By Wesley Harris

Anyone looking for an unusual purchase in January 1905 could have found one advertised in The Billboard.

For sale or lease: one complete circus.

And prospective buyers were told to inquire in Ruston.

The circus belonged to Alex Glasscock, a veteran showman whose traveling operation had grown considerably during the first years of the 20th century. In January 1903, the New York Clipper reported Alex Glasscock’s Dog and Pony Show was touring southern Louisiana and doing good business. Glasscock was listed as the show’s sole owner and manager.

By that fall, it was much more than a dog and pony show.

Glasscock reported the company had begun its 16th season with 12 wagons. It had since expanded to 28 wagons and about 40 people. Five cages formed its menagerie, along with what the show claimed was “the only snow white camel in the country.” The performance included 22 acts in the main show and another eight in the concert, with acrobats, trapeze performers, jugglers, tumblers, knife throwers, riders and two troupes of trained ponies.

The circus continued to grow.

At the beginning of 1904, Glasscock reported from winter quarters in Longview, Texas, that the company had just completed the most successful season in its history. What had started with about 20 people and 10 wagons finished with more than 50 people, 30 wagons, five animal cages and considerably larger tents. Plans for the coming season, Glasscock said, were already underway.

Those plans included abandoning the wagons for the railroad.

By late 1904, the operation had become the Alexander Glasscock Mammoth Railroad Shows. The Billboard reported the circus would travel aboard six new railroad cars. The lengthy roster included a railroad contractor, treasurer, construction superintendent, announcer, animal man, canvas man, bandleader, billposter, advance agent and a large cast of performers. Many carried the Glasscock name.

Another report from the period said the railroad show was touring Texas with about 50 people and “doing good business.”

But the expansion from wagons to rails did not go smoothly.

In August 1904, the railroad show ran into financial trouble at Anadarko, Oklahoma. Members of the company sued for about $800 in unpaid wages, and the county sheriff seized the show while the dispute was pending. The matter was apparently resolved because the show returned to the rails.

Still, the episode left a cloud over an operation that, on the surface, appeared to be expanding.

Then, in January 1905, Ruston entered the story.

The Jan. 21, 1905, issue of The Billboard contained a classified advertisement offering the entire Alex Glasscock Mammoth Railroad Show “for sale or lease.”

The inventory would have made for an unusual auction.

There were eight cages of animals, including a white camel, leopard, black bear and smaller animals. The buyer would also receive two spotted mules, a trick mule and five trick ponies.

Transportation was included: a 54-foot flatcar, a 64-foot flatcar, a 44-foot sleeping car, a 40-foot stock car and an advance car.

Then there was the big top — a 100-foot round tent with a 50-foot middle section — along with other show property.

At the bottom of the advertisement was the contact: E. R. Glasscock, Ruston, La.

Who E. R. Glasscock was and why the circus was being offered through Ruston remain unclear. The advertisement also does not establish that the circus itself was in Ruston. It gives Ruston as E. R. Glasscock’s address, but the animals, railroad cars, tents and other property could have been elsewhere.

The timing raises an obvious question. The Glasscock show had suffered financial trouble only months earlier, yet by December the trade press was announcing an ambitious railroad operation with six new cars and dozens of employees and performers. Then, in January 1905, the entire show was offered for sale or lease through Ruston.

Whether the August wage dispute had anything to do with the decision to sell is unknown. The advertisement offered no explanation.

The advertisement did not spell the end of Alex Glasscock’s circus career. By 1906, his show was traveling again. That September, The Billboard reported Ruth, the show’s baby elephant, died at Eagle Lake, Texas, from injuries received earlier at Rock Island. Arrangements were already being made to send Glasscock two replacement elephants.

Glasscock remained in the circus business for years. In 1909, Variety reported he had opened another wagon show in Hamilton, Texas, intending to spend the winter playing small Southern towns. Six years later, an advertisement for the Alex Glasscock and Ben J. Benschamp Big Combined Shows sought Wild West performers, circus people and musicians.

Even decades later, Glasscock had not completely left circus life. In 1936, The Billboard reported he was negotiating to purchase another complete circus near his horse and mule barns in San Antonio. If the deal went through, Glasscock said, the show would be turned over to his son.

The circus had been the Glasscocks’ business for generations. A history of Texas tent shows traces the family circus to Alex’s father, John Benjamin Glasscock. In 1898, the Glasscock Circus crossed the Neches River with about 25 brightly painted wagons. The entourage included trained dogs, lions and elephants. Alex reportedly brought the elephants to the river to spray water for the gathered crowd, while his sister Gracie, a circus performer known as “LaGracier,” crossed above the water on the ferry’s cable wire.

For a family accustomed to traveling with elephants, lions, acrobats and entire tented cities, perhaps selling a circus through a small Louisiana town was simply another day’s business.

But the advertisement leaves a tantalizing piece of Ruston history behind.

For at least a brief moment in 1905, anyone in the market for a white camel, a leopard, a black bear, five trick ponies, five railroad cars and a 100-foot circus tent knew where to inquire: Ruston, Louisiana.

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Courtesy of LA Tech University Communications

Louisiana Tech University is announcing Dr. Rosy Carranza as director of the University’s Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness (PDRIB). Carranza is a graduate of Louisiana Tech and has more than 20 years of experience in the field of blind education, especially as it relates to advocacy and policy.

“Dr. Carranza will leverage her proficiencies to create dynamic professional development, learning experiences, and research, and inform and provide resources to the community,” Tech’s College of Education and Human Sciences Dean Henrietta Pichon said. “Through her background with the Louisiana Center for the Blind and the National Federation of the Blind, we believe she will provide excellent leadership and insight into the program.”

