A 44-year-old Ruston man was arrested Monday afternoon after police said he struck an officer who was taking him into custody on an outstanding city warrant.
Jahmonze Cornealius Briggs was arrested at 1:34 p.m. at Martin Luther King Drive and South Farmerville Street, according to an affidavit. He is charged with battery of a police officer, resisting an officer and two counts of simple battery, along with a City of Ruston warrant for simple possession of marijuana. Bond on the warrant was set at $10,000.
An officer was patrolling the area of South Farmerville Street and Martin Luther King Drive looking for a suspect in a disturbance and possible battery that had just been reported on Fountain Drive. Dispatchers described the suspect as a man last seen walking north on South Farmerville Street, wearing red pants and possibly no shirt and sweating heavily.
The officer contacted a man matching that description, who identified himself as Briggs. Briggs was argumentative and refused to answer questions, and dispatchers advised that he had an active warrant. As officers tried to tell him about the warrant, he continued to talk over them and struck one officer on the left shoulder.
Officers took Briggs to the ground and placed him in handcuffs. A lieutenant then met with the complainants on Fountain Drive, who positively identified Briggs as the person they had reported. The complainants said that during an altercation, Briggs threw a small blunt object at them, striking two people.
Briggs was advised of his rights and taken to the detention center.
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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Dry conditions make grass fires like this one along I20 much more probable. (photo by T. Scott Boatright)
A burn ban has been issued for Lincoln Parish effectively immediately.
Lincoln Parish Fire Protection District No. I issued the emergency order banning all open-air outdoor burning. Weather forecasters have predicted very little chance of rain before the ends of the month.
The Choudrant Fire Department said it would follow the parish’s lead. By ordinance, Ruston does not permit open burning at any time.
The notice of the parish ban stated violators of the ordinance authorizing the ban could be fined up to $500 plus costs of court, or a jail sentence not to exceed six months, or both.
The ban will remain in effect until lifted by the Commissioners of Lincoln Parish Fire Protection District No.1. Anyone having questions concerning this matter should contact Fire District office at 318-255-1055.
Baseball has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I was 8 when I played on my first team. I don’t remember how many games we won that year, but I do recall riding in the back of a pickup truck with my teammates after games. The free cone from Dairy Queen was as much fun as the game.
When I was 11 years old, I was fortunate to make the all-star team and represent Minden. The opportunity to wear that ball cap with an “M” was awesome.
I played for the Lions Club, Howard Lumber, the Civitans, and others over the years. The opportunity to represent Minden as an all-star was just a bonus.
High School ball was great. Playing with my friends, winning three state championships, and having an awesome coach led to some great memories. Legion ball in the summer was another opportunity to play, compete, and be with my guys!
As a college student, I umpired, coached, and stayed close to the game.
As a father, I continued that passion for the game with my son. We played city league ball, competed in all-stars, and gave travel ball a limited try one summer before he started playing in high school, Legion, and eventually in college.
Those were great memories and a fantastic experience! It was an experience that I hope taught life lessons well beyond baseball fundamentals. It was also an experience that I see paying off even today as my son has a family of his own and a successful business career leading others and building teams.
My challenge as a grandad today is for my grandchildren. While they are still very young, I don’t know that they will have the same opportunities as my son, and I did with the game. Things have changed so much, and I am conflicted about what I want for them. It’s not my decision, but I do want to offer wise coaching.
Travel ball has taken over the game, and I am concerned about what I am seeing in many respects (not all – but many)!
Time: No longer are we going to the local ballpark on a random night where you see your neighbors, commit a few hours, and be home before it is too late. Families are committing entire weekends (many times away from home) on a regular basis.
Money: What was once not a financial consideration is now a major investment. I could have never played ball if these requirements were in place when I was younger. Thousands of dollars spent on uniforms, hotel rooms, tournament fees, meals, etc. are impacting budgets.
Family stress: Many families are forced to divide and go in different directions with different commitments. Sacrifices are being made and families are separated on many weekends.
Lack of fundamentals: I see less practice time teaching fundamentals and more focus on playing a lot of games.
Lack of team building: What once was a cornerstone doesn’t appear to be much of a focus. Kids are showing up only on the days they pitch. Players are leaving after they get their at-bats. One of the most important aspects of any team sport has been relegated to the high school coach.
Parent engagement: What was once a supportive and encouraging environment has turned (in many – not all) to a highly competitive arena for all ages where parents berate umpires, yell at opposing fans, and provide a terrible example of sportsmanship in too many instances. What are our young people seeing modeled before them? What are we teaching?
I could go on with my concerns, but I think I have shared plenty of things.
I want the best for my grandkids. I want them to play sports, develop skills, be great teammates, and love every second of competing as hard as they can while exhibiting great sportsmanship. I want them to love their teammates, listen to their coaches, respect the umpires, and be gracious toward opponents as they compete.
I want their parents to have an affordable option, be home at night, allow both kids to pursue interests equally, and have flexibility in their schedules. I want them in church on Sundays and together on weekends.
I am just not sure how today’s travel ball culture meets those standards.
Maybe I just haven’t seen it done well!
