Northern Louisiana Medical Center says state health regulators have cleared the remaining condition-level deficiencies cited during a July inspection, marking what could be a significant step in the hospital’s effort to restore full Medicare compliance.
In a statement provided to the Lincoln Parish Journal on Wednesday, NLMC CEO Monica Adams confirmed that surveyors with the Louisiana Department of Health returned to the hospital this week for a follow-up visit.
According to Adams, the revisit resulted in all remaining condition-level deficiencies being cleared, including issues involving the hospital’s cardiac catheterization laboratory.
“LDH did return to our hospital this week for a follow up and all condition level deficiencies were reportedly cleared during this revisit — including the Cath Lab, which is now fully operational and no longer on diversion,” Adams said.
However, Adams noted the hospital has not yet received the official survey report documenting the findings.
“Because we have not yet received the official survey report for this revisit, we do not want to speculate on specific regulatory findings,” she said.
The latest development follows a series of state inspections that began in June and culminated in a July 8 follow-up survey that found the hospital remained out of compliance with Medicare’s Conditions of Participation for Patient Rights. During that survey, inspectors removed an Immediate Jeopardy finding after the hospital placed its cardiac catheterization laboratory on diversion, but the Patient Rights condition-level deficiency remained, leaving the hospital subject to continued regulatory oversight.
In a July 14 letter accompanying the survey findings, the Louisiana Department of Health notified the hospital that it remained out of compliance with Medicare’s Conditions of Participation and that the Medicare termination process would continue. The agency directed the hospital to submit a Plan of Correction within three calendar days and advised that compliance with all remaining Conditions of Participation had to be achieved during a follow-up survey before the scheduled Aug. 30 termination date to avoid further action.
Northern Louisiana Medical Center submitted its Plan of Correction on July 21, outlining dozens of corrective actions designed to address deficiencies identified by the Louisiana Department of Health and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Among the most significant commitments was keeping the catheterization laboratory on diversion until its backup power system was fully restored.
The plan also detailed operational improvements throughout the hospital, including installation of a wireless nurse call system for the ambulatory surgery center, replacement of approximately 60 over-bed tables, expanded preventive maintenance tracking, additional infection-control measures, revised policies, enhanced quality monitoring and increased oversight by hospital leadership and the Board of Trustees.
Under the Medicare survey process, hospitals cited with condition-level deficiencies must demonstrate to regulators that corrective actions have been implemented before those deficiencies can be removed. The follow-up survey conducted this week was expected to determine whether Northern Louisiana Medical Center had successfully corrected the remaining deficiencies identified during the July inspection.
If confirmed by the LDH official survey report, the latest revisit would represent a positive step towards a turnaround for the hospital. Just weeks ago, state regulators warned that Medicare termination proceedings would continue unless Northern Louisiana Medical Center corrected the remaining condition-level deficiency before a follow-up survey conducted ahead of the Aug. 30 deadline.
The official survey report is expected to document the state’s findings from the latest revisit and identify whether any new deficiencies were cited during the inspection. As of Wednesday evening, that report had not been released.
In her statement, Adams said efforts have resulted in meaningful operational changes.
“Today, our processes include more structured monitoring, greater departmental ownership, increased leadership engagement, and an even stronger organizational commitment to patient safety and accountability,” Adams said. “These are improvements that will continue benefiting our patients long after the survey process concludes.”
Adams credited physicians, nurses, department leaders and employees with implementing the changes while continuing daily operations.
“This process has challenged every department in our hospital, but it has also reinforced who we are,” Adams said. “Our team has embraced accountability, worked collaboratively, and remained focused on providing safe, compassionate care for our community.”
The Lincoln Parish Journal has requested the official survey report from the Louisiana Department of Health and will report its findings once it becomes available.
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The Simsboro School staff bridged the gap between teachers and students during the summer months with a special day dedicated to preparing for the upcoming school year.
During the Popsicles and Paws Tour, volunteer teachers and staff members took the Simsboro school bus from stop to stop throughout the community to meet incoming students and bring them a sweet treat.
In an effort to welcome students back to school and build stronger connections with families and community members, the bus made stops at apartments, day cares and community areas to meet and greet the kids. Simsboro Principal Lacey Holcomb described the intention behind bringing the event to life for the first time last year.
“We started this event last summer. It was an idea we had been discussing for a couple of years and just had not been able to put the pieces together to figure out exactly what it should look like,” Holcomb said. “We finally came up with this idea as a way to visit with the kids, welcome them back to school, and spread a little joy. We really do miss the kids over the summer, and it is so good to see their faces when we go hand out the popsicles.”
As a K-12 school, Simsboro encompasses children of all ages throughout the community. During the summer, many of these students spend their days at day cares, play centers, recreational programs or around their neighborhoods. With the Popsicles and Paws Tour, teachers were able to see the students in a different environment outside the regular classroom.
Assistant Principal Jonathan Hood highlighted the importance of reaching the kids and their families outside the classroom.
“It’s the first time we get to see some of the students in a few months, and it’s so fun to interact with them just as normal kids in their own neighborhoods — not a structured environment like inside the school walls,” Hood said. “Kids get so excited about seeing their teachers. It builds trust and relationships between those kids and their teachers because we are going out to see them and, as a bonus, we bring them popsicles.”
This year, the bus made stops at the apartments on College Avenue in Grambling, Kiddie Palace in Simsboro, the Braswell Lane mobile home community, and Regan Maden Park in Simsboro. The tour around town allowed students in all different areas to meet their teachers without having to travel to school for an event. It brought joy to the kids and their families to see their school staff taking the time and effort to visit them and bring them a treat during their summer break.
Fifth-grade teacher Teyauna Shorter shared her favorite part of volunteering for the event.
“I liked seeing the connections with the families and getting to meet siblings,” Shorter said.
