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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. 

Saturday, Dec. 20
9-11 a.m.: Christmas at the Complex (Ruston Sports Complex, 2001 Champions Way)
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market
12-2 p.m.: Free ice skating (Ruston Sports Complex, 2001 Champions Way)
2 p.m.: Lady Techsters basketball 
5:30-8 p.m.: Holiday movie and hot cocoa (Ruston Sports Complex, 2001 Champions Way)

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Monday, Dec. 22
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)
6:30 p.m.: LA Tech basketball

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)

Thursday, Dec. 25
Christmas

Saturday, Dec. 27
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market

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 Louisiana State Police

On December 17, 2025, at approximately 9:30 p.m., Detectives with the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Investigations were requested by the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office to investigate an officer-involved shooting that occurred on Dance Road. Detectives are working to process the scene and gather further information.

One subject sustained minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. No officers were harmed during the incident. This is an active investigation; further information will be released when it becomes available.

Anyone with information and/or pictures and video is urged to share that information with LSP Detectives. You may anonymously report information through the Louisiana State Police online reporting system by visiting lsp.org and clicking on Report Suspicious or Criminal Activity, or by calling the LSP Fusion Center Hotline at 1-800-434-8007.

 

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Erwin began searching for ways to increase the light produced by the light bulbs while making them cooler at the same time.  Rather than looking for a brand new method, he looked to history for the answer.  For hundreds of years, shoemakers and other craftsmen used schusterkugels (cobbler-spheres), glass spheres with a tubular end filled with water, to magnify and redirect candlelight into a concentrated beam.  They were primitive spotlights.  Erwin experimented with schusterkugels, but the light was still not bright enough.  He added various substances to the water to reflect and intensify the light such as flakes of metal and fine glass particles, but they quickly sank to the bottom.  Erwin was able to intensify the light but only for about a second.  He tried just about everything he had in his workshop, but the substances either sank too quickly or failed to sink at all.  Erwin turned to his kitchen and tried a multitude of edible items, including rice and flakes of a coarse flour called semolina flakes, but none enabled him to produce a brighter light for more than a second or two.

Erwin ultimately failed to create the brighter light that the surgeon had requested, but with his failure came an accidental invention for which he received the first patent.  Erwin’s invention became popular worldwide.  He built a company to produce his invention which is still owned and operated by the fourth generation of the Perzy family.  You see, Erwin was drawn to the effect the semolina flakes produced when added to water.  With the addition of a pewter miniature of Vienna’s Mariazell church at the base of the sphere, he had created what people in German speaking countries call “schneekugels.”  You and I know Erwin Perzy’s invention as a snow globe.

Sources:

1.     “Thomas Edison Biography,” National Park Service, NPS.gov, accessed December 7, 2025, https://www.nps.gov/edis/learn/historyculture/edison-biography.htm.

2.     “Die Original Wiener Schneekugel,” Original Wiener Schneekugelmanufaktur, accessed December 7, 2025, https://schneekugel.at/geschichte.

3.     Erik Trinidad, “How an Experiment to Amplify Light in Hospital Operating Rooms Led to the Accidental Invention of the Snow Globe,” Smithsonian magazine, December 27, 2024, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/how-an-experiment-to-amplify-light-in-hospital-operating-rooms-led-to-the-accidental-invention-of-the-snow-globe-180985742/.

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.

There are many things or hobbies in life that we enjoy, and for me that would be tournament bass fishing. But like many other hobbies, fishing bass tournaments is expensive and no matter how hard you try, you just can’t justify the cost! For myself, with over 30 years of tournament experience, here’s how this works.  

I don’t care what level you’re fishing, whether club tournaments, pro-am, weekend warrior or professionally, it’s hard to break even. Now some guys will boast that they have been making money for years with tournaments. Liars! They just hope their wives don’t figure out how much money they are spending on fishing!

They want you to think they’re making money because they’re not looking at the whole picture and, in most cases, don’t want to! It’s a sport that has so many hidden costs that anglers forget by choice.

