---

Click the three bars in the bottom corner and select “With Radar” to see current precipitation and storms in your area.

Audrey Freeman    
Friday 07/29/1960 — Wednesday 11/12/2025      
Celebration of Life: Saturday 11/22/2025 11:00am, County Line Baptist Church, 7246 Highway 146, Ruston    
Interment: Saturday 11/22/2025 Following Service, Ebenezer Cemetery, Parish Road 214    
Ruston    

Tewana Younger    
Thursday 10/28/1965 — Monday 11/10/2025       
Celebration of Life: Saturday 11/22/2025 1:00pm, Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 521 Mt. Olive Church Road, Grambling    
Interment: Saturday 11/22/2025 Following Service, Grambling Memorial Garden, Highway 80 West, Grambling    

Deacon Aaron Austin, Jr. 
Wednesday 02/17/1932 — Sunday 11/16/2025  
Family Gathering: Saturday 11/22/2025 4:00pm at King’s Funeral Home 
Visitation: Sunday 11/23/2025 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home 
Funeral Service: Monday 11/24/2025 1:00pm, Miracle Temple Church of God in Christ, 1405 South Farmerville Street, Ruston 
Interment: Monday 11/24/2025 Following Service, Kilpatrick Serenity Garden, 8729 Cypress Street, West Monroe 

Gwendolyn Fay Diamond 
Saturday 08/27/1955 — Monday 11/17/2025 
Visitation: Wednesday 11/26/2025 11:00am to 1:00pm, New Hope Baptist Church, 204 W Vaughn Ave., Ruston 
Life Celebration: Wednesday 11/26/2025 1:00pm, New Hope Baptist Church, 204 W Vaughn Ave., Ruston 
Interment: Wednesday 11/26/2025 Following Service, St. David Cemetery, Vienna 

Christopher Joseph Womack 
November 18, 1971 – November 18, 2025 
Funeral Service: Saturday, November 22, 2025, 10:00 AM, Temple Baptist Church, 1515 South Service Road, Ruston 
Cemetery Committal: Saturday, November 22, 2025, 11:00 AM, Kilpatrick’s Memorial Gardens, 1270 HWY 544, Ruston 

---

by Wesley Harris

Ruston Police Chief Eric Watson is making it clear the city is facing serious shortfalls in police staffing—not just in numbers, but also in the quality and readiness of candidates. As Ruston grows, so do public safety demands. Watson and his command staff believe the current status quo is not sustainable.

RPD has roughly 48 employees. That number has not changed in 30 years despite significant increases in population, construction, and criminal activity. Of those 48, only about 24 patrol officers are available to staff four shifts. Two night shift teams and two day shift teams provide 24-hour coverage. Watson says that isn’t nearly enough patrol officers to respond effectively to public safety issues.

---

Watson estimates that in the near future, the department will need about ten officers per shift to operate effectively. Currently, the numbers fall far short of that.

RPD’s high standards is manifested in low numbers of new hires. Watson has conducted numerous preliminary interviews of prospective officers, but most do not result in a new hire. He won’t hire just anyone.

“I ask candidates eight questions in a preliminary interview,” Watson said in a recent interview. “I tell them there is no ‘right or wrong’ answers. I’m mainly checking their ability to communicate.”

In one hiring phase, Watson interviewed 19 applicants with his eight questions and only recommended one to continue in the evaluation process.

RPD found many applicants had difficulty communicating with some unable to complete a written paragraph.

Recruiting to law enforcement is a national issue. Some agencies that were requiring college degrees have backed off that requisite to be able to address severe understaffing. Others have lowered age requirements or loosened standards on past drug use, poor driving records, and criminal histories to fill positions.

Working in law enforcement in any community is increasingly a difficult sell. Pay differentials, expectations of public criticism, and risk are all factors. Even when compensation is competitive, potential recruits may be deterred by perceptions of the job, the work environment, and public scrutiny. RPD leadership says it’s not about money alone—it’s about finding people of strong personal character who communicate well, can do the job under stress, and interact positively with residents.

Watson said the department is working on a salary survey, analyzing what cities comparable in size and population to Ruston are paying and what incentives are provided beyond the base pay. He hopes the survey will be completed in a matter of days.

Ruston’s growth is putting extra strain on a department. Maintaining the same number of officers that patrolled the city 30 years ago is not a recipe for keeping crime low, Watson said. The community’s expectation for better policing—more specialized units, more proactive patrols, better response time—cannot be met with current levels of staffing.

Watson said RPD’s effectiveness is affected by its ability to staff special initiatives. He is concerned the department does not have enough officers to assign staff solely to juvenile crime. Efforts like DWI patrols and directed patrol units to focus on vehicle burglaries or other crime trends are harder to sustain without enough staff. Chief Watson has said some special initiatives are being held back or scaled based on how many officers are available.

Watson hopes to add ten officers by March 1—his one-year anniversary date—to match the population growth. Mayor Ronny Walker fully supports the idea, Watson said. That won’t meet the 10-officer-per-shift minimum the chief believes the future will require but it provides flexibility to respond more effectively.

Watson believes the department is on track to meet that goal, but it’s been one step back for every two steps forward.

RPD has hired 13 in Watson’s eight months on the job, but resignations and retirements have resulted in a gain of only five employees.