With the tour of Simsboro bringing a bit of end-of-summer joy to all, the Simsboro staff and students are ready for a fun and successful school year. Thanks to the teachers and staff who volunteered, students can enter the school year knowing their educators are looking out for them wherever they may be.
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A local man was arrested early Sunday on driving while intoxicated and drug charges after a Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s deputy stopped him in Choudrant, according to an arrest affidavit.
Ryan Mead Smith, 33, of Choudrant, was booked into the Lincoln Parish Detention Center on charges of first-offense driving under the influence, two counts of possession of a Schedule I controlled dangerous substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Deputies saw a red Chevrolet at about 1 a.m. cross the center line while traveling south and conducted a traffic stop at Highway 821. The deputy reported smelling an odor associated with an alcoholic beverage while speaking with Smith and continued to detect the odor on his breath as the conversation went on. Smith agreed to a standardized field sobriety test and performed poorly. He was placed in restraints and advised of his Miranda rights.
While retrieving Smith’s phone from the vehicle at his request, the deputy reported smelling an odor associated with marijuana. A subsequent probable cause search turned up 3.7 grams of suspected marijuana, high-concentration THC edibles and numerous items of drug paraphernalia.
Smith refused to submit a breath sample after arriving at the detention center and was booked without incident.
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.
Ruston will have Louisiana’s first operational Buc-ee’s sometime in the second quarter of 2027.
by Malcolm Butler
Ruston has been known for decades for Bulldogs and Bearcats and Cougars.
It’s about to be known for a Beaver. A pretty famous one.
Yep. Buc-ee’s is most definitely coming to town.
The mascot of the nationally renowned travel center is about to be plastered on billboards from the Texas state line to the Mississippi state line.
Mile marker 83. Tarbutton Exit.
Get ready, Ruston. The Beaver is most definitely coming to town.
I have written a lot about this topic since the official announcement was made in early January 2023. And outside of the recent health care issues in our parish, no one topic has generated as much passionate debate as that of this Beaver.
Buc-ee is his name.
Evidently, you either love him or you hate him. People are very passionate about ol’ Buc-ee and his travel center from what I have read on social media.
Some folks aren’t too happy about the newest addition. My buddy Stephen complains all the time about it. Any time the B word is brought up, que Stephen’s negativity. His prerogative.
I have heard grumblings that stem from location to increased traffic to tax breaks to more. All fair arguments that I won’t delve into in this column.
Why not? Because this column is pro-Beaver.
Personally, I am a big fan of the ecosystem engineer portrayed by a cute little guy in a red hat. And I am a huge fan of the cleanest public bathrooms that said-varmint represents. And the BBQ sandwiches. The variety of jerky. The selection of candy and cookies and chips and Coca-Cola products and more!
Heck, I even bought a belt at Buc-ee’s in Terrell, Texas one time (packing snafu on a road trip to Denton, Texas).
And as excited as I am about the travel center opening sometime in the second quarter of 2027, I am just as eager to start hearing about what is following it to Tarbutton Exit. Every time I meet with Ronny Walker, that’s one of the first questions that I ask. Ronny has been pretty consistent with his Fort Knox reply.
“They won’t start announcing that until closer to the opening of Buc-ee’s.”
Trust me, folks who want to know. I have worn the mayor out with that question. Ronny has his reply on replay.
I know not everyone is as excited as I am about the newest, most talked-about addition to our parish in decades. And I respect those who say their shadows will never darken the sliding doors.
But, I, for one, will frequent Buc-ee’s to pay homage to the Beaver … Buc-ee himself.
Beaver nuggets, anyone?
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A local man was arrested after a traffic stop for an inoperable headlight led a deputy to find suspected crack cocaine in his vehicle, according to an arrest affidavit.
Isaiah Bates, 21, of Ruston, was arrested July 24 by the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Department.
A deputy on patrol on RWE Jones Drive observed a vehicle traveling north with one headlight inoperable and conducted a traffic stop at RWE Jones Drive and Main Street.
The deputy made contact with the driver, identified as Bates. While speaking with Bates, the deputy reported observing a mostly smoked suspected marijuana cigarette in the center console area of the vehicle. Bates was asked to step out of the vehicle, complied and was advised of his rights.
When asked about the cigarette, Bates said he does not smoke marijuana and that he shares the vehicle with a relative.
The deputy conducted a probable cause search and located an orange pill bottle in the center console containing an unknown pill and suspected crack cocaine. The bottle had no label with a prescription or name on it.
A field test of the suspected crack cocaine yielded a positive result. Deputies continued searching the vehicle, where the odor of marijuana was detected, but no other contraband was located.
Bates was placed in restraints and transported to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center, where he was booked without incident.
Bates was booked on charges of possession of a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance (crack cocaine), possession of drug paraphernalia and a headlight violation.
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.
All Americans learned in school that we fought two wars against the British, namely the American Revolution and the War of 1812, but there was a third war that began in 1859 which has been largely forgotten. Following the War of 1812, the United Kingdom and the United States agreed in the Treaty of Oregon that the boundary between the countries was along the 49th parallel from the Rocky Mountains to the middle of the channel which separates the continent from Vancouver’s Island then south through the channel to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and west to the Pacific Ocean (see map). This agreement was made by using crude maps by people who had little knowledge of the area. Both parties were unaware that there were two distinct channels or straits, the Haro Strait and the Rosario Strait, which were divided by San Juan Island. Because of the way the treaty was written, both countries claimed right to the island and people from both countries began settling on the island. For years, tension rose as each side argued that settlers from the other side were nothing more than squatters or trespassers.
