Choudrant boys coach Ryan Smith (far right) saw his Aggies pick up a 62-point road win at Downsville Charter Friday night (Photo by T. Scott Boatright).
By T. Scott Boatright
Choudrant started strong and never looked back Friday night as the Aggies picked up their first District 2-B win of the season by racing to an 88-26 win at Downsville Charter.
The win pushed Choudrant to 18-12 overall and 1-1 in district play while the Demons fell to 0-20.
Choudrant led 20-4 at the end of the opening stanza before exploding for 31 points in the second quarter to build a 51-12 at intermission.
Michael Jones poured in 18 first-half points and led the Aggies overall with 24 while Carson Carrico sank six 3-pointers to add 20 points, all coming in the first half.
Choudrant’s Braden Soto was also hot from long range, connecting on four treys and adding 16 points for the Aggies, who also got eight points each from Lawson Stevens and Benton Case.
Next up for the Aggies is a home district game against Forest on Tuesday.
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Lady Aggies 58, Lady Demons 12
Senior guard Brelyn Pyle led the way with 21 points as the Choudrant girls’ also took a dominating victory over Downsville to remain unbeaten in District 2-B play at 2-0.
Pyle scored 15 points in the opening stanza, including three 3-pointers.
Choudrant led 26-8 at the end of the first quarter but tightened up even more defensively in the second stanza to build a 36-11 advantage by halftime.
That defensive domination continued in the second half as the Lady Aggies allowed Downsville Charter only six points in the final 16 minutes of play.
Reese Brown added eight points for Choudrant, while Reese Brown added 11 and Kadence Nugent and Sadie Jones chipped in with seven points each.
Next up for the Lady Aggies, now 10-18 overall, will be a home district game against Forest on Tuesday.
Funeral services for Bobby Needham Bryan, 83 of Ruston, Louisiana, will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Sunday, January 28, 2024 at Farrar Funeral Home in Farmerville under the direction of Owens Memorial Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Cross Roads Cemetery. Scott Jennings and Bill Sanderson will officiate the services.
Bobby Needham Bryan, born on February 22, 1940, was sent to be with his heavenly father on January 24, 2024. Bobby is survived by his wife Velma Caroline Bryan, children Russell Bryan and wife Marilyn, Brenda Bryan Puckett and partner Roy Purcell, Robert Bryan and wife Dedria Bryan, TJ Bryan and wife Jessie Bryan, and other children: Suzanne King, Mike Gilbert, and Daryl Gilbert and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. Preceded in death by parents Leslie James Bryan and Hazel Bryan and Velma Karen Miller.
Bobby was a dedicated, hard worker who spent many, many years working at the Chevrolet Dealership in Ruston. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed gardening, hunting, and diligently working outdoors. He was a devoted Christian who was very dedicated to his family and all those that he loved. He was a very kind and humble man with a gentle spirit who touched many lives with his warmth and sincerity, leaving a profound impact that will be cherished by those fortunate enough to have known him.
Pallbearers will be Brad King, Caleb Bryan, Chad Leggett, Judd Dutton, Doug Brewster, and Daniel Collinsworth. Honorary pallbearers will be Max Hammons, Gerald Bartlett, and Woodrow Leggett.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 28, 2024 12:00 P.M. with service to follow at 1:00 P.M. at Farrar Funeral Home in Farmerville, Louisiana.
James “Randy” Meeks April 2, 1949 – January 24, 2024 Visitation: Kilpatrick Funeral Home Farmerville, Saturday, January 27, 2024, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Service: Kilpatrick Funeral Home Farmerville, Saturday, January 27, 2024, 3:00 pm
Jo Ann Gulett May 12, 1930 – January 24, 2024 Service: Beulah Cemetery, Monday, January 29, 2024, 2:00 pm Cemetery: Beulah Cemetery, Monday, January 29, 2024
Troy Woodall September 13, 1928 – January 24, 2024 Visitation: Highland Baptist Church, Thursday, January 25, 2024, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Service: Pine Grove Baptist Church, Friday, January 26, 2024, 2:00 pm Cemetery: Pine Grove Baptist Cemetery – Bastrop, Friday, January 26, 2024
Choudrant boys coach Ryan Smith (far right) saw his Aggies pick up a 62-point road win at Downsville Charter Friday night (Photo by T. Scott Boatright).
By T. Scott Boatright
Choudrant started strong and never looked back Friday night as the Aggies picked up their first District 2-B win of the season by racing to an 88-26 win at Downsville Charter.
The win pushed Choudrant to 18-12 overall and 1-1 in district play while the Demons fell to 0-20.
Choudrant led 20-4 at the end of the opening stanza before exploding for 31 points in the second quarter to build a 51-12 at intermission.
Michael Jones poured in 18 first-half points and led the Aggies overall with 24 while Carson Carrico sank six 3-pointers to add 20 points, all coming in the first half.
