Paula Jean Ireland, age 80 of Ruston, passed away Saturday, March 14, 2026 in Ruston, LA. She was born December 5, 1945 in Dallas, TX to Norma Louise Cundiff and Louis Eugene Grubbs.
Paula found happiness in life’s simple pleasures. Whether casting a line in still water at her favorite fishing spot or watching butterflies in her yard, she enjoyed the outdoors. Paula liked to crochet and you could see that talent in the Afghan’s, the Christmas ornaments, and other trinkets that she made. She worked many places as an accountant, including Southwestern Bell.
Paula had a heart for Chihuahuas who gave her companionship and joy. Among them, her favorite, Sissy, held a particularly special place in her heart. Above all, she had a love for her grandchildren.
Paula was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter, Lisa Diane Stout; and great-grandson, Donald Lee Bouwell, III. She is survived by her children, Howard Bill Ireland, Melody and husband Joshua Wages, and William Ashbrook and his wife Sonja; siblings, Robby Brooks and wife Jenie, Ricky Brooks and wife Susan, and Rusty Brooks; grandchildren: Donald Bouwell, Jr., Kimbra Bouwell, Courtney Harwell Mayes, Brittany Ashbrook, and Amanda Ashbrook; 16 great-grandchildren; and a host of other family and friends.
The family will have a private memorial service at a later date. Anyone wishing to make a donation should contact the funeral home at 318-255-4739.
Jayden Dyson Revels April 11, 2006 – March 14, 2026 Visitation: Thursday, March 19, 2026, 5:00PM – 7:00PM, Kilpatrick Funeral Homes Service: Friday, March 20, 2026, 2:00PM, Kilpatrick Funeral Homes Final Resting Place: Rock Corner Cemetery, 824 Rock Corner Road, Dubach
Matthew Leland Skipper September 28, 2000 – March 16, 2026 Visitation: Sunday, March 22, 2026, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM, Owens Memorial Chapel Memorial Service: Sunday, March 22, 2026, 3:00 PM, Owens Memorial Chapel
Anita Worsham Brown January 30, 1933 – March 14, 2026 Service: Thursday, March 19, 2026, 1:00PM, Kilpatrick Funeral Homes Final Resting Place: Fellowship Cemetery in Dubberly, LA 531, Dubberly
Jewelritt Sims Sunday 03/27/1955 — Thursday 03/12/2026 Visitation: Friday 03/20/2026 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Celebration of Life: Saturday 03/21/2026 1:00pm, Zion Traveler Baptist Church, 1201 Martin Luther King Drive, Ruston Interment: Saturday 03/21/2026 Following Service, George Washington Carver Memorial Park, Martin Luther King Drive, Ruston
Ella L. Jones Tuesday 08/20/1940 — Tuesday 03/10/2026 Visitation: Friday 03/20/2026 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Funeral Service: Saturday 03/21/2026 11:00am, Miracle Temple Church of God in Christ, 1405 South Farmerville Street, Ruston Interment: Saturday 03/21/2026 Following Service, Grambling Memorial Garden, US Highway 80 West, Grambling
Jerome Dimmer Friday 06/07/1957 — Wednesday 03/11/2026 Family Gathering: Friday 03/20/2026 2:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Visitation: Friday 03/20/2026 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Funeral Service: Saturday 03/21/2026 11:00am at King’s Funeral Home Interment: Saturday 03/21/2026 Following Service, Ebenezer Cemetery, Parish Road 214, Ruston
Jackie Lou Holladay April 19, 1935 – March 12, 2026 Graveside: Friday, March 20, 2026, 10:00 AM, Keesee Cemetery, Monarch, AR
Gerald Van Lyles June 21, 1947 – March 12, 2026 Memorial Visitation: Monday, March 23, 2026, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home
An early morning crash on Interstate 20 in Ruston snarled traffic as motorists attempted to get to work and school Wednesday morning.
Reported at 4:32 a.m., a semi rig pulling a double trailer overturned on Interstate 20 between exit 83 (Tarbutton Road) and exit 84 (Tech Drive) blocking both eastbound lanes. Much of the trailers’ boxed cargo was spilled out onto the roadway.
Ruston Police and Fire responded to the scene. No injuries have been reported.
RPD detectives and command staff were assisting patrol officers in directing traffic around the crash. The Grambling Police Department, Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Louisiana State Police assisted in rerouting the traffic off eastbound I-20 onto the South Service Road at exit 83 and then back onto the Interstate at Tech Drive/Cooktown Road causing delays for students trying to reach Ruston High School, Ruston Junior High, and Louisiana Tech.
As of 7:30 a.m., several large tow trucks had reached the scene and were preparing to try to upright the rig, but police said the process may take hours.
Information on the cause of the crash, injuries, or other involved vehicles were not immediately available as police remain on the scene. An update will follow when more information is available.