Carranza earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in 2003 and her master’s degree in Teaching Blind Students in 2004, both from Tech. She earned her doctoral degree from the University of Maryland in Curriculum and Instruction: Minority and Urban Education in 2017.

“The future of education and rehabilitation for blind people depends on strong leaders who understand the needs and have the perspective to imagine what is possible; Dr. Rosy Ramirez Carranza brings that powerful combination to the Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness,” Pam Allen, executive director of the Louisiana Center for the Blind (LCB) since 2001, said. “Her expertise, leadership, ability to make connections, and her lived experience as a blind person position her uniquely to lead this work and motivate the team around her. As a Louisiana Center for the Blind and Louisiana Tech graduate, she also represents the very success that our partnership seeks to create. We are grateful for the decades of collaboration between Louisiana Tech and the Louisiana Center for the Blind, and we are excited to see Dr. Ramirez Carranza build on that legacy and help take this work to an even higher level.”

The institute grew out of a late-1990s partnership between Tech and the LCB. That collaboration continues to anchor PDRIB’s immersion training and mentorship model.

The PDRIB exists to transform the lives of individuals with blindness or low vision through its unique training model, Structured Discovery, which has a core philosophy that individuals living with blindness or low vision can enjoy full lives of productivity, civic engagement, independent living, and employment.

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A vehicle pursuit through Ruston ended with a man found hiding in a bedroom closet at an apartment complex Tuesday afternoon.

Derrian D. Maxwell, 33, of Ruston, was arrested Oct. 13 by the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office on charges of flight from an officer in a vehicle, flight from an officer on foot, resisting an officer and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. He also was booked on three outstanding warrants for failure to appear on charges of hit and run, expired license plate and driver’s license suspension.

A sergeant was patrolling the area of South Farmerville Street and Texas Avenue looking for a suspect who had trespassed from Village Green Trailer Park, according to an arrest affidavit. A maintenance worker there said the suspect had returned to the property and that they were following the suspect through Ruston. A registration check on the vehicle’s license plate showed it was heading north on South Farmerville Street.

The sergeant saw the vehicle pass going south at Texas Avenue and positioned a patrol unit behind it at South Farmerville Street and MLK Drive. When the vehicle turned east onto MLK Drive, the sergeant activated emergency lights and sirens. The vehicle continued east, then turned south onto Gill Street. When it became apparent the driver was not going to stop, the sergeant advised dispatch of a pursuit.

The vehicle then turned left onto Second Street, heading east, and pulled into Brooks Village Apartments, where the subject fled on foot. The subject ran south toward MLK Drive, went through a fence and then headed east toward McAllister Drive.

Deputies set up a perimeter and called for a K-9. The vehicle’s owner told the sergeant she had not given anyone permission to drive her car and that she had been sleeping and did not know anyone was in it. The K-9 conducted an area search, and based on its findings, deputies were granted access to two apartments to search for the suspect. Maxwell was found in the master bedroom closet of the second apartment, hiding behind a pile of clothes.

Maxwell was advised of his rights, handcuffed and placed in the back of a patrol vehicle. A name search showed he had three outstanding warrants. When asked, Maxwell said he knew about the warrants and that was why he ran. He was taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center and booked.

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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

The above information has been provided by a political campaign. Unless otherwise noted, the Lincoln Parish Journal publishing staff does not endorse specific candidates or ballot measures.

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This is a paid advertorial.

By T. Scott Boatright

The ever-increasing cost of living affects everything and everybody, including the Lincoln Parish Library.

And that’s why the Lincoln Parish Library Board of Control voted Thursday evening to enter into a contract with Gallagher Human Resources and Consulting Services to conduct a study on the library’s wage scale.

That contract is for $12,745, with results and advice expected within four months.

“Let me point out the reason we need professionals to do this,” LPL Board of Control Chair Bill Jones said. “We can’t just look at other libraries because our employees have skills that are common to many businesses. We are not competing against the Monroe Library, the Jonesboro Library or whatever. We aren’t competing against libraries.

“We’re competing against Lincoln Parish businesses, and that’s why we need this type of information.”

“That puts us into 2027,” Jones said. “I know that. But we can handle that, OK? We can handle that. And I also want to point out that there has not been a month that the library hasn’t had vacant jobs.

“The marketplace has sent us a message. We’ve got good people who work here. … We have to face the fact we’ve got inflation that’s been over 3 1/2% for two or three years and now it’s almost 4%. And that doesn’t just impact us, it impacts the people that work here.”

Library board member Richard Pyles expressed agreement with the plan.

“I think just employee retention is the biggie right now, because we can’t get replacements,” Pyles said. “And this is a step in the right direction to retain what we have left.”

Gallagher’s approach to presenting the report will consist of 12 steps:

• Data collection
• Job documentation review
• Confirm classifications, review and deliverables
• Develop custom market intelligence approach
• Identify benchmark jobs
• Align on compensation philosophy
• Market collection and analysis
• Review and validation of market findings
• Compensation structure development
• Internal equity assessment
• Deliverables review
• Final deliverables

The library board also voted to allow LPL Director Jeremy Bolom to decide whether to keep the library open on Nov. 1 — a Sunday — only two days before renovation work on the facility is expected to begin.

But Jones did present an option other than closing the library that day.

“You want me to float my idea?” Jones said. “We have employees who are working 22-24 hours per week. We can offer them six more hours and we’ll still save on the part-time category. Full-time employees, we could offer additional hours and of course they’re compensated with overtime.

“And then, as a final, hopefully unnecessary backup, we would like the board to consider Jeremy to have the option to close the library the Sunday before the construction starts.”

That motion passed unanimously, with Deborah Gilliam being the only board member absent.

Bolom also reported that $660 came from surplus goods sales prior to the upcoming renovations, in addition to a recent Friends of the Lincoln Parish Library book sale.

