Courtesy of LA Tech University Communications

Dr. Jamie Newman has been named dean of the College of Applied and Natural Sciences at Louisiana Tech University, bringing more than a decade of leadership, research excellence, and academic innovation to the role.

A member of the Louisiana Tech faculty since 2013, Newman most recently served as the director of the School of Biological Sciences and before that, the associate dean for research and graduate studies and professor of biology. Throughout her tenure, she has helped expand the College’s research enterprise, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and create new opportunities for students and faculty.

“Dr. Newman is ideally suited to lead this College, one that houses vital programs preparing students to be leaders in sectors vital to economic growth and vitality including health, forestry, and agriculture,” President Jim Henderson said. “Her exceptional academic qualifications, collegial manner, and genuine care for student success, faculty excellence, and innovation will carry the College into a new era of excellence.”

As a professor in the School of Biological Sciences, Newman played a key role in advancing collaborative initiatives across campus, including the VISTA Center, which integrates the arts and sciences, and the Justin & Jeanette Hinckley Virtual Anatomy Lab, an innovative teaching resource that enhances anatomy and physiology education. As associate dean, she worked to strengthen research partnerships and develop opportunities for students, faculty, alumni, and industry partners to engage in academic and professional development.

Newman’s research focuses on understanding how environmental factors influence stem cell fate, including the processes that regulate stem cell self-renewal and differentiation into specialized cell types such as fat cells and bone cells. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she collaborated with researchers at Grambling State University and local healthcare providers to monitor wastewater in Ruston for the presence of SARS-CoV-2. She has published extensively on stem cell signaling and gene regulation.

“I am honored to lead a college that has shaped not only my career but also my life and family,” Newman said. “This institution has given me so much, and I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to give back in a meaningful way. I am especially excited about the future of the College of Applied and Natural Sciences. Together, we will continue to evolve and elevate our tradition of excellence by celebrating and showcasing the work of our students, faculty, and staff.”

Her contributions to teaching, research, and service have earned recognition from the University of Louisiana System (2021 Outstanding Faculty Award) and the Louisiana Tech University Foundation (2024 Professorship Award).

As dean, Newman will provide strategic leadership for the College’s academic programs, research initiatives, student success efforts, and community and industry partnerships. She will oversee departments and programs that prepare students for careers in areas of health and natural sciences while advancing the College’s mission of excellence in education, research, and service-learning.

“Dr. Newman is a highly respected scholar and thoughtful leader whose commitment to academic excellence, collaboration, and student success makes her exceptionally well suited to serve as dean,” Dr. Donna Thomas, Tech provost, said. “Her dedication to research and ability to support and empower faculty are qualities that will inspire continued growth and advancement. She is a proven innovator, and I look forward to supporting her vision for the College.”

A native of Woodland Hills, California, Newman earned a Bachelor of Arts in biology from Amherst College before receiving her Ph.D. in biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she studied gene regulation and cell state in embryonic stem cells under the mentorship of Dr. Richard Young.

Newman is married to Dr. Brad Cicciarelli, a distinguished lecturer in chemical engineering at Louisiana Tech, and they have two children, Jacob and Mallory.

Dr. Gary Kennedy, who served as the College’s dean since 2015, will continue his service at Louisiana Tech as the director of the new RoyOMartin Forest Products Innovation Center.

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LPJ Staff Report

RUSTON — After more than a decade of excellence in competitive piano performance, Ruston High School student Preston Parker has earned one of the National Federation of Music Clubs’ highest honors, receiving the prestigious Grand Cup following his performances during the 2026 music festival season.

The National Federation of Music Clubs hosts an annual spring music festival in which students compete in divisions including piano solo, music theory and piano concerto. Locally, the event is sponsored by the Ruston Area Music Teachers Association.

To qualify in the piano solo division, students perform two memorized works — one by an American composer selected from an approved federation list and another by a non-American composer. Superior ratings earn three points each year, while superior ratings in the piano concerto division are worth eight points. Students become eligible for the Grand Cup after accumulating 75 points through their performances.

Parker, a rising senior at Ruston High, reached that milestone by combining piano solo points earned over 11 years of competition with concerto points accumulated during the past three years.

“It is such an honor for Preston to be the very first student in our area to earn the Grand Cup,” Parker’s piano teacher Denise Cox said. “Preston not only has an amazing talent, but also a great work ethic that has allowed him to achieve this accomplishment. He has spent countless hours practicing and perfecting the pieces, and his performances reflect a musical maturity far beyond his years.”

His high school solo repertoire has included Hungarian, Opus 39, No. 12 by Edward MacDowell, The Night Winds, Opus 5, No. 3 by Charles Griffes, Mephisto Waltz by Franz Liszt and Ballade, Opus 23, No. 1 in G Minor by Frédéric Chopin.

For the concerto competition, Parker has performed the first movement of Liszt’s Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major, George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and the second movement of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Concerto No. 23 in A Major. He was accompanied during those performances by Dee Alexander and Cox.

“He loves to perform challenging piano pieces, and also loves the collaborative aspect of music,” Cox said. “He has had numerous experiences accompanying, so playing a concerto by memory was a great opportunity to continue to develop his musical skills.”

The Grand Cup is considered a significant national achievement because relatively few high school musicians earn enough superior ratings to qualify.

Parker’s recognition adds to an already distinguished musical résumé. Since beginning piano lessons in kindergarten, he has earned superior ratings for 11 consecutive years in the Sacred Music Festival, Solo Festival and Ruston Area Piano Rally. He has also received Outstanding Musician honors each year during that span.

