The 11th-ranked Louisiana Tech bowling team is heading to Rochester, N.Y., for the NCAA Tournament Regional on April 4-5, which will be held at Bowl-A-Roll.
The Bulldogs earned an at-large bid for the fifth consecutive year and will face No. 8 North Carolina A&T on Friday, April 4, at 8 a.m. CT.
The regional will be double elimination, except for the play-in match, and will be the Mega Match Format except for, if necessary, match eight; it will be a best-of-seven Baker match. The Mega Match Format is comprised of a best-of-three style, with the first game being a traditional team total pinfall, followed by a five-game Baker total pinfall. A best-of-seven Baker match will determine the winner if the two teams split the first two sets.
Marian (WI) and Saint Vincent will open the regional with the play-in match on Thursday. The winner will face No. 4 overall seed Youngstown St. the following morning.
The Tech and NCA&T winner will face the winner of that match at 1:30 p.m. CT, while the two losing teams will face off in an elimination match.
Saturday will start at 8 a.m. CT with an elimination match followed by the regional championship matches.
The regional winner will compete in the NCAA women’s bowling championships, held April 11-12 at Suncoast Bowling Center in Las Vegas.
Visitation: 5-7 PM Monday, March 31, 2025 at Temple Baptist Church Ruston, LA in the Fellowship Hall.
Funeral Service: 10:00 AM Tuesday, April 1, 2025 at Temple Baptist Church Ruston, LA in the Fellowship Hall.
Burial at Kilpatrick’s Memorial Gardens on Cooktown Road (LA Highway 544 west) in Ruston, LA
Susan Canterbury Corley of Simsboro passed from this life to be with her Lord and Savior on March 25th surrounded by her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Lettie Canterbury.
Left to cherish her memory her husband of 53 years, John Corley; son, Jason Corley of Scottsdale, AZ; granddaughters Kaleigh and Kamryn Corley and their mother, Katherine Corley of Carrollton, TX; brother, Tommy Canterbury of Frisco, TX; sister-in-law Carol Canterbury of Prosper, TX; sister-in-law Karen Walker & husband Tony of Pinehurst, NC; sister-in-law Sharon Fontenot of Lake Charles, LA, along with numerous loving cousins, nieces and nephews.
Susan was a graduate of Simsboro High School and Louisiana Tech University where she taught in the College of Business for 30 years. She was an avid Dunkin’ Dog and baseball fan and loved to attend games. She has made special connections to many Tech players and coaches.
Serving as pallbearers are nephews Chad Canterbury, David Walker, Jr., and Ryan Fontenot; as well as Joe Mitcham, Philip Johnson, and Selwyn Ellis.
Addison Thomas “Tommy” Ward, III December 3, 1947 – March 23, 2025 Visitation: Friday, March 28, 2025, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Farmerville First Baptist Church, Main Street, Farmerville Funeral Service: Saturday, March 29, 2025, 11:00 AM, Farmerville First Baptist Church, Main Street, Farmerville Cemetery Committal: Saturday, March 29, 2025, Farmerville City Cemetery, West Franklin Street, Farmerville
Lincoln Parish Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Kip Franklin said Tuesday that the third generator project submitted for Lincoln Parish as part of the state-wide 5% initiative has been approved.
Franklin said he sent out an email back in 2023 gauging who was interested in utilizing the program, and that the funding for these generators comes from the federal government as part of assistance following disasters.
“The state will take money from a disaster,” said Franklin. “This current one is from Hurricane Ida. Initially you have public assistance dollars that come from FEMA for state agencies or municipalities.
“But then following every disaster, you have hazard mitigation money coming in for every state impacted by the disaster. The money that came in from Hurricane Ida … five percent of that money can be set aside for generators; strictly generator projects.”
Franklin said that the first generator project was in 2016 and a second followed in 2018, both of those projects funded by money stemming from Hurricane Gustav in 2008.
“They still had money in that account specifically for generators,” said Franklin. “In 2016 the participants were basically government agencies. But the one in 2018 was mostly rural water systems. And this one, most of it is rural water systems with a few government agencies included.”
The current generator project was submitted in October 2023, but was just recently approved on January 7, 2025, according to Franklin.
There are 16 generators included in this project, all submitted by different agencies and municipalities located within our parish.
These include:
Fellowship Water System
City of Grambling (City Hall)
Hico Water System (Sharon Well)
Hico Water System (Barnet Well)
Lincoln Parish Police Jury (Arthur Lift Street)
Lincoln Parish Police Jury (Court Annex)
Lincoln Parish Police Jury (Expo Arena)
LPPJ Water Works District 3 (Office)
LPPJ Water Works District 3 (Airport Well 2)
LPPJ Water Works District 3 (Longstraw Well 3)
Mount Zion Water System (Office)
Mount Zion Water System (May Road Well 2)
Village of Simsboro (Water Well 6)
Village of Simsboro (Terminal Lift Station)
Village of Simsboro (Braswell Lift Station)
Village of Simsboro (Highway 150 Lift Station)
The most recent initiative allows for a 90-10 cost share with 90 percent of the expense of each of the generators to be paid with funds from the hazard mitigation dollars. The previous two saw a 75-25 cost share.
The total cost for the 16 generators in the current generator project is $1,581,680, with $1,423,494 of the total funded through these dollars. The remaining 10 percent is paid for by each of the entities receiving the generators.
The 2016 generator project benefited the City of Ruston, City of Grambling, Lincoln Parish Detention Center, Lincoln Parish Fire District, Lincoln Parish School Board, Ruston Fire Department, and the Lincoln Parish Police Jury. The total cost of those projects was $1,634,698,
The 2018 generator project benefited Great Ward 1 Water, Water Works District 3, Mount Zion Water District, Village of Simsboro, Lincoln Parish Fire District, and Wesley Chapel Water District. The total cost of those projects was $577,583.
Franklin said that all of the current projects could begin immediately and that the total cost is funded up front. However, the reimbursement for the 90 percent usually occurs within a few months.