Choudrant’s Braden Soto was also hot from long range, connecting on four treys and adding 16 points for the Aggies, who also got eight points each from Lawson Stevens and Benton Case.
Next up for the Aggies is a home district game against Forest on Tuesday.
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Lady Aggies 58, Lady Demons 12
Senior guard Brelyn Pyle led the way with 21 points as the Choudrant girls’ also took a dominating victory over Downsville to remain unbeaten in District 2-B play at 2-0.
Pyle scored 15 points in the opening stanza, including three 3-pointers.
Choudrant led 26-8 at the end of the first quarter but tightened up even more defensively in the second stanza to build a 36-11 advantage by halftime.
That defensive domination continued in the second half as the Lady Aggies allowed Downsville Charter only six points in the final 16 minutes of play.
Reese Brown added eight points for Choudrant, while Reese Brown added 11 and Kadence Nugent and Sadie Jones chipped in with seven points each.
Next up for the Lady Aggies, now 10-18 overall, will be a home district game against Forest on Tuesday.
Lincoln Prep’s Devin Burton drives in for a layup during first-half action Friday night during the Panthers’ home win over Cedar Creek. (Photo by T. Scott Boatright)
By T. Scott Boatright
Big wins aren’t always a thing of beauty, but the “W” always counts.
That’s the way Lincoln Preparatory School basketball coach Antonio Hudson summed up his team’s victory Friday night after the Panthers rolled past Cedar Creek 54-37 in a District 2-1A showdown at the LPS Gym.
Lincoln Prep (10-7, 2-0) didn’t gain its first lead until Trey Spann hit a 3-pointer at the 3:21 mark of the opening stanza that put the Panthers on top 11-10.
Those were the first points of an 8-0 run to close out the first quarter that gave the Panthers a 17-10 advantage.
The Panthers’ press forced numerous turnovers in the second quarter as Lincoln Prep outscored the Cougars 14-7 in the period to take a 31-17 lead into the locker room at halftime.
But the Panthers came out cold to start the second half, with Cedar Creek (11-8, 1-1) pulling within nine points at 33-24 on a Brett Bell 3-pointer at the 5:00 mark of the third quarter.
By the end of the stanza, Lincoln Prep only led 41-29, something that Hudson admittedly found frustrating after the strong second quarter.
“I don’t know if it’s because we’re young or what,” Hudson said. “I guess as coaches we’ve got to do a better job of stressing the importance of executing.
“What happens is that when we go to the stall, we get away from executing. When we run our normal offense, we get the looks we want. When you see us stall, as head coach I’ve got to do a better job of stressing the importance of time and score of the game and the importance of executing when you have to execute.”
Hudson was especially disappointed in the start of the second half when the Cougars went on a 7-2 run to cut the Lincoln Prep lead down to nine.
“We went into halftime up by 14 and the first three possessions we did nothing and suddenly it was a single-digit lead,” Hudson said. “We’re up double digits and we come out with the ball and get nothing on the first three offensive possessions and give up a layup and a foul and then it was a single-digit game.
“We actually felt like we could press them a little more. In the first half we got them going pretty good. Maybe they got a little fatigued toward the end. They handled the pressure pretty well at times, and they also made big shots.”
Cedar Creek sophomore Jake Doan led the Cougars with 13 points and caught Hudson’s attention with his play.
“He and (Bell) are just (underclassmen)? Those guys are going to be pretty good,” Hudson said. “I’m not looking forward to staying in the same district with them with the changes coming next season.”
Lincoln Prep outscored the Cougars 13-8 in the fourth quarter, with Zion Hicks scoring the final four points for the Panthers on a reverse layup and another layup off a steal.
While not exactly pleased with his team’s overall play, Hudson was still pleased to see his Panthers earn the win and move to 10-7 overall and 2-0 in district play.
“It’s always good to go 2-0 in district, especially with the power rankings,” Hudson said. “I can see that race getting real tight for that four, five and six slot. You want to be the highest seeds in the playoffs so you can get a homecourt advantage, so to start 2-0 in the district is a blessing.”
Stephen Burks III led the Panthers with 20 points and adding nine rebounds, five steals and three assists while Devin Burton and Trumarion Smith chipped in with 10 points each, with Burton pulling down eight boards..
Now Lincoln Prep turns its attention to the Arcadia Hornets, who the Panthers will play host to Saturday night.
“That’s a big one just because it’s Arcadia, and they’ve been playing well,” Hudson said. “I saw film and they were actually leading Ruston at points in that recent game. And they upset Ringgold (Thursday) night, too, so they’ve been playing well and it will be a challenge. They’re bigger, they’re more physical, so we just have to make sure that we execute.”
