Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Louisiana Tech’s Daniel Batcho received another postseason honor Tuesday as the power forward was named as a National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division I All-District selection for the 2024-25 season.

Batcho was voted Second Team in the Gulf District, which was part of a new model by the NABC with schools arranged by state rather than by conference. The Gulf District consisted of all DI schools in Texas and Louisiana.

The redshirt senior, who also earned First Team All-CUSA honors and is a finalist for the Lou Henson Award, led the Bulldogs and ranked sixth in Conference USA in scoring at 16.7 points per game, scoring in double figures in 28 of the 32 games played. He posted eight 20+ scoring performances, including a career-high 38-point effort versus Mississippi College in non-conference play.

The Paris, France native finished his season ranked second in the nation in field goal percentage (68.9), a mark that set a new program record and tied for the second-best FG% for a single season in CUSA history.

Batcho also ranked seventh in CUSA in rebounds per game (6.4), tallying six double-doubles including three games of 24+ points and 10+ boards. The CUSA Defensive Player of the Year also ranked first in the league in blocks per game (2.0). His 64 blocks ranked 26th in the country and are the 12th most in a single season in program history.

Batcho was an NABC First Team All-District selection last season. He finished his two-year Bulldog career with 958 points, 481 rebounds, and 131 blocks.

The All-District honors are voted on by NABC-member coaches across NCAA Division I.

NABC GULF DISTRICT
First Team
L.J. Cryer, Houston
VJ Edgecombe, Baylor
Tre Johnson, Texas
Chance McMillian, Texas Tech
Norchad Omier, Baylor
Zhuric Phelps, Texas A&M
J’Wan Roberts, Houston
Wade Taylor IV, Texas A&M
JT Toppin, Texas Tech
Darrion Williams, Texas Tech

Second Team
Daniel Batcho, Louisiana Tech
Rowan Brumbaugh, Tulane
Cam Carter, LSU
Otis Frazier III, UTEP
Javohn Garcia, McNeese
Arthur Kaluma, Texas
Ernest Udeh Jr., TCU
Milos Uzan, Houston
Lamar Wilkerson, Sam Houston State
Atin Wright, North Texas

Coach of the Year: Kelvin Sampson, Houston

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Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Three Bulldogs shot under par in the final round Tuesday as Louisiana Tech finished ninth at the highly-competitive Linger Longer Invitational.

Conditions were much calmer in round three at the Landing at Reynolds Lake Oconee which equated to lower scores. LA Tech was one of those low scores, shooting six under which tied for its fifth-best round of the season to help finish the three-day event at 10 over par (297-295-282=874).

Niilo Maki-Petaja nearly had a bogey-free round with his only blemish being a bogey on the Par 4 No. 12. The sophomore got off to a strong start, sinking an eagle on the Par 5 No. 2. He would shoot 33 on the front and 35 on the back, including back-to-back birdies on No. 15 and No. 16, to shoot a team-best four under (68).

Oskari Schuvalow was another Bulldog who almost had a bogey-free round. Despite a double bogey on the Par 4 No. 13, the sophomore drained five birdies including three straight to finish the front nine, to shoot a season-best three under (69).

Both Bulldogs would finish the event at three under (213), tying for 12th on the player leaderboard. It marked the sixth top-20 finish of the season for Maki-Petaja while Schuvalow, who was one of just eight golfers to shoot at or under par in all three rounds, had his best finish as a Bulldog.

Jake Plumb had his best round of the tournament Tuesday. After shooting 78 and 77 in rounds one and two, the sophomore opened round three with a birdie and would up shooting a 70 (-2). The final scoreboard used by LA Tech came from Alejandro Sanchez who also saved his best round for last, shooting 75 (+3).

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Robert Neal Causey 
March 17, 2025 
Visitation: Thursday, March 20, 2025, 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM, Owens Memorial Chapel 
Funeral: Thursday, March 20, 2025, 2:00 PM, Owens Memorial Chapel 

Billie Jean Flynn Colvin  
March 13, 1932 – March 13, 2025  
Visitation: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – Ruston, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm  
Service: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – Ruston, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, 2:00 pm  
Cemetery: Longstraw Cemetery, Wednesday, March 19, 2025 

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by Malcolm Butler

 

Ronny Walker likes to be No. 1. 

Or at least No. 2.

The Ruston mayor took that into consideration when he and his staff made the decision five years ago to get out of the fiber business. 

And late last week, the city did just that when it sold its fiber optic broadband network to RightFiber.

“Five years ago my staff and I made the strategic decision to get out of the fiber business,” said Walker. “My theory is we need to be first or second in everything we do. I knew with all the big boys in the fiber industry and with all the federal money … that would not be possible.”

