Funeral services for Beverly Waldrop Carroll, 87, of Ruston, LA will be 2:00 P.M. Sunday, August 30, 2026, at Kilpatrick Funeral Home Chapel in Ruston, LA. Officiating the service will be Rev. Joseph Napper and Rev. Richie Thornton. Interment will follow at Kilpatrick’s Memorial Gardens under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Ruston, LA.
A visitation for family and friends will be 1:00 PM until service time at Kilpatrick Funeral Home Chapel in Ruston.
Beverly was born January 30, 1939, in Philadelphia, MS and died August 27, 2026, in Ruston, LA. She is preceded in death by her husband, Ronald Carroll; and grandson, Benjamin Napper.
She is survived by her daughters, Vicki Napper and husband Stan of Ruston and Suzanne Riva and husband Kurtis of Ruston; 11 grandchildren, Samuel Napper and wife Beth; Joseph Napper and wife Jen; Adam Napper and wife Ashley; Beverly Ann Napper Heine and husband Tim; Aaron Napper and wife Becca; Daniel Napper; Mary Suzanne Napper Arnold and husband Cam; Danielle Riva Bennett and husband Jeff; Bryan Riva; Joy Riva Thornton and husband Richie; Anita Riva Springfield and husband Josh; 21 great grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, and other family and friends.
Pallbearers will be Samuel Napper, Adam Napper, Aaron Napper, Daniel Napper, Bryan Riva, and Jeff Bennett.
Funeral services for Kathy Renee Peterson Jordan, age 62, of Simsboro, Louisiana, will be held at 2:00 PM, Monday, August 31, 2026, at Owens Memorial Chapel with Rev. Jim Manning officiating. Burial will follow at Simsboro City Cemetery in Simsboro, Louisiana, under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston, Louisiana.
Kathy was born on July 16, 1964 in Ruston, Louisiana, the only child of James and Janette Peterson. At a young age, Kathy was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, beginning a lifelong journey that included countless hospital stays, numerous surgeries, and many difficult health battles. She also experienced the heartbreaking loss of her mother at a young age.
In the early 1990s, Kathy married the love of her life and her best friend, Tony. Despite the many challenges her health presented, Kathy never stopped believing in the blessings God had in store for her. After many years, she was blessed with the birth of her only child, her precious daughter, Sarah. Anyone who heard Kathy talk about Sarah knew just how deeply she cherished the gift God had given her. Kathy loved being a mother, and Sarah was the light of her life.
For 34 years, Tony was faithfully by Kathy’s side. Through every surgery, every illness, and every hospital stay, he never left her side. Their love, friendship, and devotion to one another were a beautiful testament to the life they built together.
Kathy had a special way of making the people she loved feel remembered and important. She never forgot a family member’s birthday or anniversary. Whenever a baby was born or a couple got married, Kathy made sure to write down every detail and send a message to make their special day even more meaningful. She loved keeping up with her family and friends through Facebook, and no matter how sick she was or how difficult she was feeling, she always made an effort to show her love by liking or leaving a heart on their posts and pictures. Those little “hearts” meant so much, and they will be deeply missed.
Kathy’s life was not defined by her illnesses or the many challenges she faced. It was defined by her love—for her husband, her daughter, her family, and the many people whose lives she touched. She endured more than most could ever imagine, yet she continued to find ways to love, encourage, and celebrate the people around her. Her memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.
Kathy is survived by her beloved husband, Tony; her daughter, Sarah Janette of Simsboro, Louisiana; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and loved ones whom she cherished dearly.
She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Janette Peterson; stepmother, Gwynneth Peterson; grandparents, D.P. and Vida Lee Peterson and John Leslie and Lela Mae McMillan.
Serving as pallbearers will be Brad Kimbell, Frank Miller, Triston Yates, Preston Yates, Kevin McMillan, and Johnny Wayne McMillan. Honorary pallbearers will be Seth Callaway and Thomas Lee McMillan. Visitation will be held from 12:30 PM, Monday, August 31, 2026 at Owens Memorial Chapel and will continue until the service begins at 2:00 PM.
Ruby W Billups Friday 09/05/1930 — Friday 08/21/2026 Family Gathering: Friday 08/28/2026 2:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Visitation: Saturday 08/29/2026 8:30am to 9:50am, New Rocky Valley Baptist Church, 2155 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Grambling Service: Saturday 08/29/2026 8:00am to 8:30am at King’s Funeral Home Notes: AKA Ivy Beyond Walls Celebration of Life: Saturday 08/29/2026 10:00am, New Rocky Valley Baptist Church, 2155 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Grambling Interment: Saturday 08/29/2026 Following Service, Grambling Memorial Garden, Highway 80 West, Grambling
Valerie Jean Grant Kennedy Wednesday 10/31/1956 — Sunday 08/23/2026 Celebration of Life: Friday 08/28/2026 11:00am at King’s Funeral Home Interment: Friday 08/28/2026 Following Service, St. Rest Baptist Church Cemetery, 209 Walker Road, Choudrant
Joyce Ann Lowery Nov 28, 1937 — Aug 23, 2026 Graveside Service: Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Friday, August 28, 2026, 10:00 – 11:00 am
Choudrant’s Sam Burns tees off at 12:24 today in Atlanta.
