by Hannah Singh

Fourteen-year-old Eian Cripps proved that age has nothing to do with skills.

The 8^th grade Ruston Junior High student recently placed first at the 2024 American Cornhole Singles Final Four in New Orleans. This brought Cripps ACL ranking to No.2 in the nation, racking up 792 season points.

The 2023-2024 Pro Cornhole Division only featured 9 professional players under the age of 18, with Cripps being the highest ranked of the group. The young athlete has been playing pro cornhole since the age of 10, beginning competitions only 5 months after first gaining interest in the sport.

“This was my second time playing on TV and of course it took some getting used to” Cripps said. “It was really fun, and it was a really great experience.”

Cripps qualified for nationals in Florida at the ACL Kickoff Battle 1 at the beginning of April. He had a couple weeks to prepare before playing in New Orleans for a national audience.

Cripps first gained interest in the sport playing with his father and uncle. At Ruston Junior High, Cripps shares this special interest with Assistant Principal Larry Williams. The adult cornhole player was surprised to find out that one of his students was a pro.

“I started playing about two years ago and when I found out there was a professional cornhole player at the school I wanted to talk to him, learn his techniques, and just pick his brain to learn as much as I can,” Williams said. “At such a young age he is just so good, it’s amazing.”

Cripps sees a future for himself in the sport, wanting to gain sponsorships to continue playing professionally into adulthood. His supporters at school were very impressed to watch him on the big screen, staying calm and collected against elder opponents.

RJHS Principal Keisha Douglas noticed the skill that Cripps had developed while watching him compete.

“Some of the shots I saw him make I couldn’t believe,” Douglas said.  “He was so focused and strategy-wise, he seemed to know what he was doing. I’m extremely proud of him and I hope he continues to pursue this.”

Cripps will compete again in two weeks at another national competition in Colorado. The Ruston community will continue to support the athletic endeavors of Cripps throughout his journey.

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Ruston Police arrested two youths last week who had escaped a youth correction center near New Orleans.

Police said Mason Bendily, 17, and Derrick Jones, 18, absconded from the Bridge City Correctional Center for Youth, a state juvenile detention facility near New Orleans. Somehow they reached Ruston and allegedly tried to steal a vehicle at a rental car facility.

According to an officer’s report, Bendily and Jones were apprehended about 9 a.m. Friday at the Raceway convenience store on Farmerville Highway after police responded to a welfare concern call.

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When officers arrived, the two youths entered the store as if they were fleeing police cars.

Officers suspected the pair had been involved in the attempted theft of a car from Enterprise Rent-A-Car earlier in the day. Surveillance video from Enterprise allegedly showed Bendily using a screwdriver to enter a Kia’s back window with Jones keeping watch. A black bag containing a slightly bent flathead screwdriver and reportedly belonging to Jones was found at Raceway.

Bendily and Jones were taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center and booked for attempted vehicle theft, simple escape, and simple burglary. They are also being held for the Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice.

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 University is the latest school to receive a “green light” rating from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. Green light ratings are reserved for institutions with no written policies that seriously threaten student free speech rights. Tech is one of two schools in Louisiana, and one of 65 nationwide, that earn this rating. 

“Louisiana Tech, with its commitment to sharing knowledge, expanding ideas, and pursuing discovery, must also provide an environment that upholds free expression in its broadest sense,” said Tech President Jim Henderson.  “A culture of inquiry and informed argument generates lasting ideas. We appreciate FIRE’s partnership in evaluating our policies to ensure we can meet this ideal we have for our community at large.”

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In the summer of 2023, Louisiana Tech had an overall “red light” rating because of a dozen policies that restricted freedom of speech. FIRE sent the school a memorandum analyzing its policies, and Tech’s general counsel and FIRE’s Policy Reform team collaborated to revise the necessary policies. That following winter, the school advanced to a “yellow light” rating by removing from its student handbook a red light sexual misconduct provision that put protected speech at risk.

But Louisiana Tech administrators did not stop there. In the first quarter of 2024, they worked with FIRE to revise 11 other policies governing computer use, disrespect for authority, harassment, and more.

The university’s updated policies on room decorations and posting, for example, signal its commitment to viewpoint neutrality. The new policy for room decorations only bans materials that create a fire hazard or otherwise violate university policy, with no restrictions on the content of decorations. 

 Similarly, a new campus posting policy guarantees that student organizations will not be denied permission to display signs in university buildings based on the viewpoint of their materials. Signage will only be removed if it violates the law or other university policies. This ensures no clubs will be censored or discouraged from sharing their views. As an additional avenue for expression, the policy establishes a bulletin board where students may post without prior approval.

