By T. Scott Boatright

 

Former Cedar Creek and Mississippi State baseball standout Brooks Auger has his own mantra when it comes to approaching the game of baseball — just have fun playing a kid’s game with overthinking and stressing about it.

But as he talked to participants at Cedar Creek’s baseball camp last Thursday, Auger admitted to his mantra being put to a test the previous weekend as he waited in hopes of hearing his name called as a 2024 MLB draft selection.

Eventually Auger became the 190th overall selection as the Los Angeles Dodgers made him their sixth-round pick.

And suddenly, just like that, Auger was reminded that he should just focus on being able to enjoy the opportunity he had just been presented to play a kid’s game on the professional level.

Sometimes maintaining his mantra was admittedly tough for Auger due to circumstances he could not control.

After battling an injury earlier on, Auger experienced his senior season at Creek being canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In one season at Hinds Community College, Auger went 7-1 in 40 2/3 innings with an ERA of 2.88. He then transferred to Mississippi State, where as a sophomore he appeared in 16 games, all in relief, finishing with an ERA of 3.05, and compiling a 2-0 record in 20.2 innings of work with 27 strikeouts.

But then Auger missed the 2023 season after having surgery to repair a torn UCL.

The 6-5 righthander split time as a starter and a reliever in 2024, making 20 appearances with five starts posting a 1-2 record with a pair of saves with a 3.35 ERA, second best of the season for the Bulldogs, while totaling 50 strikeouts and holding opponents to a .215 batting average.

Thirteen of those strikeouts came in a postseason contest against Ole Miss that helped Auger earn SEC All-Tournament Team honors.

Over his career at Mississippi State, Auger made 36 appearances with a 3.26 ERA in 66 1/3 innings while striking out 77 batters.

Not bad numbers for just playing a fun kid’s game. But as he sat and watched the MLB Draft in his sister’s living room in Sterlington, his mantra became a little hard to maintain.

“I sat down and thought about it and told myself even if I was the last pick in the 20th round, I would still be the only Cedar Creek guy ever drafted,” Auger said. “So, I wanted to be able to get that recognition at some point. Because just to be able to say that is unbelievable — a dream come true.

Auger thought he was going to be drafted by Kansas City in the sixth round after a call from Royals officials.

“The five weeks leading up to it I didn’t sleep a lot,” Auger said. “I’m a big thinker. A big processor. So, I just kept running all kinds of different scenarios in my mind. I’d be driving and find myself thinking about it. 

“Then those first two days I knew I wasn’t going to get selected, so I just had fun sitting around watching the draft. I was pretty much fine for those first two rounds. But when that fifth-round hit, I had to stand up and walk around. And then I started getting some of those calls at the end of the fifth and start of the sixth, my stomach was turning, and I was starting to physically shake a little bit. But it kept not being me as names were called.”

Auger said it was fear of not getting drafted that got to him.

“I might sound terrible to say, but by then I just wanted to get it all over with,” Auger said. “I just had so many nerves and so much angst that I just felt once my name got called then I could just be a kid again and sit back and enjoy all of it.

“Then the Royals called me and told me they were going to take me with the second pick of the sixth round. And I’m watching the second pick (of that round) being announced, but it was, ‘With the second pick of the sixth round the Royals select no Brooks Auger.’ It was a crushing feeling.”

But sitting there in his sister’s living room, Auger flashed back to his “just have fun playing a kid’s game” mantra and slowly settled back down.

Shortly later Auger’s name was finally called as the 190th overall selection as the Los Angeles Dodgers made him their sixth-round pick.

“Suddenly I was back to just being a kid playing the game I love,” Auger said. “This is truly something I’ve been dreaming of since I was a kid. So now it’s just seeing what the Dodgers next have in mind for me.

“I’ll do whatever they want and go wherever they want me to go. Right now, all I know is that they intend to give me a chance to become a starter. Living a dream come true is a pretty exciting thing, so I’m really ready to get out there and show the Dodgers what I’ve got.”

Current Cedar Creek baseball coach Chad Yates never got to coach Auger but said it was still an exciting day for the Cougars baseball program and school with a former athlete drafted into the professional sports ranks and then come talk to youth during last week’s baseball camp.

“This was my first time meeting him,” Yates said. “But I’ve been following him and just hearing him talk brought me back to my playing days. Having a guy coming out of our program who is now representing us in professional baseball, and then coming back and sharing his experiences with these kids is what it’s all about for me.

“There are 30 kids here along with our players, and you just don’t know who this kind of thing is going to touch … who it’s going to ignite by getting to see someone live that dream of trying to play professional baseball and hearing what it takes. When I reached out to him, he immediately said yes. So, we’re fortunate. Now these kids have someone to follow. Brooks just got 40 new fans.”

Auger earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in marketing.

“I still plan on going back and getting a master’s sometime,” said Auger, who also earned SEC Spring Honor Roll accolades in 2022, ’23 and ’24 SEC Spring Honor Rolls.  “I just don’t know what it will be in yet.

“But right now it’s all about focusing on baseball and having fun. I’m 22 years with a college degree getting to play a kid’s game. It’s hard to imagine things being any better right now.”

 

 

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The City of Ruston announces, weather permitting, that Clay St. between Martin Luther King Dr. and Avon Ave. will be closed to through traffic beginning 9am Tuesday, July 23, 2024, through 5pm Wednesday, July 24, 2024.

