A student attending a local university was arrested recently after she reportedly fled officers who attempted to stop her for driving with no headlights.
Jemia Nacole Young, 22, of Jacksonville, Arkansas, was arrested by Grambling State University Police for aggravated flight from an officer and no lights at about 8:30 p.m. on March 7.
Young reportedly was driving in the GSU West Campus off La. Highway 150 with no lights on. She drove around a police unit and left the West Campus, failing to stop at a stop sign. She traveled on Hwy. 150 at speeds 25 miles an hour over the posted speed limit, crossing the center line multiple times.
According to an officer’s report, she turned her headlights off and on several times and turned onto Pine Street and drove to a dead end, crashing her vehicle in a wooded area. She exited the vehicle and surrendered without incident.
Young was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center and bail was set at $50,000.
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.
A Texas woman was arrested last Sunday after she apparently found some discarded cocaine, and at a Ruston convenience store overdosed.
Erica Bradley, 50, of Leander, Texas, was arrested March 9 at the North Louisiana Medical Center after police received a call to a La. Highway 33 convenience store regarding an overdose.
A caller told police Bradley had gone inside the store and when she came back outside, her behavior was unusual. The caller said Bradley began to scratch her face and became unaware of her surroundings and then unresponsive.
Before an ambulance arrived at the store, the caller checked Bradley’s pockets and located a napkin containing a white powder and two clear plastic baggies.
At the hospital, officers interviewed Bradley who admitted she found a bag of cocaine on the bathroom floor and “snorted some.” Once she was released from the emergency room, police placed her under arrest for possession of cocaine. Bail 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.
RUSTON, La. — Make that seven straight “dubs” for the Diamond ‘Cats.
Coming off a sweep to start district play over Ouachita and a key non-district win over Natchitoches Central in the middle, Ruston High (13-6, 2-0 District 2-5A) now comes into the second half of its schedule with momentum– now having already grabbed two more wins than last year’s campaign.
Bearcat head coach Bryan Beck believes his team’s success can be traced back to a weekend tournament played in South Louisiana, where the Bearcats had struggled to put together multiple wins back-to-back.
“If you rewind everything, I take it back to when we were down in Baton Rouge,” Beck said. “We had a big win against Dutchtown on a Friday night on their field, which is a hard place to play with their crowd and kids. We came back the next day and just really didn’t handle that win well and played really bad against East Ascension. And then we just shook up the lineup and got out there and beat Archbishop Shaw right after that in the second game of a doubleheader. I think that was the defining moment was– I challenged our kids and said “Look, this game’s really hard. We’re going to lose some games, but we’re going to lose playing it the right way.” I told them at the time that we just don’t know how to win yet, and we’re going to learn how to win after a win, and we’re going learn how to win after a loss.
“I think what you’re seeing is that the kids are really just playing a lot more relaxed and with a lot of confidence. “I told somebody else this weekend that this coaching staff is young — it’s our first time together, first time around the kids. And it’s the middle of March and everybody’s comfortable with each other. Everybody knows that the expectations are the same within our staff and in our locker room, and those kids are just going out and playing really good ball right now.”
Ruston won its sixth of seven straight Friday night against the Chiefs 5-1 after a gem of a game on the mound by senior David Griep, who threw 6.2 innings and struck out seven batters.
“He was awesome,” Beck said of Griep. “He struggled a little bit in the first inning, but we were just patient with him. And (pitching coach) Doc Wilkerson does a really good job with those guys and with me, just telling me to relax and have patience. We’ve got to have our starting pitching be able to go four or five innings or deeper for us to win. And (Doc) is kind of the calm in the storm for our dugout and does a tremendous job with our pitching staff and those kids, and David battled through a little early first inning stuff, and then he settled in.
“He almost went the distance — we had to pull him just because of a legal pitch count, or we would have left him in there. I’m really happy for him.”
The Bearcats struck first Friday with a two-run inning in the bottom of the first, starting with sophomore Dillion Williams singling on a one-out line drive to center to score senior Carter Love from second base. Senior Jake Simmons would ground to first base in the next at-bat, scoring sophomore John Parker Moak from third base for a 2-0 lead.
Ruston added another three runs in the bottom of the second inning, starting with senior Peyton Martin hitting a ground ball single into right field and scoring junior Hudson Wood from first. Junior Jackson Lee would double into center field and bring in Martin with one out two batters later. Finally, junior Lander Smith singled into center field and scored Lee to put Ruston up 5-0.
The Chiefs would finally get a run in the top of the seventh, but it would not be enough as Ruston won 5-1. NCHS finished the game with five hits and four errors.
Natchitoches Central started senior Adam Guillet on the mound, a Louisiana Tech signee that the Bearcats were able to get nine hits off of for the game on Student Day, where the fans made the atmosphere as close to a playoff game as possible.
“They had two big lefties,” Beck said of the Chiefs. “They have an Alabama commit and then a Tech commit (in Guillet). For our scouting report, I really felt like Guillet was the better pitcher with a three-pitch mix — just really good stuff. I’ve seen him pitch in the summers with my oldest son. And I just knew it would be a playoff atmosphere. Man, our students showed up, and the crowd showed up. We got after it in the first few innings, and we put some runs on the board really quick. I really think we shell-shocked them, to be honest with you. But you’ve got to give (Guillet) credit — he’s going to Louisiana Tech for a reason. He settled in as well. We banged his fastball around and then he started you know going to some of his off-speed stuff and we slowed down a little bit.”