At the state level, Parker has twice been named Louisiana Music Teachers Association state rally champion, finished runner-up three times and earned multiple honorable mention performances. He is also a former Louisiana winner in the Music Teachers National Association junior piano competition and a state runner-up at the senior level.

Earlier this year, Parker was selected as the piano division winner in the Monroe Symphony Emerging Artists Competition.

Away from the piano bench, Parker has excelled academically and in extracurricular activities. He maintains a 4.00 unweighted GPA and a 4.75 weighted GPA at Ruston High, where he has been elected student body president for the 2026-27 school year.

He is an AP Scholar, a member of the ACT 30+ Club and received the Masonic Lodge’s Honesty and Integrity Award. Parker is also active in Bearcat Buddies, Bearcat Mentors, Bearcat Motorsports, FBLA and Student Council.

In athletics, he competes for Ruston High’s cross country and track and field programs, earning all-region honors in cross country while also competing for the Bearcats’ indoor and outdoor state qualifying track teams.

Parker is a member of Trinity Methodist Church, where he serves on the Youth Leadership Team and previously played keyboard for the youth band. He now serves as pianist for Beech Springs Baptist Church in Quitman on most Sunday mornings.

He also maintains a nursing home music ministry that began during elementary school and teaches two local piano students each week, continuing his commitment to giving back through music.

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Dear Bulldog and Lady Techster Family,

Yesterday marked a defining moment in the history of Louisiana Tech Athletics.

As of Wednesday, Louisiana Tech University is officially a member of the Sun Belt Conference.

This is more than a change in conference affiliation—it is the beginning of a new chapter for our student-athletes, coaches, alumni, fans, and everyone who believes in what Louisiana Tech represents.

For generations, Bulldog and Lady Techster fans have embraced the rivalries that make college athletics special. The return of annual matchups against familiar regional opponents will reignite traditions, shorten road trips for our fans, create unforgettable atmospheres in our venues, and provide our student-athletes with the opportunity to compete on some of the biggest stages in our region.

These are the games that matter to our communities, strengthen our brand, and remind us why college athletics remains one of the most unique experiences in the world.

Our move to the Sun Belt positions us for greater long-term stability and alignment. We are joining a conference with strong institutional partners, passionate fan bases, outstanding competitive opportunities, and a shared vision for the future of intercollegiate athletics. It creates new opportunities to grow our revenues, strengthen our national visibility, enhance the student-athlete experience, and continue investing in championship-level programs.

Most importantly, this move reinforces our commitment to providing Louisiana Tech student-athletes with every opportunity to compete, graduate, and succeed while proudly representing our university, community, region and state.

None of this happens without you.

Every ticket purchased, every gift made, every road trip taken, every conversation promoting Louisiana Tech, and every time you wear the red, loyal blue and Columbia blue contributes to the momentum we are building together. The strength of this department has always been found in the people who believe in it.

Earlier this year, we launched our One More campaign as a reminder that championships, meaningful progress, and lasting success are rarely achieved through one giant leap. They are built by consistently giving one more effort, making one more investment, taking one more step, and believing one more time.

As we begin our journey in the Sun Belt Conference, that message carries even greater meaning.

We’re asking every Bulldog and Lady Techster supporter to join us.

Attend one more game.
Bring one more friend.
Purchase one more season ticket.
Make one more gift.
Wear your Louisiana Tech gear one more day each week.
Share our story with one more future Bulldog or Lady Techster.

Together, those individual actions become transformational momentum for our department, our university, and our student-athletes.

The future of Louisiana Tech Athletics has never been brighter. We are entering a conference that reflects our ambitions while carrying forward the proud traditions that define our university. There is important work ahead, but I have never been more confident in where we are going or in the people who will help us get there.

Thank you for believing in Louisiana Tech.
Thank you for believing in our student-athletes.
Thank you for taking this next step with us.
The next chapter starts today.

One More. Together.

Go Bulldogs and Lady Techsters!

Ryan Ivey
Vice President & Director of Athletics
Louisiana Tech University

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Courtesy of History.com

On the surface, the Fourth of July would seem to be the ultimate unifying holiday for Americans, a time to celebrate the triumphant birth of a nation and the staggering progress achieved since its founding. The reality, of course, is more complicated.

This was especially true during the 1790s when the fierce political rivalry between the Federalist and the Democratic-Republican parties spilled into Independence Day celebrations. As politicians sought to showcase their ideals of patriotism, Americans often observed July Fourth separately.

July 4th Celebrations Surfaced During the American Revolution

The first Fourth of July celebrations unfurled as soon as there was an anniversary to commemorate. In Philadelphia, where independence had been proclaimed the year before, the inaugural 1777 festivities included the firing of cannons from armed ships and a nighttime display of fireworks over the commons. Boston held a similar commemoration the same day.

“Those early celebrations…they’re expressions of continued support for the Continental Congress, for the army, for the war effort generally,” says historian Michael D. Hattem, author of The Memory of ’76: The Revolution in American History. “In those early years, they look very much like the celebrations of older colonial holidays: There would be fireworks and dancing. There would be an oration by some prominent member of the community.”

In areas under British control, Fourth of July festivals were muted, if they happened at all. That changed in the post-war years as independence was fully realized. However, the euphoria of victory soon gave way to clashes over the direction of the young nation, and with them came a widening divide over how to celebrate America’s founding.

Republicans Sought Alternate Festivities to Counter Federalists

On June 21, 1788, the political wrangling over the formation of a powerful central government was settled when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. Two weeks later, giddy supporters in Philadelphia marked July 4 with a massive Grand Federal Procession that included some 22,000 participants and such ostentatious features as a neoclassical temple and a warship to symbolize the strength of the new governing document.

