The Louisiana Tech women’s bowling team earned the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) All-Academic Team Award for the eighth straight season. The program has now earned the award in all eight seasons under the helm of Head Coach Matt Nantais.
The NTCA recognizes NCAA bowling teams that excel academically each year. Programs must have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher for the academic school year and be current members of the NTCA.
Sixty-one programs nationwide were honored, with LA Tech ranking in the top five of the country with a 3.647 team GPA for the 2023-24 campaign.
Of the 364 student-athletes recognized across 75 programs, five Bulldogs were represented achieving a 3.4 GPA or higher for the academic school year to qualify for the award.
Senior Allie Leiendecker, sophomore Allyson Sand, and freshmen Allie Leiendecker and Kylee Trexler were all recognized for their individual accomplishments in the classroom.
Coming off another historic season, the Bulldogs qualified for their fourth consecutive NCAA Regional. All seven members were also on the CUSA Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
Ronald Dewayne Hendry, age 60 of Ruston, LA was born to the union of Douglas Devon Hendry and Betty Ann Warren Hendry in Monroe, LA. He passed away June 8, 2024 in Ruston, LA.
Ronald was a proud veteran of the Army National Guard. He worked at the paper mill in Jonesboro, LA. He liked to spend time with his grandchildren. Ronald enjoyed hunting, watching car races, and going to shops where he could be a part of building race cars.
Ronald is preceded in death by his parents, Douglas and Betty Hendry. He is survived by his daughters, Devan Nordman and her husband Kyle, and Jessica Hendry; six grandchildren, Madison, McKenzie, Malleigh, Alyssa, Harley, and Ryder. Mr. Hendry is also survived by numerous other family members and a host of friends.
A memorial service for Ronald will be held at a later date.
Anthony Caesar Thursday 02/20/1969 — Saturday 06/01/2024 Visitation: Friday 06/14/2024 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Celebration of Life: Saturday 06/15/2024 11:00am at King’s Funeral Home Interment: Saturday 06/15/2024 Following Service, New Prosperity Cemetery, Clay
Mattie P. McConnell Thursday 11/28/1935 — Sunday 06/02/2024 Visitation: Wednesday 06/12/2024 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Celebration of Life: Thursday 06/13/2024 10:00am, St. Rest Baptist Church, 831 Saint Rest Road, Quitman
Claudia M. Wagner Thursday 11/12/1931 — Wednesday 06/05/2024 Visitation: Thursday 06/13/2024 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Memorial Service: Friday 06/14/2024 11:00am at King’s Funeral Home Interment: Friday 06/14/2024 Following Service, Grambling Memorial Garden, Highway 80 West, Grambling
Santis Cain and his family — the “Gang” as he calls them — are bringing their culinary talents to the old Daq’s space at 215 N. Service Road near Office Depot and are hosting their grand opening on Saturday, June 15.
“The (Cain Gang) will be a chicken and waffle restaurant,” Cain said. “I had a place in Grambling back in 2010 until about 2017. We shut down there, and we just thought this would be a good spot to try to recreate it all over again.”
The menu will also feature salads, pork chops, Philly cheesesteaks, burgers and fish.
Originally hailing from Indiana, Cain is looking forward to the grand opening and spoke to how excited he is.
“I’m too excited — it’s hard to keep it together,” Cain said. “But we’re really ready to get going and see what we can do in the community.”
While the grand opening celebration is set for Saturday, Cain said there is a chance they’ll open the doors early to the public.
“We’ll probably open Wednesday or Thursday and do a little cooking,” Cain said in conclusion. “But the grand opening will be on June 15.”
Ruston Police arrested a suspect Monday in the murder of a 14-year-old Ruston youth.
The victim was shot and killed at South Trenton Street near West Hilly Avenue early on Sunday, May 19.
Ruston officers responded to the scene about 1:11 a.m. after a report of a male lying in the roadway. Police found the male suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.
Officers secured the area and immediately rendered aid to the victim. He was transported by Ruston Ambulance Service to Northern Louisiana Medical Center and later flown to Ochsner LSU Health-Shreveport.
The victim, later identified as a 14-year-old male juvenile, died of his injuries. RPD has not released the victim’s name.
RPD investigators collected evidence from the scene and conducted a number of interviews in a lengthy investigation. An arrest warrant for second degree murder was obtained for the suspect.
On Monday morning, the 14-year-old male suspect was taken into custody and booked at the Green Oaks Detention Center in Monroe.
Ruston Police Investigators ask anyone who may have additional information on this case to call the department at 318-255-4141 or Crime Stoppers at 318-255-1111. A tip may also be submitted online at http://www.rustonlincolncrimestoppers.com, or text “TIP515” to Crimes (274637) to send a text message. Tipsters remain anonymous and are eligible to receive a cash reward if the information leads to an arrest or a grand jury indictment.
