By Malcolm Butler

Sadie Huenefeld’s performance headlined the Bulldog Aquatic Club’s results at the Louisiana Spring Open State Championship Swim Meet held in Sulphur earlier this month.

The 16-year-old Huenefeld captured the state title in the 50m freestyle, setting a state record in the event and earning her all-state individual honors.

“Sadie setting a state record in the 50 Freestyle was so exciting and a great way for us to finish the meet,” said BAC coach Rocky Smith.  “It is a great accomplish for her.”

The four-day meet included the fastest 15-and-over swimmers in the state.

In addition to Huenefeld’s individual honors, five members of the Bulldog Aquatic Club earned all-state honors as members of relay teams, including Robert Campbell, Owen Frick, Samuel Jackson, Camdyn Napper, and Tillman Reeder. 

The 800m freestyle relay team of Campbell, Napper, Frick, and Reeder finished third while the 400m freestyle relay team of Jackson, Frick, Campbell, and Reeder also placed third.

“We were so excited to have multiple relays finish in the top three,” said Smith.  “That is a first ever at this meet for our team.”

The Bulldog Aquatic Club women’s team Finished 9^th and the men’s team finished 6^th while the Bulldog Aquatics Combined Team placed 7^th. 

The women’s team recorded nine Top 10 individual finishes at the meet while the men’s team recorded 13 Top 10 finishes.

“I thought the athletes really competed well,” said Smith.  “They swam a lot of events and relays over the weekend. They showed mental toughness and grit during their races.  Our team finishing 7^th was cool especially considering the only teams that beat us were Lafayette, and from the New Orleans/Baton Rouge areas. It shows the depth of our quality athletes.”

For more information including contact information about Bulldog Aquatic Club, please go to https://www.teamunify.com/team/labac/page/home.

The athletes competing are as follows (events are in performing order):

Females

Karalin Hoover (16) was 14^th in the 50 Breaststroke, 6^th in the 400 Individual Medley, 15^th in the 200 Breaststroke, 10^th in the 500 Freestyle, 14^th in the 200 Individual Medley, and 11^th in the 100 Breaststroke. 

Sadie Huenefeld (16) was 2^nd in the 50 Breaststroke, 16^th in the 100 Butterfly, 4^th in the 100 Freestyle, 10 in the 200 Breaststroke, 4^th in the 200 Individual Medley, and 1^st in the 50 Freestyle. 

McKenzie Jones (17) was 9^th in the 1650 Freestyle, 15^th in the 200 Freestyle, 37^th in the 100 Freestyle, 15^th in the 500 Freestyle, 15^th in the 200 Backstroke, and 6^th in the 1000 Freestyle.

Lydia Watts, (17) was 45^th in the 100 Backstroke, 47^th in the 100 Butterfly, 19^th in the 200 Butterfly, and 30^th in the 50 Backstroke. 

The relay team of Hoover, Huenefeld, Jones, and Watts were 8^th in the 800 Free Relay, 11^th in the 400 Freestyle Relay, 11^th in the 200 Freestyle Relay, and 12^th in the 400 Medley Relay.

Males

Cade Campbell (18) was 55^th in the 200 Freestyle, 55^th in the 100 Butterfly, 41^st in the 400 Individual, 31^st in the 200 Butterfly, 31^st in the 50 Butterfly, and 73^rdin the 50 Freestyle. 

Robert Campbell (18) was 4^th in the 100 Butterfly, 4^th in the 200 Butterfly, 9^th in the 200 Breaststroke, 6^th in the 200 Individual Medley, and 7^th in the 200 backstrokes. 

Christopher “Owen” Frick (16) was 9^th in the 200 Freestyle, 17^th in the 100 Butterfly, 15^th in the 200 Butterfly, 11^th in the 500 Freestyle, 21^st in the 200 Individual Medley, and 15^th in the 50 Freestyle. 

Jack Groce (16) was 7^th in the 1650 Freestyle, 10^th in the 400 Individual Medley, 22^nd in the 200 Breaststroke, 21^st in the 500 Freestyle, 25^th in the 200 Individual Medley, and 26^th in the 100 Breaststroke. 

Samuel Jackson (16) was 33^rd in the 100 Backstroke, 39^th in the 100 Butterfly, 14^th in the 100 Freestyle, 23^rd in the 50 Backstroke, 21^st in the 50 Butterfly, and 12^th in the 50 Freestyle. 

Camdyn Napper (15) was 15^th in the 50 Breaststroke, 12^th in the 400 Individual Medley, 10^th in the 200 Breaststroke, 16^th in the 500 Freestyle, 200 Individual Medley, and 16^th in the 100 Breaststroke. 

Eli Pancoast (15) was 48^th in the 100 Backstroke and 29^th in the 50 Backstroke.

Simon Pancoast (17) was 55^th in the 100 Backstroke, 32^nd in the 50 Backstroke, and 54^th in the 50 Freestyle. 

Tillman “Colton” Reeder (18) was 6^th in the 200 Freestyle, 19^th in the 100 Butterfly, 9^th in the 200 Butterfly, 9^th in the 400 Freestyle, 28^th in the 200 Individual Medley, and 10^th in the 50 Freestyle. 

Paul St. Cyr (15) was 56^th in the 100 Backstroke, 40^th in the 50 Breaststroke, 57^th in the 200 Breaststroke, 34^th in the 50 Backstroke, 48^th in the 200 Backstroke, 59^th in the 100 Breaststroke. 

Relays

800 Freestyle Relays were 3^rd with team of Robert Campbell, Napper, Frick, and Reeder; and 19^th with team of Jackson, Cade Campbell, Paul St. Cyr, and Groce.

400 Freestyle Relays were 3^rd with team of Jackson, Frick, Robert Campbell, and Reeder; and 19^th with team of Simon Pancoast, Napper, Cade Campbell, and Groce. 

200 Freestyle Relays were 5^th with team of Jackson, Robert Campbell, Frick, and Reeder; and 20^th with team of Napper, Groce, Simon Pancoast, and Cade Campbell. 

400 Medley Relay was 8^th with team of Robert Campbell, Napper, Frick, and Reeder.

200 Medley Relays were 14^th with team of Robert Campbell, Napper, Frick, and Reeder; and 18^th with a team of Eli Pancoast, Groce, Cade Campbell, and Jackson. 

There was a Mixed 200 Medley Relay which consists of two boys and two girls, it was 8^th with a team of Huenefeld, Hoover, Robert Campbell, and Reeder. 

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When the news broke more than a month ago that Sports Illustrated was laying off most of its workforce, that the end of the publication was apparently on hand, I re-lived the moment someone told me in the late 1990s that my childhood favorite Red Skelton had passed away.