This closure is necessary for a utility repairs. 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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Dubach Legends, a group committed to improving the quality of life in Dubach, has been working to restore the town’s recreational facilities and spruce up the town with help from friends and donors.

Randy Rogers, founder of the group, grew up in Dubach and now that he has retired, has directed much of his spare time to restore the baseball field he played on in his younger days.

The baseball field restoration is just one of several projects volunteers have completed.  The nature trail around James Lake has been cleared and a dock and fountain added. A nearby pavilion has been renovated. Floodlights were added to illuminate the mural on the dog trot cabin on U. S. 167. Many more projects are anticipated as resources become available.

“A non-profit like Dubach Legends runs on monetary and in-kind donations,” Rogers said.

Residents and friends have donated cash, construction materials, and sweat to the various projects.

If you would like to help with the restoration of the old ballpark or other projects in Dubach, contact Randy Rogers at Dubach Legends, 1305 Whispering Pines Drive, Minden, LA 71055 or 318-268-0312.

This is an advertorial

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This country is messed up.

Before you go any further, let me assure you that this will not be a diatribe against anything conceivably political – the left, the right, the middle of the roaders, the apolitical, whoever you want to name. So please don’t sharpen your pencils or dust off your keyboard to send me your own political leanings and treatises.

That’s not what this is about.

I’m just bemoaning the fact that … we’re in trouble. Period.

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Nowadays, right is oft considered wrong (and by “right,” I don’t mean the conservatives). People boast about their sins. Magazines and newspapers write laudatory headlines about things that would make our parents blush. More and more we’re being put in the position of having to choose what we’ll stand for and what will push us over the edge.

Maybe that’s why I dreamed about tornadoes last night. And note the plural usage.

I began dreaming of tornadoes when I was a child. I always blamed it on too many viewings of “The Wizard of Oz,” though I’ve always dearly loved that movie. I consider it my favorite film of all time (along with “Casablanca,” of course). Sister and I got to skip church on Sunday nights the one time a year that Oz came to the small screen.

But in mid-life, I once dreamed of a friendly tornado – and I was free of those nightmares for decades. Until last night.

I don’t know. Maybe the unsettled nature of the country contributed to the swirling vortexes in last night’s dreams. Maybe not. Undoubtedly the country has been unsettled before. Consider:

The bitter politics of the 1790s that led to what some scholars call “The Dark Ages of American Journalism” – notorious for its sensationalism, personal attacks and hyper-partisanship, which significantly influenced public opinion and political dynamics. (Anything sound familiar?)

The Civil War – when the entire country was torn apart. World War II – when the Greatest Generation literally had to save the world. The 1960s – which underwent the biggest social upheaval most of us have seen in our lifetimes. And those devastating three digits – 9-11.

Now, I fear that future generations will be talking about this particular time in our land in not-so-flattering terms. All you have to do is read Facebook comments and other online communication. Sooooo many people seem unable to say anything good about, well, anything. Their insides seem black.

Something’s wrong with our hearts, down deep inside.

Many of us know the answer to this problem, and it begins with J and contains five letters. Or you could use a four-letter word beginning with L and often used with the word “The.” I’m sure you can figure it out.

But most folks won’t accept that reasoning. Even if we try to show them. (But thank God for those who do accept and believe.)

So … what to do in this tumultuous time?

One of my Facebook friends just posted something I’m going to try. She wrote: “Set small triggers to remind you to pray. As you start your car, pray for safety. As you clean the kitchen, give thanks for food.” It’s such a good idea.

She also asked for people to join with her daily at 11 a.m. in the Lord’s Prayer and to pray for general intercession and for our country. That’s a good idea, too. Every believer needs to be praying fervently for America. Pray at 11. Pray at noon. Pray at 2 – in the afternoon and in the morning, if you’re still awake, as I was last night.

In the midst of the turbulence that we’re currently witnessing, we stand at a crossroads. The tempests threaten to pull us apart, yet within this chaos there’s an opportunity. We can choose to be the calm eye in the storm, anchored by faith and guided by love. As we start our cars, may our prayers infuse the air with hope. As we clean our kitchens, let gratitude be our cleansing balm. And at 11 a.m., let our voices rise in unison – a collective plea for healing, unity and grace.

In these troubled days, let us be the change we seek, one whispered prayer at a time.

By Judith Roberts

Have I told you about my dog, Che-che? 

Before my current dog, Bexley, and before our Chihuahua Vicki, there was another Chihuahua: Che-che. 

My parents bought Che-che for me when I was in the fourth grade. I had asthma, and while there is an old wives’ tale that says that Chihuahuas are good for asthmatics, we actually got her because we wanted a small dog who didn’t shed much (spoiler alert: Chihuahuas shed like crazy). She was a small, deer-headed blonde Chihuahua, and I loved her dearly. 

Did I mention she was a terror? 

Some dogs have more of a sassy personality than others, and Che-che was most definitely full of sass. I won’t say spirit or spunk – no, that dog was sassy. She was a notorious biter and wanted her own way. She was supposedly my pet, but she didn’t come with me to college – she wouldn’t have tolerated it, nor would have my dad. She was technically my dog, but she loved my dad, and she followed him around every second he was home. 

She tolerated Mom. Sometimes. 