RightFiber is a brand of Ritter Communications and is headquartered in Jonesboro, Arkansas. And according to the press release by the company, “Ritter Communications is proud to provide homes, schools and businesses in the Mid-South with advanced communications technology. For over 115 years, the company’s formula for success has been the relentless pursuit of delivering best-in-class technology paired with a world-class customer-focused experience.”

Walker said the sales price was $5 million and that the money would go straight into the city reserves, replenishing the money that was spent following the EF3 tornado that hit Ruston in 2019. 

“It basically cost us $10 million following the tornado to get the city back up and running,” said Walker. “FEMA paid for about half of that. So this basically makes us whole again.”

Walker said that this would provide businesses and residents within the City of Ruston another choice for its internet services. 

“That’s one of the main reasons we did this,” said Walker. “This has been a long excruciating process, but we finally got it done. RightFiber is a very very good company that has a reputation for being customer friendly and customer centered. We are excited they chose us.”

“We’re thrilled to bring RightFiber’s amazingly fast, hassle-free fiber internet service to the businesses and residents who make Ruston so special,” said Ritter Communications CEO Heath Simpson. “Great connectivity means more opportunities for families, students and business owners, and we’re proud to help fuel the creativity, innovation and growth that makes this community shine.”

According to the company press release, “RightFiber’s network is built with the highest-quality 100% fiber infrastructure, offering customers the latest broadband solutions that enhance connectivity and power the fastest speeds available – up to 5 Gig for homes and up to 100 Gig for businesses. RightFiber provides an unparalleled, world-class user experience and is engineered to be future-proof; capable of adapting to technological advances and evolving customer demands.”

Walker said that he isn’t 100 percent sure on the timeline .

“We signed all the paperwork Friday,” said Walker. “Now it’s just a matter of getting their people here.”

 

 

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Courtesy of LA Tech University Communications

The Louisiana Tech University Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers delivered an outstanding performance at the 2025 ASCE Gulf Coast Student Symposium, held March 7–9 at Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi.

Competing against top universities from across the region, the team brought home a collection of top honors across multiple events, once again showcasing the excellence and competitive spirit of the College of Engineering and Science.

The highlight of the weekend was the Concrete Canoe Competition, where the Louisiana Tech team earned first place overall, securing their spot at the national championship later this year. Team captain Jesse Bertucci touted the team’s effort leading up to the competition.

“I am extremely proud of the team for our work throughout the entire year,” Bertucci stated. “The team consists of only 13 active members, the majority being first-year members. The team dedicated over 2,000 man hours to prepare for the Student Symposium, and our hard work paid off.”

Their performance was dominant across several categories:

• First Place – Men’s Sprint

• First Place – Co-ed Sprint

• Second Place – Women’s Slalom

• First Place – Men’s Slalom

• Second Place – Final Product Prototype

• Second Place – Project Proposal

• First Place – Technical Presentation

In the Steel Bridge Competition, the team also earned first place in Aesthetics, reflecting the exceptional design and craftsmanship of their entry.

Additional accolades from other events include:

• Second Place – Paper and Presentation Competition (Mead Paper Competition)

• Second Place – Water Resources Competition

• Third Place – Pre-stressed Mini Beam Competition

“This year’s results are the culmination of countless hours of preparation, innovation, and teamwork,” said Dr. Elizabeth Matthews, the faculty advisor of the Louisiana Tech ASCE Chapter and associate professor and program chair of civil engineering. “Our students continually impress me with their commitment to excellence and their passion for civil engineering. I’m incredibly proud of their accomplishments and excited to see them represent Louisiana Tech at the national level.”

With their first-place finish in the Concrete Canoe Competition, the Louisiana Tech ASCE Chapter has earned a coveted spot at the ASCE Concrete Canoe National Competition, which will be held this June at Cal Poly (San Luis Obispo) College of Engineering in Los Angeles, California. There, they will compete against top teams from across the country for national recognition.

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By T. Scott Boatright

After finishing the 2024 season with the best regular season in school history at 7-3, Lincoln Preparatory School football coach Glen Hall has been shown the door.

Hall said he was informed shortly before noon Monday when LPS Chief Academic Officer Crystal Washington told him she was relieving him of his duties at the school.

Washington took over as head of the school in January after former executive director Gordan Ford, one of the founders of the school, left the school for another occupational role in Washington D.C.

“I was shocked when she told me,” Hall said. “I sure didn’t see that coming. She had a board meeting at (noon) and called me in at 11:50 and told me she was going to let me go. She said it was about salary. My thing is, and I asked her, did she start from the bottom? And she did respond to that. She just said again that she was going to let me go.”

Hall, who served as a longtime assistant coach under the legendary Eddie G. Robinson, previously coached his high school alma mater, Mansfield, before coming to Lincoln Prep when it opened as a new school in 2016.

“I thought I was one of the mainstays,” Hall said. “I had been there for nine years, and boom, out of nowhere with no warning, I’m out. We were coming off a great season. I was named Coach of the Year. And this happens. It was shocking.” 

Hall, who had also coached high school football in Texas after Robinson’s retirement from coaching in 1997, said he hopes to continue coaching somewhere next season.

“I’ve had a lot of coaches reach out to me and tell me that this way here is not how it’s supposed to end,” Hall said. “And I do think Glen Hall should emerge again as a coach, even as an assistant. I’ll be a great assistant to any coach. I just believe this thing here wasn’t meant for me, with her, after she took over.

“Right now I think I just need to move on somewhere and make sure that wherever I am, the kids there can get some of the best teaching and coaching they’ve ever had from one of the best coaches I know, and that’s me.” 

Responding to multiple messages made reaching out to her for comment on the matter, Washington said via text message just before 10 p.m. Monday that she would not be making a statement before addressing her staff on Tuesday.

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by Malcolm Butler

 

With the departure of Amy Stegall, the City of Ruston is in the market for a new Main Street Director and Community Coordinator.

During her time with the city of Ruston, Stegall helped build and grow the Main Street program, highlighted by record attendance numbers at the most recent Peach Festival last summer as well as recognitions such as the recent 2025 Louey Award for Festival of the Year.

Ruston mayor Ronny Walker said replacing Stegall with the right candidate is integral for the city’s continued growth.

“This position is something we finance through the city’s budget,” said Walker. “Most cities do not do that. But that is how important this is to me. Most have a special tax, but I said from Day No. 1 that we wanted to fund it so people could see importance of downtown Ruston.”

Why is it so important to Walker?

“When we started this 10 years ago, I talked to people about what they wanted within our city. What would make young people return and older people retire to our city? There were some distinct things that I kept hearing.

“No. 1 was they wanted a vibrant downtown. We have that now.”

Walker said much of the credit for that is the work of Stegall.

“Amy did a great job for us,” said Walker. “We all knew she would one day move on to Tech. I am very happy when our people are able to move up. Amy was instrumental in several new projects that we have now, such as The Wine Walk and the Beer Crawl.

“She was very actively involved not only in city but also in the statewide organization.”

Stegall has taken the role as Director of Development and Engagement for the Division of Innovation and Advancement at Louisiana Tech University.

“It has been a privilege to help shape the heart of our community—honoring our history while encouraging growth and new opportunities,” said Stegall. “Watching local businesses succeed, seeing events bring people together, and witnessing downtown become a place where memories are made has been incredibly rewarding.

“Ruston is home, and I’m grateful to have played a role in its story. Under Mayor Walker’s leadership, Ruston has embraced a bold vision for the future—one that champions progress while remaining true to our roots. Downtown has always been central to that vision, and I have no doubt it will continue to thrive as the next director steps into this role.”

Walker said that the application process for the position has closed, and that the city has 10 applicants that will be interviewed over the course of the next week to 10 days. He said the committee will do the initial interviews and then make a recommendation to him.

He said the committee knows the traits that he is looking for in the next Main Steet Director.

“The same thing I look for in anybody I hire in Ruston,” said Walker. “They need to have a real love for Ruston. That is the No.1 thing. No. 2 is they have to be involved and realize it’s not just an 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. job. No. 3 is for this person to have a close understanding of our partnership with Louisiana Tech University.”

Walker said he hopes to have the process completed and the position filled by the end of next week.

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Ruston Police have arrested a man found to have a stolen handgun and items authorities said could be used to commit burglaries.

Kameion Gamydie Rogers, 18, was arrested shortly about 9 p.m. last Tuesday evening after he surrendered to pursuing officers.

A patrol officer saw Rogers on a bicycle without required lights on Cornell Avenue. When the officer stopped the cyclist, Rogers dropped the bike, jumped a fence into a backyard in the 1600 block of Cornell Avenue, ran behind the house, then ran back toward the officer. According to an officer’s report, Rogers told police he was out of breath and couldn’t run anymore.

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Rogers was found with a Glock 23 .40-caliber pistol stolen earlier in the year, a flashlight, gloves, and a full face mask. Rogers told police someone gave him the pistol but would not identify the person.

The officer’s report noted Rogers was arrested for vehicle burglaries in 2023 and 2024, but those charges could not be verified due to his age at the time.

Rogers was booked into the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for illegal possession of a stolen firearm, illegal carrying of weapons (burglary tools), and resisting an officer by flight. Bail was set at $38,500.

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

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.

A West Monroe man was arrested at a traffic stop by the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office after he was found with drugs and related paraphernalia.

Richard Wayne Sessions, 47, originally identified himself as Richard Ponsell, but the deputy who stopped him spotted a credit card in Sessions’ name. Sessions confirmed his identity and said he was wanted in Ouachita Parish.

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While Sessions was emptying his pockets, he removed a syringe and attempted to through it on the ground. Suspected marijuana and methamphetamine was also found on Sessions.

Sessions was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for resisting an officer, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and the Ouachita Parish warrant.

Session is also being held for the Probation & Parole Unit of the Louisiana Department of Corrections.

Bail on the LPSO charges was set at $12,500.

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

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 column

As we celebrate National Small Business Development Center Day on March 19th, it’s the perfect occasion to shine a spotlight on the invaluable role that Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) play in nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit that defines communities across the nation. From providing expert guidance and resources to fostering innovation and resilience, SBDCs are behind countless small business success stories.

SBDC programs deliver professional, high quality, individualized business advising and technical assistance to existing small businesses and pre-venture entrepreneurs. SBDCs provide problem-solving assistance to help small businesses access capital, develop and exchange new technologies, and improve business planning, financial management, personnel administration, marketing, export assistance, sales and other areas required for small business creation and expansion. SBDCs locations can be found across the nation.

A prime example of the immense value provided by SBDCs is Red Bison Services, LLC., in Kenner, Louisiana. Ronald “Rocky” Ortego III is the Founder and President of Red Bison Services, which he started in 2015 to provide experienced, quality construction and program management services to commercial and government markets. Ortego utilized the Louisiana Small Business Development Center in his entrepreneurial journey. Under his leadership, the business has grown from 2 to 35 employees and continues to expand both locally and nationally.

To connect with a local SBDC, visit http://www.sba.gov/local-assistance to enter your zip code and find free or low-cost assistance and training in their area. To stay up to date on SBA news and upcoming events, follow us on social media.

SBA South Central
X/Twitter: @SBASouthCentral
LinkedIn: @SBA-South-Central

Justin Crossie is the SBA South Central Regional Administrator overseeing the agency’s programs, offices, and operations in Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico.

Courtesy of City of Ruston Facebook page

The City of Ruston announces, weather permitting, that Neal St. between E. Georgia Ave. and E. Mississippi Avenue will be closed to through traffic Monday beginning 8am until further notice. This closure is necessary to allow for utility replacement.

The City of Ruston regrets any inconvenience this necessary work may cause residents and motorists. We appreciate your patience, and any questions can be received by the Public Works Department at (318) 242-7703.

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Sometimes something shocks you into the realization that life on this earth is, indeed, short and precious.

A sweet, sweet member of our congregation will be laid to rest tomorrow, and it’s sad to know that I won’t see that much-loved face across the church aisle ever again. Yet those of us who knew her – and shared our faith with her – understand that we’ll see her again in our heavenly home.

Meanwhile, the card I picked out for her last week sits on my office table, unaddressed, with no stamp, never to be mailed. I waited just a couple of days too long. Maybe she and I can share a smile one “day” in heaven, but for now, I just wish I had licked the stamp sooner.

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Right before I began writing this column, I noticed that her name was still a part of my phone’s contact list, along with the names of several others who have departed this realm. That spurred me to look at my Facebook friends list – and 21 of those accounts are now unmanned.

It’s a sobering thought.

We who are still here need to take stock. We won’t be here forever – but we will be someplace forever. We are not like Rover, no matter how much some people cling to that idea.

Multiple lessons can be learned from observing our dwindling phone and Facebook lists. Perhaps this phenomenon should prod us to:

– Contact that friend whom you know is ill. Go for a visit. Make a luncheon engagement. Unlike me, send a card. What’s more, contact that friend who’s in perfect health but whom you haven’t seen in a while. Go ahead. Texting and email make it easy. Or better yet, let your fingers do the walking, and give them a ring.

– Hoist the flag of truce if you’re at odds with a family member. You don’t have to be their best friend or even totally like them or their actions. But we should love them and let them know that. Listen to I John 4:20: “If someone says, ‘I love God’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?” Good question.

– Take to heart the lesson of this week’s burial, of my unsent card, and of those old Hank Williams’ lyrics: You can’t get out of this world alive. So we need to be prepared. But how do we do that?

There’s no other answer in this world that makes sense … but God. Not evolution. Not ancient aliens. Nothing. Nothing else makes sense.

Thankfully, this God – the Creator of the Universe – left us an instruction book. But how do we know it’s true, apart from faith?

In my estimation, the prophesies. We – you – can’t escape them. They undeniably speak to the truth of the scriptures. Events that were predicted centuries, sometimes millennia, beforehand came true just as prophesied, down to minute details. Even though skeptics raise objections to such things, those fulfilled prophesies can’t just all be fabricated; they can’t just all be coincidence. As many things point toward the scriptures’ truth as could possibly point away from it.

Prophecy is one of the main reasons for my belief.

If you’ve never studied the Messianic prophecies and if you’re not a believer, I urge you to do so. Many of the people who killed Jesus came to believe on the day the apostle Peter preached the first gospel sermon. Their hearts were broken when they understood what they had done, and they looked to Peter and the other apostles for guidance.

“What shall we do?” they asked.

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Three thousand people did this that very day.

No one could possibly do a more horrible thing than the people who crucified Jesus. But Peter told them there was a way out.

It’s a way out for you, too.

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Sallie Rose Hollis lives in Ruston and retired from Louisiana Tech as an associate professor of journalism and the assistant director of the News Bureau. She can be contacted at sallierose@mail.com.

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.

Do you remember your old typewriter? Some of you wonder, what is that?

In ancient times our parents would send us to college with one of our High School graduation gifts, a typewriter. If your family was affluent the typewriter was electric. Can you visualize that typewriter? In the ears of your mind can you hear the bell? The bell would sound as you were approaching the margin of your paper. Do you remember how many spaces there are between the bell sounding and the margin? Anyway, you had a few more spaces before reaching the margin and then you couldn’t type on that line. You were forced to hit return or manually return the carrier to the beginning of the next line.

Typing today is much different. I only use the return (now known as “enter”) between paragraphs. The computer sets the margins and automatically sends the cursor to the next line for typing. There is no bell warning me that I am approaching the end of a line. I am not paying attention to the margin or where I am on the page, I don’t need to. The computer is taking care of that function for me.

I miss the bell warning me that I am approaching the margin. I miss the sound of typing in the office. Once in a church office, you could hear the typewriter, adding machine, and the mimeograph running. You knew work of the Kingdom was happening. Now all I hear is silence. I know the work is taking place, but you don’t hear it any longer.

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There was a function of typewriters not found on computer keyboards. That key was labeled “margin release.” If you were one letter away from the end of a word, you could apply margin release, and the typewriter would continue typing past the margin. Since the margins were set mechanically, they could also be released mechanically. If you used the margin release key one line on the page would stand out. The reader of the paper would know you cheated at the margins.

Margin is what allows you to read this article. If the nice editors ignored the gutter in the middle and the margins on the sides, you would find this publication almost impossible to read. Margin, or white space, allows your eyes and brain to work in concert in this great exercise called reading. Your brain would not cooperate if the lines went to the edge of the screen. And if the words had no margins, called spaces, reading would take a great effort. The New Testament was written in a form called scriptio continua; there were no spaces between the words. Actually, there was no punctuation either. If you think understanding the Apostle Paul is difficult, try reading Ephesians without punctuation!

The margin release key is not found on a computer keyboard, but I’m wondering if you are using it too often in soul matters. Let’s try a margin test. When was the last time you took a day off? Describe the most beautiful sight experienced on your last vacation? How long since you have walked in the woods? What was the last book you read for pleasure? When was the last time you experienced joy?

Are you using that margin release key and filling your life and soul with too much stuff? Is your calendar full? Go ahead and look at it, when is the next “empty day?” Margin is that space for rest and restoration. Margin is where nothing is happening. All the “type A” people just cringed at the prospect of doing nothing!

I think margin is important because that is where God is. He is at the margins of society. He is at the margins of change. He is at the margins of our soul. God is at the margins, whispering to our hearts. He is asking us to go no further but to linger where we can experience Him. Margin allows life to be rich, full, and readable. Leave margin in your life, please. That spiritual margin allows space for God to lead you to what is next or linger with Him where you are.

We all need to backspace and create margin in our lives.

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.

by Malcolm Butler

Cedar Creek head coach Chad Yates has been waiting on a total game from his Cougars.

On Monday night he got it.

Sophomore Kade Luker struck out a season-high 11 batters to lead Cedar Creek to a 4-0 win over West Ouachita.

The Cougars also made the most of six hits while also capitalizing on five walks in the shutout over the Chiefs. 

“We played our first complete game of baseball in quite awhile,” said Yates, who saw his team improve to 7-11 on the season. “Luker was dominate with a 86-pitch complete game on the mound. He and Brett Bell executed the game plan. That’s the Luker we know, and we needed that in a big way tonight. Our defense played great behind him.”

Luker held West Ouachita to only two hits — a pair of singles — while 11 of the 21 outs recorded were via the strikeout. The Chiefs managed only three base runners in the entire ball game.

The Cougars took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and then tacked on single runs in the second and fourth frames.

“Offensively we executed enough to score Luker some runs,” said Yates. “Overall I’m proud of our guys efforts and for continuing to work the plan. Hopefully this will give us that shot of momentum to rip off some more good innings of baseball.”

Conor Yates and Ryan Coleman each registered two hits and Kaleb Negrotto and Cason Floyd one each as Yates and Coleman each had one double. Luker, Yates, Aidan Crosby and Floyd all scored a run with Brett Bell and Micah Taylor each registering two RBI in the win.

Creek will host Evangel Christian tonight at 6 p.m. 

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by Malcolm Butler

After leading Choudrant to the district title and a postseason appearance this season, Aggies junior guard Carson Carrico was named the District 2B Most Valuable Player while Ryan Smith was named Coach of the Year.

Carrico was joined on the all-District 2B first team by Aggies teammate Jackson Ambrose while Tucker Batterton and Brayden Pye were named to the second team. Clarence Menyweather earned honorable mention all-district honors for the Aggies. 

“We are all so proud of Carson and his teammates,” said Ryan Smith. “Carson has put a lot of work into his game, and it’s great to see that work pay off with him becoming District MVP. He had some great moments throughout our district season capping it off with a great game in the championship. I can’t wait to see the effort he puts into this offseason to lead our team into his senior year.”

Carrico averaged 20.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game for Choudrant and proved to be a tough defensive assignment for opposing teams in 2024-25. His three-point shooting ability and tenacity on the floor were a big reason the Aggies were able to capture the District 2B title this season with an undefeated mark in league play.

Smith was named the District 2B Coach of the Year after leading Choudrant to a 17-15 record and the district crown, as the Aggies posted an undefeated mark against league foes. After getting off to a slow start to the season, the Aggies won 12 of their last 15 games, including a 5-0 mark against District 2B foes. The Aggies also won some marquee non-district games down the stretch against West Ouachita,  Quitman and Georgetown while defeating Episcopal of Acadiana in the opening round of the playoffs. 

The complete list of the All-District 2B team is below. 

First Team

Jackson Ambrose (Choudrant)

Carson Carrico (Choudrant)

Drew Carroll (Family Community Christian)

Conner Harper (Downsville Charter)

Don Reese (Forest)

Kyler Roberts (Family Community Christian)

Second Team 

Tucker Batterton (Choudrant)

Jaden Carroll (Family Community Christian)

Konner Hooper (Family Community Christian)

Javarius Miles (Forest)

Brayden Pye (Choudrant)

Honorable Mention: Clarence Menyweather (Choudrant), Bryce Wilson (Downsville), Haiden Sabo (Downsville), JJ Turner (Forest), Alexander Ferry (Forest), Rusty Phillips (FCCS)

MVP: Carson Carrico (Choudrant)

Coach of the Year: Ryan Smith (Choudrant)

 

 

 

 

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Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Louisiana Tech ramps up for their final contest before opening Conference USA play with the ULM Warhawks tonight with pitch set for 6 p.m. at JC Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.

The contest can be seen on ESPN+ with Kyle Roberts and Teddy Allen providing a call of the action. It can also be heard on 97.7 FM.

Tonight’s game is the first of three midweek clashes between the two programs; their next scheduled game is April 15 in Monroe and the final set for April 23 back at the Love Shack. The Bulldogs lead the series 78-53 and have won 18 of the last 21 matchups and are 7-2 at home against ULM since 2008.

The Bulldogs (11-9) are coming off a historic weekend, where they set a new single-game record for walks with 17 drawn on Friday. The Diamond ‘Dogs’ 27 runs scored in that game tied the second-most scored in program history and was the fourth time that many runs were scored by a LA Tech team ever.

Colton Coates and Garrison Berkley enter Tuesday’s game as the only players for Tech batting above .300 thus far. Michael Ballard belted two home runs over the weekend to bring his season total to five, setting a new season high as a Bulldog. The Longwood, Florida native also reached a new milestone by getting his 100th hit since his arrival to Tech.

ULM enters Tuesday’s game with a 9-10 record under head coach Michael Federico. Federico is in his eighth season leading the Warhawks and has amassed a 159-205-1 record. During the 2024 season, Federico led the Warhawks to wins over NCAA regional finalists Coastal Carolina and Southern Miss as part of their 25-win season, which was the most since 2021.

The Warhawks are led by Colby Lundsford, who leads the team in eight different offensive categories. He has three homers that tie for the team lead with Michelle Artzberger. Isaiah Walker and Bryce Blaser, along with Lundsford, are the only Warhawks batting above .300 with Walker and Lundsford being the only two players with 20 hits this year.

