A Louisiana state trooper on patrol in Lincoln Parish arrested a Ruston man wanted in Longview, Texas.
Ezekiel S. Cooke, 31, was stopped. 8 a.m. Thursday on La. Highway 33 for speeding 71 in a 55 mile per hour zone. A records check showed Cooke was wanted by the Gregg County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office on warrants for possession of dangerous drugs and DWI with a child under 15.
Cook was arrested and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center pending extradition by Texas. He was issued a citation for the speeding charge.
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.
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.
Today I am going way off topic to give my perspective on what has become my own hot button issue….my sanity! The country we live in today is not one any of us thought we would ever see. The division, turmoil, and lack of respect for one another is off the chart.
People have lost their moral compass and the ability to see clearly. This has led to an erosion of our society and our sanity. But what can we do to change our own mental health? Is there something each of us can do to improve our outlook on life?
America has become a society of selfishness and what can you do for me. Our young generation of Millennials, for some reason, has no regard for our history, nor do they care. Everyone wants to erase our past, both good and bad. They don’t understand that destroying statues and monuments does not change the past. The only thing we can change is the future, by not repeating the same mistakes we made before.
On my weekly radio show, Hook’N Up & Track’N Down that’s been on air for the last 16 years, I made a promise to myself on three things. One, the show would not seek or promote alcohol companies for sponsorship. Two, I would not use the show as a political platform to express my personal viewpoints. I’ve always felt that no one wants to hear MY opinion on how they should think when it comes to political issues or who to vote for. The only exception to rule number two is if there’s a hot topic infringing on our right to hunt and fish. Three, I would cover all things related to God’s great outdoors by educating and entertaining our loyal fans.
With so much negativity going on in this country, the question is, “How do we maintain our sanity?” I’m going to give some great advice on what you can do to help eliminate the depression and anxiety you feel. It’s a simple answer…. stop watching the news channels! Every day we are exposed to all the bad things going on, not just here in our country, but all over the world. You start to worry and stress yourself on things you have no control over.
Sure, we all want to make a difference, but if our own mental health is not good how can we help others? TV is the root of a lot of our mental health issues. Every single day, seven days a week, we are bombarded with political division, mass shootings, wars, and issues that it seems none of us can agree on or resolve. Every news station like CNN, MSNBC, FOX News, or any of the big three CBS, NBC, or ABC, has their own agenda and want you to think like they do whether it’s a conservative or liberal viewpoint.
A good friend of mine gave me some great advice one day as we talked about some political issues over lunch. Even though we don’t agree on many political viewpoints, I still respect his views because I respect him as a person. Sometimes we both have to agree to disagree, but we don’t hold our viewpoints (however different they might be) against one another. We can actually have a decent conversation about Trump or Biden and not walk away enemies. But one day he gave me some great advice as he told me to stop watching Fox News, even though they seem to fall more in line with my conservative views.
So, I decide to take his advice and take a break from ALL news stations. We should all take this advice and eliminate the fog in our brain that inhibits our ability to reason and make good decisions. After taking this advice, I found my mental outlook improved in a rather short time frame. Now I still watch the news channels, but in small doses. This doesn’t mean you can’t stay up to date on what’s taking place in our world but try watching more shows that promote good mental health.
For me that would be hunting and fishing shows, along with collegiate and professional sports. For others, it might be cooking and home fixer up programs or if you really want that warm fuzzy feeling, watch the Hallmark channel!! This will always put you in a great mood especially during the holiday season where the leading man or woman ends up meeting the mate of their dreams and living happily ever after….ON EVERY EPISODE!!!!
From now on I’ll try and stick to writing more about my fishing adventures, but today I felt like this was something I needed to get off my chest. Till next time, remember…stop watching all the news channels and watch more programs that make you feel good. Your mind will thank you and you’ll get your sanity back.
Isaiah Crawford made history in Tech’s 96-55 win over Dallas Christian. (Photo by Josh McDaniel)
Louisiana Tech snapped its three-game losing streak in a big way, defeating Dallas Christian by a final score of 96-55 on Wednesday night inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court.
LA Tech (10-5) remained undefeated at home in what was its final non-conference game of the regular season. The Bulldogs shot a season-best 60.3 percent from the field, getting much of their production from the front court – Daniel Batcho had a game-high 22 points, Isaiah Crawford posted 18, and Dravon Mangum scored a season-high 15.
They were all three heavily involved on the defensive end as well as the ‘Dogs notched 13 steals and 11 blocks while holding Dallas Christian (4-11) to 35.6 percent shooting.
“It is hard to get two halves, especially when the first half is lopsided,” said Tech coach Talvin Hester. “We had one lapse in the first half and it was a defensive lapse. I got frustrated with that, but we finished the half great. My job was to keep our guys motivated in the second half, trying to push forward and keep everybody healthy. I saw some good things. The guys that have been in heavy rotation were engaged for the most part. We had some guys out with sickness so we hope to get them back soon in the rotation.”
Three of those steals and three of those blocks came courtesy of Crawford. He also tallied a team-high seven rebounds, which put the fifth-year senior in a category all on his own in program history becoming the first Bulldog to reach 1,000 points, 500 boards, 200 assists, 100 steals, and 50 blocks.
It was his front court running mate Batcho who got LA Tech off on the right foot versus DCC, scoring 14 of the Bulldogs first 19 points to give the home squad a 19-5 edge.
“To have those two guys is the ultimate weapon,” said Hester. “We are going to lean on them a lot. I think they have been pretty consistent with their efforts, which is all you really want. To have them anchoring you night in and night out is a good thing. They were 16 of 21 from the field tonight. Our work is just now getting started though.”
The Crusaders had their best stretch of basketball right after that, going on a 9-0 run to slice their deficit down to five with 12:42 to go in the first half.
