If Merriam-Webster is ever looking for the perfect picture of a student-athlete, it would be hard pressed to choose anyone other than Ruston High School’s Thomas Rogers.
Ruston High principal Dan Gressett would sure agree with that.
“Thomas is such a dedicated student-athlete,” Gressett said. He is training early in the morning before most students wake up, then showing up to a full class load when most seniors only take five classes –and it’s a very challenging class load at that. He has accomplished so much at Ruston High School and we are very proud of him. He is a great ambassador for Ruston High.”
Now in his senior year in the classroom and the track, Rogers has left a lasting legacy for his diligence in both arenas as he prepares to head to Louisiana State University in the fall to study chemical engineering.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Rogers said of being a senior. “Especially on the track and cross country, because of all the work I’ve put in over the last four years is finally paying off with fast times.”
But even with his successes, Rogers will admit that it’s not always easy between running, school work, eco-car, student council and being a National Merit finalist.
“It’s hard balancing those things,” Rogers said. “I don’t have a lot of time for much outside of the things I’m involved with; I think I need to be better with my time management. I really try to do it all.”
His coaches, Trey Smith for track and Dustin Cochran for cross country, will both rave about the effort they see from Rogers and how hard he’s willing to push himself, regardless of whatever challenge he faces.
“He’s everything you want in a competitor,” Cochran said. “He’s willing to do the work. When you look at the big picture, it speaks to a really focused person who has priorities and he has a very supportive family, as well, and that’s a big deal. But what I’ve also liked about him is when he wants to know something or try something different, he’s not afraid to speak up. He’ll constantly ask me how we can make something better or push it forward.
“I always say that your team goes as your seniors go, and the enthusiasm that he’s brought to the team, (the rest) have copied. They’ve set a really good tone for us, and it’s led to some really good performances.
Both Smith and Cochran have watched Rogers run since he was in elementary school, knowing that one day Rogers would be an outstanding addition to a program that has seen its share of success through the years. For Smith, it all culminated with the aforementioned individual indoor championship run.
“I was super excited,” Smith said. “Once we saw him start coming around the bend at the last lap, we knew he was in his stride pattern and was definitely more aggressive than the two guys who were in front. (Cochran and I) got right there at the finish line, and we knew he had it. It was a big rah-rah moment for us. That’s four years of work in just a few seconds.
“It’s cool to see how all of that has played out. He has a love for the sport and has been pushing himself for a long time. From the track perspective side, it’s nice to have someone you can depend on. I’m always excited to see Thomas out there.”
Now, with only a few races remaining over the next few weeks as a Bearcat, Rogers will look to cap off a stellar career for the Firmly Founded, while making good memories along the way, even if it requires running nearly ten miles everyday just to stay race-ready.
“I’m going to keep having fun,” Rogers said. “Waking up every single day and to go run doesn’t sound like fun, but when you’re with the right people, it is fun and enjoyable.”
A Ruston man was arrested was arrested Wednesday after Lincoln Parish deputies responded to a disturbance and found he was wanted on numerous warrants.
Deputies were called to a Beacon Light Road residence where a man and woman were reportedly arguing outside. Greshun M. Saulsberry, 29, said he had been in an argument with his girlfriend and now he was going to walk home.
The woman said Saulsberry had been holding her hostage and refusing to let her leave. She said Saulsberry assaulted her and took her cell phone. The woman said she went to the residence to visit went to the home to visit the resident there and Saulsberry showed up. However, the resident said Saulsberry and the woman showed up together. Neighbors said Saulsberry and the woman have been seen on several occasions. together.
It was learned the woman had an active protective order against Saulsberry and they were not supposed to have contact with one another. Two warrants were located at the Ruston Police Department for Saulsberry for violation of a protective order and simple criminal damage to property. The Sheriff’s Office also had a bench warrant for Saulsberry for failure to appear in court on a domestic abuse battery charge.
Saulsberry was arrested and taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center where he was booked on the three warrants, and additional charges of violation of a protective order and misdemeanor probation violation.
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 Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office is accepting applications for this summers Youth Cadet Academy.
Deadline to apply is Friday (April 5).
The academy is open to students currently in grades 6 through 8 and is an opportunity for them to get a firsthand look at what law enforcement is all about.
There are two sessions for the academy with the first session running June 18-20 and the second session running July 9-11.
Applications are available only at local schools and availability is limited. For more information about the Cadet Youth Academy, contact Sgt. Iris Winston at 318-251-6440 or by emailing iwinston@lpsheriff.org.
On April 1, 1700, English pranksters begin popularizing the annual tradition of April Fools’ Day by playing practical jokes on each other.
Although the day, also called All Fools’ Day, has been celebrated for several centuries by different cultures, its exact origins remain a mystery.
Some historians speculate that April Fools’ Day dates back to 1582, when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, as called for by the Council of Trent in 1563. People who were slow to get the news or failed to recognize that the start of the new year had moved to January 1 and continued to celebrate it during the last week of March through April 1 became the butt of jokes and hoaxes.
These pranks included having paper fish placed on their backs and being referred to as poisson d’avril (April fish), said to symbolize a young, “easily hooked” fish and a gullible person.