Daniel Gonzalez leads ULM with a 3.86 ERA through 21 innings and is one of three players with 15-plus strikeouts this year. Landon Grigg and Joey Cirelli tie each other for the team lead with 22 strikeouts each. The Warkhawk pitching staff carries a team ERA of 5.93 with 144 combined strikeouts.

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Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

The Conference USA bowling tournament bracket is set and eighth-seeded Louisiana Tech will take on ninth-seeded Tulane in the first round on Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Colonial Lanes in Harahan, Louisiana, announced by the league on Monday.

The CUSA Championships will be double elimination mega-match format. Mega-match is a best-of-three format that will start with a traditional game followed by a five game Baker match. If the two teams are tied after the first two sets a best-of-seven Baker match will determine the winner.

The winner of the Bulldogs and Green Wave will take on top seeded Jacksonville State at 9 a.m. on Thursday. The loser will take on the loser of the third seed Vanderbilt and sixth seed Stephen F. Austin on Thursday at 2 p.m.

All 10 CUSA teams are currently ranked inside the top 25 of the National Tenpin Coaches Association poll.

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Billie Jean Flynn Colvin 
March 13, 1932 – March 13, 2025 
Visitation: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – Ruston, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm 
Service: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – Ruston, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, 2:00 pm 
Cemetery: Longstraw Cemetery, Wednesday, March 19, 2025 

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by Hanna Singh

The Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office recently held a Women’s Firearm Safety Course and Self Defense Class, offering local women the opportunity to learn about gun safety, practice handgun use in a controlled setting, and learn valuable self defense skills.

The course provided hands-on training at the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office gun range, led by skilled and knowledgeable instructors.

Adult women of any age were invited to come learn about handgun safety and have the opportunity to use one. Participants were guided through proper handling, aiming, and firing techniques and taught about responsible gun use and caution. They also learned about self defense and the importance of protecting oneself. The class allowed the ladies to build confidence and leave with a better understanding of firearm safety and self defense..

Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Landon Hunt highlighted the importance of the program.

“We believe the women’s self-defense classes are a great way for our office to give back to the community. We have several firearms instructors who are very knowledgeable and great teachers,” Hunt said. “We’re glad to be able to pass that knowledge along to help women learn how to better protect themselves. A huge thanks to our firearms instructors for making this possible. We will have another firearms class as well as a women’s self-defense class coming up soon.”

The event saw a strong turnout, with women of all experience levels attending. Some attendees had prior experience with firearms, while others were handling a gun for the first time. Regardless of their background, each woman was able to take something away from the opportunity. .

Patsy Candler, one of the participants, expressed her appreciation for the event and the guidance from the sheriff’s office.

“I appreciate Mr. John Barber and the Lincoln Parish officers who had a hand in putting the gun safety class for women together,” Candler said. “It was hands-on and very informative. They have gone above and beyond the call of duty to show that they care about safety in our parish.”

Another participant, Shelly Goff, shared her thoughts on taking another self defense class.

“I did one probably 20 years ago, and I’ve been around guns most of my life, but I’ve never actually spent a lot of time learning about it. I thought it would be a good thing. We have firearms in our home. We need to learn how to use them and use them safely,” Goff said. “I thought the experience was really good. The sheriff’s department and the instructors explained things very well. They were cautious and safety-minded but still allowed us to experience using the weapon we had. We got to learn how to fire, how to use one, and be safe with it.”

The class serves to teach the importance of firearm safety and self-defense knowledge, giving women valuable skills that could help them protect themselves and their families. The Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office plans to continue offering similar opportunities, with more firearm safety courses and  women’s self-defense classes scheduled for the near future.

 

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Courtesy of LA Tech University Communications

Forty Louisiana Tech students received their professional nursing pins in a Pinning Ceremony Thursday, February 27 in Howard Auditorium, then graduated at Winter 2025 Commencement Saturday in the Thomas Assembly Center.

The graduates are as follows:

• Ella Amy

• Keely Baker

• Landon Barnes

• Sarah Bates

• Gracie Brown

• Brooke Bryant

• Kailee Bryant

• Wesley Butts

• Hannah Byrd

• Marisa Chance

• Landrie Clark

• Emily Coker

• Allison Edwards

• Kaylee Ford

• Jayla Greer

• Ella Grieder

• Victoria Heck

• Jakalah Howard

• Sydney Hull

• De’Kenzy Jackson

• Morgan Jaladin

• Adelyn Kuhr

• Santana Lang

• Andrew Lattier

• Landry Leal

• Miley Lee

• Aubrey Leggett

• Taylor McHugh

• Anna Grace McVay

• Morgan Montgomery

• Lauren Perritt

• Chiara Rieger

• Piper Rodie

• Katerin Sierra

• Maggie Stewart

• Madeline Tannehill

• Abigail Thomas

• Haley Vallery

• Katlyn Williams

• Madison Wyatt

Graduates who were members of the Student Nurses’ Association, Alpha Delta Nu Honor Society, or Men in Nursing were recognized with the presentation of cords.