(Ruston junior Aidan Anding led Ruston with 21 points. Photo Credit: Reggie McLeroy)
By Kyle Roberts
A 21-point effort from junior guard Aidan Anding was not enough for Ruston as the Bearcats (13-8, 2-1 District 2-5A) fell 62-60 in the Madhouse on Millhaven to the Ouachia Lions in a district showdown.
The ‘Cats and the Lions took a tie in the halftime locker room at 24-24 with a two-point differential in the third quarter proved to be the difference for Ouachita.
“I’m proud of our effort tonight,” Ruston head coach Ryan Bond said. “The guys fought hard. We have to learn from this and move forward. We still have a lot to play for.”
Freshman Ahmad Hudson picked up multiple fouls in the first half after scoring nine points for the Bearcats and was held scoreless in quarters three and four.
Twelve of Anding’s 21 points came in the fourth quarter, alone.
Senior Jay Lillard added 10 points for Ruston.
Ruston returns to action Tuesday, Jan. 30, to take on Parkview High School out of Arkansas, who is coached by Ruston High Bearcat legend Scotty Thurman.
Leah Sutherland (24) makes a pass on the fast break during the Lady Cougars 56-51 win over Lincoln Prep Friday. (Photo by Darrell James)
By Malcolm Butler
After a nightmarish performance on the free throw line, Cedar Creek hit three of its last four in the final 22 seconds, including a pair by Caroline James with 5 seconds to play, sealing a 56-51 road win over Lincoln Prep in a District 2-1A match-up.
Mallory Smith scored 15 points and Leah Sutherland added 13 points as the Lady Cougars (13-9, 2-0) snapped the Lady Panthers (8-12, 1-1) five-game winning streak that dated back to late December.
“I knew this was a crucial, valuable game for us to win on the road,” said head coach Katie Hall. “Watching film on them I told my husband earlier today that they are good. I knew they were playing with confidence. Thad had a win streak. What I saw on film is they could be explosive and dangerous, and I was worried about the match-up coming in to tonight.”
In a game that saw 13 lead changes and six ties, the Lady Cougars were able to finally take the lead for good at 48-46 on a Sutherland three-pointer with 5:05 to play in the fourth quarter. However, the final five minutes saw plenty of drama — much thanks to Creek’s struggles at the not-so-charitable stripe.
The Lady Cougars, who made only 15-of-36 free throws in the game, made only 4-of-12 between Sutherland’s go-ahead three-pointer and James’ game-sealing two free throws with five seconds to play.
“I tried to not make a big deal about it, but I knew we needed to make (those free throws in that situation),” said Hall. “The girls knew it. I am proud that we were able to hit a couple (late), but we definitely struggled. I am glad we were able to get to the line as much as we did.
“It was a very physical game. Our girls were ready for a physical game. We told them going into it that it was going to be a physical game. I am glad we kept our cool and not loose our composure.”
After struggled on the defensive end for most of the first three quarters, Creek used a strong defensive performance over the final five minutes to secure the win. Lincoln Prep took a 46-45 lead with six minutes to play, but managed only five points the rest of the way.
“I will take blame for (our struggles defensively),” said Hall. “I kept trying to mix it up. The girls got confused. I will take responsibility for that. I was trying to figure out what was going to work because I was trying to figure out what may work. We got out of sync defensively, and I will take blame for that.”
Creek led 16-13 after the first quarter before the Lady Panthers rallied in the second quarter to take a 27-26 advantage into the halftime lockerroom. Jayleen Spann and Asijah Wright were the catalysts for Lincoln Prep most of the night, combining to score 30 points.
“They are a great team,” said Hall. “My hats off to them. I felt they played a really great game.”
The third quarter saw the Lady Cougars capitalize on the play of Smith, who scored 10 of her 15 points during the eight-minute frame. She opened the quarter with a three-pointer and then after the Lady Panthers took a 34-30 lead, Smith answered with back-to-back buckets to pull to within 36-34.
Sutherland’s conventional three-point play gave Creek a 37-36 lead with 2:17 to play in the quarter and then Smith’s second three-pointer of the frame tied the game at 42-42 in the closing seconds of the quarter.
Mary Grace Hawkins layup gave the Lady Cougars an early lead in the final quarter before Lincoln Prep answered to regain the advantage on back-to-back buckets by Tracionna Hampton, setting up the frenzied final six minutes of the game.
Although Sutherland’s 13 point effort was huge, it was her job on the glass that might have been even bigger. Twice in the final 60 seconds of the game, Sutherland pulled down an offensive rebounds on a missed free throw to maintain possession for the Lady Cougars.
“The girl is a warrior,” said Hall. “She just finds a way to get to the ball. She is relentless. It is all about heart with her. I really wanted to give her a quick breather early in the fourth, but I couldn’t take her out because she was clearing off every defensive board and those two offensive boards late were amazing.”
James added nine points, Zoey Venters eight points and Hawkins seven points in the win.
