The fourth week of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association state football season is underway.
For all the scores for all five classifications, CLICK HERE.
Click for all high school football scores from across the state
Month: September 2024
Remembering Fredie Jo Graves Telles
A Memorial Service for Freddie Jo Graves Telles will be 2:00 PM Saturday, October 5, 2024, at Kilpatrick Funeral Home Chapel in Ruston, LA. The visitation will be prior to the service beginning at 1:30 PM Saturday, October 5, 2024, at Kilpatrick Funeral Home Chapel until service time.
Freddie Jo Graves Telles was born January 15, 1939, in Strong, AR to the late Homer Graves and Robbie Day Graves, and she passed away peacefully on September 21, 2024, in Ruston, Louisiana, following a lengthy illness.
Freddie and her siblings were raised by her maternal grandparents, Bob and Stella Day, in Marion, Louisiana. In December 1955 she married Chester “Bob” Telles of Litroe, Louisiana, and they were blessed with twin daughters, Robin Rene and Violet Denise, in 1959. The family lived in many locations throughout Bob’s 21-year career with the U.S. Navy, including South Carolina, Florida, Chicago, and California. Following his retirement, they returned to Marion. Even in retirement, Freddie and Bob continued to travel. They returned to live in Farmerville, Louisiana, where they remained until Bob’s death in 2002. Freddie then lived in Ruston, California, Arkansas, and Kansas to be near her daughters until she returned to Ruston in 2023.
Freddie loved and was faithful to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She was a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Ruston. She dearly loved her family and was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She had a gift for making friends wherever she went, and her kindness and generosity were shared with all who knew her. In addition to spending time with family and friends, Freddie enjoyed cooking, hosting, reading, and tending her plants.
She is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 47 years, Bob; her brother, Larry Graves, and his wife, Joye; and her sister, Judy Graves Franklin, and her husband, James.
Freddie is survived by her daughters, Robin Richardson and husband Adam of Little Rock, Arkansas, and Violet Williamson and husband John of St. Louis, Missouri; four grandchildren, Michelle Dugas McKinney and wife (Helen), Tara Reppond Carr and husband Joe, Johnny Williamson III, and Anthony Williamson; and four great-grandchildren, Aidan Dugas and fiancée Kathryn Kelley, Jisela Martinez, Declan Carr, and Grayson Carr. She is also survived by nieces, nephews, cousins, and many beloved friends.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the friends and family who brought so much joy to Freddie’s life and lovingly cared for her during her illness. They would like to extend special thanks to her caregiver, Keshia Hargrove, for her loving care and attention, and to Allegiance Hospice Care for their support during her final days.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com
Tigers down Alabama A&M on the pitch
Courtesy of GSU Athletic Communications
The Grambling State University women’s soccer team secured a 1-0 win over Alabama A&M in its first Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) matchup of the 2024 season.
Junior forward Jayla Gage provided all the firepower that GSU (3-6-3 overall, 1-0 SWAC) would need with her 61st minute goal.
The victory extended SWAC unbeaten streak to 16 games, dating back to Sept. 30, 2022.
Alabama A&M fell to 2-8 overall and 0-1 in the SWAC.
Both team battled to a 0-0 tie heading into halftime with GSU outshooting AAMU 2-1. The Tigers broke through in the 61st minute on a goal from Gage. She was assisted by Alana Aiken, her first career assist.
Grambling State continues its SWAC road trip in Alabama with a trip to Montgomery, Ala. to take on Alabama State. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at the ASU Soccer Complex.
For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox. Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
BREAKING: Three arrested in murder of recent RHS grad
Following a four-month investigation, Ruston Police have arrested three men for the drive-by shooting death of 18-year-old Haleei Newton.
Arrested in the case were Earnest G. Chatman, 19, of Simsboro; Jamion T. James, 19, of Grambling; and Emmanuel M. Seals, Jr., 18, of Ruston. All three were booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center Thursday for second degree murder, attempted second degree murder, and obstruction of justice.
Chatman was already in custody at the detention center from an arrest on drug and gun charges stemming from an incident on the Grambling State University campus on September 17.
Haleei Andrena Newton graduated from Ruston High School May 21 with her family present to celebrate her accomplishment. Just over 75 hours later, Newton was shot as she and a male friend traveled eastbound on Interstate 20 between the Tarbutton Road interchange and the Louisiana Tech exit just after midnight Saturday, May 25.
A few days after the shooting, Ruston Police Chief Steve Rogers said investigators had not identified any altercation or precipitating event that may have occurred prior to the shooting. However, he said it was unlikely Newton was a random victim.
Early in the investigation, police said someone fired into Newton’s 2009 Kia. One of the rounds went through the trunk and struck Newton, killing the young woman. A patrol officer near the interstate heard the gunfire.
The passenger in the car was not injured, according to RPD.
According to a statement sent out to some local media, RPD investigators “collected evidence and conducted several interviews, which ultimately led to arrest warrants being signed by a Third Judicial District judge on September 25 for three individuals determined to be involved.”
Bail for the men was set at $1.9 million each. Chatman’s bail is now $1.975 million with the GSU charges.
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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Harris and History: Douglas Cemetery, a country graveyard
by Wesley Harris
Douglas Cemetery is a rural graveyard where many of its residents endured simple but tough lives as farmers.
The lack of ostentatious and elaborate markers indicates many families represented in the cemetery lived frugally by necessity. Massive monuments are few and some of the markers are handmade, indicating the economic struggles faced by families who survived only by their own sweat and toil.
Those physical features help define the history of the community. The rocks used as grave markers, and the handmade tombstones express the neighborhood’s history as much as monuments giving names and dates and familial details.