By the early 1790s, clear partisan battle lines had been drawn between the Federalists, who supported the central banking policies of Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton and trade relations with Great Britain, and the Republicans (as the Democratic-Republicans were often called), who favored states’ rights and a sympathetic outlook toward America’s key Revolutionary War ally, France.

According to Len Travers’ Celebrating the Fourth: Independence Day and the Rites of Nationalism in the Early Republic, the idea of separate celebrations to mark America’s birthday was largely fueled by Republicans, then the smaller of the two parties. Where Federalist leaders controlled the military exercises and selection of favored orators, Republican organizations began putting their own imprint on the occasion. Often that meant joint celebrations of American and French independence, with participants waving the flags of both countries and donning liberty caps.

Republicans also began staging separate parades that emphasized the working class more than its opponents. “For Republicans, especially in the North, the parades would heavily feature artisans and workers, because they see themselves as the more popular, less elitist party,” Hattem explains. “Processions in Federalist-controlled areas would have been organized in a much more hierarchal fashion [and] led by the most important people in town.”

One Fourth of July, Hostilities Nearly Erupted Into Violence

As partisan newspapers fanned the flames, Federalists and Republicans doubled down on their attempts to frame the annual midsummer celebrations as a reflection of their competing agendas. “As you start to get more into the middle of the decade…the parties start to realize that the Fourth of July is not just a holiday, it’s a political opportunity,” Hattem notes. “It becomes more organized.”

Tensions between the two sides nearly detonated into an ugly climax in 1795, following Senate approval of the Jay Treaty with Great Britain. That July 4, a group of carpenters in Federalist-dominated Philadelphia marched through the streets carrying a caricature of John Jay, the architect of the controversial treaty. Along with depicting a scale in which “British gold” outweighed “American liberty and independence,” the painting showed the Supreme Court chief justice announcing, “Come up to my price, and I will sell you my country.”

“The Federalists called out the city cavalry to block the procession, and for a moment, it seemed like there was going to be some real violence,” Hattem says. Although the carpenters chose to de-escalate the situation and march back to their neighborhood, they later set the Jay painting on fire and hurled stones at the cavalrymen who attempted to stop the burning.

Federalists’ Demise Spelled an End to Separate Independence Days

While the Federalists held onto power with the election of John Adams as U.S. president in 1796, a series of unpopular actions, including the signing of the Alien and Sedition Acts, helped propel arch-Republican Thomas Jefferson to the presidency four years later.

With the decline of the Federalist Party came the demise of the once-prevalent dueling Fourth of July commemorations. “The hyperpartisan nature of those celebrations in the 1790s begins to disappear after 1800 and over the course of the next decade so that by the time that you get to 1812 or so, there’s just not enough Federalists anymore for there to be contested Fourth of July celebrations,” Hattem says.

Reconciliation wasn’t easily attained in the Federalist stronghold of Boston. According to Celebrating the Fourth, Republicans were forced to relocate their annual celebrations to nearby Charlestown in 1808 and didn’t resume holding them in their home city until after the War of 1812 ended.

By then, the Federalists were all but finished, sunk by their opposition to the “Second War for Independence” and the calls for secession that emanated from their ill-fated Hartford Convention. With nationalistic fervor at a peak, and the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on the horizon, Americans finally had cause to set aside lingering differences and celebrate their founding on common grounds.

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The Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested a woman last Friday after deputies responded to a report of a suspicious person in a minivan near the intersection of U.S. 167 and La. Highway 3072.

Stephanie M. Jobe, 50, was arrested June 27 for drug possession. According to a report, deputies responded to a fireworks stand after receiving a complaint about a suspicious person in a minivan. Deputies found Jobe rummaging around inside the vehicle.

The report said a deputy saw Jobe conceal a prescription bottle. When asked about the bottle, Jobe turned it over and the deputy found the prescription was in another person’s name. The contents were available only by prescription.

A search of the vehicle uncovered a glass smoking pipe commonly used to consume methamphetamine, a bag containing suspected methamphetamine, a rubber syringe-like object containing suspected methamphetamine and several other syringes, according to the report.

Jobe was transported to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center and booked for possession of methamphetamine, possession of a legend drug, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

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 6:55 right to your inbox. Just CLICK HERE to sign up.

DUBACH, La. — Long before convenience stores and highway travel reshaped rural life, country stores served as the social, commercial and cultural centers of communities across North Louisiana. One of Lincoln Parish’s oldest examples still stands near Dubach in old Unionville.

A Louisiana historical marker commemorates the Unionville Store, a landmark whose roots trace back to 1853. Originally established overlooking Bayou D’Arbonne, the business moved to its current location in 1888 when the present building was constructed.

For generations, the store has served as a focal point for residents of Unionville and the surrounding countryside. In an era when rural communities were often separated by long distances and limited transportation, country stores functioned as gathering places where neighbors exchanged news, conducted business and maintained social connections.

The marker notes that the store has remained an important part of community life for more than a century. Unionville itself is perhaps best known as the home of the annual Colvin family reunion, a longstanding tradition that has brought generations of descendants together in the community.

The historical marker was erected in 1985 by the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. It recognizes the site for its significance in both commerce and architecture, highlighting the enduring role the building has played in the history of Lincoln Parish.

Located along U.S. Highway 167, the store remains a visible reminder of a time when country stores served as the heartbeat of rural Louisiana communities.

Marker Inscription:

“Originally established in 1853 overlooking Bayou D’Arbonne. In this location since 1888, when present building constructed. This country store has been a community focal point. Unionville is the home of the Colvin family reunion.”

Next in our Lincoln Parish Historical Markers series: Exploring the people, places and events that helped shape the history of Lincoln Parish.