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Smoke coming from a parked car on the Grambling State University campus led to the arrest of a Ruston man on marijuana charges Monday morning.

Adunyea Trevan Nichols, 28, of Ruston, was arrested Oct. 12 by the Grambling State University Police Department on charges of possession of marijuana in a drug-free zone and simple possession of marijuana.

An officer patrolling Doug Williams Drive saw a blue four-door sedan parked in a lot with smoke coming from inside, according to an arrest affidavit. As the officer approached, he detected an odor commonly associated with marijuana. When the driver rolled down the window, smoke rose from inside the vehicle and the odor became stronger.

The driver was identified as Nichols. He was asked to step out of the vehicle and was asked what was going on. Nichols admitted he had been smoking marijuana inside the vehicle, and an undetermined amount of suspected marijuana was found on his person.

Nichols was advised of his rights, handcuffed and taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center, where he was booked without further incident.

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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

By Kyle Roberts

RUSTON, La. — It’s the four words no athlete ever wants to hear.

“Your season is over.”

Ruston High junior linebacker Aidan Adams experienced that jolt early in the week in a routine practice before the Catholic game. The first sign of trouble? Head trainer Chris Brister tested his ankle, and Adams felt pain shooting all the way up his leg.

“We thought we needed to get to the emergency room right away, but we weren’t able to get there that day,” Adams said. “We went the next morning and got an MRI.”

Adams was told the early read of the results showed that everything was fine. Then, while he was doing treatment one morning in the following days, a doctor called back with the bad news. Adams said he was pulled into an office with coaches and told his 2026 season was done.

“It hurt,” Adams said and noted the hardest part was thinking he had played his last snaps with the team’s seniors. He said he made himself keep a good mindset and put on a brave face.

“If those guys see me down, then it’s going to bring them down,” Adams said. “I knew I couldn’t really show how I felt at first, because I knew they’ve got to keep going without me.”

When Ruston High Assistant Coach Kyle Williams first heard of Adams’ original diagnosis, his heart ran a gamut of emotions. Williams said his first job was to help Adams think through how to handle an injury and focus on the longterm.

“I spend a lot of time with this young man. I care about this young man, and I knew that it hurt him,” Williams said. “All of the football and coaching stuff goes to the back burner, and you’re more concerned about him as an individual.”

Thankfully for Adams, his 2026 story would not end there: a second opinion completely changed and reversed the outlook early the next week and gave him the gift of a second chance to return to a sensational linebacking group and resurrect his junior campaign.

And as much as he would have wanted to be back on the field, the staff did not rush Adams back for West Point, the final non-district game of the year. Given the Green Wave’s tendency to run a Wing-T offense, and despite dressing out and participating in warmups, Williams did not want Adams to risk having his ankle rolled up in a pile.

“Everything we do is about the team, but when it comes into situations like that, it’s what is best for him,” Williams said.

The gradual return gave Adams time to prepare mentally and physically, and Adams said stepping onto the field against Ouachita last week brought along plenty of emotions.

“It was exciting to be back on the field. I just couldn’t stop moving,” Adams said. “I was just so happy to be on the field playing with the guys and being with the people I love the most.”

Williams described Adams as conscientious, detailed and a good communicator with teammates.

“He wants to be better,” Williams said. “He wants our defense to be great. He wants our team to be great.”

Ruston High Head Coach Jerrod Baugh said the next step for Adams is to become the vocal leader he believes he can be. By nature, Baugh said, Adams is more of a polite and quiet person, and while leading by example is most of leadership, there are times when a leader needs to speak up.

“We need him to be a little more vocal, probably, because his teammates need that positive role model,” Baugh said. “He’s such a genuinely good person, and we need that to be spoken with his voice as well as his actions.”

Baugh said Adams has also handled the injury and return well and said that kind of appreciation is hard to teach.

“I feel like I see him appreciating the fact that he’s been able to be back and not taking it for granted,” Baugh said. “I don’t think you genuinely understand that until you’re in the middle of it, and you don’t have it, or think that you don’t, and then you’re able to come back. Then you have a deeper appreciation for being able to go out and practice and get back on the field.”

Adams said the experience has pushed him to raise his level, especially for the seniors he thought he would not play with again.

“Now I just have to go out even harder and play for those guys so we can come back with a championship,” Adams said in conclusion.

A second chance he’ll forever be grateful for.

Ruston will host Peabody tonight at Hoss Garrett Stadium. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

by Malcolm Butler

Cedar Creek proved to be the best team on the field during each of its six non-district contests. Now the No. 9-ranked Cougars turn their attention to district play.

Cedar Creek (6-0) will host Glenbrook Friday at 7 p.m. at Origin Bank Stadium as head coach Jacob Angevine’s squad looks to take the first step toward a district championship.

The Cougars enter the contest coming off an impressive 48-0 shutout of North Caddo and ranked No. 4 in the latest Louisiana High School Athletic Association Select Division IV power ratings.

But despite Glenbrook’s 2-4 record, the Apaches present a challenge, especially with a pass-happy offense that has put up some impressive numbers in recent weeks.

Glenbrook enters Friday’s contest coming off a 54-36 loss to Haynesville in its district opener last week. Despite the setback, the Apaches have scored 136 points over their last three games, an average of better than 45 points per contest. That stretch includes victories over LaSalle and North Caddo, the latter a 57-33 win over the Titans two weeks ago.

One of the biggest challenges for Cedar Creek will be slowing down Glenbrook’s aerial attack, which isn’t afraid to take shots downfield. The Apaches will look for opportunities to stretch the field vertically, putting pressure on a Cougar secondary that has been part of an impressive defensive effort through the first six weeks of the season.