City of Grambling engineering consultant Henry Schuler speaks during a City Council meeting Thursday night. (Photo by T. Scott Boatright)
By T. Scott Boatright
GRAMBLING —Grambling’s City Council unanimously voted to award an $814,850 contract to Suncoast Infrastructure for sewer rehab work for all areas of the city north of the Canadian Pacific Kansas City railroad track during last week’s monthly Board of Aldermen meeting.
That move, combined with another made during the meeting, could mean Grambling is set to cover and complete sewer rehabilitation plans for 2024.
During Thursday’s meeting Grambling’s City Council unanimously awarded an $814,850 contract to Suncoast Infrastructure for sewer rehab work for all areas of the city north of the Canadian Pacific Kansas City railroad track.
Henry Shuler, of Shuler Consulting, who serves as a consulting engineer for the city, told Grambling’s City Council that this project also includes installation of an emergency generator at the College Street lift station and that the work slated to get underway this fall will be paid for by a forgivable state loan.
But that wasn’t only the only move Grambling’s City Council made during last week’s meeting to upgrade sewer conditions.
The Council also agree to approve a $411,444.75 bid from Amethyst Construction for Phase II of the College Avenue renovation project, and because of bureaucratic protocol, then immediately voted to adopt a change order to redefined the financial amount of work to fit the $250,000 already awarded for the project, a move that should then allow work to begin,
Schuler said that while originally the city seemingly was set to receive $400,000 in state funds for the project, because Grambling State’s sewer system is involved and GSU was set to receive $150,000 for the part of the project running through its campus, that meant that the financial numbers needed to be adjusted but that the project will eventually be finished.
A Central Avenue apartment complex is at the crux of that matter.
“We can’t control what the state allocates, we just have to adjust to what they give us,” Shuler said. “This money will go up to the parking complex, but it will not do the parking complex. This is a deductive change order that gets us down to the money we have today. The good news that I want to share with the Council is that there is an additional $200,000 coming for repairs on Central Avenue. So Central Avenue will get finished. It’s just going to take another year.
“The thing is we can’t control what the state allocates, we just have to adjust based on what they give us. This money will do up to the apartment complex but not the parking, but we will get to do the driving lane that the public uses so much will be included in this phase, but there will be a third phase where we go back, finish the driving lane.”
“Now that we know we don’t have $400,000, we have $250,000, we’re going to have to phase it again,” Shuler said. Shuler then told the Council current funding will cover around half the project and added that he believes the remaining $200,000 to complete the project will likely come this fall in another allocation to GSU later this year.
Ten inmates housed at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center have been charged in connection with a smuggling operation to bring drugs into the facility.
Captain Randy Williams of the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office detention center staff said all those charged in the investigation are sentenced state department of corrections inmates as opposed to prisoners awaiting trial.
Williams said Bobby Dean Sutton, Jr., 46, of Bastrop, was being used as a trustee. He allegedly managed to smuggle synthetic marijuana into the facility. Williams said Sutton had conspired with inma tes Cornelius D. Spivey, 35, of Grambling, and Miketavious M. Brooks, 41, of Ruston, to bring in and distribute the drug to other inmates.
“The case was made through the use of surveillance video and interviews after we learned of the conspiracy through a confidential source,” Williams said, noting that many hours of video were viewed to identify suspects.
Arrest warrants were obtained for the individuals involved and all were arrested and new charges lodged against them on Thursday.
Sutton, Spivey, and Brooks were booked for felony possession of synthetic marijuana, introduction of contraband into a penal institution, and conspiracy to introduce contraband into a penal institution. Bail was set at $15,000 for each man.
Also arrested for felony possession of synthetic marijuana and introduction of contraband into a penal institution were:
Matthew James Bell, 42, of Farmerville
Jailan Daniels, 22, of Natalbany
Jermichael D. Mangham, 33, of Ruston
Dillon K. Rone, 30, of Grambling
William N. Watson, 37, of Ruston
Bail was set at $10,000.
Charged with felony possession of synthetic marijuana and fire-raising in a correctional facility were Devasquez Montez Payton, 34, of Ruston, and Patrick Avery Spencer, 30, of Winnsboro. Bail for set at $10,000 for each man. Fire-raising refers to making any type of fire within the detention center.
While bail was set on the warrants, the inmates are not eligible for release since they are serving sentences for prior convictions.
Lincoln Parish Sheriff Stephen Williams commended his staff for the detailed investigation into the incident. “Some offenders don’t stop committing crimes just because they are behind bars. Our staff is very vigilant in working to prevent such acts and to protect the safety of those housed in the facility.”
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.
Two Simsboro residents are recovering after they were injured in a two-vehicle crash near Malvern, Arkansas Friday. A Sheridan, Ark., woman in the second vehicle died in the collision.