LA Tech responded though by outscoring DCC, 34-9, to end the first stanza. Part of the reason was Mangum who had a late stretch of eight straight points, including a three-pointer and a dunk (plus the foul) as the Bulldogs held a 53-23 halftime lead.
The ‘Dogs stretched out the lead to as much as 42 points, primarily by dominating the paint where they outscored the Crusaders, 54-24, and by getting out in transition with 27 fastbreak points.
Sean Newman Jr. and Jordan Crawford, making his first start of the season, were the floor generals, combining for 15 assists. Newman Jr. also added 13 points as LA Tech’s fourth player with double-digit points.
DCC had one lone player score in double figures, getting 12 points from Joseph Gipson.
Smoke Harris (6) earned two spots on the LSWA all-state team. (Photo by Josh McDaniel)
Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
Louisiana Tech football had five players selected to the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s (LSWA) 2023 All-Louisiana Football Team, the organization announced Sunday.
Return specialist Smoke Harris, punter Blake Ochsendorf, and defensive back Willie Roberts all earned first-team honors. Harris also made the second team as a wide receiver in addition to linebacker Jeslord Boateng, while offensive lineman Bert Hale earned honorable mention recognition.
A panel of LSWA and sports media relations personnel voted on nominations submitted by the schools at each of the positions through the regular season. School media relations members could not vote for their own players.
Harris was electrifying in the return game with 283 punt return yards and one touchdown. He had the two highest single-game punt return yards in Conference USA this season, registering 72 at UTEP and 70 against WKU. At UTEP, he became the first Bulldog since 2017 to return a punt for a touchdown with a conference-long 67-yard punt return during the victory. He was one of the most reliable receivers in the country, hauling in 83 receptions for 796 yards and four touchdowns. He led all CUSA players with four games of 10+ receptions this season while tying for third among all CUSA receivers in scrimmage plays over 10 yards with 31. The St. Francisville native ended the season, having caught a pass in 44 consecutive games.
Ochsendorf made an immediate impact during his lone season at Tech, leading CUSA and ranking 15th nationally with a 45.72 punting average while recording a 48.09 punting average during league contests, which ranked third nationally. The Minnesota native had 17 punts of 50+ yards, while 18 were downed inside the 20-yard line. Ochsendorf ended the season as the all-time leader in career punting average at Louisiana Tech at 45.72 (minimum of 50 punts).
Roberts was one of the top defensive backs in the country in 2023. The 2023 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist led the conference and ranked fifth nationally with 12 pass breakups during the regular season, nine of which came during league play. Opponents completed 34.8 percent of passes against him (16-48) during the season. The Fort Worth product also totaled 38 tackles and an interception, forced fumble, and fumble recovery.
Boateng led LA Tech with 93 total tackles this season, including a team-high nine tackles for loss. He finished the regular season ranked fifth among all CUSA players in total tackles (93), and tied for sixth in tackles for loss (9). Boateng led the Bulldogs in tackles in consecutive weeks with 13 against Liberty and 11 against Sam Houston while posting nine or more tackles in four games in 2023.
Hale started 11 games on the Bulldogs offensive line in 2023, helping pave the way for seven 100+ yard rushing games. The Epps product played a vital role in protecting the quarterback in the Bulldogs’ passing offense which ranked third in CUSA at 260.9 yards per game and pass blocked in four 300+-yard passing performances.
Quarterback Jayden Daniels of LSU was named the state’s offensive player of the year, defensive lineman Patrick Jenkins of Tulane was defensive player of the year, and Tulane’s Willie Fritz was named coach of the year. Additionally, Tulane running back Makhi Hughes earned freshman of the year honors, and quarterback Pat McQuaide of Nicholls was named newcomer of the year.
Funeral services for Rodney Colvin, age 74 of Simsboro, LA, will be held at 2:00 PM, Sunday, January 7, 2024 at Owens Memorial Chapel with Rev. Paul Watts officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery in Ruston, LA under direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston, LA.
Rodney Kimbell Colvin passed away on Monday, January 1, 2024 in Bossier City, LA. Rodney was born on February 24, 1949 in Ruston, LA to John C. Colvin and Bonnie (Valentine) Colvin. He was married to Penny Frasier Colvin on March 3, 1978.
Rodney was an avid hunter and fisherman. Rodney didn’t just enjoy hunting and fishing, but more than that he enjoyed being with his closest friends that were more like family than just friends. He loved fox hunting and his grandchildren. Watching and cheering on his granddaughters while they played softball was his favorite thing to do.
Rodney worked at Lincoln Parish Highway Department for 33 years and was Superintendent for his last 13 years. He is preceded in death by his father, John C. Colvin and his mother, Bonnie Virginia (Valentine) Colvin.
Rodney is survived by his wife of 45 years, Penny Frasier Colvin; son, Dusty Kimbell Colvin; daughter, Katie Virginia (Colvin) Bennett; son-in-law, Hank Bennett; granddaughters: Bristol Bennett and Josie Bennett; brother, Gary Colvin and wife, Gloria; sister, Bonnie Chaudoir and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Serving as pallbearers will be Kane Kennimer, Scotty Johnson, Heath Davis, Mark Theodus, Mike Martin and Ricky Barmore. Honorary pallbearers are Bill Burt, Max Otwell, Johnny Henderson and Dr. Jesse Roberts, Jr.
Visitation will be 12:30 PM until service time, Sunday at Owens Memorial Chapel in Ruston.
Gaylon Davis Simmons December 23, 1936 – January 1, 2024 Visitation: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – Ruston, Thursday, January 4, 2024, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Service: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – Ruston, Thursday, January 4, 2024, 2:00 pm Cemetery: Kilpatrick’s Memorial Garden, Thursday, January 4, 2024
Rodney K. Colvin February 24, 1949 – January 1, 2024 Visitation: Sunday, January 7, 2024, 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home Funeral Service: Sunday, January 7, 2024, 2:00 PM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home Cemetery Committal: Sunday, January 7, 2024, 3:00 PM, Greenwood Cemetery, 515 Everett St, Ruston
It was another banner year for the Lincoln Parish Journal in 2023.