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Very few anglers sit down and truly put a pencil to how much money it costs to fish any tournament trail. If you’re really honest with yourself and include everything, the numbers just don’t add up. 

First, there are entry fees which can range from $150 to $300 per event for lower-level events like the BFL’s and team tournament trails. On the high-level circuits and the professional side, entry fees can range from $1,700 up to $5,000 per tournament.  

Next, you’ve got to make sure you have insurance for your boat. You’ll not only need collision, but most high-level pro/am events won’t let you enter without $300,000 in liability insurance. 

Now let’s talk about boat gas expense, which can vary depending on how long the tournament is. Some events are one day while others are three days, but you also have at least three days of practice. This means you’re looking at 5 or 6 days per event.

Gas prices obviously fluctuate, but on average for me I spend anywhere from $125 up $175 just on boat gas alone. Truck gas, I usually spend around $150 up to $200 depending on how far away the tournament is. 

Ok, we’ve covered gas and entry fees, now let’s look at housing. The one good thing that really helps with this is having a couple of other anglers to help split the cost. On average, for five days and nights which includes practice time, you’re probably looking at around $300 each if you find a really good deal. 

Food! This can be an area where you can cut a few corners. Eating out is expensive and convenient but it can also be costly. Hopefully you have a couple of guys in your house who can cook and don’t mind doing it. 

I will cook at least one night, sometimes two. It might be homemade burgers one night or spaghetti another night. I‘ve also made a good vegetable beef soup or chili, which is nice on those cold early events. Cooking your own meals is certainly one way to reduce expenses.

Now for me, I usually bring something for breakfast like a sausage biscuit or maybe I’ll eat a small turkey sandwich. Then I’ll pack another turkey sandwich for lunch. This way, I’m only actually eating out one meal at night which will be in the range of $15 to $25 per dinner. 

But the one thing that we must add into the cost of tournament fishing: tackle!  Holy cow, the money I have spent on the road simply because I’ve run out of a particular color worm or lost a crankbait that I must replace or maybe I’ve had a lot of breakoffs and need more hooks or weights. 

One thing I do now, that I did not do early in my fishing career, is bring extra tackle with me that I think I might need for a particular body of water. But it never fails, no matter how many containers I bring full of baits and tackle, there will be that one thing I did not pack and must go buy. But that’s the life as an angler!

As you can see, tournament fishing is and can be very expensive. It is a sport that requires money if you want to compete. What I’m starting to realize after all my years of doing this is that nowadays just having the skill of catching fish is not good enough to fish at the highest professional level. 

To fish as a pro in 2025, it takes money, and lots of it to cover all the expenses required. This to me is sad and is taking the sport in a direction that I don’t think is good. It’s now becoming a sport that is pretty much for the elites since many great fishermen can’t afford the day-to-day costs involved.

In the long run, this will not be good for the sport of professional bass fishing. Which means the average Joe, with a depleted checkbook, will no longer be welcome on any pro circuit. 

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.

Dennis J. Miller  
Sunday 07/24/1955 — Thursday 12/11/2025   
Memorial Service: Friday 12/19/2025 2:00pm at King’s Funeral Home  

Patrick O. Washington   
Saturday 03/14/1964 — Sunday 12/07/2025   
Memorial Service: Friday 12/19/2025 12:00pm at King’s Funeral Home   
Private Burial 

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Cajun Navy 2016, a nationwide grassroots volunteer rescue and relief organization, is deploying a team to Washington State to assist communities impacted by recent historic flooding.

The deployment will focus on recovery and cleanup efforts, particularly in hard-hit areas where floodwaters have damaged homes, infrastructure, and roadways. As part of the mission, Cajun Navy 2016 will bring a skid steer to help remove debris, clear mud and sediment, and assist residents as they begin the long recovery process.

“After the waters recede, that’s when the real work begins,” said Jon Bridgers Sr., Founder and CEO of Cajun Navy 2016. “Families are left with homes filled with mud and debris, roads blocked, and no clear path forward. Our goal is to step in quickly, provide heavy equipment and manpower, and help communities start moving forward again.”

