walk toward us, I don’t know, it probably got within 50 yards or so. That was pretty neat.”

According to the LDWF, until recently the Louisiana Black Bear had been an endangered species. A big reason these sightings are occurring is because the Louisiana Black Bear is the state’s most recent conservation success story. As their population is increasing, a range expansion is occurring in parishes across the state.

“They’re moving westward from the Mississippi Corridor,” Houston said. “They’re moving west constantly, so their range is moving toward us.” 

If you happen to see a black bear when in the woods, here are a few useful tips: Black bears are not typically aggressive. If you do encounter a black bear, slowly back away. If it sees you, back away slowly. Make yourself look bigger by lifting and waving your arms. Make loud noises like yelling or blow a whistle. Do not run and do not make eye contact. Instead, let the bear leave the area on its own.