Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Having graduated and worked at Louisiana Tech, Matthew Thorne is returning to his alma mater to join the Championship Resources team as an Associate AD.

Thorne earned three degrees from LA Tech and spent two years working as a Game Management Associate. Since then, he has spent time at Lamar University and most recently the University of Louisville where he was Assistant Director of Development for the Cardinal Athletic Fund.

“I am excited to welcome Matthew back home to Ruston to join our Championship Resources team,” said Wally Crittenden, Senior Associate AD for Championship Resources & CRO. “His existing relationships from his time at LA Tech as well as the experiences he has had at multiple institutions will be a welcomed addition to our office.

“Our constituents will enjoy getting to know Matthew as they experience a “Fan First” commitment to service that our team will provide.”

Thorne spent three years in Louisville as a frontline fundraiser with a portfolio of approximately 120 donors. He worked with the Executive Director of Development to manage annual fund and operations for the CAF, soliciting gifts of $10,000+ for capital projects and campaigns as well as support for the collective.

“I am truly thankful to Ryan for providing me with an opportunity to come home,” said Thorne. “Louisiana Tech is a special place that I hold near and dear to my heart. I am humbled and honored to return to my alma mater to give back all that was afforded to me. I cannot wait to get to work and reconnect with so many familiar faces.”

He also assisted with tickets sales and seat donations renewals for football and men’s basketball while also helping increase student donors by 120 percent. He was also a point of contact with campus advancement and played a lead role for university-wide giving day, an outlet that raised $200,000+ for “Raise Some L” in 2023.

Prior to his time at Louisville, Thorne spent three years in Beaumont, Texas at Lamar where he was a Marketing Assistant and Interim Ticket Office Director before transition to Coordinator of Athletic Development. He managed a portfolio of approximately 150 donors while also developing a new Lettermen’s Club where donations by former student-athletes increased by 108 percent.

Thorne introduced the first ever “Giving Day” at Lamar, helping generate a 360 percent donor increase from year one to year two. He also oversaw the annual fund and sports-specific giving.

Originally from Pineville, Louisiana, Thorne earned his bachelor’s degree in general studies with a minor in sports marketing (2015) as well as two master’s degrees in kinesiology/sports administration (2017) and business administration (2021). He is currently pursuing his doctorate at the University of Louisville.

Thorne is married to the former Lori Richardson from Ruston. The couple has one son, Henry.

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By Malcolm Butler

Following an impressive 2024 season that saw the Bulldogs record the program’s first regular season title since the 1980s, Lane Burroughs was named the ABCA/ATEC South Region Coach of the Year.

Burroughs, who recently inked a new five-year contract with the school through the 2029 season, led Tech to a 45-19 record and the 2024 Conference USA Regular season title.

While earning Conference USA Coach of the Year, Burroughs helped Tech earn its third NCAA Regional appearance in the last three years as Tech posted an 18-6 record in league play, including winning its final six regular season CUSA games to capture the crown by one game over Dallas Baptist.

The 45 wins were the second most in program history while Tech won 30 games at JC Love Field at Pat Patterson Park, the most since 1988.

Under Burroughs direction, Tech captured the 2021 Conference USA West Division title and the 2022 Conference USA Tournament title in Hattiesburg. The Bulldogs hosted an NCAA Regional in 2021, the first in program history.

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Jackson “Jack” Eugene Ball, Sr. was born on November  18, 1932 to Rurick Dalton “RD” Ball and Jetty Hollis Ball and died on June 22, 2024 at the age of 91.

After graduating from Ruston High School, Jack joined the Air Force in San Antonio, TX, where he served as a fireman from 1952 – 1956. While in San Antonio he met the love of his life, Betty Stowe, and they were married on October 1, 1954. Once he was discharged from the Air Force, Jack and Betty returned to Ruston to raise their 3 children and spend the rest of their lives amongst many friends and family. Jack worked at Ball’s Radiator Service and joined the Ruston Fire Department. He retired from Ruston Fire Department on November 1, 1990 having served his community for 23 years. Jack was very active in his church, The Church of Christ, where he served as Deacon as well as any other position that was needed. Jack truly had a humble and generous servants heart and spent his life living in a way that reflected the love of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Jack’s favorite things to do were to travel in their camper, fish, spend time with friends and family, and spending time in church. Mowing and keeping his yard well manicured was a passion that he never outgrew.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, RD and Jetty; his sister, Betty Ball Mabry; his daughter, Suzie Ball Laffoon; and his true love and wife of 68 years, Betty. He is survived by his 2 sons, Jacky Ball (wife Kay) and  Jimmy Ball (wife Cassie); 4 grandchildren, Kellie Ball Nestrud (husband Ryan), Rachel Ball Howard (husband Nick), Jacy Ball, and Austin Ball; as well as 6 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A celebration of life service for Jack and honoring his late wife Betty Ball will be held at the Ruston Church of Christ on Sunday, July 7, 2024 at 3:00 pm.

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Emma Jane Tellis 
Friday 09/17/1937 — Thursday 06/20/2024  
Visitation: Wednesday 06/26/2024 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home 
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  

Donald Ray Lazarus  
January 26, 1942 – June 19, 2024  
Funeral Service: Wednesday, June 26, 2024, 10:00 AM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home  
Cemetery Committal: Wednesday, June 26, 2024, Forest Lawn Cemetery, 2500 West California Ave, Ruston 

 

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By Wesley Harris

A little worm brought on an explosion in the production of peanuts in Lincoln Parish in the early 1900s.