The first shot of the war happened on June 15, 1859, when Lyman Cutlar, an American, shot and killed a British subject whom Lyman had found destroying crops in his field. British authorities threatened to arrest Lyman and to evict all Americans from the island. In response, American Brigadier General William Harney ordered a company of 64 infantry soldiers to the island. When the soldiers arrived, the British Governor at Vancouver ordered Royal Navy Captain Geoffrey Phipps Hornby to take his 31-gun steam frigate HMS Tribune to remove the American soldiers. More British warships joined the Tribune shortly thereafter, and more American soldiers were sent to the island. For months, the British and Americans stockpiled weapons and built up their forces for the upcoming battle. Each side drilled and fired their cannons, but they were careful not to aim at the opposing soldiers just yet. As both sides were making their final preparations for battle, General Winfield Scott, U.S. Army commander and War of 1812 veteran, arrived and began negotiations. General Scott proposed and both sides agreed on a joint military occupation until a final border could be agreed upon. For twelve long, tense years, San Juan Island remained under joint military occupation. In 1871, when Great Britain and the United States were still unable to agree on ownership of San Juan Island, they turned to Kaiser Wilhelm I of Germany who set up a three-man arbitration commission to settle the dispute. Both sides agreed that the commission’s decision would be final. Finally in October 1872, after nearly a year of discussions by the commission, Kaiser Wilhelm I ruled in favor of the United States. San Juan Island belonged to the United States. The Royal Marines withdrew the following month, and the war ended 14 years after the first shot was fired. The war over San Juan Island was named after that British subject who was the only fatality of this war between the United Kingdom and the United States. It is known as the Pig War. That’s right. This conflict between the United Kingdom and United States was set off by a squabble over a pig.
For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox.Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
by Kyleigh Bass (Assistant Extension Agent-Horticulture/Lincoln and Bienville Parishes)
Local landowners and wildlife enthusiasts will have the opportunity next Saturday August 8th to learn practical strategies for improving habitat quality at the Management for Better Wildlife workshop, hosted by the LSU AgCenter at the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office. The event begins with registration at 8:30 a.m., followed by a two‑hour program starting at 9:00 a.m.
The workshop will focus on building stronger wildlife food plots, improving forage availability, and understanding how seasonal changes shape habitat needs. Participants will also explore the role of prescribed burning as a tool for maintaining healthy environments and encouraging beneficial plant growth. Presenters will walk attendees through smart, effective approaches that landowners can apply to develop their own property.
Organizers from the LSU AgCenter, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries, and the Piney Hills Prescribed Burn Association will guide participants in thinking about their land as a connected system. Where soil health, vegetation structure, and management decisions work together to support wildlife. The workshop is designed to give attendees clear, actionable steps they can begin using immediately.
The event is free to attend, and registration is available by email (MHale@agcenter.lsu.edu) or phone (318-251-5134). Organizers note that programs like this strengthen community‑based conservation efforts and help landowners make informed decisions that benefit both wildlife and long‑term land stewardship.
For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox.Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
Each Monday through Friday, the Lincoln Parish Journal will post a list of non-for-profit upcoming events happening in the parish. If you would like to add your event to this list or advertise your for-profit events, please email us at lpjnewsla@gmail.com.
Friday, July 31 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Friends of the Library Book Sale (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center) 10 a.m.: PAWS for NELA Therapy Dogs at Lincoln Parish Library 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. 4 p.m.: Teens End of Summer Reading Party (Lincoln Parish Library)
Saturday, Aug. 1 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market/Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will be at the Ruston Farmers Market with models of snakes, live “pet” snakes, and a baby alligator 10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Friends of the Library Book Sale (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
Sunday, Aug. 2 1-4 p.m.: Friends of the Library Book Sale (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
Monday, Aug. 3 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome Noon to 6 p.m.: Friends of the Library Book Sale (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center) 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, Aug. 4 6:30 a.m.: Veterans free breakfast (VFW Post 3615, 206 Memorial Dr.) 6 p.m.: Lincoln Parish School Board meeting (Lincoln Parish School Board office)
Wednesday, Aug. 5 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, Aug. 6 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) 4:30-5:30 p.m.: Free meal sponsored by 5 Loaves 2 Fish Ministry to be served at Ruston Housing Authority Maryland Plaza office, 615 N. Farmerville Street. All are welcome. 6 p.m.: Southern A’Chord Chorus rehearsal (Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 212 N. Bonner St.; open to all women singers)
Saturday, Aug. 8 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
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.
Head coach Talvin Hester and Louisiana Tech men’s basketball officially announced the hiring of assistant coach Adam Schwartz to the coaching staff ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Schwartz joins the Dunkin’ Dogs after spending one season as an assistant coach at Chicago State, where he helped develop CJ Ray, who earned Northeast Conference third-team honors following the 2025-26 season.
Before his time at Chicago State, Schwartz served as an assistant coach under Landon Bussie at Alcorn State. During his first season with the Braves in 2023-24, he helped guide Alcorn to a 13-5 Southwestern Athletic Conference record and the No. 2 seed in the SWAC Tournament before the Braves fell to No. 7 seed Alabama A&M in the opening round.
Before joining Alcorn State, Schwartz spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas. During his tenure, he helped lead the Buccaneers to 74 wins. Fourteen players earned National Junior College Athletic Association All-Region honors, including five first-team selections and one All-American. Thirty-four players under his tutelage advanced to four-year universities, including 12 who signed with NCAA Division I programs. As the team’s academic coordinator, Schwartz helped achieve a 100% graduation rate while raising the team’s average GPA from 2.87 to 3.37.
Before arriving at Blinn, Schwartz served as the head boys basketball coach at Mojave High School in North Las Vegas, Nevada, for three seasons. In 2018-19, the Rattlers posted one of the most successful seasons in program history, finishing 22-8, winning the school’s first 3A Southern Region championship and earning just the program’s second state tournament appearance. Following that season, Schwartz was named Nevada Preps Coach of the Year. He also coached with the Las Vegas Prospects Nike EYBL program, where he worked with multiple top-100 recruits, two McDonald’s All-Americans and one top-15 NBA draft pick.