The cemetery lacks the massive cedar trees and other plantings found in many Lincoln Parish cemeteries. Grave markers are mostly simple with little ornamentation and lack the features found in more prosperous neighborhoods like brick retaining walls or wrought iron fencing. A few family plots are surrounded by iron fencing, but not to the same extent of cemeteries like Greenwood in Ruston that contains fewer farmers and many more doctors, lawyers, judges, and successful businessman.
The earliest graves at Douglas date to the early 1850s. The cemetery lies beside what was known as the Wire Road, named after the telegraph line that ran beside it. The families who migrated the area, mostly from Georgia and Alabama, would have taken this road to reach their new homes in what was then Jackson Parish, but later became Lincoln Parish.
In one corner are the graves of several families who intermarried before they moved to Louisiana. The Chandler, Edwards, Liner, and Stewart families lived in the vicinity of the Alabama-Georgia state line around the towns of Edwardsville, Alabama, and Tallapoosa, Georgia. More marriages between the four families occurred once they settled in the Douglas area.
Two Chandler graves are covered with a small pavilion, a rare feature but not unheard of in North Louisiana cemeteries.
The cemetery includes a number of unmarked graves according to records at the nearby Douglas Methodist Church. Some graves are marked by natural stones or crudely constructed markers with faded hand lettering.
The Douglas Cemetery shares a fence with the adjacent Pleasant Grove Cemetery. Many North Louisiana cemeteries are segregated by race. Many such graveyards started as white cemeteries with their slaves buried outside the fence. After emancipation, freed African-Americans were buried beside slave ancestors. Part of the Pleasant Grove cemetery is overgrown with some grave markers, difficult to reach in the thick brush.
Douglas remains an active cemetery with graves added regularly.
Next week: lost cemeteries of Lincoln Parish
MBAs add global consulting experience to resumes through immersive trip to Costa Rica
Courtesy of Louisiana Tech University Communications
Online and traditional/on-campus Master of Business Administration students came together in Costa Rica this summer to learn about the country’s culture and provide business consulting expertise to global clients.
“International travel is transformative—truly life-changing,” said Dr. William McCumber, associate dean of graduate programs and research in the College of Business. “To combine international travel with an additional transformative process—being a consultant—is potentially a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
McCumber accompanied the team of 11 graduate students on the trip and taught BUSN 540, a graduate-level course designed to facilitate the global consulting component of the immersive experience.
“This trip presented a unique opportunity to apply the theoretical knowledge I’ve gained from my MBA courses in a real-world international setting,” said Brian Laswell, an online MBA student from Phoenix, Arizona. “With 15 years of management experience, I was particularly interested in understanding how business is conducted in a different cultural context and seeing how strategies I’ve used in the past could be adapted or reimagined in a global environment.”
Laswell and his classmates were paired with Costa Rican companies: XUMTECH, a Salesforce CRM provider with a strong Latin American reputation; Green XPO, a company that uses drones, satellite images, and IoT to optimize crops, reduce supervision, and improve costs; and Sarco Architects, a luxury firm focused on sustainable tropical modern design.
Online MBA student Wadah Habeeb, of Schaumburg, Illinois, was on the team that provided consulting services to XUMTECH.
“This project was one of the most interesting experiences I’ve ever had,” said Habeeb. “Our team proposed a comprehensive plan for XUMTECH to enter the U.S. market, including a competitive analysis of their direct competitors, a full roadmap for market entry, financial and management assessments, a marketing plan, and a risk assessment. The company was thrilled with our proposal and expressed that we opened their eyes to new possibilities for entering the U.S. market, something they hadn’t fully understood before.”
Both Laswell and Habeeb were able to pull from their MBA courses as they worked on client deliverables over the seven-day trip.
“The foundational knowledge I’ve gained was invaluable,” said Laswell. “Courses on strategic management and marketing, in particular, were directly applicable. They helped me approach the project with a structured framework and provided tools for conducting thorough market analysis. My experience in management was complemented by the new concepts and methodologies I’ve been exposed to in the MBA program, allowing me to contribute effectively to the team and the project’s success.”
Habeeb, whose background is in engineering, noted that this experience showed him how his MBA studies have equipped him to work across different industries.
“The knowledge and skills I’ve gained through the program were directly applicable to the consulting work we did, particularly in areas like strategic planning, financial assessment, and market analysis,” he said.
In addition to their consulting work, the group explored San Jose and immersed themselves in the Costa Rican culture.
“Bonding with my fellow MBA students outside of the classroom environment and exploring the beautiful landscapes of Costa Rica made the experience even more memorable,” said Laswell. “In particular, a fellow MBA student and I attended a carnival celebration in a local neighborhood which was the ultimate highlight of the trip for the both of us.”
In addition to touring sites like the Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffee Farm, the group spoke with executives including the CEO of Citibank and local entrepreneurs to gain insights into their management experiences. The trip concluded with presentations to XUMTECH, Green XPO, and Sarco Architects, which McCumber noted were “first class, very professional, and very well received by the client companies’ executives.”
“Having the opportunity to watch these professionals grow—individually and together as a team—literally hour by hour, as they negotiate an unfamiliar place, a new professional challenge, and gel as a team to create and deliver their consulting projects was the best part of this experience,” said McCumber. “I am truly appreciative of this opportunity. Experiencing and appreciating positive transformational processes in students—that is truly a gift for any teacher.”
For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox. Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
Local Habitat for Humanity receives record donation
The local Habitat for Humanity of North Louisiana received a $65,000 donation from Mike Clay, resident of Monroe and local business owner of Clay’s RV.