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One of her favorite activities was riding around on my parents’ lawn mower. My dad had rigged up an old plastic milk carton to the top of the lawn mower, and it was one of her favorite activities to ride on that mower with my dad.  

The neighbors got a kick out of it, too. It was not uncommon to see people drive slllloooowwwwllllyyy past our house when Dad and Che-che were mowing. Just picture it: A gray-haired 50 year old man in blue jeans and a T-shirt mowing his acre yard with a chunky (because she loved to eat) Chihuahua riding in style on the top of the mower.  

So one day, because my dad was a tugboat driver and was gone for weeks at a time, my mom got on the mower to cut the grass, and she absolutely refused to let Che-che ride, too. “I’m not going to have all the neighbors think I’m crazy with that dog on my mower,” she told me. 

Che-che did not take it well. 

She sat on our porch and watched Mom mow, her eyes on Mom the entire time she mowed the lawn. And Che-che bided her time. So when Mom got off, Che-che ran up and bit her on the ankle and then ran away as fast as she could. 

There was another time when my cousin, Bryce, was irritating Che-che, playing around with her. Though he was enjoying it, she was not. And she knew her “safe space” was her pet taxi – her pet carrier, but it had the words “Pet Taxi” above the door. Bryce didn’t listen, and he put his hands in her pet taxi and came back out quickly after she bit all up and down his arms – and then, I kid you not, she reached out and slammed the door shut with her clawed paw. 

Like I said – sassy.  

A Ruston man was arrested last Saturday morning after he allegedly beat and strangled his girlfriend.

Ruston Police officers responded to a Center Street apartment where a woman told them her boyfriend, Brandon Stripling, 30, had demanded access to her cell phone. She would not give it to Stripling, who took it from her hands.

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The woman said Stripling then put her in a chokehold from behind and she fell to the floor. The woman said Stripling got on top of her and strangled her with both of his hands around her throat, causing her to almost lose consciousness.

The woman’s right eye was swollen, and her bottom lip had incurred a small fresh bruise.

Stripling told officers that in the heat of the moment, he did not remember everything that happened, but recalled they had gotten into an argument.

Stripling was arrested for domestic abuse battery. While being transported to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center, Stripling removed the handcuffs from his wrists. He was restrained again and taken to the detention center and booked for simple escape and domestic abuse battery by strangulation.

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. 

Graveside services for A.W. “Bud” Shaw, 95, will be held Wednesday, 2:00 PM, July 24, 2024, at Vernon Cemetery in Vernon, Louisiana.  Rev.  Dale Oden will be officiating under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes of Ruston.

A.W. was born April 4, 1929, in Ruston, Louisiana, and passed away July 20, 2024, in Jackson Parish.   A.W. was a retired plumber.   He loved to garden and especially love to grow watermelons.  He was a member of Vernon Baptist Church.  A. W. was a cowboy at heart and loved horses.   He trained horses for years.  

He is preceded in death by his wife Dale Leachman Shaw and parents A.C. and Lois Gay Shaw. 

Left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Vickie S. Womack and husband Kenneth of Chatham, Louisiana, son, William Rel Shaw and wife Shaughn of Vernon, Louisiana: grandchildren, Kenneth Bradley Womack and wife Rebecca, William Brian Womack and wife Amy, Leighann Womack Parker; great grandchildren, Brook Ashley Dupree, Madison Olivia Womack, William Tate Womack, Reese Elizabeth Womack, Ella Grace Parker, and Sophie.  

Pallbearers will be Brad Womack, Brian Womack, Tate Womack, Clint Cooper, Aubrey Barr, and Keith Johnson.

The family has asked in lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Vernon Cemetery Association, 1549 Stonewall Rd., Ruston, Louisiana, 71270

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A.W. “Bud” Shaw 
April 4, 1929 – July 20, 2024 
Cemetery: Vernon Baptist Church Cemetery, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, 2:00 pm 

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By T. Scott Boatright

 Ruston’s John Kyte felt like he was on top of the world during a trip he took last March.

And in fact, he was close to it, living a lifelong dream in the process.

That’s because in March, Kyte took up an offer from his son Rob and joined his son and three others.

“I saw Mt. Everest in an encyclopedia when I was 7 years old and have been fascinated by it ever since,” Kyte said. “I’ve always wanted to go there and see it, and my son knew that. I’m the one that first introduced him to rock climbing and different things. We have this common interest.

“So, he asked me in February of 2023 if I would consider making the trek to Everest Base Camp with him and I said ‘yeah, absolutely.’ When your 26-year-old son asks you to do something like that — that’s an epic adventure. So, it was three 26-year-olds, a 29-year-old and 68-year-old me who made the trip.”

So began a year’s worth of preparation to make the journey to Nepal.

“My first thought was what the hell had I gotten myself into?” Kyte said. “So, I started training, but realized I didn’t know what I was training for, so I got a trainer — Lynette Talbott of Billy Goat Swift, the in-house trainer for Alpenglow Expeditions, the company Rob works for, to get me ready.

“I began training in April of 2023, with a lot of focus on balance, core strengthening, and especially my legs — single leg presses, squats of every type and variety, lunges, hiking at Lincoln Parish Park with a backpack filled with 20 pounds of birdseed while also doing a lot of road and mountain biking.”