Beck said he scheduled a tough team like NCHS in between two district games to try to prepare the Bearcats for a playoff series.
“Those are the games that we scheduled for a reason wedged in between two district games,” Beck said. “We wanted to try to simulate some sort of three game series, which is our playoff system now, and have three starters and some bullpen guys. We handled it really really well and that was a big win for us.”
Lee would go three-for-three at the plate with an RBI in the contest.
(Ruston High seniors. Courtesy photo)
On Saturday, Ruston crushed district foe Ouachita 17-0 on Senior Day, getting a run-rule win after the top of the third inning after a 15-run bottom of the first.
After Lee opened with a lead off double, he would the steal third and score after an error by the shortstop. Williams would score Martin with an RBI single in the next at-bat for a 2-0 lead. After a pair of walks loaded the bases, senior Kolby Sonnier singled into right field on a pop fly and scored Williams and Simmons to go up 4-0. Senior Caleb Hampton added three more runs on a loaded-bases single into right field, scoring Tyler, Powell and Parnell for a 7-0 lead.
Martin would double two batters later to score both Hampton and Lee, while Williams would double in the next at-bat to score Martin and put the Bearcats up 10-0. Tyler then his a line drive into center with two outs to score Williams to go up 11-0. After Love walked in the the at-bat, Sonnier singled into right field and scored both Tyler and sophomore Michael Brisco to go up 13-0.
Parnell would get hit by a pitch next, setting Hampton up to single into right field and score Powell. Finally, Lee singled into center field and scored Parnell, putting Ruston up 15-0 going into the top of the second inning.
After three up and down for the Lions, Powell would score on a wild pitch in the bottom of the second to put the ‘Cats up 16-0. Finally, senior Talan Billberry hit into a fielder’s choice to score Brisco to put Ruston up 17-0.
Love and senior Eli Crawford pitched a combined three innings and gave up no runs or hits.
Beck said his goal was to get as many of the seniors involved in the lienup and in the field.
“We got to start most of them,” Beck said. “(Hampton) got his first career start and had three RBIs, so I’m really happy for him. Tyler started for us in the DH spot. Love got the start on the mound, and Crawford closed it out for us. We got Billberry a bat in there, and we put (senior Sam) Specht in at second base. And lo and behold, the pitch pitch of the third inning, they hit a chopper to (Specht) and he got the put out at first.”
The seniors honored were Martin, Sonnier, Crawford, Love, Griep, Hampton, Billberry, Tyler, Simmons, and Specht. Former baseball player and all-state offensive lineman Sam Nations was honored for his help in the press box.
“You literally couldn’t have written the script better yesterday,” Beck said. “And then our booster club bought crawfish and jambalaya for everybody afterwards. The sun came out after the thunderstorms in the morning and it was awesome. It was good to celebrate those seniors. And Sam Nations — he played baseball his freshman year, came back out for his sophomore year and decided to hang it up. He’s been in the press box ever since for us running our music and our public address. I like it when kids are involved, and he does a really good job, and we honored him as well. It was a picture perfect day.”
The Bearcats return to action Tuesday against Sterlington on the road, who is currently at the top of the Non-Select, Division III power rankings.
“It’s another really good baseball team for us,” Beck said. “We’re up for it and ready to go.”
Ruston High (8-8, 0-2 District 2-5A) grabbed a run-rule win Friday before falling in a pair of Saturday games this past weekend as the Lady Bearcats are nearing the midway point of the 2025 season.
“I think our losses were products of being tired right now,” Ruston High head coach Lauren Garvie said. “We’re fighting hard in the circle, but we are producing at the plate — I think that’s one thing that you can always say about this team is that no matter what, they are going to produce at the plate. We’re worn out right now, and that’s partly on me. We’ve played a lot of games in a very few amount of weeks. We’re going into a couple of days off this week going in Spring Break. We were going to play in a tournament this weekend, but I’ve decided to give our bodies a break.”
The Lady Bearcats first best the Weston Lady Wolves at home, getting an 18-1 victory after just three innings played.
Ruston plated four runs in the bottom of the first, with senior Morgan Foster tripling into right field to score freshman Aubrey Stoehr and senior Abby Holton for a 2-0 lead. Sophomore Aubree Lohman doubled two batters later to score both Foster and junior Sage Tolar from third and first, respectively, putting Ruston up 4-0.
After Weston scored its only run of the game in the top of the second, the Lady Bearcats cracked open a nine-run bottom of the second to take a 10-1 lead. Stoehr opened the scoring with a two run homer to left field, scoring herself and freshman Za’Meriah Jones. After senior Rilee Atwood took a four-pitch walk, Holton would get another single to score Atwood for a 7-1 lead. Foster followed with a single in the next at-bat to center field to score Holton and add another run.
Both Foster and Tolar would score on a scored passed ball two at-bats later to give Ruston a 10-1 lead. Lady Bearcat batters would go double, triple, double to score the final three runs of the inning, with Bowers going first with a line drive double to score Lohman, followed by freshman Annaliese Doss getting her triple into left field, scoring freshman Skylar Bowers, and finally Stoehr doubling to score Doss for a 13-1 lead.
Tolar would start the scoring for Ruston in the bottom of the third, hitting a double into left field and scoring Foster. Lohman followed with a ground ball to short stop that resulted in Tolar scoring. Finally, Stoehr doubled in the bottom of the third inning to score Lohman, Jones and junior Kyndal Fobbs for the 18-1 win.