April Fools’ Day spread throughout Britain during the 18th century. In Scotland, the tradition became a two-day event, starting with “hunting the gowk,” in which people were sent on phony errands (gowk is a word for cuckoo bird, a symbol for fool) and followed by Tailie Day, which involved pranks played on people’s derrieres, such as pinning fake tails or “kick me” signs on them.
On April 1, 1970, President Richard Nixon signs legislation officially banning cigarette ads on television and radio. Nixon, who enjoyed the occasional cigar, supported the legislation at the increasing insistence of public health advocates.
Alarming health studies emerged as early as 1939 that linked cigarette smoking to higher incidences of cancer and heart disease and, by the end of the 1950s, all states had laws prohibiting the sale of cigarettes to minors. In 1964, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) agreed that advertisers had a responsibility to warn the public of the health hazards of cigarette smoking.
In 1969, after the surgeon general of the United States released an official report linking cigarette smoking to low birth weight, Congress yielded to pressure from the public health sector and signed the Cigarette Smoking Act. This act required cigarette manufacturers to place warning labels on their products that stated “Cigarette Smoking May be Hazardous to Your Health.”
By the early 1970s, the fight between the tobacco lobby and public health interests forced Congress to draft legislation to regulate the tobacco industry and special committees were convened to hear arguments from both sides. Public health officials and consumers wanted stronger warning labels on tobacco products and their advertisements banned from television and radio, where they could easily reach impressionable children. (Tobacco companies were the single largest product advertisers on television in 1969.)
Cigarette makers defended their industry with attempts to negate the growing evidence that nicotine was addictive and that cigarette smoking caused cancer. Though they continued to bombard unregulated print media with ads for cigarettes, tobacco companies lost the regulatory battle over television and radio. The last televised cigarette ad ran at 11:50 p.m. during The Johnny Carson Show on January 1, 1971.
Tobacco has played a part in the lives of presidents since the country’s inception. A hugely profitable crop in early America, Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Jackson owned tobacco plantations and used tobacco in the form of snuff or smoked cigars. Regulation of the tobacco industry in the form of excise taxes began during Washington’s presidency and continues to this day. In 1962, John F. Kennedy became the first president to sponsor studies on smoking and public health.
Tobacco has not been the only thing smoked at the White House. In 1978, after country-music entertainer Willie Nelson performed for President Carter there, he is said to have snuck up to the roof and surreptitiously smoked what he called a big fat Austin torpedo, commonly known as marijuana.
For more on This Day in History, go to history.com.
“It would be great for Ruston school district voters to come to RHS auditorium tomorrow night at 6 to hear firsthand what is included in the bond proposal, and how long the bond extension would be for,” Lincoln Parish School Board superintendent Ricky Durrett said. “We will also have the Evolv scanning system set up for demo in the lobby of the auditorium. This will allow people to see this safety feature first hand and get any questions that the public may have answered.”
Anyone from the general public will be allowed to attend. In the last forum, members of the school board and administration gave a presentation and then opened for public questions and comments.
The Ruston District 1 proposal for capital improvement will include:
Ruston Junior High School ($1,820,000 total) – Security Upgrades (Fencing & Gates): $1.3 million – Additional Parking: $320,000 – Body Scan Machines: $200,00
Ruston High School ($14,780,000 total) – New Roof: $1 million – Entrance Upgrades for Security: $950,000 – Body Scan Machines: $300,000 – Parking Lot by Gym: $330,000 – Covered Pavilion: $5 million – Softball Field Upgrades: $3.5 million – Boys & Girls Basketball Renovations: $1.5 million – Baseball Upgrades: $2.2 million
Lincoln Parish residents still have time to register to vote in the April municipal general election.
This April 27 municipal general election will have the Ruston School District No. 1 Proposition and the Choudrant School District 6 Proposition on the ballot.
The deadline to register to vote in person, by mail or at the OMV Office has passed, but other options are available online.
BATON ROUGE, La. – Volunteer Louisiana and Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser are proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 Champions of Service awards. The Champions of Service awards recognize individuals who have demonstrated compassion and dedication, leadership and initiative, or innovation and creativity in addressing community challenges and serving others.
This year’s selection process was highly competitive, with Volunteer Louisiana receiving over 280 nominations from 49 of 64 parishes. The 2024 awardees distinguished themselves with passion and dedication to serving their communities, embodying the spirit of volunteerism that makes Louisiana a better place for all. From education and healthcare to public safety and social justice, these champions have selflessly given their time, energy, and skills to make a positive impact on the lives of others.
“We are thrilled to honor these exceptional individuals who have shown extraordinary dedication to serving their communities,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “Their selfless acts of kindness and commitment inspire us all to work towards a brighter future for Louisiana.”
The nine recipients of the 2024 Champions of Service awards are:
– Evelyn Blakeney, Northeast Champion – Evelyn’s leadership of the Sew Happy Ladies, a weekly group of volunteers based out of First West Thrift Store in West Monroe, provides a space for women to create, bless, and have a great time. The Sew Happy Ladies work to use their giftedness in sewing to offer hope by making different items that benefit local and global causes. There is a place and job for everyone, even those who cannot sew. The group has spearheaded large-scale projects such as reusable feminine products for girls in Honduras and Africa allowing them to attend school the entire month. Through their passion and creativity, Evelyn and the Sew Happy Ladies foster a supportive environment where members find fulfillment in serving others while forming meaningful connections. Her impact extends beyond the tangible goods produced, enriching the lives of both recipients and volunteers alike.