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RUSTON, La. — The Cypress Springs Wildcats will have a familiar face from the parish as their new principal.
Tiffany Young (formerly Curry) of Dubach School was formally named the new principal of Cypress Springs Elementary on Tuesday after the staffs of both schools were notified in the afternoon.
“It’s a full-circle moment for me,” Young said. “I was a classroom teacher at Cypress Springs when we changed the school’s configuration at the end of the 2012 school year. I’m excited about the opportunity. I do know that it will be different and challenging, and we’ll have a lot of growth to accomplish in our first year together. But that’s part of being a leader— growing people, and growing as a leader, and so I’m looking forward to that challenge.
”I’ll miss my Dubach family. They will always have a special place in my heart, because they gave me my first shot (as principal). We’ve accomplished a lot of things together, and we’ve grown this school and built a family. We’ve provided a lot of stability for people. The families are great out here — it’s Dubach’s best kept secret. We say out here that “We mind our Dubach Business,” but I do need then to know that I will still be in their business because the school will always be near and dear to my heart. But I’m happy to be a Wildcat again — we’re going to do great work.”
During Young’s tenure as principal of Dubach School as both interim and formal principal, the school earned a B School Performance Score in 2023. She had her interim tagged officially removed in the December 2023 Lincoln Parish School Board session.
“Tiffany’s done a great job at Dubach, and I know they hated to lose her,” Lincoln Parish School Board Superintendent Ricky Durrett said. “But she’s a perfect fit for Cypress Springs with the knowledge and experience she brings. Cypress Springs is our largest elementary school in the city and having her expertise will be valuable for Cypress Springs and for that community.”
Young will officially take over as CSE principal on June 1. Current interim principal Marissa Boyd will return to being a coordinating teacher.
Durrett confirmed that the search for Dubach’s next principal has begun.
Representatives from local first responder agencies picked up free tickets for the Rotary jambalaya fundraiser, courtesy of Karl Malone Toyota.
The Ruston Rotary Club will host the Fourth Annual Jambalaya Fundraiser in the Super 1 Parking lot, March 19, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
A meal of Jambalaya, dessert and crackers for just $10 will be served and will help the Ruston Rotary Club raise funds for its community service projects.
Karl Malone Toyota recently donated tickets to members of the local Lincoln Parish first responder agencies as a thank you to their dedication and hard work.
The jambalaya fundraiser is a way for the community to come together and invest in service as every dollar raised helps Ruston Rotary support meaningful projects that strengthen area schools and care for those in need. Some of these projects include Coats for Kids, dictionaries for third-graders, student scholarships, Christmas gift bags for nursing home residents, and food backpacks for food insecure students.
The Ruston Rotary Coats for Kids program donated 298 coats in October 2025 for elementary students in Lincoln Parish in coordination with The Children’s Shoppe. In May, the Ruston Rotary club will give out four $2,000 scholarships for high school students attending college and new this year is a $2,000 for a student attending the Ruston campus of Louisiana Delta Community College.
Rotarians pick up food backpacks every Thursday during the school year at Super 1 and drop them off at Hillcrest Elementary for needy students to take home on Friday for meals over the weekend. During the fall, Rotarians give Lincoln Parish third grade students their very own dictionary to keep in the classroom or at home.
Rotarians are also involved in the Med-Camp Fall Halloween Bash held at Camp Alabama every year the Saturday before Halloween with the Rotarians dressed up as Wizard of Oz characters.
Each meal will feature jambalaya, dessert and crackers. Jambalaya meals or pans maybe ordered for pick up for business or organization between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Thursday.
You may buy a plate for $10 or a quart container of jambalaya for $15, a half pan for $100 for 10 servings or a full pan for $200 for 20 servings. You may also walk up on March 19 at the Super 1 parking lot from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to purchase a meal or a quarter of Jambalaya.
Individuals may order ahead by calling Rusty Wilfong at 318-265-0985, Kris Barney at 813-541-3927 or Jerry Pye at 318-282-5278 or any Ruston Rotary member.
The Union Parish Sheriff’s Office has made an arrest following an investigation into reported fraudulent activity.
In January 2026, investigators received information alleging Meghann Marie Brown, 42, of Marion, represented herself as an attorney and accepted money for providing legal services. Investigators from the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) launched an investigation. The investigation revealed Brown accepted payments totaling over $1,000 while claiming she would resolve outstanding legal matters and assist with additional legal proceedings on the victim’s behalf.
Further investigation revealed that Brown was not licensed to practice law in the State of Louisiana or any other jurisdiction. CID investigators confirmed that the promised legal payments were never made, and the victim did not receive the services that were represented. Investigators prepared an arrest warrant, and it was signed by a Third Judicial District Court judge.
On March 16, 2026, officers from the Marion Police Department located Brown in Marion, and she was taken into custody without incident. Brown was booked into the Union Parish Detention Center for Felony Theft and False Personation. Her bond was set at $15,000.