I’ll keep seeking.
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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Cedar Creek head coach Jacob Angevine is ready for his Cougars to see a different-colored jersey.
After weeks of preseason work, Cedar Creek will get its first opportunity to test that progress against an opponent when the Cougars host Lakeside in a scrimmage Thursday at 7 p.m. at Origin Bank Field.
“The biggest thing is just seeing our guys compete,” Angevine said. “They finally get to see somebody in a different-colored jersey after the last couple weeks and really the last couple months of not playing. Just finally being able to compete against somebody else.”
The scrimmage will feature two rounds of scripted plays, with the first-team offense and defense each getting 12 plays and the second units getting 10. Angevine said some third-team players will also rotate into the second units.
The teams will then move into a red-zone period featuring eight plays for the first units and six for the second units before concluding with a 10-minute running-clock quarter.
For Angevine, Thursday provides an opportunity to evaluate the progress on both sides of the football.
Offensively, the Cougars return quarterback Brett Bell and running back Payton Harris but hope a deeper collection of skill-position players will allow them to spread the workload around.
“I think we’ve got a big group of skill guys that can get involved in the offense where we’re not just having to lean on Brett and Payton,” Angevine said. “So it’s going to take some pressure off of them for sure.”
Bell has also continued to develop as a leader after taking over as Cedar Creek’s starting quarterback last season.
Angevine pointed to a recent practice when coaches were a little late getting onto the field and Bell took charge of the situation himself.
“Brett had already taken his group of pre-throw guys that we have every single day, and he was leading them through the warmup,” Angevine said. “He took initiative. He was waiting on some of the other coaches to get out there, and he got his guys out there early, got them stretched and started going through their pre-throws.
“Seeing him grow up like that, where he’s not just the newcomer to the locker room, he’s taking over as, ‘Hey, look, this is my team. Let’s win.’”
Defensively, the Cougars will get their first test under returning defensive coordinator Mark Ware. While the basic scheme remains the same as last season, Angevine said the terminology has changed.
Angevine has been impressed with Ware’s ability to develop depth by rotating players throughout the defense.
“You never know when a two or a three may become a starter,” Angevine said. “Him being able to get a lot of guys in and rotating on defense has been huge, but the way he relates to those kids is pretty special.”
Angevine said Ware isn’t afraid to get after a player following a mistake but is equally quick to explain the teaching point behind it.
“He can just absolutely gnaw on a kid and get after him, but he’s the first person to love up on him and say, ‘Hey, look, this is why I put you in this position to see what you were going to do,’” Angevine said. “Being able to coach like that is really big for him, and I think it’s going to pay dividends for us.”
The Cougars won’t be at full strength Thursday.
Angevine said Hayden Durrett, Cooper Greer, Henry Patton, Lathon Robertson and Chandler Bullock are among the key players who will not participate in the scrimmage, although he hopes to have some of them back soon.
Despite those absences, Thursday night will provide Angevine and his staff their first chance to see how weeks of preseason work translate against someone other than their own teammates.
“Just seeing all the work we’ve been doing the last couple weeks finally coming to fruition against somebody else,” Angevine said.
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Weather permitting, Bonner Street from Mills Street to Luntsford Lane will be closed to through traffic on Thursday, August 20, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The closure is necessary for crews to cap old water lines in the area.
Please use caution and allow extra time for your commute. We appreciate your patience while this work is completed.
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.
Thursday, Aug. 20 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 Richard Hamilton of your attendance. 318-518-2121) 1 p.m.: Ruston Duplicate Bridge Club meeting (Presbyterian Church, 212 N. Bonner St.) 4:30-5:30 p.m.: 5 Loaves 2 Fish Ministry free meal provided by Halff Associates served at the Choudrant Origin Bank location parking lot on Elm Street. In case of bad weather or extreme heat, meals will be served at Abiding Faith Church, 125 Pecan Street, next to the high school. All are welcome. 5 p.m.: Library Board of Control Meeting (George Byrnside Conference Room) 5:30-8 p.m.: Ruston Art Ramble (Downtown Ruston) 6 p.m.: Southern A’Chord Chorus rehearsal (Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 212 N. Bonner St.; open to all women singers) 6 p.m.: Video-Led Tai Chi Class (Events Center) 6:30 p.m.: Books & Bites Book Club (Roma Italian Bistro) Please call 318-513-5510 to register
Friday, Aug. 21 4-6 p.m.: “Fun-raiser” for Lillian Smart (Uptown Downtown)
Saturday, Aug. 22 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: BBQ fundraiser for Lillian Smart (Temple Baptist Church)
Monday, Aug. 24 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome 1 p.m.: Ruston Duplicate Bridge Club meeting (Presbyterian Church, 212 N. Bonner St.) 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. 25 6:30 a.m.: Veterans free breakfast (VFW Post 3615, 206 Memorial Dr.) 6 p.m.: Video-Led Exercise Class (Events Center) 6 p.m.: Adult Craft Night: Upscaled Necktie Necklaces; registration required at 318-513-5510 (Jack Beard Community Room)
Wednesday, Aug. 26 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. 27 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 Richard 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) 6 p.m.: Video-Led Tai Chi Class (Events Center)
Friday, Aug. 28 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Medical benefit jambalaya fundraiser benefiting Lux Smith and family (Karl Malone Toyota)
Saturday, Aug. 29 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 6 p.m.: GSU football
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Louisiana Tech will close out its season-opening three-match homestand Thursday when the Bulldogs host Lamar at Robert Mack Caruthers Field.
