Ruston High (15-7) got a road win at Northwood High in Lena, La., Wednesday by a final score of 47-31 in the last non-district game of the 2023-24 season.
“We played hard and scrappy for four quarters,” Ruston head coach Meredith Graf said. “I really liked our energy tonight. It was a good game leading up to the start of district play on Friday at Pineville.”
The Lady Bearcats took a 24-12 lead into the halftime locker room thanks in large part to contributions from multiple players scoring-wise.
Senior guard Jaliyah McWain led all scorers with 10 points for Ruston, while freshman Angelica Green added 9.
Ruston will travel to Pineville to open District 2-5A play on Friday, Jan. 12, at 5:30 p.m.
Only a few limited edition Ruston Bearcat posters remain for sale. Anyone wishing to order one of these gold gilded editions should follow the directions below to do so as only 75 of these are being printed.
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.
NEW ORLEANS – As we kick off the Year of Music in Louisiana, Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and the New Orleans Jazz Museum announce a $5 million capital matching grant through the Herb Alpert Foundation. This grant will enable the museum to complete the Herb Alpert Foundation Education Wing, further modernize its state-of-the-art performance center, renovate the museum entrance and lobby, and enhance the landscaping on the Esplanade Avenue side of the building.
“We are grateful to the Herb Alpert Foundation for its generous support. The New Orleans Jazz Museum has positioned itself at the forefront of development in music education, cultural exchange and community outreach,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “This expansion will mark a new chapter in our efforts to promote Louisiana culture to visitors from around the country and abroad during the Year of Music, our current Louisiana Office of Tourism campaign.”
“The Herb Alpert Foundation has been a strong supporter of the New Orleans Jazz Museum for a number of years. From early planning to presenting sponsorships for the annual Improvisations Gala and many educational initiatives, Herb Alpert has been a leader and advocate for nurturing creativity and highlighting its importance in the current artistic and cultural landscape,” said New Orleans Jazz Museum Director Greg Lambousy.
As part of the Herb Alpert Foundation Education Wing, the Ruth U. Fertel Jazz Lab, the Education Lab, and the Digital Audio Workstation Lab facilities will each undergo world-class transformations. This top-notch educational wing and recording studio will be home to the Museum’s ongoing recording technologies, music business, and apprentice programs. The core of the Museum’s programming is in educational outreach to students of all ages. The Jazz Museum provides educational outreach with high school and university students, educators, and visitors through interactive exhibits, online programming, professional classes and instrument lessons, student performances, and teacher training. The Museum brings together musicians, students, and educators, all working together to share the history of Jazz and to secure its future growth and development.
“Supporting Jazz through education and public engagement is a priority for the Herb Alpert Foundation. Working in partnership with Louisiana’s iconic New Orleans Jazz Museum allows us to nurture and inspire jazz artists and build engaged and appreciative audiences so that this powerful art form will be alive and well for the benefit of future generations,” said Rona Sebastian, President of the Herb Alpert Foundation.
Renovations to the Museum’s performance center will provide guests with an immersive music experience via the most current ATMOS surround sound system. This upgrade provides exceptional audio equipment and allows engineers to master and restore, in-house, many musical media already in the collection. Additionally, the grounds on the Esplanade Avenue side of the Museum will receive enhancements through a partnership with the LSU Agricultural Center and Louisiana Master Gardeners.
Virginia was born and raised in Wareham, Massachusetts where she learned to play the piano and flute at an early age. By her teenage years, Virginia was so accomplished that she became the organist at her church. Popular in high school, she was the head cheerleader in her senior year. She attended New England College in Henniker, New Hampshire and transferred to Boston University, leaving there just a couple of credits shy of earning her degree.
Virginia moved to New York and found work as a salesclerk at the women’s specialty clothing store called Ann Taylor. Day after day, Virginia, dressed in Ann Taylor clothing, helped other women select just the right outfit from their collection. On one Saturday, Virginia, dressed in her Ann Tayler clothing, stopped by the Ann Taylor store with some of her friends. In the showroom window, they saw a couple of mannequins dressed in Ann Taylor apparel sitting at a little café table as if they were having lunch. Plastic food sat on the plates in front of them. A mischievous thought came over Virginia. She turned to her friends and said, “Hey, dare me to go and sit in the chair?” With wide grins, they replied, “Yeah, go ahead, do it.” When no one was looking, Virginia snuck into the showroom display window and sat down with the mannequins. She sat perfectly motionless. Her friends just stared from outside the store.
People passing by noticed the girls’ fixed stares at the showroom display. A crowd began to gather outside the showroom window. They were curious and asked, “What are you looking at.” The girls would only say, “Just wait, just wait.” Virginia’s friends knew that she would have to blink her eyes eventually. Finally, Virginia blinked her dry eyes. It was over in an instant. She made no other movement. The people in the crowd who saw her blink said, “Wooo!” The people who missed it asked the ones who had seen it what they missed. Some of those who saw her blink were second guessing what they had just seen. Did she really blink? Was she real or a mannequin? The crowd became larger. All eyes were fixed on Virginia’s eyes. Finally, another blink. The people in the crowd who saw her blink went wild. The crowd grew larger, as did the cheers, at every blink of Virginia’s eyes. Although no one in the crowd could tell, because she sat completely motionless except for an occasional blink which was over in an instant, Virginia was thoroughly enjoying her prank.