As his training continued, Kyte realized he needed to find out if he could handle hiking in a high-altitude region like hiking near Mt. Everest would take.

“Robert and I went to the Eastern Sierras in California last August and went up to 11,300 feet the first day and to 12,300 the next,” Kyte said. “I did it, I was sore as hell afterwards, but I had no problems with the altitude. So, last October, we did two 14,000-foot hikes in Colorado — Mt Bierstadt and Quandary Peak — in three days in October and again, no altitude issues.

But coming down was hard on my knees — really hard. You think going up would be harder, but it’s actually coming down that’s harder because you have to fight the gravity pulling on you. So, I added knee-specific exercises to my training — sissy squats, step ups, wall squats, walking backwards on the treadmill at a 20-degree incline, and lots of time on a Stairmaster.”

Kyte was feeling better and better about his preparations until December, when sharp knee pain led to the discovery that he had a torn meniscus in a knee.

“By the time that was fully diagnosed, we were eight weeks out and I had to think about surgery. The decision was easy — my surgeon said the knee was a ticking time bomb and he advised me against making the Everest trek unless I had the surgery. He said I would need seven weeks to heal – and I was eight weeks away from the trip.

“The surgery went well, but I had to work through a lot of residual pain and limit my training, at least for that leg, for several weeks. But in the end, all the work I had put in before the injury paid off, and I recovered pretty quickly.”

Then came the last training test —- testing himself in a low-oxygen atmosphere like he would face in Nepal.

“I slept with the upper part of my body in a Hypoxico (low oxygen) tent for the last four weeks before the trek,” Kyte said. “And because of that, when we arrived in Kathmandu, I was already acclimatized to 16,400 feet.

“So, when we first got there in March, we spent the first two days in Kathmandu. We saw some incredible sights and ate some good food. The Nepali people were so nice and accommodating. But we learned two important things. You do not drink the water and you don’t eat meat because you have no idea of what it is, how it was killed, how it was prepared, or how long it’s been unrefrigerated.”

The on the third day, the party headed to Lukla, landing at Tenzing Hillary, which Kyte said is one of the most dangerous airports in the world because of its short runway, unpredictable weather and 2,000-foot drop on one side.

“WE landed, got all of our gear out of the plane and it was gone,” Kyte said. “So, we hiked to a tea house there and began the real journey the next day.”

Tea houses are accommodations along trekking routes in Nepal that offer basic lodging and meals. Many Sherpas in the Everest region own and operate tea houses along Everest’s trekking routes. In lower elevations, tea houses may be multi-story concrete buildings with private rooms and attached western style bathrooms. The farther you hike up, the more basic the accommodations get.

“The people at the tea houses were so great and the food was wonderful,” Kyte said. “We often had American breakfasts, sometimes even with a little sausage. The protein we needed was lentils and rice. They would put a big dent in rice in a bowl and pour the lentils into that dent.

“It’s high-energy food. We ate a lot, but we still all lost about 14 pounds throughout the trek — about a pound per day. So, we ate a lot of good food and drank a lot of water which had been purified.”

Kyte said the trails were often quite narrow and the party had to cross high-suspension bridges also being used by animals.

“We had to cross one of the world’s highest and longest suspension bridges above a raging river,” Kyte said. “We shared the bridge with yaks, horses, donkeys and other animals. Everything has to be carried in, so the animals are very important there. And they always have the right of way. The animals wear bells so that you can hear them coming. And when the animals are coming your way, you are instructed to ‘hug the mountain.’ Get out of the way because the animals don’t care that you’re on their trail and will bump you off the trail or bridge as they pass if you’re not careful. And it’s a long way down should that happen.”

Eventually, the group saw the prize — a towering Mt. Everest in the distance.

“The weather conditions made it tough, but we still were able to see Everest,” Kyte said. “It was the most incredible scenery and a very emotional experience for me. As far as you could see, there was nothing but massive mountains and on such a grand scale. It was very humbling and kind of intimidating and made you realize how small you are. Those mountains are twice as tall as any we have here in our country. It was actually quite spiritual. It truly was incredible.”

Gorakshep was the last point of civilization before they reached the Everest Base Camp.

After reaching base camp, they made an eight-hour hike to the place dedicated to the Sherpa people and discovered a plaque placed in honor of the Alex Lowe Charitable Foundation that was created to support safer climbing conditions.

On that plaque was a name special to John Kyte and Ruston — Ross Lynn.

“Ross was a local from north Louisiana who was tragically killed at a young age,” Kyte said. “But he was an incredibly accomplished climber who was great friends with giants in the climbing world. And now there is a climbing wall placed there in his name. So, Ruston is always there. It’s a very special place.”

Kyte’s group faced one last challenge trying to head home as the airport was closed because of weather conditions, so they descended the mountain toward a field where they hoped to leave by helicopter.

“It turned out to be the most rugged hike of the adventure,” Kyte said. “All downhill, rugged and wet, passing through tiny villages with some of the nicest people you could find. So, we finally reached a field that had been cleared for helicopters to land.

“When we got down there, we found about 300 people waiting for helicopters. But we got on one — there was one group of people throwing their gear out and then departing the helicopter before we got on. That was only about a four-minute process. Then we couldn’t land in Kathmandu because the airport gets too busy with small plans in the afternoon, so they don’t let (helicopters) in,”

So then came a long — timewise — drive to Kathmandu.

