By Kyle Roberts

Grey Ramsey stood over his six-foot putt on the 18th hole Wednesday in Carencro, La., and started shaking.

“I told myself to just stay calm,” Ramsey said. “I took some deep breaths to relax.”

Being down by as many as four strokes earlier in the day, he knew that his putt for birdie would solidify his victory after a terrific comeback to win his second Louisiana Junior Golf Tour event in just the last few weeks.

Ramsey would drain the putt and finish with a 69 for the round to beat his closest competitor, Derby Everson, by one stroke. 

The day before, Ramsey trailed Everson by one stroke after shooting a 70.

Everson would finish five-under after the front nine Wednesday to take what appeared to be a commanding lead into the back.

After both golfers birdied 10, they would go on to par 11. Everson birdied 12, putting him up four shots with six holes to go.

But patience and consistency would win the day for Ramsey, who sank a 40-foot birdie putt to birdie the 13th hole.

After a pair of pars for the duo on 14 and 15, Everson would get up three strokes with three holes to go. Everson’s tee shot on 16 would go into the water on the left side of the fairway, leading to a double. Ramsey’s par put him behind one stroke heading to hole 17.

Everson shook off the bad hole for birdie, while Ramsey finished with par to trail two strokes going to hole 18.

Water, however, proved problematic again for Everson on 18 as his approach shot ended up wet, leading to a drop. Ramsey’s tee shot was right down the middle, leading to an approach to the aforementioned birdie putt from six-feet away. Everson struggled on the hole, scoring a double bogey while Ramsey birdied for the victory.

Even more impressive, Ramsey had no three-putts or worse on either day despite high heat in South Louisiana.

“I was able to play patiently and consistently,” Ramsey said.

Playing at Farm d’Allie Golf Club, over 70 competitors total qualified in ages 11-18 (Ramsey competed in the 11-13 age group).

Ramsey previously won an LJGT event earlier in June.

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Meet Chester!!!

Chester is seven months old and has the prettiest brindle coat! Chester came in with his mom and five siblings when they were discovered living under a house.

Chester is up to date on vacs, already neutered, and loves other dogs!!

All adoptions at 4 Paws are $95 for the rest of the summer!!

Email 4pawsruston@gmail.com if interested.

As I write this column, we are entering the week of the first 2024 presidential debate.  While I hold no party affiliation nor attempt to promote either candidate in this article, I would like to suggest some questions to help voters better assess their options going into the 2024 election.

The following are my recommendations for questions to be posed to each candidate.  (the point of sharing these questions is to help you (the reader) refine your thinking as we move closer to election day later this year. 

Biden:  Why have you chosen to not close access to our Southern border as a means of national security for the people of the United States and why have you not enhanced our approach to immigration in a caring, yet safe manner, for all involved?

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Trump:  Considering the events surrounding the January 6^th attack on our capital, how would you describe the actions of those that entered the capital attempting to overthrow our government?

Biden:  What would you do differently with respect to the planned withdrawal from Afghanistan in lieu of the fact that we lost lives unnecessarily and left millions of dollars of military equipment behind for others to use in the future?

Trump:  How could you have made different choices in your past to avoid the number of legal issues that you have faced and are currently facing?

Both Candidates: What would you have done differently during your first term as president if you had the opportunity?

Both Candidates: What is the single most important issue facing the United States that you would prioritize if elected for a second term?

Biden: What is your single most important accomplishment during your first term?

Trump:  How will you respond to those that don’t currently support you to unite the country?

Biden: How do you respond to the questions regarding your cognitive ability given the instances sighted that support these questions?

Trump: How will you be able to focus on serving as president given the number of legal issues that you are facing?

Both Candidates: What is one trait in your opponent that you most admire?

Both Candidates: What is the most important difference in you compared to your opponent?

Biden: What’s more important, you winning the election or our citizens prospering?

Trump:  What is more important, making America great again, or you becoming president?

Both Candidates: Why do you want to be elected president?

The key is to get beyond the party platform talking lines and get to hard questions on actions taken, what was learned from prior decisions, what one values, how one handles conflict, how one will unite and lead a divided country, and what’s driving the individual to seek this very important role.

So often we get distracted by singular issues and don’t evaluate the candidate as a leader.  The issues to be faced over the next four years may not even be a priority now.  It’s therefore key to better understand the candidate’s ability to lead and unite a nation than it is to evaluate the talking points on a platform that may not even matter six months from now.