“I have always been interested in Habitat for Humanity’s home building program, but never found the time to physically contribute to the construction of a home,” said Clay. “Providing funding through a donation for the materials is my way of helping to make it happen.”
This is one of the largest individual donations that any of the state’s affiliates have ever received. These funds will be used to build a new home here in Ouachita parish. Once the new family is selected the home plans will begin and the structure built. A plaque will be placed on the home in honor of Mike Clay as the homes donor.
“We are so very fortunate and extremely grateful to have received this donation from Mike,” said Kathy Gardner, President/CEO. “He has been such a loyal supporter of HFHNL since I have been here. This gracious gift just shows how much Mike cares for his community and the mission field that Habitat serves. His love for helping those in need is most evident in this amazing gift to someone that lives in very bad conditions and is wanting to begin a new life.
“Statistics prove that living in a safe and good home improves the family’s educational levels, decreases healthcare costs, and improves income levels. We are improving not just this family’s generation, but generations down the line. This gift will be used to build an entire home and we are so very, very grateful for Mike’s contribution. Our mission field in this area is huge. Our area is in dire need of good and safe affordable housing which is crucial to our families and neighborhoods here in north Louisiana.”
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About Habitat for Humanity
Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on a community farm in Southern Georgia. The Christian housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S., and in more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit hfhnl.org
For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox. Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
This Week in Lincoln Parish Schools
This week in Lincoln Parish Schools
The Lincoln Parish Journal is providing our local schools with an opportunity to submit nuggets from what’s going on at their respective schools in order to get more information out on their students, faculty and staff. The information below comes directly from those schools. Any school wishing to provide content each week can email to flynnhl@warhawks.ulm.edu
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High Schools
Ruston High School
On September 28, the Ruston High Bearcats hit the road and take on the Midland Legacy Rebels at Choctaw Stadium at 2:00 PM.
Our Bearcat Swim Team will compete in Shreveport Saturday, September 28. Also on Saturday, our Cross Country team will compete in Cade, LA.
Tuesday (10/1), our Bearcat Volleyball team will take on the Pineville Rebels; freshmen will play at 4:00, JV at 5:00, and varsity at 6:00.
Thank you to Jim Taylor Ford and RocketFast for their support of our students and the Catbox!
The Teacher of the Week this week is Ms. Bishop. Ms. Bishop has been teaching for 7 years with this being her 2nd at RHS. She teaches Art I and sponsors 4-H.
Simsboro
We are excited to share our Simsboro Students of the Year! We are so proud of these students!
5th Grade- Lilah Deville
8th Grade-Kailee Hamilton
12th Grade- Omarion Rushing
Our 3rd annual Purple and White Night will be on Friday, October 18th. Students have the opportunity to play basketball with their coaches being our very own Simsboro Tiger Basketball players! We are excited for this community event!
Elementary Schools
A.E. Phillips
Elementary Cross-Country Results from the Ruston Invitational
5-6 Girls – 2nd team
7th Georgia Rogers
10th Collins Reigelman
5-6 Boys – 4th team
3-4 girls – 1st team
3rd- Mae Goodwin
5th-Lily McHale
6th- Charlotte Rust
3-4 Boys -1st team
6th- Sam Stone
9th – Jack McGehee
K-2 girls -4th team
2nd-Ella Stone
8th- Sloane Young
K-2 Boys – 1st team
1st James Cotton
2nd Kade Johnson
6th Smith Gillum
The 7th grade Journalism class took a field trip last week to the Ruston Daily Leader. We were taken on a tour of the facility and were introduced to employees in each department who shared with our students what their jobs entail. The highlight of the trip was the tour of the printing press and hearing all about how it operates. Students were given a stack of wonderful products that the Ruston Daily Leader produces to take home and share with their families.
Upcoming Events:
Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday, October 3rd.
We will have a professional development day on Friday, October 4th.
Students will not report to school on either of these days.
7th and 8th Grade Bullpup Bash – October 4 from 6:00-8:00
Fall Break will be October 7-11.
Choudrant
We celebrated our first elementary See You at the Pole event. Lead by our FCA students. Thank you Katie Golden and Danyelle O’Neal for being willing to lead our first FCA group of Lil’ Aggies.
Some very RESPONSIBLE students got to invite a special guest to lunch this week for being selected as Students of the Month. Each month the students focus on a different character trait, and at the end of the month a student from each class is chosen. Congratulations to our Responsible – Student of the Month recipients.
Congratulations to our Cross Country winners at the Ruston High School Invitational.
Way to Go Lil’ Aggies!
Kindergarten – Second Grade
Girls: Annelise Waits-3rd, Lainey Baker 11th, Parker Rollinson- 12th, Livvy Baker-15th
Boys: William Bueson-4th, Nicholas Warrick – 6th, tucker Smith-9th
Third-Fourth Grade
Girls – Lakynn Roberson –Champion!!!, Amelia Hebert-7th, Ally Kate Lyles -11th
Boys – Briggs Holloway 4th
Fifth Grade
Girls Placed 7th Place out of 14 teams with Savannah Patterson and June Cavin coming in Top 25.
Boys placed 6th out of 18 teams represented.
Each week the coaches encourage the runners to focus on a character trait. Last week’s character trait was ATTITUDE. The winners of this award might not have placed in the top 15-25 but showed great ATTITUDE while running the race.