So far those hiring efforts have made RPD more diverse than the average American law enforcement agency. The ratio of male to female officers at RPD is 78% to 22% compared to 87% to 13% nationally. By race, the department is 64% white, 31% black, and 5% Hispanic while the national average is 70% white, 13% black, 17% Hispanic.

Watson wants to promote Ruston and Lincoln Parish as the best place to work in law enforcement in north Louisiana.

“This is Ruston!” Watson said, “One of the benefits of working with us is living here. Our schools, our low crime rate, our quality of life, our work environment should be huge draws to Ruston. We have to promote the community as the biggest advantage of working for us.”

While money alone doesn’t solve staffing shortages, competitive pay, benefits, special incentives, better shift scheduling, and support for officers help attract and retain personnel. New deputy chiefs for different divisions, directed patrol units, more oversight of units, peer support, and chaplain resources are among the changes intended to improve efficiency and morale.

Certified officers from other agencies have expressed an interest in RPD because of those advantages, Watson said.

Building trust helps with recruitment in two ways: the department becomes more respected and people who are more community-oriented may be more likely to apply.

Opportunities to move into specialized units, leadership opportunities, cultivating employee interests can help with retention. Job rotation, which allows officers to gain skills, is a priority for Chief Watson. He notes of the eight supervisors in patrol, only one has served in criminal investigations. Expanding cross-training is a motivator and increases agency effectiveness, he says. He wants to rotate patrol officers through the Criminal Investigation Division to develop in them the same skills detectives have. But to do so, more patrol officers must be hired to be able to detach staff to temporarily transfer to CID.

Ruston is not alone in facing police staffing shortages, but leaders there argue the problem is especially acute because the department has not grown with the city. Without significant changes in how officers are recruited, supported, disciplined, and promoted—plus stronger outreach and incentives—RPD may struggle to meet community expectations for safety, responsiveness, and professionalism.

Watson and his command staff refuse to lower recruitment standards to fill positions and continue to search for the best candidates possible.

For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox. Just CLICK HERE to sign up.

 

By T. Scott Boatright

 

Approving budgets and discussing how the Lincoln Parish Library handles unattended vulnerable adults were the primary orders of business as the LPL Board of Control held its November meeting Thursday in the Jack Beard Community Room of the library.

LPL Director Jeremy Bolom said a recent incident at the library made it apparent that a policy concerning vulnerable adults should be in place so that staff members as well as patrons would know how any future such occurrences should and will be handled.

A vulnerable adult is an individual over the age of 18 who is mentally or physically challenged to a degree that may significantly impair the individual’s ability to provide adequately for their own care or manage their own behavior without assistance. 

“We had an incident where a policy like this would have been helpful when that incident occurred not only for the patron involved, and their caretaker, but also for the staff to give them something to give them guidance on how to handle it,” Bolom said.

“If you’re familiar with the unattended child policy, this is basically the same kind of policy but basically this is for an adult that cannot care for themselves.”

Bolom recommended new policy was passed by a vote of 5-0 with Board of Control trustees Jan Canterbury, Sandra Dupree, Stephanie Smith, Richard Pyles and Milton Melton all voting in favor of the proposal.

That new policy states that vulnerable adults who can understand and follow Library policies such as the Code of Conduct Policy, and that can care for themselves, are welcome to be in the library unattended.

It also states vulnerable adults will be expected to follow the library’s policies as directed by Library staff and that they should have contact information for a parent/guardian or caregiver who can assist them in an emergency. 

The policy stipulates that vulnerable adults who are unable, or unwilling, to care for themselves must have adequate supervision at all times, and that the supervision must be given by a parent, guardian, or caregiver 18 years of age or older who is responsible for monitoring the activities of, managing the behavior of, and responding to the personal needs of vulnerable adults during their library visits.

It also specifies that library staffers are not responsible for, nor liable for, the monitoring of vulnerable adults, preventing vulnerable adults from leaving the building or grounds, or monitoring the behavior of vulnerable adults while adding that staffers will reasonably attempt to contact a parent/guardian or caregiver when a vulnerable adult’s health or safety is in doubt, when behavior disturbs other library users, when actions violate any of the library’s policies, or if the parent/guardian or caregiver is not present at closing time. 

The policy states that very reasonable effort will be made by library staff to assist the vulnerable adult in contacting the appropriate responsible adult in these instances and that if no responsible adult is reached, or the vulnerable adult is not picked up within 15 minutes of library closing, the library staff may notify the police and/or an appropriate parish agency.

“I didn’t know such policies existed until doing research after the incident we had and found that there are other libraries that have this kind of policy in place,” Bolom said. 

In other business the LPL Board of Control also passed its amended 2025 budget as well as its 2026 proposed budget that will be discussed and voted on by the Lincoln Parish Police Jury during the LPPJ’s December meeting.

As far as the amended 2025 budget, Bolom said adjustments were made for areas both overspent and underspent.

“Computer software was up and insurance and security bonds were like $20,000 more than what was budgeted,” Bolom said. “Periodicals were up this year because newspaper costs have gone sky high. We dropped down vehicle maintenance to help even out the numbers as well as dropping down maintenance of equipment and buildings and grounds, where we had put $500,000 in, that number went much farther down because we didn’t get to that project just yet.

“Expenditures were less than they were the previous years.”

Bolom said that the 2026 proposed budget includes a 2.5% cost of living increase that has already been approved by the Police Jury.

“In other changes (from the 2025 budget), I took money away from materials and info services, which is basically what is called the book budget because we’re spending less money on physical materials and more money on digital materials,” Bolom said.

Bolom said he also proposed an increase in marketing funding because a tech service added in 2025 has gone well for the library.

“Periodicals were left at $45,000 just to make sure we have enough there for next year because that’s what we needed for (2025),” Bolom said. “We lose periodicals every year, but newspapers seem to be the biggest thing out of that.”

Bolom said building and grounds expenditures had been bumped back up in the 2026 proposed budgets because the new flooring project that didn’t happen in 2025 is expected to happen next year.

“We also increased the insurance and security bonds (expenditures) because they went over this year and we’re trying to make sure we have enough (expected funding) in place in case it goes over again next year,” Bolom said. 

Bolom said that he left the Event Center’s revenue at $30,000 to be able to reflect what the 2025 amended revenue ended up being while adding that he expects significant more revenue in 2026 after the LPPJ recently approved the LPL’s request to allow alcohol to be served during Events Center rentals.

“I assume we will make more (Events Center revenue in 2026), but we can always amend that,” Bolom said.

---

By Kyle Roberts

RUSTON, La. — The Louisiana Department of Education released its 2025 School Performance Scores this morning with Lincoln Parish earning its third “A” rating in a row dating back to 2023.

”This achievement reflects the combined efforts of our teachers, students, families, and community partners,” Lincoln Parish School Board Superintendent Ricky Durrett said. “Our strategic plan gives us a path forward, and we are already seeing the impact of that work this school year with our beginning of year DIBELS results.”

Lincoln Parish’s 92.3 score places it at No. 10 overall in the state, and with the LDOE’s revised performance results under the new accountability system, Lincoln Parish earned a 50.8 rating which ranked No. 8 statewide.

The parish saw both Simsboro School, Glen View, and Ruston Elementary moved upward in grades — RES moved from 74.8 in 2024 to 75.4 in 2025 for B rating, and Glen View went from 71.2 to 75.7 for a B. Simsboro went from 87.7 last year to 94.6 to an A today.

“Simsboro is a very challenging school with it being Pre-K all the way to 12,” Durrett said. “But it’s also a great opportunity for kids and teachers to see the full effect of a child that enters in Kindergarten and walks across the stage as a senior. And for them to move to an A rating, it’s a great accomplishment because it entails every grade doing quality things to educate kids and provide a well-rounded education. We couldn’t be more proud.”

A few schools saw dips in scoring, including Dubach Elementary which moved back to a C with a 69.1 score. Ruston High retained an A rating at 100.6 after scoring 107.5 in 2025.

“We do recognize a few of the places (where scores) slipped, and even before scores had come out, we’ve addressed some of these,” Durrett said of Ruston High’s score. “I still think Ruston ranks high in the state as far as high schools go. It’s a great place for kids to get an education. And at Dubach, we do know that teachers and administration and students are working hard up there. It’s still a great education, but they have so few testers that any slight change does swing that score up or down. But that community is working hard to get kids well-prepared when they go to I.A. Lewis. It’s still a great school and atmosphere, and we look to see them rebound from that certainly next year.”

See the image below for the full list of school scores.

 

By Kyle Roberts

RUSTON, La. — Hosting the playoffs in Ruston has become quite familiar over the past few seasons for the Ruston Bearcats.

After securing their fourth-consecutive first-round bye in as many seasons (three of which Ruston earned the top overall seed), the Bearcats (8-2) will now host the No. 16 Westgate Tigers (7-4) out of New Iberia — one of the hottest teams in the state — in a setup eerily similar to the 2023 playoffs where Ruston survived the Tigers in the same round to eventually go on to win the school’s first state championship in over three decades.

“I mean, they were a field goal away from possibly keeping us out of a state championship,” Ruston High Head Coach Jerrod Baugh said of the Bearcats’ 20-18 win two playoffs ago. “They had some opportunities to beat us in that ball game, which would have been, obviously, very unfortunate. That lets you know how good of a football team they were then. 
I see a lot of similarities between that year and this year. They’re a team and a program that is used to playing late in the playoffs and playing for state championships — they’re not far removed from that situation. 
And so it’s not like they’re going to come up here and we’re going to catch them off guard or anything like that.”

Westgate started the season 1-4, dropping to perennial powerhouse teams such as Lafayette Christian and St. Thomas Moore before running off six consecutive wins, including over Airline last week 49-14. During that stretch, no team has scored more than 14 points on the Tigers.

The Tigers have a lot of youth coming in to The Hoss tonight — according to Baugh, the starting offensive roster has no senior starter.

“It’s a young offense, but very, very talented,” Baugh said. “They’re going to be really, really good here in the next couple of years. I think that’s probably been some of their struggle early in the year. Whenever you’re dealing with that young of a group, you’re trying to get those guys to gel early, and against a good of a schedule they played, it’s rough. I’ve been there before trying to do that, and getting (young) guys ready and get playing at that speed is a tough thing.

“Their defense has been the mainstay of what’s kept them in all of these ballgame. I think they’ll be really experienced with a talented offense. They’ll be a dangerous football team.”

For Ruston, the Bearcats are coming off the bye week after beating West Monroe for the fourth consecutive season — but unfortunately lost star sophomore running back Dalen Powell in the second half two weeks ago. Junior Kohl Gray came in to replace Powell in the middle of the third quarter for the remainder of the game, and his solid performance helped the Bearcats keep the Rebels at bay for the win. Expect, too, to see both senior Jeremiah Freeman and junior Davis DeMoss get touches, as well.

“Kohl came in and did a great job for us against West Monroe, Baugh said. “Hopefully, that’s what we continue to see out of him — he’s had a good week of practice. He’s a really hard runner; a little bit different than Dalen. But we don’t want him to be Dalen — he needs to be Kohl Gray, and I think he’ll do a great job.

“And Davis and Jeremiah will also rotate in there some. We’re have to move on, and I think the coaches have done a good job of not necessarily changing the game plan, but modifying some things according to who’s back there.”

The winner will play the winner of No. 8 Southside and No. 9 Terrebonne. Should Ruston win, it will host the quarterfinal playoff game at home.

Kickoff tonight is set for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on Q94.1 FM and streamed on BearcatNationNetwork.com.

---

A Ruston woman was arrested after she allegedly entered a student residence on the Louisiana Tech campus and was linked to numerous previous theft on campus.

Iresha M. Percy, 34, was arrested Monday morning after Tech Police received a call of a woman taking things from a maintenance worker’s toolbox.

Responding officers found Percy at a table in the courtyard of Sutton Apartments with an open can of beer. She was arguing with the maintenance employee who had reported her.

---

She was taken into custody in connection with three previous thefts on campus. An officer’s report states Percy has been seen on video taking three unattended scooters from various locations on the Tech campus on three occasions and riding away on them.

Items taken from the maintenance toolbox were found in her pockets. She appeared to be highly intoxicated and continuously muttered threats to beat or kill someone.

Surveillance video also showed Percy had attempted to enter several student apartments prior to the theft from the toolbox. She entered on apartment briefly.

Percy was booked for simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling for the student residence, theft from the maintenance tool box, three counts of theft from earlier scooter thefts on the campus in November, open container in public, and disturbing the peace by appearing intoxicated in public.

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.

By Kyle Roberts

RUSTON, La. — Tough defense and timely three-pointers: always a recipe for success on the court.

That was certainly the case Thursday night as the Ruston High Lady Bearcats (3-0) throttled future district opponent Peabody 57-25 in the Ruston High Main Gym to win their third game in four nights.

“I feel like after every game it’s the same words: defense, defense, defense,” Lady Bearcat Head Coach LaShanda Cooper said. “We’re really pushing our full-court man-to-man defense, and I just really like our resilience. We had a high intensity and a lot of energy. We were physical and that’s what I really like about our gameplay tonight.”

Ruston opened with back-to-back threes within the first minute of the ballgame — first by senior Journi Double and then sophomore Jaylen Spann to put the Lady Bearcats up 6-2 with 7:04 to go in the first.

Peabody would rally over the next four minutes to take an 11-10 lead over the Lady Bearcats with just over three minutes in the first quarter. Ruston then responded with a 10-1 run to end the quarter, which included multiple blocked shots by sophomore Adrianna Robinson and a steal-plus-layup from freshman Dakota Powell, giving the Lady Bearcats a 21-11 lead going into the second.

The Lady Horses came out firing early in the following period to score five straight points and cut the lead to 22-16 with 6:40 to go before the half. Ruston would answer with 16 unanswered points over the course of five minutes before Peabody knocked down a free throw for a 38-17 score with 1:36 on the clock. A three-pointer by senior Akierah Jones put Ruston up 41-17 heading into the halftime locker room.

Ruston’s defense would keep Peabody off the scoreboard all the way until the 1:45 mark of the third quarter, setting up a running clock scenario for the remainder of the night with Ruston up 52-19.

Powell led the Lady Bearcats in scoring with 12 points, while Jones added 10, thanks to three three-pointers in the first half. On the night, Ruston High finished with seven made baskets from behind the three-point line.

“They’re getting a feel for each other and being able to pass up good shots in order to get their teammates great shots,” Cooper said. “The selflessness they’re putting on display is pretty impressive to us. And having enough confidence to step up and shoot those shots really speaks volumes about them individually and being able to play together.”

Earlier in the week, Ruston got its first road win of the season with a 71-37 victory over the Bastrop Rams.

“After a slow start, our team found its rhythm and finished the game with a strong performance,” Cooper said of the Tuesday win. “Our focus was to push the pace and stay locked in defensively on their top offensive players. Consistent pressure created problems for them throughout the night, allowing us to control the game’s tempo. We anticipated having open shot opportunities, and our players stepped up and knocked them down when it mattered. Coming off a game the night before, then returning with this level of dominance, shows the growth and resilience of our team.”

Junior Bailee Harrison led the Lady Bearcats with 20 points, while Kearra Wilson and Jones added 13 and 11 points, respectively.

Ruston returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 29, against Oak Grove at the Origin Bank Classic, which will be held in the Thomas Assembly Center. Tip off is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

by Malcolm Butler

When Katie Hall made out an early season non-district schedule that includes its fair share of 4A and 5A opponents, she knew she would be challenging her veteran team.

On Thursday night, that challenge grew exponentially against Class 5A Natchitoches Central when junior Alivia Lee — the second leading returning scorer from a year ago — was a pregame scratch due to illness. 

So playing short-handed — depth is also one of the biggest question marks facing the reigning state champion runner-up Lady Cougars — Cedar Creek (1-1) played toe-to-toe with the Lady Chiefs 16-4 run over the final five minutes lifted Natchitoches Central to a 44-33 win at The Brickhouse.

“I feel like we are going to learn a lot from these games,” said Hall, who saw leading scorer Avery Ryan pick up three fouls in the first six minutes of the game. “I’m glad we were in this position. We need to have players step up for us. 

“Avery is going to get triple teamed (this year). If she is triple teamed then someone is going to be open. Alivia Lee was out. This may happen again. So who is going to step up for us in those moments this year.”

Creek (1-1) came out of the starting blocks fast. 

Mary Grace Hawkins hit a short corner jumper followed by a three-pointer from Arlyn Boyett as the Lady Cougars led 5-0 just over a minute into the contest. After six straight points by Natchitoches Central, Ryan hit 1-of-2 at the stripe and Taylor Martinez sliced down the lane for a layup as Creek led 8-6. Martinez then drained a three-pointer to push the advantage to 11-6.

However, Ryan was whistled for her third foul of the first quarter just seconds later, forcing her to go to the bench for the remainder of the first half. 

With the reigning District 1-1A MVP on the pine, the Lady Cougars saw Natchitoches Central outscore them 14-6 the rest of the first half as the Lady Chiefs led 20-17 at the half.

“There are a lot of good takeaways,” said Hall. “Sure. It was frustrating not to get into any type of flow offensively, but we are going to learn from tonight.”

Ryan returned to the floor in the third quarter and Hall elected to go zone to protect her post player. It worked. However, while Natchitoches Central scored only six points in the period, the Lady Cougars were only able to cut one point off the deficit. 

Turnover after turnover cost Cedar Creek as the Natchitoches Central 1-3-1 trapping defense caused the Lady Cougars trouble.

“I told them during one of our timeouts that we need to play at 80 percent with the ball,” said Hall. “I felt like we were rushing everything. It was the hype, and the energy, and the adrenaline. 

“It will be good for us in the long run to have had to feel this way and to play through that frustration. We were just out of sync because we had people playing out of position tonight.”

Despite the turnover issues, the Cougars continued to stay within striking range and when senior Caroline James drained a corner three-pointer with 5 minutes to play, Creek led 29-28. 

However, the lead was short-lived as Natchitoches Central scored less than 10 seconds later to start a game-ending 16-4 run.

“At halftime I thought we were in a good spot,” said Hall. “But we just could not figure out how to get open looks. We couldn’t get it in transition. Their length and quickness bothered us. It was good for us to see this, and tonight will make us a lot better in the long run.”

Ryan and Martinez led Cedar Creek with 10 points each. 

Anna Newton led Natchitoches Central with 22 points while Jordan McDaniel added 17.

---

by Malcolm Butler

With the game on the line in the closing minutes Thursday night, first year Cedar Creek head coach Todd Martinez put the ball in Jake Terry’s hands. 

And Terry — and his teammates — delivered.

Terry scored 11 of his game-high 22 points over the decisive fourth quarter and Cam Temple added a five points as the Cougars pulled away for a 48-39 win over Providence Classical Academy at The Brickhouse. 

“Jake proved he is a closer,” said Martinez. “We put the ball in his hands down the stretch and he delivered some big buckets. And he got his teammates involved. Cam and Rhett (Bridges) had some big shots in the fourth too.”

After Providence hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to tie the game at 27-27 at the end of three, the Cougars were finally able to find some offensive rhythm in the final eight minutes, outscoring their opponents 21-12. 

Terry scored five points in the first 60 seconds of the fourth quarter, including a conventional three-point play, and then Brett Hasty hit a layup with 6:50 to play to extend the lead to 34-27. Temple then hit a tough layup off a spin move in the lane less than a minute late as Creek started the frame on a 9-0 run.

After two free throws by Providence, Temple drained a three-pointer to give the Cougars their first double digit lead of the night at 39-29 with four minutes to play. 

“I was pleased with the growth we showed tonight, especially with discipline,” said Martinez, who picked up his first win as the Cougars head coach after coming over from West Ouachita. 

Creek kept PCA at bay as Terry hit back-to-back mid-range jumpers inside the four minute mark and then added a layup one minute later to push the lead back to 45-37. 

After a up-and-down first quarter that saw PCA score the final six points over the last 30 seconds to take a 16-13 lead, the game slowed to a crawl. The Cougars went into a zone defense in the second quarter and Providence was content to sit back with the basketball as more than 5 minutes went off the clock with a change of possession or shot attempt.

“We stayed disciplined during that quarter,” said Martinez. “I wanted to see if we would do that during the delay. I didn’t mind them eating some clock because we had one of our best defenders on the bench in foul trouble.”

Bridges hit the only bucket of the frame for either team during the second quarter as PCA held a 16-15 halftime advantage. 

The third quarter opened with Bridges converting a conventional three-point play. Two minutes later, he stole the ball and turned it into a layup for Creek that gave the Cougars a 22-16 lead with 5:25 to play in the third quarter. 

Creek led 25-18 before PCA used a 9-2 run to close the quarter and tie the game at 27-27 entering the final stanza.

In addition to Terry’s 22 points, Temple and Bridges each chipped in with nine points apiece. 

---

CLICK HERE TO PLAY

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.

_______________________

The Lincoln Parish Journal wants to thank Karl Malone Toyota, Johnson Physical Therapy, FanBase of Ruston, and Martin Presence for their title and presenting sponsorships of this year’s College Football Pick’em contest.

We also want to thank Dubach Air and Heat, Ginn’s Autobody, Hart Designs, Tanyard Creek, Charlie’s Carpet Cleaning, Hod Rod BBQ, Louisiana Orchard Realty, Ruston Athletic Supply, Walker and Co., Lulu Pearl, Rusty’s Jambalaya, Greaux the Good, Tommy’s Tees, and RightFiber for their Pick’em Partnerships within the contest. 

_______________________

Are you ready for some football?!?

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.

---

---

Loading
crossword puzzle. One moment please.

---

---

---

Click the three bars in the bottom corner and select “With Radar” to see current precipitation and storms in your area.

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. 

Friday, Nov. 22
7 p.m.: Ruston High School playoff game

Saturday, Nov. 22
7 a.m. to noon: Junior Auxiliary of Ruston Garage Sale (True Care Dental, 7412 US 80, Ruston)
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market
2 p.m.: LA Tech v. Liberty 

---

Sunday, Nov. 23
2 p.m.: Lady Techsters basketball

Monday, Nov. 24
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, Nov. 26
7-8 a.m.: Veterans Coffee Club (PJ’s Coffee)
11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome
12-1 p.m.: Rotary Club meeting (Historic Fire Station)
6:30 p.m.: LA Tech men’s basketball

Thursday, Nov. 27
Thanksgiving 

Saturday, Nov. 29
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market
Noon: LA Tech men’s basketball
1 p.m.: Grambling State v. Southern

For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox. Just CLICK HERE to sign up.

Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Louisiana Tech’s student-athletes recorded a Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 85 percent, according to the NCAA’s Graduation Success Rate data released Wednesday.

For the fourth straight year, the Bulldogs and Lady Techsters registered a GSU of at least 80 percent, coming one percentage point shy of tying last year’s all-time high of 86 percent.

LA Tech student-athletes also registered a 54 percent four-year class average and a single-year Federal Graduation Rate of 45 percent (2018-19).

“Academic success of our student-athletes is the anchor as to why we do what we do, and nothing equates to academic success like graduation,” said Vice President and Director of Athletics Ryan Ivey. “Education is something that can never be taken from you, and our continued GSR improvement is a testament to the work and effort of our student-athletes, faculty and staff. A big thanks to everyone who has helped along the way!”

The GSR and federal rate calculations measure graduation in a six-year time frame from initial college enrollment. The recent numbers released are based off student-athletes who entered Louisiana Tech in 2018.

Ten of LA Tech’s 12 athletic programs recorded at least an 80 percent GSR led by Bowling and Tennis which each had a perfect 100 score. Eight programs either tied or exceeded their GSR from the previous year.

---

---

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.

Funeral services for Mr. Billie Bob Nutt, age 91 of Arcadia, LA will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, November 21, 2025 at First Baptist Church in Arcadia, LA with Bro. Jeff Hoffman and Bro. Stephen Nutt officiating. Burial will follow in Camp Creek Cemetery in Spearsville, LA under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston, LA.

Billie Bob Nutt was born on May 3, 1934, in Spearsville, LA and passed away on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at home, in Arcadia, LA. He was preceded in death by his parents, JD and Otha Nutt, and his brother, Kenneth Nutt.

Anyone who knew Billie knew the two things he loved most: Jesus and his family. His legacy continues through his wife of 61 years, Barbara Aulds Nutt; daughter, Janet Nutt Maxwell (Gary) of Ruston, LA, daughter, Tonya Nutt Blanton (Barry) of West Monroe, LA, and son, Stephen Nutt (Katie) of Ruston, LA. Billie was “Pa” to nine grandchildren: Ashley Maxwell Napper (Adam), Haley Maxwell Turner (Casey), Melanie Maxwell Bowles (Brandon), Seth Maxwell (Ashley), Hannah Blanton Mitchell (Reuben), Sarah Blanton Smith (Jacob), Leah Blanton, Rylie Nutt, and  Morgan Nutt: and also nine great-grandchildren: Henry, Samuel, Evelyn, Andrew, Katherine, Oliver, Lottie, Lucy and Charlie. He is also survived by two sisters, Twyla Upshaw and Judy Ivey.  

Billie grew up in the Camp Creek community of Spearsville, LA. After graduating from Louisiana Tech, he joined the Army serving primarily in Germany. Upon his return he obtained his master’s degree from Louisiana State University. He married Barbara Aulds on June 13, 1964 and after the birth of their three children the family moved to Managua, Nicaragua where Billie worked with crop production.

In 1972, the family returned to Arcadia for Billie to serve as the 4-H agent and later as the Agricultural agent with the LSU Extension Service. One of his greatest joys was sharing his skills and mentoring young people through his time as an Extension Agent. He truly desired to make a positive difference in the students he helped and the people he worked with.   

During his retirement, Billie loved working in the yard and taking care of the Bienville Parish Library landscaping. He was a Master Gardener and loved sharing his knowledge and abilities with others. He and Barbara enjoyed traveling and most of all spending quality time with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Pa could always be counted on to make sure his grandkids got ice cream, that he wanted as much as them, and he lit up anytime they were around.

As a follower of Jesus Christ, Billie dedicated his life to serving others. His desire was to see others come to know Christ like he did. He was a long-time member of First Baptist Church in Arcadia, LA and was always serving humbly behind the scenes there, as well as with various Christian ministries in the area.

The family would like to extend special thanks to Bristol Hospice, specifically Deneda Vinson, Carolyn Roberson, Carla Cummings, and Margie Smith. Also special thanks to Ricky Garrett.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to First Baptist Church Arcadia. Visitation will be from 10:00 AM until service time, Friday, at First Baptist Church Arcadia.

---

Graveside services for Linda Lee Colvin, age 83, of Dubach, LA will be held at 2:00 PM, Friday, November 21, 2025 at Unionville Cemetery in Dubach, with Rev. Terry Gainey officiating, under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston, LA.

Linda was born on October 7, 1942 in New Orleans, LA to Alfred and Marie Rolling and passed away on Monday, November 17, 2025, at home in Dubach, LA surrounded by her family. She was the second of three sisters. Linda worked as both an operator at Bell South and a manager at a Kressge Retail Store until she met and married Bobby Colvin in New Orleans on May 15, 1971. The couple then welcomed their daughter, Debra Colvin on July 8, 1972. Linda made a beautiful home in Metairie, LA, raising their daughter, being active in the PTA, and regularly attending William Boulevard Baptist Church. She loved her Thursday shopping trips with best friend, Iris, going swimming at Mimi’s, and yearly vacations.

In 1994, Linda moved to Dubach, LA with her husband, to be near family, where she regularly attended First Baptist Church, doing jumbo puzzles, watching Jeopardy, and reading.  In 1998, she became a grandmother to Devora, who she loved dearly, and always cherishing their nightly phone calls.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Alfred and Marie; husband, Bobby; and younger sister, Arleen.  She is survived by her daughter, Debra; son-in-law, Timothy; granddaughter, Devora; and her older sister Bonnie.

Linda was always a woman of strong faith.

Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding”. “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct they paths”.

Philippians 4:13 ” I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me”.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”.

Visitation will be held from 12:30 PM until 1:30 PM, Friday at Owens Memorial Chapel.

---

A celebration of life for Mildred, “Millie”, Moench Tuten will be held in Burkhalter Chapel at Trinity Methodist Church on Saturday, November 22, 2025, with visitation from 2:00 PM until time of service at 3:00 PM. A Private Family interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Ruston, LA under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes in Ruston, LA.

Millie was born in Brenham, TX on January 14, 1924, and flew to Jesus on November 19, 2025, at 101 years of age. Millie was preceded in death by her husband Joe, son Allen, her parents Gus and Elsie Moench, sisters Flora Ann Moench, Kay Moench Chandler and Jean Moench White, stepson Billy Joe Tuten and his son Pat Tuten and bonus granddaughter Shannon Sumrall.

Millie is survived by Allen’s wife, MaryBelle Tuten, son Jim Tuten and wife Linda; granddaughters, Maribel Childress (Dan), Maradith Boone (Ryan), Rachel Simmons (Sean), Elizabeth Eley (Nathan), and Debbie Tuten Mangrum (Kenneth); and bonus granddaughter Sara Sumrall (RB). Millie is also survived by her much-loved great grandchildren; Mary Christine Childress Beaulieu (Gardner), Christian, Jon Alec, and Aaron Childress; Caroline, Ella and Hattie Boone; Ellen, Anna, and Jack Simmons; and James Revels Jr. (Alora), and Seth Mangram (Megan); and two great, great grandsons, Theodore Beaulieu and Easton Revels.

She is also survived by Nancy Tuten (Billy Joe), Jenifer Tuten (Pat), and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. “Just like family members” include Neill and Barbara Kirkland, James and Betsy Gouedy, and Jerry and Eliva Hilbun. In addition, there are many cherished friends here and all over Alaska who held special places in her heart and were recipients of her loving birthday cards.

Millie was loving, generous, positive, and helpful to all. She and Joe believed strongly in God, family, and love. Millie was adventurous! She met her husband, Joe, in Texas in 1942. They married after a two-month courtship and remained sweethearts for sixty-one years. They lived in forty-one towns moving with Joe’s seismograph crew all around the United States and even Havanna, Cuba. They eventually settled in Joe’s hometown of Ruston to raise their family. Millie truly loved Alaska and traveled there for twenty years on church mission trips. One very special trip was when she, Allen, and Jim attended the Iditarod dog sled race in Nome, AK.

Millie retired from Lewis & Company after thirty-four years as the “lingerie lady”. She loved her co-workers and customers. After retirement, she volunteered as a Pink Lady at Lincoln General Hospital for 20 years. Millie loved Trinity Methodist Church and took an active part in many church activities. She was given the special Mission Recognition Award by the United Methodist Women. She was a proud member of the Littera Club and was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International. Millie’s competitive spirit and love of bridge, any card games, and dominoes was well known to her family and “very special” card playing buddies of many years. She was also an avid bird watcher and loved to read any Alaskan books.

Pallbearers will be her “boys”; Christian Childress, Jon Childress, Aaron Childress, Seth Mangram, Robert Neill Kirkland, Jon Kirkland, and Joe Gouedy. Honorary pallbearers are James Revels Jr, and Jackson Simmons.

The family appreciates the loving care Millie was given by Shirley Modest and the compassionate aides from Tender Touch, the Arbor-Terrace of Ruston, and Compassus Hospice.

Memorials for Millie Tuten may be made to Trinity Methodist Church youth programs or TV ministry, or the charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be extended to the family at http://www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com.

Audrey Freeman    
Friday 07/29/1960 — Wednesday 11/12/2025     
Wake: Friday 11/21/2025 5:00pm to 7:00pm, County Line Baptist Church, 7246 Highway 146, Ruston    
Celebration of Life: Saturday 11/22/2025 11:00am, County Line Baptist Church, 7246 Highway 146, Ruston    
Interment: Saturday 11/22/2025 Following Service, Ebenezer Cemetery, Parish Road 214    
Ruston    

Tewana Younger    
Thursday 10/28/1965 — Monday 11/10/2025     
Visitation: Friday 11/21/2025 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home    
Celebration of Life: Saturday 11/22/2025 1:00pm, Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 521 Mt. Olive Church Road, Grambling    
Interment: Saturday 11/22/2025 Following Service, Grambling Memorial Garden, Highway 80 West, Grambling    

Deacon Aaron Austin, Jr. 
Wednesday 02/17/1932 — Sunday 11/16/2025  
Family Gathering: Saturday 11/22/2025 4:00pm at King’s Funeral Home 
Visitation: Sunday 11/23/2025 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home 
Funeral Service: Monday 11/24/2025 1:00pm, Miracle Temple Church of God in Christ, 1405 South Farmerville Street, Ruston 
Interment: Monday 11/24/2025 Following Service, Kilpatrick Serenity Garden, 8729 Cypress Street, West Monroe 

Gwendolyn Fay Diamond 
Saturday 08/27/1955 — Monday 11/17/2025 
Visitation: Wednesday 11/26/2025 11:00am to 1:00pm, New Hope Baptist Church, 204 W Vaughn Ave., Ruston 
Life Celebration: Wednesday 11/26/2025 1:00pm, New Hope Baptist Church, 204 W Vaughn Ave., Ruston 
Interment: Wednesday 11/26/2025 Following Service, St. David Cemetery, Vienna 

Christopher Joseph Womack 
November 18, 1971 – November 18, 2025 
Visitation: Friday, November 21, 2025, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Temple Baptist Church, 1515 South Service Road, Ruston 
Funeral Service: Saturday, November 22, 2025, 10:00 AM, Temple Baptist Church, 1515 South Service Road, Ruston 
Cemetery Committal: Saturday, November 22, 2025, 11:00 AM, Kilpatrick’s Memorial Gardens, 1270 HWY 544, Ruston 

Billie Bob Nutt 
May 3, 1934 – November 18, 2025 
Visitation: Friday, November 21, 2025, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM, First Baptist Church of Arcadia, 2249 Hazel St, Arcadia 
Funeral Service: Friday, November 21, 2025, 11:00 AM, First Baptist Church, 2249 Hazel St, Arcadia 
Cemetery Committal: Friday, November 21, 2025, 3:00 PM, Camp Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, 177 Camp Creek Church Rd., Spearsville 

---

by Malcolm Butler

Jesse Lynn Mayfield was one of the parish residents over the last two days to receive a blessing after being pulled over for a traffic violation by members of the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Blue lights in his rearview mirror, Mayfield pulled his car over to the side of the road. 

And after a short interaction with Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Dereck Johnston, Mayfield discovered the good news. 

Mayfield, a 65-year-old resident of Grambling, called it what it was.

“It’s a blessing,” said Mayfield Wednesday morning.

The blessing came in the form of a turkey.

For the seventh straight year, the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office partnered with Forth Insurance and Super One Foods to hand out 100 frozen birds to random residents.

It’s all part of the “Turkey’s, not Tickets” event that has become an annual event around Thanksgiving.

“Turkeys not Tickets is small but meaningful way for our deputies to remind our citizens that we truly care about them, and will always be there to help in a time of need,” said Chief Deputy Landon Hunt. 

What started out as a project by Forth Insurance’s Thomas Graham and some teammates in the Ruston Chamber of Commerce Lincoln Leadership program seven years ago has turned into an annual Thanksgiving goodwill gesture.  The cost of the turkeys is shared between the LPSO, Forth Insurance and Super One Foods with the LPSO portion coming from the employee fund at no expense to taxpayers.

“We are grateful for Super One Foods and Thomas and Randy Graham at Forth insurance for their continued partnership on this project,” said Hunt. “Thomas’ group of Lincoln Leadership helped start the program in 2019 and it something that employees at both our agencies look forward to each year. Our employees get just as much joy in return, you can see it in the smile on their faces.”

Mayfield, who said he was 65 years old, was pulled over in Grambling Wednesday mid-morning. Thinking he was about to receive a ticket from Deputy Johnston, instead he received the frozen fowl. 

“You just have to smile,” said Mayfield, grinning from ear to ear. “Always smile. This is such a blessing.”

Deputies from the department shared the joyous responsibility over the last two days of finding their “lucky” customers, all who had committed some sort of traffic violation. 

“It’s a great opportunity for us to bless local families in our community and continue to build those positive relationships during the holidays,” said Hunt. 

And to deliver small blessings. 

 

---