We are delighted to announce that Dr. Caleb Stanfield, a distinguished endocrinologist, is joining our medical team at Green Clinic. Dr. Stanfield brings a wealth of expertise and a patient-centered approach to his practice, which we are confident will greatly benefit our community.
Dr. Stanfield is an accomplished endocrinologist with extensive experience in diagnosing and treating a wide range of endocrine diseases. His areas of expertise include:
Diabetes: Management of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, with a focus on personalized care plans to help patients maintain optimal blood glucose levels and prevent complications.
Thyroid Disorders: Treatment of conditions such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroid nodules, and thyroid cancer.
Adrenal and Pituitary Gland Disorders: Comprehensive care for diseases affecting these crucial glands, including Addison’s disease, Cushing’s syndrome, and pituitary tumors.
Reproductive Endocrine Disorders: Addressing hormonal imbalances related to the testicles and ovaries, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and hypogonadism.
Lipid and Bone Metabolism Disorders: Managing conditions like osteoporosis and hyperlipidemia to ensure patients’ long-term health and well-being.
Dr. Stanfield’s professional philosophy centers on providing up-to-date endocrinology care while ensuring his patients are fully informed about their treatment options. He believes in a collaborative approach to healthcare, where patients are active participants in their own care decisions. This philosophy is encapsulated in his statement: “I aim to diagnose and treat my patients with up-to-date endocrinology care as well as help them understand the decisions we make so they rest easy and enjoy the utmost quality of life.”
Dr. Stanfield is married to Dr. Kristina Stanfield, an ophthalmologist also new to Green Clinic. The couple has two young boys and enjoys spending their free time outdoors. Whether it’s walking or gardening, the Stanfield family appreciates the beauty of nature and the relaxation it brings.
In addition to his medical career, Dr. Stanfield has a variety of personal interests. He enjoys cooking and often finds joy in preparing meals for his family. As an outdoor enthusiast, he enjoys hunting and fishing. Dr. Stanfield is a passionate sports fan and has a rich history in athletics, having played as an offensive lineman at Northwestern State University in his hometown of Natchitoches, Louisiana.
Dr. Stanfield is eager to contribute to our clinic and the broader community. His comprehensive knowledge and patient-first approach will enhance our ability to provide top-notch medical care. His arrival marks an exciting expansion of our endocrinology services, allowing us to offer more specialized treatments and support to our patients.
For appointments or consultations with Dr. Stanfield, please contact our Internal Medicine and Endocrinology department at 318-251-6108. We are confident that with his expertise and compassionate approach, Dr. Stanfield will be an invaluable addition to our team and a trusted healthcare provider for our patients.
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Every vote from the major TikTok Sports outlets from around the country has been tabulated, and the result is no surprise:
Nasdaq University of Georgia A&T&M is picked to repeat as BC$ national champion — even though each member of the team agreed to a restructured contract and less money this fall for more money later.
“This will allow us to invest more money on transfers to fill immediate needs,” coach Tommy “Dough” DiCosmo said. “The restructuring of the contracts speaks to the unselfishness of this team. Humbles me as a coach. They won it all last year and they’re more than willing to wait for a few hundred thousand down the road instead of cash right now for the best chance to repeat.”
The usually unflappable DiCosmo stopped and appeared to choke back tears before saying, “It’s not the wins I’ll remember, or the championships, or the trophies … well, I mean, I WILL remember the wins and the championships and the trophies because those things got me a house off No.7 fairway and some beach property. But what I’ll also remember — besides the trophies and some pretty solid investments that should allow me to retire year after next with the lifestyle I’m accustomed to, minus the locker room smell — is how these guys were willing to take some deferred stocks instead of cash up front. ‘Unselfish’ is the word that comes to my mind.”
He stopped, gathered himself, then said, barely above a whisper, “Old school.”
“The team that pays together, stays together,” team captain and All-American linebacker CD “Low Blow” Lee said. “Word.”
Lee is one of a triplet set of linebackers on an ATM team that dominated last year. As a trio, Lee and brothers CA and CB registered more than 300 tackles.
“If there’s been a better combo of linebackers to ever play, I sure ain’t seen ’em,” defensive coordinator Bowler Johnson said. “And won’t, not in this lifetime.”
The triplets’ little brother CC anchors the secondary at strong safety. One of the bigger safeties to ever play the game, the 6-6, 225-pound baby of the Lee bunch runs a 4.4, can bench a small county and is one of the reasons opponents attempted just two passes of more than 15 yards all season. While each was completed, one resulted in a limp-off, the other in a cart-off.
The offense starts with Jimmy “No Shoes” Taylor, a barefooted wonder who confuses defenses and electrifies fans with his daring runs, rocket arm, and six-car garage. A senior from the tobacco fields of small-town Virginia, Taylor missed the first week of fall drills after wrecking his Jag on the drive from his summer home in Jackson Hole.