Kindergarten – Second Grade
Girls: Kally Jowers, Harper Serpas, Lily Stoppleworth
Boys: Elijah Juneau, Jayce Pyles, Sawyer Ammons
Third-Fourth Grade
Girls –Serenity Keaster, Laila Cauley, Hattie Nichols
Boys – Elijah Haddox
Fifth Grade
Girls Placed Savannah Patterson and June Cavin
Boys- Gray Williams
Cypress Springs
CSE started the year by celebrating the students who scored a mastery or advanced on the Leap Test from the spring 2023. Each year students that do so, decorate a brick on the “Building Future Leaders” wall in our school. It’s always a fun time for the students to celebrate their success and hard work. We look forward to decorating many more bricks after this year’s LEAP test.
Hillcrest
On Friday, September 20th at Hillcrest, we celebrated Grand Dot Day. Guests were invited to the school to visit their student’s classroom, read the book The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds, and join in a dot themed activity. Guests also had the opportunity to take a picture with their student, which they will receive as a keepsake. We loved having all of our Grands at Hillcrest!
Susan Richardson, one of our first grade teachers, was one of two teachers in Lincoln Parish chosen as an Extra Yard for Teachers recipient. Susan consistently goes above and beyond for her students. We are proud of her hard work and dedication.
Hillcrest Cross Country is on the run!!! The students are enjoying running in the meets and seeing all the competition. Congrats to Eyvah Langhorn for coming in 9th last Saturday in the division K-2 girls.
I.A. Lewis
On Saturday, September 14, 2024, the I A Lewis Cross Country boys ran in their first meet of the season finishing in FIRST place in the 5th-6th grade division! Several runners earned medals by finishing in the top five. Those runners include: Elias Ford (1st), Cayman Cauley (3rd), Asher Foster (4th), and Luke Allen (5th). Congratulations Rams!
For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox. Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
Cousins arrested after high-speed chase
Two women were arrested Monday evening after Grambling Police pursued them at speeds reaching 100 miles per hour before stopping inside the Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home campus.
Williyah Nelson, 18, and Shi’Dayjah Nelson, 20, were arrested on numerous charges by Grambling and Ruston Police.
Shortly after 5 p.m., a Grambling police officer was traveling west on La. Highway 150 when he saw a red Nissan Altima with emergency flashers on attempting to pass another vehicle illegally. He attempted to stop the vehicle which pulled over briefly at the intersection of La. 150 and La. 149 then sped away down La. 149 traveling northbound at a high rate of speed. The officer pursued the vehicle as it merged on to I-20 eastbound at speeds over 80 mph. The Altima maneuvered through numerous cars in a reckless manner, reaching speeds over 100 mph.
The Ruston Police Department was contacted to assist and the vehicle left I-20 at exit 85 where the suspect ran the red light into oncoming traffic, almost causing a crash.
The Altima continued south through downtown Ruston, and a Ruston officer joined the pursuit at Trenton Street and Line Avenue. The suspect turned onto Mills Avenue and then south on Farmerville Street. The vehicle forced numerous other vehicles off the roadway as the driver drove into oncoming traffic lanes numerous times.
The driver, Williyah Nelson, finally stopped on Wier Lane within the children’s home campus.
When asked why she refused to stop for police, Nelson said her front passenger was having a medical emergency and could not breathe.
Ruston Police transported the passenger, Shi’Dayjah Nelson, to the Northern Louisiana Medical Center emergency room. When Shi’Dayjah Nelson learned her cousin had been arrested, she left the emergency room without receiving treatment and walked to the scene of the vehicle stop. She refused verbal commands and yelled, “Put me in the back of there instead of her,” referring to her arrested cousin. She was asked several times to calm down but refused. When officers attempted to arrest her, she snatched her arm away and attempted to walk away. She was restrained and handcuffed.
Williyah Nelson was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for two counts of aggravated flight from an officer, reckless operation, open container, and improper lane usage. Her bail was set at $10,000.
Shi’Dayjah Nelson was booked for interfering with a law enforcement investigation and resisting an officer. Her bail was set at $7,500.
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.
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Lincoln Parish Park Fest set for tomorrow
The fourth annual Lincoln Parish Park Fest will be held Saturday, September 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Lincoln Parish Park (211 Parish Park Road in Ruston).
It will be a day and an event full of arts, food, family and fun and is presented by Friends of Lincoln Parish Park.
Admission is $10 per car and all proceeds from The Park Fest will go to Lincoln Parish Park for upkeep, renovations, and new adventures.
Lincoln Parish Police Juror Annette Straughter said that after funding was cut from the park almost five years ago, she put thought into how additional funds could be raised. And the fourth annual Park Fest is one of those avenues.
“Lincoln Parish Park is an amazing jewel,” said Straughter. “There is something new and exciting to explore every day. We thank all the volunteers that are helping to make this festival successful!”
The event will include arts and crafts booths, fly fishing demos, a Kids Zone with bounce houses and free book giveaways, antique car show and vintage trailers, food trucks with a variety of items and desserts, live entertainment with a variety of music, and much more.
Some of the live entertainment acts include Al Young Seniors (R&B) and Chloe Alexander. Patrick Hall will also serve as the emcee and DJ for the event.
New to the event this year is a Mountain Bike starting at 8 a.m. at the Bicycle Hub. There will also be a free (new) book giveaway courtesy of Rollings Hills Ministry.
The Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office will be on hand along with the K9 units to entertain the crowd with canine demonstrations, while a Bearcat rescue truck will be on display. The Ruston Ambulance and Fire Department will be on hand to provide coverage for the event.
Event goers will have an opportunity to win a 4-gallon Cajun Fryer donated by R.V. Works of Homer, La. by making a donation to the park and receiving a ticket (the winner does not have to be present to win). There will also be opportunities to win a handmade quilt from Lincoln Parish Police Juror Hazel Hunter as well as individual/family park passes for a year.
