Eddie M. Harris
Sunday 06/04/1950 — Tuesday 09/10/2024
Funeral Service: Friday 09/27/2024 12:00pm, Asberry Missionary Baptist Church, 604 Paine Rd., Chatham
Interment: Friday 09/27/2024 Following Service, Asberry Cemetery, Chatham
By T. Scott Boatright
The Lincoln Preparatory School football team will be looking to avoid a two-year-old repeat when the Panthers hit the road to play at Jonesboro-Hodge starting at 7 p.m. today at Caldwell-Peacock Stadium.
Lincoln Prep stands at 2-1 while the Tigers stand at 0-3 following losses against Winnfield (27-0), at West Ouachita (47-0) and at Delhi Charter 26-20.
The Panthers shook off a season-opening loss 36-6 at D-Arbonne Woods with a home win over Magnolia School of Excellence (49-0) and at Beekman Charter 46-8.
Jonesboro-Hodge defeated the Panthers 34-0 in Grambling last year.
The last time the Tigers started out at 0-3 was in 2022 when Jonesboro-Hodge snapped that season-opening three-game losing streak by defeating Lincoln Prep 30-26 in Jonesboro.
Lincoln Prep coach Glen Hall said the key to preventing a repeat loss to the Tigers starts with containing Joneshoro-Hodge quarterback Dakota Knox, who passed for 295 yards and three scores during last week’s loss at Delhi Charter.
“He’s a good athlete with a good arm and good legs,” Hall said. “He’s just a good all-around quarterback and their offense starts with him. He also has some good receivers to throw to, so slowing down their passing attack will be a big focus for us.”
The Tigers’ Christian McGuire set a new JHHS all time single game receiving record with 230 yards and all three of this team’s touchdowns, including receptions of 76 and 74 yards.
“They like to throw it long,” Hall said. “The good thing for us is that we have a pretty veteran and talented defensive secondary with some depth. We have some guys who are good ball-hawks. Verlanski Glosson has four interceptions so far while Cenario Wilson has three and Tre Spann has one, so we’ll be asking our whole defensive backfield to go find the football.
“We’re good ball-hawks who can defend and tackle well. I expect Jonesboro-Hodge to attack us with the pass, but we’re deep enough so that I’ll put six DBs back in our secondary if that’s what it takes.”
Jonesboro-Hodge has won eight straight over the Panthers, and that’s a streak Hall would like to see broken tonight.
“Their coach, Terrance Blakenship, is a good coach and a friend of mine,” Hall said. “But it’s a competitive thing, so I would really like to get a win over him because that’s something I haven’t done yet.
“And(Jonesboro-Hodge) moved down (from Class 2A to 1A), so this year it’s a district game — the first district game of the season for both of us.”
Lincoln Prep’s offense has been rolling with what Hall calls his three-headed monster — senior quarterback Jaylin Huntley along with fellow seniors D’Tavion Wright and Verlanksi Glosson splitting time at Wildcat quarterback helping the Panthers average 33.6 points per game offensively.
But Hall got some good news this week with OL/DR Jamarion Pouncey being cleared to play after missing the first part of the season with an injury.
“We’ve been having to move guys around trying to fill his hole, and that’s a pretty big hole to fill,” Hall said about Pouncy. “So getting him back out there is big, and hopefully he can help put some pressure on the (Jonesboro-Hodge) quarterback and force him to make some quick throws that maybe — hopefully — he’ll end up regretting. We have to try to get after him.”
by Malcolm Butler
When Wes Gregory moved his family to Ruston in 2012, he didn’t know anyone outside of his immediate kin.
Having grown up in Magee, Mississippi, his only connection to Ruston was his wife Lanie, who grew up here until her family moved to Magee when she was a junior in high school.
Fast forward 12 years and almost everyone in the 318 knows Wes, in large part because of his family’s connection with one highly recognizable overgrown puppy dog.
Wes and Lanie and their two daughters – 18-year-old Lily and 11-year-old Lesley – are now a staple in Ruston and are all highly invested in Louisiana Tech and namely its mascot, Champ.
And it all began when Wes began tailgating at Bulldog football games in his first year in Ruston.
“I got into tailgating with Rusty (Wilfong) and going to ball games and things like that,” said Wes. “It just gave me someone to hang out with and things to do while I didn’t know anybody here. It was the college football atmosphere that we had and just being a part of something that did it for me.”
However, it quickly turned into more than just an opportunity to tailgate and enjoy a gameday for Wes and his family.
“We would go to the basketball games and Leslie was a baby,” said Wes. “She was one. Rachel (Vizza) was Champ.
“Champ would come and see Lesley every single game. Lesley was obsessed with Champ. I think that’s when we saw how bad of shape the Champ mascot suit was in, and we bought a suit and donated it to the University.”
It would be the first step on the road to eventually creating the Krewe of Champ, the official mascot program today for Louisiana Tech University.