For Cedar Creek, limiting explosive plays in the passing game could be one of the biggest keys to keeping its perfect record intact.

The North Caddo results provide an interesting comparison between Friday’s opponents. While Cedar Creek dominated the Titans in last week’s 48-point shutout, Glenbrook recorded a 57-33 victory over the same opponent.

Defense has been a different story for the Apaches, who have surrendered 208 points through six games, an average of 35 per contest.

Creek has leaned on sophomore running back Payton Harris all season. Harris has already eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark while also rushing for 17 TDs.

The two programs are no strangers to one another. Cedar Creek defeated Glenbrook 31-8 last season after the Apaches claimed a 36-16 victory in the 2024 meeting.

With only four weeks remaining in the regular season, the stakes will continue to grow for Angevine’s squad who has its eyes set on a possible district title and a top four seed in the Division IV playoffs.

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Lincoln Parish Journal readers have an opportunity each week to win FREE money in the Karl Malone Toyota College Football Pick’em presented by Johnson Physical Therapy, Ruston Athletic Supply, and The Rental Association.

And the best part is it’s FREE … just like your subscription to the LPJ.

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The Lincoln Parish Journal wants to thank Karl Malone Toyota, Johnson Physical Therapy, Ruston Athletic Supply, and The Rental Association for their title and presenting sponsorships of this year’s College Football Pick’em contest.

We also want to thank Dubach Air and Heat, Ginn’s Autobody, Hart Designs, Charlie’s Carpet Cleaning, Tommy’s Tees, Mike Smith Law Office, Smoothie King of Ruston, CoreTechs, and Jeremy Hebert at Edward Jones for their Pick’em Partnerships within the contest. 

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Are you ready for some football?!?

Bigger question. Are you ready to win $150 in cash … with the potential to make it $300 if you are perfect on the week (including predicting the No. 1 tiebreaker exactly right).

The Lincoln Parish Journal is holding the 5th Annual Karl Malone Toyota College Football Pick’em Contest presented by The Rental Association, Ruston Athletic Supply, and Johnson Physical Therapy.

If you live in the deep south, you know College Football is King!

Anyone is eligible to participate and each week one lucky winner will go home with a $150 cash prize.  Each week the winner will be the participant with the best record out of 15 selected college football games (ties will be broken by two separate tiebreakers consisting of guessing the total points scored in two of our weekly contests).

The Karl Malone Toyota College Football Pick’em Contest presented by Ruston Athletic Supply, Johnson Physical Therapy, and The Rental Association will be conducted for 14 regular season weeks of the college season starting with Week 1 games.

There is no entry fee, just like there is no cost to SUBSCRIBE to the Lincoln Parish Journal where it will come to your inbox every weekday morning.  It takes 20-30 seconds to sign up and not much longer than that to make your picks.

All contest decisions by LPJ management are final. Weekly winners will be notified Monday and will be requested to take a photo that will run in the following week’s LPJ.

Every participant will receive a FREE subscription to the Journal, if you’re not already signed up for the easily-navigated, convenient 6:55 a.m. daily e-mail. Enjoy it all, for FREE, and enter each week’s contest. You could collect $150 each week!

Follow the Lincoln Parish Journal each morning at 6:55 right to your inbox. It’s FREE! Just CLICK HERE to sign up.

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Click the three bars in the bottom corner and select “With Radar” to see current precipitation and storms in your area.

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

Friday, Oct. 16
Fall break – Lincoln Parish Schools
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Community Vaccination Clinic with Walgreens (Jack Beard Community Room, Lincoln Parish Library)
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Out to Lunch concert series (Heard Freighthouse Food Park)
6 p.m.: GSU volleyball
6:30 p.m.: Tech volleyball
7 p.m.: RHS football
7 p.m.: Cedar Creek football

Saturday, Oct. 17
7:30-10 a.m.: Faith Walk 2026 “Recovery Walk” (Elisha Ministries, 608 S. Trenton Street)
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market
9:30-11 a.m.: Vote Early Rally for Local Voter Turnout (No. 9 Books and Records, Ruston)
10 a.m. to noon: Community Health Fair hosted by New Hope Missionary Baptist Church of Ruston’s Health and Hope Ministry in collaboration with GSU’s Foster-Joohnson Health Center and Intramural Center (Main Gym, Intramural Center, GSU)
4-8 p.m.: Blueseum Fest (Lincoln Parish Museum, 609 N. Vienna St.)
5:30 p.m.: Simsboro Lions Club presents Trunk or Treat and Movie in the Park (Ragan Madden Park, Simsboro)
6:30 p.m.: LA Tech volleyball

Sunday, Oct. 18
10 a.m.: Breast Cancer Awareness Month Observance hosted by New Hope Missionary Baptist Church of Ruston’s Women’s Ministry and Jolly Matrons
6 p.m.: GSU volleyball

Monday, Oct. 19
11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome
5:30-6:30 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, Oct. 20
6:30 a.m.: Veterans free breakfast (VFW Post 3615, 206 Memorial Dr.)
6 p.m.: GSU volleyball

Wednesday, Oct. 21
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. 22
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: Spooky Soap (Library Events Center)
4:30-5:30 p.m.: Free meal sponsored by Halff Associates and 5 Loaves 2 Fish Ministry to be served at Dubach Community Center on 167 N just past the post office on the corner of Smith Street. All are welcome!
6 p.m.: LA Tech Homecoming Parade
6 p.m.: Southern A’Chord Chorus rehearsal (Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 212 N. Bonner St.; open to all women singers)
6 p.m.: Teens: The Great Coin Caper Mystery (George Byrnside Community Room; Lincoln Parish Library)
6 p.m.: Video fitness (Library Events Center)
6 p.m.: Halloween songs and spooky Louisiana stories with Ricky Pittman (Library Events Center)
7 p.m.: LA Tech Tech R Treat (Argent Pavilion)