Thought he’d died like 20 years before.

In the late-January days after the SI punchout, eulogies followed that were heartfelt and expected. They all brought back memories of getting SI in the mail on Wednesdays or Thursdays, back when I had pimples. 

Joy. Rapture. Day and weekend made. 

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But I buried Sports Illustrated 25 years ago. Was grateful for it, mourned it, and let it go. Was semi-surprised to find out last month it was still alive.

It’s like what our SportsTalk friend John James Marshall said about Fair Grounds Field, once the siren song of summertime around here. More than a year ago, after the most recent attempt to clean it up, lots of people started telling it goodbye. JJ, who spent more time at SPAR Stadium and Fair Grounds Field than probably any of us, had made his peace with the death of the place years ago. What you see now from Interstate 20 is just concrete and bat poop and a feral cat palace and a solid illustration of political foot dragging. It ain’t Fair Grounds Field; that was a beautiful place that died a long time.

So was Sports Illustrated.

And it’s nobody’s fault. Not really. It’s one of those time things. 

Once it got its footing after its founding in 1954 until the late 1980s, SI was one of the great financial successes in the world of publishing. Its covers were iconic in the culture. It billed itself as the authority — and it was. Sports Illustrated was the Cleveland Browns of the 1940s, the Yankees of the ’50s and the Celtics of the ’60s.

It happened because the most influential guy in publishing then, Time Inc. founder Henry Luce, believe in it, even though he wasn’t a big sports fan. He hired a European sophisticate named Andre Laguerre to be the managing editor. And besides the best photographers, Laguerre hired the three or four best writers in each sport, gave them an expense account, and told them to let ’er rip, tater chip.

“Oh, I thought he should’ve been president,” Dan Jenkins, the magazine’s most influential writer ever, said of Laguerre. The whole thing was a perfect place-time-people deal as Jenkins and a pile of other semi-irreverent writers pumped in fastball after fastball.

But money changed the dynamic between players-coaches and writers. Suddenly it was more opportune for a millionaire forward from the Bucks to spend time with Willow Bay instead of with a writer.

Cable TV happened. Then the internet.

And long before that, the tone of the magazine began changing. Jenkins moved on to Playboy and Golf Digest because the new editors thought they knew more about college football and professional golf than he did. SI became more political, and while a fan of 15 can argue with his 75-year-old grandfather about whether Carlton or Spahn was the best lefthander, they can’t have a fair fight about all the hot-button issues the magazine began weighing in on.

Too much work and not enough play. Sports and Some Non-Sports Cultural Stuff Illustrated. (Boooooo…)

Artist Hao ‘Eri’ Shi is back for the closing of “Transcultural Reflections” at Ruston’s Gilbert Center with an artist talk and interactive workshop that will take place tonight from 6-8 p.m. 

Shi’s exhibition has been the Gilbert Center’s inaugural art exhibition in Downtown Ruston. The Gilbert Center, 301 N. Trenton Street, is the location of The Ross Lynn Charitable Foundation operations and art gallery. 

Shi, a Chinese-born artist, was RLCF’s 2022 Resident Artist. 

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The exhibition serves as a testament to Shi’s commitment to creating art that authentically mirrors his life experience and embraces cultural diversity. “Transcultural Reflections” showcases the vibrant and honest expressions of an emerging Chinese American artist, providing a unique lens into his journey. 

Shi’s artwork captures the beauty he has encountered through extensive travels. The landscapes and portraits are an exploration of culture, offering an engaging perspective. 

Shi’s work will be on display at The Gilbert Center Gallery until Feb. 29. 

Tonight’s artist talk and workshop are free and open to the public.

By Kyle Roberts

Following an undefeated district run to end the 2023-24 season, Ruston High senior Jaliyah McWain was named Most Valuable Player for District 2-5A while head coach Meredith Graf earned Coach of the Year after the coaches votes were tallied.

Ruston would also have a four more players represented on the first, second and honorable mention teams.

“I tell my team all the time, the more successful your team is, the more recognition is given,” Graf said. “That is no different for this year’s All District teams. It is important for people to realize the teams are based off of only five district games, not the season as a whole. This can make it especially difficult for the nomination and voting process for coaches. I was happy to see the district coaches vote for so many of our Ruston kids and I believe each player on the All-District teams from all the schools are very deserving and had a great impact to our district as a whole.”

Senior Zaccheya Jackson would make first team after averaging 13 points per district game with five boards and three steals. Junior Kiersynce McNeal would earn second team, while both senior A’Nyia Moore and sophomore EK Jones would be named honorable mention.

The entire list is included below. Stats shown only reflect district games.

COY
Meredith Graf, RHS

MVP 
#2 Jaliyah McWain RHS 13 points per game, 6 rebounds per game, 5 steals per game

1st Team All-District
#14 Zaccheya Jackson RHS 13 points per game, 5 rebounds per game, 3 steals per game
#3 Jade Spikes OPHS 16 points per game, 2 rebounds per game, 2 steals per game, 2 assists
#23 McKenna Looley OPHS 14 points per game, 5 rebounds per game
#2 MarKayla Williams WM 12 points per game, 4 rebounds per game
#1 Thamerin Balthazar ASH 18 points per game, 3 rebounds per game, 2 steals per game, 3 assists

2nd Team All-District
#24 Mitzariah Minnifield WM
#10 Braciera Clark ASH
#20 Kiersynce McNeal RHS
#10 Macey Hattaway WO
#12 Kiah Simpson OPHS

Honorable Mention All-District
#54 Brea Woods -ASH
#30 Caitlyn Richard– OPHS
#4 Jurnee Carter – OPHS
#23 Ashley Guedry – PHS
#10 A’Nyia Moore – RHS
#11 Ella Kate Jones – RHS
#22 Briley Brothers – WM
#20 Ella Ashcraft – WM
#15 Autumn Wilson – WM
#3 Annie Gilly – WO
#33 Jacie Turner – WO
#11 Addison Spoon – WO

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By Malcolm Butler

Following postseason appearances, both Lincoln Prep and Cedar Creek saw a number of athletes earn all-District 2-1A honors.

Lincoln Prep senior Asijah Wright joined Cedar Creek senior Leah Sutherland and junior Mallory Smith on the six-person first team. Creek sophomore Caroline James and freshman Mary Grace Hawkins and Lincoln Prep senior Shedreana Green and eighth grader Jayleen Spann were all part of the districts second team.

Lady Cougar senior Olivia Underwood and junior Zoey Venters and Lincoln Prep’s Synniah Spann were all named honorable mention.

