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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. 

Monday, June 29
11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome
4 p.m.: Storytime : Patriotic Stories (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
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)

Tuesday, June 30
6:30 a.m.: Veterans free breakfast (VFW Post 3615, 206 Memorial Dr.)
10 a.m.: Storytime : Patriotic Stories (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
10 a.m.: Summer movie series “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” (Dixie Theatre)
2 p.m.: Crafternoon : Patriotic Geese (Lincoln Parish Library)
4 p.m.: Teen Time :  Japanese Paper Doll Bookmark (Lincoln Parish Library)
6 p.m.: Video-Led Exercise class (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
6 p.m.: Adult Craft Night: Firecracker Flowers; registration required 318-513-5510 (Lincoln Parish Library)

Wednesday, July 1
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, July 2
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Kiwanis Club lunch and program (Trinity Methodist Church fellowship hall; Anyone is welcome to come to our meeting,please notify Richartd Hamilton of your attendance. 318-518-2121)
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.: Picnic in the Park (Railroad Park)
6 p.m.: Southern A’Chord Chorus rehearsal (Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 212 N. Bonner St.; open to all women singers)

Friday, July 3
1-6 p.m.: United We Give Blood Drive (Lincoln Parish Library)
7:30 p.m.: LoveLincoln Freedom Fest (Temple Baptist, 1515 S. Service Rd. W; fireworks to follow)

Independence Day
7:30 a.m. to noon: Patriotic Field Day (Dubach Ballpark)
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market

Monday, July 6
11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome
5:30 p.m.: Ruston City Council meeting (Ruston City Hall)
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)

Tuesday, July 7
6:30 a.m.: Veterans free breakfast (VFW Post 3615, 206 Memorial Dr.)
6 p.m.: Lincoln Parish School Board meeting (410 S. Farmerville St.)

Wednesday, July 8
7-8 a.m.: Veterans Coffee Club (PJ’s Coffee)
8 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Battle of the Cities Blood Drive (Ruston Civic Center)
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, July 9
9:30 a.m.: Piney Hills Quilt Guild meeting (Grace Methodist Church)
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Kiwanis Club lunch and program (Trinity Methodist Church fellowship hall; Anyone is welcome to come to our meeting,please notify Richartd Hamilton of your attendance. 318-518-2121)
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.: Picnic in the Park (Railroad Park)
6 p.m.: Southern A’Chord Chorus rehearsal (Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 212 N. Bonner St.; open to all women singers)

Saturday, July 11
8:30-11:30 a.m.: Hazardous Waste Material Collection and Recycling (2609 Farmerville St.)
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market

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For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:45 right to your inbox. Just CLICK HERE to sign up.

Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Louisiana Tech Volleyball unveiled its 2026 schedule Friday as the Bulldogs prepare to begin a new era in the Sun Belt Conference under second-year head coach Scott Mattera.

The Bulldogs will play 13 regular-season home matches inside the Thomas Assembly Center, highlighted by two home tournaments and the program’s Sun Belt opener against Southern Miss.

Louisiana Tech opens the regular season Aug. 28-30 by hosting the Jambalaya Jam, welcoming Iona, Houston Christian and Little Rock to Ruston before returning home Sept. 10-12 for the Bulldog Bash featuring Grambling State, Mississippi Valley State and McNeese.

Combined with a Sept. 8 matchup against Alcorn State, Bulldog fans will have six opportunities to see the Bulldogs before conference play begins.

“Being able to host two of our four nonconference weekends is a really big deal,” Mattera said. “When you pair that with 13 home matches and a schedule that doesn’t overlap with home football weekends, there are a lot of great opportunities for Tech fans to come out, support our team and experience volleyball inside the Thomas Assembly Center.”

Louisiana Tech’s nonconference slate also includes tournaments hosted by Omaha and Abilene Christian, along with road matches against Northwestern State and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Exhibition play begins Aug. 18 against Ouachita Baptist inside the Thomas Assembly Center before the Bulldogs travel to Southern on Aug. 22 for a second preseason tuneup.

The 2026 season also marks the beginning of a new era as Louisiana Tech opens its first campaign in the Sun Belt Conference.

“Everyone is excited about the move to the Sun Belt,” Mattera said. “Volleyball is a sport built on rivalries, and having the opportunity to compete against familiar regional opponents throughout the conference schedule is only going to make our program stronger while creating an even better experience for our student-athletes and our fans.”

Competing in the league’s West Division, the Bulldogs will face familiar regional opponents, including Southern Miss, South Alabama, UL Lafayette, ULM and Arkansas State, while adding Troy to the divisional schedule. Conference play consists of a two-match series hosted at a single site, while the Bulldogs’ crossover opponents from the East Division will be Old Dominion and Georgia State.

Louisiana Tech opens Sun Belt play Sept. 25-26 by hosting Southern Miss before traveling for a road series at South Alabama and UL Lafayette. The Bulldogs return home Oct. 16-17 to welcome Troy before making the short trip to Monroe to take on ULM.

Old Dominion visits the Thomas Assembly Center Oct. 30-31 in the West-East crossover series, while Arkansas State closes the home schedule Nov. 6-7.

Louisiana Tech wraps up the regular season with a crossover series at Georgia State before the Sun Belt Volleyball Championship is held Nov. 19-22 in Foley, Alabama.

“We’re excited to get the fall schedule out so our fans can start marking their calendars,” Mattera said. “There’s a lot of momentum surrounding Louisiana Tech volleyball right now. We finished last season by knocking off two conference tournament teams during our final two home weekends, our team GPA climbed above a 3.5, and we’ve added an outstanding recruiting class that our fans will get to see this fall. It’s an exciting time to be a Bulldog volleyball fan.”

Admission to all Louisiana Tech volleyball home matches is free.

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Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Head coach Lane Burroughs and Louisiana Tech baseball have announced the official signings of right-handed pitcher Josh Gregoire, outfielder Jackson Hood and infielder Ian McCubbin.

Gregoire stands at 6-foot 2-inches as a transfer from the University of South Carolina. Originally from Louisiana, he was born and raised in Baton Rouge and prepped at Episcopal High School. He made 19 relief appearances for the Gamecocks in 2026, posting a 4.30 ERA with 30 punchouts across 23 innings of work.