Finally, the manager noticed the noise coming from outside the showroom window and went to investigate. She looked at the crowd and looked at the mannequins sitting in the showroom window. Finally, Virginia blinked, and the crowd went wild again. The manager rushed back into the store and scoldingly told her to “Get out of the window!” As Virginia stood to remove herself from the window, the manager had a sudden realization. Their showroom window had never drawn so much attention before. “Stay in the window!” she said. Virginia sat back down and continued to pretend to be a mannequin. The large crowd was delighted and continued to watch in eager anticipation of every blink. The store hired Virginia every Saturday to be a mannequin.
The mannequin prank led to bigger things for Virginia. A few Saturdays later, Virginia signed with New York’s Zoli modeling agency. From there she was cast in the 1982 film Tootsie. In jest, Virginia described her part in the film as “someone who’s going to be in their underwear a lot of the time.” She was cast in the short-lived television series Buffalo Bill, and guest-starred in Family Ties, Riptide, Remington Steele, and Knight Rider. Virginia appeared in the Chevy Chase comedy Fletch, and starred in Transylvania 6-5000, the Fly, Earth Girls Are Easy, Beetlejuice, Thelma & Louise, A League of their Own, and The Accidental Tourist, for which she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. The list of films and television shows which Virginia has starred in continues to grow. Virginia Elizabeth Davis was given a nickname shortly after her birth by her older brother, Dan, to differentiate her from an auto also named Virginia. You and I know her as Geena Davis.
Louisiana Tech is back on the road tonight facing Conference USA co-preseason favorite Middle Tennessee in a nationally televised contest inside the Murphy Center.
Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. CT and the contest can be heard on the LA Tech Sports Network on 107.5 FM with Malcolm Butler and Jack Thigpen providing a call of the action.
LA Tech’s road woes continued this past Saturday, falling at Sam Houston by a final score of 81-77. The 81 points tied for the most allowed by the Bulldogs this season, dropping their fourth straight game on the road.
The four straight road losses have all been very similar. In each of them, the Bulldogs have gotten down double digits in the first half. LA Tech has battled back to take the lead in the second half in all four but could not pull out the win.
Offense has not been a problem for the Bulldogs as of late. Over their last three games, they are shooting 53.3 percent from the field and 37.7 percent from beyond the arc.
Co-preseason Conference USA favorite Middle Tennessee (6-9, 0-0) looks to get back on track Thursday as they open up league play. The Blue Raiders were able to snap their four-game losing streak a week ago by defeating Reinhardt, 84- 47, in their final non-conference game of the regular season.
Injuries have played a big role in MTSU’s 6-9 record as preseason All-CUSA guard Camryn Weston suffered a season-ending injury in the second game of the year and transfer center Josh Ogundele has been sidelined for the past six games.
Middle Tennessee is always known for its defense. They currently rank 78th in the country in scoring defense allowing 66.5 points per game. They also rank 58th in the nation in blocks per game (4.6) and 71st in three-point percentage defense (30.5).
Elias King has been their primary scorer, averaging 12.3 points per game while knocking down a team-best 31 three-pointers. He opened the season scoring in double figures in six of the first seven games.
LA Tech leads the all-time series against Middle Tennessee, 13-7, with the first ever meeting coming on Dec. 12, 1959. The two squads have since played a home-and-home series for three consecutive seasons (1987-90) before becoming conference opponents for one season in the Sun Belt in 2000-01.
The two squads became league foes again in 2013 when both programs joined Conference USA. The Bulldogs had the upper hand in the series to start, winning 11 of the first 13 matchups. However, the Blue Raiders have won five of the last seven meetings including both last season.
RUSTON – Louisiana Tech scored four points in the final 30 seconds to send the game to overtime. However, Middle Tennessee emerged victorious 64-61 inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Wednesday night.
Anja Bukvic’s three from the left wing would have sent the game into double overtime, but the shot bounced off the rim as the buzzer sounded.
Louisiana Tech (7-10, 1-1 CUSA) started the game just 2-7 from the field, while Middle Tennessee (11-4, 1-0) built a 15-4 lead on 7-10 shooting. The Lady Techsters quickly settled down and forced the Blue Raiders into missing their final four shots of the quarter. Tech would go on a 6-0 run over the last two minutes to close the gap to five at the end of one.
“We got off to a poor start defensively,” Tech head coach Brooke Stoehr said. “Once we settled in, we defended well. Defensively, you give up 64 to a team in overtime that can score it, and you don’t win. It’s a hard one to swallow, but I thought we took care of the basketball.
“Baldariva’s really tough inside, and you’re either giving up threes or you’re giving up twos. We felt like we’d give up twos and play her one-on-one inside. She made us pay. They had two kids get double-doubles, and outside of that, we shut them down.”
Salma Bates knocked down her first three of the night to tie the game up at 17 apiece. On the next Middle possession, Bates grabbed the rebound and went coast-to-coast to give Tech their first lead of the game, extending their run to 13-0. The Blue Raiders would score the final four points of the half to take a 27-26 lead into the break.
Middle Tennessee’s Anastasiia Boldyreva and Ta’Mia Scott looked unstoppable early in the third. They scored 11 of the first 14 points of the quarter to push their lead to nine at 38-29.
Bukvic and Mackenzie Wurm gave Tech a spark around the six-minute mark. Bukvic sank two 3-pointers while Wurm had two mid-lane jumpers to make it 43-39 heading into the fourth.