RUSTON, La. — Ruston High released its 2026 football schedule this past week that includes two state champions on the slate and five regular season home games.
“With the level of competition that we have scheduled, we better plan to be intentional about how we are preparing during the offseason, spring practice, and summer workouts,” Ruston High Head Coach Jerrod Baugh said. “We will find out weekly where we are and what things we need to continue to improve on.
After talking on Evangel in the 2026 Bayou Jamb, the Bearcats will kickoff the regular season on Friday, Sept. 4, with the 101st meeting with Neville at James Field at Hoss Garrett Stadium — a rivalry that has been played at least once a season since before World War II.
Ruston will then host Longview on Friday, Sept. 11, in an out-of-state matchup for the third year in a row. The ‘Cats will then hit the road to New Orleans to take on Edna Karr, a perennial power house that just won another Select, Division I state championship. The venue is still to be determined, though the Super Dome is still a possibility.
Rounding out non-district play, the Bearcats will then host Catholic on Friday, Sept. 25, before having a rare regular season bye on Friday, Oct. 2.
“The bye week should be at a good point in the season so that we can really evaluate any changes or modifications that need to be made,” Baugh said.
The Bearcats will then open District 2-5A play on Friday, Oct. 9, at Ouachita, the 2025 Non-Select, Division I champion, before hosting District 2-5A newcomer Peabody on Friday, Oct. 16, who replaced Neville in the district.
It will then be back-to-back matchups with Central Louisiana teams when Ruston goes to Alexandria on Friday, Oct. 23, and then back home for Pineville on Friday, Oct. 30.
The ‘Cats will conclude the 2026 regular season with a road trip to West Monroe on Friday, Nov. 6.
(Editor’s note: This week and the next two, a visit from three people with three very different and distinct views of Easter… Today, Simon, a Cyrenian, who stood on the Via Dolorosa on the day the Lamb passed by.)
“Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac . . . Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, . . .. ‘. . . but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?’ Abraham answered, ‘God himself will provide the lamb . . ..’” —Genesis 22:6-8 (NIV)
“And they compelled one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear His cross.”—Mark 15:21 (KJV)
Jesus always does the hard part. It might not seem that way in our human moments of trial or suffering, but it is a reality crystal clear when we view our lives through His.
Simon could not have known when he woke up that day that his life would, in mid-morning, change forever. After all, he was just passing through. By divine circumstance, his path crossed the path of the beaten and bleeding Savior.
A scared and timid step forward, a shove, and Simon was in an unwanted spotlight, “compelled” by a soldier’s whip and an order into a moment that would capture his life in God’s Word for eternity.
But it would also capture his heart.
Few people run toward the cross. Most of us must be compelled by the soldier of misfortune, suffering, disease, and any of a thousand pains and problems. Even then, we pick it up kicking and screaming.
But I hope we can be like Simon. Surely . . . after looking into Jesus eyes that day, after seeing up close Christ’s shredded back, His crown of thorns, surely . . . Simon knew that, in comparison, the yoke was easy. Jesus always does the hard part.
How could Simon look at that and not be changed forever?
In the days and weeks after, as news of the Resurrection spread, I imagine Simon’s horror of that day turned into an overwhelming feeling of honor. I imagine him on his knees and, through tears, gazing toward Heaven, arms extended, awed, overcome. I imagine his arms around his sons, his grateful whisper in their ears: “I walked with that Man . . ..” Have I stood on the Via Dolorosa on a day when the Lamb was passing by? Have I heard bloodthirsty calls from the crowd and seen a virgin’s son, an innocent man, bearing a cross toward the most important, galvanizing, meaningful moment in history? Have my eyes met His on that Way of Grief? Does my back yet feel the wood? Do I cherish the Old Rugged Cross?
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A local man Ruston Police arrested for DWI and traffic charges last week was found to have marijuana on him when booked.
Devarius Spivey, 33, of Ruston, was stopped March 14 after an officer saw his vehicle cross the double yellow line into the opposing lane on South Farmerville Street.
During the stop, the officer detected the odor of alcoholic beverages on Spivey, who said he had been drinking earlier in the evening.
Spivey performed poorly on a series of field sobriety tests and was arrested. He was taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center where marijuana was found on him.
A breath test indicated Spivey’s blood alcohol concentration was .207g%, more than twice the Louisiana legal limit.
Spivey was booked for DWI first offense, introduction of contraband into a penal facility, expired license plate, improper lane usage, and no driver’s license.
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.
On Tuesday, March 17, 2026, shortly after 6:00 a.m., Troopers with Louisiana State Police Troop F began investigating a three-vehicle fatal crash on Louisiana Highway 3051, just east of McCowin Road. The crash claimed the life of 28-year-old Seth Bynog of Bastrop.