“The ability to post without administrative approval in at least one area on campus is absolutely critical to a healthy campus climate for free expression,” said FIRE Senior Program Officer Mary Griffin, who worked with the Tech administration to secure these policy changes. “At a time when other institutions are sharply limiting student expression by censoring unpopular views, Tech’s policy revisions signal to its community that its campus is a place to engage in robust dialogue on the issues of the day.”

Tech is part of the University of Louisiana system, which has long sought to implement speech-protective policies at its nine schools. FIRE has been working with the system for nearly two years, helping to revise 32 speech-chilling policies across its constituent institutions. 

By Malcolm Butler

This past weekend on a Louisiana Tech softball road trip to Las Cruces, New Mexico, I ran into the father of one of our former players.

Rick Barnes.

Super nice man.

His daughter Emma was a four-year starter in centerfield for the Tech program from 2006 through 2009 and a key cog on the 2008 Western Athletic Conference Tournament champions — a team that won four games in four days against four Top 25 teams in Honolulu.

That run is still one of the most magical moments of my 25-year Louisiana Tech Athletics career.

Rick lives in Las Cruces. I actually saw him about 10 days ago when he and his wife Michele returned with Emma to Ruston for Alumni Weekend. It was the first time I had seen Emma in a decade and the first time I had seen her parents since she graduated in 2009.

I used to see Rick and Michele a few times a year, especially when we made road trips west to face the likes of Fresno State, Nevada, and San Jose State during our time in the WAC. They were always very cordial.

Prior to this past Saturday’s game in Las Cruces, Rick got my attention from the bleachers and I walked over to talk to him. After saying hello and shaking hands, the next words out of his mouth were, “I want to thank you for everything you did for Emma during her four years at Louisiana Tech.”

It honestly caught me off-guard a little bit. I almost didn’t know what to say as funny as that sounds.

After awkwardly thanking him and telling him how much I respected and admired his daughter, we finished the conversation and I turned and slowly walked back to the dugout, with a smile on my face.

His words stuck with me the rest of the day and the rest of the trip.

I’ve been associated with Tech Softball for almost the entirety of my two-plus decades at my alma mater. And I’ve seen hundreds of student-athletes roll through the program.

And whether my role was as the sports info director or the radio-TV voice or the sports oversight or a combination of all of the aforementioned, my goal has always been to be supportive of the players and the coaches.

It’s been my passion, one of many during my time associated with Tech Athletics.

So, Rick’s words meant a lot to me.

They struck a cord.

I’ve been fortunate to develop a lot of long-lasting relationships with student-athletes that have worn the red and blue over the decades, in a lot of different sports. It’s been a great experience for me and has had a tremendous impact on my life.

It’s not the first time I’ve been told thank you by a parent or even a student athlete — present or past.

Yet it was still nice to hear 15 years later that I had a small impact on Emma’s life, at least through a father’s eyes.

So, Rick … thank you.

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A 21-year-old Ruston man was arrested early last Tuesday morning after authorities executed a search warrant to look for drugs at his Hickory Street home.

Anthony Bass was charged with numerous violations after marijuana and pills were found.

The Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team, LPSO investigators, and members of the Lincoln Parish Narcotics Enforcement Team served the warrant. According to a deputy’s report, the amount of marijuana and the presence of plastic baggies and digital scales indicated the drug was being packaged for sale.

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The home is within a drug-free zone due to the proximity of a nearby church.

Bass was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for possession of marijuana with intent to distribution, possession of a legend drug, violation of the Controlled Substances Act (drug-free zone), possession of drug paraphernalia and a warrant held by the LA Department of Corrections—Production and Parole.

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. 

On April 30, 1945, holed up in a bunker under his headquarters in Berlin, Adolf Hitler commits suicide by swallowing a cyanide capsule and shooting himself in the head. Soon after, Germany unconditionally surrendered to the Allied forces, ending Hitler’s dreams of a “1,000-year” Reich.

Since at least 1943, it was becoming increasingly clear that Germany would fold under the pressure of the Allied forces. In February of that year, the German 6th Army, lured deep into the Soviet Union, was annihilated at the Battle of Stalingrad, and German hopes for a sustained offensive on both fronts evaporated. Then, in June 1944, the Western Allied armies landed at Normandy, France, and began systematically to push the Germans back toward Berlin. By July 1944, several German military commanders acknowledged their imminent defeat and plotted to remove Hitler from power so as to negotiate a more favorable peace. Their attempts to assassinate Hitler failed, however, and in his reprisals, Hitler executed over 4,000 fellow countrymen.