Thanks to our loyal readers, social media followers and advertising partners, the Lincoln Parish Journal continued to show major growth as one of the premier media outlets in north Louisiana.
The Lincoln Parish Journal saw an 86 percent growth in its readership over the past calendar year as it saw more than 4.1 million views, an increase from 2.2 million in 2022. The final 10 months of last year saw at least 325,000 views each month with September, October and November eclipsing 400,000 views each month.
On the social media side of things, the Lincoln Parish Journal’s Facebook page gained more than 3,000 new followers in 2023 for a total of just under 6,800 — an increase of more than 80 percent during the year. Our Facebook page reached over 1.4 million views during the calendar year, more than double our total from the previous year.
Our email subscriber list stayed strong with just under 5,000 email subscribers with an open rate in excess of 65 percent (national average is 26 percent).
All of these analytics point to a continued growth for our journal and an increase in the value for our advertising partners as the LPJ continues to be one of the most affordable means of advertising in our area.
The Lincoln Parish Journal Family wants to thank everyone for their support and we wish each and every one of your a very Happy New Year!
I said the words over and over from our subway seat that morning. Judith, the girls, my dad (their Pops) and I found ourselves jam-packed headed from Grand Central Station to Central Park with visions of ice skating on Christmas Day, just a few blocks from the Balto statue and close to the Gapstow Bridge. I’m not much of a skater, but I certainly wanted to have the memory.
We had a connection to make on 59th street to our next train. And so I said the words again so my dad could hear: “Fifty-ninth street.”
Or so I thought.
As Judith, the girls and I all exited, I started looking for the signs to our next stop. Judith whirled around and said, “I don’t think Pops got off the subway.”
I laughed. “Of course he did. I kept saying 59th Street.”
A scan of the stop led me to my horror: 71-year-old Pops was still on the train; his first time in New York, no less. I felt the rise of both anger and fear, normally reserved for a child wandering off in a crowd.
I said some words under my breath (I’ll let you guess which ones) as I frantically tried to call his cell phone.
Straight to voicemail.
_____________
Our family has new traditions for birthdays and Christmas: rather than parties and gifts, we have shifted to trips. As our house began to clutter over the years with two wonderful daughters, Judith and I (wisely) made the call to start encouraging our girls to travel instead of waiting on the latest toy. To our joy, they both have become fantastic travelers, learning airport and plane etiquette that rival any frequent flyer.
Recently, we started including my dad and their only surviving biological grandparent on either side (and we are incredibly grateful for the many people who over the years have filled those remaining spots for them).
But in a world where our futures are not remotely guaranteed past today, spending time with my dad has become paramount for us. We eat together frequently, do church together– you name it. And as the last grand to Alice and Penny, we air on the side of inclusive when we can.
So I told him a few months ago that we were going to surprise the girls with a trip to New York. And we wanted to bring him with us.
This was my fourth (Judith’s fifth) time coming to New York. I have fallen in love with it over the years. My first time was on our 10-year anniversary in 2015 (before we had our Penny), the second time was with my former boss and his wife, and the third with the kids.
Other than losing my wallet (and having most of it returned the same day) in May of 2022, our trips to New York have been nothing but fond memories.
But my dad didn’t have the same take on New York as me, and I can empathize with why. When you live in North Louisiana for nearly your entire life, New York can seem scary and as foreign as a trip to Mars. After thanking us for including him, he shared his trepidation with us.
“I’m just worried,” he said, more than once. All I could do was remind him to stay with us, and that he’d be okay.
He just forgot that on 59th Street.
___________
“Dad? Can you hear me? Where are you?”
I’ve calmed down in the eternity of 30 seconds. He picked up once he had reception at the following stop. But the call keeps cutting.
I hang up and switch to text. “When you get this, just get off at your next stop, and tell me where it is.”
Seconds pass.
Thumbs up emoji– followed shortly by “86th Street.”
___________
We arrive late on Saturday, Dec. 23, and head straight to our hotel for a rooftop dinner in view of the Empire State Building. From there we had five wonderful days of museums, site-seeing, endless walking, good food and shopping. We spent hours at the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum, the American Museum of Natural History and the New York Public Library.
My older daughter is obsessed with Van Gogh, so I was delighted for her to see “Starry Night” at MOMA and one of Van Gogh’s self-portraits at The Met. My younger daughter loved seeing the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center. We all collectively awed ourselves at a Cirque show, at Madison Square Garden of all places, a pantheon of sports venues.
We ate Indian, German, Italian. We had breakfast at Penelope’s one morning and then at Alice’s that night. We went to Christmas Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
We saw our dear friends Binni and Katie along with their new baby, Sophia.
And all the while, I kept checking in with Pops. “How are you feeling?”
“Man, this is AWESOME,” he’d say repeatedly in his Pops’ tone, rich in southern drawl. New York had been on his bucket list for a while, and our overall visit did not disappoint.
________
We’re back on the subway, headed the three stops to collect our lost Pops. Sure enough, he’s right under a sign that says 86th Street, leaned against a wall waiting for us.
As we exit the subway, we’re all laughing at this point.
“Dad, how many times can I say 59th Street?”
“I didn’t hear you,” he said in retort. Not a good enough excuse for me.
“I don’t care! You watch where we are at all times and stay with us. And if we get separated, find a nice person wearing an MTA vest and wait there for us.”
“Yes, Dad,” Pops replied, sarcastically. We make our way back to the right train, and we get to Central Park.
By this point, and for the rest of the trip, we all were practically yelling our stops to each other so it doesn’t happen again.
It’s a memory that I and the girls will have for the rest of our lives.
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.
A Ruston man was arrested last Tuesday afternoon after he allegedly damaged a Winona Drive residence on two occasions.