The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2025 Kia K4, driven by Bynog, was traveling east on Louisiana Highway 3051. At the same time, a 2019 Buick Enclave and a 2011 Ford Flex were traveling west on Louisiana Highway 3051. For reasons still under investigation, the Kia crossed over the centerline, entered the westbound lane, and struck the left side of the Buick. After the initial impact, the Kia continued east in the westbound lane before striking the front of the Ford.
Bynog, who was properly restrained, died at the scene. The drivers of the Ford and the Buick, who were properly restrained, received moderate injuries and were transported to an area hospital for treatment. Although impairment is not suspected, routine toxicology samples were collected and will be submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.
Troopers urge drivers to always make safe decisions behind the wheel: never drive impaired, always wear a seat belt, and avoid distractions. Taking a few extra seconds to buckle up or slow down can be the difference between life and death.
Choudrant pitcher Addison Worley, who finished with 14 strikeouts, is pictured firing off her final pitch for her last K in Tuesday’s win at Simsboro. (Photo by T. Scott Boatright)
By T. Scott Boatright
In a game between mirror-like teams, it is often the little things that end up being the difference between a win and a loss.
And that is the way things played out on Tuesday night between Simsboro and Choudrant as the Lady Aggies escaped with a 9-4 win in a hard-fought game for both teams on the SHS softball field.
Choudrant’s consistency played a crucial role in the Lady Aggies win, as they played errorless ball while scoring at least one run in each of the first five innings.
“We’re a lot like them and they’re a lot like us,” said Lady Tigers coach Payton Bond. “We are neck-and-neck with them. We are a young team and have experienced some growing pains this year. And a lot of growing opportunities. Losing (pitcher Carlie Wheeler, now playing for LSU-Eunice, and catcher Jacoya Lewis) last year was big, so we knew going into the year we were going to have to learn how to play without them.
“But we have played several close ballgames this year. I think we have played two one-run games that were close, and two two-run games that were close. We have been in several games later. Even in that game we just played against Choudrant, it did not feel like we were ever out of it. We had runners in scoring position a couple of innings that we could not push across. Overall, we played well defensively except for a couple of errors that came at tough times.”
Choudrant pitcher Addison Worley was a key force in the Lady Aggies’ win, striking out 14 Lady Tigers in the complete seven-inning win while giving up 10 hits.
Worley recorded three strikeouts during Simsboro’s final chances at bat, with Lady Aggies coach Stacy Tassin saying she never considered pulling Worley after she gave up two runs off three hits in the bottom of the sixth inning as temperatures began getting brisk.
“That’s not a worry for her,” Tassin said. “Neither the situation — whether it was time for her to retire the side for the win or the fact it was getting colder. She can handle those kinds of things. If she couldn’t she would tell you.”
Choudrant scored one run off in each of the first three innings before Simsboro cut the Lady Aggies’ lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the third on an RBI-single by Kailee Hamilton that scored left fielder Brooklyn Boyd.
The Lady Aggies added two more runs in the top of the fourth before Simsboro added another run in the bottom half of that stanza to cut Choudrant’s advantage to 5-2.
But then Choudrant took control in the top of the fifth inning, scoring four runs off three hits with a pair of Simsboro errors proving costly for the Lady Tigers.
“I think we played decent,” Tassin said. “We played pretty good. We could have hit the ball more than we did. We manufacture runs. We did a little bunting, a little stealing and that helped us get the win.”
The win pushed the Lady Aggies to 5-13 on the year.
“We’ve struggled this season,” Tassin said. “We are young. We are just getting better game by game as we gain experience.”
As he looks for ways to overcome the loss of a standout like Wheeler, Bond said he is proud of the fact his Lady Tigers, who now stand at 4-11, have three pitchers they can use.
“We played all three tonight,” Bond said. “They all did a good job and threw outs. If we only got a couple of things that did not go our way at the play to happen, then it would have been a lot closer game than it ended up being. But we are young and growing and we have a lot to look forward to this year. There is still a lot of season left to get better in. It feels like we are starting to get a feel for things. I am getting better about knowing when to make changes on the rubber.”