By Doug Ireland, Journal Sports
ATLANTA – Sam Burns’ superior summer-long performance has him standing eighth in the field of 30 finalists teeing off today in the $40 million Tour Championship, the final event of the 2026 PGA Tour season.
The Choudrant resident hits off the first tee at 12:24 paired with Collin Morikawa. Golf Channel will have live coverage of their round.
His last three outings in this event, at East Lake Golf Club, are more reason golf analysts are elevating him into the contenders’ group for the $10 million winner’s purse. SportsLine’s computer program ranks him as the player to beat and he is teeing off with +1500 odds.
Burns tied for seventh last year, was 12th in 2024 and ninth in 2023. This will be his sixth straight Tour Championship, reserved for the top 30 finishers in the season-long FedEx Cup points race.
But after a terrific eight-event run, the most recent outing last week by the 30-year-old was mediocre, especially by his standards. Burns finished 28th in the 50-player BMW Championship, but was already assured of reaching this week’s ultimate event due to his exceptional play since early May and his career-best overall season.
The Shreveport native had an eight-event run with six top 20 finishes, including four top fives in a six-tournament span from June 7 (fourth at The Memorial) to Aug. 16 (third at the FedEx St. Jude Championship). He was second at the U.S. Open and third at the British Open after a seventh-place finish at The Masters in April.
All 30 players this week have earned a two-year PGA Tour exemption and entry into next season’s signature events, including all four major championships.
Friday’s coverage begins at 10 a.m. on ESPN, through noon, and shifts to Golf Channel. Weekend TV begins at noon on Golf Channel with CBS picking up tournament action at 2 Saturday and Sunday.
On August 26, more than 84 years after Gerald McCallum gave his life in the skies over Java, his sacrifice was formally memorialized in his hometown.
With dignitaries and members of McCallum’s family present, a historical marker honoring the World War II fighter pilot was dedicated at Ruston’s Memorial Park.
Mounted between the North Louisiana Military Museum and the Veterans of Foreign Wars hall, the new marker commemorates McCallum, the first man from Lincoln Parish killed in World War II. For his actions during his final mission, he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, America’s second-highest award for valor.
McCallum was 25 years old.
Born in Ruston on January 31, 1917, McCallum was the son of Mr. and Mrs. E. D. McCallum. He graduated from Ruston High School in 1932 and later earned a B.A. in engineering from Louisiana Tech before entering the Army Air Corps in 1939.
After training, Second Lieutenant McCallum, nicknamed “Bo,” shipped out to the Philippines in 1940. American troops there were wary of the Japanese who had been fighting the Chinese since 1937 and ever expanding their reach through the Pacific. War raged in Europe as well, but America’s entry into the conflict was still a year away.
In late 1941, First Lieutenant McCallum was sent to the southwest Pacific on a special mission. Troops and planes would be coming into Australia and men like McCallum would have to ready them when the U.S. joined the war. When the Japanese attacked the Philippines and Pearl Harbor on December 7, McCallum found himself fighting on one of the most desperate fronts of the war.
Japan moved quickly. Its forces swept south through the Pacific, capturing airfields, ports, and islands as Allied defenses crumbled before them. Australia was becoming a vital base for American and Allied forces, providing airfields, ports, supplies, and a place from which eventually to strike back. It could not be allowed to fall.
But until that strike could be organized, McCallum and others formed a thin and badly outnumbered Allied defense line between the Japanese advance and Australia. American pilots were sent into the Netherlands East Indies to help hold that barrier and slow the enemy while men, aircraft, and supplies poured into Australia for the fight to come.
McCallum’s 17th Pursuit Squadron was a provisional outfit hastily assembled in Australia from available pilots and aircraft, including veterans who had already fought the Japanese in the Philippines. In January 1942, its pilots flew their P-40 Warhawks roughly 2,000 miles across Australia to begin the hazardous journey north across the Timor Sea and through the islands to Java. Of the original 17 P-40s, only 13 reached Soerabaja.
There they faced an enemy advancing faster than the Allies could reinforce the squadron.
When Japanese aircraft attacked Soerabaja, Java on February 3, the 17th stood virtually alone. The nearest other American fighter planes were 1,300 miles away.
The 17th was not simply waiting for the Japanese to come. Its pilots intercepted enemy bombers and fighters and carried bombs beneath their P-40s to strike Japanese ships and landing forces. On February 17, eight of the squadron’s fighters flew hundreds of miles to attack Japanese shipping and aircraft near Palembang. Japanese fighters tried to stop them, but three American planes broke through to attack the enemy landing force, and all eight P-40s made it home.