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In three of the four Gospels in the New Testament, Jesus tells a story about a farmer spreading seed.  The seed lands on four different soils.  The seed represents God’s message.  The different soil depicts how people receive that message.

1. Hard ground – The seed has nowhere to go and is taken away by birds – People don’t understand, and the message is lost.
2. Rocky ground – The seed can’t grow roots and eventually withers – Hardships of life get in the way.
3. Thorns in the soil – Choke out the seed growth – Worries of life and deceitfulness of riches take over.
4. Good soil – Healthy growth – Hear, understand, accept, and are transformed.

 The essence of the story is that the heart is foundational for true change to take place.  While the message matters, and the messenger is important, it really comes down to a “heart condition.”

Jesus used the analogy of a farmer planting seed and the importance of soil to relate with people well versed in an agricultural setting.  They understood the importance of the soil’s condition.  Just throwing seeds and hoping for good results was not a good plan.

That same concept holds true today, some two thousand plus years later.  We can plant, water, and turn to the light, but if the soil is not good, all our efforts are in vain.  Planting, watering, and exposing the right amount of sunlight are important, but they can’t overcome bad soil. 

That truth can continue to be applied to our lives today as well.

If you don’t like the person you are becoming, you might want to check the “soil” you are planting in for perspective.  We are the summation of our choices, actions, and are heavily influenced by our environment. 

If you want to become something, you have to do what those people do.  If you want to represent something, you have to engage in what that type of person does.  Direction, not intention, determines destination.  Actions trump intentions all day long!

A question you have to ask yourself today: Are you better off pushing through where you are today or planting in better ground? 

Perseverance is a virtue, but sometimes perseverance is trying something new, not just doing the same old thing day after day, hoping for a different outcome. 

Finding the right place to “plant” might just open a new perspective, new insight, or new opportunities that provide the joy and fulfillment that you are seeking.  It might also just be the right step toward a healthy “heart condition” too!

Where we are planting ourselves evidently has a lot to do with our heart condition!

The quality of the dirt matters.   Choose wisely!

Doug equips leaders to make organizations better.  He has two leadership books available on all online platforms.  Whether you are looking for a speaker for your next event or a leadership coach to develop people and build an authentic team, contact Doug at  doug.strickel@gmail.com and learn more about PLUS.

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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

For 20 years Cris had worked as a commercial fisherman and a dockworker.  On this particular cold March afternoon, Cris had some time on his hands.  He had just returned from working on a ship in the Bahamas and was waiting to catch another ship which would take him to yet another port city.  He never caught that ship.  While he waited, Cris walked over the frozen, snow-covered ground to King Street, the port city’s main hub of activity.  Cris carried a pound stick, a tool of his trade.  A pound stick was a large stick used to strike or pound a ship’s deck to summon crew to their stations and for setting the pacing for others while they were loading and unloading a ship’s cargo.  When not on duty, Cris and other sailors used their pound sticks as walking sticks. 

Shopkeepers on King Street recognized that something other than the comings and goings of regular commerce was happening in front of the government building nearby.  Shopkeeper Edward Payne stood in his entry doorway gazing at the large crowd trying to understand the situation.  Edward heard the voices of men and boys yelling at each other in the crowd.  Suddenly, chaos erupted.  The men and boys threw rocks, hard-packed snowballs, and anything else they could get their hands on at the nine guards protecting the government building.  Some of the sailors swung their pound sticks at the guards.  Whether Cris swung his stick has never been confirmed, but he was in the front when the guards opened fire.  The gunfire lasted for only a few seconds. 

Yells of anger turned into a mixture of moans of pain and shrieks of terror.  51-year-old Sam Gray, a rope maker, was shot in the head and died instantly.  17-year-old Sam Maverick, an apprentice, was shot in the stomach and died the following day.  49-year-old James Caldwell, a mate on a ship, was shot twice in the back and died in the street.  30-year-old Patrick Carr, leather worker, was shot in the hip and died nine days later.  Cris was shot twice in the chest and died instantly.

Others were injured but survived.  Shopkeeper Edward Payne’s arm was broken when he was struck by a shot as he stood in his shop’s doorway.  John Green, a tailor, was shot in his thigh.  Robert Patterson, a sailor, was shot through his right arm.  A youth named David Parker was shot in his thigh.  Two 17-year-old boys, Christopher Monk and John Clark, both apprentices on ships, were shot; Monk in the back and Clark in his abdomen.  All but Monk recovered from their wounds.  Monk’s wound was extremely severe, left him disabled, and led to his early death ten years later. 

Most citizens in Great Britain are unaware of this altercation, but the British government officially referred to it as the Incident on King Street.  Colonists initially called it the Bloody Massacre.  The world now refers to the Incident on King Street as the Boston Massacre. 

Sources:

1.     The Boston Gazette, March 12, 1770, p.1-3.

2.     “The bloody massacre perpetrated in King Street Boston on March 5th 1770 by a party of the 29th Regt.,” Library of Congress, accessed June 28, 2027, https://www.loc.gov/item/2008661777/.

3.     “What was the Boston Massacre?” Boston Massacre Historical Society, accessed June 28, 2027, https://www.bostonmassacre.net/index.html.

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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.

In order for our Lincoln Parish Journal staff to spend time with family and friends this holiday weekend, we will not have our usual Friday publication.

However, our Tuesday publication will arrive in your inbox at its regular time at 6:55 a.m.

Remember, if you’re not currently subscribed to receive our email five days a week, please sign up by clicking HERE. The Lincoln Parish Journal always publishes free news articles, and they will always be free.