First touch is set for 7 p.m., with the match airing on ESPN+.
LA Tech (0-1-1) owns a 4-0 all-time record against Lamar (0-1-1), although the two programs have not met since 2016. The Cardinals last visited Ruston in 2015.
The Bulldogs won the inaugural meeting between the programs 3-2 in Ruston in 2009 before recording a 1-0 victory at Lamar in 2010. Tech followed with a 2-0 home victory in 2015 and a 2-1 road win to open the 2016 season.
LA Tech will look to bounce back from a 5-1 loss to Southeastern Louisiana on Sunday. It marked the most goals the Bulldogs have allowed at home against a nonconference, non-Power Four opponent since a 5-0 loss to Northwestern State on Sept. 14, 2004, during the program’s inaugural season.
Despite the loss, the Bulldogs enter Thursday leading the Sun Belt Conference in corner kicks, saves and shots on goal per game. Tech also ranks among the league’s top five in shot accuracy and shots per game.
Freshman goalkeeper Mackenzie Lorkowski made her first career start Sunday and recorded 11 saves. She became just the second freshman goalkeeper in program history to record 11 saves in her collegiate debut.
Lorkowski’s 11 saves are also tied for the fourth-most in a match by a freshman goalkeeper in program history.
Lamar enters Thursday still searching for its first goal of the season. The Cardinals opened the year with a 2-0 loss at UTEP on Aug. 12 before playing Sam Houston to a scoreless draw Sunday in their home opener.
The Cardinals are coached by Nathan Kogut, who has led Lamar to four Southland Conference Tournament appearances and two NCAA Tournament berths in four seasons.
Kogut guided Lamar to a 15-2-2 overall record and a 10-1-1 mark in Southland play during his first season in Beaumont in 2022. The Cardinals won both the Southland regular-season and tournament championships that season.
Lamar followed with a 15-3-3 overall record and a 9-0-1 conference mark in 2023, becoming the first Southland program to win consecutive tournament championships since the league began sponsoring women’s soccer in 1997. The Cardinals also earned their second straight NCAA Tournament berth.
Jimmie Richards Martin May 13, 1944 – August 11, 2026 Memorial to be held at later date
Rosa Howard Wednesday 10/30/1946 — Monday 08/17/2026 Visitation: Sunday 08/23/2026 12:00pm to 2:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Celebration of Life: Sunday 08/23/2026 2:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Burial: Sunday 08/23/2026 Following Service, China Grove Cemetery, 699 Mondy Road, Grambling
Andrew Walton Morrow Aug 15, 1996 — Aug 13, 2026 Visitation: August 23, Christ Church Ruston, 2:00 – 2:30 pm Memorial Service: August 23, Christ Church Ruston, 2:30 pm
Willie Lee Albritton Thursday 09/04/1941 — Thursday 08/13/2026 Celebration of Life: Saturday 08/22/2026 11:00am, Zion Hill Baptist Church, 505 Lee Street, Ruston Interment: Saturday 08/22/2026, Grambling Memorial Garden, Highway 80 West, Grambling
Shun Dale Russell Saturday 11/11/1978 — Monday 08/10/2026 Visitation: Friday 08/21/2026 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Celebration of Life: Saturday 08/22/2026 1:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Interment: Saturday 08/22/2026 Following Service, Millard Hills Cemetery, 446 Millard Hill, Farmerville
A Lincoln Parish teacher and coach is in custody as part on a continuing investigation by Ruston Police in cooperation with other law enforcement agencies.
Frasier Cole Hogan, 32, of Ruston, was booked Wednesday afternoon into the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for second degree rape.
Hogan is a strength and conditioning coach at Ruston High School, but was placed on leave after his arrest.
Ruston Police spokesperson Lt. Kayla Loyd said in July, a woman reported a 2020 sexual assault that occurred when she was fourteen years old. Investigators determined the incident took place outside Lincoln Parish and referred it to the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office.
During a background review of Hogan in that case, investigators discovered a prior report from a different woman describing a sexual assault where Hogan was named as the suspect, Loyd said.
Earlier this month, the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office took a report regarding a 2025 alleged rape. When the Sheriff’s Office learned the alleged rape occurred inside Ruston, it was transferred to Ruston Police. In that incident, the victim alleged that Hogan contacted her via social media, having known her from his position at Ruston High School. According to the victim’s report, Hogan lured her to his home while she was intoxicated, using force and threats to prevent her from leaving.
That incident did not involve a minor, Loyd said.
Loyd is seeking any information that might lead to other victims or information on these cases.
In a statement, Lincoln Parish Schools emphasized the arrest is related to “off-campus conduct.”