“He’ll be ready for the opener,” offensive coordinator and NFL Hall of Fame receiver Quincy “Eye Black” Fontenette said. “Insurance covered the Jag; also got Jimmy a new deal with an insurance company whose name I can’t say right now, but I have some pamphlets I’ll be happy to hand you after practice.”
Elo “6-Sport” Capers, everybody’s favorite running back, is healthy after having spent the summer “lifting weights, getting my shoulder back right, and rotating the tires on my Audi,” the heralded junior said. Besides football, Capers has lettered in basketball, baseball, track and field, breakdancing, and advanced/varsity trampoline.
He’s good, but the Guys Up Front might be better. The self-proclaimed Best Dressed Offensive Line in Football (each player wears a necktie during games), the ATM offensive line is anchored by center Trudell “Big Hands” Patterson and guards Blaze “Big Feet” Butler and Grayson “Big Fill-in-the-Blank” Katona.
“Every girl’s crazy ’bout a sharp-dressed man,” the shy and popular Katona said.
The offense usually plays with only one tackle, but opposing defensive coordinators will testify that at a cat-quick 7-2, 360, Moses “Where He At?” Abraham sort of counts as two guys anyway.
ATM opens the season against Wofford.
Picked to finish second this season are The New York Stock Exchange University of Alabama AT&T Fightin’ Benjamins.
A Farmerville man stopped for an equipment violation Sunday was arrested after drugs were found in his vehicle.
Jerry W. Gatson, 63, was stopped by the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office on La. Highway 821 shortly after midnight Sunday morning for inoperable lights. A records check showed a previous arrest for drug possession.
During a search of the vehicle, a deputy found a chewing tobacco can on the dashboard containing suspected methamphetamine.
Gatson was arrested and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and no license plate lights. Gatson’s bail amount was not available at publication time.
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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In 2004 I decided to take my fishing to another level by fishing as a co-angler on the defuncted FLW Tour, now called Major League Fishing (MLF). I fished this level for two seasons while expanding my bass fishing knowledge. To fish with the best anglers in the world was quite the privilege and made me realize just how lucky I was to get in the boat with pro anglers like Clark Wendlandt, Dion Hibdon, and Kelly Jordon. But I also got to wet a hook in some of the best bass lakes in America.
One of my first favorites would be Lake Okeechobee in South Florida. This is a place like no other I have fished in my entire career. It is a great fishery, but also intimidating with its massive expanse of wide-open cattails patches and hydrilla grass beds.
To navigate this lake without GPS would be a nightmare and almost impossible to return to an area where you caught fish the day before, as the entire lake looks the same. But when it comes to big bass, this lake is in a class all to itself where massive largemouth bass in the ten-pound range are fairly common. It’s not unusual for a tournament angler to bring in a 30-pound 5 fish limit.
Next, Kentucky Lake! During the early 2000s this lake was on fire and a magnet for major bass tournaments due to its great fishing. Two things played a key role in what made this lake so good…. current and ledges. Kentucky Lake is known as a great current lake as bass set up on these deep-water ledges waiting to ambush just about any lure an angler might want to throw. It’s also one of many great lakes along the Tennessee River chain. While the lake was on the decline a few years ago, it has now rebounded, and the fishing is once again really good.
Another great lake I fished during my FLW days was Beaver Lake Arkansas. This lake is a structure fisherman’s dream and was where the “shaky head” craze first started. The shaky head is a small ball head jig (usually 1/8 oz. or 3/16 oz.) with a light wire hook.
This technique is usually fished on a spinning rod with light line anywhere from 8 to 10-pound test. Known as a bottom dragging bait, this technique is great for catching finicky bass. Beaver Lake is where this technique started and has become a main stay method for catching bass all across the country.
Closer to home, and a place that just might be the best bass lake in America as named a couple of years by Bassmaster Magazine, is Lake Sam Rayburn! Located just across the Louisiana/Texas state line in East Texas, Sam Rayburn is the crown jewel of the bass fishing world. Anglers commonly weigh-in 30-pound stringers almost year around.
Whether you like to fish deep or shallow, Rayburn offers you the opportunity to fish anyway you desire. It is a great deep structure fishing lake, along with plenty of shallow cover for bass to hide. Probably the number one technique used here is the Carolina rig. This is a drag the bottom technique with a ¾ or 1 ounce tungsten weight with a 3-foot leader using a baby brush hog in watermelon/red.
Rayburn is also the second biggest lake in Texas and gets more tournament fishing pressure than any other body of water. It’s truly amazing how each week this lake gets pounded but continues to put out 20- and 30-pound stringers.
Other great lakes that I’ve had the pleasure to fish include Lake Hartwell and Santee Cooper South Carolina, Lake Eufaula in Oklahoma and South Alabama, Lake Chickamauga and Old Hickory in Tennessee, Toledo Bend, Lake Fork and a lake I grew up on Lake Monticello located just outside of Mt. Pleasant, Texas. But one of my newest favorites is East Texas’ very own Lake of the Pines. This lake has been a sleeping giant but in recent years has really become a very popular bass tournament lake.