Tech continued to have an answer every time Middle seemed to take the momentum. After a Jianna Morris jumper pulled the Lady Techsters to within one at 49-48, both teams would go without a point for two minutes. That is where the action picked up.
Middle had the ball up 54-50, and with the shot clock winding down, Savannah Wheeler looked to have a clear path to the basket. That is when Silvia Nativi came from the backside and sent the shot out of bounds as the shot clock hit zeros.
Anna Larr Roberson pulled up from right outside the paint and made it a one-possession game with 28 seconds remaining. Tech forced Wheeler to turn the ball over under the Lady Techster basket. Roberson got the ball just inside the arc on the left wing, got Boldyreva off the ground on the pump fake, and made a floater in the lane to tie it up with four seconds left. Middle would miss a potential game-winner, and it would go overtime.
Tech would grab the lead off a layup off the tipoff, but Middle would go on a mini-run to take the lead back at 58-56. The Blue Raiders held on to a four-point lead with four seconds remaining. That is when Bates hit her fourth 3-pointer of the game to pull within one. Middle would knock down two free throws before Bukvic’s last-second shot.
Roberson and Bates led LA Tech with 14 points. Bukvic had eight points and four boards, while Wurm had seven points, five rebounds, and two blocks. Nativi had a team-high six boards and four assists.
Boldyreva had a game-high 32 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Scott finished with 20 points and 14 boards for MTSU.
The fourth-ranked Louisiana Tech bowling team finished in sixth place at the Stormin’ Blue and White Vegas Classic on Wednesday at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
Louisiana Tech looked like they would sweep through the first round of bracket play against No. 14 Maryland Eastern Shore. After starting with a 219-146 win in game one, the Bulldogs strung together the front 10 in game two. A split would end their run at perfection, but a 286-185 win put them ahead 2-0 in the best-of-seven series. The split would be a sign of what would come for Tech.
Splits in games three and four cost the Bulldogs in both games, as the Hawks would take both 180-175 and 201-205. Tech would rebound to take game five 240-162 and needed just one more win to take the match. Opens would continue to haunt the Bulldogs as they would fall in the final two games 218-205 and 202-192.
Against No. 9 Stephen F. Austin, Tech started slow and dropped the first game 188-146. Picking things up in the second game, the Bulldogs would finish the rest of the match in the plus. Tech would pick up a 213-190 in game two before falling in game three 213-207. Carry turned to Tech’s favor as they would win three in a row, 215-155, 202-194, and 228-157, to take the match 4-2.
In the final match, the right lane scored higher than the left. Tech was on that lane for games one, three, and five. The Bulldogs would take all three games, 224-175, 239-187, and 211-150. No. 8 Duquesne took games two, four, and six, all on the right lane. Tech put up a good fight in game two with a 223, but Duquesne had ten strikes in a row for a 278. The Dukes took game four by a score of 208-174 and six 181-162.
Being the higher seed, Duquesne had a choice on their lane for game seven and decided to stay on the right. Going into the 10th frame, Allie Leiendecker could have struck out to lock Duquesne out, but a ringing 10 left the door open. The Dukes’ anchor bowler stepped up and delivered three strikes to take the game 230-227 and the match 4-3.
John Thomas (Tom) Richardson, III, died peacefully, surrounded by his family, on December 22, 2023, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at the age of 85. Born on June 22, 1938, in Monroe, Louisiana, Tom grew up in Ruston, Louisiana, and graduated from Ruston High School. In 1961, he earned his B.S. in Civil Engineering from Louisiana Polytechnic Institute (now Louisiana Tech University), where he was a member of Tau Beta Pi, Omicron Delta Kappa, U.S. Air Force ROTC and Pi Kappa Alpha.
In 1961, he began three years of Active Duty, as a Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Air Force at Gunter Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts, followed by three years in the Ready Reserve.
In 1965, he received a Master’s Degree in Industrial Hygiene Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on a Fellowship from the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
In 1965, he moved back to Ruston to work at JT Richardson Company, and worked with his father and brothers, building roads across Louisiana.
In 1983, he went to work for Jensen Construction Company and, later, for The Rasmussen Group in Des Moines, Iowa, building bridges in the Midwest and South.
He was a PE (Professional Engineer) and a member of ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) and the AACEI (American Association of Cost Engineers International).
He was an Elder, Sunday school teacher and member of the Pulpit Nominating Committee at the First Presbyterian Church in Ruston and Westminster Presbyterian Church in Des Moines. He was also a Youth Group leader for twelve years in Ruston.
Tom was a voracious reader and never stopped enjoying The New Yorker, Harper’s and The Atlantic Monthly. In the eyes of his friends and family, there was no subject on which he couldn’t provide valuable perspective and insight. He was also the best partner imaginable for a festive round of Trivial Pursuit.
Tom loved sailing with his family and teaching John and Edward to sail on his boats on Lake Claiborne. He had an enduring appreciation for live music and his eclectic music library included favorites that ranged from Jerry Jeff Walker to Gerry Mulligan, Bach to Thelonious Monk, Dave Brubeck to Willie Nelson, Peter, Paul and Mary to Lyle Lovett, and Bob Dylan to Cristina Vane.