“We originally were just going to create a scholarship for the student who was Champ because the student didn’t get anything for their hard work,” said Lanie. “So, we started the ‘Lesley Loves Champ Scholarship’ and through that we began the program.”
Wes recalls a meeting with Sam Speed, Dean of Student Engagement and Undergraduate Recruitment at Louisiana Tech, who was in charge of the University’s spirit groups.
It was a meeting that would reshape the mascot program, according to Speed.
“Wes and his family have been invaluable in transforming our mascot program into one of the best in the country,” said Speed. “When Wes expressed interest in overseeing the mascot program, I initially thought all we needed was someone to don the suit and attend events.
“However, Wes’s vision went far beyond that. He aspired for excellence rather than just getting by. His dedication and support have been instrumental to the Krewe of Champ, the student group representing Champ.”
Over the years, the program has grown from just one student into double digits as Champ makes more than 500 appearances a year around north Louisiana. That demand is one of the many reasons Wes knew the program needed to grow beyond just one Tech student in a mascot uniform.
“That first year, we had over 400 appearances,” said Wes. “Rachel was our only Champ. So, she and either Lanie or I went on every single one of them. We knew we needed to grow the program to handle the demands.”
Since the birth of the Krewe of Champ, Wes believes they have had in excess of 30 Tech students who have been a part of it.
“People ask all the time, ‘Why do you have so many Champs?’ said Wes. “You know how many quarters are in a football game? No. Not four. There are six. You also have pregame and halftime. You ask somebody to get into the outfit when its 110 degrees on the football field … that’s a lot.”
Wes and Rachel both had a heart for the program in those early years and the desire to do what it took to help it grow into what it is today.
“I had a passion for cultivating a program around the Champ mascot, and Wes shared the same passion for establishing this staple of the Ruston community,” said Vizza who now resides in Atlanta with her husband. “He heard my big ideas and together we pushed through any roadblocks to create this now long-standing legacy mascot program.”
“The Gregory family embraced Champ as if he was a family member, giving up weekends and space in their house, to make sure Champ was everywhere he needed to be.”
Vizza isn’t the only former Champ mascot who gives credit to Wes and Lanie and the entire Gregory family.
“I think it was (King Louis XIV) who said, ‘I am France,’” said Noah Phenice, a member of the Krewe of Champ from 2017 through 2021. “Although they would never say they are Champ, I think everyone else would say Wes and Lanie and that family are the backbone of the program.”
During the past dozen years, numerous fundraisers and generous donations by both local individuals and businesses have helped generate the funding to take a one-person fledgling program and elevate it to a national level.
“To be fair, there are a lot of DI programs that have the same level of student population within their mascot program,” said Phenice. “It’s usually one or maybe two students, and the suit is usually pretty raggedy. Typically, it falls under a cheer program.
“When you compare that to what the Gregory’s have built, it’s completely different. I think they have turned it into a top tier program. It’s something we are all definitely proud of.”
Proud is an understatement. Pride and appreciation for those who have made it become a reality.
“We have had a lot of growing pains, but I like where we are as a program now,” said Wes. “We couldn’t have done it without the help and generosity from a lot of people who care.”
Any Tech student interested in joining the Krewe of Champ can contact Wes at wesleyg@latech.edu or by calling 318-497-3589.
“We are always looking for students who love Louisiana Tech and that want to be an active part of the University,” said Wes. “We usually do tryouts on an as-needed basis. We will advertise on social media, and we have tryouts. We put them in the suit and see how they look and see how they react.”
Anyone who wants to book an appearance by Champ can do so by going to www.KreweofChamp.com.
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by Hanna Singh
Downtown Ruston is gearing up to get spooky with one of the biggest events of the season, Pumpkins in the Park. This annual fall celebration will take place in Railroad Park on October 5 at 6 p.m., offering the perfect kick-off to the season’s festivities.
Families and friends can enjoy an evening filled with pumpkins, Fall-themed photo ops and a special Halloween movie screening under the stars. With plenty of activities for all ages, this event will be a night of seasonal fun and community spirit in the heart of Downtown Ruston.
Each year, Pumpkins in the Park transforms Downtown Ruston into a festive autumn dream. Featuring fun activities, local vendors, and an annual movie screening, the event brings the Ruston community together to enjoy the charm of the season. Families can stroll through Downtown Ruston to admire an array of pumpkins decorating the town, participate in kid-friendly activities and try delicious bites from local vendors.
Amy Stegall, City of Ruston’s Main Street Director and Community Coordinator, highlighted how the event brings a sense of togetherness for Lincoln Parish each Fall.
“Pumpkins in the Park lights up downtown Ruston with a unique blend of fall fun and community spirit,” Stegall said. “It’s an event where pumpkins line the park, laughter fills the air and the heart of Ruston shines through as families and friends gather to celebrate the season together.”