A Ruston motorist was arrested Sunday afternoon after he attempted to flee a police officer pursuing him for a speeding violation.

Gabriel M. Carter, 18, was arrested about 4:30 p.m. Sunday after a Ruston Police officer clocked him on radar traveling at 64 miles per hour in a 35 mph zone on West California Avenue.

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Carter allegedly attempted to elude the officer who pursued the vehicle with emergency lights and siren. According to the officer’s report, Carter turned on State Street, then Roosevelt Drive, then Tech Farm Road where he reached speeds in excess of 100 mph.

When he reached the end of Tech Farm Road, Carter turned west on Tennessee Avenue and continued until he stopped at the intersection of Louisiana Hwy 818 and Works Road.

Carter was arrested and booked for aggravated flight from an officer, speeding, reckless operation of a vehicle, running a stop sign, and illegal passing. Bail was set at $30,000.

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.

By Kyle Roberts

The Russ-Town Band will be performing its Patriotic concert Saturday, June 29, in Ruston High School’s auditorium in an event that will be admission-free at 2 p.m.

“I’ve been with community bands for most of my career of more than 30 years and lately the patriotic concerts have become more significant selfishly for me,” conductor Dr. Chris Heidenreich said. “My son is a first Lieutenant in the United States Air Force and I think that has made these events in which we recognize veterans who have served our country, more meaningful as I begin to understand with each year, the sacrifices that they have made for the freedoms that we have and sometimes take for granted.”

Narrated by Nancy Bergeron and Dr. Galen Turner, the program will feature songs from different eras of American music throughout the centuries since its founding.

“While our concert is not all patriotic in the sense of marches and what we might think of as patriotic melodies, it centers around composers and musical time frames that we associate with our country,” Heidenreich said. “We will be featuring the music of a jazz number Autumn Leaves, George Gershwin‘s Porgy and Bess, and a selection written in remembrance of December 7, 1941.”

The performance will also feature Jesse Webb in a traditional trombone concerto — a Louisiana Tech student majoring in music performance and physics.

For more information, visit RussTownBand.org.

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“I need to lose a few pounds,” is an expression that many of us mutter with a grumble.  None of us want to go on a diet, but what if that diet was a steak diet in which we ate more steak and less vegetables?  Now, that’s a diet I could sink my teeth into.  That is exactly the diet Dr. James proposed.

James Henry was born in Scott, New York in 1823.  In his twenties, he studied his way through the collegiate hierarchy and by the time he was 30, became a doctor and a well-respected chemist.  We might never have heard of Dr. James had it not been for America’s bloodiest and most divisive conflict, the Civil War.  During the Civil War, Dr. James served as a physician for the Union army.  There was little he could do to help soldiers wounded in battle other than try to repair their damaged and broken bodies.  Dr. James recognized that he was treating more soldiers for diseases than from battle wounds.  According to the National Park Service, more than twice as many Union soldiers died from diseases than from battle.  Most of the soldiers Dr. James treated were suffering from severe diarrhea, which led to dehydration, and often proved fatal.  Now that was a problem that Dr. James thought he could solve by using his background in chemistry.

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Dr. James began studying the soldiers’ diet.  At the start of the war, soldiers on both sides were allotted a small ration of pork, bacon, or salt beef, hardtack (hard bread), beans, peas, potatoes, rice, corn, and other available vegetables.  Dr. James concluded that vegetables and starchy foods produced poisons in the digestive system.  He blamed vegetables for a host of illnesses such as heart disease, tuberculosis, mental illness, tumors, and, of course, diarrhea.  Had my younger self known of Dr. James’s conclusions, I certainly would have used them in an attempt to avoid eating my broccoli.  Dr. James believed that the troops suffering from diarrhea could be treated with a diet of coffee and lean chopped beefsteak.  Dr. James claimed that healthy soldiers could avoid getting diarrhea if they utilized the same diet.  Dr. James had a hard time getting military leaders to adopt his diet because of limitations in supplies of meat. 