The Lady Cougars will travel to face St. Fred’s Tuesday.
The Ruston High School Lady Bearcats (19-7, 3-0 District 2-5A) used an explosive second quarter to get a key district win on the road at Ouachita by a final score of 62-36.
“Anytime you can come into Ouachita and get a win, it’s a big deal,” Ruston High head coach Meredith Graf said. “We knew they were capable of getting hot at any moment. Our goal was to play hard and active defense in order to prevent that from happening.”
Ruston and Ouachita were tied 16-16 after the first quarter but poured on the points in the second quarter to outscore Ouachita 22-4 to take a 38-20 lead into the halftime locker room.
“Ouachita puts a lot of pressure on the ball, and it can make for a long night,” Graf said. “I was pleased with how we handled the pressure and make the next easy pass which helped give us transition scoring opportunities.”
Both seniors Jaliyah McWain and Zaccheya Jackson finished the night with 17 points apiece, while junior Kiersynce McNeal finished with 11 points.
Graf said she was pleased with her overall team effort playing in a tough environment.
“Bottom line is everyone from the floor to the bench showed up tonight and did their job when called upon,” Graf said. “That’s what being apart of a team is all about.”
The Lady Bearcats will have a full week off before returning home for a district matchup with Alexandria Senior High Friday, Feb. 2, at 5:30 p.m. The game will be played at Memorial Gym on the campus of Louisiana Tech.
A Florida Amber Alert for two missing girls led to their successful recovery on Interstate 20 in Ruston Friday, according to the Lake County, Florida Sheriff’s Office.
Tillie Claire Williams, 5, and Natalia Williams, 1, were reported missing Thursday out of Sorrento, Florida where they were last seen. An Amber Alert was issued by Florida authorities.
Dixie Williams, 41, the biological mother of the girls, is accused of taking the children from their foster home. She was arrested on a Florida warrant on Interstate 20 near the Tarbutton Road exit by several local law enforcement agencies.
The arrest was effected by Louisiana State Police with assistance from the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office, according to Sheriff Stephen Williams.
On Thursday, a foster parent contacted the Lake County Sheriff’s Office about 7 a.m. to report two of her foster children were missing from the residence located in Sorrento. The two girls were last seen about 11 p.m. Wednesday night by the foster parent.
According to a probable cause affidavit for a kidnapping arrest warrant, Dixie Williams recently borrowed the foster parents’ vehicle and they later noticed the pass to enter their neighborhood was missing. They believed Dixie Williams or Cody Williams, the girls’ biological father, possibly used the pass to enter the neighborhood and take the girls.
According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, “AMBER Alerts are activated in the most serious child abduction cases. The goal of an AMBER Alert is to instantly galvanize the community to assist in the search for and safe recovery of a missing child. These alerts are broadcast through radio, TV, road signs, cellphones, and other data-enabled devices. The AMBER Alert system is being used in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Indian country, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and 27 other countries.”
Sorrento, where the children lived, is located about 40 minutes north of Orlando. Driving time to Ruston is approximately 12 hours.
This is a developing story and more information will be forthcoming when local officials are available to comment.
Historian Wesley Harris speaks to visitors at the Louisiana Chautauqua stop of the historic driving tour.
The Ruston Lincoln Convention & Visitors Bureau is proud to announce the 2023 Lincoln Parish Hospitality Award recipient is the Lincoln Parish Sesquicentennial Committee. The award will be presented at the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet on Thursday, February 1 at 6 p.m. at the Ruston Civic Center. Wesley Harris will be accepting the award on behalf of the committee.
The Lincoln Parish Sesquicentennial Committee consists of volunteers from various sectors of the community, all of whom saw the importance of celebrating the 150th anniversary of the parish’s founding. Throughout 2023, the committee launched several initiatives that fostered a sense of heritage and demonstrated the group’s commitment to community development.
“We developed a diverse committee tied together by a common interest in preserving and sharing our local history,” said Wesley Harris, a local historian and committee member. “We established a goal early in the sesquicentennial year to complete 2023 with some tangible outcomes, something to show for our efforts.”
The committee’s dedication to commemorating Lincoln Parish’s rich history and culture was exemplified through several accomplishments including hosting an educational speaker series, creating a commemorative keepsake coin, developing a historical driving tour, and adding multiple historical markers around the parish.
“The Sesquicentennial Committee is an exceptional group of volunteers who truly stepped up to commemorate a milestone in Lincoln Parish’s history,” said CVB President/CEO Amanda Quimby Carrier. “Their work within the community this past year has contributed greatly to our organization’s mission of creating, preserving and enhancing quality visitor experiences in our area.”
Since 1999, the Ruston Lincoln CVB has recognized members of the community who make a significant impact on our area and help fulfill the CVB’s mission by honoring them with the Lincoln Parish Hospitality Award. The Ruston Lincoln CVB is honored to present this year’s award to the Lincoln Parish Sesquicentennial Planning Committee.
