A West Monroe woman was arrested early Tuesday morning after she allegedly damage an ex-boyfriend’s car twice within several hours.
Grambling Police responded to a College Avenue residence about 11 p.m. Monday night to investigate a complaint. The alleged victim said Antinesha N. Kimble, 23, damaged his Dodge Challenger by cracking the windshield with her shoe and slicing three of his tires. Kimble had left before officers arrived.
About 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, the victim told GPD that Kimble had returned to the location and officers responded again. The victim said that minutes before, Kimble had backed her vehicle into his car, damaging the passenger side fender. He provided police with a video of the incident.
According to police, Kimble admitted damaging the windshield, cutting the tires, and backing into the vehicle. She said she was upset because the victim had been cheating on her.
Kimble was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for simple criminal damage to property valued over $1,000 and no vehicle liability insurance.
Bail was set at $2,000.
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.
The Lincoln Parish Journal will send out the LPJ Digital Deals email each Thursday that will include coupons from local businesses, giving out loyal readers opportunities to take advantage of special savings from local businesses.
In order for a business or individual to participate, their coupons must contain (a) a savings and (b) an expiration date that falls within one month if the date of run.
Any business who wishes to take advantage of this new piece of inventory may contact the LPJ at LPJNewsLA@gmail.com.
The cost of the weekly coupon to run within the special Thursday afternoon email and then again on Friday morning as an all-inclusive LPJ Digital Deals is $125 per week (or a discounted rate of $350 for a 4-week run).
This is just one more way that the Lincoln Parish Journal can bring its advertising partners together with our loyal readers.
Peach Fest is over, and we have now hit that lull when most of the Tech and GSU students have gone home for the summer.
I’ve heard Ruston described as a “ghost town” over the summer, but as someone who stayed to take summer school classes all three years while I attended Louisiana Tech, I loved staying in school during the summer months. My parents couldn’t understand why I would willingly take summer classes, but they were usually my favorites during my collegiate career.
First off, there’s orientation. Orientation for incoming freshman – yeah, that’s fine and great, but working orientation was like working a party. I volunteered with a few campus organizations, and we passed out snow cones, informational sheets, and free T-shirts. And who doesn’t like a free T-shirt?
Secondly, classes seemed more casual. Don’t get me wrong; the academic rigor was still strong, but I did not mind having class at 7:30 a.m. (when classes would start) and being done before mid-morning. I could also complete six hours in a three-week time span, and that seemed like magic to me. (I discovered later with my doctorate this concept of a “mini-session,” where I was able to complete a three-hour course in one week, and I definitely took advantage of that once or twice as well.)
Also, because I didn’t have access to one in my hometown, I had the option of swimming. At the time, I swam at the Natatorium, and while I would have preferred an outdoor pool like the students have now, I was able to get in good swim time with the indoor pool.
Tech and Ruston slow down significantly in the summer, but it’s not a “ghost town.” Instead of large Bible studies at the BCM, we had fellowships at different houses, which I loved. I didn’t have to wait in line so much at Java City – after all, a 7:30 a.m. political science class called for morning coffee, and most of the time, I was running right on time, if not a few minutes late. The class size was smaller, so I often got to know more people outside my major than during the normal school year. Also, taking college classes in the summer allowed me to graduate a whole year early with a double major – and I came in with zero college credits from high school (I would also like to add the caveat that I don’t always think graduating early is a good thing.).
I still see a lot of really fun aspects for Tech students in the summer and incoming freshmen. Orientation is an even bigger party now and includes activities with the city of Ruston, such as the Dog Days of Summer in Railroad Park. Students don’t have to depend on the Nat anymore – no, the Lambright has those pools done right, and there’s even rock climbing too. College Judith would have been so excited about rock climbing. We don’t have Java City anymore, but that Starbucks on campus is pretty amazing.
Summer is way too fun in Ruston to let the “ghost town” cliche keep us from having a good time.
In the summer of 1752—possibly on the 10th of June—Benjamin Franklin flies a kite during a thunderstorm to collect ambient electrical charge in a Leyden jar, enabling him to demonstrate the connection between lightning and electricity. (Scholars debate the June 10 date, but agree it likely happened sometime in June of that year.) It is one of his most famous—and mythologized—experiments.
Franklin became interested in electricity in the mid-1740s, a time when much was still unknown on the topic, and spent almost a decade conducting electrical experiments. He coined a number of terms used today, including battery, conductor and electrician. He also invented the lightning rod, used to protect buildings and ships.
Franklin was born on January 17, 1706, in Boston, to a candle and soap maker named Josiah Franklin, who fathered 17 children, and his wife Abiah Folger. Franklin’s formal education ended at age 10 and he went to work as an apprentice to his brother James, a printer. In 1723, following a dispute with his brother, Franklin left Boston and ended up in Philadelphia, where he found work as a printer. Following a brief stint as a printer in London, Franklin returned to Philadelphia and became a successful businessman, whose publishing ventures included the Pennsylvania Gazette and Poor Richard’s Almanack, a collection of homespun proverbs advocating hard work and honesty in order to get ahead. The almanac, which Franklin first published in 1733 under the pen name Richard Saunders, included such wisdom as: “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”
Whether or not Franklin followed this advice in his own life, he came to represent the classic American overachiever. In addition to his accomplishments in business and science, he is noted for his numerous civic contributions. Among other things, he developed a library, insurance company, city hospital and academy in Philadelphia that would later become the University of Pennsylvania.
Most significantly, Franklin was one of the founding fathers of the United States and had a career as a statesman that spanned four decades. He served as a legislator in Pennsylvania as well as a diplomat in England and France. He is the only politician to have signed all four documents fundamental to the creation of the U.S.: the Declaration of Independence (1776), the Treaty of Alliance with France (1778), the Treaty of Paris (1783), which established peace with Great Britain and the U.S. Constitution (1787).
Franklin died at age 84 on April 17, 1790, in Philadelphia. He remains one of the leading figures in U.S. history.
For more on this day in history, go to History.com.
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, June 10 10 a.m.: Financial Literacy (Grambling City Hall) 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome 4 p.m.: Family storytime at Lincoln Parish Library 6 p.m.: Toastmasters International meeting (Louisiana Center for the Blind, 101 South Trenton Street) 6-9 p.m.: Creative Meetups (112 W. Alabama Ave.)