– Jalynn Mar’Dai Pickens, Northwest Champion – Jalynn was a high school student who experienced a realization after sitting next to a fellow student experiencing homelessness. Recognizing the lack of specific programs for high school students in emergency clothing situations, Jalynn spearheaded an initiative to collect jeans for youth experiencing homelessness. Six years later, her initiative is still going. Jalynn’s Locker makes a significant impact by collecting thousands of pairs of jeans for students in Caddo Parish, ensuring that students have access to essential items throughout the school year. The jeans and clothes in Jalynn’s collects are found at the Mckinney-Vento Educational Enhancement Site at the Caddo Parish School Board at 1638 Murphy Street in Shreveport.
– Lilly Harvey, Central Region Champion – Lilly’s journey from tragedy to advocacy began with the loss of her daughter, Millie, in 2017. Determined to prevent other families from enduring similar pain, she founded Millie Mattered Overdose & Addiction Advocacy, rapidly expanding the organization’s reach to 16 cities in Louisiana. Through events like The Drug Epidemic Walks and Moonlight Memorials, Lilly has created a network of support and resources for those battling addiction and grieving loved ones lost to overdose. Her tireless efforts, including spearheading legislation like “Millie’s Law,” have garnered statewide recognition and contributed to a significant decrease in overdose deaths in Louisiana. Despite facing personal struggles, Lilly’s resilience and dedication have transformed her into a beacon of hope and recovery for countless individuals and families in need.
– Landis Manchester, Greater Capital Area Champion – Landis Manchester, a dedicated father of four, became involved with Ainsley’s Angels in 2017. Ainsley’s Angels of America aims to build awareness about America’s special needs community through inclusion in all aspects of life. Serving as advocates to providing education and participating as active members in local communities through participating the endurance events. Today, Landis is the proud dad to two rider athletes and an integral part of the organization’s success in Louisiana. Appointed as Ambassador for Baton Rouge in 2020, Landis has expanded Ainsley’s Angels’ reach, recruiting 57 new participants and facilitating 22 inclusive events in 2023 alone. Despite being a full-time working father, Landis spearheads the transportation, coordination, and set up for specialized equipment that helps children and adults with special needs participate in local races and high-impact endurance events alongside volunteers. Landis’s infectious enthusiasm and tireless advocacy make him a beacon of inclusion, embodying the spirit of service and community engagement.
– Dr. Elyse Stevens, Greater New Orleans Champion – Dr. Stevens excels in her role as a primary care physician and internal medicine faculty member at LSU Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC) and demonstrates her commitment to the community through extensive volunteer efforts. Serving as lead physician at LSUHSC Student-Run Community Clinics and Freestanding Communities, a fully organized and staffed team of medical students who are dedicated to providing a foundation of quality healthcare the underserved and disadvantaged of the New Orleans community. The clinic offers a myriad of services to heal patients as well as provide referrals for specialized care within the LSUHSC Healthcare System. Dr. Stevens’s leadership has significantly expanded patient care capacity and fostered a culture of human-centered healthcare, impacting countless lives and inspiring future generations of healthcare providers. In addition to her work with the clinic, Dr. Stevens volunteers at multiple weekly events that bring healthcare services directly to communities across New Orleans. Her dedication to equitable healthcare and unwavering compassion make her an indispensable asset to the New Orleans community.
– Mark Michaud, Southeast Winner – Mark’s dedication to search and recovery efforts through his 501c3, Southeast Louisiana Underwater Search and Recovery (SELAUSAR), has profoundly impacted the Southeast Louisiana community. The organization’s mission has expanded to include sonar imaging, training, scene management, and the search and recovery of drowning victims. Following several recoveries starting in 2001, Mark located teacher Terrilyn Monette in New Orleans’ Bayou St. John, 98 days after she went missing in 2013. This marked the catalyst for honing his skills and realizing his potential to provide closure to grieving families. Despite resource constraints, Michaud’s collaboration with various agencies and commitment to training others in public safety diving ensure his impactful work persists. His selflessness and tireless dedication are an inspiration to all who know him, showcasing the transformative power of compassion and service in offering solace to those in their darkest moments.
– Danny Duhon, Southwest Winner – Danny’s unwavering commitment to Hospice of Acadiana shines through in his tireless efforts, logging over 1,000 volunteer hours in 2023 alone. The organization strives to provide exceptional and individualized medical, emotional, social, & spiritual support to anyone facing an advanced or terminal illness in a manner that respects & enhances quality of life. Danny helps nearly everyday throughout multiple departments across the organization and always goes above and beyond his assigned duties. Danny spreads joy and comfort to patients and staff alike, whether picking up sweet treats for visiting children or providing comfort to families in need. His compassionate nature and boundless generosity have left an indelible mark on the organization, making him an invaluable member of the Hospice of Acadiana family.
– Bridget Glassman, AmeriCorps Champion – Bridget, known for her humility and dedication, serves as the Marketing Coordinator for NorthShore Robotics. The organization provides STEAM based robotics classes and camps filled with dynamic, interactive activities that keep students excited and actively involved in their learning journey. With her unique talents and drive, Bridget has spearheaded initiatives that doubled class sizes and expanded outreach to underserved youth across multiple parishes. Additionally, her personal, grassroots project, “The Market Munchkins,” evolved into a formal 501c3 non-profit that empowers children to take charge of their own small business, empowering over 50 child vendors and inspiring others to create similar opportunities. Brandy’s selfless leadership and commitment to empowering young minds exemplify her unwavering dedication to creating a more inclusive and prosperous community for all.