Following the Civil War, Dr. James continued to encourage people to adopt his diet of coffee and steak.  Contrary to what we might expect in a capitalistic society, Dr. James was not seeking profit.  He shared his recipes openly with anyone who would listen.  His recipes often appeared in newspapers.  His most popular recipe was for his steak, which he suggested should be eaten three times a day.  In 1888, newspapers throughout the country declared that Dr. James’s steak “appears to be giving remarkably good results as a diet for people troubled with weak or disordered digestion, but who require the supporting power of animal food.”  The article shared the manner for preparing the steak as described by a Dr. Hepburn in the Philadelphia Medical and Surgical Reporter.  “The surface of a round steak is chopped with a dull knife, the object being not to cut but to pound the meat.  As the meat pulp comes to the top, it is scraped off, while the tough and fibrous portion gradually reaches the bottom of the trough.  The pulp is then made into cakes and lightly and quickly broiled so as to leave it almost raw inside.”

Today, Dr. James’s dietary work has been largely forgotten with the exception of his steak.  Many of us still eat his steak as his recipe suggested — flavored with onion and other seasonings, then broiled, and covered with thick gravy or brown sauce – though not three times a day as he would have liked.  Perhaps we cancel out the healthy properties of his steak as we consume it with hearty helpings of vegetables.  We still know the steak by his last name, which upon hearing may subconsciously cause your mouth to water.  Now you know how and why Dr. James Henry Salisbury invented the Salisbury Steak. 

Sources:

1.     Manitoba Weekly Free Press, February 19, 1885, p.10.

2.     New York Tribune, August 24, 1905, p.7.

3.     “Civil War Facts: 1861-1865,” National Park Service, NPS.gov, nps.gov/civilwar/facts.htm.

Courtesy of GSU Athletic Communications

The defending Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) champion Grambling State University women’s soccer team announced its 2024 schedule.

The 2024 slate features 20 games, including two contests against opponents from power conferences.

“We’re looking forward to this season to see if we can continue to compete and grow as a team,” said Head Coach Justin Wagar. “We start out with a challenging slate with seven straight road games to kick off the year including trips to newly added Big 12 foe Arizona State that has qualified for the national tournament in back-to-back seasons, and then we fly to face ACC opponent Boston College.”

The Tigers, who kick off the season on Aug. 15 at LSU-Alexandria, opens the 2024 campaign with seven road games in a row. GSU travels to Southeastern Louisiana on Aug. 16 and Nicholls on Aug. 18. Grambling State returns to Northern Louisiana on Aug. 22 for a showdown at Louisiana-Monroe.

On Aug. 25, GSU travels across town to take on Louisiana Tech. The Tigers head to the desert to challenge Arizona State on Aug. 29.

Grambling State opens the month of September with a road trip to Lafayette, La. for a in-state battle versus the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns.

GSU’s home opener is set for Sept. 8 when the Tigers welcome Tarleton State to the GSU Soccer Complex. On Sept. 12 and 15, Grambling State hosts Texas A&M-Commerce and Murray State. The Tigers wrap up the non-conference portion of their schedule with a trip to Boston College on Sept. 19.

SWAC play begins on Sept. 27 when GSU heads to Huntsville, Ala. to face Alabama A&M. The Tigers play Alabama State on Sept. 29.

Grambling State returns home for a pair of games versus Alcorn State (Oct. 4) and Mississippi Valley State (Oct. 6).

After taking a week off, the Tigers head to Baton Rouge, La. for a battle against rival Southern on Oct. 18 before making the trek to Jackson, Miss. to take on Jackson State in a rematch of the 2023 SWAC Championship Game.

Parents weekend is scheduled to begin on Oct. 25 when Grambling State hosts Prairie View A&M. Senior Day and the home finale is set for Oct. 27 when GSU welcomes Texas Southern to town.

Grambling State closes the regular season in Pine Bluff, Ark. on Nov. 1 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

The 2024 SWAC Soccer Tournament is scheduled for Nov 7-10 at Prairie View A&M.

Aug. 15 at LSU-Alexandria 10 a.m.
Aug. 16 at Southeastern Louisiana 7 p.m.
Aug. 18 at Nicholls State 10 a.m.
Aug. 22 at Louisiana-Monroe 7p.m.
Aug. 25 at Louisiana Tech 7p.m.
Aug. 29 at Arizona State 7 p.m. (MST)
Sept. 1 at ULL at 5 p.m.
Sept. 8 Tarleton State 11 a.m.
Sept. 12 Texas A&M-Commerce 5 p.m.
Sept. 15 Murray State 11 a.m.
Sept. 19 at Boston College 7 p.m.
Sept. 27 at Alabama A&M 4 p.m.
Sept. 29 at Alabama State 1 p.m.
Oct. 4 Alcorn State 5 p.m.
Oct. 6 Mississippi Valley State 11 a.m.
Oct. 18 at Southern 7 p.m.
Oct. 20 at Jackson State 1 p.m.
Oct. 25 Prairie View A&M 4 p.m. Parents Weekend
Oct. 27 Texas Southern 11 a.m. Senior Day
Nov. 1 at Arkansas Pine Bluff 3 p.m.

