Each Monday through Friday, the Lincoln Parish Journal will post a list of non-for-profit upcoming events happening in the parish. If you would like to add your event to this list or advertise your for-profit events, please email us at lpjnewsla@gmail.com. 

Monday, Sept. 21
11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome
5:30 p.m.: Ruston planning and zoning meeting (Ruston City Hall)
6 p.m.: Toastmasters International meeting (Louisiana Center for the Blind, 101 South Trenton Street)
6-9 p.m.: Creative Meetups (Creatives at Work, 301 N. Trenton)

Tuesday, Sept. 22
6:30 a.m.: Veterans free breakfast (VFW Post 3615, 206 Memorial Dr.)
10 a.m.: Storytime : Music (Lincoln Parish Library)
4 p.m.: Crafternoon : Apple Jars (Lincoln Parish Library)
6 p.m.: Video-Led Exercise class (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)

Wednesday, Sept. 23
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, Sept. 24
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)
4 p.m.: Tween Time :  Mosaic Tiles (Lincoln Parish Library)
4:30-5:30 p.m.: Free meal sponsored by 5 Loaves 2 Fish Ministry to be served at St. Benedict Church , 471 Main Street in Grambling. All are welcome!
5 p.m.: Library Board of Control Meeting (Lincoln Parish Library)
6 p.m.: Teen Time : Bad Art (Lincoln Parish Library)
6 p.m.: Contemporary Compositions Concert and Composer Talk presented by Wade Dillingham of LA Tech (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
6 p.m.: Southern A’Chord Chorus rehearsal (Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 212 N. Bonner St.; open to all women singers)

Friday, Sept. 25
Dubach Chicken Festival
6:30 p.m.: LA Tech volleyball (TAC)
7 p.m.: RHS football
7 p.m.: Cedar Creek football

Saturday, Sept. 26
Dubach Chicken Festival
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Park Fest 2026 (Lincoln Parish Park)
11 a.m.: Dubach Legends Fundraiser/Elvis Impersonator (Scott Hamilton Warehouse, East Hico Street; doors open at 10 a.m., hamburger lunch at 11 a.m., show at 11:30 a.m.)
6:30 p.m.: LA Tech volleyball (TAC)

Monday,, Sept. 28
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, Sept. 29
6:30 a.m.: Veterans free breakfast (VFW Post 3615, 206 Memorial Dr.)
10 a.m.: Storytime : Circus Clowns (Lincoln Parish Library)
3 p.m.: Groundbreaking celebrating Russ Town Crossing (1211 Gaines Ave.)
4 p.m.: Crafternoon : Carousels (Lincoln Parish Library)
6 p.m.: Video-Led Exercise class (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
6 p.m.: Adult Craft Night: Sheet Music Sunflowers; registration required 318-513-5510 (Lincoln Parish Library)

Wednesday, Sept. 30
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, Oct. 1
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, Oct. 2
6-8:30 p.m.: Pumpkins in the Park (Railroad Park)
7 p.m.: Lincoln Prep football

Saturday, Oct. 3
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market
2 p.m.: GSU football

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For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox. Just CLICK HERE to sign up.

Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Louisiana Tech found opportunities against Baylor. The Bulldogs just couldn’t capitalize on enough of them.

Baylor scored 22 unanswered points after Louisiana Tech tied the game early, then held off a fourth-quarter Bulldogs rally for a 36-19 win Saturday afternoon at McLane Stadium.

Louisiana Tech (1-2) reached the red zone six times but came away with points on only three of those possessions as the Bulldogs dropped their second straight game against a Power Four opponent.

“Obviously, we’re disappointed in the outcome — disappointed with not being able to come in here and get a win,” Louisiana Tech coach Sonny Cumbie said. “I think our guys, for the first three games we’ve played, we have played hard. It’s obvious that we play hard, but it’s not good enough.

“We don’t execute well enough in certain situations, and we’ve got to get better.”

After Baylor (2-1) scored on its opening possession, Louisiana Tech answered with a 15-play, 75-yard drive capped by Andrew Burnette’s 2-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 7-7.

The Bears responded with two second-quarter touchdowns, including a 51-yard scoring pass from Nate Bennett to Louis Brown IV, to take a 20-7 lead into halftime.

Louisiana Tech’s defense continued to give the Bulldogs chances.

Za’Qwaun Nunn forced a fumble late in the second quarter that Jadon Mayfield recovered, extending Louisiana Tech’s streak to six straight games with at least one forced turnover dating to last season.

The Bulldogs, however, couldn’t consistently turn those opportunities into points.

“We really have to learn to rise up,” Cumbie said. “Whenever we have a takeaway in a short field — whether it’s through a takeaway or a big play on special teams — offensively, we have to be able to answer with points, and we weren’t able to do that.”

Cumbie said the missed opportunities reminded him of Louisiana Tech’s 45-14 loss at LSU a week earlier, when the Bulldogs forced four first-half turnovers but trailed 10-7 at halftime.

Baylor extended its lead to 29-7 in the second half before Louisiana Tech made things interesting in the fourth quarter.

Kukuk connected with Eli Finley for a 19-yard touchdown with 8:18 remaining, cutting Baylor’s lead to 29-13. Less than three minutes later, Jalen Mickens scored on a 2-yard run to pull the Bulldogs within 29-19.

Baylor responded with a touchdown of its own to put the game away.

Bennett completed 21 of 24 passes for 253 yards and three touchdowns for the Bears, while Jayden McGowan caught two touchdown passes.

Kukuk completed 25 of 44 passes for 223 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also led Louisiana Tech on the ground with a season-high 75 yards on 11 carries.

Finley recorded season highs with eight receptions for 65 yards and a touchdown. It was his second touchdown reception of the season and his highest receiving-yardage total since recording 154 yards against Southern Miss last season.

Mickens caught four passes for 63 yards, giving him a team-leading 297 receiving yards through three games.

Marcus Calwise Jr. added four receptions for 36 yards, both season highs. It marked the Eastern Kentucky transfer’s first game with multiple receptions as a Bulldog.

Defensively, Kolbe Fields led Louisiana Tech with nine tackles, including three tackles for loss and a sack. Mayfield and Nunn also recorded sacks, while Nunn forced the fumble recovered by Mayfield.

Cumbie pointed to Louisiana Tech’s inability to finish drives, turnovers and explosive plays allowed defensively as areas that cost the Bulldogs.

“Being in the red zone six times, and you only score three times — we’ve got to kick field goals better and protect the ball better,” Cumbie said. “And we can’t give up the big plays that we did in the passing game on double moves.”

The loss dropped Louisiana Tech to 1-6 all-time against Baylor and 1-4 in Waco. Saturday marked the first meeting between the programs at McLane Stadium.

Louisiana Tech now enters an open week before hosting Army on Oct. 3 at Joe Aillet Stadium in a rematch of the 2024 Independence Bowl. Kickoff time has not been announced.

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Barbara Lee Kennimer, age 88, a resident of Houston, Texas, passed away on September 14, 2026. She was a native of Simsboro, Louisiana, born the fifth child of Vincent Otto and Gussie Bullock Lee. Growing up the “littlest Lee” had its advantages and disadvantages; more of the first than the latter. With three older sisters to care for her every need and her big brother, Wiley, to tote her around, she was much loved! All the Lee children worked alongside their father on the farm. It was her daddy who shortened her name from Barbara to “Bob” and, as most nicknames do, it stuck.