But the Japanese continued closing the ring around Java. Singapore fell February 15. Japanese forces seized strategic positions across Borneo and Celebes, landed on Bali, and cut the air route through which American fighters had been reaching Java. Reinforcements trickled in, but aircraft were being lost to combat, crashes, weather, and the long journey north from Australia. Even at the height of its strength, the official Army Air Forces history described the 17th as “far from equal to the task confronting it.”
The squadron was losing pilots, too.
Its commander, Major Charles Sprague, was killed in aerial combat on February 20. Two more pilots, George Hynes and Wallace Hoskyn, were lost the following day. After Sprague’s successor was ordered away, command of the battered squadron fell to McCallum, its engineering officer.
The 25-year-old from Ruston was now leading what remained of the 17th Pursuit Squadron.
The next day, February 25, with only twelve planes available, McCallum led his pilots into battle over Soerabaja.
They climbed to intercept an approaching Japanese force and found themselves facing 54 enemy bombers protected by 36 fighters. The Japanese held not only a crushing numerical advantage but also the advantage in altitude.
McCallum attacked anyway.
During the battle, he saw one of his pilots being pressed by a Japanese fighter and in serious danger. With his own life already at risk, McCallum turned his P-40 toward the enemy aircraft.
He went to help.
McCallum drove off the Japanese fighter pursuing his fellow pilot, but his own P-40 was hit. With his engine smoking, McCallum bailed out, and his parachute opened.
The Japanese fighters did not let him escape. They followed the helpless pilot down, firing their machine guns into his parachute as he fell.
Gerald McCallum was dead before he reached the ground.
His Distinguished Service Cross citation later described his actions as demonstrating “unquestionable valor in aerial combat.” The decoration was awarded posthumously for his extraordinary heroism that day.
Gerald McCallum became Lincoln Parish’s first serviceman killed in action in World War II.
He died saving someone else.
The 17th Pursuit Squadron continued fighting as Java collapsed around it. Between February 21 and 26 alone, its pilots claimed 10 Japanese aircraft destroyed while losing McCallum and two other pilots. The official history described the unit as approaching the end of its “brief and tragic history.”
The news of McCallum’s death devastated Ruston. He would be the first among other local young men to perish in the global conflict. But for a time, he represented the worst fears of local families of what was yet to come.
The Ruston Chamber of Commerce formally proposed naming Ruston’s airport under construction at the time McCallum Field. His father received Gerald’s Distinguished Service Cross and Purple Heart in an elaborate ceremony on the tarmac at Barksdale Field.
The young pilot was later honored with 121 other fallen Louisiana Tech students when Memorial Gymnasium was constructed in their memory. His name appears with the others on a large bronze plaque in the gym.
His name was also added to Ruston’s American Legion post, which became McFarland-McCallum American Legion Post No. 2.
More than eight decades after that deadly dogfight, McCallum’s actions remain remarkable. Now, a marker in Memorial Park ensures the story of what happened in the skies over Java on February 25, 1942, remains part of the history of the community he called home.
Members of Gerald McCallum’s family gather around his new marker unveiled on Wednesday.
This is the second part of a brief series introducing the newest members of the Lincoln Parish School Board in the upcoming term. All three of the members highlighted qualified for the election and will run unopposed.
Each was given the following interview four questions to answer in their own words:
Why did you choose to run for the school board?
What does the Lincoln Parish School system do well?
What are some areas where you would like to see improvement?
Once you have concluded your time on the board, what do you hope to see accomplished?
By Kyle Roberts
Choudrant resident Hunter Antley will be the next member of the Lincoln Parish School Board for District 5 once Danny Hancock’s term limit expires at the end of this year..
Antley, who graduated from Louisiana Tech in 2017 and moved back to Choudrant in 2020, said he had been thinking about running for local office for several years before the school board came into view.
“Around that time, I had been interested in politics. I thought I might get involved in kind of Choudrant local politics, like alderman or something like that,” Antley said. “But then we ended up finding some family property out of the city limits, and so that kind of went by the wayside, and I started looking at other options. I looked at school board, and realized that Mr. Hancock was going to retire out this year.”
A family history in education and a 3-year-old who is expected to start preschool at Choudrant next year gave him what he called “a little bit of skin in the game.”
“I wanted to get involved and do what I could to give back to my community, represent my community a little bit, and just do my best to keep schools good for not only my kid, but all the rest of the kiddos,” Antley said.
Asked what the district already does well, Antley pointed to the board’s handling of money. Lincoln Parish has posted a surplus in recent years while neighboring districts have struggled, he said.
“They’ve done a very good job managing funds. You can look around at some of the other parishes around and see some of the money problems that they’re having, some cutbacks and layoffs and hiring freezes and things like that,” Antley said. “I think our parish has done very well with managing that and putting us in a good position for the future, where we’re able to withstand some changes on policy and finances.”
Where the board can improve, he said, is in how it talks to the public — a theme he raised when he announced his campaign.
“I want to be accessible and transparent about what I’m doing on the school board and why I’m voting the way I’m voting, and be able to hear back from community members and hear their thoughts on things and put those into action,” Antley said.