This year, Downtown Ruston will feature a screening of the family-favorite movie “Halloweentown” during the Pumpkins in the Park celebration. Attendees can view pumpkins carved and decorated by local businesses, displayed around Railroad Park. Activities will include children’s face painting, temporary tattoos, and family-friendly games.
The Kona Ice truck will be there along with local favorite Uptown Downtown serving as a food vendor, offering tasty treats for attendees. Morgan Thornhill, owner of Uptown Downtown, shared what the event means to her and expressed her excitement about seeing the reprise of the much-anticipated event.
“Pumpkins in the Park has become one of my favorite family nights of the year. It’s such a fun event that brings all of the warm and fuzzy feeling of fall,” Thornhill said. “Seeing our community come together and enjoy such a simple, yet memorable moment with their family and friends reminds me just how lucky we are to live in such a sweet town.”
Local organizations will be offering fun activities during the event including the Lincoln Parish Library, the LA Tech Union Board and the Sigma Nu Fraternity at La Tech. Union Board President, Cade Jordan, described what his organization will provide for the event.
“We will be providing our screen and projector for the movie, along with providing yard games such as corn hole and kam jam,” Jordan said. “We will also be having some of our members volunteer with face painting and other services. This is our first year to participate and we are so excited.”
Mark your calendars for Pumpkins in Park 2024, and don’t miss out on this exciting fall tradition in Downtown Ruston. Gather your friends and family for an evening of fun-filled festivities, from decorative pumpkin displays and activities to delicious local food and an outdoor movie. It’s the perfect way to embrace the autumn spirit and create special memories in the heart of Ruston.
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.
With the opening of the North Village Food Park on the horizon, project manager Joey Lopez said he is still soliciting additional food vendors.
Located on East Kentucky Avenue adjacent to North Village Apartments, the North Village Food Park currently has four food vendors with the capacity to add four more.
Lopez said he is confident that they will fill the additional four openings in the very near future.
“These spots are going to go quickly,” said Lopez. “So, if you don’t get them now, they will run out fast. Our goal is for this to be a family-friendly eating environment with entertainment amenities such as the recently renovated playground as well as a game and outdoor movie area.”
Currently, the four food vendors already on board include Lola’s Teriyaki, Big Boy’s Smokehouse, Jay’s Wings and Things, and SaborMex Taqueria.
Lopez said that any food vendors interested in becoming a part of North Village Food Park should contact him at 318-918-9417.
“These are permanent spots located on a concrete slab with water and electricity available,” said Lopez. “We have the covered pavilion that will seat approximately 80 to 100 customers. It’s the perfect setup for our food vendors and for our customers.”
In addition to the pavilion and the food vendors, North Village Food Park includes an existing playground built a few years ago. However, it was recently renovated and upgraded to better serve the foot traffic.
“We came up with the idea of using rubber mulch because it wasn’t draining correctly. It was flooding,” said Lopez. “So, we put new drains in. We put new felt down. We mulched it again. Now after it rains, the kids can still come play.”
On the front side of the food truck park closest to East Kentucky Avenue will be an area for games and other forms of entertainment.
“We are going to have cornhole, horseshoes, picnic tables, and movie nights and game nights,” said Lopez. “We have a big inflatable screen for movie nights and football nights. Karaoke. We are going to try to do a little bit of everything.”
The North Village Food Park is adjacent to or across the street from a number of other Karl Malone Properties including Black Rifle Coffee Company, 5.11 by Karl Malone, Eskimo’s Frozen Custard & More, North Village Events Venue, and Legends 32 Cigar Lounge.
This is an advertorial
A Ruston man was arrested shortly after midnight Monday morning after he confronted his girlfriend with a shotgun.
The Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested Jason E. Flowers, 50, on numerous charges related to the domestic violence incident.
The victim called the sheriff’s office to report Flowers was intoxicated and in the front yard with a shotgun. When officers arrived, Flowers was standing beside his pickup truck in the front yard of the Liner Street residence.
The victim said Flowers had been drinking all day and they had gotten into an argument about her adult son. She said they had argued on the front porch, and she told Flowers she was going to bed.
A short time later, the victim heard Flowers operate the pump action of the shotgun and then she heard a gunshot. Flowers came to her bedroom, yelling and beating on the door. She said she hid in the closet and called 911.
Deputies found a single shotgun shell outside the house. A loaded 12-gauge shotgun was found underneath the truck where Flowers was standing when deputies arrived. A loaded rifle was found on the backseat of the truck.
On the way to the detention center, Flowers allegedly threatened the transporting deputy. When detention center staff asked Flowers if he had any thoughts of suicide, he pointed at an arresting deputy and said, “when I thought about taking him out with me.”
His comment led the deputy to believe Flowers had his shotgun in his hands when the deputy arrived and had considered shooting him.