In January 1945, facing a siege of Berlin by the Soviets, Hitler withdrew to his bunker to live out his final days. Located 55 feet under the chancellery, the shelter contained 18 rooms and was fully self-sufficient, with its own water and electrical supply. Though he was growing increasingly mad, Hitler continued to give orders and meet with such close subordinates as Hermann Goering, Heinrich Himmler and Josef Goebbels. He also married his long-time mistress Eva Braun just one day before his suicide.

In his last will and testament, Hitler appointed Admiral Karl Donitz as head of state and Goebbels as chancellor. He then retired to his private quarters with Braun, where he and Braun poisoned themselves and their dogs, before Hitler then also shot himself with his service pistol.

Hitler and Braun’s bodies were hastily cremated in the chancellery garden, as Soviet forces closed in on the building. When the Soviets reached the chancellery, they removed Hitler’s ashes, continually changing their location so as to prevent Hitler devotees from creating a memorial at his final resting place. Only eight days later, on May 8, 1945, the German forces issued an unconditional surrender, leaving Germany to be carved up by the four Allied powers.

For more on this day in history, go to history.com.

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I am more.

That sentence should sound familiar if you read my most recent column. It was about a local book signing for a book that I edited for Devan Millsong, of West Monroe: “I Am More: Confronting the Aftermath of Sexual Assault.”

And if you didn’t read the column and are interested, you can journey back in time with the Journal search tool and peruse it after you finish this week’s “Just A-Passing Through.”

I am more.

That sentence rang in my ears all during the time I was editing the book, and it still resounds today. The sentence and the sentiment are definitely fitting concerning the topic of the book. I’ve also realized that they are appropriate for even more situations.

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I’ve been thinking about how every single person can apply this thought to their own life, regardless of their individual experiences. “I am more” is a universal truth.

Yes, the world does whisper its verdict – that we are flawed, fractured and finite. And, yes, the flawed and fractured parts of that trio of attributes are accurate. They’re accurate about every single one of us – somehow. They’re accurate about me. They’re accurate about you.

But that is not where the story ends. The third attribute – our being finite – is erroneous. We are not finite. And we are worth more than we can ever imagine.

We are more.

God’s breath breathed life into dust (Genesis 1:27), and this birthed eternity within us. He created us in his own image. Think about it. We’re crafted in the image of the Creator of the Universe. How marvelous is that?

And concerning our value? The cross bears witness: We are worth much more than anything this world can offer, such as gold or diamonds or platinum. We’re worth the weight of divinity. Jesus, who is Love incarnate, stretched wide his arms, bridging heaven and earth. Our value is immeasurable. Our worth? Calvary’s currency.

The verse that we’ve all heard so much confirms this: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” – John 3:16.

Yes, sin’s dissonance seeks to drown our song, but grace orchestrates a symphony. Each note – forgiveness, restoration, hope – can resound within our souls. We can be more than sin’s echoes; we can be melodies of mercy.

We have only to believe and obey God’s commands, which are simply laid out for us in the New Testament. (If you’re not familiar with this simple plan, I’ll be glad to help arrange a time to talk about it with my minister.)

And after that acceptance is put into action, we are able to say this: “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” – Colossians 1:13-14.

Our brokenness can be exchanged for his wholeness. We can be … more. Our ashes can be transformed into crowns. We can be more than survivors; we can be heirs of resurrection.

As dawn paints the sky every morning, so hope can rise within us. We can transcend night’s shadows. We can enter morning’s promise. We are brushstrokes on the canvas of eternity – a masterpiece signed by the Artist of Grace.

We are, indeed, more.

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Sallie Rose Hollis lives in Ruston and retired from Louisiana Tech as an associate professor of journalism and the assistant director of the News Bureau. She can be contacted at sallierose@mail.com.

Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Louisiana Tech looks to wrap up the last midseason game of the 2024 season with a game against ULM tonight at 6 p.m. at Lou St. Amant Field.

Tech has already taken two games on the Warhawks this season. The contest can be seen on ESPN+ and heard on 97.7 FM.

Tech (33-13) is coming off a series sweep against conference opponent Sam Houston over the weekend. Tech wrapped up the series following a walk-off three-run home run from Adarius Myers in the bottom of the tenth inning.

Myers’s home run lifted Tech to a 12-9 win, while it was also Myers’ second game-winning walk-off hit this season. Tech is currently on a five-game win streak going into a road test against ULM.

ULM (19-24) is 4-6 in their last ten games. The Warhawks dropped a series against Old Dominion this past weekend. ULM was run-ruled after eight innings following a 15-5 score against Old Dominion on Sunday.