Ruston Police responded to the home about 3:30 p.m. and were told Kaleb M. Mills, 41, had damaged a door by kicking it open. Mills was issued a summons for criminal simple criminal damage to property and was released.
At about 4:30 p.m., officers were called back to the residence regarding a second complaint against Mills. Mills was spotted nearby and was taken into custody.
Police were told after officers left the previous call, Mills returned and kicked the door again and broke it off the hinges. Officers verified the door had been knocked off the hinges and interviewed a witness who allegedly saw Mills kick the door four or five times.
A small amount of methamphetamine was found on Mills at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center. He was booked for simple criminal damage to property and possession of methamphetamine. Bail was set at $4,500.
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 local woman last Saturday afternoon after reports she was falling in the street and blocking traffic.
Officers responded to the intersection of M.L. King Drive and South Farmerville Street where they found Iresha M. Percy, 32, walking in the middle of the street. Percy was carrying a plastic bag filled with empty beer cans and nearly fell twice while walking in the street. She was directed to leave the roadway but refused. Percy approached a passing vehicle that had stopped in the roadway and began hitting the driver’s window.
An officer attempted to arrest Percy, but she repeatedly pulled away and grabbed the officer’s handcuffs. When she would not release her grip on the handcuffs, a Taser was used to gain compliance.
After being seated in a patrol car, Percy began yelling, and when officers checked on her, she attempted to rapidly leave the patrol car. She had to be restrained and secured again in the back seat.
Percy was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for simple obstruction of a highway, disturbing the peace, resisting an officer, and simple escape. Bail was set at $8,500.
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.
Cool Old Dude and Tons of Fun guys like me went to bed at a slick 7:30 p.m. New Year’s Eve. Didn’t mean to stay up that late but had forgotten to start the grill and the dead chicken and sausages were later getting done than I had planned.
Hate it when that happens. Especially on a holiday.
Some of us are old enough to remember when we were crazy enough to actually stay up to watch the ball drop in Times Square — “10, 9, 8… !” — or when we would be out somewhere with other sickos (meaning other “normal young people”) waiting for midnight to ring in the New Year.
Festive and whatnot. Mainly awake.
But I was another kind of sick this New Year’s. Something is “going around” and I hate it when that happens too because it usually gets around to me and you. Stuffy head. Ribs hurt. No energy.
On the bright side, New Year’s night I made it to 8 and to the end of Michigan’s win over Alabama. Old-school game, my opinion. Woke up in the middle of the night for bathroom duty — another elderly issue — and saw that Washington had beaten Texas in another thriller.
“For entertainment purposes only,” the early line has No. 1 Michigan as a 4.5 favorite over No. 2 Washington in Monday night’s College Football Playoff National Championship game from NRG Stadium in Houston at 6:30 (I might can stay up!) on ESPN. I like Washington to cover.
So take Michigan. Because …
As recently discussed, I can pick winners in games like Germany could pick winners in World Wars. Sleep was easy for me by the time Washington teed it up with Texas New Year’s Night because my hopes of winning the ESPN BowlFest Fantasy competition were as gone as the clouds in yesterday’s sky. An 8-0 start in mid-December was followed by a whirlwind of pitifulness, as predicted, that left me in the 50th percentile of pickers, which included real people but also included turtles, stumps, and some fish. I couldn’t spell ‘win’ if you spotted me the “w” and the “i.”
But this predicted ineptness did not keep me from enjoying, immensely, BowlFest. My favorite bowls, strictly because of names and present company excluded (we’re looking at you, Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl, always No. 1 in our hearts), were these:
The Tony the Tiger Bowl in El Paso, because I love Sun Bowl Stadium and because, well, Frosted Flakes. Notre Dame was ggggggreat and beat Oregon State, 40-8, for the record;
The Cheeze-It Citrus Bowl because Cheeze-Its should be its own food group, and more on that another time. Tennessee beat Iowa 100-2 or something like that. The Vols might still be scoring;
The Duke’s Mayo Bowl because this advertises a Carolina staple I grew up with. West Virginia out-condimented North Carolina in this year’s bowl in Charlotte. Of course, I foolishly had the Tarheels;
The Avocados From Mexico Cure Bowl in, oddly enough, Orlando, where every other bowl game is now played. For some reason, I felt healthier after watching it;
And my favorite of all the bowls, the Pop-Tarts Bowl (from, guess where?, Orlando!), even though Kansas State beat N.C. State, 28-19, and I had (naturally) the Wolfpack. Didn’t matter because:
One of the mascots was edible. True story. The winners ate a giant Pop-Tart after the game. To the winners go the spoils. In light of this development, would you rather play in the prestigious Cotton Bowl or the Pop-Tarts Bowl? That’s what I thought;
Speaking of giants, the non-edible mascot who ran around the sidelines of picturesque Camping World Stadium most of the game showed up by being popped out of a huge toaster on the field. Yes, this is next-level mascot stuff;
The mascot tried to catch a missed field goal with a net. We’re talking about a fruit scone with a net chasing a ball;
And finally, the winning players dumped a couple of coolers filled with Pop-Tarts onto the winning coach as he made his way to midfield to shake hands with the losing and thus non-Pop-Tarts-eating coach immediately after the game. The only other thing this bowl needed was some milk.
If you have a loved one showing signs of Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, you’ll obviously experience some strong emotions — and you’ll likely ask yourself this question: What can I do to help? While there are certainly many ways you could provide assistance over time, there’s one area that might require your immediate attention: finances.
Alzheimer’s patients often exhibit a range of money-related problems. Here are some of the most common ones, according to the National Institute on Aging:
Trouble counting change or paying for a purchase
Difficulty in balancing a checkbook
Confusion over bank statements
Not paying — or even opening — bills
Making strange and unnecessary purchases with a credit card
Of course, your awareness of these problems depends, to a great extent, on just how familiar you are with the daily life of your loved one with Alzheimer’s or similar dementia. But if you have noticed these issues, it may be time for you to act before things get worse — and they can get worse, because scam artists constantly target the elderly by making false promises, soliciting personal data, asking for money and even requesting changes in estate-planning documents.