Tom loved Mary Elizabeth from the time they met at a church youth council meeting in Monroe when they were both teenagers. They created a wonderful life and built a home that was a hub for their two sons and all of their friends and extended families. Tom had a very special relationship with, and a reverence for, Mary Elizabeth’s mother, Lucy, who shared countless holiday trips, meals, sporting events and good times with the entire family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John Thomas Richardson, Jr. and Laura Louise Guess Richardson; his step-mother, Louise Rhodes Richardson; his infant daughter, Mary Thomas Richardson; his brother and sister-in-law, Bruce and Lynne Richardson; and his niece, Laura Claire Richardson.
He is survived by his sons, John Harrell Richardson (Melanie) of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Edward Webster Richardson (Sarah) of Newport, Rhode Island; the mother of his children, Mary Elizabeth Richardson; and grandchildren, Jesse Benjamine James, Grace Eliza Richardson, and Lucy Jean Richardson. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Ralph and Ann Richardson; his nieces and nephews, Alicia McCampbell; Dr. Rachel White; Samuel Richardson; David Richardson (Ashley); and Dr. Stephen Richardson (Candace); his first cousin, Bobbie Ruth Lacour; and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.
A memorial service will be held at the Presbyterian Church of Ruston on Saturday, January 20, 2024, at 3:00 p.m., followed by visitation and a reception at the church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Presbyterian Church of Ruston, 212 N. Bonner, Ruston, LA, 71270 or The Preservation Hall Foundation (preshallfoundation.org).
Warford Wayne Parks was born February 13, 1938, in Monroe, Louisiana to Warford Scott Parks and Hazel Gray Boatright and passed away peacefully, Wednesday, January 10, 2024 in Ruston, Louisiana.
Wayne graduated from Ruston High School in 1956. He then attended Louisiana Tech University before going to work at Southwest Gas. After 40 years of continuous service Wayne retired and did what he loved best, spending time with his family and many outdoor activities.
Wayne was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife Betty of 58 years, son Ken Parks and wife Melissa, and daughter Cherie Byers and husband Justin. He loved dearly his grandchildren Kale Parks, Molly Rogers, Mira Parks, Jax Byers, Riley Byers, Sadie Byers, and great grandchild Philomena Rogers.
A private graveside service honoring Wayne’s life will be held at 2:00 PM, Friday, January 12, 2024 in Greenwood Cemetery with Rev. Dale Oden of Temple Baptist Church officiating. Services are under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials may be made to Temple Baptist Church. An online memorial message for the family may be left at http://www.owensmemorialfuneral home.com
Funeral services for Glenn Broughton, age 54, of Ruston, LA will be at 2:00 P.M. Friday, January 12, 2024, at Kilpatrick Funeral Home Chapel in Ruston. Officiating the service will be Rev. Eddie Robinson and Rev. Jason Lupo. Interment will follow in Fellowship Cemetery in Dubach under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home of Ruston.
A Visitation will begin at 1:00 P.M. until service time at Kilpatrick Funeral Home Chapel in Ruston.
Glenn was born in Homer, LA on December 23, 1969, and passed away in Shreveport, LA on January 9, 2024. He worked in Support Services for AT&T for 15 plus years before returning to Ruston.
Glenn had a desire to help others and elected to be a participating Donor with Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency (LOPA). Glenn is preceded in death by his father Cecil Roy Broughton.
He is survived by his son, David Alexander Broughton of Fort Worth, TX; mother, Linda Rockett of Ruston, LA; aunts and uncles, Sandra Worster of Tyler, TX; Ronald Madden and wife Faye of Dubach, LA; William Bryant Madden and wife Carrie of Monroe, LA; and several other family members and friends.
Planned memorials may be sent to L.O.P.A. on their website or by mail to: L.O.P.A, 68190 Hwy 190 Service Road, Covington, LA 70433.
Barbara Mims Patton February 5, 1934 – January 9, 2024 Visitation: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – Ruston, Saturday, January 13, 2024, 9:00 am – 10:00 am Service: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – Ruston, Saturday, January 13, 2024, 10:00 am Cemetery: Kilpatrick’s Memorial Garden, Saturday, January 13, 2024
Sally Lou Leachman December 11, 1936 – January 8, 2024 Visitation: First Baptist Church, Ruston, Thursday, January 11, 2024, 9:30 am – 11:00 am Service: First Baptist Church, Ruston, Thursday, January 11, 2024, 11:00 am
Joseph William Russell January 6, 1954 – January 8, 2024 Visitation: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – Ruston, Saturday, January 13, 2024, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Service: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – Ruston, Saturday, January 13, 2024, 2:00 pm Cemetery: Chatham Cemetery, Saturday, January 13, 2024
Christopher L. Melton Monday 01/17/1977 — Saturday 12/30/2023 Family Gathering: Thursday 01/11/2024 2:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Visitation: Thursday 01/11/2024 3:00pm to 5:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Celebration of Life: Friday 01/12/2024 1:00pm, Macedonia Baptist Church #2, 489 E Sibley Rd, Choudrant
Senior meteorologist Jason Hansford with the National Weather Service in Shreveport shared some information with the Lincoln Parish Journal Tuesday afternoon about the projections for winter weather across north Louisiana starting this weekend and into next week.
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LPJ: What does the extended forecast look like for this weekend and next week?
Hansford: One thing is for certain, it’s becoming more certain that we’re going to be seeing some of the coldest air so far this winter that will begin moving into the region. The question is when. I was looking at some of the latest models a little while ago, and there’s still quite a bit of variability, exactly how quickly the cold temperatures will arrive, how deep the cold air will be, and whether or not we’ll have any moisture that may be riding across this cold air to offer the potential for maybe some kind of mixed wintry precipitation.