Arkansas State Police said Kimberly Carter, 18, of Sheridan was killed and Nascha James, 30, and her niece Kayden Guidry, 18, of Simsboro were injured in the collision on Arkansas Highway 9 south of Malvern about 5 p.m. Friday.
According to a preliminary ASP report, Carter was driving a 2009 Chevrolet HHR SUV south and attempted to overtake another vehicle but lost control of her vehicle. The Chevrolet slid sideways into the opposing northbound lane into the path of a 2015 Jeep driven by James.
Carter was pronounced dead at the scene. James and Guidry, a passenger, were injured and taken to CHI St. Vincent Hospital in Hot Springs.
In a social media post Saturday, Guidry said, “…how incredibly blessed I am. My God is a God of miracles who was watching over me and my family. We were on our way to Hot Springs for a fun weekend vacation when we got in an accident. Praise God, my family is okay. My dearest aunt who was driving our car is banged up, but she’s okay.”
Guidry shared her prognosis. “My back was broken in the crash, but I’m not paralyzed and I’m still breathing. I’ll have to get surgery, and the road to recovery might be a little long, but all I can do is thank God we are alive. Thank you to every single person who’s been praying, listening to me talk, and who’s been there by my side. I couldn’t do this without my amazing village. I also want to say to appreciate every single thing in life. Because you don’t know just how quick it can be taken from you.”
Kayden graduated from Simsboro High School in May.
“Just because you don’t see a way doesn’t mean God doesn’t have a way.”
That saying frequently appears as I’m scrolling through the 1,756 photos on my phone. Its cousins – other spiritually centered, uplifting messages – often join in the symphony of encouragement and hope as I peruse my phone’s albums.
Actually, I saved that particular message on July 10, 2021, just a few months after the world had begun to return to some semblance of normalcy following the horrors of Covid and 2020. When I came across it the other day, I decided to see what additional beacons of reassurance would appear if I intentionally browsed my iPhone’s offerings.
As I took time to focus on them, I was immediately uplifted. And I decided I would share some of them with you so you could be bolstered, too. You may recall that last year, I gathered a significant number of compelling Christian posts in just one month, which led me to share at that time as well.
I’m not sure how far we’ll get through the remaining almost three years of photos – we may have to save a lot for later – but here goes:
July 13, 2021: “God never sends you into a situation alone. God goes before you. He stands beside you. He walks behind you. Whatever situation you have right now, be confident. God Is With You.”
And that same day: “Christians don’t know all the answers to why life hurts, but we do know that looking at the Cross we can’t say, ‘God doesn’t understand hurt.'”
Dec. 4, 2021: “You cannot see your reflection in boiling water. Similarly, you cannot see the truth in a state of anger. When the waters calm, clarity comes.”
Jan. 22, 2022: “A positive attitude brings much gratitude! Think positive. Be positive. Speak positive. And stay positive. Do it every day, and do it big.”
March 21, 2022: “When you can’t find the sunshine, be the sunshine.”
Also that day: “God is down in the front. He is in the tomorrows. It is tomorrow that fills men with dread. God is there already. All the tomorrows of our life have to pass him before they can get to us.”
April 9, 2022: “Those who love you don’t clip your wings. They add another feather so you can fly higher.”
And later that day: “When I interviewed Maya Angelou, she told me to write this sentence on my notepad and to never forget it: ‘Every storm runs out of rain.’ I still think of that line to this day” – Alex Banayan.
April 14, 2022: “Love is when a Man wipes your tears, even after you left him hanging on the cross for your sins.”
Aug. 11, 2022: “Be careful about rushing God’s timing. You never know who or what he is protecting you from.”
Aug. 16, 2022: “Today will never come again. Be a blessing. Be a friend. Encourage someone. Take time to care. Let your words heal and not wound.”
Oct. 28, 2022: “Mosaics are made from broken pieces, but they’re still a work of art. And so are you.”
Jan. 21, 2023: “The brook would lose its song if the rocks were removed.”
June 21, 2023: “Being a work in progress is progress.”
Aug. 21, 2023: “Have you heard of ‘glimmers’? They are the opposite of triggers. A glimmer is a tiny micro-moment of happiness – a sign of hope. Once you begin to look for them, they will start to appear everywhere.
And for this go-round, a good place to pause is the image from Sept. 15, 2023, which centers on my favorite parable:
“The difference between mercy and grace? Mercy gave the Prodigal Son a second chance. Grace gave him a feast” – Max Lucado.
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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.
BATON ROUGE – For 45 years, Clifford R. Strider, III has dedicated his entire legal career to the administration of criminal justice. What began soon after law school as a young prosecutor in the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office in 1979, Strider has since traversed the state, successfully serving as an assistant district attorney in 19 jurisdictions including rising to the role of first assistant district attorney in Rapides, Union and Lincoln Parishes.