Tuesday, June 11 10 a.m.: Storytime at Lincoln Parish Library 10 a.m.: Annual Bake-off (Grambling City Hall) 2 p.m.: Crafternoon at Lincoln Parish Library 4 p.m.: Adventures in Fishing Teen Activity (Jack Beard Community Room, Lincoln Parish Library) 6 p.m.: Let’s Talk Grambling (Grambling City Hall) 6 p.m.: Fiber art meet up (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center) 7 p.m.: Lincoln Parish Police Jury meeting (Lincoln Parish Courthouse)
Wednesday, June 12 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 6 p.m.: Citywide Bible Study (Christ Temple Baptist Church)
Thursday, June 13 9:30 a.m.: Piney Hills Quilt Guild (Grace Methodist Church) 10 a.m.: Health Fair (Grambling City Hall) 10 a.m.: Dat Does the Trick (Lincoln Parish Library) 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Kiwanis Club lunch and program (Trinity Methodist Church fellowship hall) 2 p.m.: Tween STEAM (Lincoln Parish Library) 4 p.m.: Teen T-shirt craft (Vienna Conference Room, Lincoln Parish Library)
Friday, June 14 10 a.m.: Tommy Terrific Magic Show (Lincoln Parish Library, Dubach Room)
Saturday, June 15 8 a.m.: Juneteenth Heritage Wellness Walk (The Village; Grambling) 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 10 a.m.: Juneteenth Parade (The Village; Grambling) 10 a.m.: Young Entrepreneur Fair (The Village; Grambling) 6:30 p.m.: Juneteenth celebration (Railroad Park, Ruston)
Louisiana State Parks have kicked the summer season with swimming pools opening. Additional water fun can be had at water playgrounds and beach swimming areas. The regular schedule for the pools is Thursdays through Sundays throughout the summer.
“From Chemin-A-Haut to Grand Isle, Louisiana State Parks’ pools, water playgrounds, and beach swimming areas offer great ways for visitors of all ages to cool off and enjoy the outdoors this summer,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser.
Pools available for day use are located at the following state parks: Chemin-A-Haut near Bastrop, Lake D’Arbonne in Farmerville and North Toledo Bend near Zwolle. Certified lifeguards are on site during pool hours to monitor swimmers. Pool hours of operation are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors are advised to check with the individual parks for specific days and hours of operation as pool schedules are subject to change. August 1 through Labor Day, pools will be open on modified schedules based on lifeguard availability.
Water playgrounds are located at the following state parks: Bogue Chitto near Franklinton, Chicot in Ville Platte, Fontainebleau in Mandeville, Jimmie Davis near Chatham, Lake Bruin in St. Joseph, Palmetto Island near Abbeville, Poverty Point Reservoir in Delhi, St. Bernard in Braithwaite and Tickfaw in Springfield. Water playgrounds are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Designated beach swimming areas are located at the following state parks: Bogue Chitto in Franklinton, Cypremort Point west of Franklin, Fontainebleau in Mandeville, Grand Isle, Jimmie Davis in Chatham, Lake Claiborne in Homer, Poverty Point Reservoir in Delhi and South Toledo Bend near Anacoco. All beach areas are open daily but do not have lifeguard supervision.
Day use pools, water playgrounds, and beach swimming areas are available at no additional charge to overnight and day-use visitors. For a complete list of activities at Louisiana State Parks during the summer months visit LaStateParks.com, or follow Louisiana State Parks on Facebook.
Louisiana Tech’s Olga Bienzobas was voted by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association as the 2024 Women’s Tennis Player of the Year, announced by the LSWA on Saturday.
Bienzobas, who was also one of six players to be named First Team All-Louisiana, put together one of the best seasons in program history on the courts. The senior compiled a 19-3 singles record from the No. 1 spot in the spring, the most by any CUSA player and tied for the second most in school history.
The First Team All-Conference USA selection put together a program record 17-match winning streak while winning 38 of her 50 completed sets. Her best win came early in the dual season when she defeated 56th-ranked Kinaa Graham of LSU, the second-highest ranked victory by a Bulldog ever.
The San Sebastian, Spain native also went a perfect 4-0 in CUSA action with victories over New Mexico State, UTEP, Jacksonville State, and Sam Houston. She also notched marquee wins over Rice and Houston and closed out the regular season with a three-set win at No. 68 Wichita State.
Bienzobas also went 11-11 in dual doubles while playing on courts one and two. She went a perfect 3-0 in CUSA play while also posting a season-best five-match winning streak at the No. 1 position.
She becomes the first Bulldog in school history to be named Louisiana Player of the Year as well as the first to become a two-time All-Louisiana honoree.
Alexia Romero, Tiffani Nash, and Zoie Epps were all named All-Louisiana Honorable Mention.
Romero, a Second Team All-CUSA selection in both singles and doubles, went 16-3 in dual singles while playing on courts four, five, and six. Her 16 wins ranked second on the squad and tied for the eighth most in a single season in program history.
The fifth-year senior finished her career with 54 dual singles wins, second most in program history. She posted a team-high five clinching points while also reeling off a season-high eight straight victories starting with a victory at LSU. She also clinched the win against WKU in the CUSA Championship quarterfinals and tallied the lone point for the Bulldogs in the semifinals against No. 27 FIU.
In doubles, she won a team-high 13 matches while playing on all three courts. She also went a perfect 3-0 against CUSA competition.
Nash, a Second Team All-CUSA honoree, registered a 15-5 dual singles record, the third most wins on the team. She had a five-match winning streak that started with a victory at Houston. The Bossier City native also went 2-0 against CUSA opponents with wins against New Mexico State and Jacksonville State and capped off the regular season with a straight sets win at No. 68 Wichita State.
In doubles, Nash played on all three courts while compiling eight victories including a season-high winning streak of three matches.
Epps was named Second Team All-CUSA in doubles and was a member of the CUSA All-Freshman Team after going 11-9 in her first season as a Bulldog. She had two separate three-match winning streaks while winning six of her last eight completed matches to finish the season.
The Norman, Oklahoma native went 3-1 in CUSA play, defeating New Mexico State, UTEP, and Sam Houston. She also provided the clinching point against UAB, winning in straight sets. In doubles, the freshman went 9-6 while finishing the year by winning four straight over ULM, Kansas State, No. 68 Wichita State, and WKU.
Player of the Year:Olga Bienzobas, Louisiana Tech Newcomer of the Year: Arina Gamretkaia, McNeese Freshman of the Year: Amira Bergaoui, Xavier Coach of the Year: Alan Green, Xavier
First Team Anita Sahdiieva, LSU Olga Bienzobas, Louisiana Tech Aran Teixidó Garcia, LSU Arina Gamretkaia, McNeese Laurie Barendse, New Orleans Mbali Langa, Xavier
Second Team Lucy Carpenter, Loyola Amira Bergaoui, Xavier Olivia Scattini, LSUA Kyra Akinnibi, Xavier Anastasija Adeikyte, McNeese Florentine Dekkers, LSU
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Mary Sue DeFreese McDaniel, at age 85, on May 29, 2024, at Silver Care Living, Plano, Texas. She passed peacefully in her sleep of natural causes
Sue was born on November 12, 1938, in Jonesboro, Louisiana to Lawrence and Margie (Simpson) DeFreese, and was raised in Ruston, Louisiana. She graduated from Ruston High School in 1956. After attending Louisiana Tech University, she married Robert E. McDaniel, Sr. They lived in Shreveport, Louisiana and El Dorado, Arkansas, before settling in Dallas, Texas, to raise their family. She was a wonderful mother and raised her children in a Christian home. She dedicated her life to her children and grandchildren.