Happy 4th of July to Lincoln Parish!

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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. 

Thursday, July 2
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.: Picnic in the Park (Railroad Park)
6 p.m.: Southern A’Chord Chorus rehearsal (Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 212 N. Bonner St.; open to all women singers)
6 p.m.: Video-Led Tai Chi class (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)

Thursday, July 2
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.: Picnic in the Park (Railroad Park)
6 p.m.: Southern A’Chord Chorus rehearsal (Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 212 N. Bonner St.; open to all women singers)
6 p.m.: Video-Led Tai Chi class (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)

Friday, July 3
1-6 p.m.: United We Give Blood Drive (Lincoln Parish Library)
7:30 p.m.: LoveLincoln Freedom Fest (Temple Baptist, 1515 S. Service Rd. W; fireworks to follow)

Saturday, July 4
Independence Day
7:30 a.m. to noon: Patriotic Field Day (Dubach Ballpark)
8 a.m. to noon: Fishing tournament (Dubach lake)
8 a.m.: Arts and crafts at Dubach Community Center
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market
3 p.m.: Live music (Dubach)
9 p.m.: Fireworks (Dubach)

Monday, July 6
11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome
4 p.m.: Storytime : Flowers (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
5:30 p.m.: Ruston City Council meeting (Ruston City Hall)
6 p.m.: Toastmasters International meeting (Louisiana Center for the Blind, 101 South Trenton Street)
6-9 p.m.: Creative Meetups (Creatives at Work, 301 N. Trenton)

Tuesday, July 7
10 a.m.: Storytime : Flowers (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
2 p.m.: Crafternoon : Shrinky Dinks (Lincoln Parish Library)
4 p.m.: Teen Time :  Movie Night: Ponyo (Lincoln Parish Library)
6 p.m.: Video-Led Exercise class (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
6:30 a.m.: Veterans free breakfast (VFW Post 3615, 206 Memorial Dr.)
6 p.m.: Lincoln Parish School Board meeting (410 S. Farmerville St.)

Wednesday, July 8
7-8 a.m.: Veterans Coffee Club (PJ’s Coffee)
8 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Battle of the Cities Blood Drive (Ruston Civic Center)
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, July 9
9:30 a.m.: Piney Hills Quilt Guild meeting (Grace Methodist Church)
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Kiwanis Club lunch and program (Trinity Methodist Church fellowship hall; Anyone is welcome to come to our meeting,please notify Richartd Hamilton of your attendance. 318-518-2121)
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.: Picnic in the Park (Railroad Park)
2 p.m.: Tween Time : Circut Flower (Lincoln Parish Library)
4 p.m.: Teen Time :  Book Bedazzling (Lincoln Parish Library)
4:30-5:30 p.m.: Free meal provided by 5 Loaves 2 Fish Ministry at the Ruston Housing Authority office at 901 MLK Drive. All are welcome. 
6 p.m.: Video-Led Tai Chi class (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, July 10
10 a.m.: Harvey Rabbit & Friends Show (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
3:30-5:30 p.m.: Summer DND Campaign for Teens & Tweens (Lincoln Parish Library) Please call 318-513-5518 for important information about participation.

Saturday, July 11
8:30-11:30 a.m.: Hazardous Waste Material Collection and Recycling (2609 Farmerville St.)
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market

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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 baseball has signed Jack Reynolds, a transfer joining the Diamond ‘Dogs as a redshirt senior infielder from the University of South Carolina.

Reynolds, a native of Columbia, South Carolina, stands at 5-foot 11-inches and is coming off a season where he appeared in 17 games with seven starts at his hometown’s university. He scored 5 runs and drove in one along with being hit by three pitches.

He scored a run in his Gamecock debut vs. Northern Kentucky on February 13 before recording a hit and an RBI in a win over Wofford on February 17. On March 8, he posted his only game with multiple runs scored.

Prior to his stint at South Carolina, Reynolds spent two seasons at Gulf Coast State College in Panama City, Florida, being named to the All-Panhandle Conference Team as a redshirt freshman after batting .369 with 8 homers, 11 doubles, 23 walks drawn and 40 RBI.

He played in 17 games during his redshirt sophomore campaign, batting .283 with 4 round-trippers.

Reynolds’ career began at Clemson University, redshirting as a true freshman in 2023 when the Tigers won the ACC Tournament and hosted a NCAA Regional. He was a state champion in high school and ranked the No. 51 freshman in the ACC by Perfect Game during the 2023 preseason.

Reynolds prepped at P27 Academy in Lexington, S.C., ranking as the No. 1 shortstop and No. 4 overall player in the state of South Carolina by Perfect Game for the high school class of 2022. In 2021, he was named to the Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-Atlantic Region First Team.

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Joan Larance Warren 
June 9, 1937  –  June 24, 2026 
Visitation: Thursday, July 2, 2026, 10:00AM – 11:00AM, Trinity Methodist Church, 1000 Woodward Avenue, Ruston 
Service: Thursday, July 2, 2026, 11:00AM, Trinity Methodist Church, 1000 Woodward Avenue, Ruston 
Final Resting Place: Kilpatrick’s Memorial Gardens, 1270 Highway 544, Ruston 

William Ray Harris  
October 11, 1934 – June 26, 2026  
Visitation: Thursday, July 2, 2026, 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM, Grace Community Church, 9325 HWY 80, Simsboro 

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Special to the LPJ

A group of Lincoln Parish students recently joined hundreds of their peers from across Louisiana to participate in the 2026 Louisiana Boys State and Girls State programs, spending a week learning firsthand how state and local government operates while developing leadership skills.