The full statement reads, “Lincoln Parish Schools has been made aware that a member of its teaching staff at Ruston High School has been arrested in connection with charges involving alleged off-campus conduct. The employee in question is on administrative leave pending our review of the situation and will have no access to campus.
“Because this matter involves both an ongoing criminal proceeding and a personnel issue, the school district is limited in the information it can provide. The school district will continue to cooperate with law enforcement, as appropriate.
“Lincoln Parish Schools is committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for every student entrusted to its care.”
Lt. Loyd also said Hogan is being held for Bossier Parish regarding the reported 2020 assault on the 14-year-old.
Hogan’s bail on the Ruston charge is set at $350,000. He is also being held for the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office on warrants charging him with two counts of carnal knowledge of a juvenile and one count of computer-aided solicitation of a minor.
Loyd thanked the Lincoln Parish and Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Offices for their work on the cases.
Authorities believe there may be more victims in this matter. Anyone with information to report should call Ruston Police Department (City Limits) 318-255-4141 or the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office (Parish) 318-251-5111.
In Louisiana, according to the state’s criminal code, second degree rape occurs when the rape occurs under one of the following conditions:
(1) When the victim is prevented from resisting the act by force or threats of physical violence under circumstances where the victim reasonably believes such resistance would not prevent the rape.
(2) When the victim is incapable of resisting or of understanding the nature of the act by reason of stupor or abnormal condition of the mind produced by a narcotic or anesthetic agent or other controlled substance administered by the offender without the knowledge of the victim.
(3) When the offender acts without the consent of the victim, the victim is 13 or older but less than 17, and the difference between the age of the victim and the age of the offender is three years or greater. Lack of knowledge of the victim’s age is not a defense.
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 most high schoolers, summer break means sleeping in and killing time before school starts back. For Ruston High School junior Silvia Warren, this summer meant taking a solo trip to Japan: waking up in Tokyo, commuting an hour on packed trains, and spending three hours a day in classes taught entirely in Japanese… and she loved every minute of it.
Warren spent July studying abroad through CIEE, living with a host family, and learning Japanese alongside other high schoolers from across the world. This trip was her first time traveling without her family as well as her first time in Asia.
Warren’s interest in Japan started at home; it all began with a lifelong love for anime and encouragement from her family. She started teaching herself Japanese last year through Duolingo and YouTube videos, and before going to Tokyo, Warren had worked her way through two of the language’s three alphabets. She thought about eventually attending school in Japan, but decided to test the waters first at the wise advice of her mother, Sarah.
The trip almost didn’t happen; Warren decided to apply on a Saturday, but the scholarship application was due the following Wednesday. She wrote three essays, spending about five hours on each. Eventually, she received a scholarship through CIEE that covered roughly 75% of the total program cost. She credits her ultimate success to Ruston High ELA teacher Mrs. Phillips for her tips on revision.
“If not for her, I probably wouldn’t have gotten the scholarship, and I wouldn’t have been able to go,” Warren said graciously.
What struck Warren most upon arrival in Japan was how orderly everything felt: riders keep to one side on escalators, and Tokyoites are not shy about their “please” and “thank yous.” Though the respectful bowing and constant apologizing felt natural to a girl raised with Southern manners, Warren quickly learned there is no Japanese equivalent to “sir” or “ma’am,” a habit that she had to unlearn.
Warren’s host family included two siblings, an 11-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl, along with a mom, dad, and a roommate. Everything stayed just as organized at home as it did in the rest of the city, from sitting on a rug instead of a couch, to the lint roller kept on the counter for daily use. Taking off her shoes at the door became a habit Warren plans to keep now that she’s back.
Once classes started, Warren’s days took shape: three hours a day, entirely in Japanese, at a school in Shinagawa, followed by an hour-long commute home through Tokyo’s packed rush hour trains. She said the exhaustion caught up with her fast, and the immersive classroom load turned out to be her hardest adjustment. However, the full immersion was well worth it; by the end of the month, Warren had gone from a 1 on her placement test to building her own sentences and holding a strong vocabulary.
Warren’s favorite part of the trip happened after class, not during it. Some of her best nights were spent playing games at home or out at karaoke with her host family– though, the adventures did not stop there.
Food actually turned into an adventure of its own. For a picky eater, Warren was initially concerned about travelling to a country whose food scene is very different from North Louisiana’s. However, after trying (and loving!) fish on a stick, her host family took things a step further: they took Warren to buy a live fish, release it into a pond, catch it again with her bare hands, and cook it over a fire. She said this was just as good, or maybe even better, than the fish she’d had before.
Without her mom or friends a phone call away, Warren had to lean on herself. She had program leaders nearby, but working out directions in Japanese, or managing her own money, fell to her.
“I’ve learned the value of the little things, like being present,” Warren reflected.
The trip reshaped how she sees her problems back home, too. She said her worldview expanded, and that the everyday things she used to stress over now feel much smaller.
Warren’s advice for any student considering studying abroad is simple: don’t overthink it.
“I overthought a lot, then I went, and it ended up being the best experience of my life,” she said.
For students eyeing Tokyo specifically, she pushes back on one piece of internet advice in particular: the idea that the city has a strict, unforgiving dress code. Warren said the fashion reputation is overblown on social media and not something incoming students need to stress over.