LA Tech is 77-53 against ULM in the all-time series. Tech has already taken two games against the Warhawks following a 6-2 victory on April 16 and an 8-4 victory on March 26.

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Courtesy of GSU Athletic Communications

Grambling State University swept the weekly Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) awards as Trevor Hatton was named Hitter of the Week and Charles Jackson was tabbed Pitcher of the Week. 

Hatton had a big week for the Tigers, batting .545 (6-for-11) with eight RBI, three doubles, two home runs and one triple. 

Jackson helped Grambling State secure a series victory over Texas Southern on Sunday afternoon. In that win, he struck out seven batters in 6.0 innings of work and limited TSU to just one run on one hit.  

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Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

The Louisiana Tech Softball team returns home to close out its non-conference slate by hosting McNeese at 6 p.m. tonight at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.

The game can be seen on ESPN+

Louisiana Tech is 29-18 this season and coming off a 2-1 series win at New Mexico State to move into a tie for third place with the Aggies in the CUSA standings. The Bulldogs took games one and two by the scores of 11-7 and 5-4 before falling in the finale 6-0.

Freshman Mattison Buster was phenomenal last week with a 1.50 ERA and four strikeouts in 9.1 innings pitched while helping the Bulldogs earn a series win at New Mexico State. She earned her second career save in a series-clinching victory at New Mexico State on Saturday. The Sulphur Springs, Texas, product yielded just two hits and one run with a strikeout in three innings of work.

McNeese is 35-17 this season and 19-2 in league play. The Cowgirls are coming off a 2-1 series win at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. McNeese took the series opener and finale by the scores of 1-0 (8 inn.) and 3-1 while dropping game two, 2-1.

McNeese owns a 2.33 team ERA. Shaelyn Sanders is their ace with a 1.76 ERA and 132 strikeouts in 170.2 innings pitched. Ryann Schexnayder also plays a significant role in the rotation. The sophomore is 6-2 with a 2.46 ERA in 59.2 innings pitched.

The Bulldogs and Cowgirls will meet for the 91st time on Tuesday and the third time this season. LA Tech leads the all-time series 59-31 and won the first two meetings this season. Tech took the first game 8-0 at the Purple and Gold Challenge (March 3). Two days later, the Bulldogs defeated the Cowgirls 3-1 in Lake Charles.

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Funeral services for Russell Raymond Croxton, age 51 of Dubach, LA, will be held at 2:00 pm, Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at Rock Corner Baptist Church Family Life Center in Dubach with Rev. Larry Bullock and Rev. Mickey Manning officiating. Burial will follow in Hamilton Cemetery in Dubach under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston, LA. Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 pm Monday, April 29, 2024 at Rock Corner Baptist Church Family Life Center.

The Lord called Russell to his eternal home on April 27, 2024 as a result of a tragic accident while working in the line of duty.

He was born on May 28, 1972 in Ruston, LA to the union of Vicky Hood Croxton and Raymond Lynn Croxton, Jr. In 1978 Russell lost his father also to a line of duty accident. He married Jennifer Rowland Croxton on June 5, 1993, and they were blessed with two daughters. Russell was dedicated to helping others as he served as the Dubach Police Chief from 2007-2018, Louisiana Tech University Police Officer from April 2019-April 2024, and returning to Dubach as a Police Officer on April 15, 2024 until the time of his death. Russell loved his family and was proud of his two girls. His two grandchildren were wrapped around his little finger. There will be a piece of our heart missing, but we will see him again one day.

Russell was preceded in death by his father, Raymond “Ray” Lynn Croxton, Jr.; father-in-law Larkin Rowland and mother-in-law Glendia Rowland; grandparents: Raymond Lynn Croxton Sr., Merle Croxton, Joe Hamilton Sr and Jackie Hamilton, Johnnie Ellis, and Frederick Hood.

He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Jennifer Rowland Croxton; two daughters: Heather Croxton Sullivant (Tristan) and Amanda Larkin Croxton; two grandchildren: Titus Alexander Sullivant and Millicent Rae Sullivant; mother Vicky Hood Croxton Hamilton and father Joe “Bubba” Hamilton, Jr.; two sisters: Toni Croxton Morganthall (Charlie) and Kristen Hamilton; two brothers-in-law: James Rowland (Billie) and Devery Rowland (Jeanie); grandmother Joan Hood; several nieces and nephews; along with many other cherished family and friends.

Pallbearers will be: Cole Morganthall, C. J. Morganthall, Jr, Don Dufour, Tyler Weatherford, Logan Humble and Devin Rowland. Honorary pallbearers will be Louisiana Tech University Police Department and the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office.