HOME GAME -BOLD

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Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Allie Leiendecker continued to cement her name as one of the top bowlers to come out of Louisiana Tech, picking up her second College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Women’s At-Large Team honors announced by the association on Tuesday.

The Wooster, Ohio, native was selected to advance to the Academic All-American voting portion. The team will be announced on July 16 at 11:00 a.m. CT.

Leiendecker graduated during the winter quarter with a 3.63 GPA and a degree in Kinesiology & Health Sciences. She is pursuing her master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis and has a 4.0 GPA.

Coming to Tech during the 2019-20 season, she made a name for herself instantly. During her freshman season, she earned National Tenpin Coaches Association Rookie of the Year, Southland Newcomer of the Year, and NTCA Second Team All-American.

She followed that by earning NTCA All-American honors in the next four seasons, becoming the Bulldogs’ first five-time All-American.

Leiendecker finished with 25 All-Tournament honors, a five-time member of the CUSA Commissioner’s Honor Roll, four All-Conference selections, four years on the Southland Academic Honor Roll, and was named to the 2023-24 CUSA All-Academic team.

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Jackson “Jack” Eugene Ball, Sr. 
November 18, 1932 – June 22, 2024 
Celebration of life service: Ruston Church of Christ on Sunday, July 7, 2024, at 3:00 pm 

Emma Jane Tellis  
Friday 09/17/1937 — Thursday 06/20/2024    
Celebration of Life: Thursday 06/27/2024 1:00pm, Miracle Temple Church Of God In Christ, 1405 S. Farmerville Street, Ruston  
Interment: Thursday 06/27/2024, Grambling Memorial Garden, Highway 80 West, Grambling  

Richard E. Roberson, Jr.   
December 25, 1935 – June 21, 2024   
Visitation: Saturday, June 29, 2024, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM, Fellowship Baptist Church, Hwy 151, Dubach   
Memorial Service: Saturday, June 29, 2024, 11:00 AM, Fellowship Baptist Church, Hwy 151, Dubach   

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By Hanna Singh

The Boys and Girls Clubs of North Louisiana kicked off its National Boys and Girls Club Week with the annual Triple Play Day at the Ruston Sports Complex.

Area children spent the day participating in healthy and fun activities that promoted mental health awareness and wellness.  

National Boys and Girls Club Week has been celebrated since 1941, recognizing the invaluable service that the Clubs bring to communities and every young person involved. This year’s national theme, “Level Up,” encourages youth to participate in daily themed activities to promote mental and physical health, positive impacts, innovation and creativity.

Boys and Girls Clubs Week officially runs through June 24-28. 

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For Triple Play Day, The Boys and Girls Clubs of North Louisiana celebrated a few days early to secure a spot at the sports complex. Children played volleyball, participated in obstacle courses and played several other games to learn about wellness. Kids also enjoyed hotdogs for lunch provided by Origin Bank of Ruston and played on a bounce house to end the day.  

Boys and Girls Clubs of North Louisiana Regional Director Vanessa Brown shared her appreciation for the program’s effort to make the week special for the kids. 

“I love that our organization is willing to do #whateverittakes to ensure all youth have fun while learning about physical and mental health,” Brown said. “The Boys and Girls Clubs of North Louisiana is excited to join in the fun with our annual Triple Play Day.” 

The organization continues to celebrate National Boys and Girls Club Week with activities throughout the week listed below. For more information about the local Boys and Girls Clubs visit https://www.bgcofnl.org/. 

Boys and Girls Club Week

Monday: BGC Walkthrough in History, youth learn about the history of the Ruston Club. 

Tuesday: Blue Out, a color party where everyone wears blue and enjoys blue snacks. 

Wednesday: Triple Play Stop Drop and Get Fit, youth will exercise randomly throughout the day and as a group at 1:30 for a friendly competition. 

Thursday: Career Day, the fire department will come and talk to youth. 

Friday: BGC Wrap-Up Pool Party at Tech 

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

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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 College of Education and Human Sciences (CEHS) welcomed 60 students to Louisiana Tech University to participate in Camp Invention.