The boll weevil, the number one enemy of cotton, entered Texas from Mexico in 1892 and marched north and east, reaching Lincoln Parish in 1905 and infecting the entire South by 1922. Farmers panicked since cotton was the primary crop sold by farmers. While they grew corn for livestock and vegetables for their families, cotton was grown for cash.

When the boll weevil reached north Louisiana and devastated the cotton crop most farmers depended on, new crops were sought to provide an alternative for generating cash. Diversification was encouraged as a new strategy; if one crop failed, perhaps another would succeed.

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Thus the turn to peanuts as an alternative cash crop.

Lincoln Parish’s sandy soil is perfect for peanuts. The “nuts”—which really aren’t nuts at all but a cousin to the pea—grow underground so clay or other tightly compacted soils are not friendly to peanuts.

Thirteen states produce or grow peanuts commercially with half of all production coming from Georgia. While Louisiana is one of the 13, the state grows only about one percent of America’s peanuts.

With the arrival of the boll weevil to Lincoln Parish came a movement, fostered by farmers’ unions, for diversified farming. The result was a move away from the one-crop system—mostly cotton—to the planting of vegetables, fruits, more corn and a large acreage to peanuts.

The initial step of peanut culture was made in the fall of 1908 when a committee was sent by a farmers’ union to investigate the crop in Virginia. The committee reported that the climate and soil of Lincoln Parish was far better adapted to the peanut than that of Virginia.

Peanuts were planted on a large scale in Lincoln Parish for the first time in 1909. With 4,000 acres harvested, the average yield was 20 bushels per acre or 80,000 bushels for the parish. The first nuts sold brought 85 cents a bushel, but the price eventually reached $2.00 a bushel, giving farmers about $35 an acre.

Figuring the average price paid per bushel at $1, the experiment crop netted farmers $80,000, much better than they could have expected with the same acreage in a successful cotton crop.

An estimated 15,000 acres of peanuts were planted in Lincoln Parish in 1910. “It seems to be a sure money crop. Besides the nuts which pay more per acre than cotton, the hay can be gathered to supply thousands of head of cattle,”a Bossier City newspaper reported.

In January 1910, the Ruston Leader reported, “The peanut crop in Lincoln Parish during the past season was not only a large one for the acreage planted, but was also a paying crop to the planters. It has placed dollars in their pockets or their bank accounts whereas, under the destruction wrought by the boll weevils, the planting of cotton would have only given them dimes.”

Lincoln Parish farmers received over $110,000 for a portion of the 1910 crop. That may not sound like much but $110,000 in 1910 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $3,631,000 today,

The $110,000 did not include at least six boxcars of peanuts in storage to be held for seed. Nor did it include large quantities of nuts saved by farmers for their own planting by themselves and for sale for that purpose to those less fortunate. It only included proceeds from peanuts shipped from Ruston and Choudrant. Shipments of the crop from Dubach, Simsboro, and Alexton [a rail stop between Dubach and Ruston] were not included in the count.

The numbers available show as many as one million pounds of peanuts were shipped from Lincoln Parish from the 1910 crop.

By the planting season of 1912, peanut factories controlled by Virginia corporations were built in Ruston. Lincoln Parish had become the largest peanut-raising parish in Louisiana. Farmers throughout north Louisiana could take their harvest to Ruston to sell to a commercial enterprise rather than worrying about finding out-of-state buyers and handling shipping themselves.

Farmers also found using the peanut plant vegetation as livestock feed, especially for hogs, was another benefit of growing the crop. “. . . it may be said that there is no better or more economical diet for hogs for not only does the peanut produce a most peculiarly distinctive flavor but the expense of feeding the hogs in the regular way is almost done away with as they are allowed to root for their own living,” announced one newspaper.

Other parishes began to catch on to the peanut craze following Lincoln’s lead.

In 1914, acreage in peanuts in Lincoln Parish was reduced as more cotton was grown than in the past few years. With better methods to deal with the boll weevil, the move to even more diversification, and increased competition from other north Louisiana farmers, Lincoln Parish peanut production began to drop slightly.

A peanut factory was built in Minden in 1926. But the Great Depression of the 1930s devastated farmers. Then World War II took many farmers out of the fields to serve in the military. Over time, timber, poultry, fruit trees, and cattle replaced row crops as the dominant Lincoln Parish agricultural products.

But Lincoln Parish still has great soil for raising peanuts. If you get some “nuts” into the ground by July 1, there’s still time to raise a crop for this year.

By T. Scott Boatright

NATCHITOCHES — The numbers said it all.

College Baseball Hall of Fame Coach and Grambling State Legend Wilbert Ellis was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Saturday night.

Ellis became only the second honoree of the LSHOF’s Sports Ambassador Award, joining national broadcaster and Shreveport native Tim Brando, who was inducted in 2020.

And judging from the small army of supporters that showed up at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Museum for the induction ceremony, ambassador might be an understatement for Ellis.

On Saturday, Ellis became both Louisiana sports royalty and minister while accepting his honor during an on-stage interview with broadcaster Lyn Rollins.