“We landed in Ramecchap, which is six hours from Kathmandu. Only 16 miles, but a long drive away because the roads are so bad, and you have to driveway out of the way to get to a bridge to cross the river to be able to reach Kathmandu. The roads are terrible and incredibly narrow in places with potholes everywhere/ The road was almost nonexistent in some spots.”

“So, we got back to Kathmandu and spent another two nights there before flying back home.”

Kyte said one of the biggest surprises of the journey was the cost.

“Setting aside airfare, the cost for us be picked up at the airport in Kathmandu, taken to a nice hotel with two nights and meals included with that, 14 days of trek with a guide and three porters, three meals a day, bus back to Ramecchap to (Kathmandu), and then two more nights at the hotel.

“All of that was $2,500. We asked the guide how much we should tip the porters and he said $100 — for the entire 14 days carrying out our stuff, and $300 for the guide. So, we tipped the guide $500 and gave the porters $200 each. And they were so grateful I thought they were going to kiss us. That was considered by them to be exceedingly generous.”

Kyte said that was an incredibly low price to experience a dream fulfilled.

“It was just an amazing experience from start to finish,” Kyte said. “One that I will never forget. It made me want to try it again. Machu Picchu in Peru seems like it would be another great experience.”   

 

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Jazmin “Paso” Boyd, a former star Grambling State University basketball player, was killed in a single-vehicle crash in Ruston Friday night.

The crash occurred on West Alabama Avenue at Goyne Street near Park Ridge Estates. Preliminary reports indicate Boyd’s vehicle hit a utility pole. Further details were not available over the weekend.

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Boyd, GSU’s 9th all-time leading scorer, played from 2015 to 2019. She led the Tigers to its first NCAA appearance in 20 years in 2018.

Originally from El Paso, Texas, Boyd was a standout player for Hattiesburg, Miss., High School before attending GSU.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our former women’s basketball student-athlete and GSU alumna, Jazmin Boyd,” Tigers athletic director Trayvean Scott said in a statement.  “Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, teammates and all who were touched by her remarkable life. We ask for everyone to keep the Boyd family in your prayers during this very difficult time.” 

 

By Malcolm Butler

 The summer-long journey for the Ruston Dixie Youth Boys 9u All-Stars came to an end this weekend in Laurel, Mississippi at the Regional World Series.

Between Mother Nature impacting the weekend and some uncharacteristic miscues, the Ruston 9u team played only three games before being eliminated by the Wayne County (Miss.) 9u All-Star team.

The Ruston boys entered the event red-hot, coming off a state championship performance in Minden a few weeks ago that saw them outscored their opponents 30-3 over the final three games to capture the title and a spot in the regional World Series.

However, the outcome in Mississippi wasn’t quite as successful, as Ruston fell to Livingston (Texas), Dothan (Ala.) and Wayne County (Ala). However, head coach Jeremy Telford said its an experience they will never forget.

“I told the guys to walk out of this stadium with your heads held high,” said Telford. “They accomplished more in the last eight weeks than anyone would have ever thought they would. They have worked your tails off in practice and won two championships.

“No one can ever take away the fact that this team was the 2024 9U District IV and Louisiana State Champions. We are all so proud of them.”

The 11-member all-star squad struggled defensively in Mississippi as opponents capitalized on those mistakes to produce runs. The event was originally scheduled to be a minimum of five games, but heavy rain and severe thunderstorms disrupted play and ultimately forced the tournament to be shortened.

“We want to thank the parents, families and friends for their support this summer,” said Telford. “And we want to thank God for being blessed with the incredible ability to play baseball at this level. It was a honor and a privilege to coach this group.”

Despite the results this past weekend, the Ruston 9u team won both the District IV championship and the Louisiana 9u state championship.

Coaches for the Ruston 9u All-Stars are Jeremy Telford, Beau Holloway, and Cody Rodrigues. The team is comprised of #9 Austin Moore, #12 Briggs Holloway, #99 Brooks Telford, #15 Camp Adair, #11 Emmit Fouts, #28 Hayden Haddox, #7 Marus Roy, #1 Paisleigh Rodrigues, #5 Randon Gantt, #21 Tripp Scott, and #2 Weston Gantt.

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Only a few limited edition Ruston Bearcat posters remain for sale. Anyone wishing to order one of these gold gilded editions should follow the directions below to do so as only 15 of these remain available.

What a ride it was in 2023.

With the start of the 2024 season just around the corner, fans who may have missed out on the chance to purchase either a Limited Edition or Commemorative Edition poster still have a chance.

And the best news … they are on sale. Starting today and while supplies last, both the remaining Limited Edition and Commemorative Edition posters are 20 percent off. Only a limited number of each remain so they will be sold on a first come, first serve basis.

Head coach Jerrod Baugh and the Ruston Bearcats took our community on a memorable journey this year, capturing the 2023 Nonselect School Division I title with a 31-17 win over Zachary in the Caesar’s Superdome.

Baugh and the Bearcats captured the school’s ninth state title, its first since 1990 and they did so in a first-class fashion.

In recognition of the state title run, the Lincoln Parish Journal commissioned local graphic designer Courtney Pugh of Donnie Bell Design back in December of 2023 to create a commemorative edition and limited poster featuring photos from official GeauxPrep’s state title game photographer Josh McDaniel (FourSix3).

