By Kyle Roberts

RUSTON — Catholic of Baton Rouge pulled within a touchdown two minutes into the second half Friday night.

Ruston then scored the next 28 points to rout the Bears.

Senior quarterback Sam Hartwell threw five touchdown passes and ran for another, and the Bearcats rolled up 662 yards of total offense in a 63-28 win over the Bears at James Field at Hoss Garrett Stadium. Ruston (3-1) bounced back from a 21-14 loss to Edna Karr at the Caesars Superdome six days earlier. Catholic fell to 1-3.

Ruston managed 234 yards against Karr, and Ruston head coach Jerrod Baugh did not need long to make the comparison.

“Could have used 100 of those yards last week,” Baugh said. “Very good bounce-back ball game for offense. I thought we were really inconsistent last week in what we were doing, and it’s just like I talked about after that ball game. We’ve got to develop some consistency.”

Hartwell completed 17 of 27 passes for 316 yards without an interception and ran 14 times for 162 yards. Senior tight end Ahmad Hudson caught eight passes for 167 yards and three touchdowns, all after halftime. Senior running back Kohl Gray ran for 146 yards and three scores on 16 carries.

Catholic scored first on a fourth-and-goal touchdown pass from junior quarterback Camden Estep to senior tight end Jude Chamberlain at 9:25 of the first quarter. Hartwell answered with a 20-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Keshun Malcolm at 5:51, Malcolm’s first touchdown of the season.

The Bears needed 46 seconds to go back in front. Estep found junior receiver Jaden Moffitt for a 68-yard touchdown at 5:05. Ruston tied it when senior receiver Josiah Morgan’s 46-yard catch set up first-and-goal at the 1, and Gray scored from there at 4:06.

After senior kicker Joaquin Ramos missed a 42-yard field goal early in the second quarter, the Ruston defense got the ball back. Senior defensive back Jayden Anding intercepted Estep on fourth-and-3 at 8:11, and 19 seconds later Hartwell kept the ball on an option and went 85 yards for a 21-14 lead.

Ramos followed with an onside kick, and senior defensive back Jermyron Newsome recovered it. Gray then scored on a 17-yard run at 5:54. The extra point was not officially attempted after a muffed hold, leaving Ruston ahead 27-14.

Senior running back Jayden Miles pulled Catholic within 27-21 on an 11-yard run at 2:49. Ruston answered before the half. Gray scored from 1 yard out with 20 seconds left, and the Bearcats added a two-point conversion on a trick play, a reverse to Hudson, who threw to Hartwell for a “Philly Special” and gave Ruston the lead 35-21 at halftime.

Catholic needed only two minutes of the third quarter to get back within a score. Estep hit Moffitt for a 19-yard touchdown at 10:00 to make it 35-28.

The Bears did not score again.

The Bearcat offensive onslaught in the second half started when Hartwell found Hudson for a 17-yard touchdown at 7:21, and Ramos tried another onside kick. Catholic had three chances to secure the ball, but sophomore running back Rhett Patterson came up with it for Ruston. Hudson scored again on a 46-yard catch at 5:52.

Morgan closed the third quarter with a 10-yard touchdown for a 56-28 lead after a shovel pass from Hartwell, giving the senior quarterback five touchdown passes on the night. Morgan finished with five catches for 98 yards, while Hudson added a 6-yard touchdown catch at 7:12 of the fourth quarter for the final margin.

Baugh noted the two recovered onside kicks as a huge swing in the game for his Bearcats.

“Picking up the extra possessions, I thought Joaquin’s two onside kicks were excellent, and our coverage team did a really good job recovering those,” Baugh said. “We know we can do that. They never really changed their alignment until the end, after we got that second one. And that’s really what you want them to do, because then they start shuffling things around. They’re not going to be able to set up a return like they want to and like they had game-planned for, and then we can hit some other spots on the field. So I thought it was just what we planned.”

Ruston ran the ball 43 times and threw it 28, finished with 40 first downs and did not turn the ball over. Baugh said the passing game was in tune.