Gregoire struck out a pair of batters in 1.1 innings in his USC debut against Gardner-Webb and saw four outings with three strikeouts in two innings or less. He punched out a season-high five batters across a season-high 2.2 innings on April 14 against Davidson.

Prior to his stint on the east coast, Gregoire began his collegiate career just down Interstate 20 at ULM in 2025. He posted a 3-2 record and a 2.38 ERA in 23 relief apperances for the Warhawks, punching out 40 batters in 34 innings and collecting five saves.

Hood signs out of Pearl River Community College in Poplarville, Mississippi, where he spent two years with the Wildcats as one of the mainstays in the outfield. He is a career .336 hitter with 94 runs, 98 hits, 13 doubles, two triples, 24 homers, 98 RBI and 27 stolen bases. During his freshman campaign, he played in 62 games slashing .354/.485/.635 with 14 homers, six doubles, one triple, 57 RBI and 17 stolen bases.

His efforts helped lead PRCC to a MACCC championship, a Region 23 title and a runner-up finish at the NJCAA World Series along with earning First Team All-MACCC, First Team All-Region and NJCAA World Series All-Tournament Team honors.

In 2026 he saw limited playing time but still made an impact, batting .307 with 10 long balls, seven doubles, a triple and 41 RBI. He also stole 10 bases and was caught stealing just once. Hood’s current hometown is Madison, Mississippi but was born in Baton Rouge.

McCubbin signs as an outfielder and first baseman out of Morehead State, coming off a First Team All-OVC campaign this past season. The Bossier City native made 45 starts with a .360 average–the second-highest on the team. He ranked among the top 10 in the conference with 13 homers, 55 RBI and an OPS of 1.094, along with tallying 11 doubles and a trio of triples.

Prior to his standout year, McCubbin began his college career at South Arkansas College. He played in 42 games and batted .298 with three homers, two triples, 13 doubles and 16 RBI, en route to helping his team to an NJCAA Division II World Series appearance.

McCubbin was born in Longiew, Texas and prepped at Vilonia High School in Vilonia, Arkansas, where he was an All-Conference player for the Eagles.

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William Ray Harris, a lifelong resident of Lincoln Parish, passed away at the age of 91 on June 26, 2026. Born on October 11, 1934, in Simsboro, LA, Ray lived a life full of dedication to his family, community, and country.

Ray is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Maureen Ann Varley Harris, and his son, Jason Christopher Harris. He leaves behind cherished memories with his grandchildren, Ryan Harris, Austin Harris, Alexis Harris, and Samantha Wilson, as well as his great-grandchildren, Marley Harris, Joshua Harris, Ellie Harris, and Brailyn Wilson. He was predeceased by his father, Ira William Harris, mother, Thelma Loreen King Harris, and son, James Craig Harris.

Ray proudly served in the United States Air Force, where he was stationed in England for four years. It was there that he met his wife, Maureen. After his military service, Ray dedicated 43 years to Lewis and Co. as a menswear manager and buyer.

His commitment to his faith was evident through his longtime membership at the Grace Community Church, where he served in various leadership roles, including chairman of the church board and several committees. Ray was also an active member of the Ruston Masonic Lodge #106 F&AM and was a 32nd Degree Mason.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at Grace Community Church in Simsboro, LA, with Dr. Brian Yeich officiating. Visitation will take place from 12:30 to 2:00 PM prior to the service on Tuesday. Interment will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery in Simsboro, LA, under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston.

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Torrie J Harris 
Thursday 06/29/1939 — Wednesday 06/17/2026  
Visitation: Tuesday 06/30/2026 3:00pm to 7:00pm at King’s Funeral Home 
Celebration of Life: Wednesday 07/01/2026, Mt. Calm Baptist Church, 566 Mount Calm Road, Simsboro 
Interment: Wednesday 07/01/2026 Following Service, Jim & Maurine Harris Memorial, Simsboro 

Clouse Lewis 
Tuesday 07/08/1941 — Wednesday 06/24/2026  
Visitation: Friday 06/26/2026 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home 
Celebration of Life: Saturday 06/27/2026 3:00pm, Bethel-West (Progressive) Church Of God In Christ, 1670 U.S. 80, Choudrant  
Burial: Saturday 06/27/2026 Following Service, Grambling Memorial Garden 
Highway 80 West, Grambling 

William Ray Harris 
October 11, 1934 – June 26, 2026 
Funeral: Tuesday, June 30, 2026, 2:00 PM, Grace Community Church, 9325 HWY 80, Simsboro 
Cemetery Committal: Tuesday, June 30, 2026, Oak Grove Cemetery, Hwy 147 & HWY 815, Simsboro 
Visitation: Thursday, July 2, 2026, 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM, Grace Community Church, 9325 HWY 80, Simsboro 

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By Kyle Roberts

RUSTON, La. — Lincoln parish voters rejected a proposal Saturday that would have consolidated the school board’s five existing parishwide sales taxes into a single 2.5% sales and use tax, leaving the district’s current tax structure unchanged.

The final vote tally was 3,188 “no” votes to 1,988 “yes” votes.

The proposition would have replaced the school system’s five separate half-cent sales taxes with one 2.5% tax beginning Oct. 1, 2026. While the overall tax rate would not have increased, the measure would have combined the existing levies into a single tax estimated to generate approximately $31.7 million annually for school operations, salaries, facilities, security and other lawful school board purposes.

School officials had said the proposal was intended to simplify the district’s financial structure by replacing five separate tax accounts with one consolidated fund. Opponents raised concerns over the broader spending language contained in the proposition.

Superintendent-elect John Young said he was disappointed by the outcome but emphasized that the district’s priorities will remain unchanged.

“Obviously not the results that we were looking for,” Young said. “But I will say that our mission is still the same.”

Young said the school system will continue focusing on maintaining its financial stability despite the failed measure.

“We have a AA-minus bond rating right now, which is extremely favorable in terms of how we’ve handled our finances across the years,” Young said. “All the things that we look to do in the future in terms of prioritizing employee salaries and retaining and recruiting the best teachers – those are still the same goals that we have. While this passing may have made that a little bit easier for us, that is still a goal.”