He credited Superintendent John Young, hired in May, with already improving communication.
Looking ahead to the end of his term, Antley said he hopes to see the district build on its work in early education. Lincoln Parish has spent recent years pushing K-3 reading and math scores, which he estimated rank somewhere around 10th to 15th in the state.
“They’ve got some new goals set there. I’d like to see those goals exceeded and keep working to be one of the best parishes in the state,” Antley said.
Closer to home, he said he wants District 5 schools to keep pace with a growing Choudrant.
“More neighborhoods are being built, and I would like to see the schools be able to be built out to hold that growing population,” Antley said, adding that the growth should show up in extracurriculars and course options as well as in square footage.
Lincoln Parish investigators worked through the night Tuesday following a shooting in the Triple Crown subdivision northeast of Ruston.
At about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday night, the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office received a report of shots fired in the area of Stable Road and Derby Drive near the entrance to the subdivision. Deputies responded and located Joe Cahee, a resident of the area, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
During the preliminary investigation, detectives determined Cahee and Salina Lynn Sampson were involved in a child custody exchange at the time of the incident. Sampson was accompanied by her brother and boyfriend. An altercation occurred during the exchange, at which time firearms were produced and multiple gunshots were fired.
Cahee was the only individual struck by gunfire. Cahee was transported to Northern Louisiana Medical Center for treatment and was later airlifted to LSU Ochsner in Shreveport for additional medical care.
“Violence involving firearms continues to be a serious concern in our communities, and incidents like this demonstrate the importance of having dedicated law enforcement officers who are willing to work through the night and follow every lead,” said LPSO Sheriff Stephen Williams.
“The men and women of the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office worked tirelessly to identify those involved and hold them accountable. We will continue to aggressively investigate acts of violence and do everything within our authority to deter further violence and protect the citizens we serve.”
As the investigation progressed, detectives located and interviewed three individuals identified as DeMarco Falene Hendricks, Jr., Brian Charles Fisher, Jr., and Sampson. All three were arrested after questioning.
Fisher, 21, was arrested for attempted second degree murder and obstruction of justice.
Hendricks, 23, was charged with accessory-after-the-fact to attempted second degree murder and two counts of obstruction of justice.
Sampson, 25, was booked for two counts of obstruction of justice.
All three are being held at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center.
The investigation remains ongoing. LPSO will release additional information as it becomes available.
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 6:45 right to your inbox.Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
RUSTON — Ruston Parks and Recreation has released its fall lineup, a slate of youth leagues, classes, camps and free community events built around the Ruston Sports Complex.
Registration for most fall programs is online only and closes Sept. 7. Youth fall soccer is open to players ages 4-14 as of Sept. 30, with games played Saturday mornings in October at the complex’s D-Complex fields.
Youth flag football runs September through October for ages 5-10 as of Sept. 30, with games on Monday or Tuesday evenings, also at the D-Complex. Both leagues cost $65 for Ruston residents and $75 for non-residents, and both include a game shirt.
Cheerleading 101 shares the Sept. 7 registration deadline. The class is open to students from kindergarten through fifth grade and meets Tuesdays from 5 to 6 p.m. at the indoor complex. The cost is $60. Kaniya Dudley is the contact for the program at kdudley@lincolnprep.school.
A volleyball clinic for fifth and sixth graders carries a later deadline, with registration open through Nov. 20. The clinic meets Mondays and Thursdays in December at the indoor complex and costs $25.
Traditional Korean karate continues at the indoor complex for ages 5 and up. Buster Cotten is the contact for the class at 318-245-6795 or bacotten@hotmail.com.
RPAR will also host a fall break sports camp Oct. 13-15 for ages 8-12. The camp meets from 9 to 11 a.m. at the indoor complex and costs $65, with registration open Sept. 7 through Oct. 9.
Programming for older residents runs at the same facility. A senior adult tap dance class meets at the indoor complex, with Patsy Hinton as the contact at 318-243-1254. Senior adult fitness is designed for residents 55 and older who want to stay active, improve heart health and connect with the community. The first session is free, and membership costs $10 a year. Details are posted under “Senior Adult Fitness” on the RPAR website.
Four community events round out the calendar, all of them free.
The sixth annual Monster Mash returns Oct. 29 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the complex’s B-Complex. In December, RPAR will set up an ice skating rink in the indoor complex parking lot, open from 4 to 7 p.m. The Ruston Rudolph Run 5K steps off at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 17 at the indoor complex, with additional details still to come. The season closes with Cookies and Cocoa with Santa on Dec. 19 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the indoor complex, an afternoon of pictures, cookies and cocoa.
All activities are held at the Ruston Sports Complex and surrounding facilities. Registration for RPAR programs is handled online through the department’s website.
Ruston Rotary is kicking off its annual fall fundraiser, offering participants a chance to win a 2026 Honda Pioneer 700-4 and 12-foot trailer while supporting community service projects throughout Ruston and Lincoln Parish.