Warren hopes to reach fluency in Japanese before finishing high school, with an eye toward teaching Japanese classes or working with Japanese speakers to keep the language alive after graduation.
For now, she’s looking for ways to keep practicing closer to home. She is hoping to find someone locally who speaks or teaches Japanese so she can continue to build those skills.
A Louisiana Center for the Blind student struck by a train Friday continues to improve as Ruston officials work toward a roughly $2 million project that would add safety measures at four downtown railroad crossings.
Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker said Monday the woman had been moved to a private hospital room at LSU Shreveport and was continuing to recover.
“She was in a private room and was still progressing well, getting better every day,” Walker said.
The woman’s name has not been publicly released. Walker declined to provide details about her injuries at the request of Louisiana Center for the Blind officials.
When the LPJ reached out to Louisiana Center for the Blind Director Pamela Allen Tuesday night, she declined comment and instead referred to a statement posted on the Center’s Facebook page.
“We would like to share that the student who was in a train accident last week is in stable condition. We deeply appreciate the outpouring of care and concern for the student and everyone impacted. Out of respect for the student’s privacy, we will not share additional medical information. Our thoughts remain with the student, and we are grateful to everyone who has reached out with compassion, kindness., and prayers.”
Walker said the Ruston Police Department is also expected to receive video footage from the train that could provide officials with a clearer picture of what occurred.
The accident has brought additional attention to pedestrian safety around the railroad tracks, particularly near the Louisiana Center for the Blind in downtown Ruston.
Walker said the city has been working for several years on plans to establish a railroad quiet zone that would include significant safety improvements at the Trenton, Vienna, Monroe and Homer street crossings.
“We have been working for several years on it,” Walker said. “I talked with Pam Allen, of course, the director of the Center for the Blind. She’s in favor of it also, so we’re moving forward.”
Walker said the project is expected to cost approximately $2 million, with the city hoping to secure state funding.
“I’ve already contacted the legislators,” Walker said. “It’s going to take $2 million to do what’s called a quiet zone.”
Although the designation would reduce the routine use of train horns, Walker said establishing the quiet zone requires additional physical safety measures at the crossings.
Those improvements would include additional crossing gates for vehicles as well as gates protecting pedestrian sidewalks.
“Instead of just having the sidewalks for people to walk on, you have an arm that comes down for that, too,” Walker said.
The crossings would also include detectable warning surfaces, commonly known as truncated domes, on pedestrian approaches. The textured surfaces are designed to alert visually impaired pedestrians that they are approaching a street, railroad crossing or other potentially hazardous area.
“They can tell by the texture of what they’re walking on,” Walker said. “It’s kind of got bubbles on it.”
Walker said the additional crossing arms would provide protection on both sides of the roadway. Currently, a crossing may have a gate blocking traffic approaching the tracks while leaving the opposite side unobstructed. The proposed configuration would provide gates on both sides.
“To have a quiet zone, the only way you can have a quiet zone is to have those extended arms that come down,” Walker said. “You have to have them on both sides of the street — north and south.”
The project would target the four crossings closest to the Louisiana Center for the Blind and the downtown area.
Walker said some engineering work for the project has already been completed, although it will need to be updated before construction can begin.
“We hope to get some kind of state appropriation,” Walker said. “We’ve already done the engineering work, or some of it. We’ve got to update it. But hopefully we’ll be able to do something, hopefully starting by the end of 2027.”
Walker said he has not personally spoken with the injured student but has remained in regular contact with Allen since Friday’s accident.
“She and I have been talking daily,” Walker said.
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A Ruston woman who had been out of prison less than 24 hours was arrested Monday afternoon after deputies said she forced her way into a Simsboro-area residence looking for a former boyfriend.
Jessica Miranda Woods, 41, was booked into the Lincoln Parish Detention Center on counts of home invasion, simple criminal damage to property and contributing to the delinquency of juveniles, according to an affidavit.
Lincoln Parish sheriff’s deputies were sent Monday to a residence on Louisiana Highway 507 in reference to an unwanted guest. While a deputy was en route, dispatchers advised that the guest had forced entry into the home and had left in a Ford pickup.
Simsboro Police Chief Gene Butler was in the area, saw the pickup pass him on La. 507 and stopped the vehicle in Simsboro. Four people were inside — Woods, a 17-year-old male driver and two female juveniles. Woods and the driver were both taken into custody and advised of their rights.
Woods told deputies she had been in prison for the past four years and had been out for less than a day. She said she went to her boyfriend’s house because she was afraid he had passed out on drugs, and that when she called out and someone answered ,”Who is it?” she went in. “The door was open, I just opened it,” she said.
The driver told deputies Woods had just gotten out of jail and asked for a ride to Walmart and then to see the man she had been in a relationship with before going to prison. He said the group beat on the windows and doors, and that Woods opened the screen door and went inside.