Young said the election results will not alter the district’s day-to-day operations.

“Nothing changes for us day to day in terms of operations and providing our students the best possible education and our employees the best possible benefits and salaries that we can give,” he said.

Because the proposition failed, the Lincoln Parish School Board will continue operating under its existing five separate parishwide sales taxes rather than replacing them with a single consolidated levy.

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by Hanna Singh

The 2026 Ruston Peach Festival drew a record crowd of more than 35,000 people and generated an estimated $2.2 million economic impact for Lincoln Parish, continuing the event’s growth as one of north Louisiana’s premier festivals.

With traditions such as the Peach Car Show and new attractions including a fireworks show, the festival offered something for residents and visitors of all ages.

Newly-named President and CEO of Experience Ruston Tori Davis said she was pleased with the turnout and positive response during her first year in the role.

“We were very pleased with this year’s turnout for the festival and with all the positive feedback we’ve received after the event,” Davis said. “Our goal is always to create a fun, safe, and accessible event for our community and visitors to enjoy. When we see increases in attendance, length of stay, and economic impact to our area, its confirmation to our planning team that we’ve been successful in achieving that goal.”

The festival once again had record-breaking attendance; however, each year the festival brings in more than just visitors. The Peach festival has continued to make a substantial impression on the local community by bringing in millions of dollars to the parish.

This year, the festival weekend had an estimated economic impact of $2.2 million in the Lincoln Parish area, bringing more business to local vendors, restaurants and stores.

Manager of Fanbase in downtown Ruston, Cindy Bagwell, highlighted the positive affect that the festival has on the local store.

“The Peach Festival is one of our biggest weekends of the year,” Bagwell said. “We design and sell our own exclusive Peach Fest t-shirt every year which our customers love. Plus, with thousands of people downtown and where our location is, we see a significant increase in foot traffic and sales throughout the festival. It’s a huge boost to sales and we have so much fun too, participating every year.”

With the peach festival being hosted by Experience Ruston, the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Lincoln Parish, it has continued to grow as a major tourism event each year. After taking over the festival post-covid, Experience Ruston saw value in the event from not only a cultural standpoint but also an economic one. They have continued to make adjustments and additions to further the impact of the festival and offer more to visitors of the event, including once again making the event free of admission in 2024.

“It’s really one of the best days of the years for local businesses,” Davis said. “We keep it free for admission now and especially try to keep things free in the kid’s zone. We never want cost to be a reason that people aren’t able to attend the festival. We would rather you spend dollars on our local businesses than on admission, and then it creates transactions that benefit our whole community.”

Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker praised the success of the 2026 Peach Festival and highlighted the unique aspect that brought more opportunities this year.

“I think it was one of the best we’ve ever had. It looked to me like the attendance was better than we’ve ever had.” Walker said. “All of the businesses in town that I talked to that were open Friday night for the preview and Saturday had incredible days. I think Lauren (Dowden) and Tori did an incredible job, and all those people that worked with them. You know, they made some changes this year, and I’m sure we’ll make some more changes every year trying to continue to improve it.”

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By Kyle Roberts

RUSTON, La. — After 36 years in public education — including the last five as superintendent — Ricky Durrett was honored Thursday during a retirement ceremony celebrating a career that spanned nearly four decades of service to Lincoln Parish students, teachers and families.

Durrett, who has served as superintendent since 2021, was recognized by school board members, district administrators, educators, family members and community leaders for his leadership and commitment to the parish’s schools.

Superintendent-elect John Young praised Durrett’s legacy while presenting him with a recognition honoring his “36 years of sincere dedication, outstanding service and leadership to the students of Lincoln Parish.”

“Mr. Durrett has been here a long time, affecting the lives of so many kids and making a difference,” Young said. “That’s evidenced by the amount of people that showed up today. We definitely want to thank him for his service.

“We will take the torch that you lit and run with it. Thank y’all, everybody, for coming out and showing Mr. Durrett the love today. You can tell by the people that are here, you’re much appreciated. Thank you for everything that you did for me as well.”

Durrett reflected on his career by thanking the many people who helped make the district successful, emphasizing that any accomplishments during his tenure belonged to those working in classrooms and schools every day.

“The district is always successful by the people that you have working every day in the classroom and the schools,” Durrett said. “Many of you here are those people that did that through the years. We couldn’t have done it without you.”

He also expressed gratitude to his family, recognizing his parents, wife Polly, daughters, grandchildren and extended family members who attended the ceremony and closed by thanking the community for its support throughout his career.

“Just thank everybody for being there for our district and supporting us,” Durrett said. “We’ve had a lot of great people through the years.”

School board members also praised Durrett’s impact on Lincoln Parish education.

District 7 board member Hunter Smith described Durrett as “a true pillar in the history of Lincoln Parish education.”

“What a run … 36 years all in Lincoln Parish,” Smith said. “Ricky served our community with a servant’s heart and an educator’s mind. A true pillar in the history of Lincoln Parish education as a teacher, coach and administrator. He positively impacted more lives in one year than most people do in a lifetime. I’m grateful for his leadership, his friendship and his love for others.”

District 12 board member Debbie Abraham said she appreciated the opportunity to work alongside Durrett during his time as superintendent.

“He’s been an awesome superintendent, and I’ve enjoyed working with him for the last few years,” Abraham said.

District 5 board member Danny Hancock echoed that sentiment.

“I think he was a fantastic superintendent,” Hancock said. “I have a lot of respect for him.”

Durrett’s retirement marks the end of a 36-year career spent entirely in the Lincoln Parish School District, where he served as a teacher, coach, administrator and superintendent. Young will succeed him as superintendent, continuing the district’s leadership into the next chapter.

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A Choudrant woman was arrested Monday after Lincoln Parish deputies investigated a reported stolen U-Haul truck on Campbell Road.

Kamala Whitlock, 54, of Choudrant, was arrested June 22 for illegal possession of stolen things and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to a report, deputies found a U-Haul parked in the travel lane of Campbell Road between two curves. Deputies made contact with Nathan Gonzalez, who immediately exited the truck and began discarding items from his pockets into a nearby ditch.

Deputies found a spoon with residue and a pair of brass knuckles on Gonzalez. The report states deputies also saw Whitlock sitting in the passenger seat.