It looks like after a mild Saturday, we’re going to end up having a frontal system move in to parts of the area sometime during the weekend. Question is whether will it hang up to our north or will it move through back up and then move back down. I can’t really give you any specific details as to when that may happen, because that may happen sometime during the day Sunday or sometime late Sunday night, early Monday morning. There is some indication that we may have some light precipitation that may develop atop and even behind of this frontal system which may result in precipitation.
It could start off as a cold rain and then perhaps transition over to light freezing rain, maybe mixing with a sleet and and snow flurries. But as of right now, accumulations don’t look that significant. However, there is the potential for some icing, especially on some of your elevated objects; your bridges, your overpasses, trees and power lines. And depending on how quickly this cold air can move down, all indications are there is going to be a very abrupt change in temperature when this front moves through on the order of maybe 20, perhaps 25 degrees in a short period of time.
Depending on when that freezing line moves through, if we do get some rain out ahead of the system then any leftover standing water there’s a potential we may see, perhaps a flash freeze that may develop. And so any kind of standing water even on some of the roadways, may end up freezing pretty quickly come Monday. It doesn’t seem to be a very potent system at this point in time, at least here in North Louisiana. Now areas to our north in southwest Arkansas and central south Arkansas and southeast Oklahoma may see more impacts in terms of snow. It’s looking more like it’s just going to be kind of of the icy variety here in North Louisiana.
LPJ: How cold are the temperatures you are talking about?
Hansford: When this cold air mass settles through or settles in, the coldest night is going to be Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. That’s when temperatures are going to fall into at least the middle teens. However, before that, we’re going to get some freezing temperatures moving in. I’m thinking the subfreezing temperatures should move in at least sometime during the day on Monday. When is a good question. However, from sometime Monday once we get below freezing, we’re not going to get back above freezing until probably sometime at the earliest Wednesday afternoon. We could go perhaps 48 hours with temperatures near or below the freezing mark.
LPJ: What advice do you have for people?
Hansford: You definitely want to take precautions. Go ahead and wrap those outdoor pipes really, really well, any pipes exposed to these freezing temperatures. You want to have to make sure your house has a good working heater. Space heaters are kind of a touchy subject. You have to use extra caution with them, given the fact so many fires start this time of year because people can’t afford all around heating systems. They have to rely on space heaters. We’re looking at at least maybe 48 hours subfreezing temperatures until we’re able to climb slowly back above freezing probably sometime by Wednesday afternoon.
LSPB president Gregg Phillips, left, and vice president Dr. Danielle Williams.
By Kyle Roberts
The Lincoln Parish School Board elected its first new officers in eight years Tuesday in unanimous support for new president Gregg Phillips of District 8 and vice president Dr. Danielle Williams of District 1.
“It’s a true honor, being that I’ve been on this board for 12 months, and I’ve gotten support from members who have been on this board for a long time. I think they’re looking forward, and they’re wanting to help push Lincoln Parish education 20 years down the road. We’re looking to become the number one school district in the state, and that’s our charge.”
Dr. Williams echoed Phillips, noting the start of a new era with the incoming leadership at the state-level.
“We want to be where people come into Lincoln Parish and say, “what are y’all doing? How are you all reaching new heights and moving it forward?” And so that’s one of the things that we’re we’re pushing for it to be the number one school system.”
The duo replace the roles of Joe Mitcham of District 6 and Lynda Henderson of District 9 after serving as president and vice president, respectively, for the previous eight years.
“I’d like to say thank you so much for the privilege to serve as your president for these past eight years,” Mitcham said to the board members. “I’ve enjoyed working with each one of you. I know you will get behind Gregg and support him just just as strongly. I appreciate working not only the staff and administration, but these board members. Thank you very much.”
“Before I leave, I’d like to say that I’ve enjoyed my time working here, and I’m glad to be able to have worked with each and every one of you and our superintendent,” Henderson said. “Thank you for the privilege, and I now turn you over into very good hands.”
Lincoln Parish School Board superintendent Ricky Durrett also congratulated Phillips and Williams on their new roles before praising Mitcham and Henderson for their service in the roles.
“Both have been good board members,” Durrett said. “I think they’ll continue and do a good job with running meetings and helping keep everything going for us in the district.
“We do appreciate the job (Mitcham and Henderson have) done. They’ll still be board members and still be contributing. So, we appreciate that. January is appreciation Month for school board members, and we appreciate all of them being willing to serve and trying to keep the interest of students in mind as they make decisions to move our district forward.”
The school board will meet against on Tuesday, Feb. 6, at 12 p.m. at Ruston Elementary School.
Monday night’s Lincoln Parish Police Jury meeting wasn’t long.
Swore in jurors. Approved the previous month’s minutes. Elected officers. Discussed a few pieces of business. Adjourned the meeting.
Short. Sweet. Seamless.
Very un-police jury like compared to the previous few years; at least from my vantage point.
Now granted. I began covering the LPPJ during one of the most tumultuous times in its history, according to those who are much more familiar with its past. Ambulance. Fire. Emergency. Administrator.
Drama. Drama. Drama. Drama.
However, evidently, boring is usually the norm — something the returning jurors and support staff members are longing for. That sense of teamwork for a greater purpose.
Following the October and November elections that saw five new jurors join the 12-person jury, early indications are it’s a new year and new beginnings for this local governing body. Something our parish needs.