Whether serving an assistant district attorney, assistant attorney general for the Criminal Division for the La. Department of Justice, or a special prosecutor specializing in violent crimes, Strider has left an indelible mark on Louisiana’s legal landscape.
On Friday, June 7, 2024, Strider’s distinguished lifetime of service was enshrined in the Louisiana Justice Hall of Fame at an induction ceremony in Baton Rouge.
The Louisiana Justice Hall of Fame was established to “honor and acknowledge the men and women of Louisiana who have served their community and the State of Louisiana in the honorable profession of law enforcement, judiciary, and related fields”.
The Louisiana State Penitentiary Museum Foundation Board of Directors, which established the Hall of Fame in 2004, considers the merits and lifetime achievements of the nominees. For Strider, the board was presented with a bevy of achievements to consider including him earning the Outstanding Prosecutor Award by the Louisiana Victims and Citizens Against Crime on three separate occasions and his Distinguished Faculty Award by the National College of District Attorneys.
Additionally, Strider has trained prosecutors and law enforcement personnel in 41 states, often lecturing at state prosecutor associations training seminars, as well as law enforcement seminars, covering a large number of topics, including trial tactics, prosecution of violent crimes, use of forensic evidence and prosecutorial ethics. During his career Mr. Strider has also taught at the New Orleans Police Academy, the New Orleans Harbor Police Academy, the Alexandria Regional Police Academy, the Southern University of New Orleans Criminal Justice Department, and the American Prosecutors Research Institute’s Top Gun Program.
Beyond accolades, Strider has earned a reputation as a skilled and talented litigator who is often recruited to handle high-profile or complicated cases, including prosecuting capital cases. He regularly assists district attorneys throughout Louisiana with felony prosecutions and serves as an experienced resource for their offices.
Justice leaders throughout Louisiana who have worked with Strider expressed their support for his induction into the Justice Hall of Fame.
Natchitoches Parish District Attorney Billy Joe Harrington, who is the president of the La. District Attorney’s Association, has known and worked with Strider for over 30 years.
“Clifford Strider is a true legend in Louisiana justice and rightfully deserves his place of honor in the La. Justice Hall of Fame. His unwavering passion for the law, dedication to victims of crime, and relentless pursuit of fair justice continue to shape our judicial system. Strider’s meticulous attention to even the smallest case details, combined with his deep knowledge of legal procedures and unwavering commitment to fairness, sets the highest standards for our profession. I can’t emphasize enough how invaluable his contributions have played such a pivotal role in our success over the years,” said District Attorney Harrington.
Representative Debbie Villio, who is the chairwoman of the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee, said “I met Cliff Strider when I was a young prosecutor in New Orleans. Cliff mentored me in the mid 1990’s as I prosecuted one of the first DNA cases. Throughout my career as a prosecutor, and even now as a legislator, Cliff has always been a phone call away. He is a minister of justice and a warrior for victims.”
Sabine Parish District Attorney Don Burkett, who has called upon Strider to prosecute numerous felony cases during his tenure, said, “Cliff Strider is the most dedicated and gifted prosecutor I have ever known! His contributions to the criminal justice system in La are immeasurable. Most important is that Cliff is always ready to share his knowledge and experience willingly with all his fellow prosecutors.”
Upon learning of his selection to the Justice Hall of Fame, Strider said, “I am very humbled by my selection into the Louisiana Justice Hall of Fame. I consider my service to the victims of crime in Louisiana and the quest to make our communities a safer place a privilege. To be recognized for my service is very exciting. However, I am aware that any successes I may have had are the sum of the efforts of those who came before me and those who guided me along the way. To those dedicated people I am indebted.”
Strider continues to serve as a special prosecutor in various judicial districts in Louisiana.
After a tremendous inaugural group was named in 2023, the Lincoln Parish Journal is now seeking nominations for this year’s “Rising Lincoln Leaders.”
Our parish is full of young, rising professionals and leaders, and we want to recognize the next group of leaders through this summer series.
Nominee criteria includes:
39 years of age or younger
works in Lincoln Parish
resides in Lincoln Parish
Deadline to submit nominations is by 5 p.m. on Friday, July 5th. All nominations should be emailed to LPJNewsLA@gmail.com with the subject line of Rising Lincoln Leaders.
Please include the following information within the nomination:
Nominee’s name
Age
Employer
Contact info, including phone
750 words or less about why the individual is being nominated for this award; including accomplishments, awards, etc.
Contact name and info (including phone) of the person submitting the nomination
The Lincoln Parish Journal will run a series profiling each of the “Rising Lincoln Leaders” during the summer.
The Louisiana Tech University Foundation chose Dr. Jamie Newman for its annual Professorship Award. Newman earned the recognition for her dedication to research, teaching, and student mentorship.