Wright, Spann, Sutherland and Smith were all part of the all-Lincoln Parish Journal postseason team released Tuesday.

The Lady Panthers earned their honors after a season that saw Lincoln Prep post a 10-19 mark, a 7-game win improvement from a year ago. Head coach Fred Hearn and Co. finished third in District 2-1A but dropped competitive games against co-district champions OCS and Cedar Creek in all four meetings. The Lady Panthers recorded a 60-32 upset win over Catholic Pointe Coupee in their first round playoff match-up before falling to No. 4 seed Sacred Heart.

The Lady Cougars were 18-12 this season, including a 5-1 mark in District 2-1A action. Creek fell to OCS in the power point tiebreaker game but then advanced to the Select School District IV quarterfinals with wins over Slaughter Community Charter and St. Martin’s Episcopal. Head coach Katie Hall’s Lady Cougars fell to No. 1 seed Southern Lab last week.

District 2-1A First Team

Darcy Edgar (OCS), MVP

Ashlyn Odom (St. Fred)

Mallory Smith (Cedar Creek)

Leah Sutherland (Cedar Creek)

Kate Woodard (OCS)

Asijah Wright (Lincoln Prep)

District 2-1A Second Team

Shedreana Green (Lincoln Prep)

MC Hagon (OCS)

Mary Grace Hawkins (Cedar Creek)

Caroline James (Cedar Creek)

Jayleen Spann (Lincoln Prep)

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By Kyle Roberts

A dunk by junior Aidan Anding with four minutes to play punctuated the entire night for No. 8 Ruston High (20-9) as the Bearcats used an offensive onslaught in the fourth quarter to beat the No. 9 H. L. Bourgeios Braves 71-45 Tuesday night in Memorial Gym on the campus of Louisiana Tech University.

Ruston outscored the Braves 24-11 in the final stanza.

Ruston advances to the quarterfinals, where it will face off with No. 1 Zachary on Friday.

“I was really pleased with our effort,” Ruston High head coach Ryan Bond said. “Our team really played together. It was a good night.”

The Bearcats led by as many as 20 points in the third quarter. However, the Braves ended the quarter on a 7-0 run to bring the game back to within 47-34 before Ruston’s offense secured the win.

Anding scored Ruston’s first two baskets early, both being three-pointers. The Bearcats found a rhythm in the first quarter and led 13-5 before H.L. Bourgeios cut the lead to 13-10 after a quick run to end the quarter.

The Bearcats had an early scare when freshman Ahmad Hudson hit the floor hard after getting tied up with a jump ball, but he would only end up missing just over a minute of game-time. Following Hudson’s return, he scored seven points in the second quarter helping propel Ruston to a 31-21 lead at the half.

Anding led all scorers with 23 points with a total of three three-pointers.

“Aidan was tremendous,” Bond said. “He just does it all. He’s a tremendous football player, and he’s got several offers. But he’s a Division I talent basketball-wise, as well. He’s a tremendous leader of this team. He checks all the boxes as far as somebody you want in your program; football, basketball, track or whatever. And he was outstanding tonight. I couldn’t be more proud of him.”

Hudson would finish with a double-double at 14 points and 15 rebounds, while junior Joran Parker added 18 points for the Bearcats with a trio of three-pointers.

Ruston has not lost since early February and has now won six in a row.

“We’re finally trusting each other and the guys understood the importance of the last two weeks of the regular season,” Bond said. “The bulk of our team went through the fire with football and the stakes they had to battle through. So they’re used to that. We talk about winning your individual battles and moving forward.”

Zachary bested No. 17 East St. John 64-54 and will host Ruston Friday night as the Broncos are the higher seed.

By T. Scott Boatright

Down a key player only minutes into the game, the Lincoln Preparatory School boys basketball team looked a little chaotic early on during a Division IV Boys Select School second-round game Tuesday night.

But Lincoln Prep coach Antonio Hudson purposely slowed his team down more than once in the second half and the fifth-seeded Panthers responded with a 50-42 win over 21st-seeded Highland Baptist at the LPS Gym.

Panthers sophomore Trey Spann scored the first points of the contest with a layup 2:01 into the contest but soon left the game for good after coming down hard on a hand.

And without Spann on hand to help direct Lincoln Prep’s offensive attack, the Panthers ran a little wild in the first half, with things knotted up at 7-7 at the end of the opening stanza before they went on a 9-4 run in the final three minutes of the second quarter to take a 24-19 lead into the locker room at halftime.

“We had been working to get back to playing up-tempo because there’s a couple of teams we may end up playing that don’t go deep benchwise,” Hudson said. “We felt like that kind of game would help us wear them down.

“But losing Trey kind of hurt us today, too, because we lost 13 or 14 points with him out of the game early on. But hey, we won. That’s what matters. In the playoffs it doesn’t matter how it looks as long as you end up scoring more points than the other team.”

Hudson is hopeful Spann might return for the Panthers’ third-round game to be played at fourth-seeded St. Mary’s on Friday.

“They said it’s not broken,” Hudson said about Spann’s hand. “It looked bad when I saw it. But maybe —- hopefully – he’ll be able to come back. Losing him really hurt us — tonight you could tell.”

Looking to change things up, Hudson had his Panthers (now 18-8) slow things down with a lot of ball movement and fewer shots put up in the third quarter, helping Lincoln Prep build an eight-point advantage at 39-31 heading into the final stanza.

“Execution,” Hudson said. “We’ve been talking about this all year, but we weren’t executing the way we needed to in the first half. We were up eight points with the ball, got the ball to the middle and instead of making the extra pass got tied up and got a jump ball call. The next possession we get the ball in the middle and instead of passing the ball off we try to make a hero step and turn it over.

“That’s not how champions play. If you’re up by eight with the ball and have a chance to make a layup, I don’t care who shoots that layup. You get it and go up by 10 and then 12. Then Highland Baptist would have been in panic mode.”

The fact that the Panthers hit on only 11 of 30 attempted free throws didn’t help.

”So instead of sending them into panic mode, we don’t make our free throws and suddenly it’s a six-point game,” Hudson said. “I’m just glad we were able to settle down and come away with the win.”

Hudson, who took the chance of slowing his offense down again late in the game,  knew that a young team having a first-round bye for the playoffs might not be conducive to helping his Panthers.

“That’s why we played the Dunham game we scheduled last week just so we could try and keep some rhythm. You have some teams that can afford that layoff, but with younger teams, sometimes not having that layoff is actually better.

“But again, we won, and that’s all that really matters.”

Stephen Burks III led the Panthers with 19 points on the night while adding 11 rebounds, five steals and an assist.