Flowers was booked for domestic abuse battery aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by convicted felon, disturbing the peace, illegal use of a weapon, and public intimidation.
Bail on all charges except the domestic abuse was set at $7,500. Bail for the domestic abuse battery charge was not available at publication time.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Ruston Police arrested two women after responding to a shoplifting call at a South Vienna Street convenience store Monday.
The store reported two suspects in the store. When officers arrived, they identified the two women and told them the reason for the stop. Both said they had not stolen anything.
The witness said she watched the two women walk around the store and pick up multiple items while holding the bag open. Nothing belonging to the store was located.
During the investigation it was discovered both women were wanted on warrants. Latishia Voss, 40, of Ruston, was wanted on warrants from Ruston City Court for failure to appear on no headlight and driving under suspension charges.
Sherri Solley, 38, of Ruston, was wanted on two warrants from Third District Court for possession of a Schedule I controlled substance and improper taillights.
When they were arrested, officers smelled the odor of marijuana on Voss. She said she had marijuana in her backpack. Officers located a plastic bag containing marijuana and a plastic bag containing a white crystalline substance believed to be methamphetamine.
At the detention center, another bag of suspected methamphetamine was found in Voss’s clothing.
Voss was booked for possession of marijuana, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, introduction of contraband into a penal facility, and the two City Court warrants. Bail was set at $7,500.
Solley was booked on the two District Court warrants. The bail amount for Solley was not available at publication time.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
Former Tennessee All-American and two-time Olympian Monica Abbott will be the guest speaker at the inaugural “Dinner on the Diamond” hosted by Louisiana Tech Softball.
Dinner on the Diamond is scheduled for Saturday, October 19 at 7 p.m. at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field at the Origin Bank Softball and Soccer Complex. The event will take place on the turf field at the home of Bulldog Softball.
Individual tickets for the Dinner on the Diamond are $35 each while tables start at $350 with one table available for a party of four to sit with Bulldog Head Coach Josh Taylor and keynote speaker, Monica Abbott. The Davison Athletic Complex will be reserved for a weather-related change of venue. To purchase tickets for Dinner on the Diamond, go to LATechSports.com/
The fundraising event will serve as an opportunity to meet the 2024-25 Bulldog Softball team as well as hear from both Abbott and Taylor.
The evening will include a formal program, dinner with a cash bar, silent auction, raffles and more. Gates open at 7 p.m. and dinner along with our formal program will begin at 7:30 p.m.
Head coach Josh Taylor will introduce this year’s Bulldog softball staff and players and will provide insight into the 2025 season. A two-time Conference USA Coach of the Year, Taylor is entering his fourth year at the helm of the program after leading Tech to the 2022 CUSA regular season title.
Monica Abbott starred for the Lady Volunteers (2004-07) and is still the NCAA Division I leader in wins, strikeouts, shutouts and innings. She is a 2-time Olympic silver medalist for Team USA (2008, 2020) and a 5-time National Professional Fastpitch (NPF) champion and 6-time Japanese Softball League champion.
She was the first pitcher in NCAA Division I history to record 500 strikeouts in all four years of her collegiate career. She was Tennessee’s first All-American and led the Lady Volunteers to three Women’s College World Series appearances.
Dinner on the Diamond is the second half of a “weekend doubleheader” as Abbott will conduct a softball clinic on Friday (Oct. 18) from 5 to 9 p.m. at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field. Abbott will be joined by Tech pitching coach Chelsea Cohen for the pitching aspect of the camp while Taylor will serve as the hitting instructor. Tech assistant Tyler Krobetzky will serve as the catching instructor. Tech softball players will also assist throughout the clinic.
To reserve a spot in the clinic, folks can go to LATechSports.com/AbbottClinic.
To purchase tickets for Dinner on the Diamond, go to LATechSports.com/
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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.
By Kyle Roberts
Ruston High’s volleyball squad picked up another district sweep Tuesday, beating the West Monroe Rebels on the road by final scores of 25-16, 25-16 and 25-17.
“It was a great win for us,” Ruston High head coach Mandy Cauley said. “We served tough, and we were able to keep the Rebels out of system most of the night.”
Senior Harper Cauley led the Bearcats with nine kills on the night, while sophomore Ava Crowe added five. Junior Laia Canovas finished with nine assists, while Baylor Cauley added with eight assists and four kills.
Ruston will return to action tonight at home to take on Ouachita. JV will serve at 4:30 p.m. with varsity following at 5:30 p.m.
Reminder for Ruston Residents!
Just a friendly reminder about the new notification system that keeps you informed about emergencies, weather updates, and local events!
We have already launched this new system, and starting April 1st, we stopped using “Code Red” for emergency alerts.
If you haven’t signed up yet, make sure you do so to stay in the know. Your safety matters to us, so don’t miss out on important updates!
Click the link to sign up for alerts: www.lincalerts.org Stay safe and informed!