Investigators learned the U-Haul had been reported stolen from West Monroe. Whitlock told deputies she and Gonzalez had been in possession of the vehicle since May and were aware it had not been returned for some time.

Whitlock said she the truck had been stolen from her and her son had just retrieved it. She said she was intending to return the truck that morning.

A search of the vehicle produced a plastic bottle containing suspected synthetic marijuana. The report states Gonzalez later claimed ownership of the bottle. Deputies also located a glass smoking pipe commonly used to consume marijuana in Whitlock’s purse.

Whitlock and Gonzalez were transported to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center and booked without incident. Gonzalez, 34, was charged with illegal possession of stolen things, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and obstructing a public passage.

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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For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:45 right to your inbox. Just CLICK HERE to sign up.

By Malcolm Butler

College coaches have spent years navigating a maze of redshirts, hardship waivers, medical exemptions, transfer rules and eligibility appeals while trying to build winning rosters.

Beginning with the NCAA’s newly approved age-based eligibility model passed earlier this week, many of those calculations are expected to become much simpler starting this coming year.

The NCAA’s new model replaces the long-standing “four seasons of competition within five years” eligibility standard with an age-based system designed to simplify eligibility and reduce the growing number of waivers and legal challenges.

Under the new rule, a student-athlete’s five-year eligibility period begins at the earlier of two events: when the athlete first enrolls full time at any college or university — including junior colleges and international institutions — or at the beginning of the academic year following the athlete’s 19th birthday.

During the transition, current student-athletes with remaining eligibility will be evaluated under both the previous system and the new age-based model, with whichever provides the most favorable outcome applying to that individual. Student-athletes who exhausted their eligibility under the previous rules will not receive additional eligibility.

The NCAA also created three exceptions that can pause or delay the five-year eligibility clock: pregnancy, active-duty military service and official religious missions, provided the student-athlete does not participate in organized competition during that time.

While the rule is expected to have an immediate impact on recruiting, Louisiana Tech Director of Athletics Ryan Ivey believes its greatest long-term effect may be on how athletic departments and coaches manage their rosters.

“Essentially, it’s an age-based eligibility model,” Ivey said. “You’re trying to create an opportunity where there’s less waivers and a more streamlined approach to eligibility standards and to make sure that we don’t have 27- or 28-year-olds playing college athletics.

“I think this simplifies the eligibility landscape, which I think is really good for everybody.”

But while the rule simplifies eligibility, it also creates a new challenge for coaches.

Current student-athletes with remaining eligibility could receive an additional year under the transition process, but roster limits established under the NCAA’s recent settlement agreements are not increasing.

“You’re adding another year, but we’re not increasing roster limits,” Ivey said.

For coaches, that means every decision carries more weight. Returning veterans who receive an additional year of eligibility occupy roster spots that otherwise might have gone to incoming recruits. Coaches now must decide whether to prioritize experience or continue developing younger players while staying within fixed roster limits.

“You’ve got current student-athletes with additional eligibility, and you’ve got recruits that you’ve promised scholarships,” Ivey said. “Now you’ve got to manage both of those relationships and figure out what’s the best opportunity for the team moving forward.”

Schools have until July 31 to submit remaining waiver requests under the previous eligibility rules before the NCAA fully transitions to the new model.

Even with that short-term challenge, Ivey believes the new system provides something coaches have lacked in recent years.

“It creates clarity and stability and stops some of the guessing that’s been going on,” he said. “It creates opportunities for clarity in roster management and roster construction for coaches moving forward. It is what it is, and you’ve got what you’ve got moving forward.”

Louisiana Tech football coach Sonny Cumbie believes one of the biggest changes will come during the season.

For years, football coaches closely monitored how many games a player appeared in to preserve a redshirt season, often leading to difficult conversations with players who wanted to protect a year of eligibility.

“What it’s going to allow us to do is you’re able to play guys every game for five years if that’s what they want to do,” Cumbie said. “Especially that first year, we would get handcuffed a lot by players — and maybe their representatives — after four games because they didn’t want to play anymore. They wanted to maintain their redshirt.

“I think it takes all of that out, which put players and coaches in a really hard spot in the past.”

Instead of carefully managing participation, Cumbie said coaches can focus on developing players.

“You’re able to get them playing time at an early age if they’re able to do that, and I think that helps with their development,” said Cumbie who is entering his sixth season in Ruston.

He also believes the new model simplifies in-season coaching decisions.

“It makes roster management a lot cleaner,” Cumbie said. “You’re not having to track, ‘This guy has played in three games. This guy has played in two games.’ You’re not trying to figure out when you’re going to play your guys in those four games.”

Louisiana Tech women’s basketball coach Brooke Stoehr said roster management extends well beyond the court and begins with communication.

“I think you have to have some honest conversations with your current roster and just be constantly communicating on what their thoughts are and what their plan is,” Stoehr said.

She said retaining experienced players has become increasingly important while coaches prepare for multiple roster scenarios.

“Being able to retain players the last two years has been a pretty big deal for our success,” said Stoehr, who led the Lady Techsters to the Conference USA regular season title last year. “Trying to find ways to retain that core as long as you possibly can.”

Stoehr said the uncertainty requires coaches to remain flexible.

“It ultimately comes down to you have to be creative and you have to be prepared for anything and everything, and for it to change in any one instance,” she said. “I think what we’re going to see across college basketball is some more movement probably and people going after older players, experienced players.”

One of the NCAA’s goals in adopting the age-based model is to reduce the number of significantly older athletes competing against traditional college-age freshmen.

The combination of COVID-19 eligibility extensions, hardship waivers and transfer rules allowed some athletes to remain in college athletics well into their mid-20s.

“There’s a huge difference, especially physically and strength-wise, between a 23-, 24- or 25-year-old senior and an 18- or 19-year-old freshman or sophomore,” Cumbie said. “I think the age-based eligibility model will preserve the collegiate experience from an age standpoint. I think it’s a great thing for student-athletes, a great thing for coaches and a great thing for all sports.”

Stoehr said women’s basketball has seen fewer examples than football or men’s basketball, although she could point to a few instances in the women’s game of an older player competing against much younger opponents.