– Dads & Kids, Volunteer Group Champion – Dads & Kids, led by Elliot Mitchell, Clarence Lazard, Quitin Doyle, Baron Richard, Caleb Aguillard, Gary Mitchell, Chad Lemelle, and Ryan LeDay Williams, stands out for its comprehensive approach to community involvement. From hosting Positive Morning Tours and Picture and Painting events for special needs kids to collaborating with state police for drunk driving and drug awareness programs at local high schools, they prioritize uplifting students and families across. St. Landry, Evangeline, Acadia and will be branching off into other parishes after of May 2024 Their grassroots efforts will continue to uplift youth and connect families in schools, through creative efforts tailored to the needs of the community. Their busy calendar offers numerous ways to get involved, whether through pizza parties for honor students, job fairs, legal assistance, or delivering meals to those in need. Dads & Kids dedication to making a positive difference in the lives of children and the entire community demonstrates the power of positive encouragement can have on today’s youth.
“These Champions of Service represent the best of Louisiana – individuals who give selflessly to uplift their communities and make a difference in the lives of others,” said Volunteer Louisiana Executive Director, Judd Jeansonne. “Their dedication and passion inspire us all to engage in service and create positive change.”
The Champions of Service awards ceremony will be held on April 15, 2024, where the honorees will be recognized for their outstanding contributions to the state.
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.
Monday, April 1 Easter holiday for Lincoln Parish schools Ruston City Hall and Utility Building closed 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome 6 p.m.: Toastmasters International meeting (Louisiana Center for the Blind, 101 South Trenton Street) 6-9 p.m.: Creative meetups (Creative Exchange)
Tuesday, April 2 10 a.m.: Storytime at Lincoln Parish Library 5:30-7 p.m.: GEEKTogether Reception (Lincoln Parish Library) 6 p.m.: Ruston Chess Knights (Utility Brewing) 6 p.m.: LA Tech baseball 6 p.m.: GSU baseball
Wednesday, April 3 7-8 a.m.: Veterans Coffee Club (PJ’s Coffee) 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome
Thursday, April 4 5-7 p.m.: Translation: Art Inspired by the Written Word (Fringe: An Art Experience, 111 E. Mississippi Ave.)
Friday, April 5 3 p.m.: GSU softball 6 p.m.: LA Tech baseball
Saturday, April 6 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market Noon: GSU softball 2 p.m.: LA Tech baseball 6 p.m.: The Joe Wildwood Experience (Dixie Theatre)
Over Easter weekend, the Roberts family chose to rough it in the woods of Broken Bow, Oklahoma. And by roughing it, they mean a quaint, three-bedroom cabin right next to civilization.
Kyle Roberts: Well, another holiday trip for our family and another successful weekend planned by you. This time, it was Broken Bow, Oklahoma, and while it may not have quite as many things to do as New York, there were still plenty of great restaurants, shops and locales to keep us busy for three days. And the best part? It’s only a three-and-a-half hour drive from Ruston.
Judith Roberts: The best part to me was seeing how much Broken Bow and the neighboring Hochatown have grown in the year since we’ve been.
Kyle: I know, right? We’ve been to Oklahoma five times now, and I feel like we always discover something new when we go.
Judith: And we never get tired of doing a lot of the same activities we normally do – hiking, going to the animal rescue sanctuary – but we did a lot of new things this time, like going horseback riding and, Penny’s favorite, seeing axolotls, her favorite animal. That was totally random, but I’m so glad she got to see some axolotls in a shop.
Kyle: So let’s start with some of the things we always have on our to-do list: we have a few restaurants that we always want to go to, and this time we separated our days between an entire day in the town on Friday and then an entire day on Saturday in the park. What were some of the highlights for you from both?
Judith: The day dedicated to hiking and the day dedicated to doing “town” stuff were so critical, because we saw so many more people in town on Saturday and not as many on Friday, when we did things like horseback riding, mini golf, and going to the animal sanctuary. They looked a lot busier on Saturday, which was the day we spent hiking in Beaver’s Bend.
Kyle: Let’s talk about the mini-golf and the animal sanctuary: three memories for life on a Friday. First, a giant camel stole Penny’s feed bucket and gave her quite a startle, and second, that was right before you beat me in putt-putt golf, despite me having played for over thirty years.
Judith: Miracles do occur.
Kyle: And then third, and I have no doubt anyone reading this would be shocked to know this, but I really enjoy horseback riding, which we did in the cool of the morning. I was given a very spirited six-year-old colt named Clyde, who by all accounts was very rambunctious.
Judith: And you know what “spirited” means. That’s what they said to describe our Corgi, and we all know that’s just a code word for hyper. But you and your horse Clyde did just fine. I was surprised how fun it was to go on just a meandering two-mile loop with the horses, but it was so relaxing and peaceful. I don’t know if we enjoyed it more or the kids, but it was definitely something I want to do again. Plus, it worked us up an appetite for BBQ later.