“The singular mission of the Louisiana Tech University Foundation is to support our University. The Foundation Professorship Award is one way that we recognize and support outstanding faculty for their teaching, service, and scholarship,” said Lisa Bradley, interim vice president of the Division of University Advancement. “Dr. Newman exemplifies excellence in each of these areas, and we are proud to honor her. I look forward to hearing about her continued success.”
Newman is the associate dean for research and graduate studies and an associate professor within the College of Applied and Natural Sciences. Throughout her career, she has spearheaded efforts to create unparalleled learning experiences and research opportunities.
“As faculty, we are asked to wear many hats, and at any given moment we may be focused on an aspect of research, teaching, service, or another initiative to promote the mission of the University,” Newman said. “In each aspect of my career, students remain at the heart of every decision, every research project, every initiative, and every accomplishment, including this one. This recognition from the Foundation Board confirms for me that I have been able to achieve my professional goals, matter to others, and indeed am living a life of consequence at Louisiana Tech University.”
Dr. Donna Thomas, provost and vice president of academic affairs, presented the award and $3,000 stipend to Newman at the 2024 Benefactor’s Dinner. Thomas has witnessed firsthand the impact Newman continues to make across the campus community.
“Congratulations to Dr. Newman, a dynamic leader with a long list of remarkable achievements and exceptional contributions to Louisiana Tech University,” Thomas said. “Her dedication, passion, and commitment to excellence are demonstrated by her impressive scholarly record and the countless students and colleagues she has inspired. The balance among teaching, research, and service activities is sometimes difficult to maintain. Jamie seamlessly integrates all three into her daily work.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Newman’s research efforts focused on tracking the virus through sewage in the Ruston Wastewater Treatment Plant. Through a project funded by the Rockefeller Foundation where she assisted as a co-principal investigator, these efforts grew beyond state lines.
In addition to her teaching and research activities, Newman has a strong commitment to service and supporting activities on campus, as well as at the state level. She was the driving force behind the concept and creation of the Virtual Anatomy Laboratory, housed in Carson Taylor Hall, and established the New Frontiers in Biomedical Research seminar series that brings world-renowned researchers from a variety of fields to Tech’s campus, allowing students, faculty, and administrators to learn and interact with experts representing a variety of disciplines in the health sciences.
At the state level, she was a key facilitator in the collaboration between the Louisiana Art & Science Museum and Louisiana Tech University’s VISTA Program. Newman has also been an integral part of the University of Louisiana System Academic Summit for three years as the Undergraduate Research Council representative for Louisiana Tech.
Last year, Grambling State University established The Distinguished 10 Award, an initiative created to honor 10 GSU graduates who have demonstrated excellence in their industry and community. This prestigious award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions through their leadership, innovation, and dedication.
“Grambling State University has an impressive slate of alumni that contribute to society in a way that is truly transformative,” said Brandon Logan, Vice President for University Advancement and Innovation at GSU. “Celebrating their success and significance is an honor, and we take pride in elevating their stories.”
Building on the success of the inaugural cohort, the nomination process is now open to identify the next cohort of The Distinguished 10 for 2024. This initiative continues to celebrate alumni who exemplify outstanding leadership in various fields such as business, research, public service, and philanthropic endeavors. These remarkable individuals are not only successful in their careers but also make meaningful impacts in their communities, embodying the spirit and values of Grambling State University.
Last year’s Distinguished 10 honorees included women’s basketball coaching legend Patricia Cage Bibbs,’72; Kyrus Branch, ’03, East District Patrol Deputy Chief for the Arlington (Texas) Police Department; Dr. Farrah Gafford Cambrice, ’99, Associate Professor of Sociology at Prairie View A&M University; Dr. Evelyn Ford Crayton, ’68, former President of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; Laphilia Nicole Davis, ’03, founder and CEO of Butler-Davis Tax & Accounting, BD Payroll, and Groundworx Contractors; La Shanda Hurst, ’95, Business Program Manager for the Microsoft Philanthropies Employee Giving program, Prince Hutchinson, ’05, talent acquisition specialist for State Farm, Dr. Joslin Mar-Dai Pickens, ’00, Owner of Vegans on the Run, Chair of the Communication and General Studies Department and tenured Associate Professor of Communication and Mass Communication at Southern University at Shreveport; Dr. Lamarr Shields, ’94, Co-Founder and Senior Director of Education and Innovation at the Cambio Group; and Dr. Mevla K. Wallace ’99, President of Huston-Tillotson University.
For more information or to nominate a Grambling State alumnus for this esteemed award, visit www.gram.edu/d10.
Then 34-year-old director Steven Spielberg reportedly drew on his own experiences as an unusually imaginative, often-lonely child of divorce for his science-fiction classic E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, which is released on June 11, 1982.