Amarje Young chipped in with nine points, seven steals, three rebounds and a pair of steals for the Panthers, who were also helped by nine points, five rebounds, a steal and a blocked shot from Zion Hicks along with six points, six blocked shots, 10 boards, two assists and two steals by Devin Burton.

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Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Louisiana Tech closes out its three-game road stretch tonight by taking on WKU inside E.A. Diddle Arena in what will be the final road game of the season for the Bulldogs.

Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and the game can be heard on the LA Tech Sports Network on 107.5 FM with Malcolm Butler providing the call of the action.

LA Tech (20-8, 10-3) remains tied atop the CUSA standings with Sam Houston after completing the road sweep in the mountains, defeating New Mexico State, 67-58, for its fourth straight victory.

Trailing by one with 5:26 to go, the Bulldogs outscored the Aggies, 14-4, the rest of the way for their first ever win at NM State (was previously 0-10). It also marked their 20th victory of the season, a feat reached by LA Tech in 10 of the last 12 seasons.

Isaiah Crawford was named CUSA Player of the Week for the first time in his career after averaging 19.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.0 blocks per game in the two victories over UTEP and NM State. He is coming off a 20-point, 10-rebound performance versus the Aggies, his third double-double of the season.

Despite only making one three-pointer, Tahlik Chavez still tallied 16 points at NM State. He has scored in double figures in 10 of the 12 CUSA games played, averaging 16.3 points per game during conference action which ranks fifth. He is still shooting a CUSA-best 41.6 percent from three, which ranks 16th in the country (shooting 44.7 percent during league play).

Big man Daniel Batcho and point guard Sean Newman Jr. were the other Bulldogs to score in double figures against the Aggies, registering 13 and 10 points, respectively. Batcho continues to pace CUSA in several categories including field goal percentage (57.5), rebounds per game (10.1), and blocks per game (2.3). Newman Jr. is now averaging 5.1 assists per game, tops in CUSA.

WKU (19-8, 8-5) had its five-game winning streak snapped this past Saturday to rival Middle Tennessee, falling 74-72 in Murfreesboro. Despite the loss, the Hilltoppers remain in third place in the CUSA standings going into the final three games of the regular season.

WKU will play its final home game on Wednesday night against LA Tech. The Hilltoppers have been near perfect in E.A. Diddle Arena this season, going 12-1.

The Hilltoppers have the top offense in the conference in part due to them being the fastest team in the country with an average of 75.3 possessions per game. They rank first in CUSA in both scoring offense (80.0 points per game) and field goal percentage (46.7 percent).

WKU also has forward Rodney Howard who is averaging 10.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game while shooting 54.7 percent from the field.

LA Tech trails in the all-time series versus WKU, 21-22. The Hilltoppers broke the tie earlier this month by defeating the Bulldogs in Ruston, 81-76.

The two programs spent 10 seasons as league foes in the Sun Belt Conference (1991-2001) and are in the 10th year together as conference opponents in CUSA. Since becoming league foes again, it has been a highly competitive series with LA Tech owning a slim 8-7 advantage. However, the Bulldogs are just 1-6 versus the Hilltoppers in Bowling Green during this time span (lone win at E.A. Diddle Arena came in 2021).

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Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

The Louisiana Tech women’s basketball team will play in its final home contest of the season against Western Kentucky tonight at 6 p.m. inside the Thomas Assembly Center.

The game can be heard on the LA Tech Sports Network on 97.7 FM with Kyle Roberts providing a call of the action.

Louisiana Tech (11-17, 5-8) picked up a 70-63 overtime victory over New Mexico State on Saturday, giving them two consecutive wins and moved into a four-way tie for fifth in Conference USA.

Jianna Morris earned her second CUSA Freshman of the Week honors after two stellar performances against UTEP and New Mexico State. A staple for the past five seasons, Anna Larr Roberson earned Louisiana Sports Writers Association Player of the Week honors.

The Lady Techsters continue to be one of the best ball distributors in CUSA. Tech averages 13.6 assists a game and a 0.88 assists/turnover ratio. LA Tech has hit the long ball at one of the highest rates in program history. The Lady Techsters have knocked down 173 triples and are 13 away from tying the school record 186 set in the 2019-202 season.

Western Kentucky (15-13, 6-7) enters the contest on a three-game losing streak after falling to UTEP, NM State, and Middle Tennessee. The Lady Toppers are just 1-6 in conference road games this season.

WKU is currently in fourth in the conference and holds a one-game lead on LA Tech, UTEP, NM State, and Jacksonville State with three games remaining.

Destiny Salary and Alexis Mead are the top WKU players on the season. Salary averages 12.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.4 steals a game since becoming eligible. Mead contributes 11.3 points, 4.3 boards, 3.9 assists, and 1.9 steals a ball game.

WKU is one of the country’s top three-point shooting and defensive teams. The Hilltoppers force 19.82 turnovers, 32nd in the country, and record 10.7 steals per game, 27th nationally, for a 4.53 turnover margin, 30th nationally. They take 22.8 three-pointers and make 6.8 per game.

LA Tech holds a 28-26 advantage in the all-time series, with LA Tech winning the last two in Ruston.

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Patsy Lynn Gorman Holcomb was born on September 1, 1940, in Roane, Texas, and passed peacefully from this earth into her eternal home on Saturday, February 24, 2024, in Ruston, Louisiana, at age 83. We celebrate that she is now free from Alzheimer’s and is basking in God’s glory with her family and friends that have gone before her.

Left to cherish her memory include her husband of almost 43 years, Eddie Holcomb of Ruston, Louisiana; her son Jonathan Hildebrand and wife LeeRand of Houston, Texas, and grandchildren, Brianna, Sal, Joseph, Leslie, Carl, and Leon; her daughter Cathalyn Hildebrand Brewton and husband Michael of Ruston, Louisiana, and grandchildren Madison Lyn and Tanner, Breck and Maggie; and her son Glen Holcomb and wife Candice of Plano, Texas, and grandchildren Brandon, Travis and Angela. She is also survived by her sister Glenda Gorman Thrasher of Whitedeer, Texas; her sister Cheryl Gorman Penner of Bells, Texas; her sister in law Judy Gorman of Amarillo, Texas, and her beloved nieces and nephews.

Pat was preceded in death by her brother, Horace Breck Gorman; her mother, Margaret Louise Rogers Gorman; her daddy, Horace Van Gorman; and her brother Kenneth Rogers Gorman.

Pat grew up spending most of her life in the Texas Panhandle. She had a wonderful family and was very close to her parents as well as her two brothers and two sisters.

She gave her life to Christian missions when she was 17 years old, and she lived out that calling in everything she did throughout her life’s journey.