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, March 18 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, March 19 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Kiwanis Club lunch and program (Trinity Methodist Church fellowship hall) 2 p.m.: Ribbon cutting celebrating Peach Cobbler Factory (101 N. Service Rd., Unit 2) 4 p.m.: Tween Time (Lincoln Parish Library) 4:30-5:30 p.m.: Free meal courtesy of Halff Associates and 5 Loaves 2 Fish Ministry to be served at St. Benedict Church on Main Street in Grambling. All are welcome. 5 p.m.: Library Board of Control Meeting (Lincoln Parish Library) 6 p.m.: Teen Time (Lincoln Parish Library) 6 p.m.: Southern A’Chord Chorus rehearsal (Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 212 N. Bonner St.; open to all women singers) 6:30 p.m.: Books and Bites Book Club (Lincoln Parish Library; registration required by calling 318-513-5510)
Friday, March 20 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Friends of the Library Children’s Books and Puzzle Sale (Lincoln Parish Library) 6 p.m.: GSU baseball
Saturday, March 21 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Missions Market 2026; Concord/Union Baptist Association Women on Mission craft and bake sale (Temple Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 1515 S. Service Rd. W., Ruston) 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Friends of the Library Children’s Books and Puzzle Sale (Lincoln Parish Library) 2-3 p.m.: Tween and Teen Writer Workshop (Lincoln Parish Library) 3 p.m.: GSU baseball
Sunday, March 22 1 p.m.: GSU baseball
Monday, March 23 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, March 25 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, March 26 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Kiwanis Club lunch and program (Trinity Methodist Church fellowship hall) 4 p.m.: Tween Time (Lincoln Parish Library) 6 p.m.: Teen Time (Lincoln Parish Library) 6 p.m.: Southern A’Chord Chorus rehearsal (Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 212 N. Bonner St.; open to all women singers)
Friday, March 27 1 p.m.: Grambling State softball 4 p.m.: Family Fun Friday: Women’s History Month Bingo (Lincoln Parish Library) 6 p.m.: LA Tech baseball 6 p.m.: LA Tech softball
Saturday, March 28 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Board Game Meet Up (Lincoln Parish Library) 10 a.m.: Master Gardeners present “The Cutting Garden: A Bounty of Blooms” (Jack Beard Room, Lincoln Parish Library) Noon: Grambling State softball 2 p.m.: LA Tech baseball 2 p.m.: LA Tech softball 2 p.m.: Grambling State softball
Sunday, March 29 11 a.m.: LA Tech softball 1 p.m.: LA Tech baseball
For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox.Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
Life has so many variables out of our control that makes navigating our daily situations difficult. But in some instances, there are a few things we can control and it’s up to each of us to make it happen.
One thing we have zero control over is who our parents are. We as individuals have zero say on the DNA we are blessed with, nor the people it came from. Even though we are who we are, we do have the ability to become the person we truly want to be. In most cases, we can pave our own path to success or failure with the skills we have been blessed with.
Even with bad DNA flowing through our bodies, we still have the task of shaping our lives into whatever we want to be. But only if we as individuals take control and ownership of who we are will our direction in life be confirmed.
I learned at a very early age that the good Lord above had blessed me with good athletic abilities. I figured out before the age of 10 that it would be through sports, with hard work and determination, that I could possibly have some success. Sports gave me a purpose!
That’s what we’re all looking for … a purpose! Even if it goes against the beliefs of the people who raised us, we have to take control of our own destiny at some point.
Even when the odds are against us, there are also times when we have to accept the consequences of our actions. We have to make decisions that not only affect ourselves, but those around us.
Sometimes this means hurting the ones we love the most because the direction they want us to go may not be the same as the destination we had in mind.
By the time we reach 17 or 18 years old, most people know who they are and possibly what direction or path they might want to take. They start to see things in a different light than, say, their parents. But as parents, we must recognize that even though we think we know what’s best for our children, that may not always be the case. We must allow them to spread their wings and continue to grow even if they make a few mistakes along the way. It’s called growing up!
I’ve always heard the excuse that he or she was a product of the environment in which they were raised. Sometimes this can be true, but it doesn’t always have to be that way.
For example, my stepdad was a wife beater and treated women like they were worthless. Even though I witnessed many of these incidents first-hand at a young age, I always knew in my heart that this was wrong, and I made a conscious decision to never be that kind of person.
I always felt that God instills in each of us the ability to know right from wrong when we are born. He gave all of us a brain and the ability to reason when we see things that are not right.
Just because you grow up in a house with little to no guidance doesn’t give you the excuse to ignore what is right. Subconsciously we still know right from wrong and it’s up to each of us to make good decisions and do the right thing.
We all need direction in our lives, which was lacking early in my childhood. Hopefully, we have those we can turn to for advice like a parent or maybe a grandparent, aunt, uncle, preacher, teacher or maybe a coach. No matter who it is, it should be someone we trust. A person who has our best interest at heart.
Bottom line is this — at some point in our lives we must take control over our destiny no matter what our background is. But when we make a decision, we must accept the consequences for our actions. This is what we call accountability!
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 Jayden Dyson Revels, 19, of Calhoun, LA will be held at 2:00 PM, Friday, March 20, 2026, at Kilpatrick Funeral Homes of Ruston.
Interment will follow at Rock Corner Baptist Church Cemetery in Dubach, LA. Officiating the service will be Rev. Larry Bullock. A visitation will be held on Thursday, March 19, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Ruston, LA.
Jayden was a member of Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church – Monroe, LA. He was working as a manager trainee at Dollar General in Calhoun, LA.
