By T. Scott Boatright

 Amid economically turbulent times, the Lincoln Parish School Board offered an olive branch to most Lincoln Parish property taxpayers during Tuesday night’s August meeting at the Central Office.

Recently around 9,000 Lincoln Parish residential and commercial property owners received reassessment notices from the parish assessor’s office informing them of significant increases in their property values. This could potentially lead to significant increases in their property taxes.

State law mandates the tax collected in the year following a reassessment is adjusted so that it is equal to the tax collected the previous year on the same property tax base.

And that is what the LPSB voted to do Tuesday night — rolling back most of its millages to counter the increases in revenue caused by increased assessed values. 

Fifty-seven percent of the Lincoln Parish property tax collected is earmarked for the Lincoln Parish School Board each year. Lincoln Parish property taxes generated a total of $45.4 million in 2023.

Tuesday night’s decision by the LPSB will save property owners a significant amount of the potential increase in their property taxes based on the most recent decisions by the tax accessors office.

“Essentially, what we’re trying to do for most of the people in our parish who saw an increase in their property values … as a school board we’re going to keep the amount of money that was paid last year the same this year for as many people as possible,” said LPSB President Gregg Phillips. “We will adjust them down so that (most of parish property taxpayers) will pay the same amount in property taxes for the Lincoln Parish School Board.

“The only one that is going up is Simsboro, and that is simply because the property tax value dropped because oil and gas money (there) dropped. So, to keep things neutral, Simsboro property owners will have to pay a little bit more. But we are not rolling any of these other values forward.”

Phillips said that because this is the first year following the (school board bond) election, the LPSB is keeping the bond at 16.75 mills this year and will reevaluate that in the future.

“So, every year we’ll be looking at that,” Phillips said. “Simsboro is going to remain at 11.5 and Choudrant is going to remain at 14 for this year. Regarding the other property taxes, they will roll back to the same amount collected this year, so that should give a big sigh of relief to most of the property owners in Lincoln Parish.”

That news came after the LPSB passed the adoption of resolutions recognizing the final form and execution of Bond Purchase Agreements in connection with the issuances and sales of General Obligation Bonds for Ruston School District No.1 and Choudrant School District No. 6.

Lincoln Parish Schools bond attorney Grant Schlueter, Stifle Financial Corporation Managing Director Whitney Laird and Argent Financial Group Executive Vice President Lucius McGehee all appeared before the LPSB speaking on those matters.

“The bonds were priced successfully with very, very good sales results,” Schlueter said. “You are maintaining your bond rating with Standard and Poor’s.”

McGehee said that when the LPSB administration team got together and was looking at the capital improvement plan, and the things the school board wanted to build, and how that would be financed, he and his company set about to find out how to finance it in the best possible way.

“Your previous rating by Standard & Poors was a ‘Double A minus, which is one of the highest in the state,” McGehee said. “It is like a credit score for people trying to get a loan. The rating goes from Triple A, to Double A Plus, Double A, Double A minus all the way to Triple B Minus, C and D. 

“What we are dealing with is Double A minus, which is about the best you are going to see in the state. That is the financial condition of the school board. That comes from enrollment, sales tax base and the reserves the school district has and how they are managing it. Louisiana ranks low nationally, so we are already starting from a place of weakness on a national perspective. So, we have to do extra things to make up for that. And that is what happened with the financial administration and you as a school board do with the money.”

It all boils down to the lower a Standard & Poor’s rating is then the higher interest rate an entity will be charged.

“So, we can say congratulations to what (the LPSB is) doing to have a Double A Minus credit rating on this bond issue. It was affirmed for your other bond issues to remain at a Double A Minus right now with what you guys have done, and I have confidence you will continue to do with how you manage your finances,” MeGehee said. “That certainly helps out Whitney when she’s out selling the bonds.”

McGehee said the 16.7 mills for the Ruston School District was based on how much money would be generated by those millages and also the bond reserve account that already exists for the school district.

“We figured that with 16.75 mills plus a little bit of the reserves that we have, we can borrow $17.5 million,” McGehee said. “And that is what we did. We borrowed this $17.5 million for five years. Now you have other bonds that are longer dated than that, but this one we just did is for five years. We are assessing that 16.75 mills for not only that but also the other bonds the school district has along with the reserves.

“We are spending down some of the reserves along with the millage income that you are getting to pay these bonds off. We thought that was a prudent way to do that, and Standard & Poor’s agreed with that.”

McGehee said that the same process was done with the $2 million Choudrant bond issue that is for 20 years.

 

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By Wesley Harris

 Imagine if Jerry Lee Lewis, Mickey Gilley, and Jimmy Swaggart had grown up in Ruston, Louisiana. Would the community be any different than it is today?

It could have happened had the Lewis family made different decisions.

The Lewis family became a vital part of Ruston from the very beginning of the railroad town. They operated Ruston’s first store. The Lewises married into the Kidds, another important family in Ruston’s early days. The stores operated by the Lewis family for over a century anchored the downtown area that saw its fortunes rise and fall with the times.

Before there was a Ruston, before there was a railroad across north Louisiana to spawn a new town, the Lewis family was living in Alabama under the family patriarch Jeptha Lewis. When Jeptha and quite a number of other family members died in the late 1840s, much of the remaining family moved west.

Led by several of Jeptha’s sons, the family crossed the Mississippi River at or near Natchez into Louisiana. According to family lore, one of the sons was always tardy when it was time to break camp and move on. Somewhere in the neighborhood of Ferriday, the son was nowhere to be seen and tired of always waiting on him, the family moved on without him. The story the family tells is that the son left behind was the ancestor of Jerry Lee, Mickey, and Jimmie.

The actual story may not be as colorful as the family legend. Seeking places to open up businesses, the large family moved into north central Louisiana but thought it best to split up and operate businesses in separate towns for the best financial outcomes. Andrew Jackson Lewis took his family to Vernon, then the seat for Jackson Parish. George Washington Lewis took his brood to Monroe. The two branches operated mercantile establishments through the 1850s and 60s through the conclusion of the Civil War.

Vernon suffered greater economic woes during the Civil War and the subsequent period of reconstruction, so Andrew Jackson Lewis moved from Vernon to Trenton, now West Monroe. With the entire family back together, they worked in merchandising until 1883 when the railroad across north Louisiana was finally extended west from Monroe to Shreveport and plans were made for the development of a town called Ruston.

Kathy McBride Cox, great granddaughter of Andrew Jackson Lewis, says no levee existed in Trenton at the time and the Lewis store and home flooded twice by the Ouachita River. “My great grandfather had had enough and heard about the new train track going to Ruston. He though there would be a good opportunity there.”

Andrew Jackson and George Washington and other family members moved to the new town and  started the first store with a barrel of whiskey and a box of cigars and married into the Kidd family. At one point, a store named Lewis & Kidd was the go-to place for just about anything in downtown Ruston.

By the time of the move, George Washington and his wife’s grown children and grandchildren had migrated out of Monroe to Richland Parish.

Their son Leroy Milton Lewis and children lived a hardscrabble life farming in Richland and the adult kids decided to try their luck in Ferriday in Concordia Parish. Elmo had a son named Jerry Lee, daughter Ada had son Mickey with her husband Arthur Gilley and Irene married Willie Swaggart and bore a son named Willie Leon or just “Son.” Son and his wife had James Swaggart, nicknamed Jimmy.

The three cousins got their “musical gene” from their grandfather, according to Cox. “[He] could pick up any instrument whether stringed, a horn, harmonica—and after playing with it a bit—could play it. Jerry Lee got that gene because what else could explain the way he played a piano! I believe Mickey and Jimmy got some of that gene, too.”

The Ruston Lewises actively embraced public life, engaging in cultural pursuits, politics, public service, and growing their mercantile enterprise. If anyone found success in Ruston, it was the Lewises.

“Ruston was good to the Lewises and they in turn were good to Ruston,” Cox says.

While Lewises and Ruston prospered—the huge family home still stands on the dead end of East Alabama Avenue—the Lewis descendants in Ferriday found life hard. In his book “Unconquered” on the three cousins, J. D. Davis writes, “Ferriday was known for hardened men and disappointed women, and as a borough for the downtrodden poor consigned to battle the relentless forces conspiring to keep them that way. Ferriday was where God-fearing people prayed for a better life without expecting to find one; where there was punishing labor or no work at all; where plowed fields veered between parched and flooded, and brutal summer heat was interspersed with sudden, volent squalls. It was where men found refuge in liquor and fast women, if only momentarily.”

So, Jerry Lee Lewis, Mickey Gilley, and Jimmy Swaggart grew up together in Concordia Parish, poor country cousins to the prosperous Ruston Lewises. But they learned to play the piano and sing and kick up their heels at a moment’s notice. And made their own success from their own talents.

Jerry Lee’s soaring rock ‘n’ roll career faltered after he married a 13 year-old cousin. But he rebounded and became a star. Mickey Gilley chose country music and recorded 17 number one hits, reaching the pinnacle of his career when the movie “Urban Cowboy” was patterned after his huge Pasadena, Texas bar. Jimmy Swaggart became the best known televangelist who preached and prayed and played the piano every Sunday before millions until an admission of sinful behavior brought down his ministry.

One can only wonder what mid-century Ruston would have been like had those three men moved here with the rest of the family. Would they have changed Ruston? Or would Ruston have changed them?

 

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Courtesy of LA Tech University Communications

Louisiana Tech University’s Center for Information Assurance has had two significant milestones, leading to increased recognition in cybersecurity research and teaching. The Center, housed in the College of Business, earned the prestigious re-designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Research (CAE-R) by the National Security Agency (NSA) and received a $500,000 anonymous gift to support ongoing high-impact research and education.

Louisiana Tech is one of only 46 institutions nationwide and the only in Louisiana to hold designations as both a CAE in Cyber Research and a CAE in Cyber Defense Education.

“This CAE-R re-designation, coupled with our designation as a CAE in cyber defense education, is external validation that our faculty and doctoral students are conducting interdisciplinary research that solves our nation’s most challenging cybersecurity problems,” said Dr. Selwyn Ellis, director of the Center for Information Assurance and chair of the department of computer information systems. “This effort spans four of Louisiana Tech’s colleges. It was that collaboration, spearheaded by our tremendous College of Business faculty, that allowed us to achieve the re-designation.”

Louisiana Tech’s Center for Information Assurance has been continuously credentialed as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity by the NSA since 2009. The CAE status reflects an interdisciplinary, collaborative approach to cybersecurity education, while fostering significant community involvement, academic activities, and institutional practices in cybersecurity.

“I’m extremely proud of the faculty in our CIS Department for their diligent work to ensure Tech received this re-affirmation,” said Dr. Chris Martin, dean of the College of Business. “I am also grateful to our donor for this significant gift to the Center for Information Assurance. The impact is far-reaching for not only the Center, but our College, University, state, and nation as we educate the next generation of cybersecurity leaders and produce impactful research in the field.”

The $500,000 gift will support the Center’s mission to foster and conduct innovative education, training, and research in information assurance, cybersecurity, and cyber defense of computer information systems across all types of industries.

In addition to being leaders in the field of information assurance research, CIS faculty regularly partner with civic organizations, schools, and professional groups to educate community members on the latest trends in the cyber world. They also serve as chairs for notable academic conferences including the Americas Conference for Information Systems, Dewald Roode Workshop on Information Systems Security Research, and International Conference for Information Systems.

“Our students benefit from having these top researchers as their professors and mentors,” said Martin. “They are authoring CIS textbooks, chairing the most notable conferences in the field, and serving as subject matter experts across the globe. Their expertise allows our NSA-certified curriculum to be market-responsive, producing well-trained and capable information assurance and cybersecurity experts. This gift ensures we are able to sustain this momentum and build upon our successes.”

In addition to the undergraduate computer information systems major, the MBA concentration in information assurance, and the Ph.D. in computer information systems, the department boasts two certificates. The graduate certificate in information assurance and the undergraduate certificate in information assurance and cyber security management prepare students to excel in positions in information systems, computer forensics, network security, and more. The graduate certificate holds the cyber defense education (CAE-CDE) designation.

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If you’ve never seen a race walk, it’s like watching a lot of discomforted people hurrying, with determined and stressful purpose, to get to the nearest bathroom.

That, you’ve seen. And experienced.

If you’ve successfully navigated such a familiar situation but you’ve never seen it as a competition but are eager to, you are in for the same feeling of relief and afterglow today. Because FINALLY — it’s here!

I kid you not.

Today — Wednesday, August 7 — the marathon race walk mixed relay competition will be decided, over the hills and through the woods in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.

For more than 42 kilometers, a male and female competitor will alternate every 10 kilometers or so until they’ve crossed the finish line, which in American miles is 26 and a smidge. Male-female-male-female. No baton to pass at each relay point, just a low five. Like tag team wrestling.

Will take between 4-and-a-half to 5 hours, give or take: no one knows for sure since this is an Olympic first.

This is no slap at walking. This bureau is pro-walk. Like to walk. LOVE to walk. Try to walk two or three miles a day, 10,000-steps-plus and all that.

But casually. Not competitively. The only things I try to beat while walking are the sun and my age.

Those of a certain age will remember race walking in black-and-white on television, either at the Olympics in the 1960s or on “Wide, Wide World of (Sometimes Walking) Sports, and Jim McKay trying to come up with something to say while, with Jim, we watched a pack of people walking as if they really, REALLY wanted to start running.

Want a professional challenge? Try step-by-step play-by-play.

Best wishes.

Let’s face it: race walking is goofy. It requires a gait that demands you swallow your pride, and maybe a corn cob, at the door. It is not for either the faint of heart or the faint of colon.

It’s a tough sport.

Race walking became an Olympic sport back in 1908 at the London Summer Olympics, and I can only imagine how:

“Hey, Uncle Jules, since you’re the head of the Olympic Committee this go-’round, think you can make a sport for me? I would like to compete and get a medal but methinks jumping and especially the running, by golly, that appears tiresome.”

Boom! Race walk.

Those who can, run, do; those who can’t, walk.

Alas, this seems to be a part of Olympic fever. When you watch (or more likely just hear, like me) about some of these sports, doesn’t it sound like, “Well, I did all that 50 years ago —at church camp.”

Ping pong and trampoline. Skateboarding and bicycle jumping. And the most daring, pride-swallowing stretch of all, 3-on-3 basketball. Now we are taking real sports and dividing them up? Next is 2-on-2 basketball and then 3-on-3 soccer and on it goes.

If we ARE going to have 3-on-3 Olympic basketball, it should be “call your own fouls.” How is it true 3-on-3 otherwise?

Come on guys …

This is not an edict or proposal to do away with any of the Olympic “sports.” It’s like college football bowl games: if someone wants to play them and watch them and pay for them to be played, great. If it’s college football bowl games, I’m watching. Some of these Olympic things, neg.

To each his own.

I’m just saying this: don’t sell this stuff to me as Real Olympics. We know that while the Alamo Bowl is a college bowl game, it’s not one of the Big Six bowl games. And while breakdancing is called an Olympic sport now, it’s not the 100m or the 4×400. To paraphrase, don’t walk on me and tell me you’re running.

For the record, Americans aren’t walkers of the Olympic variety. We scored a silver back in Antwerp in ’20 (NINETEEN 20) and a couple of bronze deals 50 years ago. In the individual 20-kilometer competitions last week, the winners were from Ecuador and China. Took between 80 to 85 minutes to walk the 12-and-a-half American miles.

That’s booking it for a walk, between 8 and 9 miles per hour.

The Americans? We didn’t walk. And we ain’t medley walking today, either. We’ll be running and jumping.

Anyway, that’s it. Gotta run…

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

A new state law makes the mugshots for offenders of almost any crime available to the public again.

The Louisiana Legislature passed a law in 2022 limiting which mugshots law enforcement could release to the public. The reasoning was that an arrested person might ultimately have charges dismissed or be acquitted at trial.

The law reportedly caused confusion within law enforcement as jails and police agencies tried to determine which mugshots could be released. Arrests of people with commonly shared names caused confusion unless a face was attached.

The Lincoln Parish Detention Center has resumed posting mug shots on its online app.

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Fans of the 2023 Non-Select, Division I state champion Ruston High Bearcats can come get a head start on gear and school spirit Friday night at Bearcat Madness, located at the RHS Main Gym area from 5 – 8 p.m.

Multiple vendors will be outside (including the Lincoln Parish Journal) in the inaugural Bearcat Village selling Ruston High gear and other accouterments, and an ice cream social will begin at 6 p.m.

A pep rally to kick off the season will start at 6:30 p.m.

Both the football team, the band and the spirit groups will be introduced, as well, and fans will be able to take picture with Rusty the Bearcat.

94.1 FM will be live broadcasting the event.

Finally, fans will be able to come see the newly remodeled gymnasium, which will be ready for the 2024-25 school year.

Ruston High’s regular season will begin Friday, Sept. 6, at home against Acadiana at 7 p.m.

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A Choudrant man was arrested last Saturday after he was allegedly involved in a domestic battery.

Jimmy Murphy, 51, was arrested August 3 after Lincoln Parish deputies responded to a Welch Road residence. Deputies found a woman who had visible marks on her elbow and the right side of her neck.

The woman said an argument had occurred over a television, and Murphy had an allegedly told her he would punch a hole in the TV before he would let her take it.

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The woman said Murphy grabbed a shelf and tossed until floor and jumped on it, causing it to break into pieces. He reportedly slipped on the pieces, and after he got up, chased after the woman. He allegedly threw her down and punched her in the head and then grabbed her around the throat.

A witness said she pulled Murphy off the woman and called the sheriff’s office.

Murphy was arrested for domestic abuse battery was strangulation and booked at the 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. 

This is an advertorial

 We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Cody Blackwelder to our clinic, where he will be joining our team as a general surgeon. Dr. Blackwelder brings expertise in both traditional and cutting-edge surgical techniques, ensuring our patients receive the highest quality care possible. His areas of focus include robotic and minimally invasive surgeries, with a particular regard to hernia repair, bariatrics, and reflux procedures. Dr. Blackwelder is also well-trained in endocrine surgeries.

Dr. Blackwelder’s professional philosophy is rooted in his personal background and family values.

“Having grown up in a family deeply immersed in the medical community, I became a physician to provide the care for our community that I want for my family,” he says. This ethos drives his dedication to delivering individualized, patient-centered care. He strives to integrate the latest techniques and technologies into his practice, maximizing outcomes and patient satisfaction.

Robotic and minimally invasive surgeries are at the forefront of Dr. Blackwelder’s practice. These techniques offer numerous benefits, which include possible reduced recovery times, less postoperative pain, and minimized scarring. Dr. Blackwelder’s proficiency in these areas ensures that our patients have access to the most advanced surgical options available. His focus on hernia repair, bariatrics, and reflux procedures means that patients suffering from these conditions can expect comprehensive, innovative treatments tailored to their specific needs.

In addition to his skills in minimally invasive surgery, Dr. Blackwelder is also experienced in endocrine surgery. This field involves the treatment of conditions affecting the endocrine glands, such as thyroid and parathyroid diseases. Dr. Blackwelder’s expertise ensures that patients with endocrine disorders receive accurate diagnoses and effective, targeted treatments.

Beyond his impressive professional credentials, Dr. Blackwelder brings a personal touch to his practice. He and his wife, Grace, have been married for 11 years and have two young boys, Griffin, age 5, and Calvin, age 3. The Blackwelder family enjoys spending time outdoors, a passion that has taken them hiking, camping, and running in the beautiful landscapes of Denver and Nashville throughout his time as a student and resident. This love for the outdoors reflects Dr. Blackwelder’s holistic approach to health and well-being, emphasizing the importance of a balanced lifestyle. Dr. Blackwelder and Grace share an intriguing hobby as trained introductory Sommeliers, showcasing an appreciation for the art of fine wine.

Dr. Blackwelder’s addition to Green Clinic marks an exciting new chapter for both our team and our patients. His advanced skills in robotic and minimally invasive surgery, combined with his compassionate approach to patient care, make him a valuable asset to our community. We are confident that Dr. Blackwelder will enhance the quality of care we provide, helping our patients achieve better health outcomes and improved quality of life.

For those interested in learning more about Dr. Blackwelder’s services or scheduling a consultation, please contact our Surgery Department at 318-232-1570. Dr. Blackwelder is eager to meet and serve the needs of our patients.

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For the month of August, Salsa with YATTA classes will be free to the public, thanks to a sponsorship from Century Next Bank, and will be held every Tuesday and Thursday at the Lincoln Parish Library Events Center.

The classes will be are suited for ages 16 and older and for any skill level and will run from 6 – 7 p.m. twice a week.

Anyone that wanted to attend will need to bring a small towel, sneakers and workout clothes. Century Next Bank will provide bottled water.

The classes are hosted by Kenyatta Collins of BODY by YATTA.

For more information, please call 318-513-5510.

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BATON ROUGE, La. – The Atchafalaya National Heritage Area and Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser announce the 2024 Atchafalaya National Heritage Area Legacy Grant awardees. The 10 projects represent six of the 14 ANHA parishes and will advance the mission of the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area through cultural, recreational or natural resource preservation and enhancement.

“In Louisiana, we celebrate our culture like nowhere else in the country. And, you can get firsthand experience of some of that culture in the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “The goal of the grant program is further building an understanding of the area’s key stories, strengthening the sense of place, supporting a healthier ecosystem, and expanding economic opportunities for the Atchafalaya Basin.”

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A grant review panel comprised of arts, culture, recreation and economic development representatives selected projects to fund based on project feasibility, sustainability and creativity. Through funding from the National Park Service, the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area will grant $105,900 in funds to the 10 projects.

“The Legacy Grant program supports projects that move the needle forward. These projects protect and enhance culture, celebrate significant stories from our history, educate the public, and conserve our natural environment for future generations,” said Atchafalaya National Heritage Area Executive Director Justin Lemoine. “The Atchafalaya NHA is thrilled to support these worthy projects and continue cultivating partnerships with the people and communities throughout the region.”

The ANHA and the National Park Service are proud to provide funding to local champions working to create powerful connections between people, culture and the environment. These grantees are instrumental in ensuring that what makes South Louisiana authentic and unique will be appreciated and passed on for generations to come.

In addition to the ANHA Legacy Grant, the ANHA Celebration Grant program provides funding for smaller projects related to cultural continuity, community engagement, and natural and recreational resource improvements.

Funded projects include:

• West Baton Rouge Museum, Sugarfest 2024
• Iberville Parish, Swamp Life Expo
• Cajun Coast CVB, Eagle Expo – Wings to Soar
• Friends of the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center, Rougarou Fest Folklife Village
• Broussard Chamber Foundation, Beausoleil Festival
• The T.E.C.H.E. Project, Shake Your Trail Feather 2024
• Les Deux Bayou S.T.E.A.M. Park, Inc., Planning for Les Deux Bayou S.T.E.A.M. Park
• Louisiana Crafts Guild, Open Studio Acadiana
• Pointe Coupee Historical Society, Travel Story GPS New Roads Main Street
• Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Freshwater Mussels of Louisiana

Celebration Grant applications are now closed. For updates and more information, visit the ANHA Grant Program webpage.

Working moms (and dads) know what’s involved when they get a call from the school about a sick child.  Certainly there’s concern over the child’s health but there’s also the issue of lost work time as they pick up the child, try to find a doctor and likely stay home the rest of the day with the little one.

Trinity Community Health Centers in both Winn and Rapides parishes have incorporated a system of care within their network that can resolve the lost-work problem while providing professional health care for children.  It’s called a School-Based Health Clinic.  This past school year they saw over 4,500* students through this service.

Candace Hubbard, a family nurse practitioner at Winn’s School-Based Clinic, explains.  “The focus of our clinic is keeping kids healthy and in-school.  We handle cases of acute illness so that the parent doesn’t have to leave work to get a doctor’s appointment.  But we’re more.  We also offer wellness visits in an effort to keep the children healthy and to head off later problems.”

The nurse practitioner assures that Trinity performs follow-up calls and works closely with parents in all cases.  Through contact with the Trinity professionals, Hubbard says, “the children see us.  They know who we are.  This helps eliminate the ‘fear factor’ of going to the doctor.  Because of this, kids take on a bigger role of taking care of themselves with little things like brushing their teeth and wearing seatbelts.”

As they say, “And there’s more…”  Trinity’s School-Based Clinics offer not only basic health care for the children but also offer a dental clinic, behavioral health services as well as vision and hearing screenings.

In its operation, the Trinity staff works closely with the schools and school nurses to provide this service.  “I love being able to work in the same area where my children go to school,” says Hubbard.  “I love the family-centered environment, bringing health care to people who might not afford it otherwise.  We fill the gaps in areas like transportation.  I truly believe we are meeting those needs.”

Candace Hubbard and husband Shane have two children, Alison and Gabriel Wren, who are students at Winnfield Senior High School.  She joined the Trinity Community Health Center family in 2013, assisting in the launch of the school-based clinic when it was a pilot program.  That clinic was initially located in the old Winnfield Intermediate School building but shifted to the old Adult Learning Center around the corner following Hurricane Laura.

The Lakeview High School graduate received her BS degree in nursing from NSU in 2005 and her MS degree in nursing, also at NSU, in 2013.  In the interim, she worked as an RN in the Natchitoches Hospital’s labor & delivery department.

*School-based student services numbers for the 2023-24 school year were 655 for dental cleaning, 904 behavioral health, 2,503 medical (sickness & wellness visits), 338 sports physicals and 189 flu shots.

“Our mission at Trinity Community Health Centers has always been to provide quality healthcare services to students and their families, regardless their ability to pay,” says CEO Deano Thornton.

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The dog days of August are upon us and unless you live in Alaska, no one wants to be outside. But there’s still a lot to talk about and I’ve got a few things on my mind that I need to get off my chest. So today, I’ll give you my perspective on some topics that are both good and bad. 

Football season is right around the corner which is hard to believe. NFL teams are right in the middle of training camp while college teams are reporting as we speak. High school teams are going through physicals and preparing to start their preseason training. But no matter who your favorite team is, the fact that August is here means fall and cooler temperatures are coming soon, which is my favorite time of year!

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With the coming of fall, it’s also the time of year where bass tournament anglers who have had good seasons are now preparing for their championship events. Fall fishing can be awesome and is probably my favorite time to fish, mainly because the lakes are not as crowded since a lot of guys are getting ready for deer season. 

Next, what changes will tournament organizations like B.A.S.S. and Major League Fishing (MLF) make for the 2025 season? Of course, we are talking about the hottest topic of 2024 with regards to forward-facing sonar. B.A.S.S. has decide to limit the amount of overall screen size per boat to 60 inches. Meaning you’ll be limited to the number of sonar units you can have on your boat. 

So instead of 16- and 18-inch screens, some anglers will go back to five 12-inch screens. Another change for 2025, anglers will only be allowed one transducer per boat instead of three like some anglers have been running. This will have a bigger impact on the anglers than limiting their screen sizes. The jury is still out on MLF with regards to forward-facing sonar and we’ll keep our ears open and will report any changes…. if they make any at all. 

Next thing on my mind is the amount of cheating going on in tournament bass fishing today. Come on guys…really! If you must resort to cheating in order to win or do well in a bass tournament, you’re a loser anyway. But until judges drop the hammer on these guys and really make them pay for their actions, cheating will continue. 

Slapping these cheaters on the wrist with a small fine and picking up trash on the side of the road is not enough of a deterrent. Jail time should be automatic with heavy fines and a lifetime ban on fishing. Sounds harsh? These guys are committing fraud and should be punished accordingly.  

We’ll wrap it up with this. This year, it’s come to my attention that more and more anglers are being diagnosed with skin cancer/melanoma. I continue to see a lot of anglers ignore or refuse to take any precautions by protecting themselves from the sun’s harmful rays. Guys, I am an unfortunate example that we are not bullet proof and you need to do a better job of protecting yourselves. 

Every angler out there should be making regular dermatologist appointments because the key to beating Melanoma is catching it early. Please take the time to protect yourself and find a dermatologist who can detect and treat any skin abnormalities. These regular appointments just might save your life. 

Change how you dress for outdoor activities by wearing sun protective clothing and sunscreen. You might think it’s overkill, but now is the time to change your apparel habits so that you can protect yourself from the number one cancer killer….Melanoma.  

Till next time, good luck, good fishing and if you’re not sure it’s a bite, set the hook!    

Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Louisiana Tech and Troy jointly announced Tuesday the signing of a future home-and-home football series.

The first game will take place in Troy, Alabama at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Sept. 14, 2030.  The Trojans will then head to Ruston to play in Joe Aillet Stadium on Sept. 25, 2032.

This will mark the first ever meetings between the two programs on the gridiron.

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Courtesy of GSU Athletic Communications

The Grambling State University women’s soccer team has been picked to finish first in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) preseason poll, announced by the conference on Monday morning.

The Tigers enter the 2024 season fresh off a dominating 2023 campaign that saw them win the SWAC Tournament and go unbeaten in conference play. GSU finished last season 15-5-4 overall and 8-0-1 in the SWAC.

Grambling State was picked first with 164 points and 10 first place votes. They were followed by SWAC tournament runner-up Jackson State with 160 points and four first place votes. Southern wrapped up the top three with 131 points and four first place votes.

Grambling State is set to open the season on August 15 on the road at LSU-Alexandria at 10 a.m.

2024 SWAC Soccer Predicted Order of Finish

1. Grambling State- 164 (10)
2. Jackson State- 160 (4)
3. Southern- 131 (4)
4. Alabama State- 114
5. Texas Southern- 102
6. Prairie View A&M- 94
7. Alabama A&M- 89
8. Arkansas-Pine Bluff- 69
9. Alcorn State- 39
10. Mississippi Valley State- 25

*First place votes listed in parenthesis

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Betty Marie “Kit” Gilbert 
January 22, 1943 – July 30, 2024 
Service: Gilbert Art Center, Saturday, August 10, 2024, 10:30 am 

June Kilpatrick 
April 14, 1958 – July 31, 2024 
Memorial Service: Saturday, August 10, 2024, 10:00 AM, Bienville Methodist Church, 511 Spruce St, Bienville 

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By T. Scott Boatright

 

Ruston’s Board of Alderson passed nine resolutions and an ordinance as the August City Council meeting was held Monday evening at City Hall.

The ordinance was for amending and restating an ordinance passed earlier this year authorizing the issuance of next to exceed $15 million aggregate principal amount of sales tax increment bonds regarding the ongoing Buc-ee’s project on the northwest side of the city.

Agent’s Lucius McGhee of Argent has been working with the city and explained the matter was simply a matter of cleaning up wording for the resolution that was recommended to improve S&P credit ratings.

“We’re just trying to clean up the wording for a better rating that affects the interest that we will pay on the bonds,” McGhee said. “We’re just building on what you’re already doing with good financial management, and we just want to have the right words to continue with that.

Thursday’s meeting began with the City Council voting to table introduction of a proposed ordinance that could authorize the city to enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement with Lincoln United Community Coalition and to sell property to that group.

No reason was given for tabling that agenda item.

Ruston’s City Council then passed a motion authorizing the city to enter into a professional services agreement with the Riley Company of Louisiana, Inc., for engineering services related to the 2025 Street Overlay Program.

“Work on the 2024 Overlay Program will begin soon but we want to get a job on the 2025 Program,” said Ruston Public Works Director John Freeman. “This is just doing the preliminary engineering work looking at areas we might want to work on.”

Freeman said that his department is still narrowing down streets to be worked on as part of the 2025 Overlay Program.

“We’re still looking at some utilities and things like that before we come up with a finite list,” Freeman said.

That was the first of six resolutions involving the city’s Public Works Department that were passed during the meeting.

The others were authorizing the city to enter into a $45,700 contract related to the Church Street Cross Drain Replacement Project; authorizing the city to enter into a $205,600 project related to the McDonald Avenue Cross Drain Replacement Project; authorizing the city to enter into a $139,000 relating to roof replacement at City Hall as well as $58,000 project for City Hall/Civic Center joint roof replacement.

A sixth resolution involving the Public Works Department was related to striping on the North Frontage Road West Striping Project by Arkansas Fence and Guard Rail for $33,695.40.

“The city is working with JP Morgan Chase on the new facility they’re constructing on the north service road west just past The Hobby Lobby area there,” Freeman said. “In developing their site plans they needed a truck entrance just over the crest of the hill there, and to get that approved by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development there’s some striping that needs to take place on the frontage road.

“It’s two lanes westbound now and we’ll have to stripe that down to a single westbound lane and another single lane to be a turn lane into the shopping center and facilitate that development.

Other resolutions passed authorizing the city to enter a $1,087,253 contract for the Hangar Access Taxilanes and Apron Extension Project at the Ruston Regional Airport that will be fully funded by Federal Aviation Administration grants; authorizing the city to enter into a $1,110,727.57 project with J-Bar related to Phase II of the 2024 Street Overlay Sewer Rehab Project; and authorizing the city to enter into an agreement for emergency assistance by and between the Louisiana Energy and Power Authority member cities.

Ruston’s City Council also introduced an ordinance amending Chapter 11 of the Code of Ordinances for the city of Ruston by adding a section relating to approaching a police officer.

That ordinance is expected to be discussed and potentially voted on during the City Council’s next regularly scheduled meeting in September.

The City Council granted permission to start the property condemnation process for buildings and/or structures located at the following addresses:

• 1303 Davis Boulevard
  • 1714 Skyline Drive
  • 603 Eastland Avenue
  • 608 Calcote Avenue

 

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By Kyle Roberts

Following its first championship in over three decades, the Ruston High School Bearcats have begun their official fall practice — now atop a brand new turf at James Field at Hoss Garrett Stadium.

But one thing that won’t change is Bearcat Head Coach Jerrod Baugh’s approach to season prep: working hard every day and fighting complacency.

“It’s no different to what we as a staff have talked about all through the spring and summer — trying to guard against complacency about where our football program is,” Baugh said. “We’ve got some good kids, and we’ve gotten some good work in, but I just think human nature allows you to get comfortable with what your situation has been previously. It’s something we have to be cautious about and make sure that we’re not being complacent about where we are and just continue to work in the way that has gotten our football program to where it is.

“It’s a constant work in progress or our coaching staff and the kids just to realize that we have to continue to come to work everyday and work on the things that got us where we are. There’s a lot of teams in the situation that we had been previously that won some ballgames but had not done enough to win a state championship, and they’re going to be hungry and get after us. Teams on our schedule legitimately have a shot to win a championship regardless of the state they are in, and it they hungry and we’re not, then their preparation and diligence does not need to surpass what we do on a daily basis.”

Ruston High has had tremendous success on the gridiron over the last few seasons and have appeared in the state championship game two years in a row — winning the 2023 crown.

The Bearcats have an experienced offense returning, including the 2023 Non-Select, Division I Most Valuable Player and senior quarter Josh Brantley, along with skill position players at the tailback position in seniors Dylone Brooks and Jordan Hayes.

On the defensive side of the ball, Ruston graduated seven starters who had a tremendous impact on the team’s success last season in both defensive ends Ahmad Breaux and Geordan Guidry, linebacker Jadon Mayfield, and defensive backs Nate Johnson, Ronald Findley, Semaj Jones, and Jacoryian Crowe.

“We’ve seen improvements in the areas that we’ve needed,” Baugh said in regards to spring practice and prep. “The guys understand that there were some guys that graduated that has allowed them to step into some spots, and they know we need them to be good players there. They’ve worked to do that.”

Following the installation of the new turf, Baugh said so far it has met all of his expectations to this point, citing the EcoTherm technology that is keeping the field temperature between 15 and 20 degrees cooler than what it was last summer on the turf. 

“This week is probably going to be the hottest week of the summer,” Baugh said. “We’ll still be monitoring the wet bulb out there; sometimes, the grass surface (near the field house) will still be a little bit cooler than the turf. So, when we get full pads on next week, we’ll have to juggle back and forth between part of practice on the grass and part on the turf.

“But the new technology has certainly made a different for us once it was all finished up.”

The Bearcats will practice in the mornings for the remainder of this week in helmets only, and will be in shoulder pads Monday through Wednesday of next week before moving into full gear that Thursday and Friday.

Ruston’s 2024 season is now officially one month away as Acadiana will come to James Field at Hoss Garrett Stadium on Friday, Sept. 6, for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

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Courtesy of LA Tech University Communications

Louisiana Tech’s College of Education and Human Sciences (CEHS) welcomed teachers from across North Louisiana for multiple summer workshops to advance skills in teaching young students about STEM education.

Louisiana’s science standards incorporate a three-dimensional approach to address what students should know, how they can apply their knowledge, and the connection between different concepts. OpenSciEd training and Young Engineering Solutions workshops are designed to ensure Louisiana teachers are well-equipped for the upcoming school year.

“Resources for teachers to implement these three-dimensional experiences are limited,” Melissa Wooley, STEM outreach coordinator for the Science and Technology Education Center (SciTEC), said. “Through workshops, current and future teachers experienced firsthand what three-dimensional science teaching looks like. They learned in the same manner as their students, enabling them to identify areas where students will excel, where they might struggle, and what scaffolds need to be in place to ensure academic success.”

In partnership with the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) and SCILS Region 8 LaSTEM Center, the OpenSciEd workshop goes beyond traditional science teaching methods by bringing together leading science researchers and educators to create a curriculum aligned with how students learn best. This collaborative approach helps students learn to work together effectively while also building their understanding of science.

Krista Drummond, a fourth-grade teacher at Union Central Elementary in Caldwell Parish, attended the 2023 OpenSciEd workshop and could see an improvement in her students after implementing the curriculum in her classroom.

“While teaching this curriculum last year, I could definitely see an increase in my students’ scores,” Drummond said. “This pushes them to the next level of learning that past curriculums have been unable to do.”

Youth Engineering Solutions provides teachers with valuable training and materials to enhance STEM instruction, focusing on fundamental engineering concepts, and problem-solving strategies. It also exposes educators to hands-on engineering challenges that are accessible and engaging for all students.

These workshops not only show teachers how to implement these units in the classroom but also pave the way for students to master science content and practices as they learn to communicate effectively, think critically, ask insightful questions, and understand the world around them.

“The broader goal is to assist with learning loss recovery in science for Louisiana students,” Tana Luther, LDOE science specialist, said. “We were delighted to partner with our Region 8 colleagues who contribute deep knowledge of both the Louisiana science instructional model as well as the unique needs of the teachers and students in the northern part of our state.”

“This curriculum gives a lot of strategies that are engaging and hands-on,” Drummond added. “It’s very student-based where they create their own learning environment.”

CEHS and SciTEC remain committed to teacher education and will continue to offer summer workshops to enhance STEM education throughout the state.

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Lincoln Parish deputies arrested a Ruston woman Sunday after she had allegedly stole jewelry from her cousin.

Brenda Faye Harrell, 49, was arrested on August 4 after a woman reported Harrell had stolen jewelry and later returned some of it.

Harrell had been assisting in cleaning at the residence on earlier dates and was at times left unattended. When Harrell later mentioned jewelry she had found, the victim checked her jewelry box and discovered several items missing.

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The victim contacted an individual Harrell was staying with and learned she had given that individual a ring which has been stolen from the jewelry box.

When the victim confronted Harrell, she allegedly returned three or four rings and named another person as the thief of the other jewelry.

Harrell was found in possession of seven prescription medications belonging to the victim that were to be disposed of. One of the prescription bottles also contained a small quantity of suspected methamphetamine.

Harrell was arrested and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for theft of property valued over $5,000, possession of methamphetamine, and seven counts of possession of a legend drug.

Bail was set at $22,500.

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

by Malcolm Butler

With temperatures expected to reach the upper 90s in the afternoons for the entirety of this week, Cedar Creek head coach William Parkerson put his Cougars through morning practice Monday on day one of official fall camp.

The second-year head coach at Cedar Creek said nothing surprised him about the opening day of workouts.

“It was a first day,” said Parkerson. “Lots of enthusiasm. Lots of excitement. Lots of mistakes as well. Typical first day with a lot of guys flying around.

“The goal (for day one) is always just to get them out there. To go back to our base calls on offense and defense. Day one install stuff. Things we want to hang our hat on. Try to get those down pat before we start expanding out.”

Parkerson said day one saw 35 varsity players suit up for practice, while the Creek junior high players were also out there for aspects of practice.

“We are trying to do that this year so we can coach them and they can go through as much stuff as far as individuals periods as they an with the varsity,” said Parkerson. “We didn’t do it (Monday), but starting (today) we will move them when we go to group and team … we will move them to the other end of the field and let them do that against themselves.”

Monday’s morning session included what Parkerson referred to as a “Get Tough” period followed by an hour of offense and an hour of defense.

The Cougars are coming off a season that saw them finish third in District 2-1A while earning a berth in the Select School Division IV playoffs where they fell to Catholic Pointe Coupee in the opening round. Creek graduated a number of key contributors off of last year’s team, including starting QB Ladd Thompson.

Kade Lukar was penciled in as the starter for Creek at signal caller this fall, but Lukar opted to concentrate solely on baseball leaving the Cougars roster void of a single player who has ever taken a varsity snap under center.

However, Parkerson said his biggest goal for this year’s team is to develop depth so fewer players have to play both ways.

“We want to play as many guys as we trust and that we think can contribute,” said Parkerson. “It won’t happen this year, but we would love to have 11 starters on offense and 11 different starters on defense. It’s their job to earn our trust in order to get out there.”

Cedar Creek also lost starting linebacker Alex Simpson who departed for North DeSoto, but was able to bring in Riverfield transfer Mason Wooten, whose step-father is Kyle Stracener. The former Cedar Creek head coach more than 20 years ago returns to serve as an assistant on this year’s Cougar coaching staff.

“He has lots of insight and lots of ideas,” said Parkerson when asked about the addition of Stracener. “We will lean on him.”

Following Monday morning’s practice, the Cougars returned to the facility during the afternoon to lift weights and watch film.

“In the afternoons we will workout and have position meetings to watch film from practice and install anything that is going in the next day,” said Parkerson.

Creek will practice in the morning every day this week with the exception of Friday when they will practice in the evening.

 

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