Friday, Oct. 23
12-5 p.m.: Dogs in Downtown (Railroad Park)
6 p.m.: GSU volleyball
6:30-9:30 p.m.: Wine Walk (Railroad Park)
7 p.m.: Lincoln Prep football

Saturday, Oct. 24
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market
7 p.m.: LA Tech Homecoming game

Sunday, Oct. 25
2 p.m.: New Hope Missionary Baptist Church of Ruston’s 155th Church anniversary featuring the Rev. John Williams, pastor of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church of Ruston (301 W. Vaughn Ave.)
4:30 p.m.: Foster parent orientation meeting (413 N. Homer St., Ruston)
6 p.m.: GSU volleyball

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

Funeral services for Gail Ann Skipper, age 79 of Ruston, LA will be held at 10:00 AM, Saturday, October17, 2026 at Owens Memorial Chapel with Brother Kendall Corkern officiating. Burial will follow in Forest Lawn Cemetery under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in Ruston.

Gail Ann Skipper, affectionately know as Mama or Mamaw, will be remembered as a woman of extraordinary quiet strength, a gentle spirit, a humble heart and a love for her family that will never be forgotten. Gail was truly one of a kind. She was one of the kindest, gentlest, and most humble people you would ever meet, yet beneath her quiet nature was a strength that was nothing short of remarkable. Gail faced life’s hardships with a perseverance that spoke louder than words, overcoming cancer and enduring numerous health challenges over many years. Though life brought her many difficult seasons, she continued forward with a quiet determination that demonstrated the incredible strength of her spirit.

Gail was married to the love her of life, Chester Skipper, on November 4, 1967. Being married to Chester was no easy task, but through the saving grace of Jesus Christ, she and Chester came to know the Lord. Their journey is a reminder that God’s grace can reach into even the most difficult circumstances and bring hope, healing, and redemption.

Anyone who knew Gail knew how much she loved cooking for her family. And although she was quiet and gentle by nature, she certainly had a feisty side when it came to preparing those special family gatherings! When she was busy in the kitchen making sure everything was just right, you had better be careful not to get in her way. She took pride in feeding the people she loved, and her family will always remember the love, care, and determination she brought to every gathering. Gail had a gift of bringing people together around the table, preparing her delicious gumbo, shrimp stew, chicken stew and the very best turkey and dressing. She lovingly taught her family her recipes, passing down traditions that will continue for generations. These recipes are more than instructions for preparing a meal; they were a piece of Gail herself, shared through the love she poured into every dish.

Gail also loved to shop. Goodness could she shop! The little things, along with her gentle nature and occasional feistiness, were part of the personality that made her so special and unforgettable. Above all, Gail dearly loved her children and grandchildren. Her family was precious to her, and the love she gave them will remain a lasting legacy. She taught through her actions, her perseverance, her humility, and the quiet way she cared for those around her. She may not have been someone who sought attention, but her presence made a difference, and her love left an imprint on the hearts of those fortunate enough to know her.

There are some people whose strength is measured not by how loudly they speak, but by how much they endure, how deeply they love, and how faithfully they keep going. That was Gail! She was gentle but strong, humble yet extraordinary, and beautiful in ways that matter most. She was truly one of a kind! Gail is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Chester Skipper; beloved parents, Martha and Morris Mabile; brothers, Pasquale and Bert Mabile; and cherished grandson, Matthew Skipper.

Gail is survived by her children: Michael Skipper and wife Hailey, Chester “Noon” Skipper, and Connie Skipper Wells; grandchildren: Amber & husband Ricky Reid, Seth Wells and girlfriend Courtney Balcom, Mike Skipper and wife Savannah, Mason Skipper, Braxton Wadsworth and Eli Wells; great grandchildren: Brantley Reid, Bentlee Reid, Trace Skipper, Toby Skipper, Maverick Skipper and Case Moak. She is also survived by her daughter in law, Renee Skipper and a host of other family and friends.

Though her hands will no longer prepare the meals her family treasures, her recipes will continue to bring generations together. Though her voice will no longer be heard, her stories and memories will be spoken with love. And though her family must learn to live without her physical presence, the lessons she taught, the traditions she passed down, and the love she gave will never leave them.

Gail Ann Skipper was a rare and beautiful soul—a gentle woman with the strength of a warrior and the heart of a servant. She was deeply loved, and she will be missed more than words can express. Her life was a gift to her family, and her legacy will live on in every life she touched.

Serving as pallbearers will be:  Ricky Reid, Ray Barrett, grandsons Seth Wells, Michael L. Skipper, Jr., Mason Skipper and great grandson Braxton Wodsworth. Visitation will be from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM, Saturday, October 17, 2026, at Owens Memorial Chapel in Ruston, LA.

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Nellene Smith Kelly Fisher moved to her heavenly home on Wednesday, October 13, 2026. She was 95 years old.

Born the sixth of seven children on July 8, 1931, to Walt and Isabelle Smith in Sikes, Louisiana, Nell was the last surviving member of her generation in her family. This fact always astounded her!

The Smith family was well known in Winn Parish for their hard work and innovative farming techniques. Nell, one of two sisters, grew up gardening and canning, milking cows and tending to chickens, cooking and cleaning. She graduated from Sikes High School and attended Northwestern State University in Natchitoches.

A celebration of her life will be held Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 2 p.m. at Kilpatrick’s Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation will be held beginning at 1 p.m. at Kilpatrick’s. A family burial will be held at Wright’s Cemetery in Sikes, Louisiana.