Left to cherish his memory are his father, Lucas Revels of Calhoun, LA; mother, Crystal Ross of Ruston, LA; grandparents, Thomas and Betty Revels of Dubach, LA; brother, Sterling Bowman; sisters, Amber Spangler, Jewel Ross; uncle, James Steven Revels and wife Marsha; cousin, Madison Revels; as well as several cousins, family, and friends.
Pallbearers will be Lucas Revels, James Steven Revels, Sterling Bowman, Noah Cagle, James Barmore, and Kaid Barmore.
Anita Worsham Brown January 30, 1933 – March 14, 2026 Visitation: Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 5:00PM – 7:00PM, Kilpatrick Funeral Homes Service: Thursday, March 19, 2026, 1:00PM, Kilpatrick Funeral Homes Final Resting Place: Fellowship Cemetery in Dubberly, LA 531, Dubberly
Jewelritt Sims Sunday 03/27/1955 — Thursday 03/12/2026 Visitation: Friday 03/20/2026 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Celebration of Life: Saturday 03/21/2026 1:00pm, Zion Traveler Baptist Church, 1201 Martin Luther King Drive, Ruston Interment: Saturday 03/21/2026 Following Service, George Washington Carver Memorial Park, Martin Luther King Drive, Ruston
Paula Jean Ireland December 5, 1945 – March 14, 2026 Services pending
Mary Estelle Harrell July 19, 1931 – March 15, 2026 Graveside Service: Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 10:00 AM, Salem Cemetery, 11793 HWY 151, Dubach
Ella L. Jones Tuesday 08/20/1940 — Tuesday 03/10/2026 Visitation: Friday 03/20/2026 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Funeral Service: Saturday 03/21/2026 11:00am, Miracle Temple Church of God in Christ, 1405 South Farmerville Street, Ruston Interment: Saturday 03/21/2026 Following Service, Grambling Memorial Garden, US Highway 80 West, Grambling
Jerome Dimmer Friday 06/07/1957 — Wednesday 03/11/2026 Family Gathering: Friday 03/20/2026 2:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Visitation: Friday 03/20/2026 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Funeral Service: Saturday 03/21/2026 11:00am at King’s Funeral Home Interment: Saturday 03/21/2026 Following Service, Ebenezer Cemetery, Parish Road 214, Ruston
Jackie Lou Holladay April 19, 1935 – March 12, 2026 Visitation: Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home Graveside: Friday, March 20, 2026, 10:00 AM, Keesee Cemetery, Monarch, AR
Gerald Van Lyles June 21, 1947 – March 12, 2026 Memorial Visitation: Monday, March 23, 2026, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home
Rick Gallot, Ph.D., J.D., is president and CEO of the University of Louisiana System.
A recent RedEye article examining Louisiana State University’s recruitment of out-of-state students raises an important question for policymakers and taxpayers across Louisiana: Which universities are producing the workforce that stays here and powers our economy?
Recruiting students nationally is a strategy used by many flagship universities, and we fully support LSU competing with other flagship institutions for top students. A strong flagship university strengthens the reputation of Louisiana’s entire higher education ecosystem.
But for a state focused on economic growth and workforce development, an equally important question remains: which institutions are educating the students who will build their careers and grow their families here at home?
The University of Louisiana System schools are already serving as a primary engine producing and retaining Louisiana’s workforce.
Louisiana is currently experiencing one of the largest waves of economic investment in its history, with more than $100 billion in announced industrial, manufacturing, technology and energy projects across the state. From advanced manufacturing and LNG facilities to data centers, these projects will require tens of thousands of skilled workers in the years ahead.
Governor Jeff Landry made it clear in his recent address to the legislature that meeting this new workforce demand will depend heavily on Louisiana’s ability to educate and retain talent. Across the state, the campuses of the University of Louisiana System are serving as a primary talent pipeline feeding those industries.
The University of Louisiana System is our state’s largest university system and one of the largest in the country. Today we enroll more than 84,000 students and award over 15,000 degrees each year. Approximately 88% of students across the UL System are from Louisiana, and more than 65% remain in the state after graduation, joining Louisiana’s workforce and contributing to our economy.
Among graduates who received the state’s TOPS scholarships, the number who stay is even higher. Roughly 75% remain in Louisiana after graduation.
They are teaching in our schools, staffing hospitals and pharmacies, building businesses, and helping Louisiana industries innovate and grow. Our graduates represent one of the greatest returns on investment the state makes each year.
Across Louisiana, UL System universities are preparing graduates for the industries that power our economy.
Louisiana Tech University’s engineering and cyber-related programs support the technology and defense sectors. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s partnerships with the energy industry and programs in computer science and artificial intelligence support Louisiana’s growing technology economy. Nicholls State University’s Louisiana Maritime Academy prepares mariners for the maritime and offshore energy industries that are central to Louisiana’s coastal economy. McNeese State University works closely with petrochemical, industrial and LNG employers across Southwest Louisiana. Grambling State University prepares graduates in cybersecurity, cloud computing, nursing and STEM fields.