For Spielberg, E.T. marked a return to territory he had first visited with the classic Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), in which Richard Dreyfuss plays a man who comes face to face with a fearsome alien force that eventually proves to be human-friendly. With E.T., Spielberg would create an even more appealing vision of alien life, in the form of a diminutive creature with wrinkled skin and a glowing belly. Spielberg worked closely with the screenwriter, Melissa Mathison (future wife of Harrison Ford, the star of Spielberg’s Indiana Jones films) to capture on film the story of the wise, kind and cuddly alien botanist who is stranded on Earth and needs the help of a sensitive little boy, Elliott (Henry Thomas) to get back home.
Elliott and his siblings, played by Robert MacNaughton and a seven-year-old Drew Barrymore, hide E.T. (as the alien dubs himself) in a closet to keep him out of sight from prying adults, including their mother, who is distracted by her painful separation from her husband. Before long, a special link develops between E.T. and Elliott, who will eventually risk his own safety to return E.T. to his planet.
From the time that E.T. had its first showing, on closing night at the 1982 Cannes Film Festival, the film’s buzz was overwhelmingly positive. Richard Corliss raved in TIME magazine: “[E.T.] is a perfectly poised mixture of sweet comedy and ten-speed melodrama, of death and resurrection, of a friendship so pure and powerful it seems like an idealized love.” TIME also included the fictional alien in its list of candidates for Man of the Year–the first film character to receive that honor. Nominated in nine categories at the 1983 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, the film won four Oscars, for Best Sound Effects Editing, Best Visual Effects, Best Original Score and Best Sound.
E.T. had stupendous success at the box office, eventually raking in some $435 million (it was re-released in 1985 and a special 20th-anniversary edition was issued in 2002).
For more on this day in history, go to History.com.
Any time a feat happens that hasn’t in a decade, it is quite an accomplishment.
Former Lincoln Prep star and current Northwestern State Demon Zachaeus Beard finished eighth in the men’s 100-meter dash, running a 10.10 to earn First Team All-American on the campus of the University of Oregon.
The last first team selection in the men’s 100 for NSU was Justin Walker, who finished fourth in the event in 2014.
“Zach had a great day,” NSU head coach Mike Heimerman said. “That’s a huge accomplishment. That was an amazing race. He led for most of the race and just got a little tight at the end.
“He has had an amazing season and he has the Olympic trails in a couple of weeks which I think he will run faster.”
Like he always does, the senior recorded a quick start and led for much of the race before being edged out.
Houston’s Louie Hinchliffe came away with the title, running a blazing 9.95, narrowly beating out a pair of Auburn runners, Favour Ashe (9.99) and Kanyinsola Ajayi (10.01), who finished second and third, respectively.
Beard’s finishes his NSU career as one of the more decorated male sprinters in school history, with his name all across the program record book.
He finishes his collegiate career with his head held high.
“It feels sour, but sweet all at the same time,” Beard said. “It’s crazy actually. I thank God through it all. I gave NSU track and field everything I had. There is no way I can’t leave happy. Much love. ZEB out.”
Louisiana Tech claimed its third straight top-10 year-end ranking as the Bulldogs finished No. 9 in the NCAA Division I Women’s Tennis Southern Region, announced by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA).
For a second straight year, a Bulldog also finished in the top 20 in the Southern Region in singles as Olga Bienzobas capped off her senior season by being ranked No. 17, the highest of any non-Power 5 player and the second highest in school history.
LA Tech put together a 15-9 overall record in 2024, tying for the sixth-most wins in a single season in program history. In non-conference, the Bulldogs picked up marquee victories over UAB and Wyoming as well as in-state rivals Northwestern State and ULM.
They also claimed a 4-2 non-conference win at Houston, marking the program’s first ever victory over a Big 12 opponent. In CUSA action, LA Tech went 3-1 with wins against New Mexico State, UTEP, and Sam Houston, all of which came on the road. The Bulldogs also defeated WKU in the CUSA Championship, advancing to the semifinals for a second straight season.
Bienzobas was a First Team All-Conference USA selection in singles and was recently named the LSWA Louisiana Player of the Year, becoming the first Bulldog in program history to receive this honor.
The San Sebastian, Spain native put together a 19-3 dual singles record while playing every match from the top position. The 19 wins was the most by any CUSA player and tied for the second most in a single season in program history.
She reeled off a program record 17-match winning streak that included victories over Rice, Houston and Wichita State as well as a win against 56th-ranked Kinaa Graham of LSU, the second-highest ranked victory by a Bulldog ever.
Bienzobas also went a perfect 4-0 in CUSA action in singles. She also went undefeated in dual doubles during the regular season in league play, going 3-0 while registering an 11-11 overall record playing on courts one and two.
The Southern Region is made up of all Division I women’s tennis programs in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.