“I think it’s been more prevalent in football and men’s basketball,” Stoehr said. “But there have been instances of it.”

Beginning this academic year, many of those calculations are expected to become much simpler under the NCAA’s newly approved age-based eligibility model.

After years of waivers, court rulings and eligibility exceptions, college coaches and administrators across the country know the age-based model won’t eliminate every roster challenge. But they hope it replaces years of uncertainty with something college athletics has lacked in recent seasons — predictability.

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Lincoln Parish School Board Member Hunter Smith has announced his candidacy for re-election this fall. Smith, who represents District 7, is seeking his third and final four-year term.

Smith is the President and a Managing Partner of Hunter Energy, LLC, a 40year old oil and gas land services company located in Ruston. In addition to his role at Hunter Energy, Smith is also a licensed real estate agent in Louisiana and Arkansas for Southern States Realty, specializing in investment/recreational land. He was elected to the school board in November 2018.

“As a father of three young men who have attended Lincoln Parish Schools, it is of the utmost importance to me to continue to do my part to make sure our schools are in the best shape they can be, not only for this generation but many generations to come, “ Smith said.

“Representing and serving District 7 as your school board member has been a true blessing for myself and my family. However, as all other board members do, I am just as grateful for the opportunity to work with people from all corners of this parish – from Grambling to Dubach, Choudrant to Simsboro and all neighborhoods in Ruston. I look forward to your support so we can continue to do all we can to keep Lincoln Parish Schools in the top tiers of the state and beyond.”

Born and raised in Ruston and a graduate of both Ruston High School and Louisiana Tech, Smith coached football at RJHS and RHS from 1999 to 2005, prior to entering private business. He also serves on the board of Med-Camps, is a former board member for Ruston Youth Baseball, and the former president of the Bearcat Football Club.

Smith has been happily married for 22 years to Ruston native and former Lincoln Parish school teacher Becky Gillum Smith, and they have three sons, Lander, who graduated from RHS in 2026, and George and Jack, who attend Ruston High.

“Ruston and Lincoln Parish are a part of the fiber of my family, and we have instilled the same servantry and love for this community in our boys” Smith said. “We look forward to continuing to serve not only District 7, but all of Lincoln Parish. We would appreciate your support as I seek re-election for Lincoln Parish School Board District 7.”

The Lincoln Parish Journal does not endorse candidates for any election unless specified by one of our bylines. This is a candidate announcement.

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By T. Scott Boatright

The Russ-Town Band has been a big part of holiday seasons in Ruston for more than 20 years now.

Christmases and Fourths of July wouldn’t seem the same without their musical performances, and they’ll be back at it with a patriotic concert at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Howard Center for the Performing Arts on the Louisiana Tech University campus.

The Russ-Town Band was formed by Lawrence and Jan Gibbs and Charles and Anne Gaushell in March 1994, who felt summer and holiday entertainment was needed in Lincoln Parish.

Lawrence Gibbs was the assistant director/band manager and No. 1 clarinet player for the band early on and became the Russ-Town Band director in 2001.

In 2022, Gibbs moved on, and then newly hired Louisiana Tech Band of Pride Director Chris Heidenreich took the reins of the Russ-Town Band after making the move from up north to assume the role at LA Tech following the retirement of Jim Robken.

“I think both Beth, my wife, and I have really enjoyed the small-town, Southern atmosphere,” Heidenreich said. “We certainly enjoyed being able to wear flip-flops in January. Everyone has been so welcoming. I know replacing a legend like Jim Robken can be difficult, but I think everyone has been very accepting of us as a couple. We found a church home. Our neighborhood is great, and we’ve settled right in just because of the welcoming nature of everyone in this town.”

Heidenreich said practices for the Russ-Town Band revolve around the season.

“It’s settled into certain times of the year preparing for the concerts,” Heidenreich said. “When I started with the (Russ-Town Band), we had only the holiday (Christmas) concert at the Dixie (Center for the Arts) and one other patriotic concert in July.

“Since then, with the Peach Festival coming back after COVID, we’re now kind of settled into opening up the Peach Festival, which has been really great. Our first year we did it at 10 o’clock, and it got really hot, especially for some of our ‘seasoned’ members. But now we’re doing 9 o’clock starts with the Peach Parade on Friday. We’ve had some great audiences the last two years. Being able to start the day with the ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ I think has been a big benefit to the Peach Festival itself.”

In the past two years, Heidenreich said spring concerts have been added to the Russ-Town Band’s schedule.

“Those are in the March/April time frame,” Heidenreich said. “So we typically ramp up about five to six weeks in advance of each program.”

Heidenreich said the number of band members has varied over the years he’s been here, as have their ages.

“It rotates,” Heidenreich said. “I think that’s one of the struggles as the band expands its reach. Not everybody can make each event, and we’re finding that weekends are a little tougher, so we’re moving some of our concerts to Thursday nights to be a little more consistent, even though the one this weekend is on Saturday.

“I think this weekend we’ll have 45 people performing. We have one junior high student. That story is kind of cool because she’s playing with her dad and her brother, and they all play trombone. And our oldest members are in their 70s and 80s. So it’s a great mix, and I think that’s what makes the community a part of the Russ-Town Band, with us being from different walks of life.”

Brian Lassister, minister of music at New Hope Baptist Church in Choudrant, is president of the Russ-Town Board and has been a band member playing trumpet since the beginning.

“It doesn’t take all that much time doing something I love,” Lassister said. “I don’t play as much as I want to, but I did travel all 48 lower states and much of Europe way back when before I got into music — my (college) degree was in instrumental music education. I had to learn how to play everything. If it’s in a band or orchestra, I had to learn to play it at some point. At least enough to demonstrate. But trumpet was my profession for a little while.

“I was in the Ruston Symphony before Day 1 (of) the Russ-Town Band. It is awesome to be part of the Russ-Town Band, playing with people who this is the only (musical) outlet they have.”

The Russ-Town Jazz Band also has an upcoming performance at 7 p.m. July 31 at the Dixie Center for the Performing Arts.

“That’s a select group,” Heidenreich said. “Not everybody can settle into the jazz routine. Lawrence Gibbs is going to be hosting that this year. I’m not able to be there, and that’s actually not part of my responsibilities with the group. It’s an ancillary group, I think is the way of saying it.