Her family was always the focus of Nell’s life and labor. She worked hard as a young mother to her three daughters by sewing all their clothes, cooking every day, and teaching them the value of a flourishing home. She embodied the characteristics of a Proverbs 31 woman. Nell’s hands were never idle. She cared for her home, worked in her flower beds, and grew a vegetable garden every year. She preserved the fruits of her labor to feed her family through the year. Her flower gardens were a delight to all.

Nell loved the Lord Jesus Christ and used her gift of serving and hospitality in every church community she belonged to. Her faithful service at First Baptist Church of Ruston during her younger years included WMU Director, Chairman of Wednesday night suppers, and serving on the greeting team. When she moved to Monroe after her second marriage, she faithfully served as president of The Beacon’s, a senior adult ministry of Lakeshore Baptist Church, by planning and presenting monthly programs. She also made sure the church grounds were always groomed and flowers planted.

During her time in Ruston, Nell was also involved in civic activities including President of the Ruston Quota Club and chairman of the Quota Club Christmas Tour of Homes. She was involved in the Ruston Peach Festival activities and toured the state with the Peach Festival Queen in the years her husband served as chairman of the Ruston Peach Festival.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 25 years, Lehman Fisher of Monroe who was her soul mate and gardening partner; her parents, Walt and Isabelle Smith of Sikes; five brothers and their spouses— Stacy and Lois Smith; Delmer and Annie Smith; Curtis and Louise Smith; Maxel and Ruby Smith; Jack and Virginia Smith; one sister and her husband, Dr. Lisso and Mrs. Nadine Simmons; the father of her children, Tom Kelly; one son-in-law, Jerry Dingler; and one grandson, Phillip Palmer.

She is survived by three daughters— Gwen Kelly Dingler of Ruston; Gaynell Kelly of Lake Wacamaw, North Carolina; Cammie Kelly Pyles [Johnny] of Crystal Springs, Mississippi.

Seven grandchildren— Kelly Dingler Arabie [Tre]; Julie Dingler Ramsey [Jered]; Jonathan Dingler [Cally]; Jessica Bowden; Whitney Kelly; Holly Pyles Bridges [Jay]; Danny Pyles [Jessica]; Eleven great-grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.

Serving as pallbearers will be grandsons and great-grandsons— Jonathan Dingler, Danny Pyles, Tre Arabie, Jay Bridges, John Arabie, and Luke Bridges.

We are so grateful for the loving care of the staff of The Arbor and Terrace Assisted Living that made her final years a joy! She was known for her sweet smile and always dancing when the music played. We are also grateful for the loving care of Premier Hospice and Amy Vance. A special thanks also to Jami Sonier, her longtime sitter, caregiver and adopted “granddaughter.”

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to The Bridge Alzheimer’s & Dementia Resource Center, 815 Olive Street, Shreveport, Louisiana, 71104.

“Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His saints.” Psalm 116:15

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A Celebration of Life for Shirley Hicks Bowers Stephens, age 77, of Ruston will be 11:00 A.M. Saturday, October 17, 2026, at Temple Baptist Church Chapel in Ruston, LA.  Officiating the service will be Dr. Reggie Bridges, Rev. Remington Talley, and Dr. John King under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes of Ruston.  A visitation for family and friends will begin at 10:00 AM until service time at Temple Baptist Church Chapel.

Born on October 16, 1948, Shirley Hicks Bowers Stephens went to Heaven on Monday, October 12, 2026.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband of 32 years, Mike Stephens; her biological parents, Emma and JC Hicks; her adoptive maternal grandparents, John and Allie Dumas Bowers; her paternal grandparents Clarence and Josie Hicks, her aunt, Alice Choate; and her brothers, JN and James Bowers.

Affectionately known as “Miss Shirley,” she and her twin sister, Sybil, graduated from Simsboro High School in 1966 after attending schools in Ruston. Throughout the parish, the two were lovingly known as “the Hicks Twins.” Growing up in the country, Shirley treasured the time she spent with her extended family, a love that remained an important part of her life.

Shirley spent her career as a bookkeeper, a job at which she excelled. She first retired from Jackie White Trucking after more than 20 years of service. She was then blessed to become part of the Temple Baptist Church family, serving as their Financial Secretary. Although Shirley attempted to retire from Temple several times, she always returned whenever she was needed or asked. She never earned a college degree, but she could keep and manage books as well as any accountant.

During her years at Temple, Shirley’s walk with Christ and her relationship with Him grew even stronger. Her Sunday School family brought her great joy, and she never missed an opportunity to enjoy a meal and fellowship with friends at the Wednesday night church supper.

Shirley was the kind of person who never asked for help but was always the first to offer it. She volunteered at the hospital in Ruston and spent many years assisting with voting at the polls throughout Lincoln Parish. Serving others was simply part of who she was. She found joy in giving her time and talents to her church, her community, and the people she loved.

Shirley enjoyed spending time with her best friend, Jean White. Whether they were shopping, playing cards, or sitting on the porch visiting, their time together was always special. In the evenings, she could often be found on the dock fishing with Sybil, each insisting that she had caught the bigger fish. Other days were filled with card games among friends and family. Shirley was an especially competitive card player and loved a little friendly competition.

Shirley also had a deep love for reading, a passion she passed down to her daughters and continued to share with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She instilled in them an appreciation for books, the joy of a good story, and the special adventures that can be found within the pages of a book. Her love of reading became more than just a hobby; it was a gift she shared with the generations that followed her, leaving a little piece of herself in each of them.

Some of the greatest joys of Shirley’s later years were the moments she shared with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She loved “going while she could” and making the most of her time with family and friends. That spirit continued until she was diagnosed with terminal cancer in June. Throughout her final months, family and friends continued to surround her with love, visits, and treasured moments together until her last days.