Southern Regional Rankings (Team) 1. Auburn 2. LSU 3. Alabama 4. Ole Miss 5. South Alabama 6. Tulane 7. Troy 8. McNeese State 9. Louisiana Tech 10. UAB
Anthony Caesar Thursday 02/20/1969 — Saturday 06/01/2024 Visitation: Friday 06/14/2024 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Celebration of Life: Saturday 06/15/2024 11:00am at King’s Funeral Home Interment: Saturday 06/15/2024 Following Service, New Prosperity Cemetery, Clay
Mattie P. McConnell Thursday 11/28/1935 — Sunday 06/02/2024 Visitation: Wednesday 06/12/2024 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Celebration of Life: Thursday 06/13/2024 10:00am, St. Rest Baptist Church, 831 Saint Rest Road, Quitman
Claudia M. Wagner Thursday 11/12/1931 — Wednesday 06/05/2024 Visitation: Thursday 06/13/2024 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Memorial Service: Friday 06/14/2024 11:00am at King’s Funeral Home Interment: Friday 06/14/2024 Following Service, Grambling Memorial Garden, Highway 80 West, Grambling
Ruston Police arrested a suspect Monday in the murder of a 14-year-old Ruston youth.
The victim was shot and killed at South Trenton Street near West Hilly Avenue early on Sunday, May 19.
Ruston officers responded to the scene about 1:11 a.m. after a report of a male lying in the roadway. Police found the male suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.
Officers secured the area and immediately rendered aid to the victim. He was transported by Ruston Ambulance Service to Northern Louisiana Medical Center and later flown to Ochsner LSU Health-Shreveport.
The victim, later identified as a 14-year-old male juvenile, died of his injuries. RPD has not released the victim’s name.
RPD investigators collected evidence from the scene and conducted a number of interviews in a lengthy investigation. An arrest warrant for second degree murder was obtained for the suspect.
On Monday morning, the 14-year-old male suspect was taken into custody and booked at the Green Oaks Detention Center in Monroe.
Ruston Police Investigators ask anyone who may have additional information on this case to call the department at 318-255-4141 or Crime Stoppers at 318-255-1111. A tip may also be submitted online at http://www.rustonlincolncrimestoppers.com, or text “TIP515” to Crimes (274637) to send a text message. Tipsters remain anonymous and are eligible to receive a cash reward if the information leads to an arrest or a grand jury indictment.
The sun had set in the last year on one of Ruston’s more popular restaurants as the Sundown Tavern has been closed for roughly six months.
However, the sun is coming back up.
Ruston native Heath Hightower and his family have bought the building and the name and will reopen it this summer.
“The name will stay the same,” said Hightower. “In fact we had to take down the old sign because it was falling apart. We have put a new one up, and we have done everything we can to make the new sign look exactly like the old sign. We are putting a huge emphasis on keeping everything the same.
“When we do open and people walk in the door, we expect them to say, ‘Why did this take so long. It doesn’t look any different. It just smells better.'”
Name is the same. Sign will look the same. What about the menu?
“We are absolutely staying the same,” said Hightower. “We are trying to let people know that when we first open it will be the same menu but we will shrink it. We are going to open slow. My message to the community is if your favorite isn’t on the menu that doesn’t mean that we won’t eventually have it. But we have to prove that we can serve a turkey sandwich before we try to serve you loaded chicken nachos.
“I would rather apologize because your favorite dish hasn’t made the menu yet then apologize because it took two and a half hours to feed you.”
So what was the driving factor in Hightower’s decision to buy the building and reopen Sundown Tavern?
“I’m 49 and anybody who is in our age bracket sat in Sundown at some point in their life and said,’I wish I owned this place.’ I had the opportunity to do it,” said Hightower.
“I think it’s going to be a fun experience. I have always had a dream of getting into a restaurant-type business … Then throw in the fact that I get to do it with what I consider an iconic establishment in the city that I’m from, I felt like I fit the suit well. It felt like a natural fit.
“Then when I approached my wife with the crazy idea, she said she has a connection to the place even though she isn’t from Ruston. That was the final vote that I needed.”
Hightower said the timeline to reopen is in July.
“That is the goal, but there is a chance it could bleed into August,” said Hightower. “I’ve run into some challenges with the building … just some repair work. I hope I’m open by the end of July, but I will for sure be open in August at the latest.”
If you have been aggravated by the seemingly endless construction on Ruston’s Monroe Street, you would have been even more frustrated trying to drive it for much of the 20th century.
Seems like it has been under construction for several years and when I think about it, it has. For the first time ever, Monroe Street will be open from the I-20 Service Road all the way to Line Avenue behind the neighborhood Walmart.
I can recall when Monroe Street was completely blocked at the railroad tracks. No way to use it to get from one side of Ruston to the other. The train depot that sat in the middle of the street was a fascinating place to us kids.
Fortunately, the newly designed street has fewer traffic lights than the other major north-south thoroughfares of Trenton Street and Vienna Street, providing an easy drive across the city.