“But Lawrence is going to do one more go-round with that. And we get a big representation from the community with those concerts, but it’s a smaller, more select group of musicians.”

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A Ruston man was arrested last week after police investigated a complaint involving a missing cellphone.

Joshua Robinson, 26, was arrested June 21 and booked for theft and resisting an officer, along with two bench warrants for not appearing in court on earlier charges.

According to a report, an officer met a woman at the police station regarding a theft. The woman said her boyfriend, Robinson, refused to return her phone. Officers accompanied her to a West California Avenue residence to attempt to retrieve the phone.

When police arrived at the residence, Robinson was sitting on a vehicle outside. He began walking away as officers called to him to stop and talk to them. He refused and went inside and locked the door, according to RPD.

Robinson later yelled out that he had thrown the cellphone out a rear bedroom window. Police recovered the phone and returned it to its owner.

Robinson was taken into custody and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center. Bail was set at $5,000.

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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LPJ Sports Report

LAFAYETTE, La. — The Ruston High School Bearcat Belles brought home a collection of honors after attending the Universal Dance Association (UDA) Camp held June 6-9 at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in Lafayette.

The 16-member team excelled throughout the four-day camp, earning Blue Superior ribbons for every routine they performed. The Belles learned and performed a team routine that received a Blue Superior rating, and each dancer also learned and performed two additional dances that were judged at the same level.

In total, the Bearcat Belles earned 48 Blue Superior ribbons during the camp, reflecting consistent excellence across all performances.

The team’s five seniors — Sylvia Lackey, Annie Stevens, Marleigh Keen, Millie Keen and Olivia Hamby — also received individual recognition. Each was selected as a UDA All-American, an honor awarded to dancers who demonstrate outstanding technical ability, leadership and performance skills.

As UDA All-Americans, the five seniors will have the opportunity to perform in prestigious parades in London and Honolulu during the upcoming school year.

In addition to the individual honors, the Bearcat Belles earned a Superior Trophy and received a bid to compete at the National Dance Team Championship in Orlando, Florida.

The national competition is one of the premier events for high school dance teams in the country and will give the Bearcat Belles an opportunity to showcase their talents against top programs from across the nation later this school year.

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Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry visited Lincoln Parish on Thursday to thank the local election officials and staff working behind the scenes to prepare for Saturday’s election.

During her visit, Secretary Landry met with Lincoln Parish Clerk of Court Linda Cook and Lincoln Parish Registrar of Voters Sharon Parnell, along with members of their teams, as they prepared voting machines and completed the extensive preparations required before Election Day.

The Secretary toured the parish’s election warehouse to inspect voting machines for Saturday’s election and thanked the dedicated employees responsible for ensuring Lincoln Parish voters can cast their ballots securely and efficiently.

“Preparing for an election takes weeks of work. Voting machines have to be programmed and tested, poll commissioners trained, and countless details handled before voters ever walk into a polling place,” said Secretary Landry. “I want to thank Linda Cook, Sharon Parnell and their entire staffs for their professionalism and dedication to Lincoln Parish voters.”

Louisiana is currently ranked fourth in the nation for election integrity, thanks in large part to the work of parish Clerks of Court, Registrars of Voters, poll commissioners, and election workers across Louisiana.

Secretary Landry encouraged eligible voters to make a plan to vote in Saturday’s election and reminded voters to review their sample ballot before heading to the polls.

Voters can view their sample ballot, verify their registration and find their polling location by visiting GeauxVote.com or using the GeauxVote Mobile app.

The election is this Saturday, June 27. Polls are open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.

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Please be advised that starting June 29, the City of Ruston will be utilizing Utiliserve, LLC to perform flushing of the water system in the teal green area of the attached map image from June 29th through July 17, 2026.

During the flushing you may experience water discoloration and pressure changes; however, these disruptions should be periodic and not long lasting. We ask that you please notify us if you experience water discoloration by email to info@utiliservepro.com to document this information.

On the email, please include address, time of day water discoloration was noticed, and any other helpful information including flushing your home if you noticed water discoloration until the water clears up. Work being performed is for fire protection and insurance purposes.

The City of Ruston regrets any inconvenience this necessary work may cause residents. We appreciate your patience, and any questions can be received by the Public Works Department at (318) 242-7703.

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By Brad Dison

Michael Faraday was born in 1791 just outside London, England.  Michael’s father, a blacksmith who was often too ill to work steadily, could hardly afford to feed himself, his wife, and Michael and his three siblings.  He could certainly not afford to send his children to school.  Up until he was a teenager, Michael could only perform rudimentary reading, writing, and math, basic skills he learned at his church’s Sunday school.  When Michael was 14, his father arranged a seven-year apprenticeship for him under George Riebau, a bookbinder.  One of the perks of the job was that George allowed Michael to read any of the books they worked on.  Michael read books on a variety of subjects but became passionate about science.  Michael’s desire to learn impressed George as well as his customers.  One customer gave Michael tickets to attend four lectures by Humphry Davy, professor of chemistry at the Royal Institution.  Michael took copious notes and bound them in book form.  When Michael’s apprenticeship with the bookbinder ended, 22-year-old Michael asked Humphry for a job and provided his bound notes.  Humphry was taken aback by Michael’s interest, understanding, and determination, and hired Michael to be his assistant at the Royal Institute.  For the next 18 months, Michael accompanied Humphry on a tour of scientific institutions in Europe where he met noted scientists including André-Marie Ampère (for whom the ampere or amp is named) and Alessandro Volta (for whom the volt is named). 

In 1820, Michael had mastered chemistry to the point that he was developing his own theoretical views and ways to test his theories.  When Humphry retired, Michael replaced him as professor of chemistry at the Royal Institute.  While a professor, Michael became the first chemist to liquefy a “permanent” gas, one which the scientific community believed was incapable of liquification.  He discovered benzene, a colorless and highly flammable gas with a sweet smell which is partially responsible for the odor of gasoline.  His experiments with chemistry combined with electricity transformed electricity from a curiosity to a useful technology and led to him being called the father of electrochemistry and electromagnetism.  Among his many inventions were the electric motor, the electric generator, electric transformers, and a container for holding hydrogen.      