Sponsored by the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary, Boys State and Girls State have provided leadership and citizenship training for Louisiana high school students for more than eight decades. The programs, now held at Southeastern Louisiana University, are designed for students entering their senior year of high school.

Rather than focusing on partisan politics, participants experience government through a hands-on simulation.

Students establish mock cities, parishes and state governments, campaign for office, debate legislation, serve in elected and appointed positions and learn the responsibilities of civic leadership.

Lincoln Parish was well represented by students from both Cedar Creek School and Ruston High School.

Cedar Creek’s Boys State delegates were Hayden Durrett, Joshua McCarthy, Camdyn Napper, Trigger Woodard, Adrian Lamkin and Jack Bell.

Representing Ruston High School at Boys State were Ben Wages, Carter Ehrhard, Cooper Goodwin, Deontay Mitchell, Boston Smith and Preston Parker.

Several Lincoln Parish students earned special recognition during the week. Boston Smith of Ruston High School was named Outstanding Mayor of Orleans City, while Cedar Creek’s Hayden Durrett received the Outstanding Citizen of Bogafalaya Parish award.

Four Cedar Creek students attended Louisiana Girls State: Caroline Vance, Aubrey Singleton, Marley Jinks and Kenna Williams as did two Ruston Bearcats: Aubrey Hudson and Maya Raspberry.

Boys State and Girls State are widely recognized for preparing future community leaders by providing students with practical experience in government, public service and leadership while allowing them to build relationships with fellow students from across Louisiana.

The annual programs have produced generations of public officials, military leaders, attorneys, educators and business professionals, offering students a unique opportunity to better understand the democratic process before entering their senior year of high school.

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by Hanna Singh

One Ruston city worker is making a difference by being a boss who leads by example. After 21 years working for the streets department, foreman Kane Kennimer has learned a thing or two about what it means to take care of his team.

Starting off as a laborer in the Streets Department, Kennimer committed himself to his career in a way that many workers can only hope to. Growing up in Dubach, he was only 19 when he came to Ruston looking for a position. He was young, but he had the ambition to grow within his department, despite knowing mostly older men who worked there.

Now serving as the foreman, he leads a team of persistent men, young and old, just like himself. At age 40, Kennimer looks back on his years working for the city with gratitude.

“I love my crew,” Kennimer said. “I love the guys here and we’ve all been together a long time. I have watched some young men grow up and become better than me.”

During the Peach Festival, Kennimer was handed many responsibilities, from set up and take down to maintenance and repairs. Throughout the work, Kennimer and his team stayed positive and made sure that the festival went off without a hitch in the city streets. City of Ruston Public Works Director John Freeman highlighted the way that Kennimer approaches his work and his leadership role.

“Kane has grown so well in the job,” Freeman said. “He’s the point person to send when a citizen has a problem, and he has a fantastic demeanor about him. Very cordial, very responsible.”

As for what Kennimer does on a day-to-day basis, the list goes on. His daily duties include everything from road maintenance, debris clean-up, concrete work and storm repairs to just fixing any little problem that plagues the streets of Ruston. With Ruston expanding and changing every day, Kennimer sees more opportunities for the city along with more responsibilities within his department.

“Ruston is definitely growing, of course. Buc-ee’s will be huge for us,” Kennimer said. “Better jobs, a good place for families, good school districts, all of this is growing in Ruston with its size. I see the city becoming more challenging keeping up with the demands of the Streets Department.”

Despite challenges, Kennimer has become accustomed to delegating work and leading his crew by example. Heavy Equipment Operator Jacobe Shyne described his experience in working under Kennimer during busy times.

“He’s an excellent boss and he’s good at what he does,” Shyne said. “He helps all the employees so much. Always makes sure that we’re good and we got everything that we need. We know what to do because he provides good leadership. Whatever we need from him, he can do. He always gets it done right.”

After two decades of serving the city, Kennimer’s leadership and commitment have made a difference in his community that has not gone unnoticed. From hands-on work to providing mentorship to his team, Kennimer has provided something valuable that can’t be replaced. Without dedicated city workers like him, Ruston would not be the thriving city that it is today.

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For children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families, finding opportunities where children can participate fully, build friendships and experience the joy of recreation can sometimes be challenging. MedCamps of Louisiana’s Busy Bees Retreat was created to provide a welcoming environment where children on the autism spectrum can enjoy the magic of camp while receiving support tailored to their unique needs.

A program of MedCamps of Louisiana, Busy Bees Retreat is part of the organization’s mission to improve the health and wellness of children living with chronic illnesses and disabilities through recreational and educational camping experiences. The retreat happened earlier this week (June 28-30) at Camp Alabama.  Busy Bees is a 3 day residential retreat for camper’s and a parent/guardian that provides opportunities for social interaction, outdoor activities, creativity and independence in a safe and encouraging setting.

Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a developmental disability that can affect communication, social interaction and behavior. The term “spectrum” reflects the wide range of ways autism may present, with each individual having different strengths, abilities and support needs. Some children may have challenges with verbal communication or social situations, while others may experience differences in sensory processing, routines or learning styles.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), autism identification has increased in recent years as awareness, screening and diagnostic practices have improved. The CDC’s latest Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network data estimates that approximately 1 in 31 children aged 8 years old were identified with ASD in 2022, representing about 3.2 percent of children in the communities included in the monitoring network.

Autism occurs among children of all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. The CDC also reports that ASD is identified more frequently among boys than girls, though researchers continue to study differences in diagnosis and recognition among groups of children.

A Camp Designed With Children in Mind

Traditional camp environments can sometimes create barriers for children with autism because of unfamiliar surroundings, sensory challenges or difficulty adapting to new routines. Busy Bees Retreat addresses those needs by creating a structured and supportive camp experience where children can participate at their own pace.