As Ruston was being planned, its streets were mapped out around the east-west railroad in a plan of perfect symmetry. Streets met at right angles. The simple grid pattern of what is now the downtown historic district avoided curves. But the original straight north-south layout of Monroe Street eventually developed a noticeable curve due to the coming of a second railroad.
If you were driving through downtown from the early 1900s until the 1960s, you wouldn’t have used Monroe Street. After the Arkansas Southern Railway, later known as the Rock Island, came through Ruston in 1901, numerous spurs were laid off the main track to warehouses and loading docks located on either side of Monroe Street.
For years, most of Monroe Street was completely blocked to vehicular traffic from what is now the rear of the Ruston Civic Center to the rear parking lot of First Baptist Church. The spurs that split off its main rail line that ran parallel to Monroe Street covered what was intended to be the street itself.
The Rock Island even built a freight depot in the middle of Monroe Street, and the passenger depot shared with the east-west Vicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific sat right in the middle of the intersection of Park Avenue and Monroe Street.
That meant no rail crossing existed on Monroe Street to reach the other side of town.
By the 1960s, citizens yearned for another crossing over the east-west tracks, then the Illinois Central Railroad, to relieve traffic on Trenton and Vienna Streets which served as routes for both U.S. 167 and the east-west transcontinental U.S. 80. At the time Maple Street only ran from West California Avenue to Barnett Springs Road and Homer Street came to a dead end on both sides of the Illinois Central tracks.
In 1965, a plan was developed to reopen Monroe Street from West Florida Avenue to West Louisiana Avenue.
The first step was demolishing the beautiful red brick passenger depot with its clay tile roof. The building was one of many from Ruston’s earliest days to be lost to “progress.”
Survey and design of the new roadway took time. The city wanted the Rock Island to move its freight depot at the corner of West Mississippi Avenue so the roadway could be straightened to its original path. The railroad rejected the city’s request. The reworked Monroe Street would require a bit of a curve around the building which is now an Origin Bank branch.
A newspaper publisher said of the proposed street work, “Completion of the street and [the free city] parking lot project could well be one of the major accomplishments of this City administration and should be a boon to Ruston for many years to come. Convenience of travel for the growing automobile population at Louisiana Tech and for persons moving in the downtown area will be greatly enlarged.”
Within a few years, with the passenger depot, spurs, and other impediments removed, the street reopened its entire length for the first time in decades.
All the warehouses that lined Monroe are gone today. And except for a little bend in the road to detour around the freight depot, it’s a straight shot from the Interstate to the south side of Ruston.
The passenger depot servicing both the east-west and north-south railroads was built in the middle of the Monroe Street-Park Avenue intersection.This 1914 insurance map shows Monroe Street blocked by railroad spurs, loading platforms, a freight depot, and a passenger depot.Once the lifeblood of Ruston commerce, the railroad added congestion to the downtown area.Monroe Street at Louisiana Avenue
The employee of a home improvement store in Ruston has been charged after a year-long practice of giving herself fraudulent refunds.
Mercede R. Grigsby, 21, of Dubach, was charged with felony theft after an investigation at Lowe’s Tuesday.
A loss prevention manager told Ruston Police that Grigsby had been stealing from Lowe’s from May 13, 2023 to June 4, 2024.
The manager said paperwork and video for the past year showed Gentry had bought building materials for her home and then completed return transactions on her own at the store. However, she did not actually return the merchandise but was refunded for her purchases.
Grigsby reportedly wrote out a statement admitting to the practice and was terminated by Lowe’s before she was arrested.
Bail was set at $3,500.
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.
EUGENE, Ore. – It was a date with redemption at the NCAA Track and Field National Championships for Oklahoma Sooner sophomore and former Ruston High Bearcat BJ Green.
Leaping a triple jump distance of 54 feet, 6.75 inches (16.63 meters), Green captured bronze for Oklahoma University’s outdoor track and field team while earning himself first team All-American honors.
Green said he was pleased with how he finished, considering he missed last season’s final by one spot.
“It was a great moment, especially because this time last year I placed tenth and missed the final by one place,” Green said. “The atmosphere was great, and the crowd was very involved. It was awesome.”
Green’s stellar collegiate career so far includes two first team honors and both the Big 12 indoor and outdoor titles in track and field. He also currently holds the No. 2 spot on OU’s indoor and outdoor all-time lists in the triple jump.
In reflecting on his sophomore campaign, Green said the best word to describe this season was “consistent.”
“I did remarkably well this year versus last year,” Green said. “I’ve seen a lot of progress, and in the coming years, I’m definitely going to be back on the podium bringing home a national championship.”
While at Ruston High, Green was a standout in both track and field and the Bearcat football team in the secondary — and he loves the chance to represent his hometown on the national stage.
“It means a lot to me to put the city of Ruston on the map,” Green concluded. “Whenever I can, I make sure everyone knows where I came from.”