Thank you to Rapid Signs (t-shirt donations), all Lincoln Parish Police Jurors, Twin City Transportation (sponsor), Meaux’ Plumbing and Tank Service (sponsors) and Don Chuys (sponsor).
We also appreciate the local Boy Scouts as well as the Louisiana Tech Concrete Canoe Team and Louisiana Tech cheerleaders who will be assisting throughout the day with set up and clean up.
For more information, call 318-436-9425.
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This is a paid advertorial. To publicize your upcoming event, contact lpjnewsla@gmail.com for our event package rates.
Ruston Farmers Market to host Annual Autumn Dinner
The Ruston Farmers Market warmly invites you to an evening of celebration and community. Join us on
October 3rd from 6:00 to 9:00 PM for our Annual Autumn Dinner, a night dedicated to appreciating the
heart and soul of Ruston.
Set in our string-lit warehouse, this evening will be one to remember. Guests will be treated to a catered
dinner by Desi Bourgeois, along with an open bar and live music by Mixed Notes, creating the perfect
backdrop for a night of connection and celebration.
At the heart of the evening, you’ll find our silent auction, featuring incredible items like a private dinner
catered by Desi Bourgeois, Airbnb stays, private cooking classes, local art, gift baskets, and much more.
Your participation helps support our farmers, vendors, and artisans, keeping the Ruston Farmers Market a
vibrant and essential part of our community.
This event is more than just a dinner—it’s a chance to be part of something meaningful, to contribute to
the growth and success of a local treasure that’s been serving Ruston for 16 years. Every ticket purchased,
every bid placed, helps ensure the Ruston Farmers Market continues to thrive for years to come.
We’ve taken care of all the details so you can simply enjoy the evening. Valet parking will be available,
ensuring you can relax and focus on what really matters: good food, great music, and even better
company.
Tickets are available now at rustonfarmersmarket.org. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this special
night, celebrating the spirit of Ruston.
About Ruston Farmers Market
For over 16 years, the Ruston Farmers Market has been a cornerstone of the community, offering
exclusively Louisiana-grown and produced goods. Operated by North Louisiana Farm Fresh Inc., a
501(c)(3) nonprofit, the market has become a year-round destination for locals and visitors alike. In 2023,
we proudly opened The Drew Jones Teaching Kitchen, expanding our offerings to include cooking classes
that continue to enrich our community.
For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox. Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
Help Buddy find a permanent home
Meet Buddy!
Buddy was rescued in terrible shape last week from the streets of Ruston. After Ruston Animal Control would not pick him up, we knew we had to get this boy help!
4 Paws raised almost $1400 to get the vetting this sweet boy needs. He may look a little rough now, but he will be the most handsome guy soon enough. We are estimating he is about 7 months old. He will be neutered once he is feeling a little better.
Buddy is the sweetest, most kind boy, He is so grateful for kind people and a loving touch. Please look past his current appearance and come meet Buddy.
Please email 4pawsruston@gmail.com if interested in adopting.
It’s Friday. Last day to participate in Week 4 of the college football pick’em
The Lincoln Parish Journal wants to thank Karl Malone Toyota, Northern Louisiana Medical Center and Johnson Physical Therapy for their title and presenting sponsorships of this year’s College Football Pick’em contest.
We also want to thank Dubach Air and Heat, Ginn’s Autobody, Hart Designs, Dawghouse Sports Grill, Pattons Western Wear, Tanyard Creek, Stows Moving Co., Ruston Athletic Supply, Hot Rod’s BBQ, and Charlie’s Carpet Cleaning for their Pick’em Partnerships within the contest.
We encourage all of our readers to utilize the services and products provided by our advertisers!
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Are you ready for some football?!?
Bigger question. Are you ready to win $200 in cash … with the potential to make it $400 if you are perfect on the week (including predicting the No. 1 tiebreaker exactly right).
The Lincoln Parish Journal is proud to host the Karl Malone Toyota College Football Pick’em Contest presented by Northern Louisiana Medical Center and Johnson Physical Therapy.
If you live in the deep south, you know College Football is King!
Readers are eligible to participate and each week one lucky winner will go home with a $200 cash prize (maybe $400). Each week the winner will be the participant with the best record out of the predetermined 15 college football games (ties will be broken by two separate tiebreakers consisting of guessing the total points scored in two of our weekly contests).
Only one entry per participant will be accepted each week.
The Karl Malone Toyota College Football Pick’em Contest presented by Northern Louisiana Medical Center and Johnson Physical Therapy will be conducted for 14 regular season weeks of the college season starting with this week’s games.
There is no entry fee, just like there is no cost to SUBSCRIBE to the Lincoln Parish Journal where it will come to your inbox every weekday morning at 6:55 a.m. It takes 20-30 seconds to sign up and not much longer than that to make your picks.
All contest decisions by LPJ management are final. Weekly winners will be notified Monday and will be requested to take a photo that will run in the following week’s LPJ.
Every participant will receive a FREE subscription to the Journal, if you’re not already signed up for the easily-navigated, convenient 6:55 a.m. daily e-mail. Enjoy it all, for FREE, and enter each week’s contest. You could collect $200 each week!
Follow the Lincoln Parish Journal each morning at 6:55 right to your inbox. It’s FREE! Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
Ponderings by Doug: Keys
When I was a little boy, keys were my thing. I loved keys. I loved real keys.
I had a reliable source of keys too. My grandfather was a police officer. It seems that back in the 60’s people would lose keys at a very high rate. Pop would bring me bags of keys from time to time. I’m sure I was only receiving three or four at a time, but to me they appeared as a mountain of plenty.
I had a key ritual. I would separate out the door and house keys from the car keys.