“We’ve been shooting to try to be 50-50 as far as play selection is concerned,” Baugh said. “We looked for matchups that we like with the guys that we’ve got versus their guys. I thought our coaches did a good job of getting that lined up and taking advantage of what they had out there in front of them.”

Baugh credited the offensive staff with the plan.

“I thought we had some good matchups out wide, threw the ball well for the most part and had good protection for the most part up front,” Baugh said. “And ran the ball really well.”

Ruston did it without junior running back Dalen Powell and junior linebacker Aidan Adams.

“Anytime you’re without Dalen and Aidan Adams, that is really a tough situation, with a guy inside missing defensively,” Baugh said. “I think (junior) Shamar Evans did some good things in there. It was good to have him in there getting a lot of reps. And Kohl Gray, I hate not to call him the starting running back, because he is a starter. I think he did a great job. We shuffled some guys around personnel grouping-wise and did what we had to do. At the end of the day, whenever you’re missing guys, that’s what you have to do.”

Evans was credited with three tackles, while senior linebacker Kadyn Gray led Ruston with five.

Catholic finished with 490 yards. Estep completed 14 of 34 passes for 289 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. Moffitt caught three passes for 135 yards and two scores, and Miles ran for 100 yards on 13 carries.

Baugh said the Bears exposed things Ruston still has to fix.

“We did what we had to do to try to spread the lead,” Baugh said. “We had a rough time in the first half getting them slowed down. They’re very good on offense. They’ve got some really good skill guys. We got blocked up front. They’re good on the offensive line, and we’ve still got some things that we need to continue to work on. They exposed some things. That’s what happens whenever you play good football teams. And so we’ve still got a lot of work to do.”

Baugh said the Bearcats have yet to put all three phases together at once.

“I really wish we could match it up to get that done in all three phases of the game at the same time, because I think we could be a really, really good football team if we’re able to do that,” Baugh said. “Hopefully we’ll get that matched up. It is just Week 4, so we’ve got a lot of weeks to get together and continue to improve and work on those things. But really pleased with our offense.”

Ruston closes its non-district schedule Thursday against West Point, Miss., at Hoss Garrett Stadium.

“It’s flying by. That’s how it goes,” Baugh said of the season. “Everybody is longing for the season to get here, and then the next thing you know, it’s halfway done, and then it won’t be long, the regular season will be over. But we’ve got to take advantage of every opportunity we have to get better in practice.”

The Thursday game costs the Bearcats a practice day, but Baugh said it costs West Point one, too.

“I think our kids do good whenever we shuffle our plan around,” Baugh said. “It’s not like we’re playing on Thursday and they’re playing on Friday. So we’ll just have to speed up our plan, make sure it’s simple enough so that our kids are understanding it, and make sure they’re knowledgeable about what it is we’re trying to do.”

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

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by Malcolm Butler

Cedar Creek head coach Jacob Angevine had seen enough.

After Rayville scored two touchdowns on its first five offensive plays, Angevine tightened the screws with his defensive unit.

His Cougars responded, holding the visiting Hornets scoreless for the remainder of the game.

Just as the Cougar defense stiffened, the offense came alive, in a 26-14 win at Origin Bank Stadium on Friday night.

Twenty-six consecutive points, including 20 of those points coming on three consecutive possessions in the second quarter, propelled the 10th-ranked Cougars past the larger, deeper Rayville squad.

Payton Harris and Brett Bell both recorded scoring runs before Bell connected with Noah Smith for a 17-yard touchdown to give Cedar Creek its first lead. Bell later connected with Cohen Pottharst for a 31-yard fourth-quarter touchdown to provide the final points.

The victory improved Cedar Creek to 4-0 on the season.

Early on, however, things looked much different.

Rayville struck only 11 seconds into the game on a 63-yard touchdown pass. A successful conversion run gave the Hornets an 8-0 lead.

The Hornets struck again with 7:15 remaining in the opening quarter, breaking loose for a 26-yard touchdown run. The conversion failed, but Rayville had stunned the Cougars by jumping out to a 14-0 advantage.

From there, Cedar Creek’s defense took control.