Barbara was a graduate of Simsboro High School, Class of 1956. She married Glynn Raymond Kennimer of Choudrant, LA and together they reared four children: Robin; Glynn, Jr.; Amy; and, Judd. The Kennimer family were Texans, first living in Arlington, Texas before moving to the Bedford, Texas community and finally settling in Houston. Mrs. Kennimer was employed by the Spring Branch Independent School District where she served as a nurse’s aide, ultimately retiring from the districts’ Career Center.

Mrs. Kennimer is survived by her daughter, Robin Kennimer Chrislip and husband, Henry Rodriguez of Houston, Texas; her son, Juddson L. Kennimer of Pearland, Texas; and, a cherished grandson, Jayce Kennimer of Atlanta, Georgia. She is also survived by her brothers-in-law, Roland Kennimer and Curtis Don “Donnie” Kennimer; and, a sister-in-law, Claudine K. Greer, as well as a host of nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Kennimer was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Glynn Raymond Kennimer; her beloved children: Amy Kennimer McWilliams and Glynn R. Kennimer, Jr., as well as her siblings and their spouses.

A memorial service celebrating the life of Barbara Lee Kennimer will be held on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. Visitation will be 9 AM with the service at 10 AM in the chapel. Interment will follow in the Simsboro City Cemetery, Simsboro, Louisiana under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.

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Barbara Lee Kennimer 
May 21, 1938 — Sep 14, 2026 
Visitation: Wednesday, September 23, 2026, 9:00 – 10:00 am, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home 
Funeral Service: Wednesday, September 23, 2026, 10:00 am, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home 
Burial: Wednesday, September 23, 2026, 11:00 am, Simsboro City Cemetery, Braswell Ln, Simsboro 

Bruce Allen Yates  
November 6, 1951  –  September 15, 2026  
Visitation: Monday, September 21, 2026, 1:00PM – 2:00PM, Calvary Baptist Church, 5200 US -167 Ruston  
Celebration of Life Service: Monday, September 21, 2026, 2:00PM, Calvary Baptist Church, 5200 US -167 Ruston  

Vontella D. White  
Friday 04/30/1982 — Saturday 09/12/2026   
Visitation: Friday 09/25/2026 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home  
Funeral Service: Saturday 09/26/2026 11:00am, Zion Traveler Baptist Church, 1201 Martin Luther King Drive, Ruston  
Interment: Saturday 09/26/2026 Following Service, Mt. Calm Cemetery, 566 Par Road, Simsboro  

Cecil Allen Crawford
July 9, 1940 – Sept. 16, 2026
Visitation: Sept. 21, 2026, Liffey Catholic Center, Center Street, Ruston; 5-7 p.m.
Funeral Service: Sept. 22, 2026, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 810 Carey Ave., at 11 a.m.
Burial: Northeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, 2413 Hwy. 425, Rayville

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Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Louisiana Tech found opportunities against Baylor. The Bulldogs just couldn’t capitalize on enough of them.

Baylor scored 22 unanswered points after Louisiana Tech tied the game early, then held off a fourth-quarter Bulldogs rally for a 36-19 win Saturday afternoon at McLane Stadium.

Louisiana Tech (1-2) reached the red zone six times but came away with points on only three of those possessions as the Bulldogs dropped their second straight game against a Power Four opponent.

“Obviously, we’re disappointed in the outcome — disappointed with not being able to come in here and get a win,” Louisiana Tech coach Sonny Cumbie said. “I think our guys, for the first three games we’ve played, we have played hard. It’s obvious that we play hard, but it’s not good enough.

“We don’t execute well enough in certain situations, and we’ve got to get better.”

After Baylor (2-1) scored on its opening possession, Louisiana Tech answered with a 15-play, 75-yard drive capped by Andrew Burnette’s 2-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 7-7.

The Bears responded with two second-quarter touchdowns, including a 51-yard scoring pass from Nate Bennett to Louis Brown IV, to take a 20-7 lead into halftime.

Louisiana Tech’s defense continued to give the Bulldogs chances.

Za’Qwaun Nunn forced a fumble late in the second quarter that Jadon Mayfield recovered, extending Louisiana Tech’s streak to six straight games with at least one forced turnover dating to last season.

The Bulldogs, however, couldn’t consistently turn those opportunities into points.

“We really have to learn to rise up,” Cumbie said. “Whenever we have a takeaway in a short field — whether it’s through a takeaway or a big play on special teams — offensively, we have to be able to answer with points, and we weren’t able to do that.”

Cumbie said the missed opportunities reminded him of Louisiana Tech’s 45-14 loss at LSU a week earlier, when the Bulldogs forced four first-half turnovers but trailed 10-7 at halftime.

Baylor extended its lead to 29-7 in the second half before Louisiana Tech made things interesting in the fourth quarter.

Kukuk connected with Eli Finley for a 19-yard touchdown with 8:18 remaining, cutting Baylor’s lead to 29-13. Less than three minutes later, Jalen Mickens scored on a 2-yard run to pull the Bulldogs within 29-19.

Baylor responded with a touchdown of its own to put the game away.

Bennett completed 21 of 24 passes for 253 yards and three touchdowns for the Bears, while Jayden McGowan caught two touchdown passes.

Kukuk completed 25 of 44 passes for 223 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also led Louisiana Tech on the ground with a season-high 75 yards on 11 carries.

Finley recorded season highs with eight receptions for 65 yards and a touchdown. It was his second touchdown reception of the season and his highest receiving-yardage total since recording 154 yards against Southern Miss last season.

Mickens caught four passes for 63 yards, giving him a team-leading 297 receiving yards through three games.

Marcus Calwise Jr. added four receptions for 36 yards, both season highs. It marked the Eastern Kentucky transfer’s first game with multiple receptions as a Bulldog.

Defensively, Kolbe Fields led Louisiana Tech with nine tackles, including three tackles for loss and a sack. Mayfield and Nunn also recorded sacks, while Nunn forced the fumble recovered by Mayfield.

Cumbie pointed to Louisiana Tech’s inability to finish drives, turnovers and explosive plays allowed defensively as areas that cost the Bulldogs.

“Being in the red zone six times, and you only score three times — we’ve got to kick field goals better and protect the ball better,” Cumbie said. “And we can’t give up the big plays that we did in the passing game on double moves.”

The loss dropped Louisiana Tech to 1-6 all-time against Baylor and 1-4 in Waco. Saturday marked the first meeting between the programs at McLane Stadium.

Louisiana Tech now enters an open week before hosting Army on Oct. 3 at Joe Aillet Stadium in a rematch of the 2024 Independence Bowl. Kickoff time has not been announced.

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By Kyle Roberts

NEW ORLEANS — Ruston erased a 14-point deficit in the first half Saturday and got the ball back at the Edna Karr 16 with 12 seconds left, but the top-ranked Bearcats could not find the tying score in a 21-14 loss to the No. 2 Cougars at the Caesars Superdome in the final seconds.

Senior running back Jermond Macklin ran for all three Karr touchdowns, the last a 3-yard run with 9:31 to play that broke a tie that had stood since the second quarter. Karr, the defending Division I select state champion, improved to 3-0. Ruston fell to 2-1 in the opening game of the Inspire the City Invitational. Karr improves to 3-0 on the year.