Kyle: The restaurants in Broken Bow are only growing. We ate at three really good places: Abednigo’s, Namaan’s BBQ and Grateful Head. There’s something for every taste in Broken Bow, even gourmet hotdogs.
Judith: My cousin in Baton Rouge took his family to Broken Bow a couple of weeks ago, and he and I were texting about it while we were there. He said he wished Broken Bow was closer to them because they had such a great time. They did a lot of the same things we did, especially with the hiking. Even if you don’t like hiking, it’s a beautiful landscape that can be seen throughout the park. Or, if you’re like our Alice, you can jump from rock to rock in places, climb, explore, and enjoy yourself immensely.
Kyle: You mentioned the growth of Hochatown earlier– this is a place that as recently as seven years ago hardly had anything outside of the state park. Now, there are plenty of restaurants, tourist attractions, and AirBNB cabins all over the 10 mile stretch between the towns.
Judith: There are a ton of great options too in Hochatown, Broken Bow and nearby Idabel. I don’t think we’ve had a bad experience at a cabin in the area – in fact, every time we say, “Oh, wait, THIS is the best cabin.” But I do think this last one truly was my favorite. I’d like to go there again.
Kyle: And while I’m thankful to be back home, I couldn’t agree more. I think my favorite thing about Broken Bow is just how close it is: it’s truly remarkable that something so beautiful is only a short drive from Ruston. It’s absolutely worth it, and a great place for a getaway.
Courtesy of LA Tech and GSU Athletic Communications
LA Tech Baseball
The Bulldogs dropped two out of three on the road at FIU during the Conference USA series.
Tech (22-8, 4-2 CUSA) lost 13-4 in game one and 8-3 in game three while capturing a 7-6 win in game two against FIU (15-13, 6-3 CUSA).
The weekend was highlighted by Friday’s victory in a game that saw Jorge Corona got 3-for-5 with a home run, three runs scored and two RBI. Adarius Myers was 2-for-4 with three RBI and Cole McConnell added a two-hit game as well.
Reed Smith got the win, tossing 5.0 innings while allowing just two runs while striking out seven. Ethan Bates picked up his eighth save of the year, recording four strikeouts over the final 2.0 innings.
McConnell, Bates, Comeaux and Will Safford each recorded multi-hit performances in the game three loss, which included a double and a home run by Safford.
In Thursday’s game one, Comeaux led Tech with a pair of hits and three RBI, including a home run.
Tech hosts Little Rock Tuesday at 6 p.m.
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GSU Baseball
The Tigers won two out of three this weekend against Texas Southern in a three-games Southwestern Athletic Conference series.
The G-Men won 13-5 in game one and 13-3 in game two before falling 15-13 in the series finale in Houston.
Grambling (10-15, 7-1 SWAC) slugged its way to 39 runs over the weekend while winning seven of its first eight SWAC games.
Tiger Borom led GSU with a home run and four RBI while Ashton Inman homered and drove in three runs in the game one victory.
Julian Murphy homered twice while Cameron Bufford and Kyle Walker also homered in the game two win. Bufford, Jaylyn Bennett and and Murphy combined for 11 RBI in the Tigers game two victory.
In the game three loss, GSU led 13-8 before Texas Southern plated seven runs in the bottom of the eighth to record the come-from-behind victory. Inman and Borom homered for GSU in the loss.
Grambling hosts Northwestern State Tuesday.
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LA Tech Softball
Louisiana Tech was swept in a three-game CUSA series at Liberty (20-14, 10-2) over the Easter Weekend.
The Bulldogs (23-9, 7-5 CUSA) lost by scores of 3-0, 2-0 and 2-0 as Tech managed just five hits over the three games.
Tech pitchers were solid in the circle over the three games, but the Bulldogs lack of offensive production was simply too much to overcome.
The Bulldogs had been shut out just one time this year (2-0 loss at LSU) before the Flames recorded the feat in all three games.
Tech will travel to Auburn Friday and Saturday to face the Tigers and Georgia Tech.
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GSU Softball
The Lady Tigers dropped two out of three over the weekend to Arkansas-Pine Bluff, falling 4-1 in game one and 3-0 in game three. GSU won 7-1 in game two.
Grambling (11-20, 3-8 SWAC) used a 10-hit attack to win the second game of the series as Janecia King (3-4, 3 runs) and Peighton Krushall (2-4, 2 RBI) led the way for the Lady Tigers.
Jordan Hodge and Dacia Richard combined to allow just one run on six hits and on walks while striking out seven in the victory.
GSU will host Prairie View A&M this weekend in a three-game series.
Charles Wessels March 30, 1934 – March 23, 2024 Visitation: Saturday, April 6, 2024, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM, Grace United Methodist Church, 3401 North Trenton Street, Ruston Funeral Service: Saturday, April 6, 2024, 11:00 AM, Grace United Methodist Church, 3401 North Trenton Street , Ruston Cemetery Committal: Saturday, April 6, 2024, 12:00 PM, Kilpatrick’s Memorial Gardens , 1270 HWY 544, Ruston
The Interstate 20 eastbound rest area near Choudrant is closed until further notice, according to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development
DOTD said the eastbound Tremont Rest Area at mile marker 95 has been closed due to electrical issues at the sewer treatment plant.
DOTD will issue an update when additional information becomes available. The I-20 westbound rest area remains open.