The Cougars finally got on the scoreboard with 9:30 remaining in the second quarter when Harris capped a 10-play, 70-yard drive with a 7-yard touchdown run. The extra-point attempt was no good, leaving Rayville with a 14-6 lead.

It didn’t stay that way for long.

Cedar Creek got the ball back, and Bell finished off the Cougars’ next possession with an 8-yard touchdown run, capping a 5-play, 30 yard drive. Harris powered his way into the end zone on the conversion attempt, tying the game at 14-14 with 7:34 remaining in the first half.

The Cougars weren’t finished.

Bell went to the air on Cedar Creek’s next possession, finding Smith for a 17-yard touchdown with 2:16 remaining in the second quarter. The conversion attempt failed, but Cedar Creek had turned a 14-point deficit into a 20-14 halftime lead.

Cedar Creek’s defense continued to keep the Hornets bottled up, giving its offense a chance to eventually provide some breathing room.

That came with 5:46 remaining in the game when Bell connected with Pottharst for a 31-yard touchdown pass. The conversion run failed, but the Cougars had stretched their lead to 26-14.

The Cedar Creek defense made sure it stood.

After surrendering Rayville’s two quick scores, the Cougars shut out the Hornets over the final 43-plus minutes.

Cedar Creek finished with 228 yards of total offense, including 173 on the ground, while its defense held Rayville to 108 total yards. The Cougars also recorded six sacks and intercepted two passes, both by Bell.

Harris carried the load on the ground, rushing 29 times for 124 yards and a touchdown while also scoring on a 2-point conversion. Liam Durrett added 32 yards on eight carries.

Bell accounted for three of Cedar Creek’s four touchdowns. The senior quarterback completed 3 of 4 passes for 55 yards and two touchdowns while rushing 11 times for 28 yards and another score.

Pottharst caught two passes for 38 yards, including his 31-yard fourth-quarter touchdown, while Smith’s lone reception was the 17-yard touchdown that gave Cedar Creek the lead.

Defensively, Hayden Durrett recorded a team-high eight tackles, while Trigger Woodard finished with seven tackles and was credited with three sacks.

Cedar Creek will travel to North Webster next week.

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By T. Scott Boatright

Ruston High School’s Jerrod Baugh is admittedly an old-school head football coach — he might embrace this day and age of technology making an impact on the football field, but that doesn’t mean he has to like it.

“It’s invaluable,” Baugh said. “I still feel like it’s cheating to be able to use it in the middle of a game. I’m old school. Used to be that you relied on what coaches could see and determine in the middle of a game and now you can go back and review video and do all of that with the kids.”

Technology didn’t play as big a role as usual during Friday night’s 63-28 win over Catholic-Baton Rouge at L.J. “Hoss” Garrett Stadium because technical issues kept the in-game video drones the team usually uses from taking flight.

So, instead, the Bearcats staff had to rely on end zone video and video from the top of the press box for their coaches to use while talking to squads on the sideline using video tents during different possessions, be it offensive or defensive.

It was the second straight week the Bearcats faced such issues as they were not able to use drones during last week’s game against Edna Karr inside Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

“Like I said, it’s invaluable to be able to have that and I think our coaches being able to use that, whenever everything is working, to sit down with them and talk about what adjustments we need to make and all of that, so it is a big deal. When it’s working, it’s great, and when it’s not, I don’t know anything about it so I’m not much help with it.”

But when it all is working right, Baugh appreciates what technology and the people making it happen can do to make solid impacts for his Bearcats.

“Coach (Colt) Dunbar and the kids he’s got working with him are very important to this team. People don’t realize, those kids are at practices, they’re up here during the games, and a lot of people that can’t see under that (sideline video) tent, they’re watching guys who have uniforms on running around and don’t see the work they’re doing.

“(Chris) Brister (the RHS team trainer/coach) and the team of kids he’s got running around and working as student trainers, the group that Nick Brown’s got up in the press box helping to run the video (Jumbotron) — there’s a lot of stuff going on.”

And Baugh appreciates those things happening that are often unnoticed by the casual fan.

“There are a lot of behind-the-scenes things going on and all the students and coaches do a great job with it. I’m very proud to have them and am glad they want to do that for us.”