“I think it would have been big if we were able to get over the hump (in the Superdome), especially against a team like Karr,” Ruston head coach Jerrod Baugh said. “But we didn’t. We’ve got to figure out how to make things happen when we get here.”

Karr scored twice in a little more than two minutes to open the game. Macklin went in from 3 yards out at 6:09 of the first quarter. Senior quarterback Sam Hartwell was then intercepted on a third-and-13, and Macklin scored from 11 yards out at 4:04 for a 14-0 lead.

Ruston answered 57 seconds later. Junior running back Dalen Powell broke a 71-yard touchdown run to make it 14-7, and his 14-yard run at 6:24 of the second quarter tied the game.

Karr managed seven points the rest of the way, and Baugh said the damage done early was unfortunate for his squad.

“We can’t spot a team like that 14 points early in the game, because I thought defensively we kind of hung in there,” Baugh said.

The Ruston defense kept it tied into the half. The Bearcats stopped Karr on downs at 4:07 of the second quarter, and senior defensive back Keilan Davis intercepted junior quarterback Forest Johnson on third-and-11 with eight seconds left before halftime.

Ruston did not score in the second half, and Baugh said the Bearcats let their first drive after halftime get away.

“We didn’t do the things necessary to get it in the end zone, and that’s one of the things we’ve got to work on,” Baugh said. “We’re so inconsistent offensively and defensively. You look out there and you’ll see a really, really good football team, and then you’ll look out there and it looks like we never played. I mean, that’s part of growing up.”

Davis also had a hand in the Bearcats’ boldest call of the night. Facing fourth-and-11 with 8:01 to go in the third quarter, Ruston faked a punt, and senior kicker Joaquin Ramos completed a 33-yard pass to Davis to extend the drive. The Bearcats did not get any points out of it.

“We felt like we had something there,” Baugh said. “They were playing basically man coverage. We kind of felt good about that. We were trying to get a first down out of it. When you pull the trigger and call something like that, you’ve got to be able to execute.”

Karr came away empty late in the third quarter. Junior quarterback Marlon Jones converted a fourth-and-2 at 3:15 with a long run that gave the Cougars first-and-goal at the 7. Four plays later, the Bearcats stopped Karr on fourth-and-goal from the 2 with 1:31 left in the quarter.

The tie held until Macklin’s 3-yard run at 9:31 of the fourth quarter.

Ruston’s last chance came on a Karr mistake. A high snap on a Karr punt with 12 seconds left was recovered by the Bearcats, who took over with first-and-10 at the Karr 16. Ruston could not complete a pass from there, and the game ended.

Baugh said a different finish would not have changed what Ruston has to fix.

“You tell me — if we go down and we manage to throw the ball in the end zone and go for 2 and win, that doesn’t change anything that happened previously in the ball game,” Baugh said. “We still got to make those corrections and do what we need to do to move on. What we can’t do is get hung up on this football game.”

Powell ran for 119 yards and both touchdowns on 17 carries. Hartwell completed 12 of 27 passes for 104 yards. Senior receiver Josiah Morgan caught four passes for 33 yards, and senior tight end Ahmad Hudson caught four for 29. Ruston was held to 234 total yards and converted 1 of 11 third downs, though it went 4 of 6 on fourth down.

Davis and senior linebacker Kadyn Gray led the Bearcats with six tackles each. Kadyn Gray had three tackles for loss, and Davis had one to go with the interception. Junior linebacker Aidan Adams and freshman defensive back Reed Williams had five tackles apiece. Ruston finished with 10 tackles for loss and forced two turnovers.

Macklin carried 11 times for 58 yards. Jones ran eight times for a team-high 73 yards and completed 4 of 10 passes for 17 yards, and Johnson went 11 of 18 for 82 yards. Sophomore Brenin Reed caught five passes for 30 yards. Karr outgained Ruston 258-234 and ran 59 plays to the Bearcats’ 52.

Baugh said the Cougars won the effort battle at times.

“They’ve got their kids playing hard. They’re used to winning football games,” Baugh said. “There were times in the ball game I felt like they were playing harder than us. We just got to do a better job.”

The Bearcats go back to work Sunday afternoon.

“We’ve got video. We’re going to get after it,” Baugh said. “And then after all that’s over, they show up Monday, and it’s all about Catholic.”

Ruston hosts Catholic of Baton Rouge on Friday at James Field at Hoss Garrett Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

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.

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By Kyle Roberts

RUSTON — Another week of Bearcat football, and it’s another marquee matchup for the Firmly Founded.

Ruston plays Edna Karr at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, a meeting of the top two teams in the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 5A poll and the opening game of the Inspire the City Invitational doubleheader.

The Bearcats are 2-0 and No. 1 in that poll with 130 points after a 36-22 win over Longview on Friday. Karr is 2-0 and second with 122. The Cougars are the defending Division I select state champions, have won 29 straight dating back to 2023 and have opened this season with a 48-21 win over Lafayette Renaissance Charter Academy and a 50-0 win at Huntington. St. Augustine plays East Ascension in the second game at 6:30 p.m.

Ruston head coach Jerrod Baugh said the game is worth what a September game is worth, and no more.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for our kids and a great opportunity to see exactly where we are at this point in the year, what things we need to continue to work on,” Baugh said. “I know a lot of people have looked forward to this ball game, but I think we don’t need to get caught up in the deal. This is not the state championship. It’s not the last ball game. And so win or lose, we’re going to have to take whatever happens in this ball game and either build on the positive things or continue to correct the negative things that happen, and then be able to move on.”

The season does not turn on it either way, he said. It is a regular season game to be used for what it is, and a building process toward where the program is trying to get.

The Bearcats’ early perfect record stayed intact last week after Texas powerhouse Longview made the trip to Ruston. The ‘Cats pulled away in the fourth quarter, thanks in large part to more production by junior running back Dalen Powell, who rushed for 180 yards and four touchdowns. He comes into the contest with nine scores through two games.

“I think we made it tougher than what it needed to be,” Baugh said. “There were times during the ball game we just didn’t play particularly well on either side of the ball. But I thought our kids played hard. It’s just our execution level wasn’t where I felt like it needed to be, especially against a good football team like that.”

Baugh said his defense should have been better prepared for Longview’s two-tight-end packages, a heavier running-game look the Bearcats had not seen this season.

Karr graduated 34 seniors off last year’s 14-0 team, including quarterback John Johnson, and head coach Brice Brown spent the preseason sorting out a quarterback competition between juniors Marlon Jones and Forest Johnson.

“They shine in a lot of areas,” Baugh said. “I guess the thing that I’m impressed with is you graduate all of those guys that go on to play college, and you would expect to see some holes somewhere, and you just don’t. Coach Brown has done such a great job building that program, and that’s how you know that it’s a program — that you’re able to graduate that many really, really good players and you still don’t see any holes. The names change, but the production level doesn’t.”

Among those who came back are senior defensive end Juelz Batiste, an Ole Miss commitment, senior offensive tackle Zyion Wesley, a Mississippi State commitment, senior running back Jermond Macklin and junior receiver Kamal Martin.

“Whether those guys played every snap last year or got in bits and pieces, you can’t really tell,” Baugh said. “They look experienced. They look like they know what they’re doing. You can tell they’re used to winning. They’re really well coached, very talented, and they’ll be ready to get after it.”