Some of the most fragrant and scenic spots on campus, the Louisiana Tech greenhouses are featured in the most recent Journal of the Louisiana State Horticulture Society.
From begonias to basil, from moon vine to mustard, from lantana to lettuce, the University’s greenhouses bloom with both color and instruction. Tech’s eight main glass-covered greenhouses are an integral part of the academic programs in the School of Agricultural Sciences and Forestry in the University’s College of Applied and Natural Sciences.
“This is great recognition of the hard work the greenhouse does,” said Dr. Paul Jackson, professor of plant science in the School of Agricultural Sciences and Forestry.
Those tulips you see on the Tech campus the final weeks of winter and the first weeks of spring? Complements of the Tech greenhouses. As are all the other blooming colors on the Tech campus, year-round.
“The Louisiana Tech Greenhouses offer students a unique learning experience by them seeing plant development and nursery operations from seed to seedling to market size for sale,” Jackson said. “(Greenhouse lab assistants) Max Hyde, Carter Parks, and Roxie Jordan work hard every day to apply their knowledge in plant science to grow the plants used for teaching and research and sold to the public in the Tech Farm Salesroom.
“We are proud to offer such a unique, hands-on learning environment that is not only utilized by the School of Agricultural Sciences and Forestry, but also all of Tech campus and the surrounding community.”
A Ruston man was arrested Tuesday evening after he allegedly struck a woman and damaged another woman’s TV and took her car without permission.
Lincoln Parish deputies responded to a Donna Lane residence where a woman said she and her boyfriend, Larry T. Gray, Jr., 22, got into an argument in which he pushed her. Her small children were present at the time.
The woman said her sister arrived at the residence and Gray smashed the sister’s television and then took the sister’s car and left the residence.
Deputies located the car at the Shoppers Value store in Ruston. Gray could not be located at that time.
Gray was located later in the day on U.S. 167 at D’arbonne Bottom Road. He was placed under arrest and taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center where he was booked for domestic abuse battery with child endangerment, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and simple criminal damage to property. His bail was set at $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 five-year marker for The Springs has always been in the back of Pastor George Lee IV’s mind.
In fact, it was right around the same amount of time into a previous church-plant ministry, the Church of the Champions in Grambling, when their head pastor left to pursue ministry in a different state, which was a huge factor that ultimately led to the dissolution of the church.
“The five year mark has always been a checkpoint for my heart,” Lee said, recounting his time at the Church of the Champions. “I had wondered if we’d make it five years and what it will look like beyond that?”
Now Lee only sees a bright future for The Springs ministry, a multi-generational, multi-cultural and multi-ethnic church planted by Temple Baptist, where Lee is on full-time staff.
“God is faithful because we’ve established a foundation here that won’t just be for five years, it will be farther into the future,” Lee said. “It’s a reminder of where God has brought me and where God has brought my family.”
After officially opening its doors for its first Sunday-night service on March 31, 2019, the Springs has become a beacon of hope in the Barnett Springs community, nestled nearly Highway 80 between Ruston and Grambling.
“Facility-wise, we are not in a large building,” Lee said. “But God has been able to do so many things through this small space we have; we’ve been able to make an impact on the community.”
Just a few weeks after opening for service, Ruston would have an EF-3 tornado rip through the town in the middle of the night, which heavily impacted the homes around The Springs, leaving nearly every household without power in the Cypress Springs and University Hills neighborhoods.
Miraculously, you could say, the only building that never lost power in the aftermath of the storm was The Springs.
“We became a disaster relief hub and helped provide thousands of meals to folks in our community,” Lee said. “Volunteers would come into meet and help serve in the community. God showed me throughout that process that it’s not about how big of a building you have or how many people you have: it’s about whether or not those that are there have committed to seek (Him) and follow (Him) wholeheartedly.
“If that’s our barometer, then God is going to do even more.”
Crowded into Roma’s party room on Wednesday, nearly 30 members of different backgrounds, ethnicities and generations shared a meal and recounted how the last five years of ministry have had impacts on their individual lives. Members of all ages and even students from overseas talked about how they feel at home at the church.
“It’s one thing to try to describe The Springs to somebody,” Lee said. “It’s entirely different when you experience The Springs and see so many countries and cultures represented in our faith community. There’s an atmosphere of authenticity and folks are receptive to that. Other ministries are taking note of what we’ve done and are challenged by that– not from a sense of competition, but in the sense that this is what heaven will look like. They’re asking us how to get there and what to do differently so their congregations and worship will look for like heaven.”
Mary Benefield and her husband Mike have been coming frequently since 2021 after serving for years at a sister church in Ruston, as well as missionaries overseas.
“We felt God pulling us toward The Springs,” Benefield said. “It’s been a blessing to us in all areas. Having lived overseas, having a multi-cultural ministry has made a real difference. We feel like its a glimpse of what heaven will be like.”
After the closing of The Church of the Champions, Donte Reddick and his family relocated to Atlanta for a fresh start. It would not be long, however, before Reddick felt the same call as Benefield to come back and be part of The Springs with Lee, who he is very close to.
“The Lee’s are like a second family for us,” Reddick said. “When we left Ruston, we were hoping to find a church like (The Church of the Champions), because it was a church committed to discipleship and putting God first. I believe The Springs is committed to these things, as well.”