The night began a Walk of Legends featuring previous LSHOF inductees, including another Ruston native, Bert Jones, before being followed with the new inductees walking across the stage, with Ellis receiving the first standing ovation of the night before the induction interviews ever began.

“There have been other inductees over the years that have had big crowds of followers like Coach Ellis did, and who got long ovations,” said Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame chair Doug Ireland. “But the thing that struck me was Coach Ellis received the first ever standing ovation during the Walk of Legends to start the show.”

After that, each new inductee in attendance took to the stage for live interviews with one of two well-known broadcasters, Lyn Rollins, or Victor Howell.

When it finally because his turn in the induction lineup, following a short video featuring Ellis’ history with comments by lifelong friend James Davison, former GSU and Major League Baseball standout Gary Eave, current Grambling State baseball coach Davin Pierre and his pastor, Maurice White of Zion Traveler Baptist in Ruston, Ellis was called to the stage.

What followed was a near minute-long standing ovation.

Rollins began his interview talking with Ellis about the impact of youth baseball camps that are part of the reason he was honored with the LSHOF Ambassador Award.

“I always wanted to give back,” Ellis said as he began the interview. “I always wanted to make a difference. I always wanted to teach fundamental baseball skills, but I also wanted those teachings to go into life, and to motivate young people to build the right roots and be able to make a difference in their lives.

“That was my prayer. God gave me that prayer. I’ve been all over the country doing it. I had some of the greatest people in the world supporting me, starting with my mother and father, Mattie, and Houston Ellis. There are so many people in my community (that helped him). Then when I got to Grambling State University, I met some of the finest people in the world.

Ellis then rattled off a Who’s Who list of Grambling State royalty — R.W.E. Jones, Eddie G. Robinson, and Fred Hobdy.

“I could go on and on,” Ellis continued. “And I met so many people in my community — people that cared about young people and wanted to give people chances and talk about rights and wrongs. That motivated me. … They made me want to be the best and I worked hard at that. …. I could call out a lot of names tonight, but I don’t want to get into any trouble, either, by forgetting someone.”

Ellis then proved how much support he has had over the years, saying that the small army of supporters appearing to be at 150 if not 200 had made him shed tears with their show of love.

He then asked that small army to stand, receiving another standing ovation in the process.

“That right there could be my speech tonight,” Ellis said. “I know that you didn’t have to come, but you showed that somewhere down the line we’ve touched lives together. I love all of you and wish I could call out all your names. But let’s move on.”

As his speech again turned to his desire of teaching life skills to youth, Ellis told the crowd he did not want to take it too far, but feels it is an important subject and that the key is ending the obvious divide our nation is currently undergoing.

“We all need to be involved (in helping youth in America),” Ellis said. “We’re in serious trouble. And it’s not serious about one person, it’s serious about the whole United States of America. We’re going to have to come together. I know I didn’t come to preach, but we’re going to have to come together and do some things to make a difference in the lives of our young people.

“You know, they want to be helped, and it’s our duty and responsibility to help them.”

And as Ellis’ time on stage ended, Rollins asked one favor — that Ellis keep preaching.

“Well thank you for that, but I think that everybody here tonight has had some responsibility with young people, even in your own home with your own children. I know all of you have done that in the community,” Ellis said.

“Don’t turn your head (away from youth) — they want to be helped. They want to be nourished. They need some direction. And don’t be afraid to sit down and talk with them about direction. Tell them about right and wrong, going to church and doing great things in life so that when you see them again, they’re doing great things. They can be lawyers. They can be doctors. But we must work with them in such a way to help make our communities and nation a better place.”

 A full video of Saturday’s LSHOF ceremony can be found online at Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame – 2024 Celebration (youtube.com).

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Ruston Police arrested a man Friday night after he allegedly attacked a woman on Goodwin Road. Once arrested and jailed, the man allegedly fashioned a weapon he intended to use to attack detention center staff.
 
Officers responded to the 1700 block of Goodwin Road about 10:30 p.m. Friday night regarding a reported domestic disturbance. A woman was encountered who appeared to have been involved in a struggle. She was having difficulty breathing, but eventually she was able to explain an unknown man came up to her and her children and began to beat her. He choked her, threw her to the ground, and pulled her pants down, according to an arrest affidavit.
 
The woman said she fought the man, but he punched her several times. After brief struggle, the victim was able to escape the attack.
 
Officers saw the victim’s neck was red, and her arms were scratched. She said her one of her fingers was injured in attempting to fight the man off.
 
The woman took officers to the location where the struggle occurred. A bag was located that contained a booking sheet for Correando C. Davis, 32, of Ruston. The booking sheet included a photograph and the victim identified Davis as the person who attacked her. Davis‘s address on Marie Avenue was found on the booking sheet and officers went to the residence and took him in the custody.
 
During questioning, Davis said he was in the area where the attack occurred, but it was his friend who he met in California who committed the attack.
 
Davis was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center. The detention center staff was informed Saturday afternoon that Davis had told other inmates he was going to make a “shank” out of a toothbrush and use it to stab a deputy. A control room deputy observed Davis by video rubbing an object aggressively against his bunk. Deputies went to the cell and when Davis was searched, he dropped a white toothbrush to the floor.
 
Davis is charged with sexual battery and contraband in a correctional facility. Bail was set at $130,000.

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.