Sue was preceded in death by her parents; and a brother, LP DeFreese.
She is survived by her son Rob (Sandy) McDaniel of Plano; daughter Connie (Paul) St. Clair of Plano; grandchildren Aimee Edwards of Plano, Andy (Samantha) Edwards of Austin, Texas, Jason (Maggie) McDaniel of Houston, Texas, Austin (Ashley) McDaniel of Frisco, Texas, Alli (Jordan) Bakkum of Owasso, Oklahoma, Julie (Mark) Cella of Dallas, Texas; great grandchildren, Elizabeth Belle McDaniel, Sutton Briggs Bakkum, Carolina Genevieve Cella and Calais Parker Cella (and another grandchild on the way); sisters Sandra (Mike) Kane of Ruston and Kay DeFreese (David Scotten) of Weaverville, California, as well as, many nieces and nephews.
A private graveside service will be held in Simsboro, Louisiana.
Donations can be made to Alzheimer’s Association https://www.alz.org, in memory of Mary Sue DeFreese McDaniel.
May she rest in eternal peace and may the memories of her love and kindness live on forever. How blessed we are to have loved someone so deeply that it makes saying goodbye so hard.
Mary Sue DeFreese McDaniel rest in peace. We love you!
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
Doug Porter is pictured at the head table during a Grambling Legends Hall of Fame Banquet. (Photo by Glenn Lewis)
By T. Scott Boatright
A key assistant coach during College Hall of Fame football coach Eddie Robinson’s heyday in the 1960 and ‘70s — Doug Porter — died Wednesday at the age of 94 in Ruston.
Porter, who was born in Memphis and played collegiately at Xavier of New Orleans, started his coaching career as an assistant at Tennessee High School before returning to Xavier in 1955 as backfield coach.
He then served as head coach at Mississippi Vocational College, renamed Mississippi Valley State in 1964, from 1961-65 before being brought aboard by Robinson to direct the Tigers’ offensive attack.
Porter said the chance to work alongside Robinson in what was basically a demotion to offensive coordinator, is what made him decide to take Robinson’s offer to join the staff at Grambling.
The opportunity to coach future legends and Louisiana Sports Hall of Famers such as James “Shack” Harris and Frank Lewis, also played a role in Porter’s decision.
Grambling won six Southwestern Athletic Conference titles in the eight years Porter served under Robinson — three with Harris going 31-9-1 as his quarterback.
“Most people don’t know how special a coach he was,” Harris said. “He coached at small schools, and sometimes probably got overlooked because of that, but he did an outstanding job wherever he coached. He just had a great football mind.”
In 1974, just as a freshman named Doug Wiliams was about to take over the quarterbacking reins at Grambling, Porter moved on to become head coach at Howard University, leading the Bison to a record of 30-21-2 mark over five seasons.
Porter then served as head coach at Fort Valley State from 1979-97, assuming double duty as athletics director in 1981.
There Porter led his Wildcats to seven Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships between 1980-92, including four in a row from 1982-85, amassing a coaching record at Fort Valley of 112-66-3.
Porter was a seven-time SIAC Coach of the Year and inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008 and the FVSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.
He then returned to Grambling, rejoining Robinson as a key consulting coach for the Tigers after amassing a head coaching record of 166-107-5 with only five losing seasons out of 26 at the helm of a collegiate football program.
Porter would go on to do the same for those who followed Robinson’s GSU coaching steps, including Williams, Melvin Spears, Rod Broadway and Broderick Fobbs.
“Coach Porter always kept his house in Grambling even when he was off coaching in D.C. (at Howard) and Georgia,” Williams said. “So, when I took over as coach at Grambling, I told him I wanted him there. What he was for me was one of those guys who had been around and seen everything.
“So, he came to practice. He even traveled with us when I was coaching at Grambling. And I told him, ‘Coach, whatever you see — what I’m doing wrong or what you see going on, don’t be afraid to let me know.’ And that’s what he did. After practice, if he thought it looked all right, he went home. But if he didn’t like what he saw, then he’d be sitting there waiting for me in my office when I walked in.”
Williams said Porter simply had a knack for making those around him better.
“He was one of those guys you wanted around,” Williams said. “He knew how to win and how to help you win. He had so much knowledge about football, and just about life. He was a big part of what was going on wherever he was, so I was sure glad he ended up making Grambling his longtime home.”
College Baseball Hall of Fame Coach Wilbert Ellis got to know Porter when Ellis was an assistant hardball coach at GSU when Porter was serving under Coach Rob and got even closer when Porter retired from coaching and returned to Grambling.
“He was one of those people who just liked helping others,” Ellis said. “He had a great coaching mind, but that wasn’t all. He was knowledgeable about so many things. He worked with the Grambling Foundation, he worked with the city of Grambling’s Housing department. He just wanted to always be involved with helping others.
“The fact that he came back home to Grambling shows how much being here meant to him. And he probably meant even more than that to Grambling, both the university and the city. He was a special man.”
Williams called Porter one of the kinds of people who affected everyone he met.
“Everybody loved Coach Porter,” Williams said. “He was that kind of guy. We lost a good one. Coach Porter was a great one.”
Groundbreaking for the Student Service Center. Photo by Carlton Hamlin.
Courtesy of GSU Communications
Grambling State University continued building on its focus of making student service a hallmark of the student experience at GSU with a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday morning at the site where the Black & Gold Facilities, Inc. will build a Student Services Center.
As the institution seeks to improve its essential student services, GSU believes it is paramount to develop an infrastructure that enables broad outreach by leveraging the assets at its disposal to achieve an enhanced student life experience.
“We gather here to break ground on a beacon of progress, a symbol of our unwavering commitment to student success,” said Grambling State President Dr. Martin Lemelle, Jr. “So, as we assemble here today, and as you depart, I invite you to tell them we’re building.
“Tell them we’re building a place where dreams are nurtured, and futures are forged. This Student Services Center will be the cornerstone of our campus embodying our dedication to the success of every student’s experience. Tell them we’re building a hub of innovation and collaboration with Black and Gold Facilities, Inc.”