This weeklong summer program features STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) activities catered to multiple grade levels and encourages students to learn through trial and error, enhancing their inventive thinking skills without the fear of failing. The program focuses on students entering 1st through 7th grade as campers and those in 8th through 11th grade as leaders in training.

“Participation in just one week of Camp Invention results in significant short and long-term improvements for children in skills needed for the classroom and future jobs,” Director Hannah Lewis said. “We have loved the experience so far and are excited to continue this partnership in the coming years.”

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The partnership between Camp Invention and CEHS not only benefits the young students but also enriches the surrounding community. Faculty and staff involved in the camp witness firsthand the transformative impact it has on the participants, sparking their interest in STEM fields and higher education.

“Having these campers here exposes them to the University and allows them to see what STEM is about,” said Lewis. “Being involved in an activity like Camp Invention on campus increases the probability of these students choosing to attend college at Louisiana Tech.”

“STEM concepts and content are critically important for the next generation of leaders to understand,” Dr. Lindsey Keith-Vincent, associate dean for research, outreach, and innovation, said. “What is even more critical is ensuring learners hone necessary skills and competencies to apply that knowledge in settings where students engage in real world problem solving. The model that Director Lewis and her instructors are implementing during Camp Invention allows youth to explore, learn, and grow in both of these areas.”

Camp Invention’s commitment to fostering the next generation of innovators showcases the importance of early exposure to STEM education and its role in shaping the future of young students.

For more information on Camp Invention and future events, contact Hannah Lewis at 318.331.0353 or hannahlewiseducator@gmail.com.

Dear Editor,

I am writing you as a concerned citizen, animal lover, and volunteer for 4 Paws Rescue. I drive throughout the entire parish for work, and I am tired of seeing stray dogs either dumped at dumpsters, abandoned on rural roads, or strictly just not being cared for. We have no spay/neuter laws so animals are continuing to reproduce which makes the crisis continue.

Ruston has a new city shelter which is wonderful! RAC (Ruston Animal Control) only takes in dogs and cats that are within the city limits. RAC does their best to find homes for the dogs and cats that are in their care. The problem is RAC stays full and has to turn away animals even if they are within the city limits.

4 Paws Rescue has been providing shelter, food, and medical care to stray, abandoned, and neglected dogs of Lincoln Parish since 2005. 4 Paws receives no local, state, or federal funding. Their operating costs exceed $12,000 per month, and they rely solely on donations, fund raisers, and grants to survive. The average number of dogs at 4 Paws is now around 80+. With very few adoptions and transports north, 4 Paws stays at max capacity and rarely has an open kennel. Many of the dogs have been there for years! 4 Paws has very few volunteers especially in the summer, and they are struggling to take care of the increased population.

How did the animal overpopulation problem in Lincoln Parish get so bad? OPAS (Ouachita Parish Animal Shelter) stopped taking animals from other parishes two years ago which is totally understandable. Before this time, the overflow from Lincoln Parish went to OPAS. Since this closure Lincoln parish has seen a drastic increase in the stray population.

I am reaching out to our community to ask for help. 4 Paws turns away dozens of animals daily, because there is absolutely no room to put them. I am sure Ruston Animal Control does the same. The majority of strays come from the parish (outside the city limits). Lincoln parish residents used to be referred to the sheriff department in the past if a stray animal was found outside the city limits. Now callers are told there is nothing the sheriff department can do. It is heartbreaking to constantly turn needy animals away, and it is frustrating for Lincoln parish residents who are trying to do the right thing for these animals. This is taking a toll on animal lovers and rescue staff in our area.

I am hoping the residents of Lincoln Parish will contact their police jury representative and stress your concerns. It is a huge project to tackle and won’t happen overnight, but please we have to start somewhere! Starting with a Low Cost Spay/neuter program and enforcing spay/neuter laws would be a great place to start. We also need a shelter for Lincoln parish, because the problem is only getting worse.

Thank you.
Lauren DeFreese
4 Paws Rescue

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Ruston Police arrested three men Saturday morning after they were observed by security at a Ruston housing development committing vandalism.

Police responded to Tanyard Creek off Barnett Springs Avenue about 4 a.m. Saturday morning. A security officer said several individuals were seen breaking exterior lighting on some of the residences and pulling up plants from the lawns.