The woman who was inside the residence told deputies she is dating Woods’ ex-boyfriend and has lived at the residence on and off. She said the ex-boyfriend broke off contact with Woods several months ago and that she had been warned Woods might try to do “something crazy” once she was released. She said people began banging on her door and windows, that Woods broke the screen door coming in, and that she told Woods the ex-boyfriend was not there and to leave. Woods kept trying to force her way into the bedroom of the residence before giving up and leaving, the woman said. She told deputies she was afraid, and that her dog became agitated trying to protect her.
Deputies found comparable residence doors listed online and put the damage at about $1,400.
Woods told deputies she also lives at the residence, but the address on her driver’s license does not match it and she had been incarcerated for more than four years. A criminal history check showed a guilty conviction for home invasion among other charges in Jackson Parish stemming from a 2022 incident, and she is on felony probation.
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.
Although he is very new to the Louisiana Tech – ULM rivalry on the athletic fields, first year Warhawks AD SJ Tuohy may have surmised it up the best when speaking at Tuesday’s press conference announced the Radiance Technologies I-20 Showdown Rivalry Series.
“This isn’t a rivalry that has to be manufactured,” said Tuohy to the invite-only crowd and media at Squire Creek Country Club. “It’s real.”
Real it is.
And now, for the first time in nearly four decades, the rivalry between two universities separated by less than 35 miles of I-20 will once again be played out as conference foes.
Louisiana Tech’s move to the Sun Belt Conference reunites the Bulldogs and Warhawks as conference opponents for the first time since 1987, when Tech and then-Northeast Louisiana were members of the Southland Conference.
The newly announced Radiance Technologies I-20 Showdown Rivalry Series will put a name and a scoring system to a rivalry that, as Tuohy noted, has existed for generations.
For longtime Louisiana Tech alum and fan John Allen, the memories go back to the days when ULM was still Northeast Louisiana University.
“I think it’s a great thing for both of us,” Allen said. “I fully expect that the crowds are going to pick up for both games, at their place and at our place.
“It goes back so far, and there’s so many people, my age, older, younger and everything, that remember those days when, you know, ‘Beat Northeast.’”
The schools have continued to meet in various sports through the years — although its been a quarter of a century since they clashed on the gridiron –, but those contests have been non-conference affairs. Now victories over one another can impact Sun Belt standings and championship races.
Few understand that history better than Louisiana Tech women’s basketball coach Brooke Stoehr.
Stoehr played for the Lady Techsters from 1998-2002 and has experienced the series both as a player and coach. She also understands that the history between the women’s basketball programs stretches well beyond her own playing days.
“Whether it be Teresa Weatherspoon and Kim Mulkey, and for them E.J. Lee, some of their great players, there were some great, great games in the ’80s,” Stoehr said. “That was the height of women’s basketball in this country, but also in this area.”
The Lady Techsters and Warhawks will now meet with more than regional bragging rights on the line.
“For us, we try to make sure our kids understand that, but I think it’ll be even more now, because you’re competing for a conference title,” Stoehr said. “They’re another team on your schedule that you’ve got to beat in order to win a conference championship.”
Stoehr said part of the responsibility for Tech’s coaches will be making sure a new generation of student-athletes understands why games against ULM have traditionally mattered to the schools and their fan bases.
“You understand the history of the programs, and as a staff, we’ve got to continue to educate our kids in the right way,” Stoehr said. “I don’t think it means any more that I played in it. I just think that we understand what it means to the region, to the community, but also to both institutions.”
Louisiana Tech softball coach Josh Taylor did not grow up with the rivalry and had no previous connection to either school when he arrived in Ruston in 2021.
It did not take him long to learn about it.
“When I first got to Louisiana Tech, Wesley Harris and a bunch of alumni made it clear to me how important not losing to ULM was,” Taylor said. “That was made very clear in the first three days I was here.”
Taylor is 6-4 against ULM during his tenure, with the teams splitting their meetings last season. The Warhawks are coming off a Sun Belt regular-season championship, and the move into the same conference means the programs will now face each other in a three-game league series.
“We’re excited about the rivalry,” Taylor said. “It’s always heated. They’re always intense and focused games, and they’re always great matchups, so we couldn’t be more excited to actually be in conference with them and get to play the three-game series.”
The renewed rivalry comes at a time when the landscape of college athletics has increasingly pushed schools outside the power conferences to look closer to home.
Local radio talk show host Sean Fox believes that makes the return of Tech-ULM as conference rivals important for reasons extending beyond wins and losses.
“I think right now with the state of college athletics, at this level, it’s all about survival,” Fox said. “And I think regional rivalries are what makes college athletics special. You’re not getting the TV money like you do at these big-time conferences. So from a business standpoint, it just makes sense.”
But Fox said the appeal goes beyond economics.
“Rivalries, local rivalries, local bragging rights, going to church, the same people, work, friends, being able to talk smack — that’s what college athletics is all about,” Fox said.
Tech’s move to the Sun Belt also renews conference relationships with other regional programs, including Louisiana-Lafayette, Southern Miss and Arkansas State. But none is as geographically close as ULM.
The Radiance Technologies I-20 Showdown will encompass 12 sports, with each worth one point toward the yearlong competition.