Before Mojave, Schwartz spent nine seasons with Lamar Community College. He served as the program’s head coach from 2009-15 after spending the previous two seasons as an assistant coach. He was named NJCAA Region IX South Sub-Region Coach of the Year after leading the Runnin’ Lopes to their first Region IX South Sub-Region championship in 2010-11. During his two seasons as an assistant, Schwartz helped the Runnin’ Lopes compile a 47-21 record while also helping the program capture its first Region IX championship and earn its first NJCAA National Tournament appearance, where Lamar finished fifth in 2008-09.
Schwartz spent the 2005-06 season as an assistant coach at Colorado Northwestern Community College before being promoted to head coach the following season. Under his leadership, the program increased its win total and completed its most successful two-year stretch in several years.
His coaching career began as a student assistant at UNLV from 2002-05 under Charlie Spoonhour (2002-04) and Lon Kruger (2004-05). He also served as a volunteer assistant coach at Durango High School in Las Vegas from 1999-2004 under Hall of Fame coach Al LaRocque.
Schwartz is married to the former Meagan O’Connell-Carne of Dayton, Ohio.
Lisa Diane Weaver February 20, 1966 – July 27, 2026 Visitation: Friday, July 31, 2026, 9:00AM – 10:00AM, Dayspring Baptist Church, 3191 S VIenna St., Ruston Service: Friday, July 31, 2026, 10:00AM, Dayspring Baptist Church, 3191 S VIenna St., Ruston Final Resting Place: Pleasant Grove Cemetery, 1366 Pleasant Grove Road, Choudrant
Willie Jean Riley (Granny) Tuesday 06/08/1937 — Saturday 07/25/2026 Visitation: Friday 07/31/2026 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Celebration of Life: Saturday 08/01/2026 11:00am, May’s Chapel CME, 513 West Line Avenue, Ruston Interment: Saturday 08/01/2026, Grambling Memorial Garden, Highway 80 West, Grambling
Eleisha Yvette Levingston Saturday 11/19/1966 — Thursday 07/23/2026 Memorial Service: Saturday 08/08/2026 10:00am at King’s Funeral Home
Emily Stutzman (right) has worked as a counselor at MedCamps of Louisiana for the past four summers, something she called a life-changing experience. (Photos by Josh McDaniel)
by Malcolm Butler
During her freshman year at LSU, Ruston native Emily Stutzman took a public speaking class.
One of her first assignments was to write a speech about something that had impacted her life; a passion.
The topic for the assignment was one of the easiest decisions of Emily’s young life.
“It was all about MedCamps (of Louisiana),” said Emily, who is finishing her fourth summer as a counselor at the special needs camp located in Choudrant. “The title for my speech was ‘I Get To.'”
For the past four decades, thousands of young people — roughly 500 per summer — facing the challenge of living with various disabilities have rolled through the pine tree-covered hills of the 75-acre footprint that makes up MedCamps of Louisiana.
For many of them, it’s the only week of the year that they “get to.” It’s the magic of MedCamps of Louisiana, where the impossible becomes possible for campers and the routine becomes truly appreciated by counselors.
Emily quickly realized it was a life-altering experience.
“That first summer honestly changed my whole perspective of life,” said Emily, a kinesiology major. “I realized that I get to wake up. I get to be independent. I get to drive a car. I get to walk.
“I thought it would be an awesome opportunity, but it has been more than that. I couldn’t have asked for anything better. I have loved it so much.”
For Emily, those three simple words became much more than the title of a speech. They became a way of looking at life.
Before arriving at MedCamps, Emily said she viewed the world much the way most young adults do. Like most people, she rarely stopped to think about the ordinary routines that filled each day. Things she took for granted.
Then she spent a summer at camp. And her perspective changed quickly as she walked beside children whose lives looked much different than her own.
Emily watched campers celebrate accomplishments many people never stop to consider. She listened to their stories. She laughed with them. She shared so many moments and emotions with them.
And during that first summer, Emily realized she had been looking at life through an entirely different lens then her campers.
“I realized that we get to feed ourselves,” she said. “Even things like going to the bathroom by yourself. I never thought about that not being an option. It’s something that I still think about today.”
The lesson wasn’t one of pity. If anything, it was the opposite. Emily wasn’t inspired by what the campers couldn’t do. She was inspired by what they could.
She watched campers throw themselves into activities with enthusiasm, celebrate victories that might seem small to someone else and embrace each day with a joy that proved happiness isn’t measured by physical ability.
That realization followed her to college in Baton Rouge.
And when her professor asked the students to choose a topic that had changed their lives, Emily didn’t have to search for an answer. She simply told the story of her experience with special needs campers.
She called it “I Get To.”
And in some ways, it’s a mantra for all counselors at MedCamps of Louisiana.
______________________________________
Emily’s story is deeply personal, but it isn’t unique.
Every summer, dozens of college students arrive at Camp Alabama for reasons that seem practical. Some want patient-care experience before applying to medical or physician assistant school. Others need internship or practicum hours. Some simply want to spend a summer making a difference.
Almost every one of them believes they’re coming to change someone else’s life. But instead, they leave with the campers changing theirs.
Executive Director Caleb Seney knows that transformation firsthand. A MedCamps counselor from 1993-97, Caleb has spent the past three decades watching the same thing happen to hundreds of young adults.
Long before the first camper arrives each summer, Caleb travels to college campuses across Louisiana searching for the next group of counselors. He’s looking for something more important than a résumé.
“We’re looking for people that are willing to serve,” said Caleb.
Every summer, they come. Some have never spent meaningful time around children or adults with disabilities.
Until they step foot on Camp Alabama and experience that first smile, laugh, victory by a camper.
For Choudrant native Trevor Trevillion, that lesson arrived during his very first week.
A Louisiana Tech biology major planning to attend medical school, Trevor came to MedCamps hoping to answer a practical question.
“I really wanted to find an experience where I could grow and kind of figure out if medicine really was what I wanted to do,” Trevor said.