Cajun Navy 2016 volunteers specialize in rapid response and recovery operations, often filling critical gaps in the early days following disasters. The organization works in coordination with local officials, churches, and community leaders to ensure efforts are targeted where the need is greatest.

While Cajun Navy 2016 is widely known for swift-water rescues, the organization remains committed to long-term recovery efforts—bringing equipment, volunteers, and compassion to communities long after headlines fade.

“Our hearts are with the people of Washington State,” Bridgers said. “From Louisiana to the Pacific Northwest, neighbors helping neighbors is what this mission has always been about.”

For updates on Cajun Navy 2016’s deployment to Washington State or to learn how to support ongoing recovery efforts, visit www.CajunNavy2016.org.

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Following the conclusion of the postseason, the 2025 All-District 2-5A team has been released, and Ruston High defensive tackle Ra’Keem Potts was named defensive MVP to go along with Head Coach Jerrod Baugh and the rest of the coaches for staff of the year.

Senior Lander Smith was named first team at fullback along with sophomore Dalen Powell at running back. Juniors Josiah Morgan and Ahmad Hudson were named to the offense as receivers, while senior Brooks Brown was named to the offensive line. Junior Jayden Anding joined Potts on the defensive side of the ball at safety.

Junior quarterback Sam Hartwell was named to the second-team with junior offensive lineman Jakaylen Blackmon. Junior Trinden Moore earned second-team honors in the secondary, and Powell was also on the second-team as a kick returner.

The honorable mention section included junior kicker Joaquin Ramos, sophomore linebacker Aidan Adams, senior safety Miles Brown, senior tight end Cullen Clark and senior defensive lineman Keegan Goldsmith.

See full team below.

(2025 All-District Team)

Ra’Keem Potts – Defensive MVP
Ruston High – Staff of the Year
Parker Robinson (Neville) – Offensive MVP

First Team

QB – Karsen Sellers, ASH
QB – Parker Robinson, Neville
FB – Grayson Thibodeaux, ASH
FB – Lander Smith, Ruston
RB – Kason Williams, ASH
RB – Macario Dade, Ouachita
RB – Dalen Powell, Ruston
RB – Christian Ponti, West Monroe
WR – Alex Fontenot, ASH
WR – Ze’land Young, Neville
WR – Josiah Morgan, Ruston
WR – Trez Davis, West Monroe
TE – Ahmad Hudson, Ruston
TE – Cam Brooks, Ouachita
OL – Peter Loftin, ASH
OL – Van Martinez, Neville
OL – A.J. Washington, Ouachita
OL – Brooks Brown, Ruston
OL – Ty George, West Monroe
OL – Kaine Peaks, West Monroe
ATH – Montrell Conner, Ouachita
K – Eli Fung, ASH
KR – Jamarion Roberson, Neville

DL – Jayden Bayonne, ASH
DL – Dylan Berymon, Ouachita
DL – Ra’Keem Potts, Ruston
DL – Ethan Richard, ASH
DL – Malik Grayson, Neville
DL – Jeremy Jones, Ouachita
LB – Xavier White, ASH
LB – Jakobe Collins, Neville
LB – Ja’Marcus Jacobs, Ouachita
LB – Mason Willis, West Monroe
DB – Jay Frazier, Alexandria
DB – Dylan Johnson, Ouachita
DB – Aavery Lewis, West Monroe
DB – Jakyrin Griffin, ASH
DB – Jayden Reed, Neville
DB – Jayden Anding, Ruston
DB – Deandre Mansfield, Ouachita
Flex – Julian Burns, Neville
Flex – Wydell Clark, Ouachita
P – Rivers Sorrell, Neville

2nd Team
QB – Sam Hartwell, Ruston
RB – Noble Williams, ASH
RB – Jamarion Roberson, Neville
RB – Ayden Tate, Pineville
WR – Desi Byrd, Neville
WR – Kelmarion Phillips, Pineville
WR – Kevon Whitlock, Ouachita
WR – Jordan Coleman, West Monroe
WR – Kayvion Mitchell, West Monroe
TE – Sam Turner, West Monroe
OL – Ayden Price, ASH
OL – Grant Vinson, Neville
OL – Bennett McNabb, Neville
OL – Marcus Jacobs, Ouachita
OL – Jakaylen Blackmon, Ruston
OL – Cameron Ross, West Monroe
ATH – Jakyrin Griffin, ASH
K – Kam Gayle, Ouachita
K – Hunter Fox, West Monroe
KR – Dalen Powell, Ruston