So, what steps can you take? You’ll need to clearly communicate your concerns to your afflicted loved one, and you’ll have to get their consent for the actions you wish to take on their behalf. This may not be easy, but it’s certainly worth the effort.
Here are a few moves to consider:
Set up auto-pay. If your loved one has still been paying bills manually, now may be a good time to set up auto-pay for utilities, loans and other bills.
Open a joint checking account. By opening a joint checking account with your loved one, or perhaps adding your name to an existing account, you can help ensure all payments are accurate and appropriate.
Freeze credit reports. By freezing your loved one’s credit reports at the credit reporting bureaus — Equifax, TransUnion and Experian — you can prevent bogus credit lines from being opened in their name.
Create a durable power of attorney. In the early stages of Alzheimer’s or dementia, your loved one could create a durable power of attorney and name you, or another close family member, as the “agent” — which means you’d be empowered to make financial and other decisions when your loved one is no longer capable of doing so. (A durable power of attorney could also be created in cases of advanced Alzheimer’s, but it can be somewhat more challenging.)
Help establish a living trust. In addition to a durable power of attorney, a living trust can be valuable for families of Alzheimer’s patients. A living trust can hold a person’s financial assets and other property while the trustee manages the money and makes investment and spending decisions. A living trust can be complex, so before establishing one, you’ll need to consult with your legal and tax professionals.
When you’re dealing with the financial issues associated with your loved one’s Alzheimer’s or dementia, it can feel like you’re on a long road. But diligently seeking out the appropriate financial moves can help make the journey less stressful — for everyone involved.
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This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.
They say variety is the spice of right, and being a New Orleans native, I’m a spicy kind of guy.
But as a true sports fanatic, I’m also admittedly what some of my friends think is crazy because I don’t limit my pro fandom to the NFL’s Saints, NBA’s Pelicans and the MLB’s Houston Astros after first attending some of their games in the Astrodome in the late 1960s.
My “loyal to one team and one team” only friends don’t get it, but that’s OK. I’ve never been one to automatically follow conventional thinking, so my fanaticism allows me to support multiple teams.
That’s especially true for the NFL, but for each team I follow, I have my reasons.
I’m actually older than the Saints, so I’m also a big Packers fan, going back to flashes of memories of sitting in my father’s lap cheering on his favorite team before the Who Dats came to town. He loved players like LSU’s Jimmy Taylor (one of the original Saints via expansion draft), Bart Starr, Willie Davis, Paul Hornung, Jerry Kramer (a great author, offensive guard and kicker) and Tulane’s Max McGee.
But Green Bay is No. 3 on my NFL countdown, because they’re an NFL rival of the Saints. No. 2 are the Pittsburgh Steelers, and yes, that’s primarily because of Terry Bradshaw and the fact that Steelers play in the AFC opposite the Saints.My love for the Steelers goes back to following the Steelers when Bradshaw was still the No. 3 QB behind Terry Hanratty and Joe Gilliam.
The Titans are next because they’re the old Oilers, and both my parents had siblings raising families in Houston, hence my love of the Astros.
Those are my NFL “Top 4,” but there are other teams I follow, too.
I like the Ravens because I was hurt at the way Robert Irsay snuck the Colts out of town to Indy. You see, I’m a Colts fan, too, because of two quarterbacking greats. And I’m not talking about Peyton Manning. My love for the Colts other than those simple, crisp uniforms is because of Johnny Unitas and Bert Jones, a former Ruston Bearcat and LSU great.
And Edgar Allen Poe is one of my favorite writers, so I have to love the Ravens.
The Chiefs are up there because of Buck Buchanan (my dad always loved Grambling players, too) and Hank Stram. The late Joe Delaney and the heroic story surrounding his death only solidified my love for KC.
I still like the Dolphins because of Don Shula and the fact he first coached the Colts to a Super Bowl and largely because of the way he built his Dolphins teams around his players. With Larry Czonka, Jim Kiick and Mercury Morris, his Dolphins ran. With Dan Marino, Mark Duper, Mark Clayton, Nat Moore and Tony Nathan, they passed the ball.
As a young baseball player I had a green glove and green aluminum bat and loved going to Tulane athletic events, so the fact that the Eagles wore great green uniforms helped build my love for them.
I also love the Bears because of many players, but it really all boils down to only two — Brian Piccolo and Walter Payton. I remember watching “Brian’s Song” the night it premiered and it’s still one of my favorite movies.
My fandom for the Commodores (Redskins) goes back to original Saints QB Billy Kilmer (who unexpectedly beat out Gary Cuozzo for that role) leading Washington to a Super Bowl against the Dolphins, and later because of the running of John Riggins.
And that was before a good man who later became a good friend — Doug Williams — made history with his Super Bowl win over the Broncos.
I’ve also pulled for the Raiders because of their attitude and players like the “Mad Bomber” — Darryl Lamonica and Kenny “The Snake” Stabler, and Philadelphia because of those great Dick Vermeil-era uniforms.
In the MLB, the Yankees are behind the Astros because of those great late ‘70s teams, followed by a tie between the Braves and Cubs, thanks to cable TV. I went to Braves games as a young teen for two summers when my father worked on a post-graduate degree at Georgia Tech, and my mother and I would drop my sister off with relatives in Jonesboro and Ruston before heading east to spend a few weekends to attend games with my dad.
I also like the Orioles because my father wanted me to be Brooks Robinson and play third base as he did when I was learning the game and bought me multiple training books by Robinson, and the Royals.
NBA-wise I loved the Jazz as a teen before hating them after they left New Orleans. I was a huge Karl Malone fan but never could pull for the team again.
My second favorite pro hoops team was originally my first, going back to the days of Bill Russell, “Hondo” Havlicek and Dave Cowens.