However, when a large gathering at one of the residences was contacted by officers, none were inclined to assist in identifying the suspects. The security officer said the individuals who were observed coming into Tanyard Creek were not present at the residence. Police later spotted suspects near the wood line of the property and attempted to contact them. The men ran into the woods but were detained shortly.

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During questioning, Lane S Thomas said he did not damage anything but watched the others commit the vandalism. When asked to produce identification, Thomas provided a Mississippi driver’s license indicating his birthdate was in 2002 but police later determined it to be 2004. Thomas said he received the fake ID from someone in Alabama through a chat room.

Kaiden O’quain said he damaged three or four of the lights and Thomas confirmed that he saw O’quain do so.

The security officer said he saw one of the individuals who pulled up the plants from the lawns enter one of the houses in an apparent attempt to hide. Eli Lester was identified as the individual who entered the residence.

The trio was booked at follows:

Eli Samuel Lester, 21, of Quitman, unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling. Bail $5,000.

Kaiden O’quain, 19, of Rayville, simple criminal damage to property and resisting an officer by flight. Bail $2,000.

Lane S. Thomas, 19, of Arcadia, conspiracy of commit simple criminal damage to property, resisting an officer by flight, and possession of a fictitious driver’s license. Bail $1,000.

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 City of Ruston announces, weather permitting, that S. Bonner St. between E. Texas Ave. and E. Louisiana Ave. will be closed to through traffic Thursday, June 27, 2024, from 8am to 2pm. This closure is necessary for tree removal.

The City of Ruston regrets any inconvenience this necessary work may cause residents and motorists. We appreciate your patience, and any questions can be received by the Public Works Department at (318) 242-7703.

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Heirloom Carbon Technologies, Inc. announced it is moving forward with the first phase of a decarbonization project that combines public and private investment to create two direct air capture (DAC) facilities at the Port of Caddo-Bossier.

During the first phase, the company plans to invest $475 million to establish its first DAC facility in Louisiana and second in North America. Heirloom expects to create 81 direct new permanent jobs with an average annual salary of more than $56,000. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in 188 indirect new jobs, for a total of 269 potential new jobs in the Northwest Region. The company also estimates that the project will support more than 1,000 construction jobs.

The anticipated second facility would be built as part of Project Cypress, which would utilize up to $550 million of U.S Department of Energy (DOE) funding to create one of the world’s largest Direct Air Capture hubs in Louisiana.

“Louisiana is well positioned to become America’s leader in safely storing carbon dioxide,” Gov. Jeff Landry said. “Heirloom’s expansion into the Port of Caddo-Bossier means even more growth and more jobs for our State and is another example of how we are leading the race to drive the nation’s energy future. The expansion of Project Cypress Direct Air Capture Hub across the State represents the best of Louisiana – cutting-edge technology at the forefront of the energy economy, powered by innovation and a broad base of highly skilled workers.”

The first facility is expected to begin construction by the end of the year. The company estimates it will remove around 17,000 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere annually beginning in 2026.

“Heirloom’s selection of the Port of Caddo-Bossier leverages our state’s logistical advantages, established infrastructure and upskilled workforce, underscoring Louisiana’s continued role as a leader in the energy and manufacturing sectors,” LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois said. “I welcome Heirloom to Louisiana and look forward to years of partnership and prosperity that will result in opportunities for ever-growing wages in the Northwest Region.”

At the end of 2023, Heirloom began operations at North America’s first commercial DAC facility in California, shortly after signing one of the largest commercial-scale CO2 removal agreements to date with Microsoft. The company has also signed deals to provide carbon removal to Meta, Shopify, JPMorgan, H&M, Autodesk and others.

“Louisiana is the energy capital of the United States and has played a vital role in American energy security,” Heirloom Carbon Technologies CEO Shashank Samala said. “With these two facilities in northwest Louisiana, Heirloom is continuing its rapid progress in building one of the world’s most affordable carbon removal solutions with the ability to scale to remove billions of tons of CO2 from the atmosphere.”

Heirloom’s technology enhances the power of limestone, the world’s second most abundant mineral, to capture CO2 directly from the air. Limestone is made up of calcium oxide (CaO) and CO2. When CO2 is removed from the limestone, the remaining calcium oxide is hydrated with water to form lime. Lime is “thirsty” for CO2 because it wants to return to a natural limestone state and acts like a sponge – pulling CO2 from the atmosphere. Heirloom’s technology accelerates this natural property of limestone, reducing the time it takes to absorb CO2 from years to less than three days. Once the CO2 is absorbed, it is extracted from the limestone material using a renewable energy-powered kiln and stored permanently underground.