Reddick also shared how the community of the church has ministered to him, his wife and children.
“We feel like we can go through anything because we have a community praying for us,” Reddick said. “We have had overwhelming love and support, and it’s contagious. You want to go where you feel the love of Christ.”
Not lost on Lee is the fact that literal five-year service will be Easter Sunday, a day devoted to the resurrection of Jesus Christ that all believers celebrate as their eternal hope.
And the hope is that there will be many more milestones for The Springs to celebrate well into the future.
“We still want to reach more of our community,” Lee said, looking forward. “There are still folks who are not plugged into a church, and we want to reach them. We don’t want to grow just physically, but we pray that we will grow spiritually and be a church of disciples and devoted followers of Christ.”
The Springs will hold its five-year service on Easter Sunday at 1601 South Barnett Springs Road in Ruston.
A Ruston man was arrested Saturday after he entered his estranged wife’s home without permission and injured her.
The Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to a mobile home park on Tarbutton Road about 11:30 p.m. Saturday night. A woman said she and her husband, Cirillo Herrera, 43, were separated and stayed in different units in the park. She said Herrera came to her residence and walked inside without warning or invitation. She asked him to leave and as he was going out the door, he allegedly pushed her head into the door frame.
A deputy found a red mark on the woman’s face. A video was viewed which showed Herrera pushing the woman’s face and head into the door frame.
Herrera was located and was found to be highly intoxicated. He was arrested for domestic abuse battery and unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling. Bail was set at $10,000.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Louisiana Tech Athletics announced Wednesday the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the unveiling of the Jim Mize Track and Field entrance and field is scheduled for April 27.
The event, slated to begin at 10 a.m. at the main entrance located off Stadium Boulevard, will kickoff a jam-packed day at the LA Tech Athletics Village that will also include the Bulldog Football Spring Game as well as the Diamond ‘Dogs hosting Sam Houston.
John Allen, a 1973 business graduate of LA Tech and Tower Medallion recipient who was a member of the Southland Conference track and field championship under coach Mize, will have opening remarks.
Other speakers at the ceremony will include Louisiana Tech University President Dr. Jim Henderson and Director of Athletics/Vice President Ryan Ivey.
In December of this past year, construction began on the new Jim Mize Track and Field entrance, which will feature prominent signage, lighting, and landscaping for a more welcoming entrance into the Jim Mize Track and Field Complex.
In addition to the new entryway, a new black wrought iron fence with brick columns will be added to help enclose the track and field and football practices areas. The perimeter of the fence will stretch from Tech Drive to West Alabama Avenue and around Stadium Boulevard.
Back on Nov. 1, 2008, then Louisiana Tech University President Dr. Dan Reneau announced that the track facility would be named the Jim Mize Track and Field Complex. Mize attended LA Tech as an athlete from Fair Park High School in Shreveport and later came back to the university as a coach.
He coached football alongside Joe Aillet and Maxie Lambright for 24 years. During his time, he also was at the helm of the track and field program for 31 years, a tenure that included conference championships in 1961, 1973, and 1974.
With a strong tail wind, rolling down hill the top speed of the Beetle was about seventy-five. At the speed, the sewing machine doubling as an engine was whining. The other endearing feature of the Beetle was the ten gallons of gasoline in front of me. For those of you who have forgotten, or never knew, the gas tank was in the front, the engine in the rear. I put 175,000 miles on that car. It was such a simple vehicle. I think we would call it utilitarian.
My current vehicle is not so simple. First, my car nags me. Every 5,000 miles, the vehicle demands service. If you delay, the messages about service become more demanding. The car beeps at everything. When I pull into the carport, the car beeps at the poles holding the roof up. The car beeps at the fence that makes a natural barrier to the backyard. In the morning, the car beeps to tell me to check both ways before continuing to back up.
If I leave the settings in place the car beeps at me if I do not signal before changing lanes on the highway. The car has politically correct cruise control, which will slow down based on how close I am to the car in front. Thankfully, I can set it to old fashion “aggressive driver” cruise control.
I have already told you about the navigation system that went around the town square of Benton, Illinois three times at 10:00 p.m. a couple of weeks ago. I still have not figured out what happened there.
My car is a genius. It is a marvel of modern automotive technology.
The other day, I discovered that my genius car got a ticket in Gibsland. I have no idea who was driving the car. I received greetings from the Gibsland metroplex with a picture of the car, speeding away. Actually, I received greetings from the ticket vendor, and I want to know what percentage of the ticket the village actually collects, but I digress. So officially, my car received a ticket. But who was driving the car? We will never know! It was one of those traffic camera tickets. I know that the Gibsland authorities are not interested in vehicle speed or public safety, this is an income stream for the village. In Gibsland, the photo tickets are produced by a human being, who sits within one hundred feet of three different speed limit signs. Decorum keeps me from saying what is really in my heart. I can say it is bovine scatology.
I can’t figure out if I should ground my car or not. Should I take privileges away from my car? What is the punishment for my car? Since the ticket was issued to a vehicle, should the car pay for the ticket? And if the car is slow in paying for the ticket, what punishment comes to the car?
A car is responsible for a speeding violation. You know better, don’t you? It is like blaming your sin on an inanimate object. At our core we know, we are responsible.
There is a solution to our sin problem. His name is Jesus.