Friends encouraged him to apply after hearing Seney speak to his fraternity. Trevor is a TKE at Tech. He expected valuable experience from the summer job. Instead, he found perspective from a life-altering experience.
One of his first campers was a young boy named Holden. Trevor quickly noticed something remarkable.
“It didn’t matter what event we were doing,” he said. “Everything we went to, he was super excited.”
Trevor Trevillion (middle) rides around the lake with a camper.
Swimming. Playing games. Simply moving from one activity to another. Holden attacked every moment with enthusiasm.
Later in the summer, Trevor watched the same joy spread through an entire week of campers attending diabetes camp.
“Seeing the excitement, the screaming, the waterslide … we’re all painting each other, running around laughing,” Trevor said. “That’s what sticks out to me. They find so much joy in the simple things. It was easy to really hone in on that and feel it with them.”
Then, almost without realizing it, he found himself thinking much like Emily.
“All the things I’ve complained about, I have nothing to really complain about,” Trevor said. “Until you can’t walk, or you don’t get the privilege of privacy when you go to the bathroom, or you can’t shower yourself or feed yourself, you don’t realize how blessed you are.
“I’d say I left with a greater appreciation for life and humility.”
______________________________________
Jordan Vail came to MedCamps searching for patient care hours. He left seeing people differently.
Like Trevor, Jordan’s path to Camp Alabama was rooted in his future career. Preparing for physician assistant school, he wanted hands-on experience working with people in this type of setting.
Instead, MedCamps challenged something much deeper than a résumé. It challenged the way Jordan viewed disability.
“That first week opened my eyes,” said Jordan, a Cedar Creek alum and Louisiana Tech student. “These kids, they’re just kids. They have a disability, but they don’t care. They’re going to be themselves.”
That lesson became personal through a camper named Collin.
Collin uses a wheelchair. Outside of camp, Jordan said, Collin said he often felt like people noticed the wheelchair before they noticed him. At MedCamps, it was different.
“He told me, ‘Y’all treat us like we’re regular kids,'” Jordan recalled. “‘Not, ‘Oh, he’s in a wheelchair. He can’t do that.””
Jordan Vail (left) helps a camper on the zipline.
That simple statement stayed with him.
Jordan remembers another camper telling him recess was her least favorite part of school. She couldn’t enjoy the playground like the other children. Then she found MedCamps.
“You just can’t make up that pure joy,” Jordan said, choking back emotions.
Like Emily and Trevor, Jordan found himself grateful for things he once overlooked.
“They’re overcoming their challenge to find happiness,” he said.
For Haylee Shoemaker, however, the transformation wasn’t simply about gratitude. It changed the direction of her life.
When Haylee first arrived at MedCamps in the summer of 2025, she was completing a practicum while earning her degree in Human Development and Family Sciences at Louisiana Tech.
She enjoyed working with children. She thought camp would be a valuable learning experience, but she never expected it to redefine her future.
“It was the most amazing, beautiful experience I’ve ever had in my entire life,” Haylee said. “Coming into MedCamps made me do a full 180 in terms of what I wanted to do with my life. It completely transformed the way I wanted to pursue my life.”
After graduating from Louisiana Tech, Haylee is preparing to begin graduate school in child life – a career devoted to helping children and families navigate medical challenges. She credits MedCamps with helping her discover that calling.
“There’s always something about MedCamps that makes you want to come back,” said Haylee, who hopes one day she can return in a full-time role.
“I think MedCamps gives these kids a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do things that they never get to do anywhere else,” she said. “It really is beautiful seeing how MedCamps can have kids come out of their shell more and help them blossom.”
Haylee Shoemaker (right) helps a camper ride a horse during this summer’s session.
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For Caleb, these stories are familiar. He’s watched them unfold summer after summer. Counselors arrive hoping they’ll make a difference, and weeks later, most leave realizing the experience has changed them for the better.
It’s a true form of admiration, one that runs both directions.
“Every camper out here wants to be one of these camp counselors,” Caleb said. “We tell our staff during training, ‘You are a hero to these kids.'”
Caleb believes that’s why many counselors return year after year despite the demanding schedule.
Many come hoping to make a difference, but leave carrying something they never expected: a different perspective, a deeper gratitude, a clearer purpose.
Much like Emily Stutzman.
Four years after standing in front of her LSU classmates, she no longer needs note cards to remember the message: “I get to.”
She lives it.
For Emily and Trevor and Jordan and Haylee — and for countless MedCamp counselors who have walked the same trails through Camp Alabama — they’ve acquired a knowledge that the greatest gift they found at camp wasn’t one they gave.
It was one they received.
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As the final week of the summer of 2026 at MedCamps of Louisiana comes to an end, Caleb said one of the biggest challenges begins: finding enough qualified counselors to meet the needs of the campers for next year.
While many counselors are students pursuing careers in medicine, nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, education and other service-related fields, Caleb said MedCamps looks for much more than just career goals in its counselors.
“We’re looking for leaders,” Caleb said. “We’re looking for people who have a heart to serve.”
He said previous experience working with individuals with disabilities is helpful but not required.
Instead, MedCamps focuses on recruiting young adults who are compassionate, willing to learn, and committed to creating a positive experience for campers.
“You can make more money working at Waffle House than working out here,” Caleb said. “But you can’t get the same reward.”
Applications for summer counselor positions typically open in early January. Meanwhile, Caleb begins the recruiting process for next year with visits to colleges and universities throughout Louisiana looking for his next Emily, Trevor, Jordan, and Haylee.
Information about counselor positions, volunteer opportunities and the various camps offered each summer is available on the website at MedCamps.org. Interested parties can also inquire by emailing info@medcamps.org.