“It’s a reimbursement program,” said Franklin. “If you are going to put a generator in your government office let’s say, and it’s $100,000, you are going to pay the $100,000 up front. Then you will get reimbursed 90 percent of that cost.
“Hurricane Ida was initially declared a 90-10 cost share when it was declared a disaster.”
Franklin also said there is a secondary program that each entity can follow up with where the remaining 10 percent of the cost could be funded.
With the addition of the
“These three projects have put generators in place to support water systems and other utility systems to keep them up and running during emergencies,” said Franklin. “It has also given backup power to government offices within our parish to support continuity during these times, so they don’t have to shut down completely.
“We could have a power outage at any time. And when we do, these generators are going to take over and help us to continue to function throughout our parish.”
Franklin added that there are three pending generator projects awaiting approval, including:
Lincoln Parish Police Jury Water Works District 3 (Sisemore Well 4)
Town of Dubach (Henry Road Well)
Alabama Water System
He said the Alabama Water System is located in Bienville Parish but serves Lincoln Parish.
About 150 concerned citizens gathered at the Lincoln Parish Library Tuesday night to let their voices be heard at the Empty Chair Town Hall.
Four chairs sat on the stage in the Library Events Center with large pictures of four elected officials representing north Louisiana in some capacity: Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, U.S. Representative Julia Letlow, U.S. Senator John Kennedy and U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy.
The event was organized by Indivisible.La and 10,000 Women Louisiana and was an effort for citizens to ask questions and express concerns.
“We see our job as to capture that information and go back and share that with the staffs of our elected officials,” said Melissa Flournoy, board chair for 10,000 Women Louisiana. “The citizens of the Ruston area are coming out to make their voices heard and tell us their concerns about what’s going on with the federal government.”
Flournoy and Indivisible.La volunteer organizer Paula Stinson said they had reached out to the officials’ offices to ask them to attend – and they did receive responses.
“These citizens have been asking for town halls. Senator Kennedy said, ‘Have them call someone who cares,’” Stinson said. “And (Speaker) Johnson said, ‘Do not have any town halls. Do not talk to these people.’ Well, we’re here to talk to them. We’re doing letter writing campaigns, we’re doing video letters that we’re going to send to them. There is a lot of anger, and our officials are voting for everything, but they’re not listening to us and hearing the pain that what they’re voting for is going to cause people.”
Community members Joel and Kelly Sharpton offered to film citizens to have videos to send to elected officials.
“Joel is an audio and video producer, so he is recording interviews for people that will be sent directly to the representatives,” Kelly Sharpton said. “We want to get everybody’s story and everybody’s comments.”
Stinson said she was excited to see parents bringing their children and grandparents also attending the event.
“We’ve got generations of folks here tonight because of the cuts to the education department,” she said. “If your child has an IEP or funding for bus transportation or funding for the food program – in a rural area like this, a lot of the federal money helped shore up the school system. If you eliminate the Department of Education, the state of Louisiana doesn’t have extra money to fill that gap.
“This is really a dismantling of government, and it’s going to disrupt the lives of families across the state.”
Flournoy added that many individuals were concerned about Social Security, as it was announced the Trump administration announced the firings of several Social Security customer service employees and the closure of more than half the regional offices around the country.
“So if you’re poor, if you’re disabled, if you don’t do technology very well, you’re out of luck,” she said. “You’re not going to get help with your benefits.”
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The Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested a local woman last week after a victim provided video showing her trespassing and burglarizing a building.
Tonya Walker Davis, 44, of Grambling, was arrested on March 19 after deputies were called to a location on La. Highway 151 near Dubach regarding a trespassing complaint.
Deputies found Davis trespassing at an oil well site behind a residence. While deputies were investigating, a man who arrived who said he had video of Davis trespassing on his property on Bettell Road and breaking into one of his buildings.
The video showed Davis’s truck enter the Bettell Road property and park near the building. The victim said he saw several items out of place inside and outside the building. Davis admitted to trespassing on the man’s property and breaking into his building.
Another victim came to the scene and said Davis had trespassed on her property, also on Bettell Road. The woman said Davis had to cross her property to get to the burglarized building.
Davis was arrested and taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center. During the transport, Davis was asked if she had any drugs on her and she stated no. During a search at the detention center, deputies located a small plastic bag of suspected methamphetamine. A rapid field test confirmed the substance was methamphetamine.
Davis was booked for a simple burglary, three counts of criminal trespass, possession of methamphetamine, and introduction of contraband into a penal facility. Bail was set at $26,000.
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.
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.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill visited Ruston on Tuesday to meet with various members of the community, including law enforcement officers and city officials, and to discuss the requirements and concerns of the parish.
When talking with individuals at the Lincoln Parish Public Safety Complex, Murrill said she understood needs in north Louisiana were often different from those in a larger city, such as Baton Rouge, but she wanted to understand and address them.
“It’s important for them to know that I’m here,” Murrill said, “and for you to know that I’m here for you in your town. You don’t just have to find me in Baton Rouge.”
In her discussion, Murrill covered topics of interest in her office, including a campaign to help sixth graders throughout the state to understand the dangers of vaping to using ICE to return illegal immigrants convicted of crimes back to their country of origin to facility needs for juvenile crime.
With vaping, Murrill said through NIL (Name, Image and Likeness), she had hired about 100 college athletes from every public university in the state to come talk to sixth graders about the dangers of vaping and THC.
“They’re just coming into middle school, and they are going to be faced with all of this if they haven’t already been when they’re in fifth grade or fourth grade,” she said. “The statistics are really shocking about the number of kids that are vaping. But we can still catch them in sixth grade when they’re kind of willing to listen to us, but they’re not going to really listen to me. I’m way too old for them to care about what I say. They think I sound like Mom or Daddy or more likely, Grandma and Grandpa. But they will listen to athletes.”
Murrill’s staff members confirmed that in Lincoln Parish, collegiate athletes were coming to speak to sixth graders at A.E. Phillips and Cedar Creek School.