Pat graduated from McMurray College with a BA in Education. Then she taught mostly 6th grade science and 8th grade earth science until she retired in 2001. She was very involved in her church throughout her life. And she cherished time with her kids, all of her family, and her precious grandchildren.

She had a deep spirit and a close devoted relationship with God. Her passion was to tend to children and the elderly – those most vulnerable who could not do for themselves. She taught her own children, grandchildren, and students by her example more than any other way. She taught her family how to be a faithful spouse, how to love unconditionally, and how to be a true friend. Most of all, she taught her family and those who knew her what is looks like to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-40).

One of her life’s mottos was “bloom where you are planted” – wherever you are, plant roots, make the most of it, and let God bear good fruit in your life.

Our family is most grateful for the beautiful people at the Arbor and Terrace who cared for our beloved Pat while she lived there. We also thank Premiere Hospice for their love and care in her last days with us.

A Celebration of Life service for Pat Holcomb will be held at First Methodist Church in Canyon, Texas, Saturday, March 23, 2024, at 10 a.m. in the Sanctuary. We will have a second Celebration of Life on Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Ruston, Louisiana.

To honor and remember Pat, please make your donations to St. Jude or LifeHouse Ministries of Ruston, Louisiana, or to another non profit of your choosing.

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Memorial services for Mr. Colin Clyde Campbell, age 55 of Choudrant, Louisiana will be held at 11:00 AM, Thursday, February 29, 2024 at Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston, Louisiana with Apostle Charlie Robinson officiating.

Colin was born on November 22, 1968 to Malcom and Sallie Campbell in Lake Charles, Louisiana and passed away February 18, 2024 in Ruston, Louisiana. He worked for Foster Farms Poultry Farm in Athens, Louisiana until becoming disabled. Colin loved gardening and was known as the Grill master. He enjoyed grilling and working around the house. Colin loved spending time with his family. He was a man of good character and kind to all people. Colin respected all people, especially ladies and elderly people. He was always quick to apologize if needed and would help anybody. Colin never met a stranger and always had a smile on his face. Colin loved to collect teddy bears and had quite a collection. He also thoroughly enjoyed being outdoors with nature. Colin was a member of Jesus Holy Temple Church.

Collin is survived by his wife, Pamela Kay Varner Campbell; three brothers: Clint Campbell and wife Patricia, Benjamin Carter Campbell and wife Tonya and Tracy Manuel and wife Lynette; and aunt Celine Campbell, wife of his late uncle Roger.

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Graveside services for Mr. William Terry Stewart, age 76 of Homer, Louisiana will be held at 3:00 PM, Thursday, February 29, 2024 at Mineral Springs Cemetery in Dubach, Louisiana with Brad Jones officiating. Services are under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston, Louisiana.

Terry Stewart was born in South Bend, Indiana on September 30, 1947. He was always living in and out of Lincoln Parish. He worked in the truck driving industry for numerous years. Terry enjoyed traveling and meeting people.

Terry lived his life to the fullest, he enjoyed seeing many places, and never met a stranger. He definitely had the gift of gab. His sisters say he should have been a politician!

Terry enlisted in the Armed Forces at an early age. Being a proud American, serving in the Vietnam War left him with many struggles in his life.

The love for his children was always there even though he wasn’t a constant presence in their lives. By the Grace of God, he was blessed having them back in his life. They were able to share stories of love, laughter and even tears.

Terry was a man of faith, knowing his last traveling day on earth is written in the Lambs Book of Life

Mr. Terry Stewart is survived by his daughter Vickie Kinnard of Shreveport, LA and his son Christopher “Chris” Stewart of Quinlan, TX; sisters: Paula and her husband Sonny Cupp; Laura and her husband Ricky Barmore, all of which are from Dubach, LA.; three grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Terry is preceded in death by his parents: Albert Leon Stewart and Dorothy Arlene Rush Stewart; and brothers: Ralph Stewart, Charles “Butch” Stewart, Curtis Stewart, and Ivan Stewart.

Pallbearers will be Chris Stewart, Bryan Stewart, Ray Stewart, Cody Cupp, Wes Barmore and Jared Barmore.

Visitation will be held from 1:00-2:00 PM, Thursday, February 29, 2024 at Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.

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Patsy Lynn Holcomb 
September 1, 1940 – February 24, 2024 
Service: First United Methodist Church of Canyon, TX, Saturday, March 23, 2024, 10:00 am 

Wanda Copeland 
October 13, 1960 – February 25, 2024 
Visitation: Saturday, March 2, 2024, 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home 
Funeral Service: Saturday, March 2, 2024, 2:00 PM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home 
Cemetery Committal: Saturday, March 2, 2024, Longstraw Cemetery, 1799 Styles Ranch Road, Choudrant 

Colin Campbell   
November 22, 1968 – February 18, 2024   
Memorial Service: Thursday, February 29, 2024, 11:00 AM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home   

Reverend Cornelius Samuel    
Thursday 10/04/1945 — Monday 02/19/2024 Age: 78    
Visitation: Friday 03/01/2024 3:00pm to 5:00pm at King’s Funeral Home    
Celebration of Life: Saturday 03/02/2024 11:00am, Zion Traveler Baptist Church, 1201 Martin Luther King Drive. Ruston    
Interment: Saturday 03/02/2024 Following Service, Zeller Cemetery, Eros   

Leandrew Riley    
Wednesday 05/28/1947 — Friday 02/16/2024 Age: 76    
Visitation: Thursday 02/29/2024 3:00pm to 5:00pm at King’s Funeral Home    
Celebration of Life: Friday 03/01/2024 11:00am at King’s Funeral Home   
Interment: Friday 03/01/2024 Following Service, Northeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, 2412 US-425, Rayville 

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By Judith Roberts

Heart disease hit home for Ruston resident Tori Brister five years ago, and since that life-changing event, she has worked with medical experts to help bring awareness to others. 

February is Heart Disease Awareness Month, and Brister, a travel agent, is working in collaboration with the board of directors for Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) Research, Inc., to create an annual educational event. 

“(We want to form) a sense of community among SCAD survivors and fundraising for SCAD Research,” Brister said. “The details are still in the works. This is an opportunity for me to marry my path as a SCAD survivor with my experience working in the travel industry.” 

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Brister, who was 34 when she had her heart attack, said she wanted to learn as much as she could about SCAD to help prevent recurrence for herself and to help others see the signs and symptoms. 

“When I had my SCAD in 2019, I visited the Mayo Clinic to learn as much as I could about it,” Brister said. “The research doctor that I met with told me that SCAD research was still in its early stages; they’d only been researching it for about 10 years. The diagnosis is rare because many healthcare professionals are still unaware of it. There are many unanswered questions about SCAD — why it happens, who is at risk for it, how to prevent it and even how to treat it. We need more research, and more research will only come with more awareness, education and fundraising. 