Bearcats senior quarterback Sam Hartwell directed Ruston’s big win over Catholic, completing 17 of 27 passes for 318 yards and five touchdowns while rushing the ball 14 times for 162 yards, including an 85-yard scoring scamper.

Hartwell said both in-game video and time spent watching video during weekly sessions before the game are a big part of the way the Bearcats prepare for contests.

“Our coaches spend a lot of time up here late at night breaking down film for game plans and putting it together for us,” Hartwell said. “And I just want to thank them for preparing us like that and giving us the opportunity to go out and execute it.

“I probably spend at least an hour a day watching film. I feel like I need to do everything possible to prepare for my teammates and that’s the best way I can do it. The time spent in the tent during a game breaking down video is huge. We get to see what the defense is doing and get to find more ways to attack them — get better and more positive plays. That happened tonight.”

RHS offensive coordinator Earl Griffin admits in-game video can be helpful but added that the coaches and players have to be ready to adjust when it’s not working quite like it usually does.

“Sam stepped up big tonight,” Griffin said. “We finally got back into the groove. Last week was a debacle. I don’t know if the lights were too bright for us or what. We knew we needed to rest (running back) Dalen (Powell, who is nursing a sore ankle) but that we still had a high-powered offense to go without him.

“The offensive line held up and that’s the main thing. We have guys that can catch the ball and run the ball — but those linemen are the most important guys on the field. Sam ran for nearly 900 yards last year and we knew we had to get back to that. We talked and made adjustments on the sideline and the guys came through. I’m proud of them.”

And while the Bearcats didn’t have the video Friday night they usually do, Griffin realizes how important it still is.

“It’s a game-changer,” Griffin said. “The past two or three years, the drone view, it’s spoiled us. Tonight we were without it. I think they said a wire went out. But for the most part, the end zone and side views were enough.”

Another “behind-the-scenes” part of the Bearcats’ play is the close on-field huddles they take during timeouts. One of those timeouts Friday night resulted in running back Kohl Gray taking a direct snap to paydirt from a yard out.

“Those direct snaps are a part of our game plan now,” Griffin said. “We’ve got some big (ball carriers) and it takes an extra second or two for Sam to be able to hand it off and Kohl and our offensive line did a great job tonight. If it would have been a playoff game, Dalen could have played tonight but his ankle was real tender on Monday so we decided to give him some rest.

“We talk about a whole lot during those timeouts. I can’t give away all the secrets, but for the most part, we talked about whether we thought we could get inside and block those guys and open the hole for Kohl. He wanted the football and is hungry. He’s been wanting the ball and he seized the moment and ran with it.”

Assistant head coach Kyle Williams said that in-game video can be important.

“I think it’s like everything else, it reinforces things that you see going on during the game,” Williams said. “It gives the players an opportunity to clean up some mistakes or whatever it is that may or may not be going on. Sometimes it works flawlessly and sometimes it doesn’t.

“We didn’t have the drone last week. We had it some this week. It never works in the Superdome, so we weren’t surprised when it didn’t work there. It’s a good tool for what it’s used for, having the opportunity to reinforce some of the things we see going on in the game. And it’s especially important for the kids to give them the opportunity to see it.”

Ruston’s defense had trouble stopping Catholic early on before tightening up and outscoring the Bears 28-7 in the second half.

But Williams said video had nothing to do with that happening on Friday.

“It was just playing better,” Williams said. “We didn’t see anything we hadn’t prepared for. We were ready for it. I think you get out there and play good football teams that are executing and sometimes you get in a position where we try to do too much instead of realizing that, hey, we just have to do our job.

“As they went along, they settled down and did a better job as the game went along. There were no halftime adjustments or anything like that. It was just settling down and doing what they were supposed to do and they did a better job in the second half.”

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By T. Scott Boatright

Now it gets real.

After a 2-1 start and a bye week, Grambling State opens Southwestern Athletic Conference play Saturday with a 6 p.m. showdown against Prairie View A&M at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.

Grambling State coach Mickey Joseph has spent the week trying to get his team, which is coming off a bye weekend, to not overthink things until the opening play against the Panthers.