Raffle tickets are $10, with proceeds helping fund the club’s numerous service projects.
“Ruston Rotary Club’s biggest fundraiser of the year is our annual raffle, and this year, we’re thrilled to be raffling off a Honda Pioneer 700-4 side-by-side, generously donated by Team Karl Malone and Karl Malone Toyota,” Ruston Rotary Club President Ruby Pye said. “Tickets are $10, and every dollar goes to supporting our important service projects right here in our community. The raffle is a way to give back, and we are grateful for the continued support of our friends and neighbors.”
The fundraiser is a coordinated effort involving Team Karl Malone, Karl Malone Toyota and the Ruston Rotary Club.
Rusty Wilfong, service manager at Karl Malone Toyota and a Rotarian, said the four-seat Honda Pioneer can be used for riding trails, enjoying the outdoors or working around the house.
“Team Karl Malone, Karl Malone Toyota and Ruston Rotary are working together to raise funds and give back to the community,” Wilfong said.
Proceeds from the raffle support a variety of Ruston Rotary’s community service efforts.
Among those is the Backpack Food Program, which began under the direction of the late Rotarian Allen Tuten 19 years ago. The program provides bags of food for students to take home for the weekend. Students needing nutritional assistance are selected by their teachers. The program is now under the direction of United Way in coordination with Super 1 Foods.
Ruston Rotary also sponsors Coats for Kids, which provides more than 275 coats to students in need at Lincoln Parish elementary schools. Carolyn Banks chairs the project.
The club will also distribute more than 350 dictionaries to local third-graders this year.
“The joy and smile on the faces of the children that receive their very own dictionary makes this project worthwhile,” said Roy Hennigan, chairman of the dictionary project.
Education is another focus for the club. Ruston Rotary provides five $2,000 scholarships to high school seniors planning to attend college, along with a $2,000 scholarship to a Delta Community College student learning a trade.
During the Christmas season, the club provides more than 200 gift bags to residents of two Ruston nursing homes, including games, puzzles, coloring books and word-search books.
Other Rotary efforts include participating in MedCamps of Louisiana’s annual Fall Bash at Camp Alabama north of Choudrant and providing scholarships for Lincoln Parish high school juniors to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Award camp at the Outdoor Wilderness Learning Center in Dubach.
The club also recognizes area high school seniors throughout the school year, inviting students from Ruston High, Choudrant High, Lincoln Preparatory School, Simsboro High and Cedar Creek School to speak about their high school careers and future college plans.
Tickets for the Honda Pioneer and trailer can be purchased from Ruston Rotary members and at locations where the club displays the side-by-side and trailer around the city.
Tickets are also available at the Karl Malone Toyota service department or by calling Rusty Wilfong at 318-265-0985.
The drawing will be held Nov. 4 during Ruston Rotary’s regular noon meeting.
Police have arrested a Ruston man following the investigation of a reported sexual assault of a juvenile.
Jackie Lynn Perdue, Jr., 37, was arrested Sunday as a result of the investigation. He was booked for first degree rape and crime against nature.
Perdue is the third person arrested by Ruston Police for rape within the past week. The three cases are not related to one another.
On August 21, Ruston Police officers responded to Northern Louisiana Medical Center regarding an alleged victim of sexual assault.
During the investigation, officers and investigators determined the assault occurred at a residence in the 1100 block of McAllister Street in southeast Ruston. The juvenile was evaluated at the hospital and evidence was collected.
Perdue was detained and transported to the Ruston Police Department for questioning. Following the investigation, Perdue was booked into the Lincoln Parish Detention Center.
RPD said because the investigation involves a juvenile victim, no additional details will be released in order to protect the victim’s privacy and the integrity of the investigation.
In a written statement, authorities said, “The Ruston Police Department takes allegations of sexual abuse involving children extremely seriously and will continue working to protect victims and hold those responsible accountable.”
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.
Ever wondered what happens after a 911 call reaches the police? This fall, residents can find out firsthand.
The Ruston Police Department’s second Citizens Academy will meet Tuesdays from Oct. 6 through Nov. 3, from 6 to 9 p.m.
The program is one of Chief Eric Watson’s strategies for bringing the community and police officers closer together. RPD held its first Citizens Academy last fall.
Before last year’s session, Watson said the idea of a citizens police academy was not unique to Ruston and had been used successfully in other cities. He said the program is a way to educate residents and help them better understand what police officers do.
“It’s about creating informed citizens who understand the work we do, why we do it, and how we make decisions in high-pressure situations,” Watson said.
Law enforcement agencies across the country have used citizens police academies to build trust and cooperation with the communities they serve. By giving residents a closer look at police work, departments aim to dispel myths, reduce tension, and foster mutual respect.
This year’s participants will get hands-on experience with a simulated real-life scenario, following the process from the initial 911 call through its conclusion. Sessions will also include demonstrations from specialized units, including SWAT, K-9, and criminal investigators.