“Many folks don’t survive SCAD. Those of us who have survived need ‘be loud’ to further the research, to raise the funds necessary to further the research, and to make more physicians aware of SCAD and its symptoms so correct diagnoses are made/recorded. We are at a 20% chance of recurrence. We want to see progress in getting answers to unanswered questions.” 

Brister said her own experience did not mirror stereotypical heart attacks. She did not meet any of the typical heart attack patient criteria. 

“On Feb. 23, 2019, I had a series of unusual symptoms while sitting at a LA Tech baseball game,” she said. “I felt a pinch in my back; tingling, like a nerve was pinched or a muscle was knotting up. I tried to stretch and put pressure on that area with the hard seat back of the chair. Within a few minutes, I began to feel generally unwell — nauseated, cold sweats, weak and my limbs were slowly going numb. My friends noticed that I was losing color and helped me lie down on the floor in front of my seat. They called 911 when they couldn’t find my pulse. I never lost consciousness and I never had pain in my chest. An ambulance took me to the local hospital where an abnormal EKG reading was collected a few times in a row. I was told I was having a heart attack and was asked repeatedly if there was a history of heart disease in my family, if this had ever happened before and if I had ever had heart trouble. The answer was no to all of these questions.” 

Brister was then airlifted to Monroe’s Glenwood Hospital and was taken to the cath lab to investigate what was happening. 

“As the doctor inserted the cath into my arteries, the tip of the cath caught a tear in my artery and tore it further, in a spiral down the length of my RCA (right coronary artery),” Brister said. “That’s when he knew my diagnosis, Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection. It was something he’d learned about in medical school, 20 years before, but had never seen it in practice. He placed two stents in that artery before removing the cath. Before I left the ICU, my husband had secured me an appointment at Mayo in Minnesota, with one of the top SCAD research doctors in the world.” 

At Mayo, Brister said she had the gamut of tests run, including imaging, labs and an appointment with a genetic specialist. 

“All things considered, I was doing very well and was not diagnosed with any other conditions commonly associated with SCAD patients,” she said. “I enrolled in cardiac rehab to help me recover and learn to trust my body.” 

However, the cardiac rehab didn’t last long because two weeks later, Brister discovered she was pregnant. 

“At that time, pregnancy carried a 50% chance of death, something I was reminded of at almost every appointment for the next year,” she said. “My pregnancy was uneventful, and we got a healthy baby girl to complete our family.” 

In the first few years after her SCAD, Brister said she experienced a roller coaster of emotions. 

“Trauma and fear ruled my mind,” she said. “After finally getting to a place of acceptance, I am ready to find my place in the world of SCAD awareness, learning to trust my body and fundraising for more research.” 

Now, in working with SCAD Research, Inc., Brister hopes more individuals will recognize heart attacks can be of varying symptoms and that more research and awareness will be done. 

“More people need to be aware that heart attack symptoms don’t look the same for everyone,” she said. “Chest pain and arm pain don’t accompany every heart attack. Never in a million years did I think I was having a heart attack. I was lucky to be around friends who were hypervigilant enough to check my pulse and act fast. If you are having unusual symptoms, get checked out.” 

Louisiana Tech’s upcoming keynote commencement speaker should be familiar with the ceremony.

For the first time since he was a student 50 years ago, Dr. Les Guice will attend commencement without being a student, on faculty, or on staff.

He’ll be the speaker.

Guice, a Morehouse Parish native and for 10 years the 14^th president of the University, will serve as the keynote speaker for the University’s Winter Commencement ceremony Saturday, March 2 at 10 a.m. in the Thomas Assembly Center on the Tech campus.

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“Dr. Guice was remarkably effective at building authentic connections with students, and there is no better person to pour into these graduates one more time than the president who served them during their academic journey,” Louisiana Tech President Jim Henderson said.

In addition, Jeanette and Justin Hinckley, longtime loyal supporters of everything Louisiana Tech, will become the University’s newest Tower Medallion recipients and be inducted by the Louisiana Tech Alumni Association into Tech’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni.

The Tower Medallion Award signifies membership in the Hall and is awarded to Tech alumni who have distinguished themselves by exceptional achievement, community service, and humanitarian activities.

Justin, a 1978 graduate in computer science, was named Tech’s Alumnus of the Year in 2010. Wife Jeanette was the University’s Distinguished Alumna for the College of Education in 2016.

Guice assumed office on July 1, 2013, succeeding Dr. Daniel D. Reneau’s presidency. He entered office with a rich personal and familial history with Louisiana Tech; his wife Kathy (’76 and ’77) and sons Chad (’01), Kyle (’04), and Bret (’11) are all Tech graduates.

His journey to the President’s Office began as a Tech student, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in architecture in 1976. His passion for engineering led him to complete a master’s degree in civil engineering in 1978. Subsequently, he served as an assistant professor of civil engineering, earning promotion to associate professor in 1981. After obtaining his Ph.D. in civil engineering from Texas A&M University, Guice assumed the role of interim department head of civil engineering in 1988, attaining a full professorship and becoming the permanent department head the following year.

Guice’s dedication to the University was unwavering over the next decade. He served as academic director, executive associate dean, and dean, all within the College of Engineering and Science. It was his time in these administrative roles that paved the way to his appointment as Tech’s vice president for research and development in 2004. In 2012, he was named executive vice president.

Guice retired at the end of 2023; Tech and the Ruston community have plans to continue to celebrate his legacy.

Dr. Henderson, most recently the University of Louisiana System president and CEO, has served as a Tech commencement speaker in the past and will enjoy his first commencement as the University’s president March 2.

Staff Reports

Ruston High senior guard Jaliyah McWain is the Most Outstanding Player on the 2023-24 all-Lincoln Parish Journal Girls Hoops team while Bearcat head coach Meredith Graf and Cedar Creek head coach Katie Hall share Coach of the Year honors.

McWain headlined the eight-person all-parish squad after averaging 14.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 3.1 steals per game for the Lady Bearcats. The three-time all-LPJ honoree helped guide Ruston to the state quarterfinals before falling 52-46 to No. 2 seed Denham Springs.

“Jaliyah had a wonderful senior year,” Graf said. “Although she has obviously played exceptionally well, she means far more to this program than just stats. Jaliyah has been a staple player in our program since she was a freshman. Her skill, speed, and athleticism have been driving forces for her to have played the large amount of minutes that she has.