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Russell Raymond Croxton 
May 28, 1972 – April 27, 2024 
Visitation: Monday, April 29, 2024, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Rock Corner Baptist Church, 824 Rock Corner Rd, Dubach 
Funeral Service: Tuesday, April 30, 2024, 2:00 PM, Rock Corner Baptist Church, 824 Rock Corner Rd, Dubach 
Cemetery Committal: Tuesday, April 30, 2024, 3:00 PM, Hamilton Cemetery, 126 Hamilton Cemetery Road, Dubach 

Edward Harrison, Sr.  
Friday 03/19/1943 — Thursday 04/18/2024   
Service: Tuesday 04/30/2024 11:00am at King’s Funeral Home  
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Omega Celebration of Life: Tuesday, 04/30/2024 11:00am at King’s Funeral Home  
Interment: Tuesday 04/30/2024 Following Service, Grambling Memorial Garden, Highway 80 West, Grambling  

Jerry W. Patterson  
Monday 06/28/1954 — Monday 04/22/2024   
Family Gathering: Friday 05/03/2024 2:00pm at King’s Funeral Home  
Visitation: Friday 05/03/2024 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home  
Celebration of Life: Saturday 05/04/2024 11:00am, New Hope Baptist Church, Corner of Vaughn & Jones Street, Ruston  
Interment: Saturday 05/04/2024 Following Service, Grambling Memorial Garden, Highway 80 West, Grambling  

Michael W. Perkins  
Saturday 12/11/1954 — Wednesday 04/24/2024   
Family Gathering: Friday 05/03/2024 2:00pm at King’s Funeral Home  
Visitation: Friday 05/03/2024 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home  
Celebration of Life: Saturday 05/04/2024 1:00pm, Springhill Baptist Church, 727 Dicks Store Road, Grambling  
Interment: Saturday 05/04/2024 Following Service, Springhill Church Cemetery, Dicks Store Road, Grambling/Simsboro  

Evgenia Lemoine  
February 21, 1978 – April 26, 2024  
Services pending  

Margie Vernell Willett  
September 21, 1935 – April 26, 2024  
Visitation: Wednesday, May 01, 2024, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home  
Graveside Service: Wednesday, May 01, 2024, 11:00 AM, Kilpatrick’s Memorial Gardens, 1270 HWY 544, Ruston  

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By Kyle Roberts

Ruston High announced Monday morning that Bearcat boys basketball coach Ryan Bond has been promoted to an assistant principal position.

Gressett also said the basketball job will be open, as well. This makes three head coaching positions open at Ruston in both girls and boys basketball along with baseball.

“Ryan and I have discussed him moving into an administration role over the last couple of years,” Ruston High principal Dan Gressett said. “We sat down this morning and had a discussion on what to do moving forward, and he was torn. While it would be possible for him to do both roles, it would not be ideal. He felt like he could not give one role his all doing both, and he feels best to let someone else lead the basketball program.

“We feel like we will have a lot of interest, and we have a few people in mind. We’ll open it up and see how it goes.”

Bond shared his appreciation for the opportunity, while admitting the decision was a tough one to make.

“I want to thank Principal Gressett for the opportunity to help in administration; I appreciate the chance,” Bond said. “Stepping down is tough, because basketball is the only way I’ve ever made a living, either playing or coaching. it’s what I know. We’ve had success for the most part where I’ve coached. It’s tough, but it’s one of those deals where the program is in a good spot and it will attract quality applicants.

“It’s not like I’m leaving Ruston, and I want our program to continue to be successful. I’ve been a head coach for 15 years, and I’m so thankful for all of the players during my time. They deserve the credit for what they’ve done. I’m just small of their success.”

During Bond’s tenure, he has created a boys basketball powerhouse for the Bearcats in leading them to the state tournament for the last two seasons.

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By Kyle Roberts

Ruston mayor Ronny Walker signed a memorandum of understanding on Friday at City Hall which outlines the responsibilities of the city, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development and the Federal Highway Administration will all need to complete in preparation for Buc-ee’s to begin building on the Tarbutton exchange across from Ruston Junior High.

“This document puts all of those final details together to make this project happen,” Walker said prior to signing. “This has been in the plans for over 14 months now. It’s a great day for Ruston and a great day for Lincoln Parish. It’s also a great day for North Louisiana because it’s going to contribute to regional economic development.

Walker was quick to praise new Louisiana governor Jeff Landry and new secretary of transportation Terrence “Joe” Donahue for making sure the progress is still ongoing for Buc-ee’s to come to Ruston.