The project mission, as articulated by user stakeholders, is laser-focused on positioning students for perpetual success by providing centralized, essential student services and academic services that generate their individual success, iconic identity, pride of space, and enduring loyalty.
To make that happen, Grambling State has partnered with Black and Gold Facilities, Inc. to build a Student Services Center that will strategically shape the functional and physical infrastructure. The structure will create a centralized, collaborative, and safe environment for co-working and learning, which will decidedly remove any operational hurdles and inefficiencies for students, faculty, and staff.
Located on the campus quadrangle in axis with Long Jones Hall, the project seeks to deliver a facility that embodies centralization and intentionality by enabling highly effective interpersonal interaction, engagement, and service delivery resources in a centralized location that will contribute to an enhanced experience for students.
Designed by M3A Architecture, the three-story, 60,000-square foot building will house offices for Campus Living and Housing, the Center for Career and Professional Development, Admissions/Recruitment, the Registrar, and Financial Aid.
“This project marks a future that charts a new path for the built environment at Grambling State University,” said GSU Vice President of University Advancement and Innovation Brandon A. Logan.
The Student Services Center’s lighting design will provide an opportunity to use color to celebrate particular milestones and accomplishments by university departments.
“We are creating a space that will eliminate operational hurdles and inefficiencies, paving the way for a seamless interactional experience and engagement,” Dr. Lemelle said. “Tell them we’re building a future where every student has the resources they need to excel. Centralized student services and academic support will be at their fingertips, fostering an iconic identity of pride in space and enduring loyalty to Grambling State University.
“Tell them we’re building on our tradition of excellence. This facility, strategically located on the campus Quad with access to Long Jones Hall, will not only enhance our infrastructure but will also signify our forward progress and visionary outlook. There’s still no vision that’s too big or too bold for Grambling.”
Funding will come through Black and Gold Facilities, Inc; from monies received from the federal government during the COVID 19 pandemic. University of Louisiana System President, Rick Gallot was on hand during the groundbreaking ceremony and thanked Dr. Lemelle, who served as Chief Financial Officer at GSU when Gallot was serving as university president, and current GSU CFO Dr. Edwin Litolff for their financial advice involving the use of the federal funding GSU received.
“I think it’s very important for me to thank President Lemelle and Dr. Litolff as two CFOs who didn’t let me go out and spend all the money,” Gallot said. “They were very conservative, very judicious, and very forward thinking in how we could leverage these dollars that came from Washington during the pandemic that was unprecedented.
“How could we make a lasting mark on this university to the students of today and the future? And it was, again, the fact that they were very conservative in our use of these dollars and because of that we have those federal dollars that will go to the construction of this and an additional project that are not coming out of the state coffers and will not cost the taxpayers of Louisiana any additional money.”
Black and Gold Facilities, Inc. Director Robert Clark said he was thrilled to celebrate such a historic occasion for GSU.
“I haven’t been this excited since May of 2010 when we opened the Eddie Robinson Museum, a great day for Grambling,” Clark said. “A while back we received $25 million from Washington D.C. As a result of that, we were given the task of facilitating, planning, designing, developing and constructing a facility on the Grambling State University campus.
“Back in the day when a student had to register, they had to go to four or five different places. This will centralize that. In other words, it’s a one-stop shop. And as we were planning this, we realized a more appropriate name would be a Student Services Center — one building that can accommodate registration, financial aid, housing, counseling, you name it.”
Clark said assembling a strong team leaves him confident that constructing the Student Services Center will be a triumphant achievement.
“We met every Tuesday for months,” Clark said. “It seemed like years. We built an all-star team —- M3A Architecture out of Jackson, Mississippi; Lincoln Builders from two doors down in Ruston, Louisiana — two firms with impeccable credentials. I am more than confident in their abilities in this task before them.
“They have assured me they will come in on top, and within budget. We’ve got $25 million — not $26M, not $27.5M, but $25M. We’ve got a timeframe they’ve ensured me they will meet, and I am comfortable in their abilities to do so.”
As he concluded his remarks, Dr. Lemelle said it’s all about building a stronger future for Grambling State University and its students.
“This development represents the dawn of a new reality, one where our built environment reflects the greatness of Grambling State University,” Dr. Lemelle said. “So, as we stand on this ground today, let us envision the countless students who will walk these halls, engage in transformative learning experiences, and carry the legacy of Grambling State University forward.
“Tell them we’re building dreams. We’re building futures, and Grambling State University.”
Louisiana Tech University has announced the names of students on its Spring Quarter 2024 President’s and Dean’s honor lists.
Students whose names are followed by an asterisk earned recognition as members of the president’s honor list. That distinction signifies achievement of at least a 3.8 academic grade point average on a minimum of nine semester hours completed (100-level or higher), with no grade lower than a B.
To be eligible for the dean’s honor lists, a student is required to earn at least a 3.5 academic grade point average with no grade lower than a C on a minimum of nine semester hours completed (100-level or higher).
Courses yielding satisfactory/failure grades and courses audited do not count toward eligibility for either recognition. Only undergraduates with no incomplete grades are eligible to make either list.
Honor students from Lincoln Parish are listed below.