Football, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball and women’s soccer will be decided through head-to-head competition. Cross country, men’s golf and men’s and women’s track and field will be determined by the schools’ finishes at Sun Belt championship events.
The first school to reach 6.5 points will claim the I-20 Showdown championship. If the schools finish tied, the winner of the football game will serve as the tiebreaker.
The format provides something tangible to measure the competition between the schools throughout the athletic year. But the people who have lived around the two programs say the competition itself never needed a name to make it matter.
Allen believes returning to the same conference will bring some of the old energy back to both campuses.
“I just think it’s wonderful,” Allen said. “The Sun Belt’s the best thing that’s happened to us in a long time, in my opinion.”
For Fox, the renewed rivalry is about two universities and two communities that share much more than the same stretch of interstate.
“Yes, there’s bragging rights, but this is great for the region,” Fox said, “and great for both Ruston and Monroe.”
A new name. A new trophy. A new conference chapter.
But not a new rivalry.
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Two Ruston men were each booked on a count of battery of a dating partner following a domestic dispute at a Ruston apartment complex Friday night, according to affidavits.
Alexander Allen Davidson Day, 19, and Anthony Michael Bow, 25, were arrested at 8:22 p.m. Aug. 14 and transported to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center.
Ruston Police Department officers were dispatched to the apartment in reference to a domestic dispute between the two men. Both men were already outside, and the situation had been defused by the time officers arrived.
Day had bite marks on his right shoulder and marks around his neck. He told officers he was in the act of breaking up with Bow and was trying to gather his belongings when Bow pushed him, and that he responded by striking Bow with a fist several times on the body. Day said he then tried to move away from Bow to avoid further conflict, but Bow kept following him and getting in his face.
Bow had marks behind his left ear, on his neck and on his stomach. Day said he was placed in a headlock to the point that he could not breathe, though he did not lose consciousness, and that he pulled Bow’s hair to break the hold.
Officers have dealt with the two men roughly five times previously in regard to physical altercations.
Both men were advised of their rights per Miranda before being placed in restraints and escorted to separate marked patrol units.
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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There is something exciting about the beginning of a new school year. New teachers, new classrooms, new friends and new opportunities all bring a fresh start. At Trinity Methodist Church, we wanted to celebrate that new beginning with families throughout our community.
Tonight, Wednesday, August 19, at 5:30 p.m., Trinity Methodist Church will host a Back to School Roundup at the North Louisiana Expo Center. We are excited to welcome Wild Horse Ministries, led by Paul and Joanne Daily, for a unique evening designed for the whole family.
Wild Horse Ministries uses an untrained horse to share the message of the Gospel in a way that is unlike anything most of us have experienced. As Paul works with the horse in the arena, he talks about trust, relationships, making good choices and what it means to allow God to guide our lives. Watching the horse begin to respond and develop trust provides a powerful picture of God’s patience and love for us.
As our children head back to school, we know they are walking into a year filled with both opportunities and challenges. Our hope is that this evening will give families a chance to slow down, have fun together and be reminded that they don’t walk through any of it alone.
At Trinity we believe it is important to create opportunities where people of any age can learn about God in ways they will remember, using the object lesson of training a wild horse will do just that. We also love finding ways to bring families and our community together.
We hope you’ll grab your family, invite a friend and join us for a fun and meaningful evening as we kick off another school year together.
The Back to School Roundup begins at 5:30 p.m. tonight, Wednesday, August 19, at the North Louisiana Expo Center. Everyone is welcome!
(Editor’s Note: Who is “more elementary” on the first day of school, the first-time parent or the first-time student? Can still remember a certain day 60 years ago and another one like it 30 years ago. I am 0-for-2 … flunked the first day of first grade TWICE.)
Remember that kid who cried on the first day of first grade?
Remember how he clutched his father’s clothing, how he begged for mercy, how he screamed bloody murder and pleaded he would do ANYTHING if he could just go home?
Remember? Any thought of saving himself embarrassment was long gone now because this was IT and he didn’t care.
Forget pride. Forget being cool. Forget any hopes of the class presidency.
Remember that kid?
That kid was me.
Loser. Wimp. Doofus.
I was That Kid Who Cried. The only one. My classmates forgave me the noise I made and the angst I caused, but they never forgot. Many school grades later, long after we’d memorized the helping verbs and learned the presidents, one of them would whisper as we were standing in line at the pencil sharpener, “Hey, ’member that first day of school when you cried and all?”
Branded.
I had dropped out of kindergarten the previous October — workload just too demanding — so I didn’t know anybody that September day when they made us gather in the elementary school cafeteria. Some kids were alone, some were with parents, and strangely, they all seemed relatively happy.
Not me. I sat with my dad, close, praying with fear and trembling. There was more water on my face than there was Vitalis on his head, which was substantial.
A man in front of everybody read lists of names, and rows of children lined up behind teachers, sheep being led to the slaughter. I think the breaking point for me was when I heard my name. I had tried hard not to cry, but at that point, I just don’t think I could help it. It got so bad, I think the principal, Mr. Rozier, considered calling in the National Guard.
I was physically led to Mrs. Bobbie Cook’s classroom where my dad promised he’d come back in a couple of hours to check on me. Here, I was left for dead.