Applications are available now at RPD, 501 N. Trenton St., and must be returned by Tuesday, Sept. 22. Class size is limited to provide participants with an engaging, hands-on experience, so residents 18 and older are encouraged to apply early.
Applicants are subject to a routine background check and must have a valid email address.
As I write this article, our nation has $40 trillion in national debt. Many of you may acknowledge it and just move on with your day. You think, what difference does it really make. We have been increasing our debt for decades now, and nothing has really changed in my life. Is there anything magical about $40 trillion?
While that number is astonishing, it’s only part of the story. Roughly half of the states in the US currently face significant budget shortfalls or carry billion-dollar debt burdens. Louisiana continues to face projected budget shortfalls and has a very uncertain future financially.
The public university system in Louisiana faces a very difficult future with current budget deficits, rising athletic program costs, and uncertainty around future federal and state support.
One may ask, how did we get here. How did we get $40 trillion in debt nationally and in such uncertain financial conditions on the state and local levels (in some cases)?
On a national level, we can point to the social security program’s plan not keeping up with life expectancy, Medicare and Medicaid program cost demands, foreign war spending, foreign aid, and many other spending programs as the key reasons. All those examples are true to a point, but there is something deeper.
The rationale around those programs, if we go back to the original decisions, were likely to provide help or protection to people. Now, we can debate the effectiveness, but the initial desire was for the federal government to establish a program or to take action to initiate the impact.
It wasn’t always that way. The nation was founded by men and women embracing uncertainty, sacrificing, and doing hard things. They worked for everything they achieved. No one gave them anything. They fought for freedom, sacrificed for one another, and took care of their families.
Those people weren’t perfect by any means. Mistakes were made, and we live with the ramifications today of some of those grave mistakes.
However, over time, people became comfortable with the achievements and accomplishments. Those in positions of oversight started seeking (approval) rather than serving. Political party platforms turned more to popularity driven programs than advancing the nation’s convictions.
Comfort eventually turned into complacency. Access to credit was easy. Borrowing enabled those in authority to make promises and enact programs that they could not pay for. It was easy. It was popular. We became dependent on it.
In many cases, the continued spending is in response to an attempt to provide, protect, or prevent, but there remains a problem.
When we fund programs or make decisions that we cannot pay for, there will be a consequence. It may not be immediate, but there will be a day when the deficit is too large, or the debt is due. There is always that day.
For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:45 right to your inbox.Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
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. 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) 7 p.m.: Cedar Creek football
Saturday, Aug. 29 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 6 p.m.: GSU football
Monday, Aug. 31 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome 4 p.m.: DND Fall Campaign Interest meeting (teens & tweens) (Jack Beard Community Room) 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, Sept. 1 6:30 a.m.: Veterans free breakfast (VFW Post 3615, 206 Memorial Dr.) 6 p.m.: Lincoln Parish School Board meeting
Wednesday, Sept. 2 7-8 a.m.: Veterans Coffee Club (PJ’s Coffee) 9:30 a.m.: Lincoln Parish Retired Teachers Association meeting (Lincoln Parish Library) 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, Sept. 3 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.) 6 p.m.: Southern A’Chord Chorus rehearsal (Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 212 N. Bonner St.; open to all women singers)
Friday, Sept. 4 7 p.m.: RHS football 7 p.m.: Lincoln Prep football
Saturday, Sept. 5 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 6 p.m.: GSU football 6:30 p.m.: LA Tech football
For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:45 right to your inbox.Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
Louisiana Tech has finalized a series of updates to its future football schedules, highlighted by a marquee season-opening matchup against a Big 12 opponent and multiple future contests against SEC competition.
Louisiana Tech and Kansas have agreed to move their 2027 matchup to the new opening weekend of the season, with the two teams now set to kick off on August 28, 2027, in Lawrence, Kan. It will be the fifth meeting between the schools, with a series that dates back to a Bulldog win in 1987 and the first matchup between the two since 2013.
The 2028 matchup between Louisiana Tech and Texas has also been moved, now set for August 26, 2028, in Austin. It will be just the second meeting between the two programs, which debuted in 2019.
New to the 2028 slate is a home date with Mississippi Valley State, set for September 2 in Ruston. The two programs have met twice before, with Louisiana Tech winning both matchups. The first came in the first round of the 1984 NCAA Division I-AA playoffs, a win over a Mississippi Valley State squad led by quarterback Willie Totten and wide receiver Jerry Rice, propelling the Bulldogs to that season’s national championship game. The two programs met again in 2000.
After a September 9 trip to North Texas, the Bulldogs will head east to take on another set of ‘Dogs in Starkville, Miss., on September 16. It will be the 16th all-time meeting between the two programs, with a series dating back to 1904 that includes a Louisiana Tech win in Ruston in 2008. The two programs last met in 2021.
Louisiana Tech will open the 2029 season in Tuscaloosa, traveling to face Alabama on August 25. It will mark the sixth all-time meeting between the two programs, with the Bulldogs winning the last two matchups – including a stunning 29-28 win over then-No. 18 Alabama on a last-second touchdown from Brian Stallworth to Sean Cangelosi in 1999, following a 1997 win over the Crimson Tide as well.