There are two unique versions of the 18 x 24 inch poster, each printed on 100-pound glossy:

a) a LIMITED edition ($60) with ONLY 75 printed that features a gold gilded tint and a numbering system to differentiate each poster (only 15 remain for sale)

b) a COMMEMORATIVE edition ($20)

To order either poster, email lpjmerchandise@gmail.com and include your name, email address, cell phone number, version of the poster (LIMITED or COMMEMORATIVE), and total number wanting to purchase.

The LPJ will take orders on a first come, first serve basis and will continue to sell while supplies last.

The LPJ will take payment via credit card (an email invoice will be sent which can be processed by the buyer with a credit card) or cash. No checks will be accepted.

Don’t miss your chance to purchase this beautiful keepsake depicting the Bearcats title run in 2023. Email lpjmerchandise@gmail.com and include your name, email address, cell phone number, version of the poster (LIMITED or COMMEMORATIVE), and total number wanting to purchase.

Special thanks to Origin Bank and Forth Insurance for their support of this project.

When you hear the term ‘art,’ what comes to mind? Is it painting and drawing or music and theatre? Many people seem to forget that art is all around us every day. It’s in the cars we drive and the buildings that house us. It’s in the clothes we wear and newspapers we read. For some individual, they themselves may be a walking talking art gallery.

Whitney Caskey is one of a handful of artists in our parish who have chosen to pursue tattooing as their preferred form of art. A native of Quitman, Louisiana, Caskey attended Louisiana Tech and received her BFA in studio art and photography. She says that while she has used various mediums throughout the years, she landed on tattooing in 2015 and has co-owned a studio since 2020.

Caskey says that art has been an interest of hers for her entire life. She explains that she has always loved creating things and consistently trying to improve in whatever medium she is working in at any given time. She goes on to say, “When it comes to tattoos, I love sharing my work with people in such a permanent way and it’s an honor to be trusted with that.”

Caskey says that she loves seeing someone’s self-confidence improve with each tattoo. She says that she has seen many people go from worrying so much about how the world views them, to becoming their truest self through the addition of art on their skin.

Many of Caskey’s pieces reflect her own interest and style, incorporating wildlife such as plants and various “critters” that are often overlooked. She says that a bug on the sidewalk or a bird eating a French fry in the parking lot can provide the perfect material for her work.

She also loves to collect unexpected objects such as animal skulls, specimens, and books with scientific illustrations of plants and animals. She uses these materials as references for her work.

Caskey says she likes to draw in the morning when her brain is still working. She likes to keep a list of ideas when she sees something inspiring. “I’ll then consult the list and kind of sketch out those ideas to be added to my flash drops,” explains Whitney.

Caskey says that though it looks nothing like her own, she is inspired by the creations of Suflanda, whose work is positive, creative, and unique. “I think it helped me to see her work early in my career as it shows that tattoos don’t have to portray a “tough guy” image, but rather can be delicate and wholesome,” explains Caskey.

She says that self-expression is important and that’s why she loves covering people in designs that make them happy and confident. “I hope my work inspires people to get that tattoo or piercing they’ve been wanting,” she explains, “It’s similar to hanging artwork on the walls of your house to make it feel like a home.”

When asked what message she wanted to share with others, Whitney admits hers doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with tattoos. “I feel like you should be cool with creating ‘bad’ art,” she starts, “create something once in a while just for the fun of it and the therapeutic benefits.” She says that she feels like too much pressure is put on people to monetize creative hobbies, create work just to go viral, or even the idea that you must be good to do it at all. Whitney feels that anyone can have a creative hobby that they enjoy for that purpose alone.

To follow Whitney Caskey and see her work, you can find her on Instagram and Facebook at whitneycaskeytattoos.

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Ruston Police arrested a man last Wednesday after a report of a shoplifter fleeing a Ruston store. Dontrell Williams, 34, of Avondale, La., was arrested about 10 p.m. July 10 on Arizona Avenue.

Police received a report that a man wearing an orange shirt and khaki pants had shoplifted a case of diapers from a local store. He was last seen headed east on E. Arizona Ave. A patrol officer saw a man carrying a box covered in an orange T-shirt. The man fled and was subdued with a Taser. Williams allegedly continued to attempt to escape, and the Taser was deployed again.

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Williams was arrested and the box of diapers recovered. Williams was checked out at the Northern Louisiana Medical Center before transport to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center.

A smoking pipe commonly used to ingest narcotics was found in Williams’s sock. He was booked for theft by shoplifting, resisting an officer, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bail was set at $3,000.

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. 

This is an advertorial.

Reserved seating season ticket holders for the returning state champion Ruston High School will be receiving an email today with information on renewing their seats for an exciting year.

Current season ticket holders have until Sunday, Aug. 4, to renew.

Fans will also have the option to reserve a parking spot in the newly constructed lot above the south end zone for $100, where the tennis courts used to be.

Bearcat fans will be treated to four regular-season home games of high quality football at The Hoss, and the Bearcats will be serving as the home team in late September in the Lone Star state in a neutral site matchup.

The Bearcats will host 2024 Division I, Select state-runner up Acadiana on Friday, Sept. 6, and then Cabot High out of Arkansas on Friday, Sept. 13, in a continuation of a home-and-home series.