“(The athletes) are somebody that (sixth graders) will listen to in order to deliver that message,” she said. “Let us know if you want to get us in your schools. We want to be out there. And we’ll keep coming back. We’ll keep coming back because next year we’ll have a whole bunch of sixth graders. It’s going to be an ongoing process for us.”
Another project her office is working on is using the Fugitive Apprehension Unit to coordinate more with ICE.
“One is that I’ve been discussing with the governor is enhancing our cooperation with ICE and using our Fugitive Apprehension Unit to be able cooperate more with ICE, to make sure that we are able to affect the final removal orders of people who are in our local and our state prisons,” she said. “There are 13,000 people in our state who have final removal orders just sitting out there waiting. About 8,000 of those are actually serving time in prison. We want to make sure that when they’ve released from prison, they’ve got a final deportation order. And then we want to make sure ICE comes in, picks them up and releases them.”
When Murrill asked Lincoln Parish Sheriff Stephen Williams what a pressing concern on his mind was, he answered juvenile crime, and she agreed.
“We continue to struggle with juvenile crime,” she said. “I don’t know how much y’all have up here, but we have kids, certainly in Baton Rouge and in New Orleans and in Shreveport, who are connected in some really violent crime.”
She said Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry was looking for solutions to juvenile holding facilities, and she would support him.
“There’s some money that I think is about to be put in to build some more juvenile facilities so that regionally we have more capacity,” Murrill said. “That is the biggest problem that we have is capacity and the right kind of facilities to be able to house them.”
Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker said having the state attorney general spend a half a day in the parish and engage with the community, from eating lunch with city officials to throwing out the first pitch at Tuesday evening’s Tech v. Grambling baseball game, showed her desire for engaging individuals in the parish.
“Just to come and be a part of our community speaks volumes about how much she really does care about this entire state,” Walker said. “It’s been great that she’s here and is willing to answer questions and be a part of law enforcement because we all need the help.”
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Ruston Police arrested a Dubach man last week after he was allegedly involved in a car crash and drugs were found in the vehicle.
Kobe Ty’rell Mack, 20, was attempting to move the vehicle out of a ditch when officers responded to a crash at the intersection of Groveland Avenue and Main Street in Ruston on March 18. Officers noted Mack was unsteady on his feet and unable to stand properly.
Mack was checked out by ambulance personnel. Mack identified himself as John Williams, but the name and date of birth could not be located in the state computer system. Further investigation revealed Mack was his correct name.
During a search for an insurance card on the vehicle, police located a sack containing marijuana in the glove compartment, a bag of marijuana behind the driver’s seat, and a digital scale in the console cupholder.
Mack said the drugs belong to a friend who had left them left it in the car. He said he crashed the car after he dozed off while driving.
Mack was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, reckless operation of a vehicle, and resisting an officer by providing false information. His bail was set at $11,000.
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.
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.
Saturday is election day here in Louisiana. There are a few elections of officials on the ballot in addition to 4 constitutional amendments.
We both serve on the board of Leaders for a Better Louisiana (“Better Louisiana” for short) which resulted in January from the merger of Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL) and the Committee of 100 for Economic Development.
Better Louisiana urges the passage of Constitutional Amendment #2 as it will rewrite Louisiana’s tax provisions to make our state more competitive.
Amendment #2 does the following:
Reduces the current maximum income tax rate
Allows for elimination of the inventory tax
Keeps the homestead exemption
Provides flexibility for infrastructure investment
Permanent pay raises for teachers
This will be a good change for our state. Please vote.
MINDEN, La. — Another day, another win for Ruston High.
Thanks in large part to four RBI’s by sophomore left fielder John Parker Moak, the Bearcats (18-6) took a 16-6 win over the Glenbrook Apaches (10-8) in a road contest and bringing the streak to 13 straight for Ruston High.
“Our kids found a way to put up 16 runs tonight offensively while we pitched seven different guys tonight,” Ruston High head coach Bryan Beck said. “I’m very proud of our kids for not getting too high or too low in these games — they have lots of confidence that they can put together a big inning at any given time in the ballgame, and that’s what we’ve done during our last several games.”
The Bearcats got on the scoreboard in the top of the first when Moak tripled into center field with one out to score junior Jackson Lee from third base, putting the Bearcats up 1-0.
After Glenbrook answered with two runs in the bottom of the first inning in what would be the only Apache lead of the night, Ruston would tie the game 2-2 in the top of the second inning when junior Hudson Wood hit a sacrifice fly into right to score senior Carter Love from third.
The Bearcats added three more in the top of the third inning to go up 5-2 after junior Nolan Parnell doubled into right to score both Lee and senior Peyton Martin. Love would hit a ground ball in the next at-bat to score Parnell and give Ruston its third run of the inning.
The Apaches would tie the game 5-5 after the bottom of the third, but an explosive fourth for Ruston added six runs for the Bearcats. Senior Kolby Sonnier began the onslaught of runs with a grounded that scored senior Jake Simmons — thanks in part to a Glenbrook error. After freshman Dalen Powell was brought in to pinch-run for Sonnier, he would score after Lee singled into left field and put Ruston up 7-5. Martin would then draw a walk in the next at-bat, putting runners on first and second base. Moak would then hit a two-RBI single into right field and score both Lee and Martin. Two batters later, Love singled into left and scored both Moak and pinch runner sophomore Davis Demoss, putting Ruston up 11-5.
Glenbrook would score its final run of the night in the bottom of the fourth inning, but Ruston added three more in the top of the fifth — first with Sonnier bunting and reaching on an error in a play where Wood would score and put Ruston up 12-6. After Lee drew a walk in the next at-bat, Martin hit a groundout to first and scored Powell from third. Moak would then get his third hit of the night with a single to first base, scoring Lee and putting Ruston up 14-6.
Ruston added another run with a Lee double in the top of the sixth to score Powell and plated one more in the top of the seventh when senior Jake Tyler reached on an error to score senior Caleb Hampton for the 16-6 final score.
Ruston put out a total of seven pitches, with no one throwing more than 1.1 innings. Both freshman Max Pyles and sophomore Sam Hartwell recorded a pair of strikeouts apiece.
Besides Moak, all of Parnell, Love and Simmons had multiple hits on the night.
The Bearcats will be in action tonight against ASH at 6 p.m. at home after preemptively rescheduling a Friday matchup due to possible severe weather.
“With the ASH game getting moved, we needed to have everyone ready these next two games,” Beck said. “We planned on throwing a lot of arms tonight to get some work and to be available for the next two days against a very good Trojan team. No rest for us — we will need to find a way to muster some energy up and get after it.”
In this thing called life you gather a brother or two if you’re lucky. I have a couple that might call me from anywhere in the world and it’s never a surprise.
These are two guys I jumped a train with one night, just to ride a couple hundred yards, and we couldn’t jump off for 22 miles. Nearly froze. One of us got a concussion. It was a bonding experience. It was also the night we decided the hobo or outlaw games were not for us. That was 45 years ago.
Jaybo is a pilot of Big Passenger Planes today. Once he returned my text with this: “It’s the middle of the night here in Hong Kong. I’ll find out in the morning.” He did just that, and texted me back – in the middle of the night here.
He sends me photos from beaches and islands and Iceland and London. I do not like him as much as I used to.
Like Jaybo, our friend Matth (with an “h”) gets around, but he is more of a mainland guy. This does not inhibit his travels as, if you’ve looked at a map, there is plenty of mainland for anyone not on probation to explore. Matth has a grown daughter in New York City, a house in Carolina, a trailer in New Orleans and in California, two trucks, a motorcycle and a free spirit. And a great sense of direction.
He is also my favorite Matth of all time, just ahead of Marshal Dillon of “Gunsmoke” and Matthew/Levi of “The New Testament.” You recall that one day Levi was a despised man collecting taxes when Jesus met him, told him he was coming to supper at his house and that Levi could even bring all his friends, basically riff-raff people like me and Jaybo and Matth with an h. The guy quit his job, fired up the back yard grill, enjoyed the evening, packed his toothbrush and was never the same.
One of the most memorable calls from Matth came from New Orleans, where he’d driven from his Carolina base to pick up items he’d left in the South Louisiana trailer where he’d lived while building movie sets — I think it was the most recent “Terminator” and also whatever the “Fast and Furious” episode of a few years ago was. Matth does things like that. His life is both hard to explain and entirely beautiful.
As part of his job with Paramount Pictures years ago, he replaced the windows in Dr. Phil’s office there on the Paramount lot in Hollywood. Somebody had to do it. I recall his description of those events as being an interesting phone call he made from his Paramount carpenter golf cart, right after he’d seen Mary Hart.
But on this call, Matth was talking rather urgently about how he was heading my way in north Louisiana, unrehearsed of course, and could I find anybody who might be willing to work on his 1983 Ford Ranger diesel, stick shift, four-speed. “I’ve lost reverse, and second gear is iffy,” he said, from what sounded like the cockpit of the space shuttle during takeoff. The pedal was on the metal and he was getting all he could out of this faithful decades-old automobile. Matth can fix anything, so this was real trouble.
He walked in that night wearing grease and a smile, the ’83 in the drive, panting.
The next day we tried a couple of mechanics who looked at the truck as an archeologist might look at the Holy Grail. They admired it, but dared not touch it. And while an ace transmission man said he could repair the Wabash Cannonball before he could repair an ’83 Ford Ranger diesel — not a common model these days — he did offer suggestions that Matth took. That advice, Matth’s ingenuity, and some Band-Aids got him back to Carolina.
Of course, Matth could have taken his new truck the 2,000 miles to Louisiana and back, but it gets only 12 miles to the gallon, and where’s the adventure in that? Why not “save money” and take the ’83 that gets 38 miles a gallon? (“But it has to be RUNNING,” I reminded Matth.)
A nice man in a shade-tree fix-it shop near Taylortown, N.C., found the trouble and got her running smooth again. Matth called to tell me the problem had been a loose nut. Sounded right to me: Nut, with an h.
The Cedar Creek boys and girls powerlifting teams will be competing in the state championships Wednesday and Thursday at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner.
Both teams departed from the school Tuesday morning and headed south.
The boys weighed in last night and will compete today starting at 10 a.m. as the Cougars are looking to repeat as the Division V state champions. The Lady Cougars will weigh in tonight and will compete on Thursday, looking for their fourth straight state championship title.
“The girls will be in the stands watching the boys all day Wednesday, and the boys will do the same for the girls on Thursday,” said Angevine.
Angevine said he is excited about seeing his two teams compete and is confident they will perform at the top of their ability, despite both teams graduating a number of key lifters from last year’s state title teams.
“We have a great shot,” said Angevine. “We have a great group of kids who have been making great strides in the weight room the last couple of weeks. We lost a lot of seniors last year and have had to have other competitors step up.”
The girls team lost five competitors who finished first in their respective weight classes last year and two more that were state runner-ups.
“The girls knew there were huge shoes to fill, but we have had some girls come out that hadn’t powerlifted before this year that have really surprised us,” said Angevine. “We have a shot to win both. It’s going to be very competitive.”
The top competition on the girls side will most likely come from Sacred Heart (Ville Platte), and Holden, while the boys side will Ascension Catholic and Sacred Heart (Ville Platte).
“I think it will be a three-horse race on both sides,” said Angevine.
Molly Boyd (16) hit one of three home runs for the Lady Cougars in their 15-7 win over Glenbrook. (Photo by Darrell James)
by Malcolm Butler
Anna Claire Fitzgerald registered five RBI and Cedar Creek used a seven-run fifth inning to blow open a tight game and defeat Glenbrook 15-7 Tuesday night in Minden.
With the victory, the Lady Cougars (11-7, 4-0) captured the District 1-1A title.
“They battled for seven innings,” said head coach Julie Riser. “We’ve been hitting the ball well one through nine in our lineup. It’s been a few years since we’ve won district so it was nice to get the district championship tonight.”
With the game tied 6-6 through four innings of action, Fitzgerald’s bases-clearing double plated three runs and highlighted a seven-run fifth inning as the Lady Cougars pulled out to a 13-6 lead. Fitzgerald also added a two-run double while Anslee Woods, Cadence Spangler and Molly Boyd each registered home runs in the win.
“I’m really proud of the girls and how we’re playing right now,” said head coach Julie Riser. “We played some tough competition this past weekend, and I think it prepared us for the completion tonight to get us the win tonight.”
Kendall Ramsey got the start in the circle for the Lady Cougars, working 4.0 innings and allowing six runs (three earned) on six hits and one walk while striking out one.
Ramsey gave way to Ava Lantrip in the circle. Lantrip tossed the final 3.0 innings, limiting the Apache to just one run on four hits while striking out three.
In addition to Fitzgerald’s big offensive night, Mallory Smith added one hit and three RBI and Woods knocked in two RBI. Boyd and Spangler hit solo home runs to go along with a combined five hits.
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.
Wednesday, March 26 7-8 a.m.: Veterans Coffee Club (PJ’s Coffee) 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome
Thursday, March 27 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Kiwanis Club lunch and program (Trinity Methodist Church fellowship hall) 6 p.m.: Southern A’Chord Chorus rehearsal (Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 212 N. Bonner St.; open to all women singers) 6-8 p.m.: Tacos with Tacos de Guero (Ruston Farmers Market)
Friday, March 28 1-5 p.m.: How to Fund Your Business Workshop (Lincoln Parish Library) 6 p.m.: LA Tech baseball 7 p.m.: 4th Friday Jazz (Dixie Center)
Saturday, March 29 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 2 p.m.: LA Tech baseball
Sunday, March 30 1 p.m.: LA Tech baseball
Monday, March 31 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome 6 p.m.: Toastmasters International meeting (Louisiana Center for the Blind, 101 South Trenton Street) 6-9 p.m.: Creative Meetups (Creatives at Work, 301 N. Trenton)
Tuesday, April 1 6 p.m.: Lincoln Parish School Board meeting (410 S. Farmerville St.)
Wednesday, April 2 7-8 a.m.: Veterans Coffee Club (PJ’s Coffee) 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome
Thursday, April 3 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Kiwanis Club lunch and program (Trinity Methodist Church fellowship hall) 6 p.m.: Southern A’Chord Chorus rehearsal (Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 212 N. Bonner St.; open to all women singers) 6 p.m.: Bagel Boss (Ruston Farmers Market) 7 p.m.: RCT presents “Southern Hospitality” (Dixie Theatre)
Friday, April 4 3 p.m.: GSU softball 6 p.m.: LA Tech baseball 6 p.m.: LA Tech softball 7 p.m.: RCT presents “Southern Hospitality” (Dixie Theatre)
Saturday, April 5 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market Noon: GSU softball 2 p.m.: LA Tech softball 2 p.m.: LA Tech baseball 7 p.m.: RCT presents “Southern Hospitality” (Dixie Theatre)
Sunday, April 6 1 p.m.: LA Tech softball 1 p.m.: LA Tech baseball 2 p.m.: RCT presents “Southern Hospitality” (Dixie Theatre)
Monday, April 7 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome 5:30 p.m.: Ruston City Council meeting (Ruston City Hall) 6 p.m.: Toastmasters International meeting (Louisiana Center for the Blind, 101 South Trenton Street) 6-9 p.m.: Creative Meetups (Creatives at Work, 301 N. Trenton)
Tuesday, April 8 6 p.m.: GSU baseball 6 p.m.: LA Tech softball 7 p.m.: Lincoln Parish Police Jury meeting (Lincoln Parish Courthouse)
Wednesday, April 9 7-8 a.m.: Veterans Coffee Club (PJ’s Coffee) 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome 6 p.m.: LA Tech baseball
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I’ve always enjoyed remembering how things used to be, and I look forward for what the future holds with regards to tournament bass fishing. Today we’ll step back in time and look at how tournament fishing was in the early days.
As I’ve noted in past writings, my tournament days go back to the early 1990ns. To say that times have changed is truly an understatement. Things are different today in several ways and the first thing that comes to mind, is how anglers had respect for each other on the water. Anglers were always conscious of not fishing too close to another angler and never wanted to invade another their territory, especially if he was leading the tournament. THAT’S NOT THE CASE TODAY!
To use an old phrase, “back in the day,” anglers showed respect for each other by not fishing areas on the lake that someone found first. Unfortunately, anglers today tend to hold no regard or respect for another angler’s area.
Many of our younger anglers think that all water is open for anyone to fish any time during the tournament. But I’m not going to throw shade just on our youth for all the issues taking place in tournaments. It’s not really their fault, as 95 percent of both high school and college anglers have never been exposed to the unwritten rules of tournament bass fishing. Etiquette has been forgotten and is not being taught.
Another issue today that anglers have is the disregard for the “no information” rule. At no time has this rule had more attention than it has this season. Several touring pros have been disqualified for violating this rule in 2025. Most tournament trails have a written rule that does not allow anglers to receive information about a particular body of water within a specific time frame. Without a doubt, this is the most abused rule on every level!
Back in the day, anglers were held to a higher standard than they are today. Some tournament organizations are turning a blind eye to some of the infractions and are not holding anglers accountable. This is why anglers continue to bend the rules and is one reason tournament entries are down nationwide.
Until organizations decide to preserve the integrity of the sport, and drop the hammer on these rule breakers, nothing will change. Some anglers will stop at nothing to gather information like waypoints, best areas to fish, and what baits to throw from guides and other resources.
While there are ways to gather information legally, some anglers ignore the rules and show no regard for doing things the right way. Once again, back in the day if an angler violated a rule, he was pulled aside by other anglers and asked to explain himself. The older generation held each other more accountable.
Oh, how I yearn for the days of old where you did not have to worry about who or how someone was possibly cheating or bending the rules. Your reputation as an angler was more important than winning any single event. You would rather sacrifice a win and still have the respect of your fellow competitors than to cash a check doing something shady.
But the philosophy today is to win at all costs, no matter what the consequences. This is pretty much true in all sports, especially on the high school and collegiate levels. Today it’s all about the money being made and if a kid is not happy where they’re at, they transfer to another school that is willing to pay them even more. They are even paid in advance on potential and not on their body of work!
I’ll wrap up this gripe session with this — if we as anglers don’t start demanding organizations enforce ALL the rules, nothing will ever change. We must demand transparency from all tournament organizations.
‘Til next time, go fishing every chance you get because you never know when it might be your last.
Contact Steve atsgraf26@yahoo.com
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Freshman Laney Johnson tossed a complete-game shutout to lead Tech to a 3-0 win over Northwestern State. (Photo by Stephen Featherston)
Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
Softball
Louisiana Tech softball earned its second shutout win of the season as true Freshman Laney Johnson tossed a complete-game while limiting Northwestern State to five hits in the Bulldogs’ 3-0 win over NSU on Tuesday evening at Lady Demon Park.
The Bulldogs outhit the Demons 7-5 and scored all three of their runs in the sixth and seventh innings to win the game. LA Tech scored its first run of the game in the sixth on a Karli Sellers pinch-hit groundout, while plating two more in the 10th on a bases loaded hit by pitch, and a passed ball.
“Our bats didn’t show up,” said head coach Josh Taylor. “I hate to say it like that. We had them on the ropes early, bases loaded, and we got a good at bat from Reagan Marchant. But we have to be able to execute in situation where we have a runner on second and third with one out.”
Alexis Gilio and Nicole Hammoude both collected two hits apiece, while Elena Heng, Reagan Marchant, and Alannah Rogers all had one base knock each. Marchant and Sellers led the Bulldogs with one RBI.
Gilio led the Bulldogs with three stolen bases while Rogers and Heng stole one bag apiece.
Johnson pitched all 7.0 innings to earn the shutout win as she held the Demons to no runs on five hits, while walking just one and fanning two. She did not allow any extra base hits in the win.
“Laney is the story tonight,” said Taylor. “She was fantastic all night, and it’s her first seven inning complete game in college. I am proud of the freshman. She did a great job.”
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Baseball
The Diamond ‘Dogs (15-10, 2-1 CUSA) took down the Grambling State Tigers (9-14, 5-1 SWAC) in a 14-6 thriller at the Love Shack on Tuesday. After Grambling picked up a 6-3 lead in the fifth, LA Tech responded with 11 unanswered runs to secure the win.
“Extremely proud of our team,” said Tech head coach Lane Burroughs. “We knew this was going to be a battle tonight. Grambling is really good offensively. (Head coach) Davin (Pierre) does a great job. (I have) so much respect for their program and they have great players over there.
“They got a lot of transfers in-they lost some guys that were really good players that transferred out. It didn’t look good early for us, they came in ready to play [and] we knew it. We knew they were going to come after us with their hair on fire and they did.”
Garrison Berkley carried his hot offensive play at the plate into the game by belting his third homer in the past two games to get Tech started with a 1-0 lead in the first. The Tigers responded with a solo shot of their own in the third to even the score, but Berkley wanted more as he sent his second home run of the day in the home half to give Tech the lead back with a 2-1 score going into the fourth.
Tuesday’s game started to become a home run barrage as Grambling sent two more solo shots out of the park to regain the lead at 3-2. Once Tech was given their chance to bat in the inning, Zeb Ruddell crushed his first homer as a Diamond ‘Dog to the Right Field Kennel to tie it at 3-3. The Tigers offense showed no signs of slowing down as they plated three more in the fifth.
After a leadoff double and a groundout to advance the runner to third, an RBI knock gave Grambling a 4-3 lead before two steals and a fielding error would allow another run to cross the plate with two outs. Two more base hits followed to bring Grambling to a 6-3 advantage going into the home half of the fifth.
The ‘Dogs were held in check in the fifth yet responded in the sixth with Grant Comeaux, Ruddell and Thaxton Berch drawing three-straight one-out walks to load the bases before a pitching change was made by Grambling. The Tigers reliever then walked Brody Drost to score a run before hitting Matt Houston with a pitch to make it a one-run game.
Sebastian Mexico then entered the game as a pinch hitter and drew a walk himself, the fifth walk allowed by Grambling in the inning, to tie the game at 6-6. After another pitching change on the Tigers’ side, Colton Coates hit a sacrifice fly to give Tech their first lead back since the fourth inning.
Back-to-back two-run knocks by Drost and Houston gave the Bulldogs some insurance with an 11-6 lead through seven innings before Berch all but closed the door on Grambling with a three-run blast for his second career homer in as many games. Nate Crider then entered the game out of the bullpen and after allowing a leadoff walk, punched out the next three batters including a looking strikeout to end the game.
Berkley is the first Bulldog to hit multiple homers in consecutive game since Jorge Corona achieved that same feat in 2024. He hit two bombs in the series opener at New Mexico State on May 3 before hitting three the following day.
Luke Nichols earned the win to improve to a 2-2 record on the year, tossing 1 2/3 crucial shutout innings allowing three hits and fanning three batters. Berkley had the only multi-hit game for the ‘Dogs, and Houston, Drost and Berch each had three RBI. Ruddell and Berch also each scored three runs with six ‘Dogs scoring at least twice.
Dr. Jerald “Doc” / “Jerry” Johnson May 31, 1940 – March 23, 2025 Visitation: Calvary Baptist Church, Wednesday, March 26, 2025, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Service: Calvary Baptist Church, Wednesday, March 26, 2025, 3:00 pm Cemetery: Kilpatrick’s Memorial Gardens, Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Donald Wayne Colvin May 9, 1947 — Saturday, March 22, 2025 Funeral service: 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in the Fellowship Hall of Temple Baptist Church in Ruston Burial: Following the service at Cook Cemetery
Daphne Elizabeth Jewell April 24, 1951 – March 22, 2025 Celebration of Life: Wednesday, March 26, 2025, 2:00 PM, Episcopal Church of The Redeemer, 504 Tech Drive, Ruston Visitation: Wednesday, March 26, 2025, Haskell Hall
William Parkerson (left) and Jacob Angevine (right) (Photos courtesy of Darrell James)
by Malcolm Butler
Cedar Creek School has announced a change in the leadership of the Cougars football program.
The school has parted ways with William Parkerson after two seasons as the head coach on the Cougar sideline and has promoted assistant head coach Jacob Angevine into the position.
The move comes exactly 23 months after the school announced the hiring of Parkerson on April 25, 2023, following the resignation of Matt Middleton. Angevine will be the fifth different head coach in eight seasons for the Cougars since Ben Haddox finished his tenure following the 2017 campaign.
The press release sent out by Cedar Creek School at 9 a.m. said, “We are thankful for Coach Parkerson’s time at the school and investment he has made in our football and track programs and in our student athletes. Cedar Creek wishes him he best in his future endeavors.”
Parkerson led the Cougars to a 5-6 record and the Select School Division IV playoffs in his first year before graduating a large number of seniors. This past season, a very young Cougars squad went 1-9 and failed to make the postseason.
The Lincoln Parish Journal reached out to Parkerson for comment, but he opted to decline at this time.
Angevine also serves as the head coach of the Cedar Creek powerlifting teams which are departing the school today heading to the state tournament, with the girls looking for their fourth straight state title and the boys looking for their second consecutive.
“I am excited for Jacob to be our new football coach,” said AD Gene Vandenlangenberg. “He coaches and leads with lots of energy and enthusiasm. He supports our students on and off the field. Jacob will be a great leader for our football program.”
Angevine has been a mainstay at the school for the last 10 years. After starting as a volunteer with the football program in 2015 during his undergraduate days at Louisiana Tech, he was hired full-time in 2018.
He said that the opportunity is one he couldn’t pass up.
“It’s a blessing,” said Angevine. “I have called this place home for 10 years. I couldn’t be more excited. A lot of these kids, I have watched all through pee wee and now some of them are going to be seniors. It’s just a bless
“When it was presented to me, I talked to my wife. I think she was more fired up then I was. I just couldn’t say yes fast enough. I am excited. I am blessed. It’s truly humbling to lead the program that I have called home for 10 years.”
In the 19th century, Louisiana communities often touted their attributes and economic opportunities in newspapers elsewhere in the state, not unlike many chambers of commerce and visitor bureaus do today. The November 17, 1883 issue of the New Orleans Times-Picayune gives an overview of the status of Lincoln Parish just over ten years after it was created from portions of surrounding parishes.
The article begins with a physical description of Lincoln Parish: “This parish measures nearly thirty miles east and west and about twenty-five miles north and south, with the east and west corners of the northern side notched by Claiborne Parish on the west, and Union Parish on the east. On the south it joins Jackson Parish, on the east by Union and Ouachita, on the north by Union and Claiborne, and on the west by Claiborne and Bienville Parishes. It is only about ten years of age, being made several years after the [Civil] war by borrowing a little strip of territory from all the surrounding parishes.”
Although described as “slightly hilly,” the writer notes the parish has “considerable bottomland of good quality to be found in several parts of the parish, as the Bayous D’Arbonne, Dugdemona and Chaudrant [Choudrant], all good sized streams, cross the parish at several points. The streams have tolerable wide and productive bottoms which yield very handsome crops.”
The parish’s population was given as about 12,000 based on the 1880 census but the writer estimated it had increased 15 to 20 per cent since then. “The last Democratic ticket received 1,400 votes, though there are 1,810 to poll tax.”
Voting anything but Democratic was practically unheard of in early Lincoln Parish. Some U.S. state and local jurisdictions imposed a poll tax; paying it was a requirement before one could exercise one’s right to vote.
The parish’s finances were announced to be in good shape with no public debt and reserves in the parish treasury, despite having to rebuild the courthouse in Vienna after a July 1882 fire that destroyed about eight businesses. Only a favorable wind blowing the flames away from other buildings and a light rain saved the rest of the town.
Parish assessment rolls showed an increase of $158,440 for 1883 with a total property assessment of $978,110. “At twelve mills on the dollar, the tax levied by the state and parish together,” the writer claimed, the revenue to be collected for the year would be about $11,737, coupled with the $1,810 poll tax, for total collections of $13,547.
Life sounded good in Lincoln Parish, according to the article. “The people generally are in good condition, not much in debt, with plenty of corn, potatoes, meat and some homemade syrup. The stock is being improved by getting a better class of breeding stock; particularly is this the case with Mr. J. S. Roane, who has a very fine selection of Jersey cattle and other fancy breeding stock. He has one of the handsomest places in this part of Louisiana, adorned by a beautiful residence and lawn, five miles northeast of Vienna, where he has one of the largest country stores in the State.”
Roane was the owner and developer of the new town of Chaudrant on the Vicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific Railroad. As of the article’s writing, the proposed town had just been laid out in 24 blocks over 80 acres and subdivided into lots of different sizes to suit dwelling and store house. Roane advertised extensively in north Louisiana newspapers to recruit residents to the new town.
The article lists eight “towns” with mercantile establishments in the parish—Vienna, Simsboro, Woodville, Bonner, Greensboro, Douglas, Bell’s Post Office, and Wood & Roane’s store. Only two, Vienna and Simsboro, remain today with any visible presence as centers of commerce. Woodville, Bonner, and Douglas were thriving but very small communities for a time. Dozens of post offices have served Lincoln Parish over the past 150 years, including these locations. Of the sites mentioned in the article, only Simsboro and Choudrant retain a post office.
At the time of the article, Vienna was the parish seat, “the largest and most important place in the parish,” boasting ten or twelve stores, hotels, and livery stables. Founded in the 1830s, Vienna was incorporated as a town in 1848 but in 1883 the seat of government was on the verge of a devastating blow. The east-west railroad across north Louisiana, after decades of delays, was nearing completion. It was destined to miss Vienna a few miles to the south leading to a massive exodus to a new town on land formerly owned by Robert Russ.
Listed as “prominent merchants” of Vienna were Dr. R. G. Jackson. W. S. Johnson, B. C. Slaton, L. D. Sealy, J. J. Neilson, Mays & Holland, Dr. Griffin, J. G Huey, Mr. Calhoun and Mr. Jones. Attorneys named were Barksdale and Van Hook, G. T. Gaskins, Max Feazel, and J. B. Holstead. Nearly all those men would move to the new town of Ruston within a year and play significant roles in the growth of the community. Neilson served as Ruston’s first mayor and Huey was an early police chief.
The Vienna Academy, under the management of Professor C. E. Joes, was described as a “large and flourishing school.” However, like many enterprises in Vienna it met its demise as most of the town fled to newly created Ruston and the economic fortunes brought by the new railroad.
Joel Benton, General Manager and Julie Martin, General Sales Manager, and Rusty Wilfong, Service Manager of Karl Malone Toyota purchased Ruston Rotary Jambalaya meal tickets for the First Responders of Ruston and Lincoln Parish.
First Responders receiving the meal tickets include the Lincoln Parish Sheriff Department, Ruston Police Department, Lincoln Parish Fire and the Ruston Fire Department. Pictured above are members of each department just after the tickets were handed out to the First Responders leaders for all their department team members. The First Responders will pick up their meals Thursday at the Super 1 Food Parking lot on Thursday from 11 an to 1 pm.
Money raised helps the Ruston Rotary Club fund their community-related projects. Some of these include the Coats for Kids program which donated 226 coats in October for elementary students in Lincoln and Jackson parishes in coordination with The Children’s Shoppe and Jonesboro State Bank. In May, the Ruston Rotary club will give out four $2,000 scholarships for high school students attending college in the fall.
Rotarians pick up food backpacks every Thursday during the school year at Super 1 and drop them off at Hillcrest Elementary for needy students to take home on Friday for meals over the weekend. During the fall, Rotarians give Lincoln Parish third grade students their very own dictionary to keep in the classroom or at home. Rotarians are also involved in the Med-Camp Fall Halloween Bash held at Camp Alabama every year the Saturday before Halloween with the Rotarians dressed up as Wizard of Oz characters.
Each meal features jambalaya, corn and green beans. You may buy a plate for $10 or a quart container of jambalaya for $15. Walk up plates or quarters are available on Thursday, March 27 at the Super 1 parking lot from 11 am to 1 pm.
High winds accompanied by rain and hail passed through Lincoln Parish Sunday night but no extensive damage was reported by local authorities.
The National Weather Service broadcast a severe thunderstorm warning followed by a tornado warning, anticipating high winds and up to ping pong-sized hail primarily in the western and southern parts of the parish.
Scattered reports of marble-sized hail were reported in several places in the parish.
As of Monday morning, NWS was still analyzing data and had not verified the parish experienced a tornado.
Lincoln Parish Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness Director Kip Franklin said he had not received any reports of damage other than some downed trees.
Ruston Police Chief Eric Watson and Sheriff Stephen Williams reported no significant issues due to the weather.
As of 9:00 a.m. this morning, Entergy was reporting only a handful of outages in the region. Claiborne Electric reported 155 of its 4,671 Lincoln Parish customers were without power, mostly northwest and southwest of Simsboro.
The late J.E. Dupuy, Sr. started something 75 years ago that his family continues to take pride in almost eight decades later.
Dupuy Flooring located in Monroe began in 1950 and its sister store – Lincoln Flooring – opened in Ruston in 2007.
Working as a floor sales representative in the 1940s, J.E. Dupuy, Sr., moved his family to Monroe in order to open Dupuy Flooring 75 years ago.
The rest is history … family history.
Through four generations, Dupuy Flooring and Lincoln Flooring have proven to be the cornerstone of the flooring industry in our area, boasting a reputation for quality products, expert installation, and unparalleled customer service.
“We have built our reputation on doing things the right way – our family’s way – and not straying from our standards,” said Daniel Dupuy. “We started the company from nothing and built it into what it is today. It is something our family has poured its heart and soul into and worked tirelessly to maintain. We have built a reputation on providing great products with great service.”
According to Stanley Dupuy, the key is ensuring products and services even after a project is complete.
“Our customers keep coming back,” said Stanley. “The only way that happens is to develop a great relationship and reputation with people. We feel we have done that for 75 years. Word of mouth is so important. It all points to doing things the right way and serving our customers the right way. Our customers trust us.”
Catering to both commercial and residential clients, the fully licensed and insured business has a mission to transform spaces by bringing clients’ visions to life through a wide array of flooring options and services.
“We work with a lot of local businesses, schools, churches and obviously homes,” said Daniel. “We are engrained in our community, and we take great pride in serving our community.”
Dupuy/Lincoln Flooring offers an extensive selection of comprehensive flooring materials to suit diverse aesthetic preferences and functional needs, such as tile, backsplashes, wood, carpet, custom built showers, vinyl tile, rugs, acoustical ceilings and acoustical wall panels.
And even beyond supplying quality materials, Dupuy/Lincoln Flooring offers specialized services to enhance and maintain flooring investments, such as showers and sanding & refinishing projects.
“Our longstanding presence in the region reflects a dedication not only to quality craftsmanship but also to building lasting relationships with customers,” said Stanley.
For those interested in exploring Dupuy/Lincoln Flooring’s offerings or seeking a quote, contact Lincoln Flooring at 318-254-0170 or Dupuy Flooring at 318-343-1737. The Ruston showroom is located at 803 E Georgia Avenue and their Monroe showroom is located at 108 Melvyn Drive.
Individuals can also visit their website at DupuyFlooring.com.