Camp activities are designed to encourage confidence, teamwork and independence while allowing campers to enjoy many of the same experiences available at MedCamps’ other programs. Through recreation, games, arts and crafts, outdoor activities and opportunities to make new friends, campers are able to discover new interests and celebrate their accomplishments.

The retreat also provides families with reassurance that their children are in an environment where staff and volunteers understand the importance of patience, flexibility and inclusion.

More Than a Weekend Away

For many campers, Busy Bees Retreat represents much more than a traditional camping experience. It offers a place where children can be recognized for their abilities, develop new skills and form friendships with peers who share similar experiences.

Parents often seek opportunities that allow their children to gain independence while still receiving the support they need. Programs like Busy Bees help create those opportunities by focusing on acceptance, encouragement and meaningful connections.

MedCamps of Louisiana has long provided specialized camps for children with medical conditions and disabilities, including programs that serve children with conditions such as diabetes, Down syndrome and other developmental challenges. Busy Bees Retreat continues that tradition by ensuring children with autism have a camp experience created specifically for them.

Through the dedication of staff, volunteers, medical professionals and supporters, Busy Bees Retreat demonstrates the power of inclusion — giving children the chance to laugh, learn and experience the simple joy of being a camper.

To learn more about Busy Bees Retreat or other camps provided by MedCamps of Louisiana or to support the mission visit www.medcamps.org. 

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Today is International Joke Day.

No, seriously.

July 1 … every year. We have a day for everything, don’t we?

So, make sure you find some humor in something during the course of today. Maybe you can take a little from this tongue-in-cheek effort that you are hopefully about to consume.

For Louisiana Tech fans, this year’s version of International Joke Day has even greater meaning. It’s the first official day of the school’s membership in the Sun Belt Conference.

And that’s no joking matter.

For the first time since the 1986-87 season — yes, four decades — Louisiana Tech and ULM are conference foes. For the first time since 2000-01 — yes, a quarter of a century — the Bulldogs and Lady Techsters are league opponents with those dirty Cajuns of UL-Lafayette.

The gloves officially come off today, and I couldn’t be more excited.

I grew up hating — strong word, but probably accurate — both NLU (now ULM) and USL (now ULL).

The first Louisiana Tech sporting event I ever attended was a Bulldog homecoming football game in 1979 against USL (now ULL) at Joe Aillet Stadium. For some reason, my dad thought it would be a good idea to sit us right next to the LA Tech student section on the east side.

The good guys won that day, 17-0. And by the time I got home, I was running around the house chanting, “Go to hell, USL! Go to hell, USL!”

Mom wasn’t very happy, but I was hooked. That was the day my Tech fandom began, and it’s only grown over the past four-plus decades of wearing the ole red and blue.

Although my hate for ULL began that day, it didn’t stop there. It grew in intensity and magnitude the older I got (the more wise I became) and the more I watched my beloved Bulldogs and Lady Techsters.

It was a hate that was almost unmatched. Almost.

That is until I was introduced to the maroon and yellow of the school 30 miles east on I-20. I had a new love (to hate). I stood in line outside of the Thomas Assembly Center for three hours in 1984 to get in and watch both the Lady Techsters and Bulldogs defeat NLU (now ULM) in a basketball doubleheader.

Sold out. More than 8,500 fans that night. It was an atmosphere that I wish every current Tech student could experience. Two fan bases that loved their schools and loved to hate the other.

That’s one of the great things about reuniting with these two schools (and Southern Miss and Arkansas State), calling the Sun Belt Conference home.

It won’t matter the sport. We could be playing in dominoes, and I would be table-side pulling for the Bulldogs. Tiddlywinks? Go Dogs. Thumb wrestling? Go Dogs.

Rivalries Renewed is how Louisiana Tech has marketed the move since last July when it was announced. Well put. It’s not a coincidence that the LA Tech home attendance record for a football game was in 1997 vs ULM. The home attendance record for a men’s and women’s basketball game was in 1984 vs. ULM.

And although the two programs have met an assortment of times in different sports (some more regularly then others), the rivalry begins on the gridiron.

I have plenty of good friends who are ULM and ULL fans and/or employees and/or alums. I try not to hold it against them. That is until gameday.

Then I will “hate” them too until the game is over. And I know the feeling will be mutual.

Rejoining the Sun Belt is a full circle moment for Tech fans. It’s been a quarter of a century for us. It’s also been that long since the Bulldogs and the Warhawks have met on the gridiron, something which will change Oct. 17 at Malone Stadium in Monroe — one week after Tech hosts the Ragin Cajuns at The Joe.

I’m going to have to build my hate stamina quickly. Outside of a few “rivalries” within a few sports with a very few teams over the last 25 years, there hasn’t been this level of despise in a while.

I sure am looking forward to it.

Heck, who knows. Maybe I won’t hate them nearly as much as I did growing up. I may even like them.

That was a joke, folks. Remember, it’s International Joke Day.

So let the good old fashion hate begin.

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Ruston Police arrested a Simsboro man last Friday after officers investigated a reported violation of a protective order.

Dustin Gabriel Toms, 22, was arrested June 27 for violation of a protective order.

According to a report, police responded to a North Service Road location in Ruston after receiving a complaint that Toms had violated a protective order protecting a woman and her child.

The woman showed officers text messages and phone calls she said originated from Toms. The report states the messages and calls were made between June 21 and June 27. Officers reviewed the messages and determined they were nonthreatening but constituted contact prohibited by the protective order.

The report states officers also learned Toms had called the woman on June 27 and that he was driving to a fast food restaurant on the North Service Road.