DT – Jordan Fobbs-White, Neville
DT – Dylan Tatem, Pineville
DT – Braxton Florentine, West Monroe
DT – Jayden Clay, West Monroe
DE – Jaylen Watkins, Neville
DE – Brodie Thurmon, West Monroe
DE – Smoltz Lily, West Monroe
LB – Bryson Phoenix, ASH
LB – Brandon Bruce, Ouachita
LB – Jyren Pearson, Pineville
LB – Jaxon Talley, West Monroe
LB – Elijah Thomason, West Monroe
DB – Kayden Jones, Neville
DB – Quinton Carter, West Monroe
DB – Kerrick Gaines, ASH
DB – Max Carter, Neville
DB – O.D. Freemont, Ouachita
DB – Trindon Moore, Ruston
DB – Maddox Cobbs, West Monroe
P – Remy Moore, West Monroe
LS – Clayton Doyal, ASH

Honorable mention: Carter Rivet (ASH), Brooks Yerger (Neville), Donta Matthews (Neville), Davis Shelby (Neville), Keonti Harris (Neville), C.J. Williams (Ouachita, Alex Smith (Ouachita), Trey Johnson (Ouachita), Brady Baden (Pineville), Joaquin Ramos (Ruston), Aidan Adams (Ruston), Miles Brown (Ruston), Cullen Clark (Ruston), Keegan Goldsmith (Ruston), Brady Guillot (West Monroe), Kedrian McNeil (West Monroe), Lane Passman (West Monroe), Chance Stites (West Monroe), Jamison Slater (West Monroe)

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For those who were fortunate enough to grow up and experience Ruston High Bearcat football in the Jimmy “Chick” Childress days, well we were lucky to say the least. 

For a decade, Ruston High was the team to beat in Class 4A.

From 1982 until 1900, the Bearcats played in five state title games and won four championships. 

But like happens many times when a legendary head coach retires (or departs), Ruston wasn’t able to sustain that success (outside of one state title appearance in 1997). 

Fast forward three decades and the Bearcats are back.

Thank you, Jerrod Baugh.

Four years ago when Ruston advanced to its first state title game (since that 1997 appearance, a loss to West Monroe), the Bearcat community was just happy to be back. Seriously. It has been way too long, especially when one of your most “hated” rivals (West Monroe) had played in 16 of them from 1993 through 2018.

Now after four straight trips to the dome — something never accomplished under even Coach Childress — it’s an expectation around the 318. 

Thank you, Jerrod Baugh.

Plenty has been written about Baugh and his Bearcats during this four-year run. And deservedly so. Winning is hard, something fans can sometimes forget.

Sure. Ruston is 1-3 in those state title games. But only the 2024 loss to Central was a disappointment. Not because of finishing second, but just because of the on-field performance.

But the 17-10 loss to Destrehan in 2022 and the 21-20 loss to Ouachita this year were one play games. Ruston is that close to being 3-1.

Regardless, Ruston fans have been treated to a historical run by a historical program. 

Thank you, Jerrod Baugh.

Bottom line and obvious statement of the day, coaching matters. Yes. You have to have the Jimmy’s and Joe’s to line up and be a state title caliber contender. Ruston has had plenty of Jimmy’s and Joe’s the last four years.

But Baugh has built a program, not a team. The Bearcats haven’t been a one year and done team. That has a lot to do with coaching and with building a program from the ground up. It’s what Coach Childress did in the 1980s. It’s what Don Shows did at West Monroe for decades.

And hopefully it will continue for the Bearcats.

I’ve heard plenty of people say, “Oh, Ruston will be back next year.” 

That could very well be the case. Plenty of talent returns. Jerrod Baugh and his staff returns. 