While some will disagree, another place that has a special place in my heart is the mighty Red River! This body of water has become one of my personal favorites. I’ve had quite a bit of success on the Red River and it seems to suit my style of fishing.
I guess you could say I have been truly blessed to get the opportunity to fish some of the best fisheries in America. Along the way, I’ve made an endless list of friends of both professional anglers and weekend warriors. It has been through this list of anglers that I have been able to sustain a great outdoors radio/podcast program for 17 years called Hook’N Up & Track’N Down.
But I’ve also had a little help with two great co-hosts, Gary McCoy and Mike Echols. Together we have been able to put together an outdoors program that’s both highly entertaining and educational.
To wrap this up, we are lucky to live in a country with so many great places to wet a hook in the many lakes and rivers loaded with great fish catching opportunities. Not only can anglers bring in great stringers but can make some great memories just as I have done!
Till next time, good luck, good fishing and make sure to introduce a kid to the great outdoors.
The Grambling State University women’s soccer team and head coach Justin Wagar announced the addition 16 newcomers ahead of the start of the 2024 season.
This year’s batch of new Lady Tigers feature four transfers and 12 incoming freshmen. Two goalkeepers, six forwards, three midfielders, and five defenders make up the positions for the recent signees.
“This class adds depth for our program, a lot of speed, and a mixture of experience and talent. I’m excited to start our official season and games soon and have the chance to see them compete in season,” said Wagar.
Jayla Gage is an All-Conference college transfer from Chicago State University, and then Troy University where she played one year for each school as a forward. While at Chicago State, she led the team in shots, points, and scoring with five goals, including two game winners to earn a spot on the Freshman All-WAC team. While at Troy University, Jayla notched two goals and two assists to finish second on the team in scoring and for most points. Gage started 27 out of 32 games her first two years of college while notching 7 total goals and 2 assists. For club ball, the California Native played for Strikers FC ECNL.
Olivia Kowall is a talented 5’7 forward and attacking center mid from Arizona where she is an impact player for her Phoenix Rising ECNL-R team. Oliva was honored as a First Team All-Region selection her senior season, Attacking Player of the Year for All-Region 2023-2024 as well as being honored as her teams MVP and Schoolwide Ironman Athlete of the Year. Kowall was also a first team All-Region selection in 2021-2022 seasons.
Aubrey Salazar is a JUCO transfer from Visalia, California where she was a two-year starter for the College of the Sequoias. Salazar, the team captain, was a standout as an All-Conference College player as a speedy winger and forward for her team. Salazar was also a scholar athlete.
Cindy Norfles is a speedy 5’10 Center back and Forward who hails from Long Beach California. She plays forward for club soccer for her Pateadores ECNL-R team where Norfles was the leading scorer this year notching 19 goals and 12 assists. At Wilson High she was the team’s defensive captain the past two years at corner back where she was honored as the Defender of the Year for her junior and senior seasons, while garnering All-Conference honors the past three years while helping lead her team to a league championship in the 2022-2023 season.
Anaya Thomas is a versatile 5’8 center back and center mid from Palm Beach Florida where she was a standout for her Palm Beach Gardens Predators Girls Academy team. Thomas was a team captain for her Predators GA team the past two years as well as high school captain her senior year. Thomas was honored her senior year as a First Team All-County Selection and MVP while playing center mid. She played for the State and Regional Olympic Development teams too.
Naiya Singleton is a mid-year transfer who joined the Tigers this January from Sam Houston State U. Singletary is a fast forward and outside mid that prepped for Shadow Creek High in Pearland, Texas, a suburb of Houston. She was two-time First Team All-District and All-Academic team selections. Singleton played club ball for the talented Houston Dash Girls Academy 05 team that went undefeated in league play while qualifying for the GA Playoffs. She was an ODP team selection as well.
Kayla Loughrey is a talented outside defender and outside mid from Colorado. She was two time All-State getting honorable mention her junior year and then First Team All-State as a senior. She was her team’s captain and was selected All-Conference both of her upperclassmen years. For club ball she was an impact player and starter on her Broomfield United Girls Academy team.
Kaia Bace, a 5’10 Goalkeeper from New Jersey is a mid-year transfer coming from Seattle University. She was a First Team All-Conference and All-State Selection out of high school where she earned the Golden Glove award for best keeper in 2022 for Toms River High School East. Bace was a top club keeper and was invited to the national ID2 Camp in 2018 and the U-14 US National Training Camp that same year. She was nominated on a number of occasions as GK of the week for New Jersey and was named the NJ.com Top Goalkeeper to watch and to the Top-Rated Girls Soccer Player list. For club she played for PDA ECNL which qualified for the regional and National finals.