Now, my feelings are based on attending Monday night’s less-than-hour-long meeting with the newly-comprised makeup of the LPPJ. But I’m not the only one who felt a new sense of cooperativeness and togetherness, instead of the chasm that has divided the jury over the past two years.
“I totally feel like there’s a sense, a new beginning,” said District 6 juror and newly-elected President Glenn Scriber. “I absolutely believe that. I’ve just got that comfort. I’m just not anxious about anything that’s coming up. I hope we have a lot of meetings that are actually quite boring. That would be a good sign right there.“
There were plenty of good signs. The officer elections went as smoothly as possibly. No tension. No animosity. No drama.
President. Vice President. Administrator. Treasurer.
Unanimous votes for all four positions.
“I think that sets the tone for what this jury is going to do this year,” said District 7 police juror Matt Pullin. “I know everybody’s not going to agree on everything, but tonight was definitely a good start, to have representation from a juror who has one term and then also a new juror as vice president. I think that’s a good indication of how things are going to go in 2024.”
Amen, Matt.
Lincoln Parish is in a time where the next decade could see significant changes, improvements, growth. Even for those of us who have called the parish our home for our entire lives, I think we — hope we — can all agree that growth is essential for our area in this day and age.
But in order to maximize that ceiling, the right men and women with the right mindset have to be in place for all of our governing bodies. And the police jury is one of the most important of those.
And this year’s jury has a good mix of police jury veterans and newcomers.
“I think we’re on the right page,” said first-time District 8 juror Chris “Moose” Garriga. “I think there’s some new blood. Everybody’s excited to work together. I think even some of the older blood is excited to work with the new blood. I think we’re going to move forward and put the past behind us and get ready to rock and roll and do some business.”
The past is the past.
And the future is in front of us. And I think we have the right people in place to help lead us forward. The next four years will prove me right or wrong.
The Lincoln Parish School Board held its inaugural 2024 session at Glen View Elementary School Tuesday and honored the 2023 state champion Ruston High football team, elected new officers, and approved a cooperative endeavor with the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce.
Glen View principal Phaedra Blake welcomed the board members and recognized them all for School Board Appreciation Month.
“Thank you guys for coming,” Blake said. “First, let me say Happy School Board Appreciation Month. Thank you for what you do for all the students, not just at Glen View, but for all the students in Lincoln Parish. We could not do what we do without your help and support. It shows that we all have the same goal that we want the best for students of the year for Lincoln Parish.”
The school board followed with a public recognition of the Ruston Bearcats, who were represented by multiple seniors players and head coach Jerrod Baugh.
“We appreciate what you all do to help us,” Baugh said to the board members. I think we all know that everybody in this room are working together to make things great for kids. At the end of the day, we may disagree on some things, but we all want to try to agree that we’re doing what’s best for kids.”
Officer elections were held next, with Gregg Phillips of District 8 being nominated by Danny Hancock of District 5 for president and Dr. Danielle Williams of District 1 being nominated by David Ferguson of District 2. Both unanimously passed, and will be the first new officers of the school board in eight years after replacing both President Joe Mitcham and Vice President Lynda Henderson, who will both remain on the board.
The board then voted unanimously to enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement with the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce as a renewal, which will allow the chamber to help support the Adopt-A-School program, oversee awards from local businesses for Teacher, Principal, and Student of the year, and assistance with placing students in various chamber programs, including S.A.I.L. (Students Actively Involved in Leadership).
The funding of these services are valued at a minimum of $4,000.
Lastly, Dr. Williams was given recognition for earning more than 20 training hours during the calendar year by the Louisiana School Board Association and was given her certificate before adjourning.
The school board will meet against on Tuesday, Feb. 6, at 12 p.m. at Ruston Elementary.
A Natchez, Miss., man was arrested by Ruston Police Sunday after he refused to leave a local hotel.
Police responded to the Quality Inn to investigate a report of a man loitering in the lobby who refused to leave. The desk clerk said Francis S. Brown, 36, refused to leave after being in the hotel for several hours. Police had responded to another Ruston hotel earlier when Brown was loitering there.
Officers asked Brown if he intended to check in and he replied yes but later said he had no money. Brown was told multiple times he had to leave the premises or face arrest but he refused to leave. He was arrested and taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center where a small amount of suspected methamphetamine was found in his wallet during booking. He was charged with remaining on premises after being forbidden and possession of methamphetamine.
Bail was set at $9,000.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
This past Saturday, Louisiana Tech University officially celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of one of the most storied women’s basketball programs in NCAA history: the Lady Techsters, a team with three nationals championships, numerous Kodak All-American players and hall of famers throughout these five decades.
Pretty salty, I’d dare say.
The day was made that much sweeter with the team winning number 1,200, putting them as one of only five universities to notch that many over the years.
For me personally, it was a trip down memory lane of the many years I spent running around the Thomas Assembly Center, watching history unfurl before my young eyes and not having any idea at the time.
The Friday night before, Tech hosted an intimate gathering at the Chris Richardson Suite of Joe Aillet Stadium for former and current players, staff and administration. Now in my third season as the radio play-by-play, I was honored to be able to attend with my lovely wife as we walked among giants within the annals of women’s college basketball.
There was Sonja Hogg, the first coach in program history. Given $5,000 in the mid-seventies by then-president Dr. F. Jay Taylor, Hogg held try-outs for a squad that was not able to give scholarships to start the women’s team.