Shirley is survived by her sisters, Sybil VanWert of Ruston, Louisiana, and Jill Craig and her husband, Steve, of Ruston, Louisiana; and her brother, Jack Hicks and his wife, Judy, of Haughton, Louisiana.

She is also survived by her daughter, Joné Robinson of Gilmer, Texas; her grandchildren, Josie Talley and her husband, Remington, of Bandera, Texas; Connor Heflin of Gilmer, Texas; and her daughter Lana Robinson Patton and her husband, Jeff, of Ruston, Louisiana. Their children include Lexis Johnson and her husband, Tristan, of Choudrant, Louisiana, and their daughters, Harper and Hadley; Christopher Patton and his wife, Paige, of Ruston, Louisiana, and their twins, Matthew and Lorelai; Wayne Patton and his wife, Jessica, of Arcadia, Louisiana, and their children, Marley, Gage, and Dawson; and Josh Patton and his wife, Hillary, of New Iberia, Louisiana, and their sons, Roman and Everett. Shirley had numerous nieces, nephews and cousins across the country.

Shirley is also survived by her bonus children, Jay and Susan Stephens and their family, Michelle Stephens and her family, and Kelli Stephens and her family, all of Columbus, Georgia.

Even after Mike’s passing, Shirley continued to be loved and cherished as a sister by Gail Stephens Fowler, Ann and Bob DesRochers, and Gary Stephens, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Miss Shirley will be remembered for her unwavering faith, her generous heart, her love of family and friends, her willingness to serve, and her unmistakable competitive spirit. She leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness, faith, and service that will continue through the many lives she touched.

The family would like to extend a special heartfelt thank you to Kim Roberson and the Premier Hospice for the devoted attention and care that was shown to their loved one.  The love and care that Miss Kim showed not only to the family but also Miss Shirley’s beloved dog Belle showed her servant’s heart.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Temple Baptist Church to support its Children’s, Music, or Missions Ministry, or to Buffalo Ranch Camp and Retreat in Clarksville, Texas. A woman of deep faith, she desired to see the love of Christ shared with others through these ministries.

Buffalo Ranch Camp and Retreat is a developing ministry dedicated to creating places and spaces for people to encounter their Creator through camps, retreats, discipleship, and Christ-centered community. Her granddaughter, Josie, and her husband, Remington Talley, will serve as directors of the camp staff. This ministry is a dream they have shared and prayed over together for many years, and they are now working toward building a place where children and adults can grow in faith, build lasting relationships, and encounter Christ for generations to come. Contributions will support the ongoing fundraising and development of the camp, helping bring this shared vision to life and carry her legacy of faith forward. That link follows:

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/buffalo-ranch-camp-and-retreats

She will be deeply missed and forever loved.

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Dr. Earlo Anderson
Wednesday 06/25/1941 — Friday 10/09/2026
Visitation: Saturday 10/24/2026 8:00am to 10:00am, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Grambling
Celebration of Life: Saturday 10/24/2026 10:00am, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Grambling
Interment: Saturday 10/24/2026 Following Service, Grambling Memorial Garden, Highway 80 West, Grambling

Gail Skipper
Oct 4, 1947 — Oct 13, 2026
Visitation: Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, Saturday, October 17, 2026, 9:00 – 10:00 am
Funeral Service: Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, Saturday, October 17, 2026, 10:00 am

Rebecca Williams
Tuesday 01/10/1967 — Tuesday 10/06/2026
Memorial Service: Saturday 10/17/2026 2:00pm at King’s Funeral Home

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by Hanna Singh

On Oct. 22, 2017, the Ruston Police Department responded to an incident on South Vienna Street where Sheila Jackson had been struck by a vehicle. Nine years later, her family still honors her memory each October and continues searching for answers in the unsolved case.

Tuesday night, Jackson’s brother and sister gathered with officers from the Ruston Police Department at the East Side Mini Mart for an annual remembrance of their loved one. Each year, they bring her picture for a candlelight vigil to honor her and ask the Lincoln Parish community to provide any information they may have about the incident.

Ruston Police Deputy Chief of Patrol Dylan Castaneda was called to the scene that night. Almost a decade later, he continues to work on the unresolved case, looking for answers.

“Her brother, Mr. Rodney Jackson, comes every year from out of town in October to do this vigil. I know that there’s not very many leads on this, so we’re just asking for the public’s help on information they may know,” Castaneda said. “No matter how small, if they could provide us with any information that we could possibly work with, we will be looking at anything that’s brought to our attention.”

Rodney Jackson, a Colorado resident, drives more than 17 hours every October to return to Ruston on the anniversary of his sister’s death. Committed to keeping his sister’s memory alive, he holds the vigil each year and continues searching for answers that could bring his family closure.

“I made a promise to our mother on her deathbed that I would continue to fight and search until we get justice,” Jackson said. “Some people don’t care as much as I do, but it’s genuine to my heart to keep her memory alive. A shoutout to the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Department and Ruston Police Department, the chief detective, and the newspaper people for taking time out of their busy schedules to come out to assist us and keep the story out. We want answers and we appreciate them working to find them.”

As the sun set, Sheila Jackson’s family gathered with a photo of her surrounded by candles. They spoke with Ruston police officers about any updates on the case and thanked them for their dedication to the investigation over the years.

Despite numerous rumors and false leads over the years, the investigation has not produced any definitive answers regarding Jackson’s death. The only evidence located at the scene was a Grambling State University fan flag that attaches to an automobile window. By keeping attention focused on the case, Jackson’s family hopes to someday find answers and gain some closure.

Jackson’s sister, Gloria Beard, shared what a resolution to the case would mean to her family.