MedCamps of Louisiana 2026 First Session CounselorsMedCamps of Louisiana 2026 Second Session Counselors
Ruston is in for a treat this weekend. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will be at the Ruston Farmers Market this Saturday, Aug. 1, and they are coming with lots of good information about snakes and reptiles. They will have a display table with models of common snakes, some live “pet” snakes and a baby alligator! Come visit with us between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Ruston Farmers Market.
I was surprised to learn from the LDWF website that Louisiana is home to 47 native snake species, and only seven are venomous (that is just about 15%). The other 85% are nonvenomous. Both venomous and nonvenomous snakes play a big role in keeping ecosystems balanced by controlling rodents, insects and fish populations. So seeing a snake doesn’t mean trouble. Most snakes are harmless and busy doing important work in our backyards and wetlands.
Snake activity peaks from April through July, often during the cooler parts of the day in summer. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has lots of information on its website. In addition to a poster identifying snakes, “Snakes of Louisiana” (https://buff.ly/5TxgFWA), the department offers lots of practical advice.
If you see a snake: • Give it space and let it move along. • Don’t try to kill it — removing snakes can lead to more pests. • Don’t be fooled by defensive behavior (like flattening its head) — many snakes are just bluffing.
Keep your yard snake-unfriendly: • Clear debris and thick vegetation. • Seal gaps around your home. • Trim branches away from your roofline. • Keep grass short and borders tidy.
As a basket maker, I have become a big fan of the longleaf pine tree, native to our area and eight other Southeastern states. Longleaf pines once towered majestically over about 90 million acres from Virginia to East Texas. Due to the demand for straight, tall timber, the need for turpentine and pitch, and extensive logging, less than 3 million acres of this iconic landscape remained by the 20th century. Fire suppression policies also influenced the historical fire regime essential for longleaf pine regeneration.
Longleaf pine forests are one of the most imperiled ecosystems in North America, supporting roughly 29 to 31 federally threatened and endangered species like the red-cockaded woodpecker, gopher tortoise and Louisiana pine snake. I was excited to see a press release from the Audubon Nature Institute stating the Audubon Zoo and its conservation partners released 14 Louisiana pine snakes in the Kisatchie National Forest on June 3, 2026. The release is part of an ongoing conservation effort to restore wild populations of this imperiled species.
“Louisiana pine snakes are an essential part of the longleaf pine ecosystem that is also home to pocket gophers, their primary food source,” said Mallory McKinney, senior herpetology keeper at Audubon Zoo. “Supporting Louisiana pine snake conservation and habitat management of these areas helps native species thrive. We are excited for our continued participation in this program.”
So a quote from the LDWF website: “Coexisting with wildlife can be as simple as giving a little space and letting nature do its thing.”
A Ruston woman told a deputy her name was her dead sister’s during a late-night traffic stop this past weekend, according to an arrest affidavit.
Queen Emunyla Payton, 32, of Ruston, was arrested July 25 by the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office. She was arrested again the following morning by the Grambling Police Department on a set of outstanding warrants.
A deputy on patrol was traveling behind a white Nissan Altima on U.S. 167 and ran the license plate, which came back as not insured. The deputy activated his emergency lights and stopped the vehicle on U.S. 167 at Deer Trail. Because the Altima stopped partially in the roadway, the stop was moved to Rabb Road.
The driver said she did not have any identification. While speaking with her, the deputy reported seeing suspected marijuana gleanings in the center console and detecting the odor of suspected marijuana while standing outside the vehicle.
The driver gave the name Octavia Jackson and a date of birth. When the deputy ran that information, dispatch advised that the person by that name was deceased.
The driver then said she had an open container inside the vehicle and had just started drinking from it. After hearing the dispatch response, she identified herself as Queen Payton and said the name she had given belonged to her deceased sister. She said she had used the name before and had received a citation under it on July 10.
Payton was placed in restraints and put in a marked patrol unit, and was advised of her rights. During a search of the vehicle, deputies reported finding a suspected marijuana cigar in the front passenger seat and a clear plastic bag containing suspected marijuana in the back seat.
Payton was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center on charges of possession of a Schedule I controlled dangerous substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was released on her own recognizance on both counts.
The next morning, a Grambling police officer arrested Payton at the detention center on three outstanding warrants: violation of a protective order, criminal trespass and disturbing the peace. Bond was set at $5,000 on the protective order count, with the remaining two counts released on her own recognizance.
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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As conversations surrounding youth mental health continue to grow across the nation, one Ruston nonprofit is working to ensure families in north Louisiana have access to education, resources and support before the start of the new school year.
The Mt. Zion Community Faith Healing Restoration Project will host Behind the Scenes of Mental Health from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Aug. 1, at the Zion Traveler Baptist Church Family Life Center, 1201 Martin Luther King Drive in Ruston.
The free event is designed for Pre-K through college students, along with parents and teachers, and will feature age-specific breakout sessions led by educators, counselors and community leaders. Organizers say the goal is to equip attendees with practical tools to recognize and address mental health challenges while reducing the stigma often associated with seeking help.
Participants who register by July 20 will be eligible to receive free school supplies, and a sack lunch will be provided at the conclusion of the program.
Executive Director E.C. Morgan said the Mt. Zion Community Faith Healing Restoration Project views the seminar as another step in its mission to improve mental health awareness and support throughout rural north Louisiana.
“The Mt. Zion Faith Healing Restoration Project continues to be intentional in its commitment to meet the challenge as a nonprofit community agency and strengthen its role as a trusted resource for addressing the mental health crisis in our rural communities,” Morgan said. “Our purpose is to address the life-altering and complex issues surrounding mental health, particularly in rural and other underserved communities. This seminar will bring together youth, parents, teachers and mental health professionals to equip students and families with the support and resources they need as they prepare for the upcoming school year.”
Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all presentation, organizers have designed the event around age-appropriate breakout sessions that focus on the unique emotional and mental health challenges participants are likely to face.