Back in the day, each motor company had a key design unique to that motor company. For this article we will illustrate using the Ford Motor Company. Because Ford also made Mercury products the keys were interchangeable. If you worked at it, you might discover a Mercury car key would fit a Ford product.
One Friday night, Pop stopped by with a bag of keys. I quickly sorted the keys. I took the car keys outside for an experiment.
I don’t know how I knew this, but I had a couple of Mercury keys which I took outside. I crawled into the driver’s seat of our 1961 Ford Galaxy and started testing keys. The Mercury ignition keys would fit into the Ford ignition. (You remember, of course the difference between the ignition keys and the trunk keys?) While the Mercury keys fit into the ignition, they would not turn the tumblers.
My key experiment was nearly completed when I put a Mercury key into the ignition and turned it. The 1961 Ford Galaxy roared to life. I then followed the pattern I had learned from adults. I pulled the shift lever down into “D.” “D” meant go!
The car lurched forward and traveled about five feet into the side of the house. The dent in the house was still there 40 years later!
Thus began my illustrious driving career.
The adults filed out of the house. Mom, Dad and Pop the police office all asked, “How did you start the car?” I shared my key knowledge. Pop cut off my Ford Motor key supply. I did have a large collection of General Motors keys that I had decided to try on whoever owned one of those cars. Pop owned a Chevrolet. I had developed a testing plan for that automobile.
Jesus has given us the keys to the Kingdom. No need to be locked in or locked out. You have the keys. Often you have the power to set yourself free.
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Cougars travel to face Glenbrook
by Malcolm Butler
Cedar Creek head coach William Parkerson hopes one drive in last week’s loss to Loyola Prep can bleed over into this week’s match-up against Glenbrook.
The Cougars will travel for the District 1-1A match-up with a 7 p.m. kickoff tonight. The game can be heard on 93.3 FM with Ray Creasy and Ben Haddox on the call.
Creek used a 15-play, 80-yard drive that took the final nine minutes off a running clock and scored a TD in the waning seconds of last week’s loss to the Flyers. And Parkerson hopes that one drive build some confidence that will carry over to this week.
“I thought it was the best offense we played all year,” said Parkerson of the final drive. “The offensive line was moving some people, and Loyola has a pretty good defense. Getting Wyatt (Gremillion) back was a shot in the arm. I thought Cason played his best game and read the option better than he has all year. Hopefully it is something we can build on and have a break out performance tonight.”
Gremillion and senior James Myers were the key figures in that scoring drive with Gremillion seeing his first action of the year last week. Gremillion carried the ball 17 times for 61 yards in the loss while Myers scored the TD and the two-point conversion on the final drive.
The Cougars continue to work in practice on building upon their core offensive philosophy, according to Parkerson.
“We have simplified some things to try to help out,” said Parkerson. “But we put some wrinkles in week to week when it comes to each game plan that we think we can hurt the other team with. but it starts with our core plays and getting better at those, and everything else will build off of that.”
Glenbrook (1-1) enters the game off a bye last weekend. The Apache have a 58-6 win over the Magnolia School of Excellence and a 28-9 loss to Bossier.
The Apache are led by quarterback Easton Sanders, a Louisiana Tech baseball commitment.
“They mix it up pretty good,” said Parkerson. “They will go from double tight, double wing to true spread. They see what is working on build off of that. Their quarterback (Easton Sanders) is a really good player. He throws the ball really well and buys time on pass plays if things aren’t open. He can scramble around. We have to be prepared to defense several different things.”
Defensively, Glenbrook’s strength is on the interior line, according to Parkerson.
“They will mix the 4-2-5 and the 3-3 stack up,” said Parkerson. “They have a really good defensive lineman who moves well at the point of attack. We need to make sure we know where he is at all times. Two of their other defensive lineman also stand out.”
If this week of practice is any indication, Parkerson feels his team is set to take a step forward.
“We had our best practice we have had all year on Tuesday,” said Parkerson. “We had another good one Wednesday. They seemed focused and excited. Now its time to go out there (tonight) and see if we can get a win on the board.”
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Cauley eclipses 1,000 assists; ‘Cats sweep Lions
By Kyle Roberts
First set. Twenty-third point.
And with a kill by senior Rilee Atwood, sophomore setter/outside hitter Baylor Cauley recorded her 1,000th career assist for the Ruston High Lady Bearcats in the team’s sweep over Ouachita by final scores of 25-14, 25-14, and 25-9.
“Baylor knew coming into this season that she wanted to accomplish this,” Lady Bearcat Head Coach Mandy Cauley said. “She’s been pushing herself to reach these kinds of personal goals, and I was happy she did that in front of the home crowd and that her team was so gracious in their celebrations for her. Everybody is proud of Baylor and what she’s done — and the fact that she did this as a sophomore is exciting for the future of the program.”
Cauley added eight aces and six kills to her 13 assists on the night.
“It means a lot because it’s what I’ve worked for,” Baylor Cauley said. “It’s all coming together on the court now.”
Even more impressive is that Baylor is no longer the only setter on the team, which is where she played her entire time last season. This year, she is sharing the setter position with junior Laia Canovas and is seeing time at the outside hitter position, as well.
“It’s definitely different from last year,” Baylor Cauley said of her new role. “There’s definitely a lot less pressure because I’m not the only young one, and having Laia makes it a lot more fun.”
The Lady Bearcats put together a 6-0 run to pull away from Ouachita after the Lady Lions crept close in the first set to take a 12-5 lead and did not show any signs of slowing down for the rest of the night.
Juniors Courtney Harris, Camille Smith and Kate Williams all were able to see a good amount of playing time in the second and third sets after the Lady Bearcats built a comfortable match lead.