Next come the Bulls, who I especially became a fan of as a young adult because “I always liked Mike,” still the best in my mind along with Pistol Pete Maravich.
And finally the Warriors, because of those 70s teams and watching Rick Barry’s “granny-style” under-handed free throws.
I understand many people don’t get it, but while I’m a Who Dat (and Astro) forever, I have a lot more love than hate in my heart when it comes to watching professional sports.
Mary Grace Hawkins (12) scored nine points to help lead Creek to a 55-19 win over Glenbrook. (photo by Darrell James)
By Malcolm Butler
Fast starts are becoming common place for the Cedar Creek Lady Cougars.
Head coach Katie Hall’s bunch jumped out to a 26-8 first quarter lead, overcame a brutal second quarter shooting slump and then coasted to a 55-19 win over Glenbrook Tuesday night at The Brickhouse.
Six different Lady Cougars netted points in the opening eight minutes led by Alivia Lee’s six, Olivia Underwood’s five and Mallory Smith’s five as Creek (9-8) shared the basketball to the tune of eight assists in the opening frame.
“We are clicking,” said Hall. “I am proud of them. We have worked through the muck and this is where we are seeing the light finally.”
Creek hit 11 field goals in the opening quarter and appeared poised to have one of its biggest scoring nights of the year. Underwood opened the scoring with a three and Zoey Venters then added back-to-back buckets as Creek took a quick 7-0 lead in the opening two minutes.
Smith got involved with five straight points before Leah Sutherland’s two free throws with 3:37 to play gave the Lady Cougars their first double digit lead at 16-6. Lee scored six straight points over a 60 second span late in the quarter and Caroline James hit a 15-footer with under a minute to play to cap the scoring.
The second quarter wouldn’t be as pretty.
Mary Grace Hawkins hit a three-pointer at the 6:40 mark and James drained a three with 5:55 to play to give the Lady Cougars a 32-8 lead. It would be the final points of the frame as Creek went almost six full minutes without a point.
“The second quarter we hit that wall,” said Hall. “We got in foul trouble and the coach probably sat some players too long. We backed off the press which brings us energy when it works for us.”
While Creek struggled offensively, the Lady Cougars defense stayed strong limiting Glenbrook (0-6) to just four points as Creek led 32-12 at the half.
The third quarter was much better for the Lady Cougars as they outscored the Apaches 18-4 led by five from Underwood and Hawkins and four by Venters.
Creek led 50-16 at the end of three and coasted to the win.
For the game, the Lady Cougars hit seven three-pointers and hit just 6-of-11 free throws.
Underwood led the way with 10 points, Hawkins added nine and Lee, Venters and James each scored eight points.
“I love how we have equal scoring,” said Hall. “It’s just nice not to have to rely on just one person. I feel like we are shooting the ball pretty well after our holiday break. I am glad they have the confidence to keep shooting although we shot so poorly right before the break.”
The Lady Cougars will travel to New Orleans to face Saline at the Smoothie King Center Friday at 12:30 p.m.
Brett Bell hits a jumper during the Cougars win over Glenbrook Tuesday. (photo by Darrell James)
By Malcolm Butler
Another game, another double digit scoring night for Jake Doan and Connor Johnson.
Doan scored 28 points and Johnson added 25 points to lead Cedar Creek (10-4) to a 78-35 win over Glenbrook (0-8) Tuesday night at The Brickhouse. It marked the Cougars fifth straight win.
Neither Cougar wasted any time as Doan netted 18 points and Johnson chipped in with nine points in the opening eight minutes as the Cougars built a 29-11 lead.
Doan scored the first seven points of the game before Brett Bell hit a shot in the lane to give the Cougars a 9-4 advantage. Johnson then scored seven straight to make it 16-4 Creek before Doan got hot, scoring 11 straight — including a trio of three-pointers during a 75 second stretch.
“We came out hot,” said head coach Lance Waldron. “Twenty-nine points in the first quarter was really good. The guys were really getting after it and playing some good basketball, up-tempo basketball. Jake and CJ both had really good first periods for us.”
The Cougars pushed the lead to 35-18 with 5:43 to play in the second quarter on a pair of free throw by Doan, but then went cold, not scoring for over three and a half minutes. Landon Hall broke the drought with a layup with 2:20 to play to make it 37-20.
Hall’s bucket seamed to break the seal on the basket as the Cougars scored 15 points in the final 2 and a half minutes of the half to take a 50-16 lead into the locker room.
“I am seeing the guys get better,” said Waldron. “Like Jack Bell … is he getting tough in there or what? We didn’t have that from him at the start of the year. It just wasn’t there. We are starting to play more physical.
“The referee’s let them play tonight. We had to be physical out there. I think that is something we have lacked in the past, being able to handle playing physical. I am starting to see that in this team.”
The third quarter saw Creek take a 35-point lead on a Doan bucket with 1:40 to play, instituting the mandatory running clock the rest of the game. Johnson led Creek in the third quarter with eight points, including a pair of three-pointers, while Doan added six and Jack Bell added five points.
A number of reserves saw action and the scorebook in the fourth quarter for the Cougars as Cameron Temple, Blake Robinson, John Abram Earle and Rex Freling all netted buckets in the win.
The Cougars will travel to New Orleans Friday to face Saline at the Smoothie King Center in a game that will tipoff following the completion of the girls game (12:30 p.m.).
PASADENA, Ca. – The Louisiana Office of Tourism Explore Louisiana float has won the Showmanship Award for a second year in a row during the 135th Rose Parade®. This award represents showmanship and entertainment.
“We’re very excited to kick off the Louisiana Office of Tourism 2024 Year of Music campaign with this recognition,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser.
This is the third consecutive year Louisiana has participated in the parade. In 2022, that float received the Wrigley Legacy award for outstanding display of floral presentation, float design and entertainment.