March 29, 1973: Two months after the signing of the Vietnam peace agreement, the last U.S. combat troops leave South Vietnam as Hanoi frees many of the remaining American prisoners of war held in North Vietnam. America’s direct eight-year intervention in the Vietnam War was at an end.
In Saigon, some 7,000 U.S. Department of Defense civilian employees remained behind to aid South Vietnam in conducting what looked to be a fierce and ongoing war with communist North Vietnam.
In 1961, after two decades of indirect military aid, U.S. President John F. Kennedy sent the first large force of U.S. military personnel to support the ineffectual autocratic regime of South Vietnam against the communist North. Three years later, with the South Vietnamese government crumbling, President Lyndon B. Johnson ordered limited bombing raids on North Vietnam, and Congress authorized the use of U.S. troops. By 1965, North Vietnamese offensives left President Johnson with two choices: escalate U.S. involvement or withdraw. Johnson ordered the former, and troop levels soon jumped to more than 300,000 as U.S. air forces commenced the largest bombing campaign in history.
During the next few years, the extended length of the war, the high number of U.S. casualties, and the exposure of U.S. involvement in war crimes, such as the massacre at My Lai, helped turn many in the United States against the Vietnam War. The communists’ Tet Offensive of 1968 crushed U.S. hopes of an imminent end to the conflict and galvanized U.S. opposition to the war. In response, Johnson announced in March 1968 that he would not seek reelection, citing what he perceived to be his responsibility in creating a perilous national division over Vietnam. He also authorized the beginning of peace talks.
In the spring of 1969, as protests against the war escalated in the United States, U.S. troop strength in the war-torn country reached its peak at nearly 550,000 men. Richard Nixon, the new U.S. president, began U.S. troop withdrawal and “Vietnamization” of the war effort that year, but he intensified bombing. Large U.S. troop withdrawals continued in the early 1970s as President Nixon expanded air and ground operations into Cambodia and Laos in attempts to block enemy supply routes along Vietnam’s borders. This expansion of the war, which accomplished few positive results, led to new waves of protests in the United States and elsewhere.
For more on this day in history, go to History.com.
Pictured is Choudrant pinch runner Rhett James sliding into home plate off of an Austin Bagwell single in the first inning of Saturday’s 13-2 win over Downsville. (Photo by T. Scott Boatright)
By T. Scott Boatright
CHOUDRANT — The Choudrant Aggies made it 2-0 in District 2B play Thursday night as the Aggies dominated Downsville on the mound and at the plate with a 13-2 win in five innings.
That came after Choudrant defeated Downsville 18-3 on Tuesday. Thursday night’s win pushed the Aggies to a record of 8-11.
“It was a district win, so that makes it big in itself,” Aggies coach Joel Antley said after Thursday’s win over the Demons. “We’ve been in a lot of tight ball games. We’ve had four extra-inning games and five other games that were decided in the last inning. So we could very well be flip-flopped in losses.
“We’ve played solid for most of the year. We’re fairly young, so we’re still building experience. We’ve only had our main starting group out on the field at the same time three games so far. This was a good win, especially coming off another big one over Downsville on Tuesday.”
Choudrant dominated on the mound in Thursday’s contest, with Colton Smith starting and picking up the win while Braden Bagwell, Eli Callendar and Cash Camp all saw action in relief and combined for the three-hit victory.
Downsville struggled on the mound, giving up 10 hits and 10 walks to the Aggies.
The Aggies jumped out to an early 4 -1 advantage in the bottom of the opening stanza largely thanks to two walks and two hit by pitches thrown to the first four Choudrant batters.
Cash’s sacrifice fly with one run already on the scoreboard accounted for the game’s first RBI while Austin Bagwell’s two-RBI single rounded out the first inning scoring for the Aggies.
Choudrant made it 5 -1 in the bottom of the second inning with Smith’s sacrifice fly scoring Josh Sellers with the Demons adding another one run in the top of the third to cut the Aggies’ advantage to 5-2.
But the Aggies broke things open with seven runs in the bottom of the third.
Braden Bagwell’s two-RBI single started things off with TJ Smith and Callendar each adding RBIs before Wade Watson chipped in with two more runs batted in.
That allowed Antley to play some of his back-ups in the fourth inning, with Camp recording another RBI in the bottom half by singling in Max Milton in the bottom half of the fourth for the games final run.
“Whenever we get an opportunity to get these young kids some game experience like we did tonight, you can’t beat that,” Antley said. “You cannot replicate game situations in practice, with the tension and the nerves, concentration and focus. Nothing compares to a real game.
“And we’ve been able to do that some this year with sickness and injuries. So it was good to be able to do it again and pick up a big win in the process.”
Camp moved from left field to the mound in the top of the fifth, forcing a three up and three down situation for the Demons to close out the contest.
Next up for Choudrant are games against Pitkin at 1:30 p.m. today and versus Maurepas at 11:15 on Saturday morning.
“We swap hosting the Class B Baseball Bash with Maurepas every other year, and this is our year to hold it,” Antley said. “We’re excited about it. Getting the down-south teams up here so we can get an eyeball on them before the postseason is a really good thing. There’s going to be a lot of goot baseball played on this field the next two days.”
Following is the schedule for this year’s Class B Baseball Bash to be played on Tony Antley Field.