There was Ruston-raised Leon Barmore, who was given the reins to propel the program into the next stratosphere. Now a Naismith Hall-of-Famer, he recounted plenty of tales from his time at the helm, a living history book.
Between Hogg and Barmore, Tech would see three national championships in women’s basketball.
There was Venus Lacy, who commands any room she walks into. In fact, I found myself star-struck as I introduced myself to her, remembering her time in the Techster uniform when I was not yet in the second grade at Cypress Springs.
There was Janice Lawrence, Angela Turner, Brooke Lassiter (now head coach Brooke Stoehr) and so many more that wore the Columbia Blue who graced the suites that night that are now etched into basketball history.
But what warmed my heart the most turned out to be the flood of memories of my late grandmother, Mildred Neal, a diehard Techster fan who would go with her friend Aileen to any game the duo could get to.
It was my grandmother (Mimi to me) who would make sure I had a ride to the game as a grade-schooler. I’d always get first dibs on Ms. Aileen’s extra ticket, of which she was happy to bequeath to me.
That extra ticket saw years of high quality competition and a burning love for what would ultimately be my alma mater and my ever loyal be. I saw UConn, Tennessee, the women’s National Team, NCAA tournament games, and American South and Sun Belt match-ups galore while growing up.
And now, I get the best seat in the house for every Techster game moving forward, proudly from the broadcast booth.
Mimi passed in 2015 following a lengthy dementia battle, six years before my good friend Malcolm Butler handed me the microphone he cherished for the previous 20 years as the voice of the Techsters. I can only imagine how she would have felt knowing that I was a part of the Techster family in an official capacity.
At home games, I still look toward the seats where she and Aileen would always sit. I smile, because she’s a prime reason of why the program means so much to me. Without that ride and the extra ticket, I would not have nearly as much of my own history to bring to each broadcast.
So, I’ll tell everyone who will listen: I certainly love those Lady Techsters: past, present and future.
It’s a program that will forever be remembered for launching women’s basketball nationally, and that’s something we can all celebrate.
Over the past quarter century, the South owns college football national championships. Monday night’s Michigan-Washington title matchup was rare as a Baptist who hates bacon.
Hope our northern football-playing brothers and sisters enjoyed Monday’s scrap — hat tip to the Wolverines, a fast and fun-to-watch 34-13 winner over the Huskies — because history suggests it will be a while before such shenanigans happen again.
In the 1998 season, trying to break free from naming a national champion by poll voting (and because the new way would mean more money for the TV schools), college football moved to a Bowl Championship Series.
The first BCS Championship game was the 1999 Fiesta Bowl.
Tennessee beat Florida State, 23-16. Rocky Top.
The second was the 2000 Sugar.
Florida State beat Virginia Tech, 46-29. Remember how VA Tech teams were mean back then? Blocked like four kicks a game?
The third was the 2001 Orange.
Oklahoma beat Florida State, 13-2, to finish the season undefeated in a game no one remembers — outside of the opening coin flip by beloved actor Denzel Washington (who I almost ran over in my Jeep, corner of Lake and Louisiana, years ago — another story for another time).
You can’t help but notice something about those matchups, right? All the teams, both the winners and losers, are from Southern states. (And yes, Oklahoma, our geography books say, is part of the West South Central States, along with the Ark-La-Tex. Boomer Sooner.)
Nebraska, an Official Northern State, at long last made the finals in 2002 and was summarily handed its helmet by Miami, 37-14, back when The U was still The U and Nebraska was enjoying its final days of football glory.
We will summarize here to make the point: counting Monday night’s Michigan-Washington game, there have been 26 title contests since the BCS began. Of those, 22 have been won by Southern teams. Four have been won by Northern teams: Ohio State won it all twice (in 2003 against Miami in OT, 31-24, and in 2015 against Oregon, 42-20), USC beat Oklahoma in 2005, 55-19, and Michigan beat Washington Monday night.
So the South is 22-4 in The Big Pigskin Enchilada. That overwhelming. That’s rain water against Noah. Consonants verses verbs. No mas.
Of the 26 title games since the first one in 1999, 15 have been All Southern matchups. Nine have been North vs. South, and the South has won seven of those; the North’s two wins came when Ohio State beat Miami in ’03 and USC beat the Okies in ’05. Two title games have been All North: Ohio State over Oregon in 2015 and Monday night’s scrap down in Houston.
If those illustrations aren’t enough, the following names and numbers, to me, hammer home the South’s dominance in the past quarter century.
From 1999-2006 (the BCS infancy), eight different schools won the title, and four of the eight title games were All South matchups. Of the 16 teams in those eight games, only three were non-Southern schools.
From 2007-2014 — the BCS National Championship Game series over eight seasons — Alabama won three titles, Florida won two, and Auburn/Aubrin, Florida State, and LSU won one each. You’ll find Big Foot before you’ll find a non-Southern champion during this run. (Only Ohio State twice and Oregon and Notre Dame, once each, even played for a title during those eight seasons.)
Finally, since the “College Football Playoff National Championship” began with Ohio State beating Oregon in 2015, the Buckeyes in 2021 (52-24 losers to Bama) are the only Northern school, until Monday night’s matchup, to play in the title game. The other seven games have been All The South, All The Time. A whole bunch of Bama, Clemson/Climpson, Georgia, and LSU. Over and over and over. TCU wandered in from “over Texas way” last January representing the South and played as if they were from the North, getting drubbed by 58 by Georgia. Still, they were America’s next-best opponent and the Bulldogs found them just one time zone over.