“(Landry’s) administration has been very helpful in getting this done,” Walker said. “And Secretary Donahue has done an incredible job; just unbelievable.”

Walker said that the signing of the MOU does not formally set up a timeline, though he still expects groundbreaking to happen this year.

“All the engineering work has to be done first, and it’s being done as we speak,” Walker concluded. “I think everybody still believes groundbreaking in 2024 and opening in 2025. I have not heard anything differently from Buc-ee’s, so that’s what we believe.”

Specific language in the MOU include the goal of providing an efficient frontage road system to collect and consolidate vehicles by providing access to the Tarbutton and LA 149 interchanges and to continue the existing “One-Way” frontage rod system westbound and north of I-20 from the Tarbutton Road interchange to the LA 149 interchange in Grambling.

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By T. Scott Boatright

The definition of the word “mize” is to overlook/ignore something or someone intentionally.

That was an impossibility for the late Louisiana Tech and field coach Jimmie Mize. There is no way to overlook true greatness.

Mize, who was not only track and field coach by a longtime assistant football coach, and his wife Minnie were LA Tech athletics royalty 

And royalty should always be acknowledged in proper fashion.

Louisiana Tech did just that Saturday morning during a ribbon-cutting  ceremony for the new signage leading into the Jim Mize Track and Field.

Simply put, Mize was the architect that designed the program into the Tech track and field force that exists today.

Mize, who came to Tech  as a student/athlete in 1934, ended up retiring from the coaching profession in 1977 after a 31 year career.

He was the first assistant coach ever for coach L.J. “Hoss” Garrett at Ruston High in 1938 and 1939 and in 1940 became the head football coach at Arcadia and proceeded to direct his club to the 1940 class B state championship.

After then serving in the U.S. Air Ford then entered the Air Force, flying more than  300 combat missions, Mize moved on to earn a Master’s degree from LSU in 1946 before becoming head coach of track and cross country and assistant coach in charge of the offensive line in football for the Bulldogs. 

Mize gave up his football coaching career  in 1970 but remained as the track coach through 1977.

During Mize’s coaching career, Louisiana Tech won three conference championships at Tech, first in 1961 in the Gulf States Conference and later in 1973 and 1974 in the Southland Conference..

Mize several Bulldog all-Americans and one of his finest performers. Bruce Lenior (1952-56), has preceded him into the Tech Hall of Fame. Upon retirement Mize had 39 years within the state department of education,

He was honored as District 6 “Coach of the Year” in 1973 and won numerous coaching honors on the conference level.

The entrance to the Tech track and field now bears Mize’s name, and there is a sign nearby with verbiage written by former Tech Sports Information Director Keith Prince and Tech graduate and Louisiana Hall of Fame Sports Writer Teddy Allen.

John Allen, a 1973 business graduate and shot putter that helped the LA Tech track and field team earn a Southland Conference track and field championship the year he graduated, served as keynote speaker during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Mize coached his teams to three conference championships, first in 1961 in the Gulf States Conference and later in 1973 and 1974 in the Southland Conference.

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An area pastor was arrested in Shreveport late Thursday night after allegedly exposing himself to an undercover police officer in the public restroom at the Stoner Park Boat Launch.

Kenneth Sapp, 63, of Arcadia, pastor of the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church just south of Ruston in Jackson Parish, was charged with possessing several types of drugs and a handgun during an undercover operation to deal with an ongoing problem at the location.

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Booking records at the Shreveport city jail state Sapp exposed himself to a Shreveport Police officer who was working an undercover assignment just before midnight Thursday night. After his arrest, Sapp was allegedly found in possession of a handgun, 30 grams of suspected marijuana, 21 grams of suspected methamphetamine, multiple glass smoking pipes, and an unlabeled bottle of pills.

Sapp was booked for obscenity, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm during a controlled substance felony, possession of a legend drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, and open container.

Sapp remained in the city jail Friday awaiting transfer to the Caddo Correctional Center. Bail had not been set as of Friday night.

Pleasant Grove Church, also called The Oasis in the Woods, is on Bowden Road between Clay and Vernon in northern Jackson Parish. A number of media reports listed him as a Ruston pastor.

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 Hanna Singh

After nearly two years of dedicated pursuit, Ruston High School Senior Ashton Wick was accepted into the United States Military Academy West Point in New York.

While some may say this is a lucky opportunity, luck had nothing to do with Wick’s long-awaited acceptance. Obtaining a 32 composite ACT score, a 4.0 GPA and a display of immense involvement in his school and community are only part of the accolades that Wick presented. Among acceptance requirements were written recommendations from at least 10 authority figures, interviews, a physical fitness exam, and a health screening to confirm eligibility. Wick received his congressional nomination from Senator Julia Letlow.