But one thing we all need to remember is every year is different. And winning is hard.

So be thankful for the past four years. Celebrate the success. And let’s not take for granted the fact that winning is hard and Baugh and the Bearcats have done a lot of it over the past four seasons. 

Thank you, Jerrod Baugh.

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A Simsboro man was arrested last week after the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a trespasser in a vacant mobile home on Gahagan Road.

Donnie O’Brien Holloway, 31, was located inside a vacant mobile home. Deputies had responded to the location on several occasions in the past regarding Holloway squatting inside a vacant trailer.

Deputies found two smoking pipes fashioned from plastic ink pens by melting them together. From their experience and training, the deputies knew the smoking pipes were normally used to consume narcotics. Several items with Holloway’s name were found nearby.

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Holloway said he had been given permission to stay in the mobile home this time by the owner, but similar to previous occasions, he could not provide the owner’s name or phone number.

Holloway was arrested and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for possession of drug paraphernalia and remaining on premises after being forbidden (criminal trespass).

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.

As I reflect on the last two weeks of 1:1 leadership coaching sessions and several group engagements, I am reminded of how many of us struggle with control.  In the workplace, we struggle when others don’t perform in the manner we expect.  At home, we get frustrated when things don’t go as planned.  We seek control, but it eludes our grasp.

Rather than get frustrated with the issue of control, reflect on these considerations:

We really want buy-in rather than compliance – Compliance often results from respect or fear of authority.  Compliance works as long as the presence of authority is effective.  Buy-in on the other hand results from a transfer of belief.  Buy-in happens when people understand “why” beyond the “what”.  Managers focus on compliance.  Leaders focus on buy-in.  Effective parenting begins with loving authority and transitions to loving influence over time.

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Rules without reason results in rebellion – Whether we are referring to the workplace, the home environment, or society in general, people need to be able to understand the reason for the rule.  When there is no clear reason, people will naturally rebel at some point.  The same factor plays out in the workplace or at home.  Take the time to explain the “why”!

We will never have total control over circumstances – Circumstances change all the time.  We see some coming while others come unexpectedly.  We can’t control them no matter how hard we work.  We can influence some to a degree, but we don’t control them. 

Many of us are consumed with just wanting different circumstances.  We lack contentment, experience frustration, and crave control.  Rather than continue to seek better circumstances, consider answering this question:

In light of my present circumstances, what do others need from me?

Accept the circumstances for what they are at the present time.  We may be working to improve them, but we acknowledge that we don’t control them. 

Place the focus on others rather than self.  When we focus on others, we not only take the focus off self, but we also turn the tension, anxiety, and stress to targeted acts of service to benefit others.  We can release and refocus!

The more we can ask that question, the further we move from seeking control in areas of our lives that we can’t control.

The more we ask that question, the more sensitive we become to others and less focused we are on self.

The more we ask that question, the more we experience growing contentment – content if circumstances never change but always seeking to improve!

The more we ask that question, the more joy we experience!

In light of your present circumstances, what do others need from you?

Doug provides professional speaking and coaching services to organizations and individuals.  Whether you are looking for a speaker for your next event or a leadership coach to develop people and build a team culture, feel free to reach out to Doug at  doug.strickel@gmail.com and learn more about PLUS.

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.

Staff report

LAFAYETTE, La. — Ruston High’s cheer team was named the division winner in the Medium Varsity Game Day category last weekend at the Universal Cheerleaders Association Louisiana Regional competition.

“We are really proud of these girls and the way they competed,” Head Cheer Coach Collin McDonald said. “We had to cancel several practices throughout the week to stop the flu from spreading. The only practice we had with the full team this week was 20 minutes in a park two hours before the competition. That on top of basketball games, state championship events, the game on Saturday and the emotions that come from a close loss could’ve given them plenty of excuses but they really came together and performed. This is a young team compared to normal. Last year we graduated over half of our team so a lot of new things for these girls. We still have some things to improve on before nationals in January but it felt like we turned a corner this week.”

Ruston will be competing next at the National High School Cheerleading Championship in Orlando on Jan. 30 through Feb. 1.