The 3 p.m. kickoff was Baugh’s request. The game was originally slated for noon, which would have required the Bearcats to travel down a day early.

“I knew playing at noon was really going to push us into having to stay the night before, so I requested to back it up enough to where I felt like we could leave at a reasonable time to get there and be prepared and then still be able to turn back around and come back,” Baugh said. “And they accommodated that.”

Players reported at 6:45 a.m. this morning and the buses left at 7. Bags were already loaded, breakfast eaten on the road and there will be no stops between Ruston and the Superdome. Baugh said Karr also cleared the Bearcats to get into the building ahead of the original timetable.

“We’ll get into the Superdome at noon, eat some lunch and do a walkthrough, and then basically get dressed and taped and go through our pregame warmup, and it’d be time to kick off,” Baugh said. “So it’ll be pretty quick, pretty tight schedule, but I just think for being in the middle of the season, I prefer not to spend the night anyway and save our resources.”

Ruston will bus home after the game and expects to be back in town around midnight. Players are not due back at the school until Sunday evening, and the staff has already started prep for Catholic of Baton Rouge, which visits Hoss Garrett Stadium on Sept. 25.

Baugh expects Karr’s roster turnover to be motivation rather than a weakness.

“I think they will probably feel like this will be their opportunity to prove themselves as their own separate football team from last year’s team,” Baugh said. “I feel like they’ll come in with a chip on their shoulder, because everybody keeps talking about all of those guys they graduated. I’m sure they’re proud for all those guys, but they want to do their own thing too. So I think that would be a lot of motivation for their football team.”

Baugh said Saturday will be the first meeting between the two programs.

The game will be broadcast on Q94.1 FM, and will be live-streamed by Crescent City Sports.

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by Malcolm Butler

It’s a mentality thing.

According to Cedar Creek head coach Jacob Angevine, it’s a mindset.

“Our mentality is we want to run it down people’s throats,” Angevine said Friday night following his team’s homecoming victory. “That’s got to be the identity of our football team.”

That is exactly what the Cougars did, rushing for almost 400 yards in a 42-12 win over Beekman Charter at Origin Bank Stadium.

Senior offensive lineman Kaden Williams echoed his coach’s sentiments after the game.

“Our motto on offense is run the ball, run the ball, run the ball,” Williams said. “And that’s obviously what you saw tonight. We were the most physically dominant team. We just wanted it more than them.”

That mentality has the Cougars off to a 3-0 start on the season.

And nowhere was it more evident than on the opening possession of the second half.

Leading just 14-6 after a penalty-plagued opening two quarters, Cedar Creek took the second-half kickoff at its own 19-yard line and proceeded to impose its will on the Beekman defense.

The Cougars marched 81 yards on 13 plays, with 11 of those snaps coming on the ground. Payton Harris ripped off runs of 21 and 16 yards during the drive, while quarterback Brett Bell and fullback Liam Durrett continued to pound away between the tackles.

Bell capped the march with a 1-yard touchdown run, and Campbell Woodard’s extra point gave Cedar Creek a 21-6 advantage.

For Angevine, the drive was a product of some halftime adjustments after Beekman’s defensive front created problems during the opening two quarters.

“Their offensive and defensive lines are massive. They’re strong, they’re fast, they slant in all kinds of ways,” Angevine said. “It gave us a lot of problems early on, and we were able to make some adjustments at half. … It shows how mature our offensive line is, being able to say, ‘Hey, this is what we have, this is what we have.’”

Cedar Creek’s offensive line took over from there.

The Cougars finished with 389 yards rushing on 47 attempts, averaging 8.3 yards per carry. They recorded 20 of their 23 first downs on the ground and finished with a 445-175 advantage in total offense. Cedar Creek also converted 7 of 9 third downs and possessed the football for 36 minutes.

“Man, it was awesome,” Angevine said of his offensive line. “Obviously, in the first half, we had a couple miscues, people getting through and not picking up blocks. But we were able to make some adjustments at halftime.

“I think we have a lot of really good skill guys that we need to utilize on the outside, but we’ve got to set up a run game first. And when we do that and you’ve got to be able to defend both aspects of that, it makes us pretty dangerous.”

Harris was the biggest beneficiary.

The sophomore running back rushed 25 times for 294 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 11.8 yards per carry. Bell added 67 yards and two scores on 11 carries, while Durrett contributed 30 yards on seven attempts.

The Cougars weren’t finished after their opening third-quarter statement.

After forcing a Beekman punt, Cedar Creek put together another sustained scoring drive that carried into the fourth quarter. Harris eventually finished it with a 2-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 28-6.

Then the big plays came.

Following Bell’s interception on defense, Harris took the next offensive snap 52 yards for a touchdown and a 35-6 advantage. Later in the quarter, Harris broke loose for an 81-yard touchdown on Cedar Creek’s first play of another possession, pushing the lead to 42-6.

The Cougars were just as effective on the other side of the football, limiting Beekman to 175 yards of total offense, including only 36 through the air.

Micah Taylor came up with one of the biggest defensive plays of the first half. With Cedar Creek leading 6-0 and Beekman threatening, Taylor intercepted a pass in the end zone to end the drive and preserve the Cougars’ lead.

Hayden Durrett and Gunner Fontenot recorded seven tackles apiece, Noah Smith added six and Taylor finished with five. Bell also recorded an interception, while Campbell Woodard added a sack.

For Williams, the success up front has been forged through a season in which the Cougars have dealt with injuries along the offensive line and asked players to move from other positions to fill holes.

“We’ve had a lot of injuries up front,” Williams said. “We’ve had guys move in from skill positions to play offensive line. Every single day, we’re hitting each other. We’re getting nasty and gritty down there.

“We’re physically hurting each other every single day, but all for the common goal of blowing teams out on Friday nights.”

Cedar Creek also showed balance when it needed it. Bell completed 5 of 7 passes for 56 yards, including a 29-yard touchdown pass to Cohen Pottharst that helped give the Cougars their 14-6 halftime advantage.

But Friday wasn’t about throwing the football.

It was about a Cedar Creek offensive front clearing the way for a backfield that Angevine believes gives opponents plenty to worry about.

“When you’ve got an O-line that’s working like they are, that are really staying true to their assignments, you’ve got a fullback that’s hitting it hard every single play, and you’ve got two really good guys that are able to make plays in the open field with Brett and Payton, man, it makes for a special trio in the backfield,” Angevine said.

Williams sees it much the same way.

“This probably is one of the best backfields I’ve had in my four years here,” Williams said. “I think as a team, as an offense as a whole, we just support each other. There isn’t just one guy going out there and having a day and everybody else doing bad. Nobody on our team is selfish.”

Harris has carried the momentum from an impressive freshman campaign into his sophomore season, rushing for 677 yards and 10 touchdowns through the Cougars’ first three games. He is averaging 225.7 yards per game and 10.9 yards per carry, one of the biggest beneficiaries of an offensive mentality that has become Cedar Creek’s identity.

On Friday night, there was plenty of credit to go around, but it all started up front.

Run the ball. Run the ball. Run the ball.

The Cougars did.

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Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Louisiana Tech will face its second straight road test against a Power Four opponent when the Bulldogs travel to Waco, Texas, to take on Baylor on Saturday at McLane Stadium.

Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. on ESPNU.

Louisiana Tech (1-1) and Baylor (1-1) will meet for the first time in 30 years and for the seventh time overall. The Bears lead the all-time series 5-1, including a 3-1 advantage in games played in Waco.

Saturday will mark the Bulldogs’ first appearance at McLane Stadium, which opened in 2014.

The last meeting between the programs came in 1996 in Shreveport, with Baylor earning the victory. The Bears also won the previous meeting in Waco in 1994.

Louisiana Tech’s lone victory in the series came Sept. 5, 1992, when Chris Boniol connected on a 30-yard field goal as time expired to give the Bulldogs a 10-9 win at Baylor’s Floyd Casey Stadium.

Saturday’s game will also be Tech’s first against a Big 12 opponent since the Bulldogs opened the 2019 season at No. 10 Texas. The Longhorns defeated Tech 45-14 in Austin.

The Bulldogs are seeking their first victory over a Big 12 opponent since defeating Oklahoma State 39-36 in Shreveport in 2002.

Tech’s most recent victory over a Power Four opponent came in the 2019 Independence Bowl, when the Bulldogs shut out Miami 14-0 in Shreveport.

Saturday’s game can be heard on Z107.5 FM, the LA Tech Sports Network and the LA Tech Athletics app.

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By Kyle Roberts

RUSTON, La. — Josiah Morgan does not remember the “thinking” part. He just remembers the ball in the air.

In what will go down as one of the greatest catches in the history of the renowned rivalry, the Ruston High senior wide receiver’s catch against Neville on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, put the Bearcats over the top and capped off a comeback win after Ruston trailed 37-20 with just over eight minutes to play in the fourth quarter and won 41-37. Morgan, who is headed to Baylor to play college ball, said the moment started with something other than the catch itself.

“When I found out the ball was coming to me, I was just happy that the coaches and my teammates — everybody — were trusting in me to make that play,” Morgan said. “When I turned around and saw the ball in the air, it was just instincts from then on. It’s the best feeling I’ve ever felt playing football, and that’s what I continue to strive for.”

The moment carried extra weight. Morgan spent his early years in Monroe and attended Neville Junior High School before enrolling at Ruston High as a freshman.

“Most of my family in Monroe went to Neville, and I knew all of those boys from junior high,” Morgan said. “So it was a special moment.”

Receivers coach B.J. Phillips was coaching the offensive line at the time and watched the play develop from a different angle. The call came from offensive coordinator Earl Griffin.

“The play before, we were running a similar concept and we saw the safety cheat over the top to account for Ahmad (Hudson),” Phillips said. “We got on the headsets as coaches and talked about having something that bent back up underneath. With the player Josiah is, that’s a perfect play for him. We kind of knew what they were going to do defensively, Coach Griffin called a great play, and a great player made a great play in a big-time situation.”

Around the program, Morgan answers to a nickname his coaches and teammates do not quite agree on how to spell. Morgan writes it “Jo.” Phillips writes it “Joe.” Morgan said he answers to both.

Phillips moved into the receivers room this season, which changed the relationship.

“Last year was my first year at Ruston, so I got to kind of watch him from afar,” Phillips said. “I could see all the things he could do and the type of leader he was — vocal, extremely happy-go-lucky, always smiling, always working hard. Now I’m in the room with him every day, and I get to put all the pieces together.”

What Phillips found up close was a player whose reputation as a deep threat undersells the rest of it.

“He’s a really great route runner. He leans really well in his routes, and he can get guys turned around,” Phillips said. “He catches almost everything thrown in his direction. He’s the ultimate player you want when you think about a receiver, because he can outrun you, and he can use his body and his leverage. Even if you have tight coverage, he’s still going to come down with it.”

Bearcat head coach Jerrod Baugh sees the same skill set from the other side of the ball — and said it changes what defenses are able to do against Ruston even on nights when Morgan’s name is missing from the stat sheet.

“Josiah is very scary to me from a defensive standpoint, knowing that he can run and take the top off of everything,” Baugh said. “Teams are very aware of that, so they try to stay on top, which opens up things underneath. There are a lot of times where Josiah may not be open, but he’s getting a lot of defensive coverage being mindful of that, and that pushes people deep and opens up things for other players.”

The same calculation runs through the rest of the Ruston roster, Baugh said. Senior tight end Ahmad Hudson pulls coverage for a different reason, and what that opens up tends to show up in the running game, where the Bearcats lean on tailbacks underneath.

“It’s like Ahmad — what does he have?” Baugh said. “Well, he’s tall and can jump, and people are afraid to jump with him. Most of the time that requires double coverage out of them, which opens up some other things in the running game. Are they taking a guy out of the box to put out there with him? That opens up things for other guys. There’s just a lot of pieces. As a defensive football team, these teams have to decide. They’re picking and choosing how they’re going to handle this guy, this guy and this guy, and it’s going to be different every week.”

That was the story against Longview, where Morgan finished without the numbers most fans would call a good night. Baugh said the senior handled it the way he has handled most things.

“He handles it well– I’m not saying he’s not disappointed, because there’s a difference,” Baugh said. “That whole group wants to be productive and wants to help their football team win, and they feel like part of that is catching footballs and running footballs and scoring touchdowns. It’s hard for a high school kid to understand that part of my production tonight was that.”

Morgan’s own read on the start of his senior season is that the best of it is still ahead.

“Through the first two games, including the jamboree, I feel like it’s been a pretty good season for me so far, but I’m expecting to do a lot more,” Morgan said. “Going forward, I just want to do what I know I can do and put my talent on display.”

Off the field, Morgan keeps a short list: family, friends, fishing, the weight room and his faith. He grew up fishing behind ULM with his uncle in Monroe and now goes to a spot in Grambling with a friend. He has two brothers and two sisters.

The faith came first, he said, and then it became his own.

“From a young age, my grandma, my mom and my dad always instilled it in me,” Morgan said. “Then it got to an age where certain adversities came my way, and I had to lean on God on my own. It changed my life — being able to realize that everything I have, the talents I have, the opportunity to go to college, is all from Him.”

That was part of what drew him to Baylor.

“It’s the relationships with the coaches, and the way they value person over player,” Morgan said. “Football is just a thing that we do. It’s not who I am. That was a big thing to me — my life after football. And the development they offer, you can get a lot from Baylor.”

For Baugh, that is close to the whole point of what Morgan gives a team, whether it shows up in a box score or not.

“Production level for me is not always 10 catches for 180 yards and three touchdowns,” Baugh said. “A lot of times production level is, what attributes do they have that other people are afraid of?”

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Class 5A

1.Ruston 2-0 vs. Karr, (Saturday)

2. Karr 2-0 vs. Ruston, (Saturday)

3. Alexandria 3-0 def. Lafayette Christian, 45-0

4. St. Augustine 2-0 vs. East Ascension, (Saturday)

5. Catholic-Baton Rouge 1-2 lost to St. Thomas More, 43-42

6. John Curtis  2-1 def. Lafayette Renaissance, 41-12

7. Archbishop Rummel 3-0 def. Archbishop Shaw, 24-7

8. Acadiana 3-0 def. Carencro, 41-27

9. Brother Martin 3-0 def. Warren Easton, 56-6

10. Ouachita 2-1 lost to Neville, 49-0

Others: West Monroe (2-1) lost to Brandon, Miss., 40-23, Jesuit (3-0) def. Bonnabel, 48-7, Mandeville (3-0) def. Carver, 49-6, Central (2-1) def. John Ehret, 55-0, Barbe (3-0) def. Cecilia, 48-19, St. Thomas More (2-1) def. Catholic-BR, 43-42, Destrehan (2-1) def. West Jefferson, 56-12, Southside (1-2) def. Union Parish, 49-7, Thibodaux (2-0) vs. E.D. White.