“She has grown into a real leader on and off the court. She has been an example of everything we want our young ladies to be in the classroom and on the court. Her work ethic and competitive nature will be missed moving forward, but the body of work she left behind and the positive traits she has helped push on our program will not be forgotten.”

Graf is the co-Coach of the Year after leading the Lady Bearcats to a 24-8 record, the District 2-5A title and the No. 7 seed in the Non-Select School Division I playoffs. Ruston ended the season strong, winning 10 of its final 11 games.

Hall joins Graf with co-Coach of the Year accolades after leading Cedar Creek to an 18-12 record, a share of the District 2-1A title and the quarterfinals of the Select School Division IV playoffs. In only her first year at the helm of the program, Hall led a team that had lost its top three scorers from the previous season to an 18-win campaign.

Graf said she was honored to be named co-coach with Hall.

“Thank you to the LPJ for the honor of being a Coach of the Year,” Graf said. “There are two things that come to mind for me when it comes to receiving something like this. One, I am honored that is with my very good friend, Katie Hall. Katie has been a light in this community for so many years and has done such a great job with her team this year. I am thrilled to be sharing this with her. Two, any good coach will tell you that any kind of coaching award is very much about how wonderful their players are. While I sincerely appreciate the recognition, I know how fortunate I am to have the team that I did this year. This award recognizes their work just as much as it does mine.”

Joining McWain on the all-LPJ team were Jahkeria Abney (Simsboro), Reese Brown (Choudrant), Zaccheya Jackson (Ruston), Mallory Smith (Cedar Creek), Jayleen Spann (Lincoln Prep), Leah Sutherland (Cedar Creek), and Asijah Wright (Lincoln Prep).

Spann and Wright led Lincoln Prep to one of its best seasons in years as the Lady Panthers won 11 games (after winning just three last year), including a 60-32 upset win over No. 13 seed Catholic Pointe-Coupe in the first round of the Select School Division IV playoffs.

Brown led Choudrant to the District 2B title and a playoff birth with the Aggies falling to Hathaway in the first round.

All-LPJ Team

Jahkeria Abney (Senior), Simsboro, 14.0 ppg

Reese Brown (Sophomore), Choudrant: 11.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.8 spg

Zaccheya Jackson (Senior), Ruston: 11.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.1 spg

Jaliyah McWain (Senior), Ruston: 14.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.8 apg, 3.1 spg

Mallory Smith (Junior), Cedar Creek: 11.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.5 spg

Jayleen Spann (8th grade), Lincoln Prep: 12.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg

Leah Sutherland (Senior), Cedar Creek: 7.4 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 2.2 apg, 2.6 spg

Asijah Wright (Senior), Lincoln Prep: 11.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg

Player of the Year: Jaliyah McWain, Ruston

Co-Coach of the Year: Meredith Graf, Ruston; Katie Hall, Cedar Creek

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Louisiana State Police arrested a Farmerville man after stopping him on La. Highway 33 for speeding 82 in a 55 mile per hour zone.

Charles Stafford, 40, was stopped about 7:30 p.m. Saturday evening. The trooper saw signs of intoxication and administered field sobriety tests. After the tests, he was arrested and taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center.

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During transport to the detention center, Stafford became agitated and belligerent and began screaming and banging his head on the protective cage in the back seat, causing a cut above his right eyebrow.

Once he calmed down at the detention center, the trooper took him to North Louisiana Medical Center for treatment of the laceration above his eye. He again became belligerent and began to scream and yell obscenities at the nurses and a doctor. 

After release from the hospital, Stafford was taken back to the detention center where he refused to submit to a breath test. Stafford was booked for first offense DWI, speeding, and driving under suspension.

Bail was set at $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. 

By Kyle Roberts

Colonel Hannibal Smith of the A-Team always famously said, “I love it when a plan comes together.”

In the case of Ruston High School volleyball, the plan was for interim head coach Mandy Cauley to come in for one year and give it right back to head coach Lucie Hunt after receiving treatment for cancer, from which she is now fully recovered.

To Hannibal’s dismay, this plan would not come together– not after Hunt announced her engagement and her upcoming move to St. Amant, La., following her August wedding.

“It’s been a long time coming, but life happens,” Hunt said. “And I’m excited to move on to the next chapter of life. Unfortunately, it involves me moving to South Louisiana, and I wish I could take Ruston with me. I tell everybody that if I could pick this school up and and bring it with me, I would with all the people in it.”

It’s not often you get the chance to audition for your new role for an entire year, but that’s exactly how things went for Cauley, and on Monday, Feb. 5, Ruston High principal Dan Gressett named her the program’s third head coach, where, of course, she was also the program’s first.

Cauley, who led Ruston to its first appearance in the state tournament after her 2023 campaign, had already prepared herself to go back to being mom to junior Harper and freshman Baylor, both Lady Bearcats last year. In fact, when news of Hunt’s engagement broke, Cauley originally was undecided on if she wanted to apply.

“(After the season), I was exhausted,” Cauley said. “I had wrapped my mind around Lucie returning, so I was going to give it my all and do my best, thinking she’d be back.”

Following Thanksgiving and Christmas, Cauley was able to find some quiet and had the rest she needed. She finally approached both Hunt and Gressett and said she’d like to be considered for the head job.

“I felt like it was what I was supposed to do,” Cauley said. “I feel like there’s work to be done; I want the torch and the reputation for everything that Lucie did. And I want to continue it because we both care about it so much.”

Hunt said she understood why Cauley was a little apprehensive at first.

“Every coach goes through that,” Hunt said. “You’re pumped at the beginning of the season, and then you hit mid-season lows and get your playoff “second wind.” Then, after it’s over, you don’t want to talk about volleyball for months. But then you come back and have a refreshed perspective on things.”

For Gressett, naming Cauley was as easy of a decision as he’s ever made and said that the plan will be for Cauley to fill Hunt’s teaching spot for health and physical education.

“It’s a very easy transition,” Gressett said. “I’ve been through a lot of coaching changes. There’s always the kids are going to have a little bit of shock and a little bit of sadness and a little bit of tension regarding who’s going to be the next person. But it’s always short lived.”

Hunt was able to share the news with the team about her departure first, and then the team learned shortly after that Cauley would remain their head coach.

“There were some tears shed,” Hunt said. “The conversation from the kids was ‘We love you, we support you.’ And then the conversation quickly shifted to what will be done next year to pack people into the new gym. Then Mandy had a coversation with the team; looking back it was a very positive reaction.”

Going to back to Cauley’s role as both coach and mom to Harper and Baylor, Cauley was appreciative of Hunt talking with the two other them, separately.