Wick first heard about the academy from his father back in the sixth grade. The idea piqued his interest and was always something that he considered a possibility.

“I’ve always wanted to serve my country and [West Point] is one of the best schools in the country,” Wick said. “They offered me an excellent academic opportunity and I believe it’s a great place to go.”

As the nation’s first military academy, West Point offers one of the most prestigious educations in the United States. Established in 1802, the academy has become an integral part of American history steeped in tradition. Cadets that attend the academy for four years will graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Military.

Wick tentatively plans to major in engineering at West Point and intends to become an army ranger. He will graduate as a second lieutenant and aspires to be a leader in the army. Wick credits several people for helping him through his education journey including his father, mother, and school counselors Mrs. Humphries and Mrs. Henderson.

“The process is a lot,” said Humphries. “He’s been thinking about it since he was young. It is really impressive, everything he had to go through.”

Wick will attend cadet basic training on July 1st and begin classes at West Point in August of 2024.

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A Dubach police officer was killed Saturday afternoon when he was struck by an 18-wheeler while conducting a traffic stop.

Russell Croxton, 51, of Dubach, was a recent addition to the Dubach Police Department. He had served some years ago as Dubach’s chief of police, and more recently, as a police officer with the Louisiana Tech University Police Department.

Louisiana State Police, the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Ruston Ambulance Service responded to the scene shortly before 1:00 p.m. Saturday.

According to Louisiana State Police, Croxton had stopped a 2014 Fprd Explorer on U.S. 167 just south of Hamilton Road for a traffic violation when his 2020 Chevrolet patrol truck and the stopped motorist’s vehicle were struck by an 18-wheeler.

LSP said Croxton had exited his vehicle and was standing next to the driver’s side window of the Explorer speaking to the stopped driver. A 2022 Peterbilt commercial motor vehicle, driven by 61-year-old Michael Sutterfield of Russellville, Arkansas, was traveling north on U.S. 167 in the right lane. For reasons still under investigation, Sutterfield failed to move from the right lane to yield to the stopped patrol vehicle. As a result, the 18-wheeler struck the rear of the Chevrolet, causing it to rotate to the right.  After striking the Chevrolet, Sutterfield’s vehicle continued north and struck Officer Croxton before striking the Ford Explorer.

Officer Croxton was transported to an area hospital, where he later died. Sutterfield and the driver of the Ford were both properly restrained and uninjured. Although impairment is not suspected, routine toxicology samples were collected and will be submitted for analysis. The crash remains under investigation by LSP.

Officer Croxton was a young child when his father, Ruston Police Sergeant Raymond Croxton, was killed in a single-vehicle patrol car crash in May 1978. Sgt. Croxton was believed to have been in pursuit of a violator at the time of the crash. Russell Croxton had told fellow Lincoln Parish law officers that the death of his father served as an impetus in his pursuit of a career as a law enforcement officer.

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Courtesy of the Louisiana Office of Tourism

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and the Louisiana Office of Tourism announced the launch of a new Louisiana birding website. The project was funded by a CARES Act grant to develop a strategy to help rural and underserved communities in Louisiana.

“Louisiana is a birder’s paradise. Located along one of the primary migration routes for North American birds – the Mississippi Flyway – the state offers opportunities to see over 470 unique species of birds,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “Louisiana’s beautiful outdoors has been attracting nature lovers from around the world, and this resource creates another way to Feed Your Soul all across the state.”

To create the site and robust birding content, LOT put together a team of Louisiana birding experts to conduct fieldwork. Location nominations were submitted by the public. After each nomination was assessed, 256 unique locations were chosen to be presented on the site.

The new ADA-compliant, interactive website, BirdingLouisiana.com, is colorful and vibrant, organizing the state into six regions for birders to explore. Each site is listed with what species of birds can be found, and where they might be seen. It also includes what other outdoor recreation is available in the area – such as paddling or fishing. The site also incorporates bird sounds for each species listed.

Outdoor recreation is a huge economic driver across the nation. In 2022, outdoor recreation activities in Louisiana generated $7.9 billion in gross domestic product according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. This is an increase of 18.9% over 2021. Additionally, outdoor recreation supported 57,580 jobs in 2022.

“Now is the ideal time for the launch of this wonderful website,” said Assistant Secretary of Tourism Doug Bourgeois. “As interest in birding increases, we can offer this expert-curated content to visitors as a guide to explore Louisiana’s outdoors in every corner of the state.”

Learn more and explore all of Louisiana’s birding opportunities at BirdingLouisiana.com.