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Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Louisiana Tech fans will have an opportunity to get a three-day behind-the-scenes look at the inaugural Bulldog Football Fantasy Kickoff Camp, August 16-18.

Throughout the weekend, the 2024 Bulldog Fantasy Kickoff Camp attendees will experience player meetings, staff meetings, practice sessions, and a scrimmage on Saturday. Attendees will also hear from athletic department guests sharing insights into the future of LA Tech Football.

“Our staff is excited to announce the first-ever Bulldog Football Fantasy Kickoff Camp,” head coach Sonny Cumbie said. “If you’ve ever wondered what happens in fall camp regarding meetings, practice, and roster development, this is your chance to find out. As we embark on a great 2024 season, this is your chance to invest in our program and get a behind-the-scenes look. Spaces are limited, so don’t wait to sign up.”

Prices for the camp start at $500 for commuters and $800 for residential. The Residential option also includes two nights at the Marriott Courtyard Hotel in Ruston. You must register for camp by August 9th to have a room reserved for you in our Bulldog Fantasy Kickoff Camp room block.

In addition to behind-the-scenes access, participants will also have the opportunity to take part in a silent auction and enter-to-win sweepstakes.

Register today at https://caringcent.org/lat/summercamp. All proceeds for the event will benefit the Bulldog Football Team Collective.

For more information about camp, please contact Wally Crittenden, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Championship Resources and CRO, at wally@latechalumni.org.

Season tickets for the 2024 Louisiana Tech football season are on sale now. Fans can purchase season tickets online at LATechSports.com/tickets or by calling the LA Tech Ticket Office at (318) 257-3631.

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by Malcolm Butler

Cell phones. Twitter (excuse me, X). IG. Facebook. TikTok.

I could go on and on and on and on.

These things all have one thing in common in my personal opinion: they are making us lazy and somewhat unintelligent.

I will raise my hand, at least halfway. I, at times, am one of the guilty ones. I have had to fight it. And I’m not sure if I wasn’t a journalism major and in the communications business, that I would have won this battle.

When I started texting more than a decade ago — heck it may be close to two decades ago — I saw the beginning of the end when it came to so many people caring about proper punctuation and sentence structure. Some of the texts I receive would have Wiley Hilburn’s blue ink all over them.

Who cares about that comma or that period? Who cares if we leave out some words or use slang? It’s the thing to do today.

Then came along Twitter. 144 characters. That’s all we had to get our point across. They squeezed us into poor grammar and punctuation. High school English teachers across the country had a tough enough time before children started growing up using platforms that easily led down an illiterate path at times.

I see poor grammar across all forms of social media in this day and age. And the scary thing is it’s almost becoming acceptable.

It has almost become kool to misspell skool.

It shouldn’t be. It should be a big fat F.

Twitter also made us lazy when it comes to reading. These days if it’s longer than your average Tweet, why read it. Takes way too long, right?

I learned to write by reading the sports pages every day growing up. Sure. It may have just been the sports pages back then, but it still allowed me to read a lot of good writing and develop good habits on proper writing.

Social media has also led us down the road to the 5-second video or the 144-character post (I know, X has now made it where you can use more than 144 characters but the habit has been formed).

I had a conversation Monday with my friends Kyle Kavanaugh and Gerald Jordan over lunch. We were talking about the evolution of how people consume content. The conversation was centered around athletics, but it could be used in almost every setting in this day and age.

The statement was made that communications departments need to focus more of their bandwidth on the 5-second video or the short tweet or the photo with very few words. Otherwise, they are wasting their time because people don’t read anymore.

The old man that yells at the clouds in me took offense to it. I pushed back while also knowing that the statement about how people consume content is correct. Maybe not totally across the board. There are some folks who still like a good 1,500 word feature story on an interesting subject.

But a huge part of our society doesn’t have time (sigh) to sit down and read a good 1,500 word feature story on an interesting subject. It’s crazy to think about.

I see it all the time. Our LPJ stories are posted on Facebook. A lot of times there are comments under the posting asking questions that are answered in the first two or three paragraphs of the story. So why the question? Because they don’t take time to click on the story and actually read it.

If you stop and think about where we have come in the last 20 years, the question bodes where will we be in 20 more.

It’s scary. I wouldn’t want to be an English teacher in today’s world. They are all fighting this idea that there is a new way of reading and writing, one that won’t make us any smarter.

Social media and cell phones aren’t going away. They are here to stay.

But I think — let me say I hope — we will all slow down and take the time to write out a social media post using proper grammar. And I hope we all will take the time to read a story that is more than 200 words.

Let’s not allow these things to dummy us down.

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Former Ruston High star Isaiah Buggs was released Monday by the Kansas City Chiefs following his June 16th arrest.

Buggs, who was a part of the Kansas City Super Bowl champion effort this past year, was arrested just over a week ago on charges of domestic violence and burglary in Tuscaloosa (Ala.) County.

Tuscaloosa district court documents alleged that Buggs “unlawfully” entered a woman’s apartment that morning and dragged the mother of his child down the stairs with the “intent to commit a crime.”

This came less than a month after he turned himself in for a misdemeanor animal cruelty charge.  At that time Buggs’ agent issued a statement saying he “vehemently denies” the allegations.

The former University of Alabama star is entering his sixth season in the NFL.