“I want to see calm before the storm,” Joseph said. “So I want us to stay calm, but when it’s time to roll, it’s time to roll. We don’t want to unleash it until 6 p.m. Saturday. So right now it’s the calm before the storm. I’ve been there before. I’ve got to act like I’ve been there before. We won’t get too high.”

Joseph feels the bye week before the conference season opener was a good thing.

“It was a good week because it gave us the chance to get some kids healthy after a hard-fought battle against TCU, a very good team,” Joseph said. “I think we took a step forward as a football team because that was a measuring stick after playing two Division II teams.”

Joseph said he plans to simplify his game plan against the Panthers.

“We have to have a solid game plan in all three phases, but it’s gotta be what our kids can execute, not what our coaches know. It starts with me. I have to control it, and I will. Some of them are not going to be happy, but I don’t care.

“It’s what they can execute. And I said this in the beginning to my coaches, ‘Less is best.’ I’ve sat in the meeting rooms the last two years and said, ‘OK. This is too much,’ and been convinced that it’s not too much. But you’re not going to get me three times. I’m going to control the offensive side of the ball about what we’re going to do. Nobody is going to control it but me. And I’m a little upset right now because we had too much on the menu. With this (Prairie View’s) defense, it looks like you can do everything against them. No. Look at the numbers. They’re going to stop you when it comes to SWAC play. They drop eight. That means you should be trying to do something else if they’re dropping eight. I’m going to fix it and we’re going to put together a great game plan.”

A simplified game plan at that.

“When you play a team like this, you’ve got to do to them what hurts them,” Joseph said. “And sometimes as coaches we have a whole bunch of ideas. So, I’m sticking to my guns and going back to what these kids can execute. Not what my coaches think the players can do but what the players can execute.

“So, it’s a different mindset going into this year with this team on what we do on the offensive side of the ball and the defensive side of the ball. So, we’re going to simplify things and try to clean things up and put together a solid game plan. You should look at Prairie View like they’re 1-3. They’re 1-0 in the games that count — conference games.”

Joseph knows that a focus this week will be trying to contain Prairie View quarterback Kevin Carter.

“He’s a good quarterback,” Joseph said. “I knew him when he was at Memphis. He was there with my brother. He’s a big, strong kid with a dynamic arm. So, we need to make sure that we’re trying to keep him under control. But sometimes it’s hard to contain kids like that. Sometimes you’ve got to say, ‘You know what? Let him get his but force them to try to go to somebody else to beat us.’ But we’ve got to make sure we try and slow him down.”

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By Kyle Roberts

CHOUDRANT, La. — Grey Ramsey said he entered the fall playing the best golf of his life. The last month backed him up.

Ramsey won the Men’s Championship Division at the Squire Creek Club Championship on Aug. 29-30, then won the boys 14-15 division at the Mississippi Regional Final at Dancing Rabbit Golf Club in Philadelphia, Mississippi, a week later.

He then helped Louisiana beat Mississippi in the Junior River Cup on Sept. 12-13.

“This summer, I’ve been playing probably the best golf I ever have,” Ramsey said. “It’s been fun to be able to go out there and know that I’m going to have a good chance.”

At Squire Creek, Ramsey opened with a 4-under-par 68 to share the first-round lead with Hunter Battles, then shot 70 in the final round. He finished at 6-under 138, three shots ahead of runner-up Reeves Pullin, who shot 71-70. Battles and Brandon Newton tied for third at even-par 144.

The field was full of players Ramsey sees on the course almost every day, including several he looks up to. Battles and JT Stephens, who tied for fifth at 1-over 145, both played at Louisiana Tech, according to Grey’s father, Patrick Ramsey. Stephens also caddied for Ramsey at a USGA Junior Amateur qualifier.

“He got to play against and with a bunch of guys that he looks up to,” Patrick Ramsey said. “That was fun, just to compete at a higher level against some guys that he really respects.”

Ramsey said beating a familiar group made the win more meaningful.

“A lot of the guys out there were the real competition,” Ramsey said. “I play with them and against them a lot every day, and they’re always fun to beat. We talk a lot, so that one was really fun to win in front of a bunch of people I get to play with.”