Boyd Flowers looked at me and I know what he was thinking: “I hope I don’t have to sit by that kid.” David Collins looked at me; I could read his mind: “You’re a loser.”
It was bad.
Mrs. Bobbie saved me. She gave us these mimeographed pictures to color, a picture of a little mimeographed boy and a little mimeographed girls walking to a little mimeographed schoolhouse by a mimeographed tree.
I started coloring and things were OK. I don’t know what it was. Mrs. Bobbie, maybe. The colors. Addiction to the smell of the mimeograph. The threat of a beating at the first-grade hands of Boyd Flowers and David Collins.
Whatever. I can see my dad’s head sticking in the doorway at mid-morning, the Vitalis and straight part of his black hair still pitching a shutout. And I can feel me waving him off, telling him it was OK.
Now I know that long-ago day was probably harder on my dad than it was on me, (for the hair products if for no other reason).
I wonder if he cried too. He was only 27, much younger than I was Monday when, 30 years after my first day of school, I took my son to his first day.
One of us didn’t come close to crying. One of us did.
Loser. Wimp. Doofus.
But then, I do that once every 30 years, just like clockwork. Should be used to it by now.
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A.E. Phillips Laboratory School (AEP) is honoring the lives of Annie Mollie Weinstein Richardson and her son, Cole Richardson, with the addition of a new memorial Bullpup statue on campus.
The statue was created to reflect the vibrant personalities of Annie and Cole, both known for their boldness and creativity. For the Richardson family, the Bullpup serves as a lasting tribute to two lives that made a meaningful impact on their family and community.
“We wanted Mom and Cole to be remembered for the vibrant lives they lived,” Taylor Richardson Burt said. “They were both bold and full of energy, which is what we tried to bring to life when designing this Bullpup.”
The connection between the Richardson family and AEP spans generations. Taylor and Cole both attended AEP as children, and now Taylor’s two daughters attend the school.
“A.E. Phillips and Louisiana Tech have both been such a special place for our family,” Burt said. “Cole and I both attended AEP, and it was some of the best days of our lives, where great friendships were made. My husband Alex and I have enjoyed watching our girls have the same experience at AEP.”
The University also played a role in reigniting Annie’s artistic passion.
“My mom rekindled her passion for art by taking several classes through Louisiana Tech’s School of Design while we were at AEP, and I know they shaped her into the artist she was,” Burt added.
The connection to art continued with the designing process of the statue. Adam Cook, Louisiana Tech graduate and University Communications graphic designer, designed and painted the Bullpup, bringing the Richardson family’s vision to life. Cook has designed several University murals, where his vibrant artwork adds cohesive character to spaces throughout campus.
Now sitting in the courtyard of AEP, the Bullpup creates a visual connection to Annie and Cole’s legacy for the students who learn and create in that space.
“We were honored to receive this gift,” Dr. Jenny Blalock, AEP director, said. “We placed our new Bullpup outside of the art room and will allow students to vote on his name soon. We want students to have a happy learning environment, and this statue is a great addition to our courtyard.”
The meaningful gift was made possible through the generosity of the AMWR Memorial Foundation, whose foundation account is held at Argent Financial. Adding to the support behind the project, Courtesy Chevrolet of Ruston, owned by the Rob Feron family, generously sealed the Bullpup at no cost.
“We hope this Bullpup inspires everyone who sees it to dream boldly, create freely, and have the confidence to become all they were created to be,” Burt said. “Our family would like to thank AEP and Louisiana Tech University for giving us this opportunity to honor Mom and Cole in such a special way at a place our family holds dear to our hearts.”
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The Kiwanis Club of Ruston meets every Thursday at noon at Trinity Methodist Church. The first Thursday of the month is a business meeting, while the remainder of the weeks are devoted to our speakers.
Anyone is welcome to come to our meeting, but please notify Richard Hamilton of your attendance at 318-518-2121.
This week’s speaker is: David Abernathy, Rolling Hills Ministries
Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one Child and one Community at a time.
RUSTON ROTARY
Ruston Rotary is the oldest Rotary Club in Lincoln Parish, with over 80 years of service to the Ruston community since its charter on February 13, 1943. It meets weekly for fellowship, food and insight, as well as to implement community projects. Their projects include scholarships for graduating high school seniors, dictionaries for third-graders, Christmas gifts for local nursing homes, and fans for the elderly.
It hosts monthly recognition for Lincoln Parish Students of the Month, and it presents the Bill Best Humanitarian Award annually to a deserving Lincoln Parish resident. It also provides camp opportunities for local students to RYLA, the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards.
The Rotary motto is Service above Self. Come be part of Ruston Rotary and help create a lasting impact by giving back to the community with a sense of accomplishment and camaraderie.
Together we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change across the globe, in our communities and in ourselves.
Ruston Rotary meets every Wednesday at noon at the Historic Fire Station at 200 East Mississippi in Ruston, and lunch is provided at each meeting. Stop in for a meeting one week to find out more about membership with our organization.
This week’s speaker is: Jeremy Bolom, Lincoln Parish Library
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.