In 1824, Michael was performing experiments with hydrogen to understand its properties.  He experimented with several different containers to determine the best vessel for holding hydrogen.  In one experiment, Michael cut out two pieces of raw, tacky rubber into circles, rubbed flour on the center of the two pieces to prevent it from sticking, and pressed the edges of the rubber together.  The edges of the raw rubber sealed to itself automatically.  The scientific community was so enthralled with Michael’s new container that in the following year, 1825, rubber manufacturer Thomas Hancock began producing do-it-yourself rubber hydrogen container kits for scientists.  Rubber manufacturers eventually mass-produced and marketed these containers to the public.  Each of us has probably owned a modernized version of Michael’s hydrogen container.  Rather than hydrogen, we fill ours with helium.  In that chemistry lab, Michael Faraday invented what we now know as the toy rubber balloon.  Can you imagine a world without Michael Faraday’s hydrogen containers? 

Sources:

1.     “The Genius of Michael Faraday,” American Association fo rthte Advancement of Science, September 11, 2012, accessed June 14, 2026, https://www.aaas.org/membership/scientia/genius-michael-faraday.

2.     “Balloons,” Science World, accessed June 14, 2026, https://www.scienceworld.ca/resource/balloons/.

3.     Dmitriy Vaysman, “A Brief History of Party Balloons,” Balloon Lab, January 24, 2024, accessed June 14, 2026, https://balloonlabusa.com/a-brief-history-of-party-balloons/. 

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By ROBIN FAMBROUGH

Written for the LSWA

Todd McClure vividly remembers the day he got put in his place by one of his high school coaches.

“I thought, ‘Why is he doing this,’ ” McClure recalled. “I wasn’t just mad … I was really angry. I was a tight end and a defensive lineman.

“Those guys get their names called out on the loudspeaker. The only time you hear an offensive lineman’s name is when they commit a penalty.”  

Central High offensive line coach Randy Blanchard did it anyway. Blanchard had McClure play center for the first time – presumably for one day.

The sophomore did what he was told. And it changed everything, clearing a path for McClure to become an All-America football player at LSU, a 14-year mainstay in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and now a member of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

On Saturday, June 27 in Natchitoches, the Baton Rouge native is part of a 12-person class being enshrined to culminate three days of festivities. For participation opportunities, visit LaSportsHall.com or call 318-238-4255.

All-Pro honors somehow eluded McClure, a fact one of his former head coaches with the Falcons, Mike Smith, calls a misnomer.

“In my opinion, Todd was an All-Pro … without question,” Smith said. “People believe wide receivers and running backs are the most important players around a quarterback. But really, it’s the center and not just because of snap exchanges.

“The blocking calls and pretty much everything goes through the center. Todd was a master of that and also the best teammate I ever coached. As a blocker, he was a technician who knew all the angles and leverage.”

The 2026 LSHOF induction is hardly McClure’s first honor. He was inducted into the Falcons’ prestigious Ring of Honor in 2022. At LSU, he was a two-time All-SEC selection and earned first-team All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association in 1998.

Awards are merely window dressing for McClure, who built a career on an old school, multi-sport upbringing. McClure was a leader and a “glue guy” for each team he played for.

That “glue guy” moniker offered multiple meanings for critics of undersized linemen. At 6-2, 290 pounds, did not fit the prototype of an NFL lineman. But McClure stuck to his craft relentlessly as he fine-tuned skills in order to adapt and excel.

How good was he? Remember that youthful observation about offensive linemen and penalties?  Consider this – McClure was called for just 22 penalties in 198 regular-season games during his NFL career.

That’s an average of 1.7 penalties per year. McClure didn’t have a single penalty called on him in the 2011 season.

And it started at practice with an order from Blanchard, best known as the Central baseball coach who won four straight Class 4A state titles with McClure as his All-State catcher.

“There wasn’t a whole lot else Todd could do at tight end that day,” Blanchard recalled. “So, I told him to move over to center. He did not like it one bit and I knew it. But I said, ‘You never know when you might have to play there.’ Of course, he did. What a career.

“Now I will tell you this, if Todd would have gone with baseball instead, I think he could have made to the Major Leagues as a catcher. I really do. He was that good.”

However, then-LSU football coach Gerry DiNardo was enamored with McClure after watching him play basketball for Central. After that, he still played tight end, but also took enough snaps at center so the film could be dubbed to VHS tapes that were sent to college football coaches.

“DiNardo loved him and told him to keep playing basketball because it would help his footwork so much,” former Central basketball coach Gary Duhe said. “Todd was just an all-around athlete. I give his dad a lot of credit because he had him play point guard in Biddy Basketball even though he was a bigger kid.

“Most people probably remember him as a 6-foot-2 guy guarding 6-9 Lester Earl (Glen Oaks star) in the (Class 4A) championship game for Central. He did that probably as well as anybody. But he also brought the ball upcourt against the press because he was our best ballhandler.”

Each all-around multi-sport skill certainly helped shape McClure’s destiny. Equally important was his upbringing and a lineage ingrained into the sports history of Central, a small town in a mostly rural area just outside Baton Rouge.

By the time he was in college, McClure’s words to teammates resonated like those of a coach for good reason. His grandfather Archie and father, Leo McClure, were coaches at Central.

During Leo McClure’s stint as an assistant coach and later head men’s basketball coach at Southeastern Louisiana University, McClure, his older brother Trey and younger brother Tanna had unfettered access.

The McClures were ball boys and sat in the SLU locker room every day, including game days.

“That’s where I saw how things were supposed to be done,” McClure said. “I saw what leadership looked like from players and coaches every day when my dad coached at Southeastern.

“We saw things up close. That’s where I saw what being a good teammate looked like. For us, that was the only way for things to be done. That was the expectation and it shaped who I am, no question.”

The McClure way also meant being a multi-sport athlete. All three were three-sport athletes at Central.

Trey McClure played for two Skip Bertman-coached national championship baseball teams and is fourth on LSU’s career home runs list while Todd, who is 14 months younger, made a name for himself in football. Tanna McClure later played baseball at SLU.