Northwestern State University and Southeastern Louisiana University both operate top-ranked nursing and teacher education programs that continue to address shortages in nurses and teachers. The University of Louisiana Monroe operates the state’s only public pharmacy school and nationally recognized programs in construction management and atmospheric sciences.
In addition to preparing graduates for high-demand careers, a recent economic impact study found that the University of Louisiana System generates $13.6 billion in economic activity annually across Louisiana, with an impact felt in every region of the state.
But perhaps the most powerful impact is not measured in dollars. It is measured in opportunity.
University of Louisiana System schools serve thousands of first-generation college students and families of modest means. Many qualify for Pell Grants. After earning their degrees, many graduates go on to earn salaries between $60,000 and $82,000, creating life-changing economic mobility for themselves and their families.
This is exactly what public universities are meant to do.
We expand opportunity. We prepare the workforce. And we strengthen our state’s economic prosperity and future.
The Redeye article states that some cities launch campaigns to convince graduates to stay. The graduates of the University of Louisiana System rarely need convincing. They want to stay. They grew up here, they love this state, and when they earn their degrees, they want to build their careers, their families, and their futures right here in Louisiana.
The University of Louisiana System: One System. One Mission. Powering Louisiana’s workforce — and Louisiana’s future.
RUSTON, La. — It’s a Hudson family affair in the All-Lincoln Parish Journal team.
With father Antonio winning Lincoln Prep’s first state championship since it was Grambling Lab in the ’90s to son Ahmad finishing the state championship game with an electrifying 34-point, 24-rebound performance, the Hudsons lead the way on the all-parish team as Coach and Player of the Year, respectively.
Antonio’s Panther squad brought home the title hardware after a 30-3 record and their fifth straight trip to Marsh Madness and defeated Southern Lab 69-42 in the championship game — the first time a Grambling-based high school won a state title since Michael Lyons led the Grambling Laboratory High School Kittens to the 1992 Class 1A crown.
Ahmad for the Ruston Bearcats averaged over 20 points, 14 rebounds and nearly three blocks a contest and was a key component for the Bearcats en route to a No. 2 overall seed and a state championship appearance this past season. Ahmad proved a walking highlight reel with thunderous dunks and a matchup nightmare around the basket defensively while helping pave the way for the Bearcats to go undefeated at home this season and flawless in district play.
Two other Bearcats in junior Keshun Malcolm and sophomore Darren Ford join Ahmad on the list and give Ruston High three total on the team. Lincoln Prep have both senior Zion Hicks and sophomore Jabari Levingston, while both senior Aggies Jackson Ambrose and Braden Pye represent Choudrant on the All-LPJ team.
Both Cedar Creek and Simsboro have one hooper in senior Cameron Temple and sophomore Ahmad Smith, respectively.
The first horned toad I ever saw was on the playground at Ruston Elementary School in the late 1960s. The strange little creature was flat, spiky, and looked like a miniature dinosaur.
Back then, spotting one in north Louisiana wasn’t unusual. Maybe rare, but not unusual. Every now and then a horned toad would appear our playground. Kids would gather around, gently picking it up to admire its prehistoric look and watching it puff up when startled. We called them “horny toads” since their spikes looked like the horns on our plastic dinosaurs.
Most of the horned toads I ever saw in the wild were on that playground. Today, the animal that fascinated generations of Louisiana children has effectively disappeared from the state.
The Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum), the species native to Louisiana, has been in steep decline for decades. Habitat loss, pesticide use, and the collapse of harvester ant populations—its main food source—have erased it from Louisiana’s landscape, according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries. It went from common backyard creature to something most Louisiana kids today will never see in the wild. It’s even becoming scarce in Texas, its home territory.
The LDWF considers the horned toad is “extirpated” from Louisiana.
Extirpated means a species has disappeared from a specific region (local extinction), but still exists elsewhere, while extinct means the species has completely disappeared from the entire planet.
“The last known record is from 1965 near Quitman in Jackson Parish,” state herpetologist Keri Lejeune with LDWF told me. “There are a couple of confirmed records from the 1920s in Caddo Parish.”
“It is unknown whether any of these records are from wild populations or extirpated introductions,” Lejeune said. “It is speculated that some or all of these records may be from released pets.”
I don’t know if the horned toads we saw at Ruston Elementary were former pets or from wild populations, but we saw them about 1967-69, a few years after LDWF records say they disappeared from the state.
Lejeune noted George Beyer’s 1900 publication Louisiana Herpetology reported the horned toad was common in north central Louisiana.
Of the lizard, Beyer’s pamphlet is brief: “Horned Lizard; Horned Toad. This lizard occurs only in the northwestern section of the state, It is reported from the vicinity of Monroe as fairly common.”
The citizen-scientist site Herpmapper.com logs reptile sightings across North America. None of the horned toad listings in its database have been in Louisiana and few in Texas. Most of the documented sightings come from New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado.