The Grambling State Police Department, Grambling Police Department, the Ruston Police Department, the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Louisiana State Police and the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division all responded early Thursday morning following a bomb threat to the university’s Betty Smith Nursing Building.
That bomb threat was called in to the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office shortly after 8 a.m. Thursday, with the LPSO quickly notifying GSU and the other agencies according to GSU Police Chief Rod Demery.
The bomb threat resulted in the evacuation of four buildings on the west side of GSU’s campus — the GSU Nursing Building along with the GSU Performing Arts Center, Jacob Stewart Hall and Charles Adams Hall.
“Unfortunately, bomb threats are pretty common, but we take them all seriously not knowing if there is a bomb or not,” Demery said during a short meeting with members of the media Thursday morning while the situation was still unfolding. “So our first order of business was to evacuate the building and systematically search the building to see if anything or anybody looked suspicious.
“We contacted our emergency management team, put the information out, secured the building and any adjacent buildings to make sure we had a pretty good perimeter. From that point we started our investigation. It was a combined effort with the Grambling State Police Department, Grambling Police Department, the Ruston Police Department, the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Louisiana State Police and the FBI’s Counterterrorism Antiterrorism Task Force and all of those agencies were here within minutes.Those were the first steps to make sure everyone was safe.”
Persons inside other buildings on campus were advised to shelter in place until the situation was resolved with classes moving to an online format.
At 12:27 p.m. a Gram Alert “all-clear” message was sent out saying that law enforcement had cleared the area and the campus could return to normal.
During that early meeting with the press, Demery said finding the culprit who made the threat would be “relentless” and that there are some leads he hoped would be viable.
“I’m confident to say that whoever did this should just turn themselves in, because we are going to find them,” Demery said. “It’s a very complex investigation and a lot of things that have to be done in a short period of time. And obviously we want to be thorough with the investigation and be able to locate the suspect.
“And if we don’t find a suspect right away, we’re not going to stop. For obvious reasons, we can’t have that kind of activity going on and not do what we have to do to find out who did this.”
Demery asked that anyone who might have information on the incident call the GSUPD at 274-2222 to report it.
“As what has become a very common phrase, if you see something, do something, and if anyone has any information — where or who anyone might have done this, give us a call,” Demery said. “ We would prefer that the calls come to the GSU Police Department.”
Lincoln Parish School Board superintendent Ricky Durrett will hold an open forum on Monday, Jan. 29, at 6 p.m. for the public to invite feedback regarding a potential bond measure that could offer upgrades to both Ruston High School and Ruston Junior High.
“We are presenting some options that we will propose in a bond election before our meeting with the school board in the February meeting,” Durrett said. “We want to get some input back from the public on what they think of some of the projects that we’re going to propose. We want to do this before we get to a final plan so that everybody’s had an opportunity to see it and digested a little bit before we get to the school board meeting.”
The forum will be held at the Ruston High School auditorium. All members of the public are welcome to come.
Potential projects could include roof replacements, security upgrades for both schools, additional parking, athletic facility upgrades and activity bus purchases.
The next school board meeting with be Tuesday, Feb. 6, at 12 p.m. at Ruston Elementary.
Grambling Police arrested a woman early Saturday after she allegedly attacked her relative with knives.
Jasmyne Martia Wright, 25, of Grambling, was arrested about 2 a.m. Saturday morning at a Richmond Drive residence.
After the relative unplugged the Wi-Fi, Wright allegedly attacked her with kitchen knives, then chased her, knives in hand, yelling “Bloody Mary, bloody Mary.”
An officer found Wright walking on Richmond Drive with several knives in her hand. Police ordered her to drop the knives and immediately took her into custody.
Police found Wright’s relative with visible scratches and blood on her face at a neighbor’s house. She told officers Wright became angry after the Wi-Fi was unplugged, and attacked her, hitting her with both open and closed fists.
The victim said Wright then grabbed a knife from the kitchen and ran at her yelling, “Bloody Mary, bloody Mary,” and threatening to kill her. The relative ran to a nearby residence and called 911.
A witness told officers Wright chased the victim, yelling she intended to kill her. The witness said after the victim ran in her house, Wright said, “Get that -— out of your house. I’m about to kill her as soon as the police pull up.”
Wright was booked into the Lincoln Parish Detention Center charged with aggravated assault, simple criminal damage to property, and domestic abuse battery. Her bail amount was $1,500.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Choudrant and Simsboro High School will see format changes for the sports of basketball, baseball and softball for the 2024-25 academic year after votes by Louisiana High School Athletic Association member schools Thursday during the LHSAA Convention in Baton Rouge.