It will be no surprise when next season’s 12-team playoff is Southern flavored. Book it. And it should come as no surprise to learn, in case you didn’t realize it, that the campus of the 2024 CFP champs is in Ann Arbor, and that Ann Arbor is in … southern Michigan. Deep Southern Michigan. Almost to the state line. Figures …
Ruston has extended its win streak to eight in a row now after a 69-61 win over a very talented Calvary Baptist team last night.
The Bearcats now sit at 11-7 overall and will be getting ready for district play this week.
“A great team win against a very good Calvary team,” Ruston head coach Ryan Bond said. “They came into the game 16-4 overall and number one in their division. Our inside guys played very well.”
Ruston was led in scoring by freshman Ahmad Hudson, who finished the night with 26 points. Junior Aidan Anding added 16, while both senior Zhy Scott and junior Joran Parker had 12 points apiece.
Bond credited his team for playing great defense in the second half.
Ruston will travel to Pineville for a Friday matchup and will tip at 7 p.m.
BATON ROUGE, La. – Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser and Volunteer Louisiana are seeking nominations for outstanding volunteers and national service members for the 2024 Champions of Service Awards. Nominations are open to any person, group, or business who has demonstrated exceptional commitment and made significant contributions to volunteerism in the great state of Louisiana. Nominations will close on January 31, 2024.
“Volunteers are the unsung heroes who light Louisiana’s path toward building stronger communities. Let us celebrate and honor these volunteers for their actions; their selfless service shines a light on the true spirit of Louisiana, where community and compassion intersect to create a legacy of positive change,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser.
The Champions of Service Awards aim to honor those unsung heroes whose selfless acts of service have positively impacted communities, inspired change, and exemplified the true spirit of volunteerism and service. This prestigious recognition serves as a heartfelt tribute to those who go above and beyond, embodying the values of compassion, dedication, and community building.
“Louisiana’s enduring legacy of resilience and communal support drives the essence of these awards, aiming to illuminate the exceptional individuals who embody these cherished values,” said Volunteer Louisiana Executive Director Judd Jeansonne.
Volunteer Louisiana will honor outstanding individuals across seven geographic regions in the state, highlighting champions among AmeriCorps members and group volunteers. The recognition will culminate in a special luncheon held during National Volunteer Week in April 2024.
You can make your nominations by submitting this nomination form, or learn more about the award by visiting the Volunteer Louisiana website. If you have any questions about the award or nomination process, please email volunteerlouisiana@crt.la.gov.
A Ruston man was arrested last Friday after he allegedly assaulted his girlfriend.
Ruston Police responded to a West California Avenue apartment complex about 6:30 p.m. December 29 regarding an assault in progress. When officers arrived, Zacharian N. Hill, 19, was seen running for an apartment building.
The victim told officers Hill had struck her earlier in the day and just before police were called, he had dragged her across the apartment by her hair.
Hill was detained and questioned. He reportedly said he grabbed the victim but not forcibly.
A records check indicated Hill was wanted by Ruston Police on warrants from a previous incident charging his with felony criminal damage to property and battery of a dating partner. Hill was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for domestic abuse battery and the two warrants.
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.
We all want to be a part of a group. We want to feel like we belong to something, someone, or somewhere. Even as kids, it is important for one’s self-esteem to have a bond with others. Nothing is worse than to be excluded from your friends or co-workers.
Today, we’ll talk about just how important it is for tournament anglers to be a part of a group and to have guys they can trust.
Trust is the key ingredient or the glue that all anglers must have within the crew they run with. To be successful on the pro level, it’s important that you have a handful of guys that you can talk to about anything. Anglers you can trust to tell you the truth about how they might be catching fish. Guys that aren’t trying to lead you astray and send you on a wild goose chase.
But one thing an angler must avoid during the course of a tournament is listening to what is called “dock talk.” This is where guys are standing around a boat ramp, weigh-in, or at dinner and spreading false information about how they are catching fish with the intention to lead another angler down the wrong path. The best advice I’ve ever been given as an angler is never trust an angler you do not know and proceed with caution on anything they tell you. It’s a game anglers play every tournament hoping to give themselves an advantage. Anglers are the best liars on the planet and will do or say anything to gain an advantage.
This is why it is so important that an angler find a group of guys he can travel with and trust. These are guys who will come to your rescue when you break down on the water or on the highway, guys who are willing to share their tackle when you need a bag of worms or a particular bait, guys you trust to tell the truth about what and how they might be catching fish.
Finding that right circle can be a challenge and it may take some time. But when you do, it can make your tournament experience so much more enjoyable and productive. Let’s face it, you’re never going to win every tournament, but your goal is always to finish in the money and collect a check.
But understand, there’s always competition within the group. Even within your own crew, you want to be the one that finished the highest. The best circles will help one of their own to win a tournament when they are in position to do so.
Tournaments today are highly competitive and it’s very difficult to be successful on your own. Anglers that have that circle of guys they can rely on, will have a greater chance for success. Even though pro fishing is not always a team sport, having guys you can share accurate information with is a huge advantage.
We’ve all heard how the key to success is to surround yourself with the right people. Professional bass fishing is no different and now you can see that being a part of the right group can lead to success on the tournament trail.
‘Til next time, good luck, good fishing, and when in doubt, set the hook!