This year’s theme was “Celebrating a World of Music: The Universal Language.”
“Louisiana is a perfect fit for the theme of music. Music is a part of our culture, from Mardi Gras to our festivals, to our daily lives. We will kick off our new marketing campaign, Year of Music, in 2024 with this parade and we know we’re going to put on a show the audience will never forget,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “Our riders this year represent the celebratory spirit of Louisiana and our performers are bringing authentic Louisiana flare.”
Louisiana’s 2024 Rose Parade® float featured a larger-than-life Mardi Gras jester, fleur-de-lis, second-line inspired umbrellas, and of course lots of purple, green and gold. Louisiana’s rolling performance included all the sights and sounds of a Louisiana Mardi Gras.
Grammy-nominated Zydeco musician Sean Ardoin, Cajun fiddler Amanda Shaw, and legendary guitarist James Burton were included in the performance.
Seven premier sponsors of Louisiana’s float represent convention and visitors bureaus and tourism boards from across the state including Lafayette Travel, Natchitoches Convention & Visitors Bureau, New Orleans & Company, Tangipahoa Parish Convention & Visitors Bureau, Visit Lake Charles, Visit Shreveport-Bossier, and Visit The Northshore.
“I’m thrilled to be joined by this year’s sponsors as we demonstrate how you can Feed Your Soul in every corner of the state with our rich culture and amazing music,” added Lt. Governor Nungesser. “This year’s riders represent a variety of genres of music Louisiana either created or influenced throughout history.”
Louisiana’s 2024 Rose Parade® float riders include:
• Sidney “Big Sid” Williams; Owner, El Sid O’s Zydeco & Blues Club (Lafayette Travel – Premier Sponsor) • Katrice Lacour; Zydeco musician (Natchitoches Convention & Visitors Bureau – Premier Sponsor) • Curtis Doucette, Jr.; Lead developer of renovations at Dew Drop Inn (New Orleans & Company – Premier Sponsor) • Kasia Trepagnier; Actress/Producer (Tangipahoa Convention & Visitors Bureau – Premier Sponsor) • Kennidy Elizabeth Ann Peavy; 2023 Southwest Louisiana Miss Queen Mardi Gras (Visit Lake Charles – Premier Sponsor) • James Burton; Legendary guitarist (Visit Shreveport-Bossier – Premier Sponsor) • Amanda Shaw; Cajun fiddler (Visit The Northshore – Premier Sponsor) • Jordyn Finlyn Kelley; 64th Louisiana Fur and Wildlife Festival Queen (Calcasieu Parish) • Laura Jane Kirkpatrick; Miss Louisiana’s Teen 2023 (Baton Rouge) • Zharia Lemar; Miss Festival of the Bonfires XXXIII (St. James Parish – selected by First Lady-elect Sharon Landry) • Destiny Wilrye; 2023 Miss Ragley Heritage and Timber Festival (Beauregard Parish – selected by First Lady-elect Sharon Landry)
It was March 12, 1951. For comics aficionados, this date is important. It was the first time anyone got to experience the chaos of Dennis the Menace. A few weeks earlier, Ian Chisholm, a comic book editor, visited a music hall and heard the singers perform a song called “I’m Dennis the Menace from Venice.” The creative wheels in Ian’s brain began to turn. The title of the song played over and over in his mind. Ian’s focus was such that the rest of the performance was a blur. Within a short time, he could visualize Dennis. Dennis’ character came together so easily that it was almost as if Dennis had always existed. He had disheveled black hair, his shorts exposed his knobby knees, he wore a red and black striped shirt, and he had a devilish grin. He created a whole back story for Dennis including his family, friends, and a dog named Gnasher. Ian had Dennis in his mind. Now, he just needed him on paper.
Ian contacted artist Davey Law and described the character so Davey could draw Dennis. Davey drew Dennis as he understood him and presented his artwork to Ian. Davey was proud of his work and expected Ian to be exited to see “Dennis the Menace.” After just a glance, Ian’s face revealed his disappointment. That was not Dennis. Ian described Dennis in more detail, and Davey produced another drawing. Davey thought surely he had gotten it right this time. Again, Ian was disappointed. This cycle continued several times until Ian, who was not an artist by any stretch of the imagination, drew a rough sketch of Dennis. There was “Dennis the Menace.”
Dennis was a badly behaved schoolboy who, with his dog Gnasher, kept up a reign of terror against a group of well-behaved schoolboys known as “softies.” The most frequent recipient of Dennis’ reign of terror was Walter the Softy, although Walter sometimes got the last laugh. “Dennis the Menace” was an instant hit. In addition to comics, Dennis has been portrayed in just about every form of media including children’s books, Saturday morning cartoons, and feature films. Dennis has been drawn by a succession of artists since that important date, March 12, 1951. Children’s author Michael Rosen said, “In most children’s books, a bad child gets made good – but the great thing about Dennis is he never gets better.” Today, we would call Dennis a bully.
Wait a minute. If the “Dennis the Menace” I just described sounds unfamiliar to you, there is a good reason. The “Dennis the Menace” that we know has blond hair, wears a black and blue striped T-shirt, red overalls, and alternates between wearing white tennis shoes and going barefooted. The Dennis we know is troublesome but good-hearted. He always means well but his attempts to help others always turn into chaos. He is well-liked by the other kids in the neighborhood and could never be described as being a bully. Hank Ketcham created the Dennis we know and love and based him on his own son, Dennis Ketcham. Yes, there are two “Dennis the Menaces.” Both “Dennis the Menace” characters were created independently. The mean-spirited “Dennis the Menace” originated in the United Kingdom, and the happy-go-lucky “Dennis the Menace” originated in the United States. Ian Chisholm and Hank Ketcham were completely unaware of each other’s creation until after they were published. You see, both “Dennis the Menace” characters debuted on the exact same date, March 12, 1951.