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A 22-year-old woman apparently drove into a ditch in Grambling Saturday afternoon and then resisted officers attempting to take her in for a breath test.

Deajea Mallet of Lake Charles was found behind the wheel of her 2003 Toyota in a ditch on College Avenue in Grambling about 4 p.m. Saturday. Mallet told Grambling police officers she had been washing clothes at a friend’s house and fell asleep. She said she did not know how she got to where officers found her.

According to an officer’s report, Mallet was slurring her speech and speaking incoherently. She refused to cooperate with a state trooper attempting to administer field sobriety tests and was arrested.

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While traveling to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center, Mallet managed to get out of her handcuffs and tried to open the back door of the patrol car. The officer returned to the accident scene to obtain assistance in restraining Mallet. When an officer let Mallet out to reapply the handcuffs, she resisted by pulling away. She continued to resist while using profanity and warned she would be tased if she did not comply.

Mallet was tased to bring her under control and recuff her. Once restrained, Mallet again resisted by kicking officers and refusing to get in the patrol car.

Mallet was booked for DWI-first offense, careless operation of a vehicle, driving under suspension, simple escape, and resisting an officer.

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. 

On April 29, 1974, President Richard Nixon announces to the public that he will release transcripts of 46 taped White House conversations in response to a Watergate trial subpoena issued in July 1973. The House Judiciary committee accepted 1,200 pages of transcripts the next day, but insisted that the tapes themselves be turned over as well.

In his announcement, Nixon took elaborate pains to explain to the public his reluctance to comply with the subpoena, and the nature of the content he planned to release. He cited his right to executive privilege to protect state secrets and stated that the transcripts were edited by him and his advisors to omit anything “irrelevant” to the Watergate investigation or critical to national security.

He invited committee members to review the actual tapes to determine whether or not the president had omitted incriminating evidence in the transcripts. “I want there to be no question remaining,” Nixon insisted, “about the fact that the President has nothing to hide in this matter” and “I made clear there was to be no cover up.”

In June 1972, five men connected with Nixon’s Committee to Re-Elect the President (CREEP) had been caught breaking into the Democratic National Committee Headquarters in the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C. A subsequent investigation exposed other illegal activities perpetrated by CREEP and authorized by senior members of Nixon’s administration. It also raised questions about what the president knew about those activities.

Nixon vigorously denied involvement in the burglary cover-up, infamously proclaiming “I am not a crook.” In May 1973, the Senate convened an investigation into the Watergate scandal amid public cries for Nixon’s impeachment. In July 1974, the Supreme Court rejected Nixon’s claim of executive privilege and ordered him to turn over the remaining tapes. On one of them, the president could be heard ordering the FBI to end its investigation of the Watergate break-in; this came to be known as the “smoking gun” that proved Nixon’s guilt.

On August 8, 1974, Nixon avoided a Senate impeachment trial by becoming the first American president to resign from office. He was later pardoned by his successor, President Gerald Ford, “for all offenses against the United States which he committed, or may have committed.”

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By T. Scott Boatright

Heading into the second round of the Division V Nonselect School playoffs, 17th-seeded Simsboro knew it was playing the role of David against Goliath — top-seeded Pitkin.

Playing on the road made the odds even tougher, and despite a strong fight the Tigers fell 10-0 in six innings on Friday.

The Tigers never got going at the plate with Pitkin allowing only two hits.

“That team we just played is much better than we are at the moment,” said Tigers coach Scott Hiers.“But we’re headed in the right direction. We pushed it past five innings in a playoff game against the top-seed team. Without three or four untimely errors it would have been 3 or 4 to nothing.

“That little lefty they threw today, he was pretty tough. He was 86 or 87 (miles per hour on his pitches) from the left side, and that’s tough for a Class B high school. We played hard, We made some good plays., But we just did not hit that young man who was on the mound. He’s pretty dang good.”

It was the final game for Simsboro seniors Mark Holloway, Bryson Yarborough, Grant Carr and Cayden Cross.

“They were a little emotional and stuff, just because it’s over,” Hiers said. “But they’re looking on toward bigger and better things. It’s time to start another chapter in life. It’s both sad and exciting for them.

“But the younger guys seem ready to move on next year and work to get a little bit better.”

After advancing to the second round of the playoffs since 2015, Hiers feels his team is in for even  bigger and better things next season.

“We don’t lose our top pitchers,” Hiers said. “We lose a couple of outfielders but we’ve got pretty much our whole team coming back and hopefully we can add some players to that. 

“Overall it was a good year. We played a little tougher schedule and we got better. I’m good with that.”

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