Class 4A

1. Westgate 3-0 def. Jena, 28-12

2. Archbishop Shaw 2-1 lost to Archbishop Rummel, 24-7

3. North DeSoto 3-0 def. Byrd, 38-20

4. Neville 2-1 def. Ouachita, 49-0

5. Lake Charles Prep 3-0 def. Sam Houston, 45-31

6. Madison Prep 1-2 lost to Zachary, 39-26

7. Franklin Parish 2-1 def. Madison, 62-0

8. Cecilia 2-1 lost to Barbe, 48-19

9. Plaquemine 1-2 lost to University, 31-21

10. Salmen 1-2 lost to Chalmette, 24-6

Others: Lafayette Renaissance (1-2) lost to John Curtis, 41-12, John F. Kennedy (2-1) def. St. Amant, 35-28, E.D. White (0-3) lost to Hahnville, 42-31, Belle Chasse (3-0) def. South Plaquemines, 35-12, Teurlings Catholic (0-3) lost to Notre Dame, 41-13, Carencro (1-2) lost to Acadiana, 41-27.

Class 3A

1. St. Charles 2-1 lost to Holy Cross, 10-7 (OT)

2. St. James 3-0 def. Terrebonne, 43-14

3. Jena 2-1 lost to Westgate, 28-12

4. Sterlington 2-1 def. Natchitoches Central, 42-7

5. Iowa 1-2 def. Vidor, Tex., 45-42

6. University 1-2 def. Plaquemine, 31-21

7. Jewel Sumner 2-1 def. H.L. Bourgeois, 24-23

8. Loyola Prep 2-1 def. St. Edmund, 48-12

9. Marksville 3-0 def. Peabody, 50-14

10. Vandebilt Catholic 1-2 lost to Thibodaux, 38-17

Others: Iota (1-2) lost to Lake Arthur, 21-19, Northwest (1-2) lost to Eunice, 44-7, Erath (1-2) lost to Lafayette, 38-3, De La Salle (0-3) lost to St. Paul’s, 42-30, Carroll (2-1) def. Morgan City, 57-0, Eunice (3-0) def. Kinder, 27-12.

Class 2A

1. Calvary Baptist 3-0 def. Grant, 57-13

2. Dunham 2-1 def. Collegiate-BR, 58-0

3. Notre Dame 3-0 def. Teurlings Catholic, 41-13

4. Mangham 2-1 def. Oak Grove, 52-24

5. Lafayette Christian Academy 2-1 lost to Alexandria, 45-0

6. Oak Grove 1-1 lost to Mangham, 52-24

7. Amite 3-0 def. Parkview Baptist, 21-14

8. Kinder 1-2 lost to Eunice, 27-12

9. Catholic-New Iberia 2-1 def. Kaplan, 34-29

10. Mansfield  3-0 def. Magnolia, Ark., 33-28

Others: Newman (2-1) def. East Jefferson, 48-19, Loreauville (2-1) def. Vermilion Catholic, 35-0, West St. Mary (2-1) def. Patterson, 14-0, Covenant Christian (2-1) def. Opelousas Catholic, 21-12, Country Day (1-2) lost to Sacred Heart-VP, 48-35, Union Parish (0-3) lost to Southside, 49-7.

Class 1A

1. Ouachita Christian 3-0 def. Richwood, 38-6

2. Riverside Academy 3-0 def. Ponchatoula, 35-28

3. Ascension Catholic 3-0 def. South Terrebonne, 49-7

4. Jeanerette 2-0 (Open)

5. Haynesville 2-1 def. Homer, 28-26

6. Logansport  3-0 def. Bossier, 50-8

7. Southern Lab 2-0 (Open)

8. Kentwood 3-0 def. St. Helena, 50-14

9. Westminster-Lafayette 3-0 def. Houma Christian, 55-14

10. South Plaquemines 1-2 lost to Belle Chasse, 35-12

Others: Cedar Creek (3-0) def. Beekman Charter, 44-12, East Feliciana (2-1) def. Slaughter Charter, 40-0, Lincoln Prep (2-1) lost to Bastrop, 24-8, St. Edmund (2-1) lost to Loyola, 48-12, Westminster-Opelousas (0-3) lost to Live Oak, 16-7.

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Each Monday through Friday, the Lincoln Parish Journal will post a list of non-for-profit upcoming events happening in the parish. If you would like to add your event to this list or advertise your for-profit events, please email us at lpjnewsla@gmail.com. 

Saturday, Sept. 19
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.:  Teach the World to Sew Day (The Fabric Shop, 100 W. Park Ave., Ruston)
2-4 p.m.: Fall into a Book Festival : Charlotte’s Web (Fall Carnival) with local children’s authors and a music performance by Rickey Pittman (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)

Monday, Sept. 21
11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome
5:30 p.m.: Ruston planning and zoning meeting (Ruston City Hall)
6 p.m.: Toastmasters International meeting (Louisiana Center for the Blind, 101 South Trenton Street)
6-9 p.m.: Creative Meetups (Creatives at Work, 301 N. Trenton)

Tuesday, Sept. 22
6:30 a.m.: Veterans free breakfast (VFW Post 3615, 206 Memorial Dr.)
10 a.m.: Storytime : Music (Lincoln Parish Library)
4 p.m.: Crafternoon : Apple Jars (Lincoln Parish Library)
6 p.m.: Video-Led Exercise class (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)

Wednesday, Sept. 23
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, Sept. 24
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)
4 p.m.: Tween Time :  Mosaic Tiles (Lincoln Parish Library)
4:30-5:30 p.m.: Free meal sponsored by 5 Loaves 2 Fish Ministry to be served at St. Benedict Church , 471 Main Street in Grambling. All are welcome!
5 p.m.: Library Board of Control Meeting (Lincoln Parish Library)
6 p.m.: Teen Time : Bad Art (Lincoln Parish Library)
6 p.m.: Contemporary Compositions Concert and Composer Talk presented by Wade Dillingham of LA Tech (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
6 p.m.: Southern A’Chord Chorus rehearsal (Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 212 N. Bonner St.; open to all women singers)

Friday, Sept. 25
Dubach Chicken Festival
6:30 p.m.: LA Tech volleyball (TAC)
7 p.m.: RHS football
7 p.m.: Cedar Creek football

Saturday, Sept. 26
Dubach Chicken Festival
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Park Fest 2026 (Lincoln Parish Park)
11 a.m.: Dubach Legends Fundraiser/Elvis Impersonator (Scott Hamilton Warehouse, East Hico Street; doors open at 10 a.m., hamburger lunch at 11 a.m., show at 11:30 a.m.)
6:30 p.m.: LA Tech volleyball (TAC)

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For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox. Just CLICK HERE to sign up.