The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs play their final non-conference game of the regular season tonight when they host Dallas Christian.
Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. at the Thomas Assembly Center and the game 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 (9-5) was close yet again to pulling off a road upset but ended up falling to Grand Canyon by a final score of 73-70. The Bulldogs shot a season-high 56.0 percent from the field, holding a 68-64 lead with three minutes to go. The Lopes though closed the game out on a 9-2 run to win by three.
The Bulldogs have suffered three straight losses in road games to Saint Louis, Seattle U, and Grand Canyon by a combined 10 points. All five of their losses have been by single digits.
LA Tech has played one of its hardest non-conference schedules in recent history. Their non-conference NET strength of schedule ranks 63rd in the country, having faced four opponents that rank in the top 50 in the NET.
Daniel Batcho led the Bulldogs in scoring for a third straight game, scoring 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting versus the Lopes. Over the last three games, the forward is averaging 19.3 points per game while shooting 63 percent from the field. He is also averaging 11.7 rebounds per game during this span. He is currently one of 13 players in the country averaging a double-double with 14.3 points and 10.4 boards per game.
Tahlik Chavez also tallied 16 points at Grand Canyon, this after being held to nine total points in the previous two contests at Saint Louis and Seattle U. The shooting guard knocked down four three-pointers in the game, the fourth time this season making at least four threes in a single contest. He has made a team-high 35 triples while shooting 38.9 percent from deep.
Dallas Christian College (3-10) is a private Christian college in Farmer’s Branch, Texas, which is a suburb of Dallas. The Crusaders compete in the Division II Southwest region of the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association (NCCAA), an association of Christian university, colleges, and bible colleges.
The Crusaders had won two at home against Kansas Christian and Southwestern Adventist prior to losing, 77-63, this past Saturday at Arkansas-Fort Smith. DCC will travel to take on Texas A&M-Texarkana on Tuesday night prior to facing LA Tech on Wednesday in what will be an exhibition game for Dallas Christian.
The Crusaders are led by Yuot Gai who is averaging 12.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. The fifth-year senior is shooting 53 percent from the field and 49 percent from three-point range. He has two double-doubles on the season, including a 33-point, 15-rebound effort versus Kansas Christian.
This will be the first ever meeting on the hardwood between LA Tech and Dallas Christian. DCC is the fourth opponent so far this season that the Bulldogs are facing for the first time in program history.
Courtesy of GSU Athletic Communications and Staff Reports
In a decisive display of dominance, Grambling asserted themselves by securing an impressive victory against The College of Biblical Studies, ending with a commanding score of 159-18 Tuesday night.
The margin of victory is believed to be an NCAA Division I record for men or women.
The College of Biblical Studies is located in Houston, Texas. The team was 0-6 prior to the contest with the average margin of loss coming by 53.3 points per game with their closest loss being an 80-57 loss to Randall University in its last game on December 5. According to the school’s website, their eight-player roster consists of all freshmen. The Grambling game is the program’s only DI opponent.
Grambling was led by Arianna Mosley with a notable 27 points 6 steals and 5 rebounds. The team showcased depth with players like Kahia Warmsley who notched a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds, Amanda Blake and DeMya Young both contributed 15 points, respectively.
On the opposing side, Alyssa Lowe emerged as the top scorer for the College of Biblical Studies with 8 points. However, the team faced substantial challenges, shooting at an 18.6% efficiency rate from the field, struggling to counter Grambling’s offensive onslaught.
Grambling shot 59% from the field (70-119), amassing 122 points in the paint and 69 points on fast breaks. The Lady Tigers led 46-4 after the first quarter and 82-10 at halftime. GSU forced 57 turnover, scoring 78 points off of turnovers.
Grambling Lady Tigers end their non-conference schedule 6-5 and look forward to opening SWAC play on January 6 against Prairie View A&M university. Fans are encouraged to attend the match being played at the Fredrick C. Hobdy assembly center but can also catch all the action live on HBCU+.
Graveside services for Bonnie Jean Sherrard, age 74, of Ruston will be held at 10:00 am, Wednesday, January 3, 2024 at Riser Cemetery in Ruston under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Stephen Beard officiating. The family welcomes all loved ones or friends to celebrate and honor the life of Bonnie at the graveside service.
Bonnie is survived by her son Casey Sherrard and wife Heather; daughter Jenny Sherrard; three grandchildren: Cassie Bearden, Dylan Bearden, and Isabel Sherrard; sister Dwanna Riser Schmidt; niece Caitlin Schmidt; uncle Troy Lowe and wife Patsy and a host of cousins and friends. Bonnie was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Marvin Sherrard, father Earl Riser and mother Lurline Riser.
Bonnie and Marvin started their life together the day after she graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Special Education. Bonnie’s true calling was one of service to children with special needs, where she went on to be the Head of the Special Education Department at Ruston High School for over ten years. She was recognized as one of the Lincoln Parish Teachers of the Year for Outstanding Special Educators. Bonnie went on to work with her husband after retirement as an owner of On-Time Feeders, where she continued her passion for teaching by employing those with special needs and providing life skills.
Bonnie was lucky enough to have married her true soul mate and love of her life. They enjoyed spontaneous trips and adventures with their two children and family. Bonnie was a true “cupcake” mom that devoted her constant presence and support to her family. Her three grandchildren were her absolute joy. From weekly sleepovers, homework, cooking their favorite foods, and offering words of wisdom as required, she remained a welcoming presence in their lives. Bonnie was the absolute glue for the family, serving what one would describe as a true matriarch.
Honorary pallbearers are noted to be Troy Lowe, Brandon Kirby, Chad Bearden and Trevor Laureys.
The family would like to extend a special acknowledgement of gratitude to Best Home Health and her “favorite” nurse Brandy Uzzle, Allegiance Hospice, Dr. Larry T. Olinde, and Dr. M. Langiulli for the compassionate and skillful care provided during Bonnie’s battle.