“I thought we did a good job of playing what I believe is our level of play,” Mandy Cauley said. “The passes were great, our serve/receive was great, and we were able to spread out the offense and give everybody more opportunities and build their confidence. That’s valuable going into tougher matches that we’ll have in the the next week. I’ve been trying to get more players off the bench and utilize them to build their confidence.”
Sophomore Ava Crowe led all players with nine kills on the night, while senior Harper Cauley added five. Canovas added 12 assists, while senior Mariah White had five digs.
Ruston returns to action Monday, Sept. 30, on the road at Haughton.
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Weekend events
Each Monday and Friday, the Lincoln Parish Journal will post a list of non-for-profit upcoming events happening in the parish. If you would like to add your event to this list or advertise your for-profit events, please email us at lpjnewsla@gmail.com.
Friday, Sept. 27
35th Annual Louisiana Chicken Festival (Dubach)
Saturday, Sept. 28
35th Annual Louisiana Chicken Festival (Dubach)
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Parkfest (Lincoln Parish Park)
6 p.m.: GSU football
Panthers’ defense dominates to defeat J-Hodge
By T. Scott Boatright
JONESBORO — The Jonesboro-Hodge Tigers found out the hard way Thursday night — Lincoln Preparatory School’s defense has become just plain offensive to their opponents so far this season.
Lincoln Prep’s defense scored three touchdowns while adding a safety as the Panthers roared past the Tigers 44-8 at Caldwell Peacock Stadium to move to 3-1 on the season while Jonesboro-Hodge fell to 0-4 on the season.
The win was the first win ever for the school now known as Lincoln Prep. The last win for a Grambling high school team came back in the days of the Grambling Lab Kittens.
“They call this a rivalry, but a rivalry only exists when both teams win every now and then,” said Lincoln Prep coach Glen Hall. So even after tonight, you can just barely call this a rivalry. That will come after we beat them another time or two over the next few years.
“We got a win that was overdue and it was a big win for us, and it gives us a chance to go into Haynesville next week rolling at 3-1.”
The Panthers’ first score came early on an interception return by Tre Spann for a score.
“Our defense did a great job tonight,” Hall said. “It was a night that I’ve been waiting for. It was a breakout night for the defense.”
Lincoln Prep pushed its lead to 14-8 when Wilson raced around end on a 81-yard reverse for a touchdown.
Jonesboro-Hodge scored its lone touchdown midway through the second quarter before the Panthers went back on top for good on the ensuing kickoff return by D’Tavion Wright.
Still leading 20-8, Lincoln Prep’s defense was back at it early in the third quarter as Glosson hit paydirt on a 26-yard scoop and score fumble return that put the Panthers up 28-8 after a successful two-point conversion.
“Our defense has finally learned to start playing with each other,” Hall said. “They’re trusting each other and making sure that they hold each other accountable. Once they start doing that, without one trying to do another player’s job, then tonight showed what that can do.
“It all starts working as a team with the player’s focused on their own positions and trusting in the coaches.”
The Panthers’ “D” did it again on another pick six returned 38 yards for the score by Wright to put the Tigers on top 34-8.
But Lincoln Prep still had a point, well, two points, to make as Shamar Wright sacked Tigers quarterback Dakota Knox in the end zone for a safety that pushed the Panthers’ advantage to 36-8 early in the fourth quarter.
The Panthers’ offense did account for their last score on a five-yard scoring scamper by Wright with Michael Lewis picking up a fumble and racing into the end zone for the two-point conversion and the final score of the contest with 2:55 remaining.
Next up for the Panthers, now 3-1 and 1-0 in District 1-1A, will be a game kicking off at 7:30 p.m. next Friday at Haynesville.
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Bulldog volleyball hosts Liberty in weekend series
Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
Louisiana Tech opens Conference USA play when they host Liberty inside the Thomas Assembly Center on September 27-28. Friday’s match begins at 6 p.m. CT, and Saturday’s first serve is at 1 p.m. CT, with both days being streamed on ESPN+.
The Bulldogs (6-7, 0-0) are coming off their best performance in two years after beating New Orleans 3-0 on the final day of the Pelican Invitational this past weekend.
“It’s our first week of conference play, and we could not be more excited to be opening at home,” said Tech head coach Amber McCray. “This week has been a great opportunity for a reset, remembering conference means a fresh start when everyone is back to 0-0. The past two weeks we have battled injury and illnesses that have sidelined multiple players, so it has been exciting to have everyone back at practice heading into such an important weekend.”
On the offensive side of the net, Tech hit a scorching .402 for the match, marking their highest hitting percentage since August 26, 2022. Jailen Hurley led the way with 14 kills on a .591 hitting clip. Megan Cooley hit .500 with eight kills, and Izabely Benjamin and Gabrielle Hairston contributed six apiece. Hairston earned all-tournament honors after coming off the bench for 13 kills in the match against UC Riverside.
Defensively, Charlize Williams led the Bulldogs in holding their third opponent to .100. Williams finished with eight blocks against the Privateers and 13 on the weekend. Her eight blocks were the most by a Bulldog since October 16, 2022. She ranks fifth in CUSA with 1.05 blocks per set.
Riley Steubing has found confidence as the starting libero. The sophomore ranks third in the conference with 4.28 digs per set and has recorded double-digit digs since taking over that role.
Liberty (6-6) is under the direction of first-year head coach Nolan Albrecht. The Lady Flames are coming off a 2-1 showing at the Ohio University Tournament, beating Oakland and Eastern Kentucky while falling to Ohio.
“Liberty is an experienced team who returns majority of their point-scorers from a year ago, but we believe winning the serving and passing battle so we can maintain a balanced offense will be a critical component to our success in this series,” said McCray.