By Brad Dison

In the 1880s, getting mail in remote parts of the United States was exciting.  In the era before electricity, mail and newspapers were the only connection between rural communities and the outside world.  Dorsey was one of the many rural mail carriers for the U.S. Postal Service.  Rural in an understatement in his case.  You see, for several years in the 1880s, Dorsey was the only mail carrier between Barstow and Calico in California’s rugged Mojave Desert because no one else wanted the job.  Dorsey lived in the silver mining town of Calico, about 10 miles as the crow flies northeast of Barstow.  Ten miles may not seem like a great distance by our modern standards, but between Calico and Barstow stands the 2641-foot elevation Lead Mountain.  Going around Lead Mountain would have added another four miles each way to Dorsey’s trek, so Dorsey went up and over the mountain.  Dorsey did not ride in a wagon or on a horse.  He walked.        

Each day, Dorsey donned his satchel and began walking through the heat, dust, and over rugged terrain to Barstow.  He knew what time the train from the California Southern Railroad was scheduled to arrive in Barstow and so he left in plenty of time to meet it.  If Dorsey was ahead of the train, which he normally was, he rested and relaxed in town.  As soon as the train arrived, Dorsey met the postman at the train’s mail car, loaded his satchel with mail destined for Calico, and began the return trip.  On a good day, Dorsey could make the whole trip in about seven or eight hours.          

Half a century later, the people of Barstow began searching for a photograph of the local legendary mail carrier so they could honor him with his own U.S. Postage stamp.  Unfortunately, Dorsey’s likeness was never used on a postage stamp.  To the people of Barstow and the few inhabitants of Calico, Dorsey remains a local hero.  They still talk about his daily walks between their towns… on his four legs.  You see, Dorsey, the rural mail carrier, was a black and white collie.

 Sources:

1.     The Astorian (Astoria, Oregon), November 21, 1885, p.1.

2.     Desert Dispatch (Barstow, California), September 2, 1948, p.3.

3.     Desert Dispatch, August 27, 1973, p.10.    

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For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox. Just CLICK HERE to sign up.

Eddie Glen Holcomb, Sr, was born on February 19, 1933, in Tulia Texas, and passed peacefully from this earth to his Eternal Home in Heaven on September 4, 2026, in Ruston, Louisiana, at age 93.

Left to cherish his memory are his son Eddie Glen Holcomb, Jr. and wife Candice of Plano, Texas, grandchildren Brandon, Jennifer, Travis, Angela and great granddaughter Aurora; daughter Cathalyn Hildebrand Brewton of Ruston, Louisiana, grandchildren Madison Lyn, Tanner, Breck and Maggie; son Jonathan Hildebrand and wife LeeRand of Houston, Texas, grandchildren Brianna, Sal, Joseph, Leslie, and great grandchildren Carl and Leon.

Eddie was preceded in death by his wife Patsy Lynn Gorman Holcomb, sisters Wilma and Sally, brother Norman, mother Verna and father Charlie.

Eddie spent his life in the Texas Panhandle in Tulia, Lockney, and mostly Canyon. He was the youngest of four children and was said to be quite spoiled according to his siblings. His mother cooked for the family and then cooked for Eddie whatever he wanted.

Shortly after high school, Eddie joined and served in the United States Army for two years and attained Sergeant as a cook. His wife Pat noted his recipes were for 500 or more and never bothered to sharpen his skills for smaller crowds except when preparing Edes steaks.

Eddie graduated from West Texas State University in 1960 and worked in his own practice for many years before joining Irwin Greenhouses as CPA and Chief Financial Officer until his retirement. He was active in the West Texas New Mexico Florist and Panhandle Allied Florist Associations for many years, which together with his wife Pat, supported the Irwin family endeavors as close friends.

As an active member in the local Rotary Club for many years, Eddie served roles as President and Treasurer, and was awarded the Rotary’s highest achievement, The Paul Harris Fellow Award. He was an active supporter of the Canyon Chamber of Commerce, serving as President for one year.

Eddie and Pat were active members at First Methodist Church in Canyon serving on numerous committees and roles over many years along with their church family.

Our family is most grateful for the beautiful people at the Arbor and Terrace who cared for Eddie along with Premiere Hospice for their love and care in the final days he was with us. We also give a special thanks to his nurse Amy Vance, as well as Sandra Hardyway and Shai Taylor who were all lovingly at his side on his way Home.

Memorial gifts may be given to: First Methodist Church, 1818 4th Avenue, Canyon, Texas 79015

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Bruce Allen Yates 
November 6, 1951  –  September 15, 2026 
Visitation: Monday, September 21, 2026, 1:00PM – 2:00PM, Calvary Baptist Church, 5200 US -167 Ruston 
Celebration of Life Service: Monday, September 21, 2026, 2:00PM, Calvary Baptist Church, 5200 US -167 Ruston 

Vontella D. White 
Friday 04/30/1982 — Saturday 09/12/2026  
Visitation: Friday 09/25/2026 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home 
Funeral Service: Saturday 09/26/2026 11:00am, Zion Traveler Baptist Church, 1201 Martin Luther King Drive, Ruston 
Interment: Saturday 09/26/2026 Following Service, Mt. Calm Cemetery, 566 Par Road, Simsboro 

Willie C. Mayfield 
Sunday 12/15/1940 – Thursday 09/10/2026 
Graveside: Saturday 09/19/2026 1:00pm, Macedonia #1 Cemetery, 239 Glen Road, Dubach 

Rhonda Gwen Haymon 
Feb 2, 1958 — Sep 14, 2026 
Funeral Service: Saturday, September 19, 2026, 2:00 pm, Calvary Baptist Church, 5200 U.S. 167, Ruston 
Burial: Kilpatrick Memorial Garden, Memorial Drive, Ruston 

Cecil Allen Crawford 
July 9, 1940 – Sept. 16, 2026 
Visitation: Sept. 21, 2026, Liffey Catholic Center, Center Street, Ruston; 5-7 p.m. 
Funera Service: Sept. 22, 2026, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 810 Carey Ave., at 11 a.m. 
Burial: Northeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, 2413 Hwy. 425, Rayville 

Cleo Frank     
Wednesday 10/20/1948 — Monday 09/07/2026      
Visitation: Saturday 09/19/2026 8:00am to 10:00am, St. Paul Baptist Church, 2766 LA 1192, Marksville      
Funeral Service: Saturday 09/19/2026 10:00am, St. Paul Baptist Church, 2766 LA 1192, Marksville     
Interment: Saturday 09/19/2026 Following Service, St Paul Baptist Church Cemetery, 2766 LA 1192, Marksville 

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The Lincoln Parish Registrar of Voters Office will take voter education into the community next week, making stops at schools, senior care facilities and other locations as part of National Voter Education Week.

The local observance runs Sept. 21-25, with an additional outreach event scheduled Sept. 26 at the Lincoln Parish Park Festival. The Registrar of Voters Office has scheduled stops at 10 locations throughout the parish during the week.

Lincoln Parish Registrar of Voters Sharon Parnell said the annual observance provides an opportunity to take information and services directly to residents.

“National Voter Education Week is an annual event that allows parish registrars to provide voters with information about voting, answer questions and offer voting services outside of the registrar’s office,” Parnell said. “It is a reminder to the public to register to vote and participate in elections.”

Staff members will provide voting machine demonstrations that allow residents to cast mock ballots and become familiar with the voting process. Louisiana voter registration applications will also be available and may be completed on site.