It’s been exactly three years since I decided to redirect my vocational life. After 35 years of working for large organizations, I decided to go on my own. I wasn’t running away from anything. I knew and accepted the challenges of the job I had. Being responsible for eleven manufacturing plants that operated 24 hours a day, I was always on call. There was seldom a quiet day with no issues.
I could have comfortably continued to serve in that capacity for several more years. The people I worked with were outstanding. Our system was fully implemented, and we were financially successful in many respects. It was challenging, hard, and tiring, but I was very comfortable in the role. My decision to leave had nothing to do with running away from anything.
Rather, I wanted to run to something. I wanted to see just how far I could expand my influence in helping others create workplaces where people were valued, cared for, and challenged to be their best. I wanted to show others how to create authentic team environments and develop leaders across all segments of society. Lastly, I wanted to help business leaders simplify their strategy, define their purpose, and transform workplaces to have sustainable success in every aspect.
I set some lofty goals. I wanted to write and sell 10,000+ copies of a book. I wanted to speak to large groups of people and have at least one event a year of 10,000 people. I had some financial goals as well. These goals were not so much about making money as they were about evidencing the value created.
As I now approach the last few months of year three “on my own”, it has become clear that those goals will likely not be reached without some major change in my current trajectory. While I have written that book and sold a fair number of copies, I am not nearly approaching 10,000 sold. While I have met with and spoken to groups in over fifty cities, I am nowhere near speaking to 10,000 at an event. There are many days that I may just engage with one individual. An honest assessment of my performance compared to my goals would indicate failure.
Many of you may have similar experiences. Maybe it’s like mine vocationally. It could be some other plans, dreams, or goals that have yet to be fulfilled, and you are running out of time. It could be any number of experiences, outcomes, or relationships that have yet to come to fruition, and you feel as if you have failed in some way. Maybe, the opportunities have just never presented themselves. The door has never been opened for you.
If any of those examples fits you, consider a different perspective. Value the one in front of you. Value the opportunity in front of you. In other words, don’t give up on your dreams or goals, but don’t miss the people and opportunities in front of you as you dream big. There is value in one!
Whether you are a Bible reader or not, there is a great example of this perspective that we can all learn from. Several years after Jesus’s death, a physician named Luke did extensive research on the life of Jesus and wrote one of the Gospels in the New Testament. There is a very interesting fact here. Luke did all this research and wrote this “letter” to one person, a guy named Theophilus. All that work for a letter to one guy.
Luke didn’t stop there; he took the time to write a second “letter” to Theophilus documenting the growth in the early church. This writing is now known as the book of Acts. Again, he took many hours to document great details for one guy.
Luke’s commitment to one has no doubt impacted millions of people, but he didn’t set out to impact millions. He simply valued one person!
Let’s not miss the people “in front of us”! Let’s not miss the opportunities “in front of us”! I may never reach any of my initial goals. You may never reach yours either. We may fail, but that doesn’t mean we are failures. Value/love the one in front of you!
We may never know the impact of taking the time to impact one.
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.
Courtesy of Journal Sports
QUEBEC, Canada – When Choudrant resident Sam Burns tees off today in his second President’s Cup competition, he’ll be wearing rain gear. And he won’t be playing with his great friend Scottie Scheffler, at least not on the opening day of the four-day competition at Royal Montreal Golf Club.
The weather forecast is daunting, with heavy rain anticipated throughout the day during the four-ball competition. Burns is paired with Patrick Cantlay and tees off at 1:47 CST.
Burns, 28, was named to the President’s Cup team as a captain’s pick by Team USA captain Jim Furyk. The Shreveport native, Calvary Baptist graduate and two-time LSU All-American is one of 12 players chosen to represent the USA against the International Team.
World No. 1 Scheffler, two-time major champion Xander Schauffele, and Tour champion Keegan Bradley – next year’s Ryder Cup captain – headline the roster.
The President’s Cup began in 1994, at the historic Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia with a unique format in play. Team USA competed against Team International, with Team International excluding players from Europe. The USA currently leads 12-1-1 over Team International.
The competition has 30 total matches being played over four days. Friday’s matches will be foursomes. Saturday will feature eight matches, with four-ball and foursome formats splitting the morning and afternoon. Championship Sunday will consist of 12 singles matches with each player from each respective team facing another player in a one-on-one format. With 30 points up for grabs, the first team to reach 15.5 points will win the tournament.
Burns, who plays out of Squire Creek Country Club, was named to the President’s Cup team after an impressive 2024 PGA Tour campaign. Burns finished inside the top 10 eight times, with a season-best second-place finish at the BMW Championship in August.
Burns also accumulated over $6.1 million and made 18 cuts in 21 events. Burns’ success was well stated in the statistics, with the Choudrant resident ranking among the top of the PGA Tour in multiple metrics. Burns ranks second among all tour players in total putting, averaging 1.685 putts per hole. The two-time PGA Tour winner also ranks second in birdie average, with 4.42 birdies per round.
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.
Chester, Illinois, is a city on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River about 70 miles south of St. Louis, Missouri. What began as a ferry town on the Mississippi eventually became a major supplier of castor oil which was used as a lubricant. Chester had the advantage over other towns because of its location on the river. Wood-burning steamboats filled with castor oil delivered the lubricant to St. Louis, New Orleans, and even as far away as England.
When Elzie Crisler Segar was born in 1894 in Chester, the city had an iron foundry, machine shops, several mills, a few taverns, an opera house, and a number of stores. Elzie and his family often shopped at a general store on Pine Street in Chester which was owned and operated by Frank and Dora Paskel. When Elzie was growing up, Dora made an impression on him. Dora was a taller-than-average woman who wore long, black, fitted dresses which covered everything from her neck to her wrists and ankles. Dora usually wore her hair in a tight bun. Elzie remembered that she was strong-willed and feisty.
As a teenager, Elzie went to work in the Chester Opera House which was operated by J. William Schuchert. Elzie was such a good worker that William promoted him to projectionist of the opera house. William and Elzie’s relationship evolved from boss and employee to true friendship. When Elzie showed an interest in art, William paid for Elzie’s art correspondence courses. William often sent Elzie to the nearby Wiebusch tavern with enough money to get them hamburgers.
At the Wiebusch tavern in Chester, Elzie befriended a former Polish sailor who had emigrated to the United States named Frank Fiegel. Frank kept the tavern clean when the place was quiet, but his real job was to maintain order. Frank was a bouncer. Frank was known for his fighting skills and although he never looked for a fight, he never shied away from one. During one brawl, Frank received a blow that permanently disfigured one of his eyes. While waiting on hamburgers, Elzie often listened as Frank told stories about his adventures out of one side of his mouth while the other side held his pipe.
When he was about 20 years old, Elzie moved to Chicago to continue building his career as an artist. He never forgot Dora, William, Frank, or the lubricant that Chester was so well known for, including them in his art which became popular around the world. Sadly, 43-year-old Elzie Crisler Segar died of leukemia on October 13, 1938, cutting short his career. Luckily, other artists have continued his cartoon work that we all know. J. William Schuchert, Elzie’s boss who loved hamburgers, was the inspiration for a character named J. Wellington Wimpy. Elzie named a character after Chester’s lubricant called Castor Oyl. Dora Paskel, the operator of the general store in Chester, was the inspiration for Castor Oyl’s daughter, Olive Oyl. Frank Fiegel, the scrappy brawler from the tavern who had a deformed or “pop-eye” was the inspiration for… Popeye.
Sources:
1. “History of Chester,” City of Chester, IL, accessed September 20, 2024, https://www.chesterill.com/
2. “Elzie Crisler Segar,” FindaGrave.com, accessed September 19, 2024, https://www.findagrave.com/
3. “Dora Schrader Paskel,” FindaaGrave.com, accessed September 19, 2024, https://www.findagrave.com/
4. “John William Schuchert,” FindaGrave.com, accessed September 19, 2024, https://www.findagrave.com/
5. “Frank ‘Rocky’ Fiegel,” FindaGrave.com, accessed September 19, 2024, https://www.findagrave.com/
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Funeral services for Mr. William Joseph Robert “Will” Watkins, age 19 of Choudrant, LA are scheduled for 10:00 AM, Thursday, September 26, 2024 at Owens Memorial Chapel with Bro. Blake Allen officiating. Burial will follow in Loch Arbor Cemetery near Swartz.
Will was born August 22, 2005, in Ruston, LA and passed away Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. He graduated from Ruston High School, Class of 2024. After graduation Will worked at Loweś of Ruston.
Will loved listening to music, almost as much as he loved his family, especially his sister, Natalie. She was his everything. Will had a car that he was very proud of and always wanted to go somewhere or was willing to drive anyone anywhere. He enjoyed eating out and would eat anything sweet. Will always wanted to go out to eat or hangout with the people he loved any chance he could get. Will had a very good sense of humor and could make a joke out of anything. He loved always making his friends and family laugh.
Will was tough, with features resembling his dad, and tried his best at everything he did. He loved his family, and wanted to make them proud. Will gave off so much love towards everyone he cared about. He was a great friend, brother, and son. Will had the kindest heart and he will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his parents, Joey Watkins and Kristina; his sisters, Natalie and Brooklyn; his brother, Bradley; and grandparents, Willie and Elizabeth Osborne of Choudrant.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM, Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at the funeral home. To leave an online memorial message for the family, please visit www.owensmemorialfuneralhome.com.
Jimmy D. Liner
February 12, 1952 – September 22, 2024
Visitation: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – Ruston, Thursday, September 26, 2024, 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Service: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – Ruston, Thursday, September 26, 2024, 11:00 am
Cemetery: Simsboro City Cemetery, Thursday, September 26, 2024
William Joseph Robert Watkins
August 22, 2005 – September 20, 2024
Funeral Service: Thursday, September 26, 2024, 10:00 AM, Owens Memorial Chapel
Eddie M. Harris
Sunday 06/04/1950 — Tuesday 09/10/2024
Visitation: Thursday 09/26/2024 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home
Funeral Service: Friday 09/27/2024 12:00pm, Asberry Missionary Baptist Church, 604 Paine Rd., Chatham
Interment: Friday 09/27/2024 Following Service, Asberry Cemetery, Chatham
By Kyle Roberts
Board members of the local food ministry 5 Loaves, 2 Fish provided an update Tuesday at the Lincoln Parish Library on the progress the group has been making in the last year to fight food insecurity in Lincoln Parish.
Board President Julie Holmes, Secretary Stephanie Matthews and Treasurer Carol Trumbold all offered various updates from numbers of meals served since the first event to the goals for the ministry’s future.
“I’m glad to know that the idea that we have is needed,” Holmes said after the presentation. “And it’s obvious, that being able to serve this many meals to people in need, the project is beneficial to the area. You know, every time we go and serve, I have at least one or two people that tell us they are grateful we were here today (at an event). Some of them did not know what they were going to have that evening to eat, and they were able to eat because of the event.”
Beginning in February of this year, nearly 1,500 meals have been served in an eight-month span of time with events held in various churches and locations in Ruston, Grambling, Dubach and Simsboro.
The mission of the ministry is to fight food insecurity by identifying neighborhoods that have residents living below the ALICE (Asset-limited, Income-constrained, Employed) level. Nearly 64 percent of Lincoln Parish residents meet this criteria, with the highest population percentage (estimated between 75-95 percent) living south of I-20 in Ruston, Grambling and Simsboro.
Moving forward, the group hopes to serve 3,600 hot, healthy meals by September of 2025 and to hold events in designated communities three times per month.
Holmes also listed the hope of obtaining a mobile food concession trailer, folding tables and chairs, and food warmers/roasters in the near future to make the ministry more efficient.
More information can be found at https://5loaves2fishruston.org, where a donation tab is also available for anyone who would like to give financially to the ministry.
Courtesy of Louisiana Tech University Communications
U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) has ranked Louisiana Tech University as a Top Tier National University for the 14th consecutive year in its 2025 Best Colleges list released today. Louisiana Tech improved six spots on USNWR list of Top Public Schools ranking 161, second in the state.
Other recognitions include having the highest retention rate among public universities in the state and ranking among the top schools for social mobility, up 13 spots.
“Being among the top universities in the nation is an acknowledgment of our faculty’s commitment to a rigorous educational experience that prepares our graduates for life and career success,” President Jim Henderson said. “Leading the state in student retention and advancing our social mobility position is a testament to the quality of student attracted to Tech and how our graduates are contributing to their communities.”
Degree programs also received accolades in this year’s USNWR rankings. The University’s computer science and engineering programs are among the top nationally.
“With a unique focus on experiential learning that begins with our Living with the Lab and Living with Cyber curricula, our engineering and computer science graduates are consistently lauded for their ability to have an immediate impact the companies they serve,” Dr. Collin Wick, dean of Louisiana Tech’s College of Engineering and Science, said. “Our position on the U.S. News and World Report ranking recognizes the hard work of our faculty and staff in delivering an exceptional educational experience.”
The University’s business programs were also listed.
“Our consistent recognition is a reflection of the quality of faculty, staff, and students within our College,” said Dr. Chris Martin, dean of the College of Business. “It is an honor to be considered among the best business schools in the country. Our strategic focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology, combined with our commitment to student success and high impact research, sets us apart as a top business school.”
The University’s undergraduate psychology programs were also recognized among the best.
“There is transformational research and teaching taking place in our Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences,” Dr. Henrietta Pichon, dean of the College of Education and Human Sciences, said. “Our students benefit from a dedicated faculty that prepares graduates for a clinical setting and to serve business and industry.”
For the 2025 rankings, USNWR evaluated nearly 1,500 U.S. four-year bachelor’s degree-granting institutions on as many as 19 measures for its 39th rankings edition. More than half of a school’s rank is comprised of varying outcome measures related to schools’ success at enrolling, retaining, and graduating students from different backgrounds with manageable debt and post-graduate success.
Courtesy of GSU Communications
Building on a commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion in education, Grambling State University (GSU) has been selected as one of only four Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to receive the prestigious Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence (Hawkins) grant.
The grant, which provides $379,000 for the first year, and $2.1 million over five years, will support GSU’s efforts to increase multilingual representation and address the need for more diverse educators in underserved communities.
“This opportunity allows us to explore all factors of the learning process that impact student success,” said Grambling State President Martin Lemelle, Jr. “From diversity in the classroom to innovative teaching techniques, we are expanding how education is delivered and received. This grant represents another step in our commitment to standing at the forefront of workforce preparedness, ensuring our graduates are ready to excel in today’s complex educational landscape.”
The grant, awarded by the Biden-Harris Administration through the U.S. Department of Education, supports GSU’s groundbreaking initiative, GramPREP: The Grambling Center of Excellence for Teaching and Learning. Dr. Danielle Williams, Assistant Professor in the College of Education, will serve as the Principal Investigator (PI) for the project. Katina Crowe-Scott will serve as the Program Coordinator.
“Grambling State University is uniquely positioned to address the barriers faced by bilingual teacher candidates, especially those from underrepresented communities,” said Williams. “By creating this groundbreaking program at an HBCU, we are closing opportunity gaps and promoting a multilingual approach to teaching and learning. This program offers a rare and vital platform for multilingual educators to collaborate, share experiences, and develop strategies.”
GramPREP aims to address critical needs within local education agencies (LEAs) by recruiting and training 45 aspiring teachers from underrepresented populations. The program will enhance GSU’s teacher preparation programs by aligning coursework, coaching, and support with an evidence-based instructional rubric. It will also establish robust clinical experiences in partnership with LEAs and support teacher retention through Communities of Practice and induction program design workshops.
“We are at a pivotal moment in the growth of our institution,” said Theodore Callier, Vice President for Research and Sponsored Programs at GSU. “A key driver of that growth is the collective research and creative works by our faculty. Grambling State has a long and successful history of producing well-prepared educators. This latest investment is a testament to the US Department of Education’s continued commitment to advancing educational excellence and ensuring a diverse, well-supported teaching workforce.”
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.
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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Four weeks. Four different winners.
Jason Corley was this week’s winner of the Karl Malone Toyota College Football Pick’em Contest presented by Northern Louisiana Medical Center and Johnson Physical Therapy.
He walked away with $200!
Would you like 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!
Week 1: Alethea Gipson
Week 2: NaTyra Bolds
Week 3: Barbara Bradshaw
Week 4: Jason Corley
Follow the Lincoln Parish Journal each morning at 6:55 right to your inbox. It’s FREE! Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
A traffic stop early Sunday morning by the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office resulted in the arrest of a man for violating a protective order against a woman who was also in the vehicle.
A deputy stopped Stephen Cano, 32, of Ruston for failure to signal a turn at the intersection of South Farmerville Street and East Mississippi Avenue. When the vehicle stopped, a female passenger, exited the vehicle and attempted to leave the location. She was directed to remain in the vehicle.
A records check revealed Cano was under a protective order preventing him from being within 200 feet of Nora Juarez, the passenger in the vehicle. The protective order was issued in relation to a second-degree battery with serious injuries.
Juarez was found to be wanted on a warrant from Ruston City Court for failure to appear in court on a charge of creating a public nuisance.
A search of the vehicle yielded a bag behind the center console within reach of both occupants. The bag contained suspected marijuana and three glass smoking pipes containing suspected methamphetamine residue. Both Cano and Juarez denied ownership of the bag.
Cano was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for possession of marijuana, violation of a protective order, possession of drug paraphernalia, and no turn signal. Bail on the drug and traffic charges was set at $1,250.
Juarez was booked for possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and the Ruston City Court warrant. Her bail was set at $3,000.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Here are the latest Power Ratings for the Non-Select and Select football schools. These are used to determine playoff seeding at the end of the regular season.
Click HERE to see the complete list for each Select and Non-Select Division, including where Ruston (Non-Select Division I), Cedar Creek (Select Division IV) and Lincoln Preparatory (Select Division IV) are ranked.
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ABOUT THE POWER RATINGS
The changes the LHSAA made to the Power Ratings formula a few years back will have coaches and fans alike wondering why your calculations do not match GeauxPreps.
The top reason for mismatches is calculating Opponents’ Win points. Win Points are no longer just a straight up number of Wins by teams you have played. Points are now based on the number of wins vs number of games played. This was done to make up for playing opponents who did not play a full 10-game schedule.
See the summary below on how PR is calculated:
Another major factor that causes mismatches, is Out of State opponents. We strive to make sure that we have to most accurate Win/Loss record for each out of state opponent. Since schools enter the W/L records for their OOS opponents, and because we don’t know how the schools get their record, we often are off on several matchups.
In addition, a team’s strength factor shall be determined by adding the sum of the opponent’s class to the sum of the opponent’s wins and dividing the result by the total number of games played. The strength factor is used when a tie exists between two or more teams and a head-to-head matchup does not exist.
GeauxPreps.com auto-generates its Power Ratings every two hours for football. If you think that you have seen an error or have any other questions, please contact hbower@geauxpreps.com.