“Lucy handled that really well,” Cauley said. “They knew it was coming because we talk a lot of volleyball at our house. They both felt good about me doing it.”

Hunt was also able to talk about what she wants her lasting legacy to be on the program that she inherited after two years.

“I’ve always had the philosophy of ‘coach them hard, but love them harder,'” Hunt said. “I pride myself on relationships. Sometimes you have to have those tough conversations with kids, but you have those relationships with them to where you’re able to do that.

“It was never really about wins and losses for me. It’s great when you win, but it’s even better when you see the relationships they have with each other.”

Hunt still expects to be able to have a presence in North Louisiana with her Rocket Fuel team, especially given that her family will still be in Ruston.

“My future husband does shift work,” Hunt said. “Every other weekend, he’s working. My family is still here, and I’m very, very close to my family. Even if I’m not here every week, I’ll still be around.”

Ruston High’s record through the years (223-82)
– 2015 (Cauley): 21-2
– 2016 (Cauley): 19-7
– 2017 (Cauley): 19-7
– 2018 (Hunt): 34-8
– 2019 (Hunt): 29-14
– 2020 (Hunt): 14-6 (COVID)
– 2021 (Hunt): 30-12
– 2022 (Hunt): 28-13
– 2023 (Cauley): 29-13

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Two Grambling State University students were arrested last Tuesday after a campus housing official discovered in their dormitory room.

A housing area coordinator told GSU Police he found a plate of marijuana sitting in the common area of a dorm room in Holland Hall Tuesday afternoon.

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Dey’Mani M. Harris, 18, Vallejo, California told police the marijuana belonged to him and his roommates. A search located over 83 grams of marijuana inside a book bag belonging to Stephon Rashad Zeno Carminer, 19, of Oakland, California.

Harris and Carmine were both arrested and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for possession of marijuana.

Bail was set at $10,000 each.

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 

By Kyle Roberts

After an exceptional performance by true freshman Ahmad Hudson on Friday, the No. 8 Ruston Bearcats (18-9) will host the No. 9 H.L. Bourgeois Braves (22-10)  out of Gray, La., tonight at 6 p.m. in Memorial Gym on the campus of Louisiana Tech University.

“We have a tremendous amount of respect for Bourgeois,” Ruston head coach Ryan Bond said. “They have a very good senior guard that can shoot the ball and is also a very dangerous driver. They are very athletic and do a great job of defending.

“We need a big crowd to come out and get behind our guys.”

Bond’s Bearcats most recently ran the Barbe Buccaneers out of the gym in their opening round matchup, with Hudson dropping 19 points, grabbing 14 board and swatting six shots. Ruston would cruise to a 62-34 win.

H.L. Bourgeois had its hands full with in a tight match Friday with Central Lafourche, winning 67-64. The Braves were district champs this past season in 7-5A, a district in the New Orleans area of the state.

Tip off is set for 6 p.m. in Memorial Gym. Admission will be $10 at the door and only cash will be accepted.

For those who cannot attend the game in-person, a livestream will be available at http://www.bearcatnationnetwork.com

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The LA 545 bridge over D’Darbonne Bayou in Lincoln Parish will be closed for necessary repairs beginning Monday, March 4.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development advised the bridge will be closed approximately 2.7 miles north of Crossroads on LA 146.

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The closure is anticipated to last two weeks and should reopen Friday, March 15.

A detour route will be marked and provided for the duration of the closure. All vehicles must detour using LA 151, LA 152, LA 146, and LA 545. 

DOTD appreciates residents’ patience and reminds all to please drive with caution through the construction site and be on the lookout for work crews and their equipment.

By Kyle Roberts

This past Saturday marked the sixth and final week of my family gathering in the gym at Temple Baptist Church in Ruston.

Packed into the two court gym with one row of bleachers are families coming out each Saturday to cheer on their children as basketball players and cheerleaders in “Upward,” a league hosted by Temple for kids in first through sixth grades.

My younger daughter played each week, and I loved getting to watch her run up and down the court doing her very best to get rebounds and catch passes (the words are emphasized for a reason). And as each week went along, I saw her developing some new skills thanks to her coaches (and two dear friends) Dr. Dustin Whitlock and Doc Hoefler.

But my girl would not be able to play without a host of volunteers willing to give up a nearly two-month slate on their calendar. These are referees, coaches, devotional leaders — you name it. And our family has a tremendous amount of appreciation for all of them.

So from the Roberts family, a very hearty thank you to every single one of you for your sacrifice of time and energy. It was a lot, and we are grateful.

• Cecil Barham
• Marshal Doss
• John Queen
• Ryan Roberson
• Emma Shelton
• Jeremy Telford
• Garrett Terry
• Bolton Warren
• Dustin Whitlock
• Mary Basco
• Tracy Houck
• Christopher Walker
• Daniel Asher
• David Asher
• Turner Brasher
• Reggie Bridges
• John Easley
• Luke Easley
• Clark Canterberry
• Ashley Cripps
• Nathan George
• Toby Hammons
• Richard Heard
• Beau Holloway
• William McIntyre
• Jake McKenzie
• Joseph Nolen
• Lauren Pipes
• Jason Smith
• Emily Vining
• Todd Whitlock
• Holden Aultman
• Josh Dean
• Fenner Derry
• Kenneth Dickson
• Jessica George
• Ryan Kilpatrick
• Jennifer McCarthy
• Christian Norris
• Danyelle O’Neal
• Collyn Valentine
• Zach Williams
• Seth Hood
• James King
• Haley McHale
• Daniel Alsup
• Brandon Ball
• Mims Boyce
• Matt Cotton
• Doc Hoefler
• Tommy Ledford
• David Lofton
• Manthei Mills
• Joseph McMahan
• James McMahan
• Chad Newson
• John Nugent
• Helen Payton
• Jody Smith
• Jeremy Vining
• Evan Yuhasz
• Gary Kleinpeter
• Sally Hearn
• Zach Husser
• George Lee IV
• Hannah Jones
• Chris Taylor
• Lily Spillers
• Josh Mote
• Elizabeth Draughon
• Joy Terrell
• Gary Rambin
• Dalton Diel
• John Austin Bergeron
• Lane Cooper
• Matt Barham
• Tedd Hull
• April Potter
• Vickie Benefield
• Adam Albrecht
• Patsy Price
• Kay Church
• Shirley Crump
• Amanda Walker
• Landon Newsom
• Luke Hutchings
• Tyler Fletcher
• Phil Jackson
• Ethan Taylor
• Joshua Lajaunie
• Galen Turner IV
• Adam McGuirt
• Michael Shelton
• Emily Coker
• Brad Waller

List provided by Temple Baptist Church

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