The move will reunite what since 2012 has been a divided select and nonselect school played format for Classes B and C, bringing traditional public schools and nontraditional (select) schools back into a single playoff bracket.
That vote will affect postseason play in the three sports for Choudrant and Simsboro, both Class B schools.
The principals from those two Lincoln Parish Schools — Choudrant’s Chris Jones and Simsboro’s Lacey Holcomb — both said they voted no to recombining the select and nonselect schools for postseason play.
“I voted no because we really liked the way Division V was set up for us (under the current format adopted in 2012) across the board,” Jones said. “The biggest concern was really for Class C schools, which sometimes have to play significantly larger schools.
“Because of the disparity in the sizes of Class C schools, I understand that. And I understand that some of the Class B schools were concerned because some of them also might have to potentially play larger schools.”
Jones said the difference between public and private schools wasn’t a concern for him or CHS coaches.
“As far as public or private schools, we’ll play anybody any day, any time for schools our size,” Jones said. “Right now I think there’s only six or seven or seven that will be in Class B.
“For us, I don’t see it being a make or break thing. We’re definitely not scared to play anybody. But I also see that for Class C, they were really interested in protecting schools and having a sense of fair play for those guys, too, so that’s how it all worked out.”
Holcomb said she and Simsboro’s coaches for those three sports also felt strongly about staying separated from nonselect schools in the playoffs.
“I talked to my coaches and we all agreed that we would have liked to have seen (the LHSAA) keep the divisions the way they were,” Holcomb said. “When we got down there today and we met with Class C, you could see there really were pros and cons either way.
“If we didn’t do a similar proposal to Class C, there was the potential down the road for us to possibly have to play football (significantly larger) schools. So that wasn’t a great option for us either, making it tough to decide which was the better option. The vote in Class B was really close, but we’re going to go back to the combined format and roll with it the best we can. I voted no to be consistent with the talks I had with my coaches before going down (to Baton Rouge).”
Holcomb said she did see at least one benefit in the recombined playoffs format.
“At least there’s certainty with this,” Holcomb said. “If it had gone the other way, there was a little bit of uncertainty, even from the LHSAA, as to what schools would end up being in Division V moving forward.
Thursday’s meetings also affected bigger schools, especially in baseball, which will now move to a best-of-three series throughout the playoffs.
Because of that, the 2025 baseball season will begin a week earlier, with each championship in Divisions I, II, and III ending with a best-of-3 championship series while Divisions IV and V will continue their traditional playoff format.
In a proactive effort to prioritize the health and well-being of Ruston residents, we are thrilled to announce a vital opportunity for women to take charge of their health. On Thursday, February 8, 2024, a mobile health unit will be stationed outside the Walmart Super Center at 1201 N. Service Rd., offering free breast and cervical cancer screenings.
Cervical cancer screening is available to women aged 25-65, while mammogram screening is open to women aged 40 and older. This initiative is a crucial step towards early detection and prevention, empowering women to make informed decisions about their health.
To participate, individuals must call (318) 460-1006 to schedule an appointment. Appointments ensure a streamlined process, allowing our healthcare professionals to provide personalized attention and care to each participant.
This community-focused event is made possible through the sponsorship of the Louisiana Cancer Foundation, a dedicated organization committed to advancing cancer research, education, and support. Additional funding has been generously provided by the Cancer Foundation League, emphasizing the collaborative effort to bring accessible healthcare services to our community.
The Louisiana Cancer Foundation has a proven track record of championing initiatives that positively impact lives. For more information about their mission and the valuable work they do, visit lacancerfoundation.org.
We encourage all eligible women to seize this opportunity for a proactive approach to their health. Early detection saves lives, and your well-being is our top priority. Mark your calendars for February 8th, and let’s come together as a community to prioritize health, support one another, and work towards a healthier future. For any inquiries or to schedule your appointment, call (318) 460-1006.
Six students from Ruston High have been selected to participate in the Ark-La-Tex honor band this weekend at Louisiana Tech University.
Caden Breeding, Grantham Cline, Raymond Granger, Riley Green, James Peterson and Ty’Jai Ursin will all represent RHS at Howard Auditorium.
“Some of the finest instrumental music students from the three state region will come together for a concert at Howard Auditorium on Saturday,” Ruston High band director Walter Moss said. “I am so proud of these students accomplishments. They will represent our music program well for this event. Congratulations to these students, and I hope they have a great honor band experience.”
The honor band concert will be put on by the Louisiana Tech School of Music on Saturday, Jan. 27, at 4 p.m.
BFA graduates from Louisiana Tech University’s School of Design have pieced together a collection of work for a collaborative showcase at the Monroe Art Crawl.
This event will take place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on February 1 at the Big Room Art Gallery in Monroe. This exhibition showcases the ingenuous works of emerging artists.