“Shreveport is proud to play host to one of the most promising emerging new energy industries, which will generate significant jobs and investment in our local economy,” Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux said. “To see a new industry leader like Heirloom commit to not one but two facilities at the Port of Caddo-Bossier is a win for jobs, economic competitiveness, and innovative opportunities for Shreveport and a milestone for continued growth for our city.”

Heirloom plans to partner with CapturePoint, a carbon management company, to store the CO2 captured from these facilities in Class VI underground wells at locations to be determined.

“We’re excited to welcome Heirloom, the American leader in Direct Air Capture, to the Port of Caddo-Bossier,” Caddo-Bossier Port Commission President Bill Altimus said. “The Port has a long history of birthing innovative industrial technologies, and we are proud to support rapidly growing DAC technology that the Port is uniquely positioned to scale due to our existing carbon management infrastructure and skilled local workforce.”

To help support this economic growth, the State of Louisiana is offering a $3 million performance-based grant for site infrastructure improvements. The company may qualify for additional State incentives with a potential value of up to $7.8 million over 10 years if payroll and employment targets are met.

“Innovation is the heartbeat of progress, and we proudly support this groundbreaking technology Heirloom is bringing to north Louisiana,” North Louisiana Economic Partnership President and CEO Justyn Dixon said. “It is great seeing companies take advantage of the investments made by the Port of Caddo-Bossier, and it reminds us of the urgent need to continue investing for tomorrow’s opportunities. We’re enthusiastic about the momentum in northwest Louisiana, driven by the adoption of innovative solutions.”

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The Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested a motorist for drug possession Thursday night after she was stopped for a traffic violation.

Jennifer M. Woods-Lowery, 41, of Ruston, was stopped about 10 p.m. Thursday night when a deputy saw that her white Mercedes did not have working taillights. The vehicle was stopped on U.S. 167 and the deputy explained the nature of the violation. A records check showed the driver was wanted by Ruston Police on an active bench warrant for theft of property under $1000.

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A search of the vehicle located a zippered bag containing suspected methamphetamine and a glass pipe commonly used for smoking drugs, along with a card with the driver’s name on it.

Lowery was booked for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, no taillights, and the Ruston warrant. Bail on the first three charges was set at $11,000.

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.

A Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer for less than 12 hours, Ray Sibille sat on the couch in the lobby of the cozy Church Street Inn on a heat-em-up Sunday morning by the Cane River, his smile modest and sincere, bright as the morning sunshine.

“I still can’t believe it,” he said. “Everything’s been so wonderful. Just perfect. What a weekend…”

Just out of the elevator and around the corner comes Pat Day, a Colorado native and National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame inductee in 1991, in Natchitoches for the weekend, for his buddy Sibille. More handshakes and smiles.

Somewhere within their gravitational pull was Eddie Delahoussaye of New Iberia, a 2002 LASHOF inductee and a man who was almost as happy with Sibille’s induction as Sibille himself. Throw in Day and, between the three, you can count about 15,000 wins and $250 million in winnings.

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Lot of money. Lot of winner’s circles. But to be a part of the Class of 2024, that seemed for Sibille to override all the rides around all the tracks.

“I thought I might go into the Hall a dozen years ago with Eddie,” Sibille said. “Then I thought, ‘Well, maybe I wasn’t quite good enough.’ But you know what? God’s timing is better than mine.

“If I’d have gone in then, my first grandson would be this big,” he said, pretending to hold a baby to his shoulder and pat it on the back. “And my other one wouldn’t be born yet. Now they’re both here and …”

What he didn’t say said it all. He just smiled. Pat Day smiled.

Through the glass front of the Church Street Inn, the bright sun poured through.

Saturday night’s audience in the Special Events Center behind the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame & Northwest Louisiana History Museum was among the largest and most receptive in the history of the Induction Ceremonies. Such a beautiful crowd. Smiles and laughter and a deep appreciation not only for the accomplishments of the inductees, but even more so for the personalities themselves, for the people who through a combination of genes and talent and work ethic and fate, found themselves in the glow of a night they won’t forget.

A few, like Sibille, had to stop for just a moment during their brief induction interviews Saturday might, stop and gather their emotions when they thanked some of the many people who helped each of them realize their dream.