He was selected in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers where he played three seasons. After two years with the Detroit Lions, Buggs joined Kansas City’s practice squad in January. The Chiefs re-signed him to a futures contract in February.

 

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Grambling Police arrested two women last Wednesday after the allegedly fought one another over a man.

GPD officers responded to an apartment on B.T. Woodard Circle regarding a disturbance late Wednesday night. Officers found Sanquetta S. Craft, 33, lying in a ditch near the apartment complex. Craft was bleeding from several wounds.

Craft said she was involved in a physical altercation with Tomekia N. Anderson, 44, inside an apartment over a boyfriend. Craft said she and Anderson along with the man were inside the apartment drinking and playing dominoes when the altercation ensued between the two women over the man.

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Craft said during the fight, she picked up a bottle and Anderson picked up a crowbar and they struck each other with the weapons. Craft had cuts on her stomach, right shoulder, and forearm from apparently being struck by the crowbar.

Anderson told officers they were drinking and playing dominoes when a fight ensued between her and Craft over the man. She said Craft picked up a bottle and she picked up a crowbar and they struck each other. Anderson had a cut on her left wrist from being struck by the bottle.

The Grambling Fire Department went to the scene for medical services for the two women. Both were arrested and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for aggravated battery and disturbing the peace.

Bail was set at $26,500.

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

As we head into the heart of our North Louisiana summer, the sun reigns with an unyielding blaze, reminding us of our land’s thirst – and also our own.

During one sun-drenched day last week, our irrigation specialist arrived to mend the veins of water that give life to our yard. A leak had appeared near the section of the driveway that had been re-done as part of the recent Cedar Creek Road project. It was a small rupture, yet it spoke volumes about the fragility of our human-made systems.

The irrigation technician’s task was clear: repair the leak, install a new sprinkler head, and restore damaged hoses elsewhere in the network. Yet when considered from all sides, this was not merely a “fix-it” job. It was a revival, a preparation for the dry spells when rain in these parts becomes a distant memory.

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As I watched this professional tend to the land, I couldn’t help but draw parallels to the spiritual nourishment we humans seek and need. Just as our physical gardens require water, our souls also long for nourishment. In times of spiritual drought, we look to a higher power – a Divine Gardener, if you will – to quench our inner thirst.

“But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life” – John 4:14.

The irrigation specialist’s meticulous work reminded me that while, of course, he is not God, his actions mirror the care and attention our Creator provides. The Divine Gardener patches up the broken, sees to the growth of the new, and ensures that each blade of grass is accounted for. In that same way, we are tended to, our flaws are mended, and our growth nurtured by unseen hands.

As we brace for the hot, dry days ahead, let’s remember that our spiritual landscape needs attention, too. It’s easy to neglect the soul’s garden, to let the cracks widen and the soil dehydrate. Yet, the Divine Gardener is always ready to repair and replenish, to bring forth water in the desert of our lives.

“The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail” – Isaiah 58:11.

So, once again, as you often see, I have gathered lessons from nature’s bouquet – lessons that are simple, yet profound.

In the same way that the local irrigation team cares for our lawns, we are nurtured by the Master Gardener. Trust in the Divine Gardener to sustain you through every season of life. Especially in the dry season of summer, seek the waters of spiritual renewal.

During quiet moments of maintenance that can include reading the Word, prayer and acts of kindness, we can fortify ourselves against the inevitable droughts of life. Our spiritual reservoirs can be filled. They can be ready to sustain us. And then, through us, we can refresh others in their time of need.

“He turns a wilderness into pools of water and dry land into watersprings.” – Psalm 107:35

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

Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

The Louisiana Tech Strategic Communications department claimed six awards in the 2024 Louisiana Sports Writers Association state SID contest, announced Sunday at the awards luncheon in Natchitoches.

The department garnered awards in several categories including release/feature story, game notes, and graphics. LA Tech also picked up a pair of awards in the radio play-by-play category.

In the Division II Release/Feature (Men’s Basketball/Baseball) category, Kane McGuire won second place for his feature on Bulldog forward Isaiah Crawford’s quest for a big season despite his injury history.

McGuire also took home second place in the Division V (Game Notes) category for his Bulldog Basketball game notes against WKU. The Associate A.D. for Strategic Communications has now won 20 awards in 12 years with the department, including nine in the release/feature story category.

Courtney Pugh of Donnie Bell Design swept first and second in the Division VII (College Graphics) category for a second straight year. The first-place graphic depicted L’Jarius Sneed who was set to participate in Super Bowl LVIII with the Kansas City Chiefs (see below).

“This deserves to be a poster!” said the judges. “It’s eye-catching, depicting a great tribute and highlights all that Vegas has to offer on Super Bowl Sunday.

His second-place graphic was that of Isaiah Crawford earning an invite to participate in the Reese’s DI All-Star Game. Pugh has won seven awards as the primary graphic designer of LA Tech Athletics, including three first-place awards in the last four years.

Meanwhile, Dave Nitz and Malcolm Butler tied for third place in the Division VI (College Radio Play-by-Play) category. Nitz’ call was the walk-off win by the Diamond Dogs over Sam Houston while Butler’s call was the late-game sequence as the Dunkin’ Dogs defeated WKU in Bowling Green. The duo has combined to win 17 awards in this category which was introduced in 2013.