Lincoln
Choudrant: Caroline Marie Antley, Sarah E. Brackin, Camryn Laine Burroughs*, Jessica Paige Crum, Jennifer Rosemary Ford, Alexis Funderburk, Mattie Ann Johnson, Jenna Michelle Marrable, Jessi A. McIntosh*, Heather Lynne Murphey, Richard Ian Starks, Logan Michael Stevens, Lachlan Harris Thompson*, Trevor Steven Trevillion
Dubach: Roselyn Marie Bennett, Atlis Joan Britt*, Ashlei Nicole Cahill-french, Blake T. Carter*, Wade Crawford, Chloe E. Green*, William Hunter Harris, Andrew Cole Maestrini, Brett Garrett Nobles*, Cassie D. Patterson*, Jolee Anne Roberson*, Spencer Jordyn Smith*, Isaiah Jake St. Cyr*, Elly Kate Swanbom*, Joshua Michael Thorson*
Grambling: Jasmine Scott
Ruston: Georgia May Albritton*, Garrett McIntyre Aldridge, Emma M. Alexander, Maggie Elizabeth Ambrose*, Ty Camden Baldwin, Ashton Kaine Barber*, Zane Christian Bayless, Maygoal Sadat Behbahani*, Emma Claire Bell*, Samantha Bell*, Augusto Arenio Bembele, Lucy Ren Bennett*, Hari Prasad Bhatta, Angela Bonnette Biscomb, Kylee Grace Blackwood, Shaylee A. Boudreaux, David Isaac Bowen*, Sara Larkin Brantley*, Madison Denise Bratton*, Kaylyn Brook Brazzel, Bryton Breeding*, Amelia Grace Brister*, Aubrie Rilee Brown, Evelyn Vickers Butler*, Lindey Anne Castine*, Nitesh Kumar Chaudhary*, Bradlee Chebny, Araya H. Coleman, Marihanna Diane Colvin*, Allie Claire Comeaux*, Kaija Cooks, Bonnie Elise Cooper, Alexis V. Davis, Camila Nicole Derosa*, Samrina Dhami, Lucas Jacob Doutt, Triston Kennedy Duvall*, William Estes*, Timothy C. Farley*, Tate Mathewes Farrar, Elijah Aaron Farris, Zachary S. Fendley, Grace Addison Ferrell, Tonie-ann Candice Forbes, Raymond J. Freasier, Emma Caitlin Frechette, Matthew T. Gallagher, Alec Henry Gatewood, Gabrieal Nyanzia Gibson, Elizabeth Anne Goree*, Rebecca Grace Goure*, Mackenzie Grace Gray*, Krish Gurung, Francisca D. Gutierrez, Nathan Daniel Harlow, Sarah Ann Hegab*, Alexander James Henderson, Dalton G. Herbert, William Edward Herbert*, Lyndsay C. Hogg, Laerke Mellergaard Holst, Brendan Michael Hood*, Aryaman Jana*, Ginger Lee Johnson, Jacob James Johnson, Jaylen Keyshawn Johnson, Alexandra Johnston, Annie Machelle Jones*, Janee Letrice Kelley, Lauren Koertge, Aleksandre Kokochashvili, Grace Elizabeth Lassiter*, Anna Grace Lee*, Stefano Alessandr Lopez Cosenza Hannah Raine Madden, Cindy Mai, Niilo Matti Maki-petaja, Abigail Madison Martin, Chuncy Devor Mason, Macie Kate May*, Andrew Peter Martineau, Elizabeth Claire McAdams*, Cameron McCarthy, Hayden Reign McClusky, Morgan Anna McCready, McKenzie Rae McFadden*, Madelin Paige McGaugh*, Kaitlyn Elizabeth Middleton*, Landri K. Millsaps, Kaiya Elise Mitchell, Dexteny S. Moody*, Taylor C. Moore, Andie Elisabeth Moss*, Peyton Marquise Muse*, Silvia Nativi*, Khai Tran Nguyen*, Connor Neal Norris, Jacob Michael Norsworthy, Kadie Norsworthy*, Alexis Cheri Odenbaugh*, Joshua K. Ogden*, Peter Troy Owen*, Samuel R. Owen*, Rafaela Kiara Palma Zapata*, Jamie E. Palmer*, Saphal Pant*, Jamara Beyonce Patterson*, Elijah Wesley Payton, Aaron Wade Peel, Parker Mason Perez, John C. Peshoff, Caleb Long Phillips*, Micah Shane Pruitt, Ellie Elizabeth Puljak*, Sophia Marie Puljak*, Emma K. Purifoy*, Liam Purifoy*, Earl J. Raue, Anna Kathryn Richardson, Katie Paige Roberts*, Kasey Danielle Roddy*, Kyle Russell, Elizabeth Claire Scott*, Audrey G. Seney, Saurav Shah*, Roman Shrestha, Taylor Grace Skapura, Callie Stegall*, Grace Kay Stepanek*, Jed Davis Stephens, Justin Brent Stokes*, Dustin Dalton Strozier*, Alyssa Jade Sylvester, Emily Genieve Tooke*, Emma Grace Trammell, Diana Ventura Perez*, Ashley Elizabeth Vining, Jessica Danielle Walker*, Jalyn Walsworth, Leah E. Ward, Kristian Mechal Warfield, Ysabella Lorynn Warren, Everett M. Watson, Reid Williams, Jacob Ryan Wilson*, Matthew Wade Wright, Matthew Griffin Yates
Simsboro: Tambri Leedy, Brooklyn Lester*, Mallory Nicole Mitchell, Emma Jane Reeves*, Aaron Reed Williams
A Ruston man was arrested Monday after he allegedly violated a protective order by harassing an ex-girlfriend.
Willie Graham, 53, was arrested early Monday morning after an investigation by the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Just after midnight Monday, a woman told Lincoln Parish deputies she needed an escort to her residence on Beacon Light Road because she feared her ex-boyfriend, Willie Graham. The woman said she had an active protective order against Green, but that he had been contacting her through a social media messenger in violation of the order.
Deputies knew Graham had been arrested previously for violating a protective order. He was located at his residence on 3rd Street and placed under arrest for violation of the protective order which restricted him from having any contact with the woman. Graham said he did not want to speak without a lawyer present.
Graham was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center. While in a waiting area, Graham apparently attempted to destroy his cell phone which caught fire. Graham denied intentionally trying to destroy the phone, saying it “just caught fire,” but when told he was being charged with fire raising in a correctional facility, he said it was his property and he could destroy it if he wanted to.
Deputies believe Graham thought deputies were going to seize his phone as evidence and thus attempted to destroy evidence pertaining to the social media messages.
Graham was charged with violation of a protective order, fire raising in a correctional facility, and obstruction of justice. 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.
With construction ongoing at 1003 Cooktown Road in Ruston, the quesadilla chain Dillas is scheduled for a fall opening — just in time for Louisiana Tech and Grambling State students to start the fall quarter.
“Construction should be finished by the end of August,” Primeaux Restaurant Group CEO Pete John said. “We’re looking at opening sometime in August or the first of September — that’s our goal.”
John’s restaurant groups currently operates Dillas locations in the Shreveport/Bossier area but said that his heart has been to open one in Ruston, as he is a 2004 graduate of Louisiana Tech.
“I’m a Bulldog, and I’ve always loved Ruston,” John said of bringing Dillas to Ruston. “This will also be our first true college location — it just made sense. And finding the property on Tech drive? It was a no brainer at that point. I was like — okay, the stars are aligning. Let’s go ahead and rock and roll.”
This Dillas location will also serve as a prototype — it will have a drive through with a patio.
“We’re not going to have a lobby that you can necessarily eat in, but we will have a covered patio with fans that people can enjoy,” John said. “Dillas is a sit down environment, so it’s the first prototype like this. Ruston is really on the cutting edge as far as Dillas goes.”
Currently, there are nine Dillas locations open in Texas and Louisiana. John’s group is also planning to open a location in Nacogdoches, Texas, shortly after the Ruston location opens.
A Ruston couple was arrested Monday morning after they were allegedly involved in a fight that led to the man going to the hospital.
Christopher Wilson, 27, and Dwaynekeyah Wilson, 31, were both arrested for domestic abuse battery after an investigation by Ruston Police.
Christopher Wilson told police his girlfriend stabbed him. Officers saw a bleeding stab wound on his left shoulder. Wilson said he was gathering his belongings to leave their residence. He said he was outside of his apartment when Dwaynekeyah stabbed him after pulling a pocket knife out of her pocket.
Ruston Ambulance Service responded to the scene and transported Christopher Wilson to the hospital.
Dwaynekeyah Wilson, who had left the scene, contacted Ruston Police by phone and was directed to go to the police station. She told officers she and Christopher had been having an argument over some missing marijuana. Dwaynekeyah said Christopher kicked the front door of the apartment, damaging the door frame. He became aggressive and when he walked past he bumped her with his shoulder. She said while they were outside the apartment, Christopher grabbed her by her arms and she pulled away. She said she grabbed an object from a pile of Christopher’s belongings outside the door and hit him on the shoulder with it. She said she did not know what she grabbed from the pile.
Dwaynekeyah was arrested for domestic abuse battery and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center.
When Christopher Wilson was released from the emergency room, he was arrested and taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center, where he was booked for domestic abuse battery and simple criminal damage to property. A hold was placed for the Louisiana Department of Corrections–Probation 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.
Which of the Ten Commandments do you think is the most violated among Christians? Have you figured it out yet?
It appears to be the most innocuous of the list. In Exodus the commandment reads, “Remember the Sabbath.” In Deuteronomy the commandment reads, “Observe the Sabbath.” We are to do something with the Sabbath, we are not sure what to do.
When was the last time you did nothing? I’m talking Hobby Lobby and Chick-fil-a closed on Sunday nothing. Let’s start there. Remembering and observing the Sabbath carry at the root of meaning the idea of doing nothing. You take on no project. You finish no task. You put down the phone. You rest.
The rest and refreshment of the Sabbath is a gift of God. He rested after creation. His rest gives us a pattern for our well-balanced spiritual life. Sabbath is the foundation of our spiritual formation in Christ. If we are not taking time to be with Christ, how will we know Him and serve Him?
You get the idea. So that is a thumbnail of a sermon I preached last week. Trust me, Sunday is not a Sabbath for preachers. I was up at four. Preached twice. Served communion in two services. Prepared my devotional thoughts for the VBS volunteers and then I went home. Once home, I prepared to play refrigerator musical chairs. There were a total of three refrigerators that were moved on Sunday afternoon. I also did a quick removal and replacement of two standing cabinets in the laundry room. Of course, all the stuff in the refrigerators had to be relocated.
I thought it ironic that I was exhausted on a day I had preached about Sabbath.
In thumbing through the manual for the new refrigerator, I discovered that my new refrigerator has a Sabbath setting for the ice maker. Since part of keeping the Sabbath is refraining from any kind of work, this refrigerator joins along in Orthodox Jewish households in refraining from ice making and alarm sounding.
If an icemaker can be programed for a Sabbath rest, do you suppose that you and I are wise enough to take a step back from the frenetic pace of our world for Sabbath?
Jesus said, “Come unto me all you who are weary (overworked at the end of your rope and never catching up people) and I will give you rest.” If my refrigerator can observe Sabbath, I can too.
The city of Grambling is set for its biggest, and longest, Juneteenth celebration.
It all begins on Saturday as opening ceremonies are held at Grambling City Hall/Community Center, kicking off 12 days of festivities.
Juneteenth commemorates the effective end of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth (short for “June 19th”) marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people were freed.
Grambling’s 2024 Juneteenth celebration, themed “Black Resilience: From Past to Present,” begins on Saturday with the opening ceremony before this year’s Miss Juneteenth Pageant is held from 6-8 p.m. at T.H. Harris Auditorium on the Grambling State University campus.
At 2:30 p.m. Sunday, festivities continue with a Poetry Contest at Grambling City Hall followed by a 5:30 p.m. Gospel Concert at Mt. Zion Baptist church.
Monday’s event will be a Financial Literacy Seminar at 10 a.m. at City Hall while two events are set for Tuesday — the annual Juneteenth Bake-Off at 10 a.m. at Grambling City Hall followed by a “Let’s Talk Grambling” session at 6 p.m. at City Hall that will focus on plans to rejuvenate Grambling’s Main Street, also known as “The Village.”
A citywide Bible Study session will begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Christ Temple Baptist Church while a Juneteenth Health Fair is set for 6 p.m. Thursday at City Hall.
Grambling’s second annual Juneteenth Gala is set for 7 p.m. June 14. The semi-formal event will be held in the foyer of GSU’s Frederick C. Hobdy Assembly Center with ticket prices set at $40 each.
June 15 will be the biggest day of Grambling’s Juneteenth celebration starting with a Heritage Wellness Walk at 8 a.m. followed by the annual Juneteenth Parade beginning at 10 a.m.
The rest of that day will include a Young Entrepreneur Fair at 10 a.m. with vendors crowding Main Street with the annual Kidzone and Car Show as well as the returning of a stage for musical and other performances, something that will return for the first time since the COVID pandemic.
After taking Sunday, June 16 as a day of rest, a citywide Exercise Event is slated for 7 p.m. on June 17 at Grambling City Park.
Starting at 6 p.m. June 18 will be a Mimosas and Marigolds event at the Grambling City Garden starting at 6 p.m.
Then on Juneteenth itself —- June 19 — a fishing tournament will be held all day at Grambling City Park followed by a Fish Fry at 5:30 p.m.
Anglers older than 17 will be required to have a Louisiana Fishing License for that event.
Grambling 2024 Juneteenth T-shirts will be available at all events for $20 each.
Pictured from left to right are Johnathan Millage, Derek and Angela Jones (parents), Mason Dean, Pamela Dean, Semaj Jones, Connie White, Steve Rogers, Fred Dean Jr. and Robert Thomas. (Photo by T. Scott Boatright)
By T. Scott Boatright
Fred Dean never forgot the roots he developed at Ruston High School, building a foundation that led him to become a member of the Louisiana Tech University and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
After retiring from the gridiron, Dean could be found on many a Friday night cheering on his beloved Bearcat football team.
And still today, more than two years after his death in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dean’s love for Ruston High continues shining bright.
That was shown last week when former Ruston High wide receiver Semaj Jones was presented with the Fred Dean Memorial Scholarship, set up by Dean’s graduating class at RHS, to ensure that his love of his high school alma mater lives on.
Jones will use the $1,000 awarded him in the scholarship as he attends Louisiana Christian University, where he will play football for the Wildcats.
“I’m very thankful to receive this scholarship,” Jones said. “I want to go represent Ruston Bearcats football the way Mr. Dean did and do everything I can to honor his memory the way it should be honored and represent Bearcat football. I’m very grateful to receive this scholarship.
The scholarship was presented to Jones by RHS assistant coach Johnathan Millage, Mason Dean, Pamela Dean, Connie White, Ruston Police Chief Steve Rogers (who played football for the Bearcats with Fred Dean), Fred Dean Jr. and Robert Thomas
After graduating from RHS in 1971, Dean anchored a Bulldog defensive unit from 1971 through 1974, leading Louisiana Tech to a record of 44 wins and only four losses during that timeframe. The Bulldogs won national titles in 1972, 1973 and 1974.
He was inducted into the Louisiana Tech Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990, the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009.
At the time of his death at the age of 68 on Oct. 4, 2020, Dean was serving as pastor of New Nature Ministries church in Ruston.
JJ Sledge (right) and his father, Jimmy, at the Fayetteville Regional.
By JJ Sledge
After 45 wins, a regular season Conference Title and a runner-up finish in the conference tournament, Louisiana Tech was awarded a regional bid as the #2 seed in the Arkansas Regional for the 2024 NCAA Baseball Tournament. Those 45 wins, by the way, were in the top 3 nationally entering the NCAA Tournament out of the roughly 300 schools that play D-1 baseball.
This past weekend, I had the opportunity to travel to Fayetteville to watch the Diamond Dogs play in their third regional in four years. Here’s how I’d sum it up:
Facilities: 5/5
The University of Arkansas may have one of the best baseball facilities in the country. Baum-Walker Stadium is one of the nicest college parks I’ve ever seen. Former Tech great Parker Bates told me Saturday it is significantly better than the Northwest Arkansas minor league stadium he played in just minutes up the road. The concourses are incredibly spacious and have everything from tacos and barbecue to pizza and frozen custard. There was also a “grab and go” area where you could grab cold drinks and snacks of any kind and then do a self-checkout that scanned your items for you. And of course, there’s the infamous Hog Pen. The left field area is home to some of the rowdier Hogs who are known to line up hours before games just to get first shot at choosing their seats.
The Hogs also have a slightly larger version of what Tech has at the Love Shack, with a facility housing the coaches offices, baseball meeting rooms, batting cages and a bullpen. In addition, they also have another facility just across the street that is shared with the track team. I took a peek inside of that facility and it is massive. I can see why the Arkansas track team has the success it does.
Atmosphere: 2/5
To be honest, I wanted to give this a higher score. There may have been 500 people at each of the two Tech games. The fan bases for both teams stayed in the game. They were loud and proud supporting their schools. Tech’s fan base surprised me and showed up. My estimate would be 200-300 Tech fans were there, which includes the players and coaches families. Even when Tech was down, the fans never gave up on them. Some of the players’ families and girlfriends kept trying to keep them going even when it was clear the game was not going to end in Tech’s favor. That part gives it a 4.5 out of 5.
I don’t want to be overly negative, but there was one thing that I felt could have been handled much better than it was. For context, Tech’s game ended just before 5 pm and the next game of the day was at 8 pm. The family and friends of Tech players had gathered just inside the gate that the team bus was parked by to wait for them to exit the field. As the last of the players made their way out, roughly 20 minutes after the game ended, the Arkansas security team and the stadium workers began to essentially escort the Tech crowd out of the gate. Some of the Tech seniors had just played their final game of college baseball. Some players may have just played their final competitive baseball game ever. Hugs and tears were being shared all over. Now maybe this is their protocol, but in that moment, there was essentially no empathy or regard for the situation. To make it worse, they drove their trash vehicle right through the middle of the Tech crowd a few minutes later. I understand they have a job to do, but you can give people a moment to console someone. There was still plenty of time to give people a moment and then finish your job. I now understand why so many parents had mentioned they didn’t want to play up there.
Games: 2/5
Obviously this score is biased. Unfortunately, Tech just ran out of gas at the wrong time. And it didn’t help that there was yet another weather delay that bumped a game into the following day. If you read Teddy Allen’s column in Monday’s Journal, he noted Tech had 6 games this season with an 11 am or earlier start, and Saturday marked the 11th time they’d been on a bus by 8 am to go somewhere. Considering it was the third consecutive weekend marked by a weather issue, and second straight with potential extra games, I think everything just caught up to them. Which is a shame because this team was something special.
Friday night’s game could not have gone any worse for the Dogs against Kansas State. In the blink of an eye, Tech was down 7-1 after two innings. Despite being down 9-4 after five innings, it felt like Tech was slowly crawling back into the game. Unfortunately, that’s when the rain hit. So, the game was paused for 13 hours until 11 am Saturday morning. I’ve never seen a rain cell do what it did up there. The cell moved in fast, and then just stopped over the city. Unfortunately, it didn’t move out until after midnight. And that didn’t help Tech.
Saturday was a blur. Like Teddy said, the early bus trips were taking their toll. In a heartbreaking scenario, senior catcher and all time Tech great Jorge Corona was ruled out for all of Saturday due to a nagging finger injury. Before we knew it, the game was over and it was a 19-4 final score in favor of K-State. With just over an hour between games, Tech was really up against the wall as they faced SEMO. And it was clear that everything caught up with them. Down 2-1 in the 4th, the wheels finally came off. An uncharacteristic inning from Tech pitchers led to seven SEMO runs. And despite a valiant effort by Connor Nation to stop the bleeding, it was too late. Tech would fall 9-3 to end the season.
I do want to give props to Kansas State. This was a team that was one of the last teams to get into the tournament, and not without some controversy. Many felt they did not deserve a bid, including a team from their own conference who raised some points that K-State having a committee member may have been the difference on who got in. But they shut the doubters up quickly. They won the regional by an average of 11-4 (slightly skewed by win over Tech) in their three games. Hopefully, they will continue the trend of going on to Omaha like the previous two winners of the regionals Tech participated in (NC State in 2021, Texas in 2022).
Overall Regional Score: 3/5
Obviously, the season didn’t end how any Tech fan or player had hoped. It was clear that the past few weeks had finally caught up with the Diamond Dogs. And it was heartbreaking to see such a stellar season end how it did. Especially for those five seniors who have been with the program through three regional appearances, two regular season championship titles and a conference tournament crown. So, the overall regional score reflects a disappointing end and how things went in Fayetteville.
After 64 games, here we are. It’s hard to believe that the season has now concluded for the 2024 Louisiana Tech Baseball team. It feels like just yesterday they were taking the field for the first time against Northern Colorado on a Friday afternoon in February. And now, for the first time in nearly 5 months, there won’t be a game this upcoming weekend. Here’s how I’d rank the 2024 Diamond Dogs Season:
Overall Season Score: 4.5/5
If you had told Tech fans that the 2024 team would finish with 45 wins and a regional appearance, there may have been some disbelief. Especially when you consider Tech was coming off its first losing season since Coach Burroughs arrived on campus.
But if there’s one word I can think of to describe this team, it would be resilient.
At one point, this team was 12-0 in early March. After a tough month of March and early April, including some unfortunate injuries and being swept at Arizona, Tech stood 27-12 as they headed to play at conference foe DBU on April 19. But the Diamond Dogs showed their resilience. Including that series win, Tech went 15-3 during the rest of the regular season to clinch the regular season conference crown.
Even in the conference tournament, they showed that same resilience. After a bizarre night which ultimately led to playing three outs the next morning, they took one on the chin the next day against a team they’d just swept the previous weekend. But they weren’t ready to quit. Playing 5 games in just over 72 hours, the Dogs fought and clawed their way to the conference championship game. And while one inning ultimately ended hopes of a conference title sweep, they kept fighting to the bitter end.
There were several unknowns to start, like who would be pitching. But that actually became a bright spot. You had virtually unknown Luke Nichols come in from a small college in Missouri and end up being a first team all-conference member. And Luke’s final overall record was not reflective of how well he pitched throughout the year. Then there was ace reliever Sam Brodersen, who transferred from D-II Wingate for his final year of college ball. He led Tech with 8 wins, as well as leading the team in strikeouts while also making first team all C-USA. And of course you had Ethan Bates, who not only led the country with 17 saves, but also batted over .300 and had 15 homers on his way to being Conference Player of the Year.
On the other side of the ball, you had the return of Cole McConnell. After a season away from the team, he returned to lead the conference in hits and batting average, while also hitting 18 home runs. Jorge Corona arguably had his best season as a Diamond Dog, hitting over .300 with 16 homers while catching nearly 50% of runners trying to steal bases and only committing 3 errors. You had D-II Eckerd College transfer Mike Ballard, who was virtually unknown, but proceeded to start all 64 games and commit only 1 error all year while batting over .300. In my opinion (and also many others), both Jorge and Mike were wrongfully left off the all-conference team despite having better stats than some players who made it. And even though he missed 10 games due to injury and illness, senior Dalton Davis was another all-conference member with a perfect fielding percentage and also being one of 5 Diamond Dogs who hit over .300.
Even though Tech loses 12 seniors, at least six of whom were basically everyday starters, the future is bright. Yes it will be nearly impossible to replace longtime starters like Bulldog Man Adarius Myers in left, McConnell in center, and Corona at catcher. But there are pieces in place who are ready to step up. We saw that with all conference freshman Grant Comeaux this year. After playing most of the early part of the season at first, he moved over to his natural position at third base and thrived. And while sadly that was due to an injury to senior and 2022 C-USA Defensive Player of the Year Logan McLeod, I do want to give a shoutout to Logan. I’ve heard multiple stories about how he stepped up and mentored Comeaux after being injured and replaced as a starter. Even though his senior season didn’t go as planned, he remained a leader in that Bulldog dugout.
Coach Burroughs and his staff have some work ahead of them, but I know they’ll meet the challenge head on. There is still plenty of talent on the roster that isn’t graduating, both in the bullpen and in the dugout. And after the success of last year’s portal finds, I would imagine Tech will be of interest to those wanting to change schools. I can’t wait to see what happens in the fall and then before you know it, it’ll be gameday once again at The Love Shack next February.
Tom wanted to win, as we all do when we compete in something. In 1862, 14-year-old Tom persuaded his parents to allow him to travel to New York as a passenger on a sailing ship. Tom’s parents were poor, but the cost of the passage was cheaper than feeding Tom. They reluctantly agreed. Tom was entranced by the sailing ship. He was amazed that simple wind power could move such a large vessel.
While in New York, Tom worked in a grocery store. He took a keen interest in the process of purchasing goods from wholesalers and selling products to customers for a profit. He learned that having good products to offer was not enough. Advertising was good but clever advertising was better. Tom saved a large portion of his pay. He had a plan. When he thought he had saved enough money, he would return to Scotland and open his own shop. Five years later, Tom returned to Scotland and fulfilled his plan. Tom began by importing goods from America, items which were unavailable at other grocery stores. Tom’s shop flourished. Within a few years, Tom owned a chain of grocery stores. Tom traveled the world, mostly on sailing ships, in search of new and unique items to sell in his shops. On the opening day of one of his shops, Tom’s shop had an estimated 60,000 customers and sold 50 cases of butter in rolls, 1 ½ tons of lump butter, 1 ton of bacon, 1 ½ tons of hams, ½ ton of cheese, and 16,000 eggs. From the late 1870s to the mid-1880s, sales doubled from £40 million to £80 million. By this time, Tom owned more than 200 shops in multiple countries. By 1914, the chain grew to over 500 stores.
Tom was known for his advertising campaigns. In 1882, in one of his most notable advertising schemes, Tom bought three of the world’s largest cheeses. They arrived onboard a steamship called the Bolivia, but there was a problem. They didn’t have a crane large enough to unload the heavy cheeses. The heaviest weighed 2400 pounds. The other two weighed 2100 pounds each. They measured five feet in diameter, were 2 feet 2 inches deep, and had a circumference of 16 feet. It took New York farmers six days to milk the 800 cows to get enough milk for the cheese. Once unloaded, Tom displayed the cheeses in his markets in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Leeds. On Christmas eve, the mammoth cheeses were cut up and sold to the delighted customers.
Tom needed a new, grander advertising scheme. In 1898, Tom had a yacht built specifically to enter the international sailing competition known as America’s Cup. Tom’s yacht was called the Shamrock. Rather than being a single race, America’s Cup consisted of five races. The winner of three or more of the races won the trophy known as the Auld Mug. In 1899, Tom pitted his Shamrock against the reigning champion, Columbia. The Columbia won the first three races and retained the Auld Mug. Tom lost the America’s Cup but the press the race garnered was sensational for his business. Tom tried four more times to win America’s Cup but failed. Due to the worldwide press coverage, Tom’s business soared to new heights. Tom became a folk hero whom the press dubbed the “lovable loser.” After his fifth and final attempt, America’s Cup officials awarded Tom a specially designed cup for his being “the best of losers.” Tom was Sir Thomas Lipton, the first person to sell tea in teabags.
Each Monday and Friday, the Lincoln Parish Journal will post a list of non-for-profit upcoming events happening in the parish. If you would like to add your event to this list or advertise your for-profit events, please email us at lpjnewsla@gmail.com.
Saturday, June 8 8:30-11:30 a.m.: Hazardous waste material and recycling collection (2609 Farmerville St.) 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 6-8 p.m.: Miss Juneteenth Pageant (T.H. Harris Auditorium, GSU)
Sunday, June 9 2:30 p.m.: Poetry Contest (Grambling City Hall) 5:30 p.m.: Gospel Concert (Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Grambling)