The Mississippi Regional Final, a qualifier for the Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Championship, offered a tougher setup. Only two qualifying spots were available in the boys 14-15 division.

“That one’s fun because you qualify for an even bigger tournament, and it’s a really well-run tournament at a fun golf course,” Ramsey said. “That place was playing tough. Off the tee, it’s really tight, and the rough was thick.”

Ramsey shot 72 and 71 to finish at 1-under 143. That put him one stroke ahead of

Tyler Lindsey of Huntsville, Alabama, who shot 73-71. William Myatt of Germantown, Tennessee, finished third at 1-over 145.

The final round came down to the last of the light.

“What was interesting is it was really up against the clock,” Patrick Ramsey said. “He was about to run out of daylight.”

Patrick Ramsey said his son and Lindsey had pulled away from the field and knew they would qualify even if they could not finish. They kept playing, and Ramsey “had just an amazing back nine to pull ahead and win it,” his father said.

The following weekend, Ramsey was part of the Louisiana team at the Junior River Cup at Greenville Country Club in Greenville, Mississippi. The event is a Ryder Cup-style competition between the top junior golfers ages 13 to 18 from Louisiana and Mississippi.

Louisiana won 33-7.

“It was a pretty dominant win by the state of Louisiana,” Patrick Ramsey said. “He and his teammates did a great job.”

Ramsey’s Sunday singles match was not played, and Patrick Ramsey said his son was credited with the win. He spent the rest of the round riding along in a cart and cheering on his teammates.

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Hans Riegel was born in Bonn, Germany, in 1893.  After completing primary school, he began an apprenticeship as a confectioner, a candymaker.  During World War I, Hans fought for the Germans.  After the war, he returned to candy making and was hired by the Heinen confectionery company in Kessenich.  On December 13, 1920, Hans left the Heinen company and founded his own candy company.  His capital for his new venture included one sack of sugar, a marble slab, a chopper, a masonry stove, a copper kettle, and a roller.  It was a small operation compared to what he was used to at the Heinen company.  Working out of his small home at Bergstraße 37 in Bonn, Hans was only able to make about 110 pounds of hard candy per day.  As soon as a batch was ready to sell, Hans’s wife Gertrude loaded the candy into a basket on her bicycle and hand-delivered the sweets to customers.  Business was not growing as quickly as Hans had hoped.  He knew he needed a unique product to bring in funds to allow him to expand his business.  But what? 

Hans’s target demographic was children, so he thought back to the things that made him happy as a child.  In the late 1800s and early 1900s, showmen brought captive bears into towns to perform for passersby who would give them coins.  The bears were street performers.  The bears walked upright and performed numerous tricks, but the one the children enjoyed most, according to the number of coins taken in, was when the bears would dance as the showmen kept a beat on the tambourine.  They were called Tanzbären, or dancing bears.  In 1922, Hans used his fond memories to mold his candy into the shape of a dancing bear.  Hans shaped his bears with four outstretched limbs so they could sit upright or could stand on all four paws.  Children often played with the bears before eating them.  Hans created an edible toy.             

Sales of the dancing bears quickly exceeded Hans’s expectations.  By 1923, Gertrude could no longer keep up with demand on her bicycle, so Hans purchased the company’s first delivery automobile.  Hans’s candy went on sale in nearby shops and gradually expanded outward.  By 1930, Hans’s candy was available throughout Germany.  By 1933, Hans employed 400 people.  Production stopped during World War II due to the lack of supplies.  Hans died in March 1945, six months before the war ended.  Following the war, Gertrude managed operations until two of her sons, Hans Jr. and Paul Riegel, took over management of the company.  They built the company into a worldwide enterprise who employs about 8,500 workers in 16 factories in 11 countries who make more than 1,000 different sweet treats.  Their top seller is still the product Hans designed after the dancing bears that he remembered from his childhood.  Earlier I said Hans produced hard candy, but the dancing bears were something altogether different.  You may not have heard the word Tanzbären, but it is likely that you or someone you know has enjoyed Haribo’s gummy bears.

 Sources:

