Peggy Sue Bain January 12, 1941 – December 21, 2025 Visitation: Friday, December 26, 2025, 12:00PM – 1:00PM, Kilpatrick Funeral Homes Service: Friday, December 26, 2025, 1:00PM, Kilpatrick Funeral Homes
Morris Ray Plunkett December 9, 1933 – December 20, 2025 Visitation: 1-2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, at Kilpatrick Funeral Home Funeral Service: 2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, at Kilpatrick Funeral Home Interment: Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, Kilpatrick Memorial Gardens, 270 Hwy. 544, Ruston
District Missionary Emerita Cigale Chaffers Monday 09/01/1952 –Thursday 12/18/2025 Family Gathering: Friday 12/26/2025 2:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Visitation: Saturday 12/27/2025 9:00am to 11:00am, Miracle Temple Church of God in Christ, 1405 South Farmerville Street, Ruston Celebration of Life: Saturday 12/27/2025 11:00am, Miracle Temple Church of God in Christ, 1405 South Farmerville Street, Ruston Interment: Saturday 12/27/2025, Grambling Memorial Garden, Highway 80 West, Grambling
(Over the course of the next few weeks, the Lincoln Parish Journal is republishing some of its most memorable stories from the past year … some of our readers’ favorites).
By Kyle Roberts
Bryan Beck was just a kid when he first fell in love with Ruston, La.
His father Gil was a high school football official in North Louisiana for over 30 years, and when Dad would get called to a game at James Field, young Bryan would follow.
“My dad would load me up from time to time while I was in grade school and middle school, and that was in the mid-80’s and early-90’s,” Beck said. “He always loved it when he drew Ruston. When we came here, it was different here, right? You could feel it when you walked into the stadium — the crowds, the players– everything about it was different.”
Beck at the time had no way of knowing just how much Ruston would be threaded throughout his story. And as Beck prepares to coach his first game tonight as a head coach, he recounted his journey from a rising sports star in Caddo and Bossier Parishes to Tech Bulldog catcher and now the head guy at a school he loves.
A quarterback, pitcher and catcher growing up, Beck was a Dixie Youth and American Legion baseball player and played both football and baseball for two years for Northwood High School before transferring to Airline High School, where he graduated in 1997. During that time, Beck was getting noticed by colleges from McNeese to Northwestern State to Louisiana Tech.
And, like most senior boys in high school, his decision to sign and play for Louisiana Tech was heavily swayed by a girlfriend, though they had split by the time Beck got to campus.
“We weren’t even together by the time I graduated high school,” Beck said. “But I was still on the way to Tech, and God has His plan there.”
Beck played four years for the Bulldogs behind the plate, even catching for Casey Blalock in the Bulldogs’ final game in the Sun Belt before Tech moved to the Western Athletic Conference the following season.
While at Tech, Beck made the best decision of his adult life by pursuing and then marrying Ruston High alum Jana Newberry. The couple now has three sons, Payton, Bailey Jack and Knox.
And it wasn’t only baseball that Beck found appealing in choosing Louisiana Tech: his Bulldog degree is in agronomy and plant science, a passion he’s held since a youngster on the field and the diamond, having plenty of experience growing up tending to the grounds of various baseball fields.
During his Bulldog tenure, he developed a friendship with a fellow Diamond ‘Dog and local business owner, Steve Davison. And it just so happens that Davison was getting ready to open a premiere golf course in 2002 shortly after Beck’s graduation: Squire Creek Country Club, which would need an assistant superintendent of grounds.
“Steve told me they were building a golf course and told me that I’d be really good for them,” Beck said. “He got us hooked up out there, and I was there for about six years. There was a couple of years I was there during construction, and I served in that role for a few years afterword.”
Beck would leave Squire Creek and join up with Nick Cauley for a landscaping business, where he would stay until the itch to get into coaching got too intense to ignore.
“It just really started to tug on my heart,” Beck said. “I look back and see that God’s called me to do this for a long time, so in 2018, we sold the business and I told my wife Jana that coaching is what I was supposed to be doing.”
And in 2018, he called an old friend and Bulldog teammate: first-year Ruston High Principal Dan Gressett.
“When he decided he wanted to return to education, we knew we wanted to hire him,” Gressett said. “He helped out in special ed and helped coach softball, so we had to hire him as a longterm sub at first, since he wasn’t certified just yet. He was someone that would just do what we needed him to do.”
Ruston High School head football coach Jerrod Baugh saw the same desire from Beck early on when he wanted to come be part of the “Firmly Founded.”
“When he came in and told me that this is what he wanted to do, I believed him,” Baugh said. “Coach Beck was involved in other jobs before this, but he was always involved in some form as a coach. And doing those other things allows him to bring a lot to the table. Ever since he was completely certain that he wanted to get into coaching at the high school level, he’s done everything that has been asked of him to do. He’s worked his tail off to get where he’s at today, and he’s absolutely earned it.”
Gressett saw during the hiring process last year when the role was opened just how committed Beck was. Never did he waver on his commitment to Ruston High — a school that he may never have walked the halls as a student, but a school that has adopted him dearly as one of its own.
“He’s all in on Ruston High,” Gressett said. “His heart is all in. You can see how much he cares by how hard he works and that he genuinely cares for the kids and is intentional on forming relationships. I think a lot of people don’t get to see that.”
And tonight is a special marker for Beck. After years and helping in anyway he could, including co-coaching the offensive line for the 2024 Ruston Bearcats, he now has a brand new title, and one that suits him well: Bearcat Head Coach.
“I’m really humbled considering I never thought I’d be sitting here today as the head coach,” Beck said in an interview over the summer. “There were a lot of rumbling out there during this hiring process, but I was ready to serve as needed. But then, all of a sudden, they wanted to hire me. It can humble you really quickly.”
And his mission is clear: take care of the students that come through the program and the school and put the program back on the winning path.
“It’s our obligation to give kids the best experience they can have here,” Beck said. “I think we’re going to some really great things here.”
(Over the course of the next few weeks, the Lincoln Parish Journal is republishing some of its most memorable stories from the past year … some of our readers favorites).
Seems like yesterday, in some ways.
It’s been more than 25 years since I stood at the podium before a standing room only crowd in the old Hall of Fame Room within the bowels of the Thomas Assembly Center to introduce former Tech AD Jim Oakes.
Oakes, along with then Tech President Dan Reneau, made the announcement that day that the University would be making the all-sports move to the Western Athletic Conference.
That was the fall of 1999.
Now a quarter of a century later, which spans a pair of more than decade-long memberships in both the WAC and Conference USA, it appears as though the University will come full circle and rejoin the Sun Belt Conference after reports surface yesterday that the votes were in and the call had come.
And just like it was in 2001 and 2013, a decision to change leagues is the right one.
At least in my opinion; maybe not everyone’s.
I have been approached by numerous Tech fans over the past month as the drumbeat for this potential move got louder and louder. I have had some people make comments such as, “We should have never left the Sun Belt for the WAC.”
I have done my best to kindly listen to people’s opinions and then gently remind people that our memories are short – and selective – at times.
When the decision to join the WAC was made, it was the right one, especially from a football perspective.
In the late 1990s, Tech competed in the Sun Belt in all sports but football as the league didn’t “sponsor” the sport. Thus, Tech was an Independent in football at the time and found itself left out of the bowl game picture despite some impressive seasons with winning records, including an 8-3 mark in 1999 when the Bulldogs were ranked in the Top 25.
Think about that. 8-3. Top 25. Win over eventual SEC champion Alabama. And yet, no bowl invitation.
That would be unheard of today.
In 1999 the Sun Belt Conference was about to form a football league. And if we are being honest, at the time, football in the Belt didn’t look like a very strong football league.
The Tech administration – from the 16th floor down to the athletics department — wanted something better for its football program. Enter the WAC.
The WAC boasted teams like Fresno State, Boise State, Hawaii, Nevada – all strong football programs. During Tech’s 12 years in the league, all of those programs (plus the Bulldogs) were ranked in the Top 25 at one time or another.
Geographically, half of the WAC was located in the central time zone when Tech joined as high academic schools such as SMU, Rice, and Tulsa made up almost half of the league. Thus, the move was doable, and the strength of the league in football and men’s basketball made it a solid decision.
There was simply no comparison between the WAC and the Sun Belt when you think of some of those football programs and what they accomplished during those 12 years.
Fresno State with David and Derek Carr. Boise State with its Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma. Hawaii and Timmy Chang. Nevada with Colin Kaepernick.
An argument could easily be made it was 100 percent a football move. Period.
I will agree it wasn’t the best move for some of the sports, including the nationally prominent Lady Techster basketball program. Women’s basketball in the Sun Belt was simply better. WKU was an annual top 25 team and had Final Four appearances in its history. FIU was a strong team that also had plenty of NCAA appearances in the 1990s.
But there was no denying the strength of the WAC in both football and men’s basketball, and that is why the move was made.
And IF the makeup of the WAC had stayed the same (something that 20 to 25 years ago wasn’t as unimaginable as it is today), it would have been sustainable. Heck, even today, most every league is spread over numerous time zones.
But when SMU, Rice, Tulsa, and UTEP all departed the league in 2005 to join Conference USA, Tech became the geographical red-headed stepchild. For the next seven years, Tech teams did not play a road league came in the central time zone … let that sink in.
It was brutal. Only those of us who truly lived those road trips will ever understand how brutal.
So when Tech was finally extended an invitation to Conference USA, it never flinched. The University joined on July 1, 2013, after 12 years as a WAC member.
Fast forward to 2025, and college athletics has changed … A LOT.
Although geographical footprints are still not what they probably should be, stability and regional rivalries are even more important than ever. And during its CUSA membership, Tech has seen its top rivals depart for other leagues.
Southern Miss to the Sun Belt. Tulane to the American. UAB to the American. North Texas to the American.
In fact, of the 16 teams that comprised Conference USA in Tech’s inaugural year of 2013-14, only Middle Tennessee and FIU will be a part of the league following this coming year (UTEP is joining the Mountain West after this season).
It has left Tech without a true rival, and zero easy road trips. To put it into perspective, ULM, ULL, and USM are all shorter trips than the closest current CUSA member (Sam Houston). Eight of the 13 trips in the Sun Belt are “bus-able”.
Leadership within the Sun Belt Conference has also been successful in building some stability while its member schools have improved on the playing fields.
Tip your cap to the league.
As Tech fans look ahead to the future in the Sun Belt, they can look forward to more regional rivalries. Tech and Southern Miss will reunite after a few years apart. Tech and UL-Lafayette will be league members for the first since 2000-01.
And Tech and ULM? Well, it will be the first time the two schools separated by 30 miles will be in the same league in four decades.
That is not a typo.
The Bulldogs and the Warhawks (then the NLU Indians) have not been league mates since the conclusion of the 1986-87 season when Tech departed the Southland Conference for the American South. Both schools were still FCS members the last time they played as league foes.
I do not have a crystal ball. And anyone who tells you that they know what college athletics will look like in five or 10 years is not being truthful.
Conference USA has been a solid home for Tech for the past 12 years. But it simply isn’t the same league it was in 2013.
Thus, Tech’s potential move back to the Sun Belt Conference is the right one for so many reasons mentioned above and others: geographical, financial, rivalries, competition.
And I, for one, am looking forward to it. I think Tech fans are too.
(Over the course of the next few weeks, the Lincoln Parish Journal is republishing some of its most memorable stories from the past year … some of our readers’ favorites).
By Wesley Harris
The stars came out for the peach festival, but I missed the only one I wanted to see.
One of the big draws to the Louisiana Peach Festival in Ruston for a time in the 1960s was the presence of well-known TV celebrities who served as parade grand marshals. The stars made appearances and posed for photos and generally added to the excitement of the festival which often stretched to nearly two weeks in length.
I don’t know if there was an arrangement with CBS but it seems all those who appeared in Ruston were stars of CBS television shows. The other networks may have done the same thing to promote their shows. I don’t know.
Friends tell me Ken Curtis of Gunsmoke and Tom Lester who played Eb on Green Acres made Peach Festival appearances. Meredith McRae, who played Billie Jo, one of the sisters on Petticoat Junction, appeared at the 1967 Peach Festival.
Linda Kaye Henning also starred on Petticoat Junction as Betty Jo Bradley. Her father Paul Henning produced the show as well as Green Acres and The Beverly Hillbillies. In addition to playing Betty Jo, Henning performed the voice of Jethrine Bodine on The Hillbillies, who was simply Max Baer (Jethro) dressed up as a girl.
I don’t recall how I learned Betty Jo was going to be the grand marshal of the 1968 parade, but I decided I had to be there. She was one of my favorite actresses at the time, not that I ever had a favorite before then but in 1968, I was beginning to think about things like that.
I don’t know how many of you ever noticed, but it was the tomboy Betty Jo who had the feminine name and the taller blonde and brunette sisters, Billie Jo and Bobbie Jo, who had the boyish names.
Betty Jo’s sisters seemed more sophisticated than Betty Jo who occasionally wore her flaming red hair in pigtails or a ponytail. She wore that red hair so much better than my two brothers and I wore ours. I sensed she liked hers a whole lot better than I liked mine.
Betty Jo seemed like she would be more approachable than the other two sisters, not that I would ever get that close. She still played a little baseball and worked on cars, but could dress up as nice as the other two.
I pictured her as the one you could get to come outside and climb trees or collect bugs.
So I set my sights on that Saturday afternoon parade. The peach festival parade was a really big deal in the sixties when entertainment offerings were few outside of ball games and picture shows. The parades were huge, usually with numerous marching bands, Shriners with tiny cars and motorcycles and crazy costumes, and plenty of homemade floats.
What I did not know was that Betty Jo got to Ruston on Thursday before Saturday’s parade. Decades later, I read newspaper articles about that year’s festival. Betty Jo was picked up by private plane in Dallas by Ruston businessman Sam Thomas and brought to Ruston. Many years later, I learned she appeared at a big autograph party at Railroad Park that Thursday evening where I could’ve gotten an autographed photo and actually met her. Scores of my friends obtained those autographs, I learned many years later.
Betty Jo spent all day Friday making the rounds to all kinds of events, both public and private.
But I didn’t know that at the time so I was anticipating the parade on Saturday afternoon.
I can’t remember what else we had going on that Saturday, but I was tied up with my mother most of the day. It may have been a 4-H Club event. I cannot remember. But that obligation led to great disappointment.
The parade started at 3:00 Saturday afternoon. We got there late, very late, maybe 4:00 p.m. In fact, as we drove into downtown Ruston, I could see the tail end of the parade. The last car was a white convertible and I could see Betty Jo sitting up on the top of the back seat, her hair redder than it seemed on TV.
There was no place to park, not that it mattered because we had driven into an intersection of gridlock. No way I was going to get any closer. I could have jumped out of the car and simply walked fast and could have caught up to the convertible within a couple of blocks. But no, I wasn’t that bold.
Within moments, the white convertible made a turn and Betty Jo disappeared from sight. All I had seen during her three-day visit was her back and her red hair from a block away.
That disappointment is a vivid memory 57 years later. Linda Henning—Betty Jo—is still alive, one of the few left from Petticoat Junction. She still makes appearances around the country but the fervor that seized that 11-year-old boy is no longer. Although later that summer, I saw The Parent Trap with Hayley Mills who played twin 13-year-old sisters. We were only two years apart! Again, a disappointment. That 1968 showing was a re-release of the original 1963 film. Mills was already 20 when I was 11. My daughter is named Hayley if that provides any insight to how well the young actress captured my imagination.
So if you’re raising a preteen boy, and he develops an interest, indulge him for a moment. Don’t leave him with a lifelong disappointment.
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[I made notes in anticipation of writing this story over 20 years ago. I’ve held off hoping someday I would find a great photo of Betty Jo at the 1968 festival. Today, one day before the 2025 festival, I found it!]
Breck Owens is surrounded by Cedar Creek spirit group members Friday night.
(Over the course of the next few weeks, the Lincoln Parish Journal is republishing some of its most memorable stories from the past year … some of our readers’ favorites).
by Hanna Singh
You may have wondered why all across Ruston, yellow ribbons have appeared on storefronts throughout the month of September.
In honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, many local businesses in Lincoln Parish have shown their support for the cause by hanging up the official yellow ribbon in solidarity with families and children facing childhood cancer.
What may look like a simple decoration has become a symbol of support for families in Ruston whose children have faced these challenges, and for the community that has rallied together for them.
According to the American Childhood Cancer Organization website, each year in the U.S. there are an estimated 15,780 children between the ages of birth and 19 years of age who are diagnosed with cancer. Approximately 1 in 285 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer before their 20th birthday.
Sheila Branch, owner of Chessy’s Boutique in downtown Ruston, shared how the ribbons hold a personal meaning for her.
“My cousin’s little boy had brain cancer. He has gone to St. Jude all his life, he is a survivor,” Branch said. “It is a very important cause to my family. We also know one of the little boys in Ruston who has gone through cancer treatments recently. We participated with the ribbons to show support for this cause that means something personal to us.”
Two of the children at the heart of this cause are Breck Owens, a student at Cedar Creek School, and Reed Pipes, a student at A.E. Phillips. Both boys have shown incredible courage in their battles with leukemia. Both have also witnessed the strength of the community pouring into their families.
Breck’s mother, Valerie Owens, shared how deeply the support from the town has impacted their family.
“Our son, Breck, was diagnosed with Leukemia in January for the second time, and he’s currently in the middle of treatment,” Owens said. “As you can imagine, this journey has been tough, but one of the things that has carried us is the incredible support we’ve felt from Cedar Creek and from the Ruston community as a whole.”
Cedar Creek held a Friday night event in Breck’s honor, filling the stadium with love and encouragement. Many members of the school community showed up in support of their classmate and friend.
The Pipes family has also been impacted by the overflow of support from the community. Reed’s mother, Lauren Pipes, spoke about the moment they first learned of his diagnosis.
“We immediately went to St. Jude the day after we found out he had leukemia. Ruston truly rallied around us while we were there for so long,” Pipes said. “Our daughter was eight at the time and we had to figure out challenges with taking care of her, getting her to school and back. A lot of people in town stepped up for us, sent us food, sent us cards, and took care of our house. We have felt so much support from the community.”
Reed’s school, A.E. Phillips, even held a “Go Gold Day” in recognition of Childhood Cancer Awareness, wearing gold in his honor. Last year, Reed also received encouragement from the Louisiana Tech “Lady Techsters”, the women’s basketball team.
Together, these stories show how Ruston embodies what it means to be not just a town, but a family. From store owners to schools and neighbors to sports teams, people in the community have chosen to stand in support with children and families affected by cancer.
After September, the yellow ribbons may come down, but the love and support are here to stay. The Lincoln Parish Community has proven that it will not let any family stand against these battles on their own.
(Over the course of the next few weeks, the Lincoln Parish Journal is republishing some of its most memorable stories from the past year … some of our readers favorites).
By T. Scott Boatright
By day he is a hard-working Third District Assistant D.A. serving Lincoln and Union Parishes.
But sometimes by night, he is a hard-hitting member of the local rock band Hidden Tracks, marching to the beat of his own drum no matter what he takes on in life.
Less than two weeks ago, James Buckley got to live out a near lifelong dream as he and Hidden Tracks were featured as one of the Louisiana Peach Festival performing at Railroad Park.
“It was exceptionally hot, but we really didn’t even notice that because of the excellent reaction by the crowd,” Buckley said. “It’s such a great setting and we truly loved every second of it.”
A graduate of Bernice High School, Louisiana Tech University and the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center, the Peach Fest was nothing new for Buckley.
But performing as a part of the celebration was certainly something entirely different.
“Growing up in Bernice, the Peach Fest was an annual event for all of us,” Buckley said. “When I was a kid, my dad played on a bunch of travel softball teams and back then there was almost always a tournament involved as part of the Peach Fest. So, I’ve been coming to Peach Fest since I was a kid, and getting to perform our music as part of it was thrilling.”
Playing at an outdoors site like Railroad Park was nothing new, but Buckley said getting to finally play a Peach Fest show was quite an experience.
“We’ve played outdoor gigs, but nothing quite as professional as this setting was,” Buckley said. “I’d always go to the Peach Fest shows and watch the performances. But once I started playing music myself … I remember thinking how cool it would be to perform as part of this one day.
“And it took a few decades, but I finally realized that dream. And it was an incredible experience.”
Buckley said his love for percussion began as a member of his middle school band.
“It was at Lillie Middle School back then,” Buckley said. “And I kept playing through high school in the marching band. But on the side, I always had a little drum kit set up at the house and I was always practicing trying and become the next Stewart Copeland (drummer of the rock band The Police) or Tommy Lee (of Mötley Crüe).
“And in college I started playing with these guys in the band and it’s just kind of organically developed over the years.”
Joining Buckley as members of Hidden Tracks, which bills itself as northeast Louisiana’s premiere 90s alternative rock cover band are Preston Fulco on guitar, Tracy Rainwater on bass and Heath Work handling lead vocals.
“Stewart Copeland was the first big influence I had,” Buckley said. “And I loved a lot of ’80s metal drummers, too — Tommy Aldredge, Tommy Lee, and guys like that. And then I gradually started getting into kind of punk rock college bands.
“The first I heard (Nirvana drummer) Dave Grohl, it just resonated with me on such a personal level, I was like, ‘Yeah, this is the way I’ve always wanted to play drums.’”
Leading a triple life as an attorney/Assistant DA while being a devoted husband and father and providing the backbeat for a successful rock band can make life somewhat of a balancing act for Buckley.
“The band practices once a week and I probably spend at least 15 or 20 minutes every day working on some drumming at the house,” Buckley said. “But as far as the job — it’s a stressful job in a lot of ways. I love my job and what I do, but there’s a lot of stress associated with it, so getting to pound some of that out on the drums is helpful.
“Three hours of beating on a drum head relieves a lot of tension. It’s something I’ve been doing for a very long time. I stopped playing when I was in law school. Down in Baton Rouge, I knew if I started playing with some of the guys down there, I could write off my education.”
But there was, and still is, a secret behind Buckley’s success in the courtroom as well as sitting on a drum throne — his wife Leanna, with whom he shares daughter Hannah, a student at Louisiana Tech, rekindled his love of drumming when the time was right.
“I knew I had married the right woman when I graduated (from law school),’ Buckley said. “A lot of people are getting cars, computers, or briefcases — my wife got me a Tama drum kit. That got the fire going again and I’ve been drumming steadily ever since.
“And I also have a wife and daughter who are both pretty understanding about my weekend warrior music playing. I am blessed on both sides of the coin. I have a great group of people I work with, from (D.A. John Belton) on down, and I also have a wife and daughter who support me in my music. I couldn’t ask for anymore.”
Ruston Police arrested a man for drug possession and an outstanding warrant after he was stopped for speeding last week.
Revarrious Wilson, 37, of Ruston, was arrested December 18 after he was stopped on West California Avenue at South Barnett Springs Street for speeding. A record check revealed Wilson was wanted for failure to appear in Third District Court on a simple battery charge.
When Wilson was informed he was under arrest on the warrant, he fled the scene. An officer deployed a Taser twice without effect. Wilson ran about 100 yards and entered the woods before a second officer was able to incapacitate him with a Taser.
Wilson was taken into custody and a search of his vehicle located a small amount of marijuana and at least 10 MDMA tablets (ecstasy) in a backpack. Wilson stated the marijuana and the ecstasy belonged to him.
Wilson was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for possession of ecstasy, possession of marijuana, resisting an officer, and the failure to appear warrant.
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.
The Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested a local man last week after he allegedly stole blank checks from a woman’s checkbook.
Dejuan Antonio Allen, 53, was arrested for misdemeanor theft on December 18 after deputies conducted an investigation on Beacon light Road.
A woman reported Allen had been staying at the woman’s home because he was reportedly without a home. She told deputies she noticed checks missing when she went to the store. She said Allen had been asking her for money and she had refused his request. Later in the day, when Allen returned to the house, deputies returned and placed him under arrest. He denied taking the checks. The woman said Allen was the only one who had access to her purse in the house.
At the time of the deputy’s report, there was no indication the checks had been used.
Allen was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center. He was barred from returning to the victim’s home.
Then, on December 21, the victim called the Sheriff’s Office again to report Allen had returned to her house. She said he was sitting on her front port refusing to leave. Responding deputies found Allen on the porch and arrested him for criminal trespass.
Several hours later, the victim reported Allen had returned and was banging on her windows. Allen had been released from the detention center on his own recognizance.
Deputies found Allen on the front porch and arrested him, booking him at the detention center again for criminal trespass and stalking.
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.
Sunday morning, shortly before 1:00 a.m., Troopers with Louisiana State Police Troop F began investigating a two-vehicle fatal crash on Interstate 20 eastbound, just west of the milepost 103 exit. The crash claimed the life of 22-year-old Braydyn McIlroy of Sunbury, Pennsylvania.
The initial investigation revealed that a 2023 Toyota Corolla, driven by McIlroy, was traveling in the right eastbound lane of Interstate 20, with its emergency flashers activated. At the same time, a 2022 Ford F-150 was also traveling east on Interstate 20 behind the Toyota. For reasons still under investigation, the Ford struck the rear of the Corolla.
McIlroy, who was properly restrained, sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene. The driver of the Ford was properly restrained and uninjured. Although impairment is not suspected, routine toxicology samples were collected and will be submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.
Far too often, troopers witness the tragic consequences of preventable crashes. Never drive impaired, fatigued, or distracted. Always wear your seatbelt, obey posted speed limits, and exercise patience. Rushing can lead to impulsive decisions and reckless driving. While not all crashes are survivable, taking these simple precautions can often mean the difference between life and death.
Much of my Christmas nostalgia is wrapped in the glow of those big, old fashioned colored bulbs—the ones that could heat a small apartment—and the shimmering glory of an aluminum Christmas tree spinning under a color wheel. I was a child of the 60s, after all. Only in that decade could a tree made of tinsel, decorated with blue ornaments, and illuminated by absolutely no lights of its own be considered the height of holiday sophistication. And you know what? I loved it. Those memories still shine for me, even if a few of them come with some spiritual scar tissue.
I grew up in a sprawling extended family. My dad was an only child, but he came from a clan that reproduced cousins the way Louisiana reproduces mosquitoes—by the thousands and without apology. Every Christmas we gathered at my great-grandmother’s house for the annual cousin gift exchange. Names were drawn at Thanksgiving, rules were followed, and gifts were opened with military precision.
It was Christmas 1968—easy to remember, because I’d been up half the night watching Apollo 8 circle the moon. Humanity was reaching for the heavens… and meanwhile, down on Earth, my cousin Wally was plotting a lunar landing of his own. On my gift.
I opened that widget—my widget, given to me by my great-grandmother herself. I can still point to the exact spot on the floor where I sat when I unwrapped it. But somewhere between that moment of joy and the time we loaded up the car, the widget vanished. Gone. Disappeared. Beamed up, perhaps, by Cousin Wally, who boldly claimed it was his. It was not. I knew it then, and I know it now. Wally took it. That rat.
And ever since that fateful day, I have developed a Christmas quirk. If you give me a gift, I will—without hesitation, without shame, without regard for weather conditions—march it straight to my car. I have been known to sprint through a downpour like a shepherd chasing a runaway sheep, all to protect a tin of cookies or a festive mug. My family knows this about me. My church knows this about me. I know this about me. And honestly, it makes me laugh every time I do it, because I can still see Wally’s face in 1968, claiming my widget like he was planting a flag on the moon.
Have you ever had something stolen? It’s funny how one small childhood moment can linger in the corners of your heart. Part of me still fears losing a gift, even though I know that fear is completely out of step with what Christmas is really about. Christmas isn’t about the presents under the tree—or the ones your cousin swipes when you’re not looking. Christmas is about a relationship with Jesus.
God sent His Son into the world so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. Jesus is the gift that cannot be misplaced, stolen, regifted, or claimed by Cousin Wally. He is yours, forever.
My prayer is that you experience the love of Jesus every day of your life.
Merry Christmas!
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, Dec. 24 Christmas Eve 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)
Monday, Dec. 29 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome 4-7 p.m.: Ice skating (Ruston Sports Complex (2001 Champions Way) 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) 6:30 p.m.: LA Tech men’s basketball
Wednesday, Dec. 31 New Year’s Eve 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, Jan. 1 Happy New Year!
Friday, Jan. 2 6:30 p.m.: LA Tech women’s basketball
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 – With the holiday spirit in full spring, Louisiana Tech stayed unbeaten at home this season, unwrapping a dominant 90-37 victory over Dallas Christian on Monday afternoon inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court.
“We talked about finishing off the non-conference season the right way,” Tech Head Coach Talvin Hester said. “Not so much looking at the score, but how we wanted to play. We wanted to play with more assisted baskets coming off a game where we did not. I thought we did that, but we turned the ball over too much. We need to be solid and play the right way. Our defense is probably where we need it to be at this point, but we must find a way to get easier baskets on the offensive end. That must be in transition, off stops and run outs, scoring at the rim. We missed a lot of layups and dunks at the rim, which we cannot afford to miss those shots in conference.”
The No. 1-ranked scoring defense in the country showed its grit again as LA Tech (7-4) held DCC (4-9) to just 23.6 percent shooting from the field and 16.7 percent shooting from three-point range. The Bulldogs were also bullish on the glass again, outrebounding the Crusaders 55-23.
The ‘Dogs were slow offensively out of the gate, holding just an 18-8 advantage midway through the first half. A made three-pointer by Avery Thomas II then got the offense rolling, outscoring the Crusaders 29-9 the rest of the stanza to take a commanding 47-17 lead into the locker room.
LA Tech continued to extend the margin in the second half, shooting 60.0 percent from the field after the break and pushing the lead to as many as 54 points. Ten of the 11 Bulldogs that played found the scoring column, led by Kaden Cooper who had 24 points (10-of-18 shooting) and added 13 rebounds.
Thomas II also delivered a strong all-around performance with 16 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. Keegan Rowell was the third Bulldog in double figures with a season-high 10 points.
“He came in as a shooter,” Hester said of Thomas II. “He shot 40 percent from three in junior college, but he is not shooting nowhere near that right now. We told him that in this sport, you get rewarded by doing tough things. Guys that do not just score. I think he focused on rebounding today and it gave him a boost of confidence on offense. If he can keep that mentality, I think we will see him grow faster and eventually the ball will start falling.”
The Bulldogs will open conference play Monday, Dec. 29, at home against UTEP in a 6:30 p.m. tip.
“When we started the season at Nevada, I do not think the guys really realized how hard this level is,” Hester said. “And that woke them up a little bit. It still has not made us have that maturity to go win on the road yet, but it has showed us how hard teams play at home. We are going to try our best to simulate in practice what it looks like. How hard teams play. Until that first five minutes of the game starts though, they will not understand fully how hard conference is.”
Peggy Robinson Bain, born and raised in Ruston and lifetime follower of Christ, peacefully entered Heaven on Sunday, December 21, 2025. Peggy was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She was known to her grandchildren as Nana and was also a new great-grandmother. Peggy resided at The Oaks in Shreveport, her home for the last three years. She lived a joyous and fruitful life for 84 years. Peggy was born Peggy Sue Robinson to Victor Vernice Robinson and Ruth Whatley Robinson, on January 12, 1941. She was one of the four Robinson daughters. She graduated in 1958 from Ruston High School and while there she met her future husband, John Thomas “J.T.” Bain.
Peggy went on to marry J.T. in 1961 as J.T. was finishing up his engineering studies at Louisiana Tech University. The new couple lived in West Monroe for short time. Their daughter, Melanie Ann Bain, was born there in 1963. Peggy and J.T. enjoyed 49 wonderful years of marriage.
In 1963, the Bains moved to Baton Rouge where J.T. managed a concrete manufacturing plant for nearly 30 years. Melanie graduated from high school there and much to J.T. and Peggy’s dismay, she chose LSU over their beloved Louisiana Tech.
While in Baton Rouge, Peggy was a member of Beta Sigma Phi service sorority where she made many lifelong friends. She also served as a volunteer for Meals on Wheels.
Peggy and J.T. moved to Vicksburg in 1990 where J.T. worked for the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers until his retirement in the early 2000s. Peggy was an active member of First Presbyterian Church in Vicksburg, serving on many church committees. When J.T. retired, and on the beckoning of their strong roots in Lincoln Parish, the Bains returned to live in Ruston.
When back in Ruston, J.T. and Peggy joined Alabama Presbyterian Church in Choudrant. Peggy served the Church in several capacities. She regularly helped with cooking for the Church’s Wednesday night suppers and taught children’s Sunday School and Bible School.
J.T. and his cousins built camps at his family’s home place outside Farmerville that was named Dociamack after J.T.’s grandparents. Until J.T.’s death in 2010, Peggy and J.T. helped run Dociamack as one huge family gathering place, especially during Thanksgivings and hunting season. Peggy loved spending time there with family, especially her grandchildren, and she loved helping prepare the holiday feasts.
J.T. and Peggy loved to travel on their own and through J.T.’s profession. Their favorite regular destinations were Colorado and the Gulf Coast, and after J.T. retired, they expanded their passion for travel into Alaska and several parts of Europe.
After J.T.’s passing, Peggy returned to her childhood church, Temple Baptist Church. She loved taking trips with her Sunday School classmates and loved the staff at Temple. She loved the Lord with all her heart and served Him at Temple for many years. Her love of Christ was always at the forefront of her life, especially in the way she treated her family members and friends. She was always willing to help and fulfil the needs of others. Her loving spirit and kindness knew no bounds.
In addition to her parents and her husband J.T., Peggy was preceded in death by her three sisters, Ella Robinson Johnston and her husband Max Johnston, Martha Robinson Fisher, and Jan Robinson Rodrigues. She is survived by daughter Melanie Bain Johnson and her husband, Gerald M. Johnson, Jr. of Shreveport, grandson Jared Foster Johnson and his wife Claire of Dallas, granddaughter Mallory Johnson LaGrange and her husband Christopher of Lafayette, her new great-grandson, Thomas Foster Johnson, and many nieces and nephews.
Peggy and her family express heartfelt thanks to the compassionate people who have provided her care over the last three years, including Dr. Paul Guidy of SureAccess MD in Shreveport and Dr. Paul C. Davis of Advanced Cardiovascular Specialists in Shreveport. They also deeply love and appreciate caregivers Ruby Alexander, Dominique White, and Breanna White of Professional Sitter Services, and the staff and management of Savannah at the Oaks in Shreveport.
A service of Remembrance will be held at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Ruston on Friday, December 26, 2025, with visitation at Noon and the service beginning at 1:00PM. Officiating the service will be Rev. Dale Oden and Dr. Reggie Bridges. Immediately followed by a graveside service at Sibley Cemetery in Choudrant under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes in Ruston, LA.
Serving as pallbearers or honorary pallbearers will be Mack Bain, brother of J.T. Bain, of Gladewater, Texas, Gerald M. Johnson, Jr., Jared Foster Johnson, Christopher LaGrange, Peggy’s nephew, Vic Johnston, and Ted Dubose.
Memorials may be sent to Temple Baptist Church, 1515 S. Service Road West, Ruston, LA 71270. Online condolences may be sent to the family at http://www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com.
District Missionary Emerita Cigale Chaffers Monday 09/01/1952 –Thursday 12/18/2025 Family Gathering: Friday 12/26/2025 2:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Visitation: Saturday 12/27/2025 9:00am to 11:00am, Miracle Temple Church of God in Christ, 1405 South Farmerville Street, Ruston Celebration of Life: Saturday 12/27/2025 11:00am, Miracle Temple Church of God in Christ, 1405 South Farmerville Street, Ruston Interment: Saturday 12/27/2025, Grambling Memorial Garden, Highway 80 West, Grambling
The following arrests of Lincoln Parish residents were made by the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office as part of Operation Access Denied in cooperation with the Office of the Louisiana Attorney General. (See LincolnParishJournal.com article.)
The AG’s office said some of the 67 suspects arrested in North Louisiana were charged with for new crimes involving first-degree rape, computer-aided solicitation of a juvenile, indecent behavior with a juvenile, possession of child sexual abuse material, failure to register as a sex offender, and other charges. More arrests are expected as investigators pursue tips regarding possession of child sex abuse materials and other violations by convicted sex offenders:
Jerrell Allen McKnight, 37, arrested October 31 for failure to register as a sex offender and failure to appear in court.
Brandon M. Dillon, 45, arrested November 4 for failure to register as a sex offender and failure to appear in court.
David Earl Armstrong, 65, arrested November 5 for five counts of unlawful use of a social networking website.
Delvin Dewayne Buckley, 46, arrested November 6 for nine counts of unlawful use of a social networking website.
Demerick Roshaun Mayfield, 49, arrested November 6 for seven counts of unlawful use of a social networking website.
Dontious Kemon McCallister, 32, arrested November 6 for three counts of unlawful use of a social networking website and probation violation.
Michael Ray Patrick, Jr., 38, arrested November 6 for two counts of unlawful use of a social networking website and probation violation.
Kevin W. Primus, 58, arrested November 10 for failure to register as a sex offender and failure to appear in court.
Carlos Cortez Stevenson, 53, arrested November 13 for three counts of unlawful use of a social networking website and failure to appear in court.
Anthony Craig Barron, 32, arrested December 1 for failure to register as a sex offender.
Jomondrik Reshard Robinson, 39, arrested December 12 for failure to register as a sex offender and three counts of unlawful use of a social networking website.
Jamion Demorriel Lewis, 41, arrested December 15 for failure to register as a sex offender, four counts of unlawful use of a social networking website, and cyberstalking.
For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox.Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
The City of Ruston announces, weather permitting, that the eastbound lane of W. Barnett Springs Ave., in the vicinity of S. Maple St. and Barber Dr. will be closed on Monday, December 22, 2025, beginning 8:30am – noon. This closure is necessary for water well repair(s).
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.
Dave Nitz (left) served as the play by play voice for Tech Athletics for 50 years. Nitz passed away Tuesday morning.
(Over the course of the next few weeks, the Lincoln Parish Journal is republishing some of its most memorable stories from the past year … some of our readers’ favorites).
By Malcolm Butler
Louisiana Tech lost a legend Tuesday and Bulldog fans lost a friend when legendary broadcaster Dave Nitz passed away following a lengthy illness.
Known for his love of his home state of West Virginia (his flip phone ringtone was John Denver’s song Take Me Home, Country Roads), Dave brought his family to Louisiana in the early 1970s as he took over as the Voice of the Bulldogs.
And the rest is history, a rich Tech Athletics history that Dave stamped his vocal mark on for five decades.
“It didn’t take long for me to realize how much Dave loved sports and broadcasting,” said Jack Thigpen, who met Dave in 1975 when the two became neighbors on Bittersweet Drive and who serve as the color analyst on many Bulldog basketball games. “His goal then, and for many years, was to become a major league baseball announcer. In my opinion Dave was as good as, and better than most, big league announcers.
“Louisiana Tech has been very fortunate to have had Dave as the voice of the Bulldogs all these years. Dave lived to broadcast games and was the ultimate professional. He was as good a broadcaster as there is.”
During his Hall of Fame career at Tech, Dave broadcasts more than 3,000 sporting events, mostly with football, men’s basketball and baseball. He also served as the voice of the Lady Techster basketball team in the late 1970s and much of the 1980s.
Dave was inducted into both the Louisiana Tech Athletics Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame during his illustrious career.
“Even though Dave was a West Virginian through and through, Tech meant a lot to him,” said longtime friend and radio booth partner Benny Thornell. “He had received his degree from Tech and had raised his family here. For 50 years his life revolved around Tech.
“A lot of people grew up listening to him broadcasting Tech games. It was always interesting to see people tell him how much they enjoyed listening to him on the radio. He had no idea who most of them were, but to them he was part of their family. To them he was Tech, and he will definitely be missed.”
Appropriately enough, Dave’s first ever broadcast was of a Bulldog baseball game in the NCAA regionals in Arlington. His real love was baseball, and he never tried to hide it. Tech fans were blessed with his knowledge of the game, and his storytelling abilities.
His talent behind the mic was admired by all, including his radio colleagues.
“Dave was a broadcaster…pure and simple,” said Chip Walters, longtime voice for Middle Tennessee Athletics. “He was the eyes and ears of Tech fans everywhere. In addition to being a pro’s pro, he was a prince of a guy. I’ll miss a great friend and Tech fans will miss the soundtrack of so many great moments for over 40 years.”
“Dave was a broadcaster I always admired,” said Randy Lee, longtime Voice of WKU. “His passion for our special profession and longevity was remarkable. We developed a special friendship over the years. Dave always greeted us with a smile, and he had that special way of making you feel better. I’ll miss Dave a great deal.”
“I met Dave Nitz early in my career and never will forget him taking me under his wing and showing and telling me how to do broadcasting things that I had no idea how to do,” said Southern Miss broadcaster John Cox. “Most of those things he taught me so long ago – I still utilize today. I will cherish the times I was around him. He always made me smile, he always made me laugh and he always made you feel better.”
Every Tech fan has their own stories and memories of Dave. Although he never wavered from the side of professionalism, his love for the Ole Red and Blue was exact. He allowed emotions into calls at the appropriate times and even produced a few tears during the years.
His call of “Stallworth to Cangelosi” that beat eventual SEC champion Alabama at Legion Field in 1999 is one of the most memorable for Tech fans — his voice cracking with the immensity of the moment for the Bulldogs.
That call was worthy of inclusion in Heart Stoppers and Hail Marys: 100 of the Greatest College Football Finishes.
It was just one of so many over the years.
“Dave Nitz will forever be remembered as an iconic figure in Tech Athletics history,” said former Tech AD and friend Jim Oakes. “Dave was on the call for so many memorable moments for Tech sports over the past 50 years. When the Tech family hears the words “Ya gotta love it” we will always smile and think fondly of Dave and his great legacy.”
Personally, I grew up listening to Dave. I would go to sleep with the sound of his tonsils bringing the game to my bedroom – a story that so many Tech fans can probably share.
My career at Tech allowed me to get to know him more than just as a voice. He became my friend.
In 2015, the Bulldogs traveled to Huntington, West Virginia, to play Marshall in the CUSA Football Championship game.
Talk about a kid in a candy store. Dave was giddy every time he got to go back to his home state.
The morning of the football game, several of us in the travel party got up at 5 a.m. to drive an hour or so to his hometown of Milton to have breakfast at one of those hole-in-the-wall establishments. We met a few of Dave’s old friends from high school, who showered us with stories of our friend.
Dave was all smiles.
Although he had lived in Ruston for four decades at that point, Milton and the mountains of West Virginia were still his true home.
Tech fans were just fortunate enough that those “Country Roads” took him south for the past 50 years.
(Over the course of the next few weeks, the Lincoln Parish Journal is republishing some of its most memorable stories from the past year … some of our readers’ favorites).
By Kyle Roberts
During his visit to Louisiana Tech to discuss his newest book “The Barn”, award-winning writer Wright Thompson graciously sat down with the Lincoln Parish Journal to cover an array of topics in a short amount of time.
The following has been edited for clarity.
Kyle Roberts, LPJ: How would you describe your writing journey and passion for journalism?
Wright Thompson: I had a neighborhood newspaper when I was eight years old — it was me and my friend Hewitt Garmon. It was the T&G Times. I wrote all the stories and he sold all the ads to our neighbors and parents. I always had that sort of gear, and then I read a book in high school called North Toward Home by Willie Morris, and that was the first time I knew that being a magazine writer was a job. So from that point on, I wanted to do that. I worked for a couple of newspapers, but it was always with the sort of idea of wanting to write these kinds of stories.
LPJ: What was your big dream? ESPN the Magazine?
WT: My big dream at the time was Sports Illustrated, and then it sort of died in front of me. ESPN the Magazine, when it was being edited by Chad Millman, was the best sports magazine that’s ever been. The staff was unbelievable. I felt like I was working 100 hour weeks just to not get embarrassed. I’ve always missed that magazine.
LPJ: Do you have a favorite story that you’ve written?
WT: Well, my favorite story I didn’t write was John Jeremiah Sullivan’s profile of Axl Rose, which I love. In terms of a story I wrote, I just wrote one on Caitlin Clark that I really liked. I’ve written two different Michael Jordan stories. They’re all kid of like my kids — I kind of like them all.
LPJ: We could probably talk for hours about this, but where do you see news media today and the importance of getting information to people?
WT: Local media is both never been more important and never been more fragile. The watchdog function is very important, but so is the sense of community. It’s a place where the Little League box scores are. It’s place where the woman at the bank used to laminate the photographs. There is a fundamental aspect of creation of a community out of disparate people that can only really happen through local sports and local media. It’s the fire pit of a community. If you don’t have one shared set of facts where there is no arbiter, then everything’s true. And then it’s just anarchy.
I get all of my news now digitally. I don’t subscribe to a newspaper because I can’t get the New York Times delivered and it’s exhausting — I want someone to curate it for me. I would like it to show up and be like, hey, if it’s not in these pages, you don’t really need to know. But the local news as the fire pit of a community is essential.
LPJ: Last thing — where do you see news heading between AI (artificial intelligence), social media, and the attention economy? Where is this headed?
WT: I don’t think we know. I think that one of the reasons that the world is in such turmoil is that we are in this inflection age of old things dying and new things being born and all of the fear that presents. I love this idea that the Thirty Years War was caused by the invention of the printing press. I feel like the social media is the printing press of today. Before the printing press, only really the Catholic Church could make books. And now all of a sudden, anybody could say anything they want. And like, the human animal was not evolved to the point to be able to handle the responsibility of that or the fallout of it. And I feel like the internet is just the exact same thing. I think everything that’s happening now has happened before. And so I think people are always gonna wanna know what their neighbors are doing.
LPJ: Thank you for your time.
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.