The following awards were presented:

Pennington Visionary Award: De’Kenzy Jackson

Academic Excellence Award: Ella Amy

Tenets of Tech Award:  Ella Amy

Spirit of Patient Care Awards:  Landon Barnes, Sarah Bates, Ella Grieder, and Jakayla Howard

Teamwork and Collaboration Peer Award: Santana Lang

SNA (Student Nurses’ Association) Award: Landon Barnes

Nursing Ambassadors Recognition:

1. Landon Barnes

2. Santana Lang

3. Aubrey Leggett

Each graduate was also presented with a commemorative Nightingale lamp provided by Northern Louisiana Medical Center. Following successful completion of the NCLEX-RN national licensing exam, the graduates are registered nurses.

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Courtesy of GSU Communications

The Grambling State University Police Department confirms that all three individuals identified in connection with the isolated firearms-related incident on campus have been taken into custody.

Norris Kelly and Jyquarrius Brown were arrested in the late evening of March 12, while Travonte Spears was taken into custody March 13.

This remains an ongoing investigation. Grambling State University thanks all agencies and individuals who assisted in this process. Anyone with further information related to this incident is encouraged to contact the GSUPD at (318) 274-2222.

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Simsboro senior Trumarion Smith and Tigers head coach Adam Wodach joined Lincoln Prep head coach Antonio Hudson in headlining the 2024-25 all-Lincoln Parish Journal boys hoops team.

The parish saw plenty of success from its boys hoops teams with all five winning at least one playoff game while Lincoln Prep and Simsboro advanced to Marsh Madness while Ruston and Cedar Creek made it to the state quarterfinals in their respective Divisions. 

Thus, this year’s all-parish team is loaded with deserving talent. Lincoln Parish boys teams combined to post an overall record of 97-48, including three district titles and five postseason appearances. 

Smith earned MVP honors after leading Simsboro to Marsh Madness where the Tigers lost to eventual state champion Lacassine 71-64, providing the Cardinals there only real test during their title run. He averaged 12.4 points, 5.3 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game for the Tigers and was the heart and soul of this year’s Simsboro team.

“He battled adversity all year especially going down hurt the third game of the season.” said Wodach. “He is someone that makes his teammates better and has a tremendous desire to win. He has been a coach’s dream and a true coach on the floor. What has impressed me the most about him is how much he loves Simsboro and how much pride he took in wearing that uniform.”

Wodach earned the Co-Coach of the Year honors in just his second season with the Tigers, leading Simsboro to the Class B semifinals. Simsboro captured the District 1B title with an undefeated mark in league play, including a pair of impressive wins over Quitman. Five of the nine losses came against higher classification schools, including close defeats to the likes of Neville, North Caddo, Minden and Arcadia.

Hudson earned his co-Coach of the Year honor after leading the Panthers back down to Lake Charles for yet another year. Lincoln Prep posted a 25-8 record this season and earned the No. 2 seed in Select School Division IV before eventually falling to Southern Lab in the state semifinals.  The Panthers were the co-district champions of District 1-1A with Ringgold. 

Joining Smith on the 12-man all-LPJ team were teammates Jakaleb Modest and Ahmad Smith as well as Cedar Creek’s Cannon Robbins and Jake Terry, Choudrant’s Tucker Batterton and Carson Carrico, Lincoln Prep’s Devin Burton, Zion Hicks and Trey Spann, and Ruston’s Ahmad Hudson and Keshun Malcolm.

Below is a list of this year’s all-LPJ boys team.

2024-25 All-LPJ Team

Tucker Batterton (Choudrant)

Carson Carrico (Choudrant)

Devin Burton (Lincoln Prep)

Zion Hicks (Lincoln Prep)

Ahmad Hudson (Ruston)

Keshun Malcolm (Ruston)

Jakaleb Modest (Simsboro)

Cannon Robbins (Cedar Creek)

Ahmad Smith (Simsboro)

Trumarion Smith (Simsboro)

Trey Spann (Lincoln Prep)

Jake Terry (Cedar Creek)

Most Valuable Player: Trumarion Smith (Simsboro)

Co-Coach of the Year: Adam Wodach (Simsboro), Antonio Hudson (Lincoln Prep)

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