It is with deep sadness and love that we announce the passing of Juanita Benson Hinton, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend. She passed away peacefully on August 26, 2025, at the age of 93.
Juanita leaves behind a beautiful family to cherish her: daughter Diana B. Hudnall of Shreveport, LA; son Mike Brown (Kay) of Bernice, LA; grandchildren Jason Brown (Julie), Jeff Brown, and Robert “Matt” Hudnall (Ellie); great grandchildren Luke Brown, Kaylee Brown, Stella “Rae” Hudnall, and William “Rhett” Hudnall; three great-great grandchildren; and her sister Clarine Woodard, who will miss her fiercely.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband Patrick R. Hinton; her grandparents who raised her—Martha and Que Benson of Sarepta, LA; her mother, Florence Benson Smith; her sister, Billie Jo Lopez; and cherished grandson, William “Billy” Hudnall. We take comfort in knowing she has been reunited with them in Heaven.
Juanita poured her heart into her work as the Environmental Services Director at Springhill General Hospital, Live Oak Nursing Home in Shreveport, LA, and The Baptist Retirement Home in Arcadia, LA, where she eventually retired. She was renowned for her delicious homemade meals, especially her banana pudding, tea cakes, pies, cakes, and her legendary chicken and dressing. Rarely did she follow a recipe—her meals were always made with love and often from scratch.
Her last chapter at Alpine Rehabilitation Center was pure Juanita—as the reigning Mardi Gras queen and bingo champion, she welcomed new families with open arms, still playing caregiver and cheerfully nudging the staff to fix things, thanks to her years of working in hospitals and nursing homes. Juanita would often laugh and say, “They are so good to me!” Watching birds and hummingbirds from her window brought her joy, and she beamed with gratitude when the staff kept her feeders full. That was Juanita—A spitfire with her quick wit and loving nature.
While we will deeply miss her, we know her laughter, love, wisdom, and fiery spirit will live on in all who had the privilege of knowing her. There will be a private graveside and interment to celebrate her life at Wesley Chapel Cemetery on Friday, August 29, 2025, at 10am.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Methodist Children’s Home of Ruston, LA, or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital honoring Juanita’s loving spirit.
Juanita has gone to her eternal rest, but her unapologetic nature, laughter, love, and cherished recipes will live on in our hearts.
Elvin Williams, Jr. Wednesday 06/13/1951 — Sunday 08/24/2025 Visitation: Friday 08/29/2025 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Celebration of Life: Saturday 08/30/2025 11:00am, Mt. Calm Baptist Church, 566 Mount Calm Road, Simsboro Interment: Saturday 08/30/2025 Following Service, Mt. Calm Cemetery, Simsboro
Victor Velasquez Thursday 07/10/1975 — Monday 08/25/2025 Visitation: Wednesday 08/27/2025, 5:00pm to 6:00pm, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 813 Carey Ave., Ruston Mass: Thursday 08/28/2025, 12:00pm, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 813 Carey Ave, Ruston Interment: Thursday 08/28/2025 Following Service, Grambling Memorial Garden, Highway 80 West, Grambling
Zhylar R. Willis Wednesday 04/10/2024 — Monday 08/25/2025 Visitation: Sunday 08/31/2025 1:00pm to 2:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Funeral Service: Sunday 08/31/2025 2:00pm at at King’s Funeral Home Interment: Sunday 08/31/2025 Following Service, New Prosperity Cemetery, Clay
Juanita Hinton October 7, 1931 – August 26, 2025 Graveside service: Friday, August 29, 2025, 10:00 AM, Wesley Chapel Cemetery, 4330 Hwy 818, Ruston
Ora Taylor Thursday 05/13/1943 — Sunday 08/17/2025 Visitation: Friday 08/29/2025 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Celebration of Life: Saturday 08/30/2025 11:00am at King’s Funeral Home Private Burial
Curtis Howard, Jr. Wednesday 09/03/1952 — Wednesday 08/20/2025 Visitation: Friday 08/29/2025 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Celebration of Life: Saturday 08/30/2025 2:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Interment: Saturday 08/30/2025 Following Service, Macedonia #1 Cemetery, 239 Glen Road, Dubach
WEST MONROE, LA. — Don’t tell Elbert Lawrence he can’t do something.
After all, he’s a long-time lumber man turned private investigator turned…. fiddle maker?
And he’s chosen a route that dozens of “experts” told him wasn’t possible: a violin constructed completely out of sinker cypress – and from wood that’s older than Jesus of Nazareth.
Lawrence’s fiddle story starts at Duck Commander in West Monroe, La., nearly 15 years ago. At the time, Lawrence’s Specialty Lumber sold some of his lumber to the legendary family for their duck calls, and noted the type of wood they looked for when building their craft — specifically, boards that had tight growth rings for better call sounds.
It got Lawrence thinking: if that’s good enough for the Robertson’s craft, why would it’s be good for other instruments? If they could make their world-class duck calls from his wood, why not a violin?
“I contacted, probably, ten luthiers (violin-makers) all over the United States, and they all laughed at me,” Lawrence said. “They all said it couldn’t be done.”
So Lawrence needed to find a believer. Enter R.V. Couch from Jena, La., who has made his own violins, madolins and guitars for almost three decades. In fact, the violin in Northwestern State University’s Hall of Fame in Natchitoches, La., was built by Couch.
Violins have been constructed for around five centuries, starting in Italy. In that time, the construction has primarily been the same: a head made of spruce and a body of maple. Grains of the wood would have to be quarter sawed, meaning cypress is likely to split rather than be bent for the crown.
“I know Cypress wood splits really easily, ” Couch said. “I was afraid that even if I built it, would it last a week, or six weeks, maybe?”
Couch, however, and despite some of his own misgivings at the start, ended up working magic. After two years, the “Lawrence-Couch Violin” was born in 2013 — a first of its kind and modeled after the Stradivarius Model 1720. And, while most violins are a mahogany color, this one is a lighter shade of brown since the wood has been submerged underwater for millennia.
“When you’ve got wood underwater and depending on which river it’s in — that’s going to be what determines the color,” Lawrence said. “We don’t have this kind of clear sinker-cypress in Louisiana because we’ve got a lot of chemicals in our rivers. But in Florida, they don’t have chemicals, plus they have a sandy bottom, so the wood stays pretty much the same as it was whenever it first went in the water.
“And this wood came from a tree over 2,500 years old. It’s really, really old, and you have to have a magnifying glass to count the wood rings in this fiddle.”
The fiddle has been played by 2014 Louisiana State Fiddle Champion winner, 12-year-old Carson Taylor. It’s also been all over Nashville, Tenn., where it came back with a huge appraisal. Even so, Lawrence wisely isn’t selling his fiddle for a dime yet – he currently has a pantent pending on this particular violin and any string instrument built by sinker woods. Lawrence noted that he has been more willing to show his violin publicly now that in the twelve years that the violin has been built, the sinker cypress has held true with no splitting.
Kirby Rambin of Monroe, La., is a professional violin and fiddle player and played the Lawrence-Couch violin at the Q94.1 FM studios in Ruston, La. Being the pro he is, he can tell the difference between a traditional violin and the one built from sinker cypress wood.
“It has a softer tone, but it still cuts,” Rambin said. “It just has a really easy feel to it. It’s got more of a chest voice than a falsetto like other violins. It’s so much fuller and rich.”
Click the play button below to hear a sample of the Lawrence-Couch violin by Rambin.
Ruston Police officers arrested a Choudrant man on charges of home invasion and outstanding warrants.
On Aug. 23, officers were dispatched to South Trenton Street in reference to an unwanted guest complaint. Officers talked to the victim, who stated Benton Bullard, 51, kicked in her front door and attacked her by striking her several times with his fist and choking her. The complainant stated that Bullard was banned from the premises but refused to listen.
A witness also said he saw Bullard kick in the complainant’s door and heard the individual yelling for help.
Bullard was located at South Trenton Street and Lincoln Avenue and was found to have criminal warrants of battery of a dating partner and unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling through RPD.
Bullard was booked at the detention center.
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.
(Fourth in a series on local recreational areas. Check our website for earlier profiles of Cook, Duncan, and Mayfield Parks)
Ruston is well known for sprawling green spaces like Cook Park, Duncan Park, and Mayfield Park—popular destinations that draw crowds for exercise, family gatherings, and community events. These larger parks often take center stage in conversations about recreation in the city, offering diverse amenities and bustling activity.
But tucked quietly into Ruston’s neighborhoods are smaller parks with a charm all their own. Sidney Smith Park, Roberts Park, and Greenwood Park may not boast the size or facilities of their larger counterparts, but they embody the neighborly spirit of Ruston, offering shaded areas to relax, wide open spaces for play, and gathering spots where families and friends can connect away from the busier hubs. Together, they remind us that sometimes the heart of a city is found not in its grandest spaces, but in the everyday parks where neighbors meet, children play, and communities grow.
These parks together offer a nice range of outdoor amenities in Ruston: from wooded serenity at Roberts, neighborhood sports at Sidney Smith, to family-friendly multipurpose spaces at Greenwood.
Roberts Park
Sometimes called “Ruston’s Lost Jewel,” Roberts Park is a tranquil, tree-studded oasis ideal for quiet relaxation or small gatherings.
The small park at 1000 East Mississippi Avenue near Ruston Elementary School features one picnic pavilion and scattered picnic areas on a heavily-shaded lot. The park is ideal for solo visitors or small groups seeking a peaceful, natural setting.
Sidney Smith Park
A neighborhood park just north of Ruston High School’s James Stadium at 600 Lee Avenue, Smith Park is popular with neighbors and college students from Louisiana Tech and Grambling State thanks to its basketball facilities. The tiny park consists of a paved parking area and one outdoor basketball court.
Greenwood Park
Greenwood Park is a ten‑acre green space on the historic site of the former Greenwood School at 1306 Cornell Avenue. Characterized by open lawns interspersed with shade trees, with a recreation center (“the Blue Building”) inside the gymnasium of the former school.
The park’s walking trail is a 1/3 mile loop. In addition to the standard playground equipment, Greenwood has a large open area suitable for football or soccer.
The “Blue Building,” the indoor recreation center, has restrooms and one basketball court.
Unlike some larger Ruston parks, the picnic pavilions and courts at these three parks cannot be reserved—all amenities are first‑come, first‑served.
All three parks follow standard city policies—no overnight stays or open fires; pets must be leashed; glass containers are prohibited. All parks are open from sunrise until sunset unless extended for special events.
If you haven’t yet seen a Ruston Community Theatre production, you are missing out on a hidden jewel of north Louisiana! With humble beginnings when founded in 1978, this dedicated theatre troupe has grown into a beloved staple of the community. RCT continues to bring quality theatrical experiences to Ruston, and the production value gets better every year. This year’s Rustonys, celebrating the season, will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28 at the Dixie Theatre.
The 47th season opened with the dark comedy The Legend of Sleepy Hollow in the fall, followed by a holiday musical classic Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. In the spring, they presented a Texas-sized comedy Southern Hospitality. The season concluded with the hit rock musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. There were also two junior shows presented, cast entirely by students 18 years and younger: C.S Lewis’s timeless tale The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe and the musical standard Singin’ in the Rain, Jr. And now, to commemorate all these shows, RCT will hold its 33rd annual RusTony Awards Celebration. This is a free event open to the public. To recap the year, photo and video montages will be presented and a few live performances.
It wouldn’t be an award show without some awards! Winners of the RusTony Awards for outstanding performances this year will be announced during the event. Performers from this past season were nominated by an anonymous committee of season members, and then voted on by the season membership as a whole. Plays and musicals are nominated in separate categories, and junior–only shows are nominated separately from shows with performers of all ages. With the amazing talent presented this year, across all shows and performers, it seems impossible to choose one above the rest! Fortunately, in past years, the spirit of comradery superseded competitiveness. It is heartwarming to hear fellow cast members cheering on their friends when they win.
A new award introduced this year is the “Heart of Community Theatre” award. Instead of a performance-based award, this one was created to recognize a performer who embodies what it means to be in community theatre. It is intended for those whose character, kindness and dedication shine brightly behind the scenes. The recipients of these awards were voted on by the fellow cast members and there will be one award given for each show of the season.
Season membership will be on sale at the RusTony Award Celebration and this is the last opportunity to get them at a 10% off discount! Prices will increase after this event. If you would like to join in the fun of voting for your favorite performer, and benefit from some other membership perks, then consider buying a season membership, which includes a prepaid pass for all the shows of the season. Memberships are on sale online, but if you have questions on what level to buy, you can discuss with an RCT representative at the event.
Don’t miss another show, and support this wonderful organization, bringing the community together through theatre. See you at the RusTonys!
The City of Ruston announces, weather permitting, that the outside, eastbound lane of W. California Ave., in the vicinity of 1609 W. California Ave., will be closed on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, beginning 7 a.m. – 1 p.m.
This closure is necessary to install water tap.
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.
Lincoln Parish Journal readers have an opportunity each week to win FREE money in the Karl Malone Toyota College Football Pick’em presented by Johnson Physical Therapy, FanBase of Ruston, and Martin Presence.
And the best part is it’s FREE … just like your subscription to the LPJ.
Bigger question. Are you ready to win $150 in cash … with the potential to make it $300 if you are perfect on the week (including predicting the No. 1 tiebreaker exactly right).
The Lincoln Parish Journal is holding the 4th Annual Karl Malone Toyota College Football Pick’em Contest presented by FanBase of Ruston, Martin Presence, and Johnson Physical Therapy.
If you live in the deep south, you know College Football is King!
Anyone is eligible to participate and each week one lucky winner will go home with a $150 cash prize (maybe $300). Each week the winner will be the participant with the best record out of 15 selected college football games (ties will be broken by two separate tiebreakers consisting of guessing the total points scored in two of our weekly contests).
The Karl Malone Toyota College Football Pick’em Contest presented by FanBase of Ruston, Martin Presence, and Johnson Physical Therapy will be conducted for 14 regular season weeks of the college season starting with Week 1 games (August 30).
There is no entry fee, just like there is no cost to SUBSCRIBE to the Lincoln Parish Journal where it will come to your inbox every weekday morning at 6:55 a.m. It takes 20-30 seconds to sign up and not much longer than that to make your picks.
All contest decisions by LPJ management are final. Weekly winners will be notified Monday and will be requested to take a photo that will run in the following week’s LPJ.
Every participant will receive a FREE subscription to the Journal, if you’re not already signed up for the easily-navigated, convenient 6:55 a.m. daily e-mail. Enjoy it all, for FREE, and enter each week’s contest. You could collect $150 each week!
Follow the Lincoln Parish Journal each morning at 6:55 right to your inbox. It’s FREE! Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
A few years ago in the back yard on a late-summer Thursday evening, I heard Friday night.
It was a tuba.
A tuba in early September means only one thing. Football.
We lived at a wiffle ball complex that we used as our house then, about a mile west of Lee Hedges Stadium in Shreveport. I guess a tuba’s voice carries at least that far.
I got back into my truck and drove toward the sound.
In the old days, autumn Friday nights meant prep football. While they still do, now there are more teams and fewer stadiums and we share, so Friday night sometimes comes early. Like on Thursday.
This is a good thing. Like hitting the Daily Double at the track. Only instead of the Daily Double, it’s the Nightly Double.
So basically we don’t have to worry about anything on a Thursday or Friday night for the next three months. We have stadium options. If you’re in Webster or Lincoln or Claiborne parishes and have a stadium or two to yourself, that’s fine too: you know you can drive to a game or, if nothing else, read about it Friday morning.
It’s a beautiful thing, how fall football takes care of you that way.
You can also hit a freshman game on a Tuesday; surely some other grade plays on Mondays or Wednesdays.
If you’re a prep football fan, your dance card’s full. By season’s end, it’ll be time to Christmas shop, and we’ll have practically sleepwalked all the way into the New Year.
Ain’t life grand?
That Thursday night I heard the first tuba of the season, I went looking for it and found it, right there at Lee Hedges as I’d figured. It was hooked onto a high schooler who could not fully appreciate, at that moment, just how lucky such a deal is. Every time I pay a light bill or a house note, I’m reminded how carefree high school was, how sweet it was to be washed along in that magical time of youthful ignorance and innocence.
What a deal.
Football nights in high school.
Dance lines. Pep squads. Friends with painted faces. Cornerbacks. Teachers. Parents. Programs. Popcorn.
The Tuba Corp.
Coaches sitting around watching, scouting, sweating, calling each other Coach, a music all its own. ’Murica! You go to ANY of these things EVER and you can practically feel the pulled hamstrings and turf toes and illegal procedure penalties hanging in the autumn air.
Green grass. White stripes. Striped shirts and whistles. Yellow flags. Orange cones. A brown ball. School colors.
And for a thousand reasons, we just all go out there and watch children play and cheer and march and grow.
The same things lead up to any of these nights, too. A pep rally. A wrapped ankle. A painted run-through sign — although there’s a 50-percent chance in these modern times that the sign will be canvas held together in its middle by Velcro so the spirit squads can use it over and over again. (I miss the paper sign and the thought of a couple of kids designing and painting a new one week after week. Old school.)
Your football team runs under the goalpost and through the sign, Velcro or paper, and it parts in the middle, like the Red Sea did for Moses and the Israelites before That Big Road Game all those years ago. Glory.
Happy Almost Autumn, Happy Jamboree this week, and Happy Season Opener soon. There’s something about those nights and stadiums and ballparks and seeing it all over and over and over again, for the first time.
Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu
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 Grambling woman was arrested last week after she allegedly caused a disturbance.
Niani C. McCoy, 28, was arrested August 20 for criminal trespass and disturbing the peace after she reportedly threatened a neighbor for allegedly having her evicted.
Grambling Police responded to B. T. Woodard Circle in response to a call from the victim, who said McCoy threatened to do her bodily harm.
The victim said she heard someone talking loudly outside her apartment and walked outside where she saw McCoy. She said McCoy said she was going get her boyfriend to fight her. The victim went back inside and called 911.
Police found several people who said they witnessed the incident. Officers found McCoy was irate and belligerent. She told officers she walked toward the victim’s apartment and called out for her boyfriend to come talk to her.
McCoy was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center.
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.
Each Monday through Friday, the Lincoln Parish Journal will post a list of non-for-profit upcoming events happening in the parish. If you would like to add your event to this list or advertise your for-profit events, please email us at lpjnewsla@gmail.com.
Wednesday, August 27 7-8 a.m.: Veterans Coffee Club (PJ’s Coffee) 11 a.m.: Technology Help Hour (Lincoln Parish Library George Byrnside Conference Room) 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome 12-1 p.m.: Rotary Club meeting (Historic Fire Station)
Thursday, August 28 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Kiwanis Club lunch and program (Trinity Methodist Church fellowship hall) 6 p.m.: Southern A’Chord Chorus rehearsal (Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 212 N. Bonner St.; open to all women singers) 6 p.m.: Rustonys (Dixie Theatre) 6 p.m.: Yoga at Lincoln Parish Library Events Center
Saturday, August 30 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 6:30 p.m.: LA Tech v. Southeast Louisiana 7 p.m.: Grambling State v. Langston
Monday, September 1 Labor Day 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome 6 p.m.: Toastmasters International meeting (Louisiana Center for the Blind, 101 South Trenton Street) 6-9 p.m.: Creative Meetups (Creatives at Work, 301 N. Trenton)
Wednesday, Sept. 3 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 12-1 p.m.: Rotary Club meeting (Historic Fire Station)
Thursday, Sept. 4 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Kiwanis Club lunch and program (Trinity Methodist Church fellowship hall) 6 p.m.: Southern A’Chord Chorus rehearsal (Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 212 N. Bonner St.; open to all women singers)
Friday, Sept. 5 10 a.m.: Master Gardener free seminar about simple irrigation for drought tolerant plants with guest speaker LSU Ag Agent John Monzingo (Lincoln Parish Library) 7 p.m.: Lincoln Prep v. Darbonne Woods 7 p.m.: Cedar Creek v. Delhi Charter
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.
Evan Bullock is one of three signal callers who is in the mix to start Saturday’s game against Southeastern Louisiana.
JOURNAL SPORTS
Louisiana Tech head coach Sonny Cumbie told media members Tuesday he isn’t quite ready to announce a starting quarterback with Saturday’s opener against Southeastern Louisiana approaching.
Tech and the Lions will kick off Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at Joe Aillet Stadium as the Bulldogs put a home opening 11-game winning streak on the line.
“I think right now we will make the decision at the end of the week,” said Cumbie, speaking to the media gaggle. “We have had 19 practices of fall camp. The three quarterbacks – Blake (Baker), Evan (Bullock) and Trey (Kukuk) — have all taken reps with the ones. We will decide that Saturday, right before kickoff.
“I am excited about all three. I think all three are really unique in their skillset. I think we can win a championship with all three … I think that’s always important. You don’t want to win a game despite someone (playing) from the standpoint of what you have to call.
“I am looking forward to seeing all three of them when they get their opportunity. I know with the players around them, they will make plays.”
Kukuk, pronounced Q-kuk, is a 6-foot-1 inch transfer from Saddleback College. The California native saw action in 21 games during his first two years of college, passing for over 3,500 yards and 39 TDs. He is a dual threat option as proven by rushing for almost 600 yards and 12 scores during the two years at Saddleback College.
Bullock started 10 games for Tech last season, passing for 2,100 yards and 14 scores while only throwing three interceptions. The 6-foot-5-inch native of Anna, Texas, earned All-CUSA Freshman Team honors. His top performance came in a win over Middle Tennessee, when he passed for 290 yard and five scores.
Baker saw action in just two games last season before suffering a broken collarbone in game two of the year against Tulsa that sidelined him for the rest of the year. The 6-foot-5-inch native of Cypress, Texas, threw for 314 yards and one score in limited action.
When asked what would be the determining factor in his decision, Cumbie pointed towards consistency.
“I think it’s consistency in terms of how they operate from an accuracy standpoint and a decision making standpoint,” said Cumbie. “The things you can judge on paper you take into account and quantify that. But I think you also quantify how does the football team rally around them. And how does the ball move, and the type of energy they operate with. All of those things factor in to it.”
The contest can be seen on ESPN+ and heard on the LA Tech Sports Network.
Louisiana Tech Golf head coach Matt Terry announced the 2025-26 schedule on Tuesday, a slate that features 12 tournaments across nine different states including the Bulldogs’ annual home event – the Argent Financial Classic – to open the season.
The Bulldogs will first tee off Sept. 7-9 when they host the Argent Financial Classic on their home course of Squire Creek Country Club in Choudrant. LA Tech will be part of a 17-team field competing in the season opener.
From there, LA Tech heads north for the next two tournaments – Highlands Invitational on Sept. 15-16 in Chicago, Illinois and the Fighting Irish Classic on Oct. 6-7 in South Bend, Indiana. The fall campaign concludes Oct. 25-26 in Loxley, Alabama at the Steelwood Collegiate.
After the winter break, LA Tech returns to action Feb. 2-3 at the Sea Best Invitational in Atlantic Beach, Florida, before heading back to Alabama for the Hal Williams Collegiate (Feb. 16-17) in Mobile.
The month of March will be busy, starting with the Louisiana Classics (March 9-10) down south in Lafayette, followed by the Linger Longer Invitational (March 20-22) in Greensboro, Georgia, and the Maridoe Collegiate (March 30-31) in Carrollton, Texas.
The regular season concludes April 13-14 at the Mossy Oak Collegiate in West Point, Mississippi, before LA Tech sets its sights on the Conference USA Championship (April 27-30) in Texarkana, Arkansas where the Texarkana Country Club will play host to the league tournament for the 11th straight year.
Ora Taylor Thursday 05/13/1943 — Sunday 08/17/2025 Visitation: Friday 08/29/2025 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Celebration of Life: Saturday 08/30/2025 11:00am at King’s Funeral Home Private Burial
Curtis Howard, Jr. Wednesday 09/03/1952 — Wednesday 08/20/2025 Visitation: Friday 08/29/2025 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Celebration of Life: Saturday 08/30/2025 2:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Interment: Saturday 08/30/2025 Following Service, Macedonia #1 Cemetery, 239 Glen Road, Dubach
Andrea Claire Winter Norred June 15, 1943 – August 20, 2025 Visitation: Tuesday, August 26, 2025, 5:00PM – 7:00PM, Kilpatrick Funeral Homes; 209 N Bonner Ruston Service: Wednesday, August 27, 2025, 1:00PM, Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 2510 Emerson St., Monroe
Courtesy Louisiana Tech University Communications Additional Reporting by Kyle and Judith Roberts
RUSTON, La. — In a landmark collaboration set to transform the region’s economic landscape, Louisiana Tech University, Radiance Technologies, Louisiana Economic Development (LED), and the Louisiana Tech University Foundation announced plans for Radiance Technologies’ secure microchip packaging facility focused on advancing national security and innovation.
The new production facility is expected to be more than 40,000 square feet and will be developed by the Louisiana Tech Foundation on land provided by the City of Ruston located north of the Ruston Sports Complex. The facility and equipment investment is expected to exceed $80 million. Furthering the state’s mission to enhance and diversify economic development throughout the state, Radiance Technologies is anticipated to create 150 new jobs with an annual payroll of $12.7 million by FY ‘32.
“This partnership is something you dream of,” Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker said. “We’ve been working on this for four years, and it finally was announced today. I’ve just had chill bumps thinking about it because it’s huge. We’ve already had companies calling saying that if Radiance comes (to Ruston), then they want to be near them. This is a testament to the people of Ruston allowing us to pass “The Moving Ruston Forward” that has put us in this position for strategic growth. And this microchip facility is going to be unbelievable.”
“North Louisiana has answered the call to defend our nation for generations, and today we carry that tradition forward with this landmark investment from Radiance Technologies,” Governor Jeff Landry said. “This new secure microchip facility not only strengthens our national security, it also positions North Louisiana as a hub for advanced manufacturing, bringing new jobs and technical expertise that allow us to embrace higher education partnerships and new possibilities.”
LED will support Radiance Technologies’ expansion as well as partner with the University for a multi-institutional workforce development initiative.
“Louisiana is investing in ourselves — because we know our strengths, and we know what we’re capable of,” LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois said. “By building on the expertise of our universities, the innovation of our private sector, and the determination of our people, we are not only creating opportunities here at home, we are also strengthening America’s national security and global competitiveness.”
This new endeavor marks the Huntsville-based company’s latest expansion into North Louisiana. A longtime partner of the University, Radiance is a tenant company in the Enterprise Campus at Louisiana Tech and leverages the benefits of the Innovation Enterprise, including faculty expertise and talent pipeline services, as it develops innovative solutions for defense, intelligence, and civilian customers.
“We’re thrilled to expand Radiance’s footprint in Ruston and throughout North Louisiana,” said Radiance CEO Bill Bailey. “This partnership is a win-win opportunity that will benefit Radiance, LA Tech, Ruston, and the entire state. We’re honored by the trust being placed in us and recognize what makes this region truly special. We look forward to contributing to this community’s continued growth and success.”
By entering this partnership with Radiance Technologies and LED, the University will further enhance its research initiatives, expand experiential learning, and strengthen its role as an economic driver.
“Manufacturing secure microchips in Ruston expands this region’s broad commitment to supporting national security and the Department of Defense,” Tech President Jim Henderson said. “This facility is the manifestation of Louisiana Tech’s longstanding reputation as an innovator in cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, and microelectronics. Our faculty will continue to play a significant role in Radiance’s research and development, our students will benefit from more experiential learning opportunities, and our graduates will provide the highly skilled workforce.”
The innovative partnership highlights the beneficial business environment and available resources in Ruston. Its addition will be transformative for the region, drawing talent from across the country and reinforcing the region’s strategic importance in national defense and technology.
“The City of Ruston is pleased to welcome Radiance Technologies to our Secure Business Park and to recognize the vision and leadership of CEO Bill Bailey,” Walker added. “This project is a testament to what can be achieved through strong partnerships between the University, the city, and industry. We look forward to the innovation, growth, and opportunities that Radiance Technologies will bring to our community.”
The Louisiana Tech University Foundation played a pivotal role in facilitating the agreement, aligning the interests of public and private stakeholders to ensure long-term impact. As a component of the University’s Innovation and Advancement Division, the Foundation is committed to fostering innovation and economic development through strategic investment.
“The Louisiana Tech University Foundation is proud to lead the effort bringing together such a transformational partnership around our University and one of the nation’s leading commercial defense companies,” said Dave Norris, CEO of the University Foundation and senior vice president of innovation and advancement at Louisiana Tech. “This engagement is one of the many ways our Foundation is expanding its reach and impact to seize the extraordinary opportunities in support of the vision and mission of Louisiana Tech University.”
University personnel, state and local officials, and representatives from Radiance Technologies celebrated a ceremonial groundbreaking on Monday, August 25, 2025, at the Integrated Engineering and Science Building on Louisiana Tech’s campus. Distinguished guests included Governor Jeff Landry, Secretary Susan Bourgeois, Congresswoman Julia Letlow, Louisiana Tech University President Jim Henderson, Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker, and Radiance CEO Bill Bailey.
Construction is expected to begin in spring 2026 with an expected completion in summer 2027.
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 Chief Eric Watson outlined over a dozen advancements or new initiatives at the agency since he took office in March at a “Chat with the Chief” last Monday evening.
Watson, who served as a RPD patrol officer in the mid-nineties before leaving for a 25-year career with the Drug Enforcement Administration, summarized his law enforcement career as he opened the fourth such meeting open to the public.
After retiring from the DEA and returning home to Caddo Parish, Watson heard Ruston was looking for a new top cop after the retirement of Steve Rogers. While the family was interested in moving to Ruston based on his earlier stint at RPD, Watson first shrugged off others who encouraged him to apply.
Watson came around, applied, survived the competitive evaluation process, and was selected by Mayor Ronny Walker and City Council to lead the department.
The chief spent significant time describing RPD’s staffing shortage and the challenge of finding good men and women to hire. At 48 total employees, RPD is no larger than it was when he first worked in Ruston 30 years ago.
“That’s not sustainable,” Watson said, citing population growth, Ruston’s building boom, and the rise of police calls. He said West Monroe, a city smaller than Ruston, has double the officers Ruston has.
Watson said the issue is not money but finding the right people. He said he does not hire based on what applicants look like, but is searching for those who communicate and can do the job effectively while striving for a positive interaction with the public as often as possible.
RPD has 48 total employees with only 24 patrol officers available currently to staff four shifts. Watson said in the not-so-distant future, RPD will need ten officers per shift to perform effectively.
Among the new initiatives and strategies Watson said had come to RPD since his hire were:
Chaplain Program was established with a staff member recommended for his strong faith. The program has evolved into a broader peer support group, especially for officers experiencing critical incidents.
Public Information Officer was reinstituted to address a perceived lack of transparency expressed by some members of the public and the news media.
Lieutenant Kayla Lloyd was appointed and is responsible for media releases, social media updates, and transparency outreach to help build trust with the community.
Leadership Appointments Two new deputy chiefs now oversee day-to-day operations following competitive testing. Both Dylan Castaneda and Ben Thomas previously served as RPD sergeants. Watson said he believes the two will provide the leadership and accountability to move RPD forward. Castaneda is responsible for Patrol, Criminal Investigations, and the Communications Center. Thomas will handle of number of logistical issues such as equipment, grants, policy development, and purchasing.
Lieutenant Markel Canty was appointed director of patrol. Canty has over 30 years of law enforcement experience. Lieutenant Lloyd has also been assigned to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in partnership with the Office of the Louisiana Attorney General.
Citizens Police Academy will launch September 16. The five-week program for citizens who want to learn more about how RPD works will meet one evening per week to cover various aspects of police work and department functions to increase community engagement.
Business Leader Liaison has been appointed by Watson. Russ Thompson, a reserve officer with a law enforcement background, will seek networking opportunities and expand partnerships with local businesses. Watson said the purpose of the liaison is to build a proactive relationship with businesses before incidents occur. Watson also wants to lay the groundwork for involving businesses in his proposed real-time intelligence center.
Real Time Intelligence Center is a concept Watson wants to bring to Ruston, and some funding has already been acquired. He described it as transformative for the department and the community. An RTIC integrates license plate readers, business/school/private security cameras, police in-car cameras and body-worn cameras to allow real-time remote incident monitoring. Watson describes the RTIC’s benefits as faster response times to crimes, crime deterrence, easier collection of data to solve crimes, and increased effectiveness in handling major incidents.
Chief Watson described a school shooting as an example of the center’s value. Before officers ever reach the scene, staff in the RTIC can see inside the facility through the school’s camera system and then serve as a backup to officers by viewing body-worn cameras. He touted the concept as a way to save lives and solve cases.
Officer Training develops empowerment, professional growth, improved team cohesion, Watson said. He has exhausted the budgeted funds for this fiscal year by beefing up training and is awaiting the new budget year to continue important educational efforts. The chief said the staff is hungry for increased training.
Directed Patrol Unit was created to proactively focus on emerging crime trends. Officers working the DPU detail focus solely on the current crime issue such as vehicle burglaries or disturbances at downtown bars. Scheduling is designed to have officers work when the crimes are likely to occur.
DWI Checkpoints and Patrols. After a hiatus of over a decade, patrols specifically to apprehend impaired drivers have returned to Ruston. Watson said the focus of announcing the sobriety checkpoint dates is to emphasize deterrence over arrests.
Procedural Adjustments. Watson said a formal announcement will be made soon that RPD will no longer take reports on “fender bender” parking lot accidents, citing the inordinate amount of time these calls take from the already short-staffed department. Instead, officers will respond and provide a form for drivers to exchange with one another that captures information they can forward to their insurance companies. Watson said the aim of the policy change is to free up officer time for priority calls.
Watson noted traffic enforcement is important, and officers can work an overtime program called “Safe Driver” to enhance traffic safety. Watson emphasized, however, that he has told officers tickets are not a revenue device but one of several tools to consider to correct motorist behavior. He said aggressive enforcement will continue for major violations like speeding 15 miles over the limit, DWI, and other dangerous driving.
Cold Cases. The chief said RPD does not have a cold case unit but that he is personally ensuring follow-up on cold cases and missing person cases. He has tasked investigators with a commitment to detailed communication with families in those cases and describes the agency’s new emphasis on unsolved cases of homicide or missing person as a new leadership direction. RPD is cooperating with a Lincoln Parish Journal effort to publicize these open cases through a series of articles.
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.
We southerners have quite an approach to politeness.
I guarantee an hour after you read this column, you will have been asked multiple times (and often in good faith by others) some variation of “How are you doing?” or “How’s the family?”
And, as southerners, sometimes we’re tempted to lie with a hearty “Doin’ fine!” Or “Makin’ it!” — whatever your choice is.
But this week, I’ve tried to lean into radical candor about how I’m doing — not for the sake of oversharing, but to be honest with people who, I believe, ask in good faith how I am.
The truth is, I, and our household for that matter, am/are not fine right now.
On Wednesday, Aug. 20, we got the call from the vet every pet owners fears when they’ve left a sick pet overnight: “Bexley didn’t make it.”
Our four-and-a-half-year-old corgi was perfectly fine one day and then gone the next. It’s a gut punch that has rippled over the last few days, even when it seems like all is okay for a few hours at a time.
A quick caveat — I’m probably the least animal loving person in my house. Not that I wished ill on my pets (I’ve made jokes at their expense (please forgive me, Vicki)), but our animals have rarely pulled any significant emotion from me.
But boy — this one was different.
Bexley was, for all intents and purposes, a velociraptor as a puppy. She was mean, hyper, and aggressive. Corgis are bred as herding dogs — their natural instincts are to keep little mammals in line and corralled in the herd. And when the little mammals were your seven- and four-year-old daughters at the time, well, there were a lot of bloody ankles, cheeks, and noses because Bexley was a cute little terrorist.
During this time, I swore to my family (and myself) that no matter what, we’re not giving up on her. And thanks to some excellent training from Sharon St. Andre that my darling wife implemented at home, Bexley started to figure it out. It took lots of patience, but we established the needed hierarchy in our house: Judith was the Alpha, I was the best friend, Alice was her peer, and Penny was beneath her. And it remained that way all to the end.
But she eventually figured it out. She started calming down and lounging around the house or splooting on the floor with a happy rawhide. She turned into the dog we knew she could be: a cuddler who just wanted scratches and belly rubs. She was a good doggy.
The day before she died was just a run of bad luck. Appointments, school — you name it. We just didn’t catch whatever was going on in time before we saw that it was time to rush her to the vet. And likely, the worst part was the a glimmer of hope that night. Thanks to the hard work from Dr. Sexton and his staff, Bexley had a chance. Her vitals stabilized, and we knew that she needed to stay overnight there in a familiar setting. While none of us slept well that night, we at least were bullish that she would recover.
Judith got the call while I was waiting to drop my oldest off at school in car line. When Judith didn’t immediately call me back, my stomach knotted. I knew before I even heard her answer the phone.
Our 15-year-old chihuahua walked into the woods four years ago and I didn’t shed a tear. Our outdoor cat Apollo lived for 12 years (unheard of for an outdoor cat) before she disappeared for good last summer. Emotions totally in check.
But Bexley somehow was different. Maybe it’s the eight-plus years we’ve been robbed by some random toxin we’ll never identify (believe me, we’ve looked inside and outside for four solid days). Maybe it’s the hurt it’s causing my wife and kids. Maybe it’s just how randomly grief attacks us all — we may think we have it all together only to find ourselves crying at the leash hanging on a doorknob or the empty crate you give away as a donation. Grief attacks our autonomic system, meaning we have little to no control over it, despite thinking we’re unaffected.
So it’ll likely be a few more days of not being “just fine,” as is my normal answer when politely asked how I’m doing. One day, we’ll all be fine again, but until that time comes, we’ll keep putting one foot in front of the other. Together, as a family.
Our family wants to thank the staff at Sexton Animal Health Clinic in Ruston for loving Bexley until the very end.
Lincoln Parish Journal readers have an opportunity each week to win FREE money in the Karl Malone Toyota College Football Pick’em presented by Johnson Physical Therapy, FanBase of Ruston, and Martin Presence.
And the best part is it’s FREE … just like your subscription to the LPJ.
Bigger question. Are you ready to win $150 in cash … with the potential to make it $300 if you are perfect on the week (including predicting the No. 1 tiebreaker exactly right).
The Lincoln Parish Journal is holding the 4th Annual Karl Malone Toyota College Football Pick’em Contest presented by FanBase of Ruston, Martin Presence, and Johnson Physical Therapy.
If you live in the deep south, you know College Football is King!
Anyone is eligible to participate and each week one lucky winner will go home with a $150 cash prize (maybe $300). Each week the winner will be the participant with the best record out of 15 selected college football games (ties will be broken by two separate tiebreakers consisting of guessing the total points scored in two of our weekly contests).
The Karl Malone Toyota College Football Pick’em Contest presented by FanBase of Ruston, Martin Presence, and Johnson Physical Therapy will be conducted for 14 regular season weeks of the college season starting with Week 1 games (August 30).
There is no entry fee, just like there is no cost to SUBSCRIBE to the Lincoln Parish Journal where it will come to your inbox every weekday morning at 6:55 a.m. It takes 20-30 seconds to sign up and not much longer than that to make your picks.
All contest decisions by LPJ management are final. Weekly winners will be notified Monday and will be requested to take a photo that will run in the following week’s LPJ.
Every participant will receive a FREE subscription to the Journal, if you’re not already signed up for the easily-navigated, convenient 6:55 a.m. daily e-mail. Enjoy it all, for FREE, and enter each week’s contest. You could collect $150 each week!
Follow the Lincoln Parish Journal each morning at 6:55 right to your inbox. It’s FREE! Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
On August 24, 2025, at approximately 3:30 p.m., Detectives with the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Investigations were requested by the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office to investigate a deputy-involved shooting that occurred on Interstate 49 near Louisiana Highway 509.
Detectives were working to process the scene and gather further information.
One subject was shot and had been pronounced dead. No deputies were harmed during the incident. This is an active investigation; further information will be released when it becomes available.
Anyone with information and/or pictures and video is urged to share that information with LSP Detectives. You may anonymously report information through the Louisiana State Police online reporting system by visiting lsp.org and clicking on Report Suspicious or Criminal Activity, or by calling the LSP Fusion Center Hotline at 1-800-434-8007.