The first inductee, Bobby Ardoin, set the tone when he cried, for just a moment, thanking his adoptive parents who, it turns out, raised a tireless educator and writer. “They let me do just about anything I wanted,” Bobby said to laughs. (They raised a good one.)

Grambling icon Wilbert Ellis brought about 200 fans with him (no exaggeration) and did not disappoint as he accepted the Ambassador Award, only the second ever awarded. In his acceptance interview, he preached respect and education, (and “preached” is used as a metaphor here, but just barely). Love Coach Ellis.

When he was a young coach, Class of 2024 inductee Frank Monica saw his Lutcher football team’s 27-0 winning streak snapped in the Class AAA 1976 semifinals by Jesuit, now Loyola, of Shreveport. At Lutcher, too. But after the game, Monica came into the winners’ locker room, got on a bench and told the Flyers how proud he was of them, congratulated them on how good of a team they were, and wished them a state championship — which they won the next week at Winnfield. So he lost with class — but he had plenty of opportunities to win with class, too: he’d go on to coach three different schools to three state titles. And all weekend in Natchitoches, he and his family beamed and spread the humor and humility.

Seimone Augustus. Perry Clark. Kevin Jackson. Kerry Joseph. Every inductee present radiated a sincerity and graciousness no one could fake. Go see them sometime. They’ll be waiting for you, in the Hall.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

I believe 2016 was the last time Toledo Bend was on fire. Well, 2024 has been very similar to that year so far. The Bend is once again an awesome fishery that is putting out not only quality bass, but bass over ten pounds. This past May during the Bob Sealy Big Bass Splash was the proof that anglers were looking for.

Now understand, all lakes go through some periods of decline and most rebound with good management. It’s like a deer lease; the only way to have quality deer is to manage the herd. It’s been through the coordination and dedication of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Management (TPWM) that Toledo Bend has been able to rebound and become one of the best fisheries in the south.

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Here are some numbers from mid-May’s Sealy Big Bass Splash that will illustrate just how good the Bend is fishing at this time.

• Over the course of three days anglers brought in 94 bass over 6 pounds with 35 of those over 7.00 pounds. 
• For the first time in years the top 4 bass of the event were over 10 pounds….10.06, 10.52, 10.58, along with the winning bass of 10.64 lbs. 

All Sealy events also have an hourly payback for the top 15 bass each hour. Here’s what it took just to make the Top 15 each hour.

• Friday – it took a 4.16 lb. bass to make the Top 15.
• Saturday – it a 4.13 lb. bass to make the Top 15.
• Sunday – it took at least a 3.72 lb. bass to make the Top 15.

Now to the average person these numbers may not mean much, but to an avid bass fisherman they are eye popping. The numbers show just how good of a fishery Toledo Bend is currently. Additionally, it proves that the lake is putting out quality bass and that will encourage tournament organizations to schedule more events on the Bend.

Now there are other factors that have helped the Bend to become, once again, one of the best bass lakes in the country. Over the last year, there has been a resurgence of grass or what biologist call hydrilla. Both ends of Toledo Bend have good grass beds from Blue Lake (north of San Miguel) down to Housen Bay and Six Mile areas.  Lower water levels of 2023 and early 2024 have also been a factor due to the fact it has allowed more vegetative growth in the shallow water areas.

One thing is clear, Toledo Bend is once again in the category of “Best Lakes in America.” While Mother Nature is the determining factor on just how good this lake will be in the future, it’s up to all anglers to do our part with fish management. It’s our job to take care of our catch on tournament day and make sure the fish we release back into the lake are in great condition to be caught again.

Till next time, good luck, good fishing and let’s all try to practice catch and release on all our waterways. Keep what you can eat and throw the rest back to be caught another day.  

Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Louisiana Tech women’s soccer coach, Chris Harwick, has been promoted to Associate Head Coach, the school announced on Friday. 

“Having worked with Chris for six-plus years, this was a great opportunity to recognize his loyalty and contributions to our program and process,” said head coach Steve Voltz. “I am very excited to have Chris on board and looking forward to him continuing his efforts to assist our student-athletes on and off the field.”

Harwick is going into his fourth season at Louisiana Tech and has had a pivotal role in the coaching staff in the development of the 2024 CUSA Freshman of the Year and First-Team All-CUSA, Kyra Taylor. In his three seasons prior, Harwick was an assistant coach on Steve Voltz‘s staff.

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