Bowers got the start on the mound and struck out four batters. Stoehr finished with three hits and six RBIs, while Foster added three RBIs on the day.
On Saturday, Ruston would fall first to Quitman 10-0, getting behind after surrendering five runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Wolverines would add a run in both the bottom of the second and the third innings and finally got the last three runs in the bottom of the sixth to run-rule the Lady Bearcats.
Ruston would finish with four errors and get just two hits, a double by Holton and a single by Tolar.
The Lady Bearcats would then fall to Benton after giving up four runs to the Lady Tigers in both the top of the fifth and sixth innings. After falling behind 2-0 by the middle of the third inning, Stoehr hit a left field home run to tie the game 2-2 and score Jones.
After the aforementioned runs scored by Benton, Stoehr added her second home run of the game in a solo shot to center field to put Ruston down 10-3 in the bottom of the sixth. It would not be enough as the Lady Tigers would get the win.
Overall, Garvie is pleased with how her team is playing overall and added some praise for a few individual players.
“Stoehr has been hot — she’s been a phenomenal lead off for us as a freshman,” Garvie said. “That can be kind of nerve wracking for a coach to come up to you and say, hey, you’re going to be our lead off and your one goal in life is to always get on base. She’s taken on that role really well. She’s done a really good job and she’s tough at the plate. She’s someone that a lot of people are going to think they can get two strikes on her, and then she’ll come back and hit a home run off two strikes. So she’s a tough out and she does really well. But you know, there’s some other girls that have impressed me this season — senior Jaiden Feeheley is not this big power hitter, but her on base percentage has been so nice.
“I keep telling them all to work for first base — get on first no matter what you do. Even if it’s a walk that wasn’t free — you earned that and you had a quality at bat and were disciplined enough to get on base. Lohman, too — she came up there and she hit the ball well this weekend. So I’m proud of of how we are hitting. We’ve just got to be able to back that up all the way around.”
Ruston returns to action Tuesday for a district match-up with Neville and then Ouachita Thursday.
“I think these are two games we can win,” Garvie said. “Our girls are too tough at the plate and too solid defensively. I’m excited to see how we play this week.”
Lincoln Prep’s Trey Spann and Cedar Creek’s Jake Terry earned first team all-District 1-1A honors.
By T. Scott Boatright
Cedar Creek’s Jake Terry and Lincoln Prep’s Trey Spann both represented the parish as first-team members on the 2025 All-District 1-1A boys basketball team.
But there was plenty of other representation from the piney, red dirt hills on that all-district squad.
And it’s no surprise after the Panthers and the Cougars both had stellar seasons that went deep into the postseason LHSAA tournament.
Lincoln Prep’s Frediron Payne and Amarje Young both earned second team All-District 1-1A honors to round all parish top honors in that league.
Cedar Creek’s Brett Bell, Jack Bell, Landon Hall, Cannon Robbins, Cameron Temple and Luke Waldron all earned All-District honorable mention as did Lincoln Prep’s Zion Hicks, Devin Burton, and Jabari Levingston.
Arcadia’s Kristofer Jackson and Ringgold’s LaDaunte McCoy tied for District 1-1A MVP honors.
Following is the complete All-District 1-1A team:
FIRST TEAM
Kristopher Jackson, Arcadia
LaDauante McCoy, Ringgold
Jermarquis Hampton, Haynesville
Trey Spann, Lincoln Prep
Jake Terry, Cedar Creek
Keenan Johnson, Ringgold
AnTravon Kinsey, Ringgold
SECOND TEAM
Armarjae Young, Lincoln Prep
Frediron Payne, Lincoln Prep
Isaiah Washington, Haynesville
Andrea Brooks, Haynesville
Ariy’un Bradford, Jonesboro Hodge
Katrevion Davis, Arcadia
HONORABLE MENTION FROM LINCOLN PARISH: Brett Bell, Cedar Creek; Jack Bell, Cedar Creek; Landon Hall, Cedar Creek; Cannon Robbins, Cedar Creek; Cameron Temple, Cedar Creek ; Luke Waldron, Cedar Creek; Zion Hicks, Lincoln Prep; Devin Burton, Lincoln Prep; Jabari Levingston, Lincoln Prep
The Ruston High Bearcats placed four players on the 2025 District 2-5A team, including the Most Valuable Player award released Friday.
Following a 2024-25 season with 18.3 points and 14.5 rebounds per contest, Ruston High sophomore sensation Ahmad Hudson was named the Most Valuable Player, while senior Aidan Anding was named first team, as well, after averaging 10.6 points per game.
Sophomore Keshun Malcolm was named second team at 15.1 points per contest in all 20 games played for the season. Junior Zaterrion “Bill” Sutton also earned an honorable mention.
The entire team is listed below.
First Team
Aidan Anding, RHS Ahmad Hudson, RHS Ty Duncan, ASH Jordyn Johnson, ASH Darren Ford, Ouachita
The Louisiana Tech women’s basketball team earned a spot in the postseason, capturing an at-large selection into the 2024 Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT), powered by Triple Crown Sports.
The 48-team WNIT field consists of 11 automatic qualifiers and 37 at-large selections, determined by tournament officials based on a range of criteria. This year marks the 27th edition of the postseason tournament.
The Lady Techsters are making their sixth appearance in the tournament. It will mark the fifth time under Head Coach Brooke Stoehr. LA Tech had back-to-back appearances in coach Stoehr’s first two seasons in Ruston and again in 2022 and 2023.
More information about the official bracket with matchups and round one game times will be released on Monday, March 17.
Tech fell to Liberty in the CUSA Semifinals Friday.
Here’s the schedule for the 27th edition of the Postseason WNIT:
Round 1 – March 20-22, 2025 Round 2 – March 23-25, 2025 Super 16 – March 26-28, 2025 Great 8 – March 29-31, 2025 Fab 4 – April 1-2, 2025 Championship – Saturday, April 5, 2025 at 3 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)
Trumarion Smith was named the District 1B MVP. (Facebook photo)
By T. Scott Boatright
He proved he’s the man, so Simsboro’s Trumarion “Man-Man” Smith has been named the MVP of District 1-B’s boys basketball team.
And fittingly, after reaching the Class B semifinals in the Boys Class B Basketball Playoffs, Simsboro dominated by earning half the honors on the All District 1-B First Team.
Joining “Man-Man” in earning First Team honors for the Tigers were freshman Ahmad Smith and junior Jakaleb Modest.
The Tigers didn’t stop there.
Earning second team District 1-B accolades was senior Jalen Outley.
Tigers who earned honorable mention on the all-district squad were senior Justin Prudhomme, junior Justin Terrell and junior Amaren Woodard.
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.
Monday, March 17 St. Patrick’s Day Spring Break for Lincoln Parish Schools 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Redefining Success keynote speaker Broadway director Zhailon Levingston (Conrad Hutchinson Performing Arts Center, GSU) 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome 5:30 p.m.: Ruston Planning and Zoning 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, March 18 Spring Break for Lincoln Parish Schools 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Redefining Success workshop (Conrad Hutchinson Performing Arts Center, GSU) 6-8 p.m.: Free kitchen class with LSU Ag (Ruston Farmers Market) 6 p.m.: GSU baseball 6 p.m.: LA Tech baseball
Wednesday, March 19 Spring Break for Lincoln Parish Schools 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 1 p.m.: GSU softball
Thursday, March 20 Spring Break for Lincoln Parish Schools 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Kiwanis Club lunch and program (Trinity Methodist Church fellowship hall) 5-6 p.m. (or until food is gone): Free meal at the Dubach Community Center, just past the post office on Hwy 167 North (Hosted by 5 Loaves: 2 Fish Ministry) 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.: Bone broth making with Scarborough Farms (Ruston Farmers Market)
Friday, March 21 Spring Break for Lincoln Parish Schools 3 p.m.: GSU softball 6 p.m.: GSU baseball 6 p.m.: LA Tech softball
Saturday, March 22 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Missions Market 2025 craft and bake sale, Women on Mission of Concord-Union Baptist Association (Temple Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 1515 South Service Road, W., Ruston) 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market Noon: GSU softball 2 p.m.: LA Tech softball 3 p.m.: GSU baseball
Sunday, March 23 1 p.m.: LA Tech softball 1 p.m.: GSU baseball
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.
Allie Floyd tossed 17.0 innings and threw 288 pitches in Tech’s three wins over UTEP this weekend.
Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
Baseball
The Diamond ‘Dogs secured a series victory on Sunday after downing the Wichita State Shockers, 7-1, in the series finale at Eck Stadium. It was the first road series win over the Shockers in program history, as well as the first road series win of the season.
Tech won Friday 27-12 before falling Saturday 15-6.
The combined offensive performance from both programs cooled down some after 39 total runs were scored in the series opener on Friday and 21 combined on Saturday. The weather conditions appeared much different than the first two contests of the weekend with a lot less wind and a lot more sunshine.
It was a defensive showcase through the first four innings of Sunday’s contest as Wichita State had the only two hits of the game during that span. Freshman Brooks Roberson had himself an outstanding performance in his second start, scattering seven hits across 7 1/3 innings of work with one run and one walk allowed along with four punchouts. His one run allowed did not cross the plate until the eighth inning.
“It was kind of weird with no wind today,” said head coach Lane Burroughs. “There were no elements, you have to battle. It was actually a very beautiful day here today and nobody acted like they wanted to hit. The last two days we had hurricane-type winds blowing everywhere and everybody swinging the bat.
Brooks Roberson was outstanding. I mean, what can you say? We needed that worse than anything in the world and he had to get up here late Friday night, take care of some stuff academically. He flew in here and got in about midnight Friday night. He’s been through a lot this week and to go out there and do what he did was unbelievable.”
Tech returns to the Love Shack on Tuesday, March 18 to take on ULM in a midweek at 6 p.m. CT before heading to Huntsville, Texas to open up Conference USA play with the Sam Houston Bearkats March 21-23 at Don Sanders Stadium.
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Softball
Louisiana Tech softball completed the series sweep over UTEP on Sunday as the Bulldogs won both ends of their double header. LA Tech won the first game 7-6 in nine innings, while earning a 5-2 win over the Miners in the finale.
Tech prevailed in Saturday’s opener 4-3 thanks to a solo home run by Claire Raley in the sixth. The three wins move the Bulldogs to 16-11 (4-2 in CUSA).
Allie Floyd moved to 12-5 on the season after picking up wins in all three games of the series. She pitched 17.0 innings during the series, allowing just three earned runs while striking out 20 and walking just three.
Tech outhomered UTEP on the weekend 5-1, including two bombs by Raley and one each from Nicole Hammoude, Raegan Marchant and Karolyn Glover.
Sunday’s sweep saw Game 1 go nine innings with KB Briley’s sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth proving to be the difference. Floyd worked 5.0 innings of relief, allowing just one run, to get the win in the circle.
Game two of the Sunday DH saw Tech fall behind 2-0 before a single run in the third and a pair of two-run home runs by Hammoude and Glover in the top of the fourth inning giving the Bulldogs the lead.
The Bulldogs have now won five straight games and will return to action this weekend when they host Middle Tennessee in a three-game league series at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.
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Bowling
Rachel Ong finished the weekend in second place with a 1,294 for a 215.67 average at the Music City Classic hosted by No. 3 Vanderbilt at the Smyrna Bowling Center on Sunday.
The Bulldogs (83-43) started with their lowest game of the tournament in a 1,031-824 loss to No. 5 Wichita State. Ong ended her second-place performance with a 216.
LA Tech had an up-and-down first match against Newman. The Bulldogs won the first game of the best-of-seven set, 227-209. The Jets took a 2-1 advantage after winning the next two, 201-189 and 201-171. Tech tied it, 208-152, before Newman won game five, 179-171.
Having to win out, Louisiana Tech rolled in the plus in each of the final two. The Bulldogs won 223-182 before clinching the set 207-176.
That set up a critical match against No. 9 Stephen F. Austin. Both teams were looking for a win to help their chances of making the NCAA tournament without having to win the gauntlet of the Conference USA tournament.
The Ladyjacks held the early advantage after taking the opening game 195-157. LA Tech put that game behind them and rolled an 864 over the next four to end the day. The Bulldogs won 233-190, 232-186, 203-194 and 196-169.
During the tournament, head coach Matt Nantais picked up his 900th career win and No. 600 at Louisiana Tech (83-43). The Bulldogs’ 83 wins are the second most in a season, only behind last year’s 88.
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Golf
Oskari Schuvalow and Niilo Maki-Petaja shot 72 and 71, respectively, as Louisiana Tech completed round one of the Linger Longer Invitational on Sunday at The Landing at Reynolds Lake Oconee.
Playing in a field that features five teams ranked top 50 in the country, LA Tech shot 297 (+9) as a team and is in 15th place after 18 holes.
Schuvalow got off to a strong start as a sophomore was two under after eight holes. Following back-to-back bogeys, he sank a birdie on the Par 5 No. 16 to get back into the red. Two more bogeys and a birdie on another Par 5, this one the 490-yard No. 2, led to Schuvalow finishing Even on the day and in a tie for 33rd on the player leaderboard.
Maki-Petaja had a hiccup on No. 9 and No. 10, going bogey-double bogey, but the sophomore regrouped to shoot three under the rest of his round and shoot 71 (-1) which was his 18th round at or under par this season. The top Bulldog is in a tie for 24th.
Morton Bailey had the third scorecard used for LA Tech. After beginning his round with a birdie on his starting hole No. 5, the freshman would not make another birdie until the Par 5 No. 2 to shoot 76 (+4). The fourth score for the ‘Dogs came from Jake Plumb who shot 78 (+6).
37th-ranked Georgia has a one stroke lead over 35th-ranked South Florida and 17th-ranked South Carolina after round one.
Margaret Willis Terrill, 75, of Ruston, Louisiana, passed away on March 12, 2025, in Shreveport. She was born on January 25, 1949, in Ruston to Alvie Monroe Willis and Pauline Lorett Willis.
She is survived by nephews Rick Beckett and Jeb Beckett of Shreveport, Chris White of Ruston, and nieces Sheila White and April White of Hollister, MO and a host of cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents Alvie Monroe and Pauline Lorett Willis, her sisters Esther Willis Beckett and Jerene Willis Fuller.
Margaret graduated from Ruston High School in 1967 and earned a degree from Louisiana Tech University. She retired after a career at the post office at Louisiana Tech and was currently working under the Lincoln Parish Police Jury for Humanitarian Enterprises of Lincoln Parish at the time of her death.
Margaret enjoyed working daily with her treasured co-workers who provided support and friendship to her. Margaret knew and was loved by a great number of people in Ruston through her work and the services which her office provided. Her family especially wants to remember her supervisor, Samantha Dimmer, who provided guidance and support for her in her last years. She will always be remembered for laughter and positive outlook towards life.
She was a member The Springs Church at the time of her death, where she sometimes played piano. A private service will be held in her memory.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Humanitarian Enterprises of Lincoln Parish.
Funeral services for Vanelle Widick Bice, 89, will be held at 2:00 PM, Sunday, March 16, 2025 at Owens Memorial Chapel, 2500 West California Avenue, in Ruston, Louisiana. Visitation will be Sunday from 1:00 PM until service time. Burial will follow in Forest Lawn Cemetery under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Vanelle was born on July 29, 1936, in Springfield, Tennessee, and was raised in Shreveport, Louisiana. She attended Louisiana Tech University, where she earned a degree in business and went on to contribute greatly to her community.
Vanelle was married to the love of her life, Clarence Marshall Bice, M.D., with whom she shared 65 wonderful years of marriage. Together, they built a life filled with love, faith, and family. Vanelle was not only a loving wife but also a devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a treasured friend. Her kindness and generosity touched the hearts of everyone she met.
Vanelle’s love of reading, cooking, traveling, and spending time with her family were among her greatest joys. Mom also liked to try to fish, though she was never really good at it, but it was always a fun, family-filled experience.