While the lizard’s disappearance in Louisiana is stark, a coalition of nonprofits, government agencies, and zoos is working to prevent outright extinction and—eventually—restore populations.
Texas has become the front line in the horned lizard’s comeback story. Conservation programs there have reported successful reproduction in the wild among released lizards, a milestone many thought might never happen again. Although Louisiana is not yet ready for large-scale reintroductions, experts say lessons learned in Texas will be invaluable when the time comes.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, in partnership with the Fort Worth Zoo and other facilities, has been breeding horned lizards in captivity and releasing them into protected habitats. “We’re seeing the first signs of stabilization and even growth in certain release sites,” a wildlife biologist involved in the program said.
Nonprofits such as the Horned Lizard Conservation Society are tackling the problem at its roots, restoring habitat and working with landowners to reduce pesticide use that kills the ants the lizards depend on.
Biologists are focusing on identifying and safeguarding potential reintroduction sites. It’s not enough to breed them. They must have the right kind of sandy soil, open sunlight, and a healthy ant population to thrive.
The horned lizard is more than just a conservation case—it’s a cultural icon, particularly in Eastland, Texas. Known locally as the “horned toad,” it has been the town’s unofficial mascot for more than a century. The most famous of them all, “Old Rip,” was a horned lizard purportedly found alive after being sealed in a courthouse cornerstone for 31 years—a legend that still draws curious visitors to Eastland.
Biologists caution that restoring the horned lizard to Louisiana will be a slow, careful process. But the small victories in Texas have given conservationists new optimism.
If we can rebuild the right habitat and keep working across state lines, there’s no reason Louisiana kids can’t grow up seeing horned lizards again.
For now, the horned toad remains a symbol of resilience—a spiky little survivor whose comeback is being written one sandy acre at a time.
A man who allegedly brandished a pistol at in a local apartment complex and then fled when Ruston Police arrived has been charged in the incident.
Devin Jaivon Lewis, 19, of Ruston, was arrested by police about 2:30 a.m. March 10 after officers were dispatched to the Annex Apartments on West Line Avenue regarding a report of men with guns.
Responding officers spotted three men standing by a stairwell of one of the buildings. The men were ordered to get on the ground. Two complied but Lewis fled on foot. He was arrested on Groveland Avenue after a short chase.
According to the report, the complainant told police she feared for her life when she saw Lewis wave around a handgun. The woman provided video showing the man with the gun.
Lewis was booked into the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for illegal use of a firearm and resisting an officer. His bail was set at $27,500.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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That’s what I was thinking as today – St. Patrick’s Day – approached. And, no, I wasn’t thinking of Kermit the Frog, who memorialized that song on “The Muppet Show.” Or about the lesson the song teaches: that feeling different can be difficult, but those differences can also make someone unique, valuable and worth appreciating.
I wasn’t even thinking of St. Patrick’s Day, which, of course, has long been associated with the color green.
I was thinking that those who don’t know Christ should be green with envy concerning those of us who do.
Oh, I know there are a lot of things that could be said about that statement that we should be wary of.
First of all, none of us is supposed to feel envious of others – whether we’re in Christ or not.
Also, because those who don’t know Christ, well, really don’t know Christ, they can’t fully grasp what there is to envy about our relationship with him (although I think that some of them, deep down inside, really do).
And certainly, whatever Christians might feel about knowing Christ when others do not, the picture that comes to mind is the Pharisee standing on the corner congratulating himself before God on his own righteousness.
But, truly, what Christians have with Jesus and with the Father and with the Holy Spirit – if envy weren’t bad, and if everyone truly understood what that relationship means, we would be the envy of the world.
Borrowing Paul’s encouragement to “think on these things,” consider what God gives to those who follow him:
– God’s love. “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God” – 1 John 3:1. And to think: It comes from the Creator of the Universe. We didn’t earn it, and we certainly didn’t deserve it.
– God’s mercy. “His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning” – Lamentations 3:22-23. Which is a good thing, because most of us need a fresh start every morning.
– God’s grace. “For by grace you have been saved through faith … it is the gift of God” – Ephesians 2:8. The greatest gift we will ever receive – and one we could never, ever, ever purchase on our own.
– God’s guidance. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart … and he will direct your paths” – Proverbs 3:5-6. Which is comforting in a world where the road ahead often feels uncertain.
– God’s provision. “My God will supply every need of yours” – Philippians 4:19. Not always every want, but always every need.
– God’s peace. “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” – Philippians 4:7.
Yes, God supplies all these things to those who follow him. If the rest of the world could see them clearly, they might well be green with envy.
Would that they would make use of the crimson of Christ’s blood and be washed as white as snow.
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Sallie Rose Hollis lives in Ruston and retired from Louisiana Tech as an associate professor of journalism and the assistant director of the News Bureau. She can be contacted at sallierose@mail.com.
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.