Their mother, Brenda, was a two-sport standout at Central. Sundays were often spent helping maternal grandfather Jewel Wilson mend fences and tend to animals on a family farm. Those experiences led McClure to build his own ranch/farm in Zachary after his NFL retirement.

“I give so much credit to both sides of my family,” McClure explained. “There were lessons learned. I’m fortunate to have my grandmother (Carmel McClure) watch not only me and my brothers play, but also our children. It’s a blessing.”

Building a post-NFL life based on his family roots and competitive values made sense for McClure because he did it before – first during a transformative period for LSU football and again in the NFL.

Being called a great teammate or a leader is often dismissed as an antiquated atta-boy cliché by many people in today’s society.

McClure provides an example of why that should not happen, a point his former LSU teammates eagerly explain.

“We played against each other in middle school and I always followed his career,” former LSU linebacker Markeith Spears said. “Todd was one of the first guys to commit to LSU early in our senior year. And I figured if it was good enough for him, it was good enough for me.

“But I did not know Todd as a person until we got to LSU. I was so nervous before my first start our freshman year. Todd calmed me down. He walked me through it, telling me, ‘You know what to do … just play hard like you always do.’ That’s compassion and leadership.”

Former LSU star lineman Alan Faneca, a Pro Football and LSHOF member, adds, “Todd was absolutely the best guy to play next to (for three years) … somebody you love to go to battle with each day. He was always absorbing information. You just wanted to play with him.”

Former LSU quarterback Herb Tyler notes, “The amount of trust we all had in Todd was based on seeing the amount of work he put in. All of us gained trust from the upper classmen in part because of him. He was the anchor of the line and the guy who made it all go.”

McClure was drafted in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Falcons. He tore his ACL during a training camp. A tough break like that has ended many careers. But not McClure’s.

“I remember a trainer telling me it was a torn ACL and then he left me in this area by myself,” McClure said. “I wasn’t sure what would happen next … was it (football) over for me?”

McClure learned there were two options. If the team offered an injury settlement, he would be released. If the Falcons placed him on injured reserve, McClure would get his chance.

“Pretty soon I found out I made an impression on people,” McClure said. “They had talked about me and what I had done in meetings for the offense and defense. So, they put me on IR. I got to work rehabbing, watching film … everything I could do.”

McClure honed his skills for reading sideline signals and the body language of defenders, looking for a “tell” that would give away game plans or tendencies.

The following season, McClure became a fixture for the Falcons, starting 159 of 160 games through the bulk of his career. Again, he built bonds and trust with teammates and coaches.

The fact that one of McClure’s first coaches in Atlanta was north Louisiana native Al Miller did not hurt, either. The Falcons’ strength coach, Miller nicknamed McClure Mud Duck. The nickname stuck and so did McClure.

Michael Vick and Matt Ryan were among McClure’s Atlanta quarterbacks. He blocked for LSHOF running back and former Catholic High-Baton Rouge star Warrick Dunn.

“Todd and I were teammates for eight years,” former Falcons lineman Tyson Clabo said. “I still consider him to be my brother, even though we haven’t played together in quite a while. That’s how special the bond is.

“As a player, he was something else. I would be standing in the huddle trying to catch my breath after a play and Todd would get in my face to tell me something he saw from the sideline or about the defensive alignment.”

Clabo laughed as he explained that the Falcons drafted other centers over the years, figuring they could replace McClure.

Some potential replacements were cut. Others got moved to new positions.

“Management talked about wanting to be bigger and faster on the offensive line over the years when I was the coach,” Smith said. “It was a different story in our building. We knew Todd was always the guy … our guy.”

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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. 

Friday, June 26
10 a.m.: Open house for Fox Nesbit (500 Dan Reneau Dr.)
2 p.m.: Briarhill Farms at Lincoln Parish Library Events Center
3:30-5:30 p.m.: Summer DND Campaign for Teens & Tweens (Lincoln Parish Library) Please call 318-513-5518 for important information about participation.
7 p.m.: Ruston Community Theatre presents “Willy Wonka, Jr.” (Dixie Theatre)

Friday, June 26
10 a.m.: Open house for Fox Nesbit (500 Dan Reneau Dr.)
2 p.m.: Briarhill Farms at Lincoln Parish Library Events Center
3:30-5:30 p.m.: Summer DND Campaign for Teens & Tweens (Lincoln Parish Library) Please call 318-513-5518 for important information about participation.
7 p.m.: Ruston Community Theatre presents “Willy Wonka, Jr.” (Dixie Theatre)

Saturday, June 27
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market
2 p.m.: Russ-Town Band concert (Howard Auditorium, Louisiana Tech)
7 p.m.: Ruston Community Theatre presents “Willy Wonka, Jr.” (Dixie Theatre)

Sunday, June 28
2 p.m.: Ruston Community Theatre presents “Willy Wonka, Jr.” (Dixie Theatre)

Monday, June 29
11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome
4 p.m.: Storytime : Patriotic Stories (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
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)

Tuesday, June 30
6:30 a.m.: Veterans free breakfast (VFW Post 3615, 206 Memorial Dr.)
10 a.m.: Storytime : Patriotic Stories (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
10 a.m.: Summer movie series “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” (Dixie Theatre)
2 p.m.: Crafternoon : Patriotic Geese (Lincoln Parish Library)
4 p.m.: Teen Time :  Japanese Paper Doll Bookmark (Lincoln Parish Library)
6 p.m.: Video-Led Exercise class (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
6 p.m.: Adult Craft Night: Firecracker Flowers; registration required 318-513-5510 (Lincoln Parish Library)

Wednesday, July 1
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, July 2
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Kiwanis Club lunch and program (Trinity Methodist Church fellowship hall; Anyone is welcome to come to our meeting,please notify Richartd Hamilton of your attendance. 318-518-2121)
6 p.m.: Southern A’Chord Chorus rehearsal (Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 212 N. Bonner St.; open to all women singers)

Friday, July 3
7:30 p.m.: LoveLincoln Freedom Fest (Temple Baptist, 1515 S. Service Rd. W; fireworks to follow)

Saturday, July 4
Independence Day
7:30 a.m. to noon: Patriotic Field Day (Dubach Ballpark)
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market

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