Police later saw Toms in the fast food restaurant parking lot, made contact with him and took him into custody. He denied contacting the victim on that day. Toms 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 6:55 right to your inbox. Just CLICK HERE to sign up.

In observance of the Independence Day holiday, City Hall and the Utility Billing Office will be closed on Friday, July 3, 2026.

There will be no recycle collection for Friday, July 4, 2025. Recycle pickups will be picked up on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. There will be no commercial collection Friday, July 3, 2026.

For emergency utility services, contact 318-255-1316.

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By Doug Ireland, Journal Sports

It wasn’t Sam Burns’ last shot in the final round of The Travelers Sunday afternoon, but it was a fitting way to finish his latest PGA Tour road trip.

Burns holed out from 130 yards for an eagle 2 on the par-4 14^th hole Sunday to highlight his fourth round in the 60s at the tournament, which wrapped up Monday morning when Victor Hovland birdied the first playoff hole and beat Scottie Scheffler for the win.

Burns shot three rounds of 66 and finished with a 67 to post a 15-under par total, good for a 12^th place tie and a $440,000 payday. He has eight rounds in the 60s in his last 12 outings.

That has kept him among the leaders in each event. Twice, at The Memorial and the U.S. Open, he was in position to win, finishing in a fourth place tie at The Memorial after sharing the lead on the 17^th tee, and finishing runner up at the Open when his birdie putt on the 18^th grazed the right edge of the cup but did not drop from 22 feet.

He has soared to eighth in FedEx Cup standings, and is up to 15^th in the Official World Golf Rankings. He stands sixth in the U.S. President’s Cup rankings (12 make the team), in good position for his fifth straight annual international match play event representing the USA.

He has won $6.4 million in official purse money this season, upping his career total since 2019 to $41.4 million.

But as hot as he is, after playing in four consecutive events, the almost 30-year-old Shreveport native is taking a break. He’s home in Choudrant, and he may not leave for a while.

Although he’s scheduled to play in two weeks at the Genesis Scottish Open as a warmup for the British Open, his wife Caroline is about to give birth to the couple’s second child. She’s due in mid-July.

It’s very possible that the Travelers will be Burns’ last competition for a few weeks.

The FedEx Cup playoffs begin Aug. 13 at the St. Jude Classic in Memphis.

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Love letter to Natty, a Hall of Fame town

When you think of bigtime celebrating in Louisiana, most people automatically think “New Orleans.”

I get it. 

A town with few rivals. Internationally appreciated. A culture all its own. Can’t walk down its streets without overhearing several different languages.

I love it.

But if you want to celebrate without the traffic, the potholes, and a less likelihood of your car getting jacked, you getting mugged, or your toilet getting backed up, I’ll take Natchitoches any day of the week.

(I’d take Ruston, Minden, and Farmerville too, and we haven’t even gotten out of northwest Louisiana yet.)

Louisiana is blessed with small-town goodness. 

But today, for a special reason, the salute goes to charming, quaint, welcoming Natchitoches.

Of course there are the annual Christmas lights. (I might be the only person in a five-state area who’s never been.) Eeeeeeeverybody loves the Christmas lights.

But Natty lights up each summer too.

The annual Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame class is inducted each June, usually on the fourth weekend.  The welcome mat, the red carpet, the good times are rolled out and one of the South’s finest small towns says, “Come on and getcha some!”

Last weekend was no exception, and my encouraging word would be to consider going next summer or the next or as soon as you can to a Hall of Fame weekend. All the deets — plus a replay of the ceremony and video intros of each inductee, all produced by the team of all-stars at Louisiana Public Broadcasting — are at lasportshall.com. 

The weekend never disappoints.

If you haven’t studied just how the actual LASHOF works, the induction side of it, please be encouraged to read this effort by Doug Ireland, the executive director of the Hall. The road to the sports hall of fame in your state is significantly steeper than the road to the sports halls of fame in most any other state. Most states are trying to scrape together a couple of inductees each year. Louisiana’s selection committee has year-long knock-down drag-outs to figure out which eight stars should be inducted that year.

And each year, some deserving candidates are left knocking on the door. It’s fascinating that in Louisiana, you can’t swing a cat without it hitting a Super Bowl winner, All-American, Pro-Bowler, Olympic medalist, national champ, All Star … and the list goes on. And on and on.

And each year, more stars and studs become eligible.

The setting is always a no-doubter. Natchitoches. The actual Hall of Fame on Front Street. (Don’t forget to go upstairs! It’s a state history museum, not just sports.) The Cane River Right There, even though it’s not a river. The awnings. The bricked street. The food. The flowers. The hospitality.

It’s a movie set. 

And then the Special Events Center, decorated more beautifully each year. (One member of this year’s induction class didn’t “get it” until Saturday night when he saw the joint. “Wait a minute,” he said. “I thought … I didn’t know it was going to be like this.”

Oh, it’s a big deal. Done right. 

And if you walk downtown a couple of hours after the Saturday night induction, all is calm again. Like walking in a painting.

Because of the pandemic in 2020, two ceremonies were held in 2021. In the same summer. Both were full throttled. Natty didn’t skimp. Sponsors, volunteers, organizers: everyone showed up with their A-games. The whole town is like a living Statue of Liberty.

And this year’s inductees? Humble. Authentic. Seldom does an inductee disappoint. They get what ball means to Louisiana, and maybe through the ceremony and the weekend, they begin to get how they each fit into the state’s Phenomenal, Stunning Sports Story.

The Hall’s a place where legends live, and Natchitoches keeps the lights on and the fire burning so you can meet them any time.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

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