Vanelle is survived by her husband, Clarence Marshall Bice, M.D.; sons, Matt Bice (Tulsi), Robert Bice (Heather), and Tom Bice (Pam); six grandchildren, Damien, Victoria, Tressa, Alexander, Alex and Londyn as well as two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, O. W. and Tula Widick; her sister, Lynelle Widick; and her son, Brett M. Bice.
Vanelle’s warmth, strength, and unwavering love for her family will be deeply missed but forever cherished by all who knew her. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Shriners Children’s Hospital or First United Methodist Church of Monroe, Louisiana.
Details: Notice is hereby given that the Lincoln Parish Multi-Jurisdictional Task Force has seized as the results of drug crimes, and the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office will offer for sale the following vehicles:
ITEM # VEHICLE DESCRIPTION VIN NUMBER
1 2010 Toyota Matrix
2T1KU4EE2AC382208
2 1998 GMC Suburban
1GKEC13R9WJ710213
3 2010 Nissan Altima
1N4AL2AP3AN481620
4 1999 Honda Accord
JHMCG5642XC039938
5 2011 Infiniti G37
JN1CV6ARXBM410415
6 2004 Honda Accord
1HGCM82794A019741
7 2009 Chevrolet Pickup
3GCEC23059G208369
8 1995 Buick LeSabre
1G4HP52L9SH429740
9 2008 Cadillac DTS
1G6KD57Y08U169657
10 1999 Buick Century
2G4WS52M7X1516951
11 1997 GMC Yukon
1GKEC13RXVJ721008
12 2008 Chevrolet Silverado
3GCEK13MX8G172998
Notice is further given that the above described items are offered for sale to the highest bidder or bidders submitting sealed bids for the purchase of said items. Bidders must bid on each item separately, and each bid must be submitted in a separate envelope. Sealed envelope shall have the opening date on its face, with sufficient reference to identify bid, giving the item description and VIN Number being bid on and referencing item number. Bid forms may be obtained from the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office at 161 Road Camp Road, Ruston, Louisiana. Bids will be received in the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office, Civil Division, Lincoln Parish Courthouse, 100 West Texas Avenue, Ruston, Louisiana, until 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at which time they will be opened and publicly read.
The following special conditions shall prevail:
A. The above items will be sold (as is – where is) based entirely on the personal inspection and/or opinion of the purchaser and without warranty or guarantee of any kind on their actual working condition.
B. Bids in an amount less than minimum bid values stated will not be considered.
C. Payment must be received before any items are removed. Successful bidders must remove items within ten (10) days of the bid award.
D. Items can be inspected at 167 Haddox Road, Ruston, LA on March 17 and 18 between the hours of 9:00 am and 4:00 pm.
E. For more information, contact Brad Wall at (318) 251-7600.
The Sheriff’s Office reserves the right to reject any or all bids for just cause.
The Grambling State University Police Department confirms that arrest warrants have been signed by a district judge following the identification of suspects involved in an isolated firearms-related incident that occurred on campus Wednesday near residential dorms.
The Grambling State University Police Department has worked diligently to investigate the incident and quickly identify those responsible: Travonte Spears, Norris Kelly, and J’Quarrius Brown. Spears, Kelly, and Brown are strongly urged to turn themselves in to authorities immediately.
“Grambling State University prioritizes the safety and well-being of its students, faculty, and staff,” said Chief Operating Officer Penya Moses. “We are committed to maintaining a secure campus environment and will continue working closely with Chief Rodney Demery, GSUPD, and our law enforcement partners to bring these individuals into custody. We appreciate the ongoing support from all law enforcement agencies that responded to our campus today.”
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of these individuals is asked to contact the GSUPD at (318) 274-2222 or their nearest local law enforcement agency. These individuals are considered armed and dangerous.
The Lincoln Parish Journal is providing our local schools with an opportunity to submit nuggets from what’s going on at their respective schools in order to get more information out on their students, faculty and staff. The information below comes directly from those schools. Any school wishing to provide content each week can email at hannalsingh@gmail.com
High Schools
Ruston
It’s a busy week in Bearcat Nation! Today and tomorrow (3/14 – 3/15) softball will travel to compete in a tournament at
Tonight (3/14), baseball will play Natchitoches Central at 6:00 pm!
Saturday, Baseball will play Ouachita Parish at 2:00pm for their Senior Day matchup! March 18th, softball will play Neville; JV at 4:30 pm and varsity at 6:00 pm! Golf competes in a 9 hole tournament Tuesday at Frenchman’s Bend.
March 20th RHS Baseball is hosting a Bearcat Buddy night at 6:00 pm at our home field! Come out and show your support!
Congrats to our teacher of the week, Ms. Benefield has been teaching for 27 years, with this being her 9th at RHS. Ms. Benefield recently graduated with her Master’s in Ed Leadership and is currently working on getting 18 hours of graduate level math classes so that she can teach a class or two at Louisiana Tech. Thank you for all you do for RHS and our students.
Middle Schools
A.E. Phillips Middle School
Bullpup Broadcast Field Trip
Our Bullpup Broadcast team had a great time touring KTBS on Thursday, February 27th. Thank you to the KTBS 3 News team for taking the time to visit with our students and for showing them a behind the scenes look at the broadcasting world.
Big/Little Mentor Program
Each year our 8th grade students and Kindergarten students are grouped together for our Big/Little Mentor Program. This past meeting our 8th graders planned fun activities with their favorite memory from Kindergarten PE: the parachute! A fun time was had by all students, young and old!
Gifted Students Attend the SeaPerch Competition
We are proud of our students Maryam Wassi and Nyah Metoyerwho were selected to participate in the annual SeaPerch competition. These ladies worked hard and represented our school well. Thank you to Mrs. Wick for providing this opportunity for our students.
Spring Choir
On March 12th, our Spring Choir provided our parents and students with a beautiful concert. The songs they shared with us were also the songs they performed the following day at the Southern Choral competition where they received a rating of Superior! We are so proud of these students and music teachers for the hours spent preparing for the competition.
Elementary Schools
A. E. Phillips Elementary
First Grade Play
Mrs. Hunt and Mrs. Spillers’ first grade classes did a fantastic job as they presented the musical “Pajama Party”. We are thankful to have such a wonderful music program led by Mrs. Miller and her clinical resident, Miss Heiden, who took lead in directing this production. Both classes did a great job singing and dancing! Thanks also to the team of parents who decorated the stage for the program.
Lincoln Parish Elementary Fitness Meet
A huge shoutout to our AE Phillips representatives—Nola Costanza, Elliott Martin, Turner Kilpatrick, and Cooper Powell—for their hard work and determination at the Parish Fitness Meet this past Thursday. We’re proud to have placed 3rd overall as a team! Way to go, AEP
First Grade Food Fest and Mardi Gras Parade
We let the good times roll at the first grade Ca C’est Bon Food Fest and Mardi Gras parade! First graders have been learning all about Louisiana and spent Friday afternoon visiting food stations of Louisiana cuisine! A special thanks to Mrs. Hunt and Mrs. Spillers for an amazing unit on all things Louisiana. Thank you also to our amazing parents who planned and prepared the food fest booths and thank you to Krewe of Pomona’s Queen Carmen Johnson for serving as our grand marshal. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
Choudrant
Friday night, 3rd- 5th grade girls at Choudrant Elementary became Forensic Scientists, solving challenges to “break out” and move on to Drone Wars! They also heard from Miss Louisiana Teen, Melissa Le, who shared her inspiring STEM to Bloom platform with students.
Hillcrest Elementary
Hillcrest Hall of Fame students for the month of February were:
First Grade: Charity Boney, Zamari Moss, NiayelFonteno, Santiago Huerta, Caleb Dellucci, Kori Pringle, Mary Jane Cano, Jayden Goldsmith, ArayahEiskina, and Penny Black.
Second Grade: Kenedi Clarkson, Ty Roberts, Jasmine Calhoun, Ellis Bishop, Dakota Otwell, William Martinez, Benjamin Graham, May Mya, Sophia Fowler, Nevaeh Lockhart, Cannon Smith, and Chase Taylor.
STEM Night was a hit! Many families came out to enjoy time with each other building and creating STEM projects including lava lamps, a Mardi Gras bead challenge, Mardi Gras masks made with symmetry, and Mardi Gras Mosaics made with recycled materials.
For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox.Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
The Gregg Phillips State Farm Agency is proud to recognize Carley Carter from Ruston Junior High School as their Good Neighbor of the Month winner for March 2025.
Carley was nominated by Ruston Jr. High administration and teachers because of her dedication to serving her school and community.
Carley has given back so much to our community. She has worked with Weekend of the Cross to help paint and seal porches and wheelchair ramps. Carley has also organized the shell at the CCA pantry. While at Ruston Jr. High School, she has helped with Buddy Ball and assisted RJHS with Special Olympics at Louisiana Tech. Carley was one of the first students to volunteer when Ruston Junior High started Bearkit Buddies.
Carley has a passion for helping special needs students not only at her school but also in the community!
Gregg Phillips State Farm recognizes a student each month in Lincoln Parish who has dedicated their time and talents to bettering our community and for being the example of what a Good Neighbor is all about.
Congratulations Carley on this achievement and thank you for all that you do to better our community.
A Ruston man is in custody after he allegedly attempted to kill his girlfriend last week in an encounter at a West Barnett Springs Avenue apartment.
Ruston Police arrested Christian Jonathan Diaz, 26, on a warrant Sunday after he was discharged from a Monroe hospital for reported self-inflicted wounds.
RPD received a 911 call from a child early Saturday morning. When officers arrived at the scene, the victim said she awoke to find Diaz standing over her. According to police, Diaz produced a knife and threatened to kill the woman.
When officers confronted Diaz, he allegedly turned the knife on himself. Diaz was taken first to Northern Louisiana Medical Center and later transferred to Ochsner LSU Health Center in Monroe..
Diaz was booked into the Lincoln Parish Detention Center Sunday afternoon for attempted first degree murder, aggravated battery, domestic abuse aggravated assault, and four counts of resisting an officer.
Bail had not been set as of Thursday morning with a Gwen’s Law hearing pending.
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.
Early voting for the Saturday, March 29, 2025 Municipal Primary Election will begin next week.
Early voting is March 15-22, excluding Sunday, March 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Voters should bring an ID with them to vote. Examples of acceptable ID include a Louisiana driver’s license, Louisiana Special ID card, a generally recognized picture identification card with name and signature such as a passport, or a digital license via LA Wallet.
The deadline to request an absentee ballot is March 25 by 4:30 p.m. for anyone other than military and overseas voters. You can request an absentee ballot online through the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Voter Portal or in writing through your Registrar of Voters Office.
The deadline for a registrar of voters to receive a voted absentee ballot is March 28 by 4:30 p.m. for anyone other than military and overseas voters.
On election day, Saturday, March 29, the polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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.
Ruston Police arrested a local man Sunday after he was allegedly involved in a domestic abuse incident with a family member.
D’Nihan Ethan McGee, 23, was arrested near his Beacon Light Road residence on March 9 after a family member reported he caused a disturbance and threatened her with a broom handle.
The victim said McGee was upset over looking for his phone and grabbed a broom handle and waved it around making threats. The victim said she said she thought McGee was going to strike her with the broom handle to she raised her arms to protect herself. When McGee dropped the broom handle, the victim called 911 but McGee reportedly took her phone away from her.
The victim was able to retrieve the phone, and McGee left the residence walking. Officers located him and asked for identification. McGee gave his name as “Red.”
McGee was arrested for domestic abuse battery, simple assault, simple robbery, and resisting an officer by giving false information. His bail was set at $20,000.
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.
Cedar Creek picked up back-to-back wins this week as the Cougars (7-11, 1-0) defeated Jonesboro-Hodge 16-0 Wednesday and Beekman Charter 9-3 on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the Cougars opened up district play with the one-sided victory over Jonesboro-Hodge as Creek erupted for 14 runs in the bottom of the third inning.
Ryan Coleman had a two-hit performance while Kade Luker, Connor Yates, Aidan Crosby, Brett Bell, Gavin Hall, Drew Wade, and Kaleb Negrotto each registered one hit. Wade had two RBI.
Cedar Creek registered 12 stolen bases in the win.
Hall picked up the win, tossing three scoreless innings while striking out seven and allowing just two hits.
“It was good to get things back in the win column especially with it being a district game,” said head coach Chad Yates. “Hall pitched great and competed in the strike zone. Our hitters, who have been struggling of late, were able to put some good swings together and ran the bases well.”
In Thursday’s win over Beekman Charter, Micah Taylor and Negrotto each registered two hits as the Cougars scored at least one run in all six frames. Creek scored one run in the first, fourth and fifth innings and two runs in the second, third and sixth frames.
Luker, Bell, and Eli Slocum all recorded hits as Cedar Creek once again registered 12 stolen bases in the victory. Luker and Yates led Creek with two runs scored while Crosby, Bell, Negrotto, Slocum and Hall each had one RBI
Slocum picked up the win, allowing three runs — two earned — one four hits and four walks with six strikeouts. JB Robinson tossed one scoreless frame, striking out one.
MONROE, La. — Ruston High sophomore John Parker Moak went 4-for-4 at the plate Thursday night, helping the Bearcats (11-6) get to a 12-6 win in the 2025 District 2-5A opener over Ouachita Parish High School on the road.
The win for Ruston matches the Bearcats’ win total from last year with a little less than half the schedule remaining to be played in the season.
Ruston opened up with a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, with sophomore John Parker Moak hitting a one-out fly-ball double into center field to score both senior Peyton Martin and freshman Dalen Powell. Senior Jake Tyler would single in the next at-bat to score Moak and give Ruston its 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the first.
”Moak is starting to swing the bat really well for us,” Ruston High Head Coach Bryan Beck said. “It’s really good for us to have another good lefty bat in the lineup. Tyler had a good night and produced for us, too. It’s good to have some guys with big-time pop getting in the lineup and producing– it will be really good for us going down the stretch.”
Ouachita responded with a run in the first and three more in the bottom of the second inning to take a 4-3 lead.
The Bearcats, however, would put together a five-run inning in the top of the third to go up 8-4. Tyler added another two-RBI single to start the scoring, bringing in both junior Lander Smith and Moak to reclaim the lead 5-4. After senior Jake Simmons drew a walk on the next at-bat, sophomore Dillion Williams tripled to right field to score both sophomore Michael Brisco and Simmons for a 7-4 lead. Finally, senior Kolby Sonnier would single to right field on a pop fly and score Williams for the 8-4 lead.
The Bearcats would get another run in the top of the fourth after Simmons doubled to right field to score Moak and put Ruston up 9-4.
After scoreless innings by both teams in the fifth and sixth innings, Ruston added three more in the top of the seventh inning, beginning with a single by junior Jackson Lee to right field, scoring senior Caleb Hampton from third base. After senior Carter Love stole third base in the next at-bat, Martin would hit a sacrifice fly to score love and put Ruston up 11-4. Lee would then score on a wild pitch in the following at-bat for Ruston, giving Ruston a 12-4 lead.
Ouachita would get two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but it would not be enough as Ruston would get the 12-6 win.
Moak led Ruston with his four hits and two RBI’s which included two doubles, while Tyler added three RBI’s on two hits.
Despite the great run production for Ruston, Beck said the pitching and defense overall was not what he would have liked to have seen after the committee of hurlers gave up nine total walks on the night.
”Senior Talan Billberry got the start and we had to pull him after the third inning,” Beck said. “We were on dirt and grass and acted like we hadn’t played on that before. We were just throwing the baseball around, not fielding it, and just put him in a bind. We just can’t do that with a senior starter like that. We have got to be better defensively for our starting pitcher.”
The Bearcats are scheduled to play Natchitoches Central tonight, which has an Alabama commit on the roster as a pitcher and Brock Laird at shortstop, grandson of longtime Ruston football coach Billy Laird and son of former coach Brad Laird.
”We’ll have our work cut out for us — Natchitoches Central is really good,” Beck said. “They’ve got a really good baseball team. We should have a playoff atmosphere here tomorrow night, and we need to be really ready to play and execute in all phases to have a chance to win.”
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.