Melange Mosaic features themes of identity, the body, spirituality, and abstraction. The artists utilize a plethora of materials to depict their works. Whether the medium is gouache, oil, acrylic, graphite, ceramic, or digital, the works remain exceptional.
“I am extremely excited to exhibit in this showcase,” said Naima Bomani, an identity based artist who recently showcased in an exhibition entitled Voices: A Celebration of Black History Through Art. “I believe that our work will offer up many channels of conversation surrounding our different styles and thematic choices.”
“I’m thrilled to show our pieces after many years of refining our craft, said Sarah Dupree, a neo surrealist artist who recently exhibited work in a showcase entitled Dreams & Nightmares, 2nd Edition. “I think the public will be pleasantly surprised at the eclectic group of art that we are presenting.”
Louisiana Tech University’s school of design offers a BFA degree program, accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. This program was created to prepare students for occupations in the growing field of visual arts. It allows for creatives to collaborate with artist amongst many disciplines.
An alleged domestic assault led to the arrest of a Ruston man Tuesday afternoon.
Ruston Police responded to a convenience store on Farmerville Highway about 1 p.m. Tuesday to meet with a reported domestic violence victim. The woman told police her boyfriend recently moved out of their shared residence. She said she went to his home on Farmerville Highway to take his clothing to him. The woman said Corey Mamon, 24, got into her vehicle and a verbal altercation occurred.
The woman told police Mamon became upset and struck her in the left eye. She reportedly told Mamon to stop and get out of her vehicle, but he struck her in the face several more times.
Police saw several scratches on the woman’s face and bruising under her left eye.
Mamom was interviewed at his nearby residence. He said the woman received the scratches while he was attempting to leave, and she would not allow him to go.
Mamon was arrested for domestic abuse battery and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center. His bail amount was $2,500.
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.
The “Inside the C-Suite” lecture featuring Janet Wong, ’81, has been rescheduled for Tuesday, February 6, at 10 a.m. in Davis Auditorium (College of Business 101). This lecture is hosted by the Louisiana Tech University College of Business. Due to inclement weather, the original date was postponed.
Wong is an accomplished executive with over 30 years of demonstrated business leadership. Currently, she is an independent board director with strong governance experience and recognition as a qualified financial expert by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the New York Stock Exchange, and Nasdaq.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Janet back to campus to speak with our students about how she works to advance organizations through her role as a board director,” said Dr. Chris Martin, dean of the College of Business. “Janet is a tremendous alumni supporter of Louisiana Tech and the College of Business, and I’m grateful for her willingness to share her expertise and provide insights into the key issues facing Boards of Directors today.”
She serves on the boards of Lucid Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: LCID), a sustainable mobility company producing luxury electric vehicles and electric powertrain systems; Enviva Inc. (NYSE: EVA), a leading global energy company manufacturing sustainable wood bioenergy; and Lumentum Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: LITE), a high-technology manufacturer of innovative photonics to accelerate the speed and scale of the cloud, networking, advanced manufacturing, and 3D sensing.
She has been named to Directors & Boards magazine’s Directors to Watch list, the National Association of Corporate Directors’ 2022 Directorship 100™, and Board Prospects’ list of the Top 30 Asian American Board Directors in the U.S.
Wong served as a senior partner with KPMG, where she spent most of her career based in the San Francisco and Silicon Valley offices providing industry experience in consumer products, energy, financial services, manufacturing, and technology.
She has served on boards for several non-profits including the Louisiana Tech University Foundation, the TriCities Chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors, and the Computer History Museum.
Wong is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and a NACD Certified® Director. She earned her Master of Professional Accountancy from Louisiana Tech University and Master of Taxation from Golden Gate University in San Francisco. She has also completed Executive Education Programs at Harvard Business School and Stanford Law School.
“Inside the C-Suite” provides a forum for top corporate leaders from some of the nation’s most prominent companies to share their views on topics of societal, academic, and professional importance. The series strives to stimulate insightful conversation on current issues by providing a platform for high-level executives to speak about cutting-edge issues, elaborate on trends, share wisdom, and provide important career inspiration and advice for students. Topics cover a variety of themes in core business subjects such as economic climate, ethics, corporate responsibility, leadership, globalization, strategic planning, entrepreneurship, technology, innovation, and diversity.
For more information on “Inside the C-Suite,” contact Mary Susan Britt, executive director of development for the College of Business, at marysusan@latechalumni.org or 318.257.3741.
Each Monday and Friday, the Lincoln Parish Journal will post a list of non-for-profit upcoming events happening in the parish. If you would like to add your event to this list or advertise your for-profit events, please email us at lpjnewsla@gmail.com.
Saturday, Jan. 27 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 2 p.m.: LA Tech men’s basketball game (Thomas Assembly Center) 2 p.m.: GSU women’s basketball game (Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center) 4 p.m.: GSU men’s basketball game (Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center)
Once I was preaching and a wasp landed on my shoulder. I didn’t see the wasp, nor hear it. After it landed, it proceeded to walk between my shoulders using the stole I was wearing that Sunday. The choir saw the wasp land. The choir watched the wasp walking on my stole. The choir met, established a quorum, had a discussion, and took a vote. The vote of the choir was to sit there and watch the wasp to see what would happen.
During the discussion it was determined that swatting the wasp off my shoulder would disturb the rhythm of the sermon. It might frighten the preacher. It was further determined that any attempt to remove the wasp might cause the wasp to sting the preacher. I appreciate the compassion of the choir. They sat and watched the wasp the entire sermon. I’m sure there were follow up conversations about the dangers the wasp posed to the preacher. However, the choir stood firm with their vision statement, “let’s watch and see what happens.”
At the end of the sermon, I asked the congregation to bow in prayer. I bowed my head and heard the wasp fly off. The wasp didn’t want to hang around for the invitation hymn and ten verses of “Just As I Am.”
I know that story because I survived that story. After the service the choir gathered and told me about their deliberations. I told them about hearing the wasp fly off as I bowed my head to pray. We all laughed, and I suppose the wasp lived happily ever after.
A member of that choir has joined the Trinity choir. He called me Sunday afternoon and told me another story.
Seems that Sunday the choir noticed a spider descending from the ceiling of Trinity. If you have been in our sanctuary, you know that was some descent. The spider was to the left of the preacher and was headed toward the pulpit. Again, the choir assembled, a deliberation took place, and it was decided to “watch and see what happens.” I’m sure the television audience thought that the choir was intensely listening to the sermon. Nope, they were watching the itsy-bitsy-spider and wondering if it would tangle with the preacher in mid sermon.
I suppose the spider continued the descent to the floor and I hope the spider is happily exploring other realms of the Trinity sanctuary. The spider may be in the choir loft or perhaps by now the spider is out in the seating area of the sanctuary. I have learned from two choirs that maybe I should leave the spider alone and “watch and see what happens.” I’ll bet people at Trinity will pay extra attention to their environment on Sunday.
We default to jumping into the middle of something, solving every problem, and meeting every challenge that comes our way. Perhaps a better strategy is to take our hands off a situation, sit back, and “watch and see what the Lord will do.”
Daniel Batcho recorded seven blocked shots in the Bulldogs win over UTEP.
Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
Louisiana Tech protected the Thomas Assembly Center yet again, pulling away late to defeat UTEP, 68-54, on Thursday night behind the tandem of Daniel Batcho and Tahlik Chavez.
Batcho has arguably his best performance as a Bulldog, registering a near triple-double with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and a career-high seven blocks. His running mate, Chavez, was his usual shot-making self, making some daggers late in route to 18 points.
“Our guys put their foot down,” said Tech head coach Talvin Hester. “Tahlik Chavez came into the huddle and said [UTEP] wanted it more than us. Then I said, ‘You guys do something about it.’ From that moment on, the team made some really good plays. I think the play that was really big was the bounce pass to [Daniel] Batcho who scored and got fouled. We started rolling from there. It is all predicated on us getting stops.”
LA Tech’s (14-6, 4-1 CUSA) unbeaten record at home did not come easy though as UTEP (11-9, 2-3 CUSA) did what it does best and that is force turnovers. They forced 18 of them and turned them into 14 points.
However, the Bulldogs halfcourt defense was elite, holding the Miners to just 29.5 percent shooting from the field and 17.6 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
“When you have a big guy in the middle to protect your rim, it helps your basketball team,” said Hester. “I don’t care if you are Kentucky, Kansas, or Prairie View A&M, when you have somebody to help you protect the paint it lets your guys press up on the ball, be more physical on the ball.”
It was that defense that allowed LA Tech to go on a 16-1 burst in the first half to take a 26-15 advantage, capped off by a putback layup from Isaiah Crawford. It was a stretch where UTEP did not make a single point in the span of six minutes.
“Daniel’s timing, his ability to chase balls down, his recovery, his athleticism,” said Hester about his 6-foot-11 big man. “The guy can move like he is 6-2, but he is 6-11. It is a luxury and a joy to have him. He wasn’t bad offensively either. He is a special player and I am glad we have him.”
That is when the Miners really started to force turnovers, countering with an 8-0 run of their own to get back to within three. The visiting team ultimately found themselves down 34-27 at halftime.
They used more forced turnovers to go on a 7-0 run to make it a two-score game at 48-46 with 8:35 remaining in the game. That was as close as UTEP would get as LA Tech punched back with an 8-0 run, sparked by Batcho’s and-one conversion. Then it was Chavez who helped seal with team’s fourth straight victory, scoring 10 points in the final seven minutes including two dagger three-pointers.
The Bulldogs host New Mexico State Saturday at 2 p.m.