On September 8, 2029, Louisiana Tech will host Central Arkansas. The two programs have met three times previously, with the Bulldogs winning all three matchups – the most recent coming in 2011.
Rounding out the 2029 slate, the Bulldogs will travel to take on Tulsa on September 22 – a return trip after hosting the Golden Hurricane in Ruston in 2024. Louisiana Tech leads the all-time series with Tulsa, 7-4.
CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE, including parking maps, tailgating rules, RV information, and more.
GSU GAMEDAY TAILGATING & RV INFORMATION KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Tailgating is one of Grambling State University’s most cherished traditions. We ask all fans to review the following guidelines to help us create a safe, enjoyable, and memorable game day experience for everyone.
Know Before You Go | GSU vs. CAU
GAMEDAY INFORMATION Date | Saturday, Aug. 29 Time | 6:00 p.m. CT Location | Grambling, La. (Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium) TV | SWAC TV Stats | https://gsutigers.com/sidearmstats/football/summary Radio | GSU’s official radio station, KGRM 91.5 FM | Simulcast on KPCH 99.3 The Peach Game Day Color | BLACK
GAMEDAY TIMELINE Parking Lots/Tailgating Opens | 8 a.m. Ticket Office Opens | 10 a.m. Gates/Suites Open | 4:00 p.m. Shuttle Drop Off Begins/Ends | 2:30 p.m. / Ends 1 hour after game ends Pre-game Activities Start | 4:30 p.m. Kick Off | 6:00 p.m.
Lillian James Smart, age 8, went to be with Jesus on August 22, 2026, surrounded by the family who loved her beyond measure. Born on August 21, 2018, to Daniel and Rebecca Smart, Lillian brought immeasurable joy to everyone who knew her.
Lillian leaves behind her loving parents, Daniel and Rebecca Smart; brothers Lewis, Jude & Shepherd Smart; her grandparents, Richard & Janine Lewis, Anita Smart & Harley Cherry; her bonus Lolli, Staci Faulkner, her great-grandmother, Mary Smart; Aunts and Uncles, Neil & Lindsey Lewis, Andrew Lewis, Casey Smart, Kelley Smart; and her cousins, Bennett, Henry & Sarah Kathryn Lewis and James Mayberry.
She was also deeply loved by a beautiful circle of chosen family and countless friends whose lives were forever touched by hers, including her beloved Mrs. Amy.
Lillian was preceded in death by her grandfather, Jim Smart.
She was bright, spirited, loving, and full of personality with a way of making every room feel a little more sparkly. Lillian loved to celebrate others, her favorite was making others feel special! Her beautiful singing voice was a gift to everyone. She will be deeply missed.
Pallbearers will be Daniel Smart, Neil Lewis, Andrew Lewis, Bennett Lewis, Henry Lewis, and Harley Cherry.
The family wishes to thank the wonderful WK South PICU nurses and staff who worked tirelessly for our girl. Thank you to Dr. Minh Tran, Dr. Joseph Bocchini, Dr. Christina Natoranni, Dr. Charles Ronkon, and Dr. Shannon Faulkenberry for working around the clock to give Lillian the best care possible.
Visitation will be held at First Baptist Church of Ruston on Friday, August 28, from 4:30–7:00 p.m. A memorial service celebrating Lillian’s life will be held at the church on Saturday, August 29, at 10:00 a.m. with Dr. Chris Craig officiating, followed by a private family burial.
We invite you to celebrate our Lillian’s vibrant life by wearing bright and cheerful colors to her services.
Those wishing to honor Lillian’s memory may make a donation in her name to First Baptist Church of Ruston, 200 South Trenton Street, Ruston, LA, 71270
Ruby Weekly Billups Friday 09/05/1930 — Friday 08/21/2026 Visitation: Saturday 08/29/2026 8:30am to 9:55am, New Rocky Valley Baptist Church, 2155 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Grambling Service: Saturday 08/29/2026 8:00am to 8:30am at King’s Funeral Home Notes: Ivy Beyond the Walls Ceremony Celebration of Life: Saturday 08/29/2026 10:00am, New Rocky Valley Baptist Church, 2155 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Grambling Interment: Saturday 08/29/2026 Following Service, Grambling Memorial Garden, Highway 80 West, Grambling
Esther Evelyn Haywood Aug 13, 1940 — Aug 21, 2026 Visitation: Wednesday, August 26, 2026, 5:00 – 7:00 pm, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home Funeral Service: Thursday, August 27, 2026, 2:00 pm, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home Interment: Thursday, August 27, 2026, 3:30 pm, Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery, 623 US-80, Monroe
Valerie Jean Grant Kennedy Wednesday 10/31/1956 — Sunday 08/23/2026 Celebration of Life: Friday 08/28/2026 11:00am at King’s Funeral Home Interment: Friday 08/28/2026 Following Service, St. Rest Baptist Church Cemetery, 209 Walker Road, Choudrant
Joyce Ann Lowery Nov 28, 1937 — Aug 23, 2026 Visitation: Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, Thursday, August 27, 2026, 5:00 – 7:00 pm Graveside Service: Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Friday, August 28, 2026, 10:00 – 11:00 am
Lincoln Parish investigators worked through the night Tuesday following a shooting in the Triple Crown subdivision northeast of Ruston.