“No one deserves to die like that first of all. And if they can catch the person whose done this, you don’t know how it would make our hearts feel,” Beard said. “My mother passed behind this with a broken heart, without any closure. And they robbed Sheila of three beautiful grandchildren that she never got a chance to meet. If the Ruston Police and the public could give us the closure, it would be so greatly appreciated.”

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact the Ruston Police Department.

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By Kyle Roberts

RUSTON, La. — Less than three weeks after Dr. Jim Henderson announced his retirement as president of Louisiana Tech, State Rep. Chris Turner (District 12) says two people with a hand in the decision have told him the search for Henderson’s successor is not a foregone conclusion.

Turner said he spoke by phone for about 25 minutes with University of Louisiana System Chair Mark Romero Monday morning, and that Romero addressed speculation that a candidate has already been picked.

“There’s certain names out there that people are catching, saying this is an automatic done deal with the search,” Turner said. “Mark Romero assured me (Monday) morning that that was not the case.”

Turner also sat beside Gov. Jeff Landry at lunch after the governor made an announcement at a [Louisiana] Delta Community College campus this past week. According to Turner, Landry told him the search is wide open and that officials will work to get the best candidate.

“We have two people who are highly involved in making decisions in the state saying we’re going to have a full and open search,” Turner said.

Turner is not a voting member of the search committee, but he said he believes the group that is voting is well-rounded.

“If you look at the voting members on the search committee, it’s a good group,” Turner said.

Asked what the public can watch for to gain confidence in the process, Turner pointed to the finalist stage. The names of applicants are not known until the field is narrowed, he said, though he expects a list of the top three or four candidates to be released.

“Once that list comes out, you’ll see some highly qualified people who have put in to be our next president at Tech,” Turner said.

Turner also said Louisiana’s requirement of public disclosure of the presidential finalists could work against the university. He described the state as one of the only ones in the nation that makes those names public, and said that could keep some strong candidates from applying.

“Somebody may not want to put their name in if they don’t get the job, or it would look like they were searching for a new job,” Turner said. “So I honestly think that puts us at a disadvantage.”

The mood in Ruston, as described to Turner, has been cautious. Residents have expressed discouragement over Henderson’s retirement and a sense that Louisiana Tech had been on a positive trajectory, with some worried about friction between the university and the UL System, the Board of Regents and the governor’s office.

Turner said that view doesn’t match what he sees in Baton Rouge on a daily basis. He said he has spent the last couple of weeks working to make sure Louisiana Tech and the state are serving each other’s interests as Louisiana invests in a growing economy.

“One of my main goals has been making sure Louisiana Tech was in all of those conversations as the biggest member we could be,” Turner said.

He pointed to the university’s engineering, aviation, business, education and health care programs as areas where Tech can contribute to workforce and economic growth.

Turner said he works with other lawmakers on Tech’s behalf and wishes more people understood the university’s standing among them.

“People just do not know how respected Louisiana Tech is in that room,” Turner said.

Turner also addressed the debate over how Louisiana Tech fares under the state’s higher education funding formula, which he said works against the university.

He traced part of the problem to Louisiana Tech’s decision to move Tech to selective admissions in the last 15 years, which Turner called a big gamble, and said the university should have addressed the issue sooner as the gap grew over the last decade.

“Now we’re at a point where we’re way underfunded compared to the average,” Turner said, “and it’s because of the avenue we chose to go down as a university (by moving to selective admissions).”

Turner serves on the formula committee, which he sees as a chance to steer the conversation toward the state’s workforce needs. He said he has worked on two studies, one covering four-year institutions and one covering community colleges, to track who is being educated across the state’s higher education systems and how many graduates stay in Louisiana.

“Who’s staying in the state?” Turner said. “Who are we funding, and where are your tax dollars being used best?”

He said the state is looking at how to reward universities that produce graduates in fields that fuel the economy, and he believes Tech is well positioned if it makes its case. He listed speed to graduation, retention and the fields in which its students graduate as strengths.

“I think Louisiana Tech is geared for that,” Turner said. “We just have to show what we’re doing and what we’re good at.”

Turner said he is aware of concerns among faculty and staff about raises. He said he plans to revisit the issue once a new president is in place and that getting cost-of-living adjustments for Tech employees in the near future is one of his top concerns for the university.

Turner acknowledged that the transition has been difficult.

“Change is tough,” Turner said. “We’ve got a lot of growing pains. We’re going to make the best decision for Louisiana Tech.”

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A red pickup truck that crashed off East Sibley Road and took out a fence led to the DWI arrest of a Spearsville man early Sunday.

Kenneth Yawn, 36, of Spearsville, was arrested Oct. 11 by the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office on charges of first-offense driving while intoxicated, leaving the scene of an accident, careless operation and driving without a driver’s license.

Deputies were dispatched to the East Sibley Road area at about 12:21 a.m. after a caller reported an intoxicated driver who had left her residence, possibly headed toward Ruston, according to an arrest affidavit. Before deputies arrived, the caller phoned back to say she believed she had heard a wreck.

Deputies found a red Nissan truck with Mississippi plates that had crashed off the roadway and through a fence, and they found Yawn lying in a nearby ditch. Medics assessed him and cleared him medically. The affidavit states he had glassy, watery eyes and a strong odor of alcohol. After being advised of his rights, Yawn admitted he had been drinking but denied driving.

Two witnesses told deputies they saw Yawn drive away from the residence in the truck. Based on their statements and further investigation, deputies determined he was the driver. The affidavit states he performed poorly on a field sobriety test, and a records check showed his driver’s license had been canceled.

Yawn was arrested at 1:26 a.m. turned over to Lincoln Parish Detention Center deputies for booking. After being observed for at least 15 minutes, he provided a breath sample that measured 0.170%.

Yawn was released on his own recognizance on the careless operation and driver’s license charges. His bond on the DWI charge was set at $1,500.

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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