Children in Pre-K through third grade will participate in sessions centered on Learning About Feelings and Friendships. Mike Smith (Assistant District Attorney, 3rd Judicial Court) will present “Awakening Awareness: Starting the Conversation,” while Jamie Arthurlee (LCSW) will lead discussions designed to help young children recognize emotions, build healthy friendships and develop positive social skills.
Students in grades 4 and 5 will focus on Bullying and Exercises to Help With Anxiety during a presentation led by Minister Darrius Stewart. The session is intended to provide practical strategies for responding to bullying while teaching simple techniques students can use to manage anxiety and build confidence.
Middle school students in grades 6 through 8 will participate in Stress Management, Emotional Resilience and Social Media, led by Roddric Johnson (LPC). The presentation will address the increasing pressures faced by adolescents, including the effects of social media, while emphasizing healthy coping skills and emotional resilience.
High school and college students will hear from Dr. Tiffany Bates (PhD, LPC), who will present Stress Management and Academic Burnout. The session will focus on helping older students recognize the signs of overwhelming stress and develop strategies to balance academic demands while maintaining their mental well-being.
Parents and teachers will participate in a separate session, Bridging Home, School and Community, presented by Dr. Stephanie Bundle (PhD, LMSW, RSW). That discussion will emphasize collaboration among families, schools and community organizations to better support children’s emotional health and academic success.
The Mt. Zion Community Faith Healing Restoration Project said the event reflects its ongoing mission to address the growing need for mental health resources in rural communities.
The organization works to support young adults, children, parents, veterans and their families by providing education, referrals, telehealth access and resources related to depression, anxiety, trauma and family stress. Organizers hope programs such as Behind the Scenes of Mental Health will encourage open conversations about emotional well-being while connecting families with available support services.
Registration is now open. Organizers encourage students, parents, teachers and community members to register by July 29 to be eligible to receive free school supplies. A sack lunch will be provided following the program.
BATON ROUGE — The Bulldog Aquatic Club wrapped up its 2026 long course season with an all-state performance, a Louisiana state record and a top-12 overall team finish at the Louisiana Summer 15 & Over State Championship Swim Meet, held July 16-19 in Baton Rouge.
The meet featured approximately 300 of Louisiana’s fastest high school and college-age swimmers competing over 3½ days. Swimmers were eligible for up to six individual events in addition to relays, with preliminary races each morning and the top 32 finishers advancing to evening finals.
Bulldog Aquatic Club, coached by Paulette Butterfield, finished 12th overall among 18 teams. The club placed sixth in the boys standings and 13th in the girls standings.
Leading the way was J.J. Hoover, who earned all-state honors by finishing among the top three in five individual events. Hoover captured state championships in the 100-yard butterfly and 200 butterfly, finished second in the 200 breaststroke and placed third in both the 50 and 100 breaststroke. Hoover also set a Louisiana Swimming state record in the 50 butterfly.
The club’s 200 mixed medley relay team of KaraLin Hoover, Camdyn Napper, Samuel Jackson and Breanna Senn also established a Louisiana Swimming state record.
“We sent a solid group of 15 athletes to compete in the meet,” Butterfield said. “It was a long hot weekend with some competing in up to 8 events per day. They showed a lot of mental toughness and grit.”
Several Bulldog swimmers turned in top-10 finishes throughout the meet.
For the girls, Breanna Senn placed ninth in the 1,500 freestyle and Emily Xu recorded fourth-place finishes in both the 1,500 and 800 freestyle while adding ninth-place finishes in the 200 and 400 freestyle.
On the boys side, Jack Groce finished eighth in the 400 individual medley and 10th in the 200 individual medley. Camdyn Napper posted four top-seven finishes, placing fifth in the 400 individual medley, sixth in both the 200 backstroke and 200 butterfly, and seventh in the 200 individual medley.
In the Multi-Class Division, Brendan Pilgreen earned runner-up finishes in the 100 freestyle and 50 backstroke while placing third in the 50 freestyle. William Smith finished second in the 50 freestyle and third in the 50 butterfly, 50 backstroke and 100 freestyle.
The Bulldogs also recorded strong relay performances, highlighted by a seventh-place finish in the boys 200 freestyle relay. The boys added eighth-place finishes in the 400 freestyle and 400 medley relays, while the girls’ best relay finish was 17th in the 400 medley relay.
Butterfield said the meet also marked the end of an era for one of the program’s veteran swimmers.
“This last meet of the season is always bittersweet as we cheered on our graduating Ruston senior, KaraLin Hoover who will be attending Pepperdine in the fall,” Butterfield said.
Although the state meet concluded the season for most of the team, several Bulldog swimmers remain in competition.
“This meet was not even the end of the season for a few of our swimmers,” Butterfield said. “We have 3 swimmers, Senn, Roach and Romanski, currently competing in the Southern Zone Senior Championships in Houston, TX. This meet brings swimmers from 14 different regions in the southeast to one venue.”
Butterfield also noted Hoover’s season is continuing on the national stage.
“Next week (August 3-7), J.J. Hoover will be traveling to Irvine, CA to participate in USA Swimming’s Speedo Junior National Championships,” Butterfield said. “This is a true national meet where swimmers from the entire US race at one meet.”
For a decade, the City of Ruston has hosted its annual Veterans Day Celebration. And with this being the 10th Anniversary of the event, the Veterans Day Committee has added something special.
“It’s a privilege for us to honor the selfless acts and sacrifices of our military men and women,” said Jessica Greer, Sr. VolunteerUNITED Manager and Committee Chair. “Each year it’s always so special to present our city’s Veterans Day Celebration, but we wanted to make this year’s celebration extra special.”
One of the new additions is the Liberty Ruck 5K, an exciting new addition to the festivities. Scheduled for August 15, registration is now open for this distinctive event honoring service, strength, and community.
“As a committee, we’ve been looking for a way to bring people together and help us do something extra special for the 10th year of our Veterans Day Celebration,” added Lauren Dowden, City of Ruston Main Street Director. “That’s really where the idea for the Veterans 5K Run and Ruck came from. We wanted an event that anyone could join in on, something fun and centered around supporting the veterans who live right here in our community.”
The name of the event directly connects to the expectations of the men and women who serve in the military. A “ruck” can be as simple as walking around with a backpack on a hike, or as difficult as moving fast with all your military gear over rugged terrain. However, for the Liberty Ruck 5K you don’t have to worry about carrying anything at all.
Participants will choose either a 5K or a 1.7-mile run for the local ruck. The event starts at 8:00 A.M. at 418 Dan Reneau Drive, at the corner of the Integrated Engineering and Science Building on the Louisiana Tech University campus. Register at https://runsignup.com/Race/Register/?raceId=204059 or by using the QR code seen here. Entry is $30 now or $40 the day of the race.
“We also want to encourage those participating to wear something that represents their favorite branch of the U.S. Military,” Greer added. “This can include the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, or Space Force.”
Every runner will receive a special set of commemorative dog tags, and the winner of each race category will receive a custom-made plaque. Sergeant First Class Chris Taylor, Louisiana Army National Guard, and a committee member, said the Liberty Ruck 5K is more than just a race.
“This is a chance for our community to stand alongside our veterans and show appreciation for their service,” Taylor said. “Having served here for 17 years, I’ve seen how proud North Louisiana is of its veterans, and this event reflects that spirit.”
The race also provides an opportunity to give back. While 90% of proceeds will support the annual Veterans Day Program, 10% will be donated to VFW Post 3615. And the money dedicated to the 10th Anniversary Celebration will allow this year’s event to include some special additions.
“We’re excited because this run doesn’t just add a new activity,” Dowden continued. “It helps us raise the funds we need to make this year’s celebration bigger and better than ever.”
Proceeds from the ruck will help fund The Victory Belles, a popular vocal trio based at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, specializing in 1940s-style music and three-part harmonies. For the Veterans Day Celebration, they will perform patriotic songs and wartime hits to honor veterans and promote wartime nostalgia.
“We are excited about how this race can bring the community together in support of our military and honor their sacrifice,” Greer said. “We hope to see everyone there as we show our pride and honor our veterans.”
For race details or to support the Liberty Ruck 5K, contact Laurel Pesnell at 318-550-6104 or Jessica Greer at 318-791-4384 or jgreer@unitedwaynela.org.
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A traffic stop on U.S. 80 in Grambling early Sunday morning ended with a driver jailed on a second-offense DWI charge after he refused field sobriety and breath testing, according to the affidavit.
Laquan Simpkins, 30, of Farmerville, was arrested July 26 by the Louisiana State Police.
A trooper was called to the scene after the Grambling Police Department reported a possible impaired driver. Grambling officers had detained the driver, later identified as Simpkins, before the trooper arrived.
The trooper reported observing bloodshot eyes, incoherent speech and a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on Simpkins’ breath. After being advised of his Miranda rights, Simpkins was asked how much he had to drink and said “a beer.” He initially refused a standardized field sobriety test and became agitated. Then he agreed to the test after a second request.
After performing poorly on the sobriety test, Simpkins was handcuffed, searched and transported to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center. There, he was brought to an Intoxilyzer 9000 and read his rights related to chemical testing, which he refused. Following a 15-minute observation period, he refused to provide a breath sample. He was released to detention center staff without incident and booked.
A criminal history check showed a prior DWI in 2025.
Simpkins was booked on one count of DWI, second offense. Bond was set at $2,500.
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.
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.
We have moved around a few times over my work career. We have experienced both large and small communities. Regardless of the size, location, or stage of life, I have found there are five keys to every successful community.
Economic Growth: The local business community is growing. Jobs are being created and wages are advancing.
Public Education System: Quality schools are comprised of caring teachers, engaged parents, a committed administration, and a supportive community.
Health Care: At a minimum, a community needs access to reliable basic health care for emergencies, routine, and diagnostic procedures to be handled locally.
Housing: There is access to well-maintained rental property, home access for first-time buyers, and ample opportunities for those seeking the “next” home purchase as well as those moving to the community.
Safety: Citizens consider the community safe and have good relationships with various law enforcement agencies.
While I have found these five to be consistent factors over the years, there is one overriding attribute that defines a community at its core.
That attribute is character.
The character of the members of the community is what I am referring to here. Authentic character is what I am referencing.
Character that is evidenced in the tough times.
Character that comes to light when things go dark.
Character that rises to the level of the challenge when things are sinking all around.
Character is revealed in governing body meetings when disagreements occur. Whether it’s City Counsel, School Board, or Policy Jury, disagreements are resolved in calm, open-discussion dialogue.
Character is revealed in youth sports activities where parents allow young people to learn skills, competitive focus, and sportsmanship. Parents are encouraging observers!
Character is revealed in how citizens support local non-profits that serve the community, how citizens support one another directly, and how citizens conduct themselves in election season.
In essence, authentic character is displayed when our actions reflect our convictions.
We often lose poise, composure, and character when:
We focus on self, not on others
We zero in on one issue, rather than the overall picture
We focus on our words rather than listen to others.
We have a desire to be right, to win, and to feel vindicated more than we seek what’s best for all.
Emotional reactions lead to regretful words and actions. Conviction-based responses often lead to statements that are remembered!
We can nail all five of the keys noted at the beginning of the article, but if we miss the character attribute, it’s just a matter of time before things erode.
If you want to get a read on the character of your community, attend a government meeting, a youth sports event, or a local political rally.
Passion for a position, with poise in presentation, provides a positive-focused perspective.
Doug equips leaders to make organizations better. He has two leadership books available on all online platforms. Whether you are looking for a speaker for your next event or a leadership coach to develop people and build an authentic team, contact Doug at doug.strickel@gmail.com and learn more about PLUS.
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