The outreach will also include information about early voting and Election Day, materials from the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office and pocket cards for the GeauxVote mobile app.

Senior citizens will be able to complete enrollment forms for the Senior Citizen Absentee by Mail Program. Nursing home residents can register to vote, update their voter registration or enroll in the Nursing Home Program.

Three of the week’s stops will be at Cedar Creek, Choudrant and Ruston high schools. Cedar Creek and the Lincoln Parish Library are scheduled for Monday, followed by Choudrant and Ruston high schools Tuesday.

Parnell said allowing students to use a voting machine and cast a mock ballot can help remove some of the uncertainty surrounding voting for the first time.

“Voting a mock ballot will give students an opportunity to know what to expect if it is their first time to vote,” Parnell said. “It will help them understand the voting process and prepare them to vote.”

The outreach will also provide students with information they may not know, including eligibility requirements and how to vote absentee if they move away after graduation.

Parnell said students may not realize they can register to vote at age 17 or that a person who turns 18 on Election Day is eligible to vote in that election.

“It is important for young voters to understand that voting gives them a voice in matters that affect them personally and their future,” Parnell said.

Wednesday’s schedule includes stops at Onyx Care of Ruston from 10:30-11:30 a.m., Alpine Skilled Nursing & Rehab from noon-1 p.m. and Rolling Hills Ministries Book Store from 2-4 p.m.

On Thursday, staff will be at Princeton Place of Ruston from 10-11:30 a.m. and Louisiana Delta Community College’s Ruston campus from 12:30-2:30 p.m. Friday’s stop will be at the Dubach Council on Aging from 10-11:30 a.m.

The week’s outreach will conclude Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Lincoln Parish Park Festival, where staff will be available from 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

The outreach comes less than six weeks before Louisiana’s Nov. 3 election.

Parnell emphasized that the Nov. 3 election falls on a Tuesday and that early voting will be held Oct. 20-27.

Parnell said there are 10 proposed constitutional amendments on the Nov. 3 ballot. A summary of the amendments is available through the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office.

Voters can also use the GeauxVote mobile app or Louisiana’s online voter portal to review voter information, including registration status, polling locations and sample ballots.

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.

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by Wesley Harris

A man who allegedly caused the deaths of two dogs was arrested by Ruston Police Wednesday.

Phu Thien Nguyen, 27, of Ruston, was charged with two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals. He was arrested on warrants obtained by RPD investigators.

Ruston Police Lieutenant Kayla Loyd said RPD patrol officers responded to a residence in the 2100 block of Sleepy Hollow at about 1:00 p.m. on September 8 regarding a welfare concern.

During the investigation, officers learned that two dogs had been killed. The dogs had been locked in a hot car and left there, Loyd said. The deceased animals, according to the owner’s family, were Crue, a Labrador Retriever, and Stevie, a Goldendoodle, both belonging to Nguyen’s girlfriend.

Police found in the deceased animals in a wooded area, Loyd said.

Officers determined the incident involved a domestic situation and threats of self-harm.

Nguyen was taken into custody and transported to Northern Louisiana Medical Center for evaluation. He was subsequently placed under a protective custody order due to statements indicating suicidal ideation.

Investigators continued the investigation, and an arrest warrant was obtained for Nguyen for two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals. The arrest was delayed by Nguyen’s presence in a medical facility.

On Wednesday, September 16, Nguyen was released from a medical center in

Ouachita Parish. He was booked at the Ouachita Correctional Center and then transferred to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center where he was booked on the warrant.

Nguyen’s bail is set at $100,000.

Under Louisiana law, aggravated cruelty to animals occurs when a person intentionally or with criminal negligence mistreats any living animal by any act or omission which causes or permits unnecessary or unjustifiable physical pain, suffering, or death. Penalties include a fine of $5,000-$25,000 or one to ten years in prison, or both.

The investigation remains ongoing. Lt. Loyd said additional information may be released as the investigation progresses.

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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Cedar Creek School will honor it’s 2026 Homecoming Court today, including at 6:30 p.m. on the field at Origin Bank Stadium prior to the Cougars contest against Beekman Charter.

Members of this year’s homecoming court include (from left to right): Sophie Mariano, Mary Grace Hawkins, Georgia Dugdale (Queen), Hydi Boyd, and Kennedy Hall.

The Lincoln Parish Journal congratulates these young ladies on their honor.

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by Hanna Singh

Something that I really believe sets Lincoln Parish apart from other places is the true appreciation for art and creativity that shines throughout the community. If you’re just strolling into town for the first time or moving onto campus as an incoming college student, you may notice quite a bit of local art around the area.

From the murals and bulldog statues on the streets to the small paintings hanging on restaurant walls, each corner of Ruston is brightened by the presence of work done by local creators. For me, this is just one more thing that makes Lincoln Parish my favorite place in the world.

One of the bolder artistic qualities you’ll notice in Lincoln Parish is the mural scene. Spread from outdoor areas of public parks all the way to downtown Ruston, murals bring community gathering places to life.

There are nine full-size murals, including the On the Shoulders of Giants Mural, Sleep Inn Mural, Downtown Ruston Mural, Creation Mural, Ruston Farmers Market Mural, Louisiana Center for the Blind Mural, Rainbow After the Storm Mural, Dixie Center for the Arts Mural and Rock Island Greenway Mural.

The Farmers Market Mural is a personal favorite of mine, highlighting the presence of the agricultural market in our parish and the beauty of bringing the community together to enjoy fresh, locally sourced food.

Another distinctive part of Ruston’s art scene is one of the more creative projects in the city’s artistic history.

Starting in 2018, the Bulldog Project turned Louisiana Tech’s mascot into a canvas for local artists to design. The Bulldogs showcase different artistic patterns and scenes, with some highlighting pieces of Lincoln Parish history.

In 2024, another round of Bulldogs was released, bringing the total to 21 dogs to search for across town. They include Flower Power, Vincent, Circle of Friends, Origin Point, Be Bold, Luna, The Business End, Stained Glass, Everyone Loves Breakfast, Disco Dog, We Bleed Tech Blue, Storybook Bark, Farmers Market, Temporal Radiance, Goodwill, Au Printemps, She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Bulldog, Louisiana Natives, Mirrored Image, Let’s Play and Star Stuff.

Less noticeable than the murals and larger-than-life bulldog statues, smaller art pieces hanging in businesses around Lincoln Parish also make up an important part of the local art culture. With a number of galleries and art organizations across the parish, local artists have a strong foundation for showcasing their work.

When you go to get lunch at your favorite downtown spot or shop at a local boutique, you’ll often find the work of Lincoln Parish artists hanging on the walls for all to see.

During the Peach Festival each summer, local artists and creators have plenty of opportunities to share their work with the community. Whether it be in the art contest gallery in the library or lining the streets in vendor booths and store windows, everywhere you go there’s an artist’s touch.

Even in the quieter months of the year, local schools and community groups host gallery nights and creator meetups. The city is alive with art 365 days a year, and I think that’s wonderful.

The artistic culture of Lincoln Parish is what I believe really defines our community. This parish has changed a lot over the years, but one constant is the creativity and passion that lives in every corner and cranny of this town.

Whether you’re visiting Ruston for the afternoon or you’ve lived here for 50 years, there’s always more to discover in this ever-changing town.

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