At about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday night, the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office received a report of shots fired in the area of Stable Road and Derby Drive near the entrance to the subdivision. Deputies responded and located Joe Cahee, a resident of the area, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
During the preliminary investigation, detectives determined Cahee and Salina Lynn Sampson were involved in a child custody exchange at the time of the incident. Sampson was accompanied by her brother and boyfriend. An altercation occurred during the exchange, at which time firearms were produced and multiple gunshots were fired.
Cahee was the only individual struck by gunfire. Cahee was transported to Northern Louisiana Medical Center for treatment and was later airlifted to LSU Ochsner in Shreveport for additional medical care.
“Violence involving firearms continues to be a serious concern in our communities, and incidents like this demonstrate the importance of having dedicated law enforcement officers who are willing to work through the night and follow every lead,” said LPSO Sheriff Stephen Williams.
“The men and women of the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office worked tirelessly to identify those involved and hold them accountable. We will continue to aggressively investigate acts of violence and do everything within our authority to deter further violence and protect the citizens we serve.”
As the investigation progressed, detectives located and interviewed three individuals identified as DeMarco Falene Hendricks, Jr., Brian Charles Fisher, Jr., and Sampson. All three were arrested after questioning.
Fisher, 21, was arrested for attempted second degree murder and obstruction of justice.
Hendricks, 23, was charged with accessory-after-the-fact to attempted second degree murder and two counts of obstruction of justice.
Sampson, 25, was booked for two counts of obstruction of justice.
All three are being held at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center.
The investigation remains ongoing. LPSO will release additional information as it becomes available.
For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:45 right to your inbox.Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
Northern Louisiana Medical Center is undergoing another leadership change after CEO Monica Adams resigned less than three months after taking the position, according to an announcement from the hospital Monday.
NLMC said Adams resigned for personal and family reasons. Chief Operating Officer Arnie Young has been named interim CEO effective immediately.
Adams’ brief tenure came during a pivotal period for the Ruston hospital as it worked through deficiencies identified by state and federal healthcare regulators and sought to rebuild public confidence in healthcare in Lincoln Parish.
“We are incredibly grateful to Monica for the leadership, energy and commitment she brought to NLMC,” Young said. “Although her time as CEO was brief, she helped set meaningful change in motion throughout our organization. Our leadership team is committed to continuing that work and building upon the progress already underway.”
Adams assumed leadership of NLMC earlier this summer and became one of the hospital’s primary public voices as it responded to an ongoing regulatory review by the Louisiana Department of Health, acting on behalf of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
An initial inspection in June identified multiple deficiencies, including condition-level findings involving Patient Rights, Nursing Services and the hospital’s Governing Body.
A follow-up inspection completed July 8 found progress in several areas but left the hospital out of compliance with the Medicare Condition of Participation for Patient Rights. The hospital subsequently submitted a Plan of Correction addressing the remaining deficiencies.
Earlier this month, Adams told the Lincoln Parish Journal that LDH had returned to NLMC for another follow-up inspection and that all condition-level deficiencies were reportedly cleared during that revisit, including issues involving the cardiac catheterization lab.
At the time, Adams emphasized that the hospital had not yet received the official survey report and therefore did not want to speculate about specific regulatory findings.
“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 following the revisit.
In announcing her resignation Friday, NLMC credited Adams with helping lead operational and cultural improvements at both the hospital and Green Clinic, particularly in communication, accountability, employee engagement and the hospital’s relationship with the community.
Young now assumes responsibility for continuing that work during the leadership transition.
According to NLMC, Young will work alongside the hospital’s executive leadership team, medical staff and employees to provide continuity.
“Our patients, employees, and community remain our priority,” Young said. “The work happening throughout NLMC does not stop with a leadership transition. We have an outstanding team of healthcare professionals, and we will continue moving forward together with the same commitment to providing safe, compassionate and high-quality care to the communities we serve.”
The leadership change comes as the future of healthcare in Lincoln Parish continues to draw significant public attention.
The Lincoln Parish Police Jury recently created Hospital Service District No. 1, whose five-member board held its inaugural meeting Monday. The district is expected to build upon a regional healthcare study commissioned by the Police Jury, City of Ruston and Lincoln Health Foundation as local leaders consider the long-term future of hospital and healthcare services in the parish.
NLMC said the hospital remains fully operational and that the leadership transition will not affect patient services or day-to-day operations.
The hospital did not provide a timetable for naming a permanent CEO, saying additional information regarding its leadership structure will be released as appropriate.
For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:45 right to your inbox.Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