This marked the 13th consecutive year LA Tech has garnered at least five awards with the department having now totaled 123 awards in the state contest over the past 20+ years.

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Memorial services for Richard E. Roberson, Jr., age 88 of Dubach, LA, will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, June 29, 2024 at Fellowship Baptist Church in Dubach with Rev. Barry Joyner officiating.  Services are under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston, LA.

Richard was born on December 25, 1935, the only child of Richard Everette Roberson, Sr. and Othelle (Murphy) Roberson. He was reared in Dubach. He graduated from Louisiana Tech, and received his Master’s degree from University of Michigan.  Richard was an accountant with a career that included jobs with several different companies, primarily in Louisiana.  He took joy in traveling with his grandchildren and also enjoyed playing the piano, especially old hymns.  He was a deacon in Fellowship Baptist Church.  He loved his family and his Jesus.  Richard was well known to be a man without “guile.”  There was never any pretense with him.  He was a man of integrity, trustworthy, always generous, and he lived simply. Richard was born twice and died once, when he went home to be with Jesus on June 21, 2024.  

Richard is survived by his wife of 64 years, Frances; two daughters:  Holly and husband Bryan Lowry of Dubach and Mary Ellen Buswell of Oklahoma City, OK; four grandchildren:  Kimberly and husband Timothy Hotchkin of Centerton, AR, Brenna and husband Rudy Pena of Edmond, OK, Bryan Lowry, Jr. and wife Melanie of Lowell, AR, and Brent Buswell and wife Jordan of Lexington, VA; six great-grandchildren:  Anna Lowry, Kendall Hotchkin, Scotty Lowry, Christian Pena, Everette Hotchkin and Mack Hotchkin.

The family would like to thank Dr. Benson Grigsby and the staff of Alpine Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation.  In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 AM until time of service, Saturday at the
church.

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Funeral services for Donald Ray Lazarus, age 82 of Ruston, LA, will be held at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at Owens Memorial Chapel with Bro. Jim Davis officiating.  Burial will follow in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Ruston under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston, LA. 

Don was born on January 26, 1942 in Minden, LA, to James Raymond and Bessie Riser Lazarus and passed away on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 in Shreveport, LA.  He and his brother, Albert enjoyed an idyllic childhood on a farm outside of Ruston.  He graduated from Ruston High School in 1961, and served in the Louisiana National Guard and the Army Reserve from 1961-1967.  Don married the love of his life, Barbara Ann Horn, in 1968.  A proud alumnus of Louisiana Tech, he worked as a Sanitarian for the Health Department and for Walmart.  He was a member of the Ruston Church of Christ.  Don was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Albert Wayne Lazarus.

Don is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years, Barbara; his son, Ray Lazarus and wife Kim of Humble, TX; his daughter, Mary Lazarus and husband Randall Palmer of Shreveport, LA; his grandchildren, the apples of his eye: Abigal Lazarus, Henry Lazarus and Emily Lazarus of Humble, TX and Riley Palmer of Shreveport, LA; nephews: Al Lazarus, Mac Lazarus, Greg Horn, Tim Horn and Christopher Tippen and nieces: Pam Ketchens, Amanda Coyne, Kristi Husher and Alison Tippen.

Serving as pallbearers will be Ray Mathewes, Tommy Murphy, Andy Stevenson, Justin Kavalir, Paul Spears and Ralph Harrison.  Honorary pallbearer is Edwin Davis.

Visitation will be 5:00-7:00 PM, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, at Owens Memorial Chapel. 

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Jackson “Jack” Eugene Ball, Sr. 
November 18, 1932 – June 22, 2024 
Services to be arranged 

Robert “Bud” Frasier   
September 19, 1938 – June 14, 2024   
Cemetery: Mineral Springs Cemetery, Tuesday, July 2, 2024, 10:00 am    

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 

Donald Ray Lazarus 
January 26, 1942 – June 19, 2024 
Visitation: Tuesday, June 25, 2024, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home 
Funeral Service: Wednesday, June 26, 2024, 10:00 AM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home 
Cemetery Committal: Wednesday, June 26, 2024, Forest Lawn Cemetery, 2500 West California Ave, Ruston 

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By Malcolm Butler

A fire at the Rivers Recycling Facility in Kilgore, Texas, on June 12 will directly impact City of Ruston recycling customers — at least indirectly — for the immediate future, according to John Freeman.

Freeman, the City of Ruston Construction Projects Supervisor, said the fire which started after hours almost two weeks ago and completely destroyed the facility, will force the city to try to find an alternate single source recycling partner.

“Rivers Recycling Facility is the materials recovery facility we use,” said Freeman.

The city of Ruston uses a single stream recycling platform where the citizens are not required to sort their recyclables (i.e. plastic, paper, cardboard, etc.). Ruston residents who recycle simply put all of their recycle materials in the blue can and the city of Ruston picks them up.

“From that point it goes out to our landfill to a specific transfer station,” said Freeman. “That trailer is then hauled twice a month to Kilgore.”

Freeman said the city has a contract with Murphy Brothers to haul the trailer to Kilgore.

While the owners of the Kilgore facility said they will rebuild, it will take a while thus leaving Freeman and city officials scrambling to locate another single stream facility within a reasonable geographical footprint that the city can partner with in the short-term.

“The fire happened on June 12 but we didn’t find out about it until Wednesday (June 19),” said Freeman. “We spent a good amount of time (late last week) thinking through the process and trying to find another location. There just aren’t a lot of those around are area and we simply haven’t found one yet.

“They do plan to rebuild but we certainly don’t have a timeframe on that yet.”

Until an alternative location is located, Freeman said that all the recyclables will be treated as normal garbage.

“What that means today is there is not a location for our recyclables to go to be recovered,” said Freeman. “We are going to continue to pick up. We ask the folks who are our customers to remain our customers and continue to use it. We will continue to pick it up.

“But for the time being it will have to go to the landfill with the rest of our household garbage.”

Ruston began its recycling program after Mayor Ronny Walker was elected for his first term back in 2015.  The city originally utilized Pratt Industries in Shreveport for its recyclables but were forced to switch to the Kilgore location a few years ago.

“This switch was before my time,” said Freeman. “But Pratt was either overwhelmed or didn’t have a market for a lot of the products. So they said they would no longer accept our single stream recycling, but said here is a location (in Kilgore).”

Freeman said the City has approximately 800 recycling customers, including 650 within the city limits (150 outside the city limits).  He said until a new single stream facility is located, the city would not be accepting any new customers.

The city of Ruston’s recycling program totals between 12 and 13 tons per month or roughly 150 tons per year, according to Freeman.

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By Hanna Singh

The Ruston High School Bearcats Robotics Team represented Region 8 at NASA’s Space Day at the Louisiana State Capitol. They exhibited their competition robot, joining other robotics teams from across the state to showcase various STEM initiatives for middle and high school students. 

The event also featured presentations from the directors of Hunstville, Alabama, and Michoud (New Orleans) NASA facilities, the director of Greater New Orleans, Inc., and the public relations director from Boeing. The speakers emphasized the importance of STEM-careers and how they benefit the future workforce. 

The team also had the opportunity to hear from NASA astronaut, Josh Cassada, who shared his inspiring academic journey from earning a doctorate in particle physics to becoming a Navy test pilot and eventually working for NASA. Cassada, who spent 157 days on the International Space Station, encouraged students to have academic courage and not be intimidated by tough-sounding subjects. He advised the teams to embrace challenges throughout their academic and career journeys. 

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The Bearcats Robotics is currently in its second year as a FIRST Robotics Competition Team. During the 2023-24 school year, they competed in two regional competitions, designing and building robots from parts and pieces to compete. The students programmed their robots using JAVA to perform tasks such as driving, taking turns and manipulating game pieces. In the current off-season, the team is focused on making significant performance improvements to their 2024 competition robot.  

Robotics team coach Sarah Wages acknowledged the impressive work the team displayed throughout its second year of competition status. 

“Our young team has shown extraordinary tenacity and maintains a positive outlook despite challenges that come our way,” Wages said. “We are so excited to see our robot back on the competition field. 

The Bearcats Robotics Team will be competing in the Northshore Knockout Competition in Mandeville on July 20. 

Lincoln Parish Journal co-publisher Malcolm Butler won a pair of writing awards and also finished as the runner-up in the Prep Writer of the Year and the Columnist of the Year for Class II in this year’s Louisiana Sports Writers Association contest.

The Lincoln Parish Journal team won a total of nine awards as Butler, co-publisher Kyle Roberts, writer T. Scott Boatright and columnist Teddy Allen all took home hardware.

“We are proud of the showing from our staff in this year’s contest,” said Butler. “I think it is an illustration of the quality of journalism that we are able to provide to our readers. We are fortunate to have a great team of writers and we are very fortunate to live in a parish that has such a rich history of both high school and collegiate athletics. 

“It is simply our job to take great subject matter and paint a verbal picture for our readers. I think this shows the versatility of our staff with awards won on feature stories, columns, game stories, and in the radio broadcasting industry.”

Butler won first place in the Class II General Sports Feature category on his story on Ruston High coach Jerrod Baugh’s Road To Redemption. 

The judges’ comments on the story were: “A really detailed look at a nuanced topic. Did a great job of getting the subject to open up about very personal matters. Well-sourced with clean copy. A great read all around.“

Butler also took home first place in the Class II Prep Event category on his story on Bearcats QB Josh Brantley and the win over Alexandria Senior High.

The judges’ comments on the story were: “The lead and the next few paragraphs do a good job setting up the game story. The story as a whole shows how important Brantley’s progression as a quarterback has been to helping the team win that game specifically, but how it also helped jump start the season. The story also talks about the job he did by running the ball, and how it is helping him become a better quarterback, and the team play better offense.“

In the Class II Prep Writer of the Year category, Butler was second behind the Ouachita Citizen’s Jake Martin who took home the award.

“In a category stacked with talented writers, this judge’s winning entry came down to overall strength and consistency,” said the judges in their comments on Martin’s honor.

Butler also finished second in the Class II Columnist of the Year, narrowly being edged by Natchitoches Parish Journal writer Doug Ireland.

“Close call between the top two here,” said the judges. “The ultimate winner drew me in immediately via the first column, though, with a history piece appealing to readers no matter what generation they claim.”

Boatright garnered a third place finish in the Class II Pro-College Event category on his game story on the Grambling State-Southern Bayou Classic in the Super Dome.

Journal Services columnist Teddy Allen took home a pair of honors, finishing second in the Class I College Column on his story on downside of the NCAA Transfer Portal. He took home a third place award in the Open Class Amateur Sports category on the evolution of local youth baseball tournaments.

Roberts and Butler also took home awards in radio categories. Roberts finished second in the Best Live Radio Event with his and Nick Brown’s call of the Ruston High state championship win over Zachary in December. Of those who placed in the category, only Roberts and Brown are located in North Louisiana.

The Ruston High broadcast crew won first place the previous season for the call of the Bearcats’ win over West Monroe — the first in 30 years.

Butler tied for third (with Dave Nitz) in the College Radio Play by Play category for his call of the Bulldog basketball team’s road win over WKU in Bowling Green. It marks the seventh time in the last decade he has placed in the contest, including winning the award in 2017 and finishing as the runner-up in 2013 and 2016.

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A DeQuincy man was arrested last Wednesday after he allegedly shoplifted at a Ruston convenience store.

Leonard L. Watkins, 55, was arrested after officers responded to the E-Z Mart at 1500 S. Vienna Street about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Video was viewed showing Watkins shoplifting two soft drinks by concealing them in his pants. A verbal altercation with store staff then ensued, with Watkins, yelling, profanities, and calling one employee a vulgar name. Watkins in the store without paying for the drinks.

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When an officer spotted Watkins at the intersection of South Trenton Street and Union Avenue, Watkins allegedly threw down a glass pipe commonly used to smoke crack cocaine.

Other paraphernalia was found on Watkins after his arrest. He was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center with theft by shoplifting, disturbing the peace, possession of drug paraphernalia, and littering.

Bill was set at $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.

Boys & Girls Clubs of North Louisiana will host its 8^thannual Holiday Basketball Camp on June 29^th at the LA Tech Intramural Center. All sponsorships may be designated for locations where we now have Boys & Girls Clubs in our north central region: Arcadia, Dubach, Farmerville, Jonesboro and Ruston.

A total of 360 campers from all over north LA have registered for this free basketball camp that includes not only meeting NBA Champion Justin Holiday but also receiving a camp shirt, lunch provided by The Springs Church, an autographed picture of themselves with Justin and of course an opportunity to hone their basketball skills. Justin shares his experience as a Club kid at the Boys & Girls Club of North Louisiana in Ruston, his life journey, his great love for family and his faith.

Justin Holiday resided in Ruston, Louisiana from 1995 – 1999. During that time, he and his brother Jrue attended the Boys & Girls Club. Justin and his family moved back to California in 1999 but remained close with many Ruston families. Justin even married former Rustonite and BGC kid Shekinah Seigmund!

After playing basketball for the University of Washington, Justin took his career overseas, playing for a professional team in Belgium. Holiday started his NBA career playing for the Philadelphia 76ers, later winning the 2015 NBA Championship with the Golden State Warriors.

From 2015 to 2021, Holiday played for many teams within the NBA, including the Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Memphis Grizzlies, Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, and Dallas Mavericks. Justin Holiday is currently with the Denver Nuggets.

Justin received the Louisiana Area Council CARE (Children Are the Reason for Excellence) Award during the annual Boys & Girls Clubs of America Area Council Leadership Conference in 2020. He continues to provide outstanding support to our local Clubs in North Louisiana.

Please consider sponsoring a camper by clicking this link

Or you may mail a check to Boys & Girls Clubs of North Louisiana, Attn. Janet Binns Wilson, PO Box 1844, Ruston, LA 71273

This is a paid advertorial

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Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Louisiana Tech head baseball coach, Lane Burroughs, has been signed to a new five-year contract which extends Burroughs through 2029, the school announced on Friday.

” I would like to thank Dr. Henderson and Ryan Ivey for believing in me and our program and trusting us to continue leading the Bulldogs at the Love Shack for the next five years,” said Burroughs. “I say it all the time and truly mean it, that being the Head Baseball coach at Louisiana Tech is one the highest honors of my life. We take our job and the responsibilities that come with that very seriously.”

Burroughs led the Diamond Dogs to a 45-19 record in 2024 while earning CUSA Co-Coach of the Year enroute to a CUSA Regular Season Title and NCAA Regional appearance. His Coach of the Year honor is Tech’s first since joining Conference USA.

“My family and I love the Ruston community and our great university,” said Burroughs. “We are forever grateful to the people we have met and the friends we have made while being at Tech. Our fans, alumni, and season ticket holders have continued to support us at an unprecedented level.”

The Bulldogs held a CUSA-best 11-1 record at home while securing a 30-7 record in the Love Shack, which tied the most wins at home since 1988. He also secured the second-most wins in a single season with 45.

Burroughs has led Louisiana Tech to three NCAA Regionals in the last four years along with three CUSA Conference Championships.

Under his leadership in eight seasons at Louisiana Tech, Burroughs has produced 11 of the program’s 14 All-Americans, including Parker Bates, Taylor Young, and Ethan Bates, who have earned multiple All-American honors at Louisiana Tech.

“It is so great to see what we have all built together the last eight years through hard work, great players, tremendous coaches, loyal fans, and a supportive administration,” said Burroughs. “We are looking forward to a brighter future and continuing to build and grow Louisiana Tech Baseball.”

The contract is pending approval of the University of Louisiana System Board of Directors.

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