Ruston will also be the home team on Saturday, Sept. 28, in a neutral site contest in Longview, Texas, against Stephenville High.

After a four-week stretch away from home, Ruston will finally return to The Hoss on Friday, Oct. 18, as the Neville Tigers return to 5A and continue a rivalry series that is approaching 100 years in a row of the two sharing the gridiron.

Finally, the Bearcats will host Pineville for Homecoming on Friday, Nov. 1.

All five games listed will be covered in this year’s season ticket package, which will be priced at $65 — the same price as last season.

“We are looking forward to the preparation to be ready to play all of the great teams we have lined up on our schedule,” Ruston head coach Jerrod Baugh said in February when the 2024 schedule was officially released. “It will be one big challenge after the next. We will need our fans to be ready to support our guys at home and on the road again this year.”

For fans that are looking to renew their season tickets, they’ll need to mark their calendars for Monday, July 22, to lock in their current reserved seat selections.

This season will also mark the first year that Ruston High will fully utilize its partnership with GoFan where fans will now purchase their tickets digitally.

“We’re super excited to have this digital program,” Ruston High principal Dan Gressett said. “It makes things so much easier, and it’s already taken some of the burden off of sporting events. We’ve been trying to go to some type of digital platform for a few years now, and we’ve finally made it happen.”

Current season ticket holders in reserved seating will have first access to renew from July 22 through Sunday, Aug. 4. At that point, any seats that have not been renewed will be put back into a pool to be purchased by the general public starting Monday, Aug. 5.

Season tickets will be sold from that point forward until either Friday, Aug. 30, or all have been sold.

For more information on GoFan, see the document below.

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The City of Ruston announced, weather permitting, that S. Farmerville St. between Eastland Ave. and E. California Ave. will be closed to through traffic beginning 7am Monday, July 22, 2024, through 7pm Friday, July 26, 2024.

This closure is necessary for a utility pipe replacement. 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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By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

 TROON, Scotland – Weekend play at the British Open was the best of times for Choudrant resident Sam Burns, and then, the worst of times.

Burns, who plays out of Squire Creek Country Club, rocketed up the leaderboard Saturday with a sizzling 7-under round of 65, vaulting the Shreveport native and former LSU All-American into a second-place tie at 3-under, one off the lead, entering the final round.

But it was Sunday on the struggle bus for Burns, who was up and down on the front nine, considered the “gettable” side on the Royal Troon course, before he ran into big trouble on the back nine. He made the turn at one-over for the day, then bogeyed the next three, taking a disastrous triple-bogey 7 on the 12^th hole, and finished with the worst score (along with Tom Hoge and Alex Cejka) in the 80-man field on Sunday, a nine-over 80.

He tumbled all the way to a tie for 31^st place at six-over-par. He and nine others, including former major championship winners Dustin Johnson and Justin Thomas, earned $90,220 for their efforts.

It was, however, the 27-year-old’s best finish in the Open Championship, and his first time in a major that he entered the final round on the cusp of the lead. It came on the heels of a ninth-place at the U.S. Open last month that was his first career top 10 in a major championship.

Amid the bitter disappointment, Burns did impress the rugged British media with a simple gesture after the round.

Like his close friend, Masters’ champion and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Burns declined media interviews after finishing. Scheffler, the favorite in every tournament he enters in 2024, finished seventh but never challenged for the lead with a 1-over 72 on Sunday, carding a double bogey on the final hole.

Heading to his car, likely to join fellow new father Scheffler on their flight home, Burns was approached by a tournament volunteer who asked him to sign a ball. Instead of ducking his head and continuing on, Burns graciously stopped and met the volunteer’s request.

Burns started the Open Championship badly, seven-over after the first 11 holes on Thursday, and rallied slightly that day to finish with a five-over 76. He shot 69 Friday to climb into the top 30, and had Saturday’s low score to get to the verge of the lead after 54 holes.

American Xander Schauffele took home the prized Claret Jug with a nine-under finish, shooting 65 Sunday. It was his second major win, after taking the PGA Championship in May.

This is the first time since 1982 that all four of golf’s majors have been captured by American golfers – Scheffler with the Masters and Bryson DeChambeau taking the U.S. Open.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

 

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The Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System (UL System) unanimously voted today to appoint James Genovese as the next president of Northwestern State University (NSU).
  
“I am deeply honored by the trust placed in me by the UL System Board of Supervisors and am excited to lead Northwestern State University into its next chapter,” said Genovese. “Northwestern holds a special place in my heart. As an alumnus, returning to lead this remarkable institution is a privilege. My vision is to foster a collaborative and innovative environment that not only prioritizes student success but also increases enrollment to shape future leaders for Louisiana and beyond. Together, we will build upon that strong foundation I received at Northwestern and achieve great outcomes.”

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Genovese, currently serving as Associate Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court, District 3, is a distinguished member of Northwestern State University’s “Long Purple Line” Alumni Hall of Distinction, class of 2018, and holds a bachelor’s degree from NSU. He was a four-year letterman in tennis and was named in Who’s Who Among Universities and Colleges, Who’s Who Among Greek Fraternities and Sororities of America and Outstanding College Athletes of America. Through his professional career as a general practice attorney and judge, Genovese brings extensive experience and skill in navigating complex issues, solving problems and driving solutions that benefit the people of Louisiana. Genovese has served as a panelist, speaker and lecturer at conferences and continuing education seminars over the past 20 years.

“Throughout his career, Justice Genovese has demonstrated exemplary public service and leadership,” said Mark Romero, Chair of the Board of Supervisors for the UL System. “I’m confident in President Genovese’s ability to rally the NSU community and make significant impact in driving positive change. His commitment to strengthening NSU’s legacy is evident, and we are dedicated to supporting him.”

“His deep roots in NSU and unwavering commitment to public service will undoubtedly benefit the NSU community,” said Rick Gallot, UL System President. “His leadership and dedication to the state will bring fresh insights, drive positive change and enhance the university’s impact.”

The UL System initiated a presidential search process in June 2024. A Presidential Search Committee, appointed by Chair Mark Romero and comprised of UL System Board of Supervisors members and NSU community members, was tasked with conducting the search. The Committee held in-person interviews with candidates on July 16, and the UL System Board of Supervisors interviewed the finalist and selected the  new president on July 18.

Genovese will assume his new role as president at NSU next month. Details of his start date will be determined by President Gallot and Board Chair Romero.

For more details on the NSU presidential search, click here. 

Each Monday and Friday, the Lincoln Parish Journal will post a list of non-for-profit upcoming events happening in the parish. If you would like to add your event to this list or advertise your for-profit events, please email us at lpjnewsla@gmail.com. 

Monday, July 22
11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome
4 p.m.: Family storytime at Lincoln Parish Library
6 p.m.: Toastmasters International meeting (Louisiana Center for the Blind, 101 South Trenton Street)
6-9 p.m.: Creative Meetups (112 W. Alabama Ave.)

Tuesday, July 23
10 a.m.: Family storytime at Lincoln Parish Library
10:30 a.m.: Summer movie series “The Secret Garden” (Dixie Theatre)
2 p.m.: Crafternoon at Lincoln Parish Library
6 p.m.: Fiber art meet up (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)

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Wednesday, July 24
7-8 a.m.: Veterans Coffee Club (PJ’s Coffee)
11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome

Thursday, July 25
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Kiwanis Club lunch and program (Trinity Methodist Church fellowship hall)
2 p.m.: Tween STEAM (Lincoln Parish Library)

Friday, July 26
2 p.m.: Briarhill Farms at Lincoln Parish Library (Ruston Room)

Union Parish authorities are investigating a residential burglary that occurred on Rocky Branch Road.

According to Crime Stoppers of Union Parish, the home was burglarized between June 27 and July 4 while the homeowner was out of town. A large number of items were stolen including a Ford tractor, a 2002 red Honda Shadow motorcycle, numerous televisions, air conditioners, and other items.

Crime Stoppers said warrants have been obtained for a woman in Ouachita Parish who had some of the stolen items in her possession. The authorities are still looking for more suspects.

Anyone with information on the burglary should contact Crime Stoppers of Union Parish at (318) 368-9679 or (318) 265-2051. A cash reward will be paid for information leading to the arrest of those responsible or the recovery of items.

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On Thursday, July 18, 2024, Ronny went home to be with our Lord and Savior.

Funeral services for Ronald Morris “Ronny” Baker, age 75 of Ruston, LA are scheduled for 2:00 PM, Monday, July 22, 2024 at Alabama Presbyterian Church near Choudrant with Rev. Ricky Edmiston officiating. Interment will follow in Sibley Cemetery near Choudrant under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston.

Ronny lived all of his life in the Choudrant community. He graduated from Choudrant High School and studied welding at the Technical College in Ruston. He initially began a career driving a gas truck for a few years before realizing his true passion as a farrier. After starting a family, Ronny followed in his father’s footsteps by becoming a school bus driver for Lincoln Parish while maintaining his farrier career. Later in life, he started Baker’s Deer Processing which he ran for multiple years as well. Ronny retired from bus driving after 30+ years and gradually retired from his long farrier career after 50! years of hard work which took him all over north Louisiana. His two sons have fond memories of summers “helping” dad shoe horses. Ronny loved spending time with his grandkids and was also known for putting quite an edge on a knife blade. Bus driver to many, cowboy to some, but his greatest title was being called Pappy. The family would like to thank all the support from close friends and family who visited and took care of him during his final days with a special thank you to Amy Luker for being his primary care and her daughter Lilly for her endless entertainment with song and dance.

Ronny is survived by his two sons, Clay Baker and Justin Baker and wife Emily; grandsons Joseph Baker, Tristan Baker, and Jacob Baker; nephew Randy Upchurch; nieces Suzy Gardunio, Tracey Renfrow, and Emily Gaylor; as well as numerous great nieces and nephews and a host of friends.  Preceding him in death were his parents, Morris Clayton and Emma Lee Baker and his sister Johnette Upchurch.

Serving as pallbearers will be his grandsons Joseph, Tristan, and Jacob as well as close friends Tim Smith, Steve Baker, Greg Franklin, Jeremy Barmore, and Robert Nolan.

Visitation is scheduled from 5:00 until 7:00 PM, Sunday, July 21, 2024 in the Alabama Presbyterian Church Family Life Center.  To leave an online memorial message for the family, please visit http://www.owensmemorialfuneralhome.com

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Ronny M. Baker
February 8, 1949 – July 18, 2024

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