Front row: Camille Maier, Landry Tyler, Ella Love, Layla Garner, Sarah Kate Taylor

Middle row: Drew Cramer, Hannah Daulton, Anna Simmons, Averie Moon, Keatyn Brashear, Georgia Puckett, Annie James, Jilly Turpin

Back row: Anna Kate Clark, Kate Wood, Farrah Futch, Julia Taulli, Avery Dixon, Lilla Falting, Eero Slaughter, Ava Puckett

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By Cole Gentry, Chief Marketing Officer at Northwestern State University

 

You remember the excitement of freshman year. You picked out the dorm decor, bought the textbooks, and had a clear picture of how college was supposed to go.

But sometimes, despite the hard work you’ve put in, the reality doesn’t match the dream. Maybe the campus feels too big and impersonal, or perhaps the program isn’t what you expected.

For many students across Louisiana, coming home for a weekend or a semester break brings a quiet realization: the school you chose at 18 might not be the school you need to become the professional you want to be.

There is a common misconception that transferring means failure or, worse, losing all the ground you have gained. The fear of wasted credits and tangled paperwork often keeps students stuck in places where they aren’t thriving.

At Northwestern State University, the philosophy is different. We believe that realizing you need a change isn’t a step back. It is a step toward a future that fits.

The biggest hurdle to transferring is the uncertainty. Will my classes count? Will I graduate late? These questions create a gap between where a student is and where they want to be.

“We get it. Transferring can feel stressful because of the unknowns,” says Emily Miller, Director of Recruiting at NSU. “Our goal is to close that gap immediately. From day one, we provide a dedicated transfer advisor and fast credit evaluation. We look at the work you’ve already done and find every possible way to apply it to a degree at NSU. We want you to move forward, not start over.”

This approach transforms the process from a bureaucratic headache into a personalized welcome. Whether you are looking for the traditional on-campus experience in Natchitoches or the flexibility of our robust online programs, the focus remains on the individual student.

One of the primary reasons students transfer to NSU is the desire for connection. It is easy to feel like a number in a lecture hall of 400 people. Northwestern offers a different environment, one defined by small classes and professors who actually know your name.

“Transferring to NSU was one of my best decisions,” says Chris James, a Communication Arts and New Media transfer student. “From the start, I felt like I’d found a place to grow. I’ve covered live events with ESPN+ and worked with NSU TV News, the student newspaper, yearbook, and on-campus radio station, pushing me further than I imagined.”

“When a student joins the Demon family, they are bringing their unique story and potential to our campus,” says James T. Genovese, President of Northwestern State University. “We empower every student to shape their future. We are committed to providing the culture, the scholarships, and the academic support to ensure every transfer student finishes strong.”

This commitment includes scholarships specifically designed to recognize the progress transfer students have already made. It is a validation that your previous hard work matters here.

If you are feeling like your current college isn’t the right fit, you don’t have to wait a year to fix it. You can change your trajectory right now.

Spring classes at Northwestern State University begin January 12, 2026, and registration is currently open.

Ready to become a Demon? Visit www.nsu.la/transfer to see how your credits transfer and start your application today.

This is an advertorial

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A Ruston man was arrested over the weekend after the vehicle in which he was traveling was stopped during a vehicle burglary investigation.

Matt Gray, 23, was arrested on December 13 by Ruston Police after he claimed marijuana found in the vehicle.

Ruston officers responded to the area of Kentucky Avenue and Cooktown Road regarding a possible vehicle burglary at about 6:00 a.m. During the investigation, a vehicle was spotted in the area. Before an officer could stop it, the driver pulled over at the intersection of Pennington and Wedgewood and made contact with other officers who were on foot.

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While dealing with the vehicle, officers smelled marijuana coming from inside. A search of the vehicle located a large plastic bag containing suspected marijuana, a scale, and a large blue tray.

Gray, a passenger in the vehicle, claimed the marijuana was his and that he had purchased it earlier in the day. He was arrested and booked at the Lincoln Parish detention center for possession of marijuana.

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.

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