Alana Aiken is a 5’8 forward and mid who played club ball for FC Dallas, BVB, and DKSC ECNL over the past 4 years where she was honored as a High Impact player and Player of the Week. She prepped for Rock Hill High and was a varsity forward her last three years where she was honored as an All-District Player and an Academic All-District selection. Just prior to moving to Texas for high school, Aiken helped her Charlotte Soccer Academy team win the state and regional title while making it to the National Championship game.
Ronya Halleen is a dynamic outside back and forward from Sweden where she competed for 2 seasons for allsvenskan and two seasons in elitettan. Halleen is fast and athletic, can beat players off the dribble and create scoring opportunities for her team.
Aaniyah Frye is an incoming freshman from California where she played her club ball as a center back and forward for her SoCal Blues ECNL team. She is a tenacious 1 vs 1 defender and is good in the air.
Za’Keya Charles is a strong athletic striker who is joining GSU from Sandy Creek High school in Atlanta. Charles was a 1st Team All-State forward and League Offensive MVP where she led her team in scoring and assists. For club ball she scored 11 goals this season for her Moba Soccer Academy team.
Jasmine Ford is a 5’11 Goalkeeper from South Carolina. She is a 3x All state 4x All-Region player. She received rookie of the year and capped her senior year with the North South Soccer Classics. In four years, she had 189 saves (0.455 goals against average) and 31 shutouts. She played her club ball for CESA ECNL-R.
Adalie Hernandez is a crafty attacking center mid and forward from Northern California where she led her Calprep team in scoring and was selected as team MVP. She played club ball for LaMorinda Girls Academy team for five years helping them to the national playoffs and was twice selected to play for the West Region’s Best GA Camp.
Marlene Myrvold is an incoming 5’10 center midfielder from Norway who played for FK Fosen and was the team captain and Player of the Year in 2022 after leading her team in scoring. She is a great passer, a good defender in the midfield.
Charlotte Cuthbertson is a forward and midfielder from Ontario, Canada where she played for OntarioLeague1 Oakville Blue Devils and OPDL’s Oakville SC. Charlie was a multi-sport standout for Erin District High School where she was named 2023 & 2024 Soccer MVP after leading the varsity team to the 2024 Provincial Championships earning a Bronze Medal, where she was the tournament’s leading scorer. She was awarded the Ontario Scholars Award and was a four-year Honor Roll recipient.
Grambling State opens the 2024 season Aug. 15 at LSU-Alexandria.
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A Celebration of Life for Lou Ann Boyd Albritton, 85, of Choudrant, Louisiana will be held at 10:00 A.M., Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at Alabama Presbyterian Church near Choudrant. Officiating the service will be Rev. Allison Moody. Interment will follow in the Sibley Cemetery under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes of Ruston, Louisiana.
A visitation for friends and family will be held from 4:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M., Tuesday, August 13, 2024 at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Ruston, Louisiana.
Lou Ann was born January 17, 1939 in Choudrant, Louisiana to Bessie Mae Dugdale and Willard Foster Boyd. She passed away on August 10, 2024, in Jefferson, Louisiana. She was a lifelong member of Alabama Presbyterian Church.
Sometimes, jokingly, I’ll comment that I am turning into my mom. It’s not until a time like this, when she has gone, that I realized it’s not a joke, but an amazing thing. One of the first people I talked to reminded me of how my mom cared for her mother as a friend as she grew older. Folks have also reminded of how mom would deliver shelled peas or pecans to them. Cousins have been clear about how important she was to them growing up – everything from going to the fairs, to getting ice cream, to fixing hair or giving advice. Former students describe how tough she was, but how they knew first aid and could help people after tasking her class; or remember her bowling class; or her tennis class.
Sometimes it’s silly things: her high school yearbook quote was, “I boil at different degrees.” So does my temper! I still operate under the rule, “one coke and one candy bar a day” because that’s what the rule was when I was a kid. Or remember the ice tea she made that “would put hair on your chest”? The homemade sourdough that was manna from Heaven? But much more fundamentally, when I take foods to friends with new babies or who are under the weather, that’s my mom. When I joined St. Charles Presbyterian the minute I knew I’d have my first son, that’s my mom. When I succeeded at school or university or law school, I can thank my mom. When I send one son to University in Massachusetts or encourage the other taking voice lessons, that’s my mom. So many things are fundamental to who I am, things I hope benefit my family and community, come from my mother. You are loved and missed.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Bo Boyd; and her sister, Mary McCoy Clement.
Lou Ann is survived by her daughter, Mary Dawn Pugh and husband Michael of Jeanerette, Louisiana; and their sons, Boyd and Parker; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to Alabama Presbyterian Church, 2091 LA-145, Choudrant, LA 71227.
City of Ruston Public Works Manager Andrew Halbrook said that city fiber was cut by a bush hog this morning, leaving part of downtown Ruston and areas to the southeast without service.
Halbrook said he did not know exactly why the fiber was on the ground, but said it was severed by a bush hog around 9 a.m. this morning.
He said he believes full internet service will be restored by early this evening barring any unforeseen issues.
“It’s taken some time to get our crew to the line where it was cut,” said Halbrook. “We had to push some vegetation and dirt out of the way in order to get a truck to the site.”
The location of the fiber issue was between Bernard Street and Santiam Road, according to Halbrook.
One of the few remaining structures from Camp Ruston.
By Wesley Harris
While World War II raged across the globe, Americans back on the homefront were heavily engaged in the war effort.
Evidence of the global conflict was found in many communities through training camps, military maneuvers, war bond events, and scrap drives. Rationing of food, rubber, and gasoline were necessary to fulfill military needs. World War II affected everyone personally and most did their part to support their country.
One of the most fascinating aspects of homefront life during WWII was the presence of prisoner of war camps in communities across America. There were hundreds of them, housing mostly German and Italian troops. The Japanese rarely allowed themselves to be taken prisoner. From June 1943 to June 1946, Camp Ruston served as one of more than 500 prisoner of war camps in the United States.
The local T. L. James Company built the camp on 770 acres about seven miles west of Ruston in 1942. From June 1943 to June 1946, the camp served as one of more than 500 prisoner of war camps in the United States. At its peak in October, 1943, the camp held 4,315 prisoners, making it one of the largest POW camps in America.
The first 300 men interned in Camp Ruston arrived in August 1943 from Field Marshal Erwin Rommel’s elite Afrika Korps. Thousands of German captives followed after landing at east coast ports and traveling by train to the camp. French, Austrian, Italian, Czech, Polish, Yugoslav, Romanian, and Russian prisoners who had been conscripted into the German military were also housed at Camp Ruston.
In 1944, the captured officers and crew of the German submarine U-505 were sent to the camp and hidden in a restricted area to prevent them from communicating to the enemy that secret naval codes had fallen into Allied hands. They could not communicate with their families for the duration of the war.
During their incarceration in Camp Ruston, prisoners benefited from food, medical care, and physical surroundings better than what their countrymen were experiencing at home. The prisoners engaged in athletic and crafts activities and were allowed to organize an orchestra, a theater, and a library. Some took courses through American universities.
Prisoners who were enlisted men were required to work at the camp or for local farms and businesses. They picked cotton, felled timber, built roads, and performed other tasks to help solve the domestic labor shortage caused by the war. They were paid in scrip for use in the camp canteen to purchase cigarettes, soft drinks, writing paper, and even beer.
In addition to the work details, prisoners at Ruston occasionally had contact with local civilians. In 1944, Ruston High School’s undefeated football team scrimmaged before the curious POWs who gave a soccer exhibition in return. Prisoners displayed their crafts and artwork, and many were able to communicate in English with the visitors.
The camp closed in June 1946 after the last prisoners were removed. Very little of the camp remains today. Four dilapidated buildings exist on what is today the West Campus of Grambling State University on LA Highway 150 west of Grambling. The portion of the camp where prisoner compounds were located is just north of West Campus. Owned by Louisiana Tech University, the former prisoner area is now used for beef and hay production.
The Louisiana Tech Library maintains a huge collection of Camp Ruston items including documents, photographs, uniforms, and artifacts. The Special Collections floor is open in Wyly Tower Monday-Friday when the university is in session. Call 318-257-2935 or email at specialcollections@latech.edu for more information on operating hours and tours. Click here for a look into Special Collections, Manuscripts, and Archives.
POWs built castles & other models to adorn their compoundsRuston POWs on a timber cutting detail.
Visit with Jonathan Bonner for more than 10 minutes and you’ll easily see that his spiritual gifting is service.
Whether it’s the school bus he drives early in the morning, or the rack of ribs he’s smoking at night for his food truck, it’s all about taking care of others in whichever role he’s in.
And he especially lights up when he talks about driving his students on the bus.
“This is purpose-driven for me to have a connection with the kids,” Bonner said. “I think in the climate we live, there’s not enough adults in their lives for them to talk to about what they’re going through. I try to be that voice of reason for some of these kids that are in my neighborhood that I might not normally see outside of the school system.”
Lincoln Parish School Board Transportation Supervisor Doc Hoefler echoed what Bonner said about his care for the kids.
“Bonner is willing to help in anyway possible,” Hoefler said. “If we have a field trip or a tutoring session where we can’t find a driver, he usually drops things to do it. If a kid falls asleep or gets on the wrong bus, he’ll make sure they get home. And he’s very accommodating when the whether isn’t ideal for the kids.”
A Ruston High graduate from the class of 2002, Bonner got his start driving others in his late father’s local taxi business, Ruston Express Transportation, when he re-opened the business in 2011.
Now, when Bonner’s not driving, you can find him in front of a barbecue pit, prepping food for his own Big Boyz Smokehouse food truck. Bonner cites his passion for cooking as a way to connect with his father after his unfortunate passing in 2016.
“I used to spend a lot of my free time with him,” Bonner said of his father Leroy. “I had learned a lot from him. So to fill that void of not being able to spend time with him, I just started cooking.”
It’s certainly something that has brought Bonner joy — and to those who get to enjoy his cooking, as well, which is what gives him the most life.
“I am so thankful for the appreciation coming from people,” Bonner said in conclusion. “I love it when someone orders something from us and are amazed at how heavy it is. Especially since in this economy, you don’t always get your money’s worth.”
On August 11, 2024, shortly before 11:00 p.m., Detectives with the Louisiana State Police Criminal Investigations Division were requested by Delhi Police Department to investigate an officer-involved shooting that occurred in the 7200 block of Highway 17 in Delhi. Investigators are working to process the scene and gather further information.
One subject was pronounced deceased on the scene. No officers or were harmed during the incident. This is an active investigation, and further information will be released when it becomes available.
Anyone with information and/or pictures and video is urged to share that information with LSP Detectives. You may anonymously report information through the Louisiana State Police online reporting system by visiting lsp.org and clicking on Report Suspicious or Criminal Activity, or calling the LSP Fusion Center Hotline at 1-800-434-8007.
Experience Ruston, the official destination marketing organization for Lincoln Parish, is pleased to announce that Jennifer Mamon has been named the Director of Destination Sales for the organization.
“Jennifer has been an invaluable member of the Experience Ruston team for the last seven years,” said Amanda Carrier, President & CEO of Experience Ruston. “Throughout the years, she has worked to become a leading authority on hospitality best practices, customer service, and visitor experience. And now, this expanded role will give her the opportunity to utilize her strong community relationships, industry connections, and passion for tourism to grow our destination through strategic sales efforts.”
Mamon has played a vital role in the organization since joining the Experience Ruston team in 2017 as an administrative assistant. She then served as Visitor Center Manager before being promoted to Sales and Services Manager in January 2020. As Director of Destination Sales, she will lead the organization’s strategic sales efforts to promote Ruston & Lincoln Parish as a premier small-market destination for meetings and events.
“I look forward to serving in this new role that will allow our organization to capitalize on additional tourism opportunities for our area,” said Mamon. “I am excited to continue building relationships within the community and the tourism industry as a whole to further promote our destination.”
Mamon is a Ruston native and graduate of Grambling State University. She currently serves as Lincoln Rotary’s Public Image Chair, President of Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society, Group Tour Committee Chair for the Louisiana Holiday Trail of Lights, and a Committee Member for the Louisiana Travel Association DEI Task Force.
Jennifer can be reached for sales and services inquiries at (318) 255-2031 or at jmamon@rustonlincoln.com.
A Farmerville man was arrested last Monday after he allegedly used a customer’s credit card to transfer money to his personal account.
Devin L. Page, 25, was arrested for illegal transmission of monetary funds after an investigation by Ruston Police.
Page, an employee at a Ruston business, allegedly took a phone call from a customer making a payment. The victim said the employee answering the phone identified himself as Devin and took her credit card information for the payment. Approximately an hour later, the woman received an email notifying her of an additional transaction in the amount of $200 that was transferred to a personal Venmo account in the name of Devin Page.
Page was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center.
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.
School is back in session this week, and Hillcrest Elementary is kicking off the 2024-2025 school year with a new theme designed to inspire current students and celebrate alumni achievements.
To encourage young learners to reach for the stars, Principal Becky Sutherland is introducing the Hillcrest Hall of Fame. This theme will feature a Hall of Fame display on each grade level’s hallway, showcasing inductees, and a central display in the middle hallway to recognize former students’ accomplishments. The idea behind the theme is to show students that they have a bright future ahead of them.
“This idea originated from our school motto, “Good, better, best! Never let it rest! ‘Til your good is better and your better is best,'” Sutherland said. “Over the summer, those simple words that my children spoke each morning at Hillcrest during Morning Assembly with former principal Patrice Hilton came to me as I was walking down the hall after a very busy day. I began to wonder; how could such a simple quote be so powerful that it has remained etched in the memory of anyone who has spent any time at Hillcrest in the past?”
Elementary students will be recognized for their successes in the Hall of Fame as they reach their goals throughout the year. Families will be invited to join their children for lunch during their induction and see their stars proudly displayed on the wall.
Sutherland explained the importance of instilling confidence in young students and how it affects their future success.
“I did a little research and discovered that Tim Duncan, a professional basketball player who was inducted into the Hall of Fame, shared that as a young boy growing up in the Virgin Islands, his mother had him and his siblings recite good, better, best… each day and she would ask him, ‘Did you do your best?’”Sutherland said. “We will celebrate many students, both past and present, who have done their personal best. Tim Duncan spoke of his parents in his induction speech stating, ‘They had zero knowledge of basketball,’ yet he went on to be an outstanding basketball player because they instilled in him a desire to do his best long before he was an NBA athlete.”
As part of the initiative, Hillcrest will find members of the community who attended the school to participate in the Hall of Fame. Alumni, now in various careers, will have the chance to promote their professions to students inspiring them to explore a wide range of future career paths. By sharing these success stories, the school hopes to encourage students to dream big and work hard to reach their goals.
Sutherland expressed her confidence in the staff and teachers at Hillcrest Elementary, believing in their ability to guide students toward doing their best and achieving their goals. The Hillcrest Hall of Fame will provide students with both a goal to strive for and inspiring role models to look up to during their educational journey.
The City of Ruston announces, weather permitting, that McAllister St. between MLK Dr. and Second Ave. will be closed to through traffic beginning 6am Wednesday, August 14, 2024, until further notice.
This closure is necessary for the Street Overlay Improvement Project.
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.
A Bernice man illegally using Lincoln Parish trash dumpsters was found to be in possession of drugs last Monday.
Reuben Angel Zuniga, 53, was arrested after a Lincoln Parish deputy saw his vehicle with Arkansas plates at a dump site on La. Highway 146 about noon on August 5.
Zuniga told a deputy he was from Bernice but when informed only Lincoln Parish residents could use the dumpsters, he said he was from Ruston. Zuniga appeared extremely nervous, and a search revealed a glass smoking pipe in his pocket.
In a search of Zuniga’s truck, suspected methamphetamine, marijuana, digital scales, and numerous plastic baggies commonly used to package drugs were found.
Zuniga was arrested and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, and violation of parish ordinance on dumping.
Bail was set at $55,000.
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.
BATON ROUGE, La. – Keep Louisiana Beautiful (KLB) launched the Get Down & Clean Up program in collaboration with the State Library of Louisiana and the Louisiana Public Library System, making litter clean-up supplies readily available at public libraries across the state in spring 2023. Today, the program has grown to 127 participating libraries in 41 parishes, and more than 1,000 litter kits have been checked out by library patrons to care for their local communities.
“Louisianans are tired of living in a dirty state,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “The Get Down & Clean Up program makes it possible for people to easily do their part and demonstrate community pride.”
“The Get Down & Clean Up program is a great hands-on way for families, homeschool groups, youth groups, and scouts to care for their neighborhood,” said Susan Russell, KLB Executive Director. “If we all pitch in and keep our communities clean and beautiful, we’ll experience an improved environment and quality of life.”
Included in the Get Down & Clean Up litter kits are safety vests, litter grabbers, trash bags, and instructions. Anyone with a library card can check-out a litter kit and return it after use. Participants are encouraged to scan the QR code available on the kit instructions and fill out a quick report sharing information about their cleanup.
“Libraries these days are books and so much more. They’ve become true community hubs, and this is just another example of that,” said State Librarian Meg Placke. “We’re proud so many libraries are taking part in this important program, and we’re even happier so many people are working so hard to help keep our state looking its best. It’s a great win-win.”
The libraries with the greatest number of litter kit checkouts are Shreve Memorial Library, Jackson Parish Library, and Ouachita Parish Library. This program is free to all public libraries and there is no cost to check out a litter kit. Adult supervision is required when the kit is in use.
The public can access the list of participating libraries and the Get Down music playlist on the Get Down & Clean Up webpage. KLB encourages people to share photos of their cleanups on social media and tag @KeepLouisianaBeautiful.
Following Grambling State’s first preseason football practice of the year, coach Mickey Joseph said the one mission he had for his team before the regular season kicks off is to continue getting better day by day.
And following Saturday’s intrasquad scrimmage at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium, Joseph had to feel it was a mission accomplished to this point.
“I thought we were better on all three phases of the game, but we’ve got to go back and look at the film,” Joseph said. “We’ve got to look at individuals and missed assignments and all of that. The coaches will grade it and I’ll get the grades and I’ll know more.”
GSU’s first scrimmage of the preseason included referees, something Joseph believes his team needs right now.
“We led the country in penalties last year,” Joseph said. “So we want to make sure that we had refs at our scrimmage so that we can try to cut down on that. That’s part of the instruction we’re doing with our team.
“That’s why we had the refs out here and we told them to call it tight. We told them if they think they see it, call it, and then the coach can see it on film and explain it to the players. So it’s a very important thing.”
The G-Men flashed on both sides of the ball, with the offense doing a solid job of moving the ball and finding paydirt.
“The offense often looks good in the first scrimmage,” Joseph said. “Because after a while, they’ve seen the same coverages and same fronts for about six or seven days, so they’re comfortable with what they see.
“So next week will probably be a turning point because the defense will probably put more in and turn it up. But I was impressed with the offense. I knew what (Offensive Coordinator Eric) Dooley was going to be able to do with this offense. And I know what (Defensive Coordinator) Rollins is going to be able to do with the defense.”
Former Ruston High School running back K’Travion Hargrove, a transfer from Memphis via Mississippi State, seems like he’s found a home back in Lincoln Parish and handled much of the rushing work early on in the scrimmage before giving way to the rest of the Tigers’ running back corps.
“I like what Bull can do,” Joseph said. “I know what Bull can do. So right now I really want to see those other backs and what they can do. Bull’s a kid that’s going to run it 20-25 times a game. He’s a great kid. He’s a great human being and we’re glad we’ve got him back home. He’s going to be big for us on offense.”
Joseph said it’s his rushing defense that will be focused on as practices continue.
“We’ve got to get better in A-gap in the run game,” Joseph said. “We’ve got to get more push. And those kids understand that. They know that they have to know personnel and when certain backs come in they’re going to face the run. So we’ve got to have gap integrity.
“And that’s what we didn’t have today — gap integrity. But we’re going to get better. They run through it every day, so I have the utmost confidence that they’ll get that fixed.”
Joseph said he was pleased at the opportunistic play of his defense, which produced multiple turnovers.
“We talk about turnovers,” Joseph said. “We talk about punching the ball out and making interceptions and things of that sort, so I was happy to see that today.”
Carol Burkhalter Hudson Plamondon was born on August 28, 1942, and passed away peacefully from this life surrounded by family and close friends on August 8, 2024.
Carol was a whimsical free spirit whose laughter and love filled the hearts of those who knew her. She was passionate about her art, her garden, her friends, and family. She loved to bake, to Cajun dance, and was a fierce competitor at bridge and board games. Her favorite place was outside on her porch swing soaking up nature in all its glory.
Nothing gave her greater joy than for her home to be filled with laughter, the smell of good food, and those she loved. She never met a stranger and positively affected the lives of others through her nonjudgemental acceptance, her kindness, and her encouraging spirit.
She graduated from Ruston High School, received her undergraduate degree from Louisiana Tech, and her master’s degree from Tulane University.
Carol will be deeply missed by all who knew her. These include her husband Terry Plamondon and his daughter Katherine; her daughter Maggie Hudson Blau, husband Bruce, and their children Audrey and Anabel; her daughter Larkin Hudson Norton, husband Dean, and their children Emma and Liam; her son John Wesley Hudson IV, his daughter Charlotte Hudson Ochs and her husband Paul, and Wesley’s sons Thomas and William. She is also survived by her sisters, Duddy Garrett, Meg Jones, Beth Lyons, and her sister-in-law Carole Harris.
She was preceded in death by her brother John Brooks Harris Jr., her mother Mary James Burkhalter, and her father Harvey Donavon Burkhalter.
Visitation will be held Wednesday August 14, 2024, from 5-7p.m. in Burkhalter Chapel and foyer at Trinity Methodist Church in Ruston. A funeral service will be held Thursday August 15, 2024, at 11:00a.m. in the sanctuary at Trinity Methodist Church. Rev. Robbie Robertson will be officiating the service, assisted by Rev. Doug de Graffenreid. There will be a brief graveside service at Forest Lawn Cemetery following the service.
Donations may be made in her name to Rolling Hills Ministry and the North Central Louisiana Arts Council.
Grambling State University is set to open the door to a new age and era on Thursday, Aug 22 with the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the institution’s Digital Library and Learning Commons.
It’s a historic moment for GSU, which saw the opening of the old A.C. Lewis Memorial Library in 1962, with an addition built in 1986.
The new library is a central academic information hub that aims to facilitate access to resources and connect users to community information.
The building also celebrates the history and legacy of GSU through custom wall covering that highlights graduates who have made notable achievements.
But what makes the new Digital Library and Learning Commons so important is the fact that its created specifically for the new age of information that exists today and will only continue growing and evolving.
GSU’s new Digital Library and Learning Commons is designed to do just that.
The old A.C. Lewis held 198,193 volumes of reading/research material. The new Digital Library and Learning Commons will provide access to more than 1,613,929 items, including books, periodicals, research journals, films, filmstrips, microform resources, electronic resources, and media materials and equipment.
The state-of-the-art, 50,000 square foot facility is designed to support all aspects of learning. With over 500 computer stations, 17,000 square feet of study space, and multipurpose spaces for events, meetings, and seminars, the Digital Library and Learning Commons is the ultimate intersection of academics, curiosity, and community.
It is designed to provide equitable and ample bibliographic access to resources in all formats and extends access to library resources and services beyond the physical library building through the library’s digital/online collection system and access to all academic library resources statewide through membership with LOUIS, a consortium made up of 47 college and university libraries in the state of Louisiana.
EVENT INFORMATION
WHO: Grambling State University
WHAT: Digital Library and Learning Commons Grand Opening