Kamryn Bacus and Kate Gammer lead Liberty with 3.26 and 3.12 kills per set. They are the only pair of teammates in CUSA to average more than 3.00 per set. Charli Morris and Charli Crowson are the two setters that make their offense run with over 200 assists each.
On the defensive side of the net, Erica Lowery leads the team with 159 digs on the season. Madison Blane, Autumn Flowers, Morris, and Elizabeth Helmich have over 20 blocks so far this season, with Blane leading the way with 53.
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Sky fire Weatherspoon after one season
Courtesy of Staff Reports
The WNBA’s Chicago Sky fired head coach Teresa Weatherspoon after just one season.
Weatherspoon, the Louisiana Tech women’s hoops legend who led the Lady Techsters to the 1988 national title while earning the Wade Trophy as the best player in the country, led Chicago to a 13-27 record this season.
She was fired on Thursday after the Sky missed the playoffs, just three seasons after winning the WNBA title.
Sky rookie Angel Reese went to social media Thursday after the news.
“I’m literally lost for words knowing what this woman meant to me in such a pivotal point in my life,” Reese said via X. “She was the only person that believed in me. The one that trusted me. Many don’t even know what it’s like to be a black women in sports when nobody believes in you. You had a tough job. All the crazy circumstances that we went through this year & when your back was against the wall, you always believed. I came to Chicago because of YOU. You were an unsung hero in my life. We built a relationship in a short amount of time that will last forever.”
Chicago was 18-22 in 2023 and hired Weatherspoon in the off-season.
She was one of two former LA Tech players to serve as a head coach in the WNBA this season with Christie Sides leading the Indiana Fever to a 20-20 record and a playoff berth.
Weatherspoon is a member of the Louisiana Tech Athletics Hall of Fame, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
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Tech Soccer records 0-0 draw in CUSA action
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs start the CUSA road trip with a tie against Kennesaw State. After potential inclement weather pushed game time up to 12:30, the Bulldogs came away with a 0-0 tie against the Owls on Thursday afternoon.
“I am pleased with how we are competing,” said Tech head coach Steve Voltz. “We have to find a way to reward ourselves. It is always good to get points on the road against a physical team.”
With a torrential downpour in the first half, Tech and Kennesaw struggled to get the attacks going as both teams had four shots a piece, but none were on target. Defenders Kalli Matlock and Madita Ehrig’s shot attempts were blocked by Kennesaw State defenders, while forwards Avery Kyle and Kyra Taylor’s shot attempts were far off from the goal.
In the second half of the game, the attacking would be a different story as LA Tech outshot Kennesaw State 8-4, with five of the Bulldogs’s shot attempts being on target. Defender Tomoyo Kuroyanagi took the first shot for LA Tech in the 45th minute, but her attempt was off-target. Matlock tried to get the Bulldogs on the board with her shot attempt in the 51st minute, which the Kennesaw State goalkeeper Charlee Bernal saved the shot attempt.
Senior Lena Radler took a chance at putting a ball in the net, unfortunately the shot was wide. Sophomore Taylor had two more shot attempts in the second half, where one attempt hit directly to the keeper, and the other didn’t connect on goal. Forward Kyle, Mary Helen Burford, and Maeva Costenaro had shots saved by Kennesaw State’s keeper Bernal. Defender Burford’s shot attempt in the 84th minute would have been the decider if Bernal had not gotten a hand on it.
Goalkeeper Cadence Rutledge, with back-to-back starts, finished the day collecting five saves, which is back-to-back games now that she has had five saves.
Louisiana Tech travels to Jacksonville, Ala., to take on Jacksonville State. Sunday’s contest against the Gamecocks will be at 1 PM CT and will be televised on ESPN+.
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Burns’ timely birdie helps USA roll on Day 1 of President’s Cup
By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
QUEBEC, Canada – A pivotal 10-foot birdie putt on the 13th hole Thursday put Sam Burns and Patrick Cantlay in control, and they did not waver down the stretch in winning their opening day four-ball match at the 2024 President’s Cup event.
Burns, a Choudrant resident whose home course is Squire Creek Country Club, and Cantlay capped an historic 5-0 opening day rout by Team USA over the International squad. It was the first time since 2000, and the second time ever, in 25 President’s Cup competitions that a team swept all five matches. It has happened only once, in 1984, in Ryder Cup play.
The Americans prevailed 2&1, closing out the match against former Masters champion Hideki Matsayuma and Corey Connors on the 17th green with a par when Burns putted within gimme distance from 30 feet on an undulating green, and Matsayuma couldn’t convert a 12-foot birdie putt at Royal Montreal Golf Club.
Burns is one of two Americans who will sit out today’s alternate shot format, but USA captain Jim Furyk is expect to send him back in action Saturday as play will feature eight matches, with four-ball in the morning and foursome play in the afternoon. Singles play is Sunday. Coverage today begins at noon on Golf Channel before NBC provides wall to wall coverage Saturday and Sunday.
Burns provided the 224-yard par-3 13th hole birdie Thursday and changed the complexion of the match. The Americans fell behind early, but Cantlay birdied twice to get them 1-up going to the back nine.
“Typically, this format is going to come down to making a birdie on a really hard hole,” Burns said. “Fortunately for us, we did that there.”
The 28-year-old Shreveport native, a Calvary Baptist graduate, finished the 2024 PGA Tour season strongly with two top 5 finishes in the FedEx Cup playoffs and won $6.1 million in official purse money. This is his second President’s Cup and third international competition as a pro, along with last year’s Ryder Cup. Burns helped the USA win the 2022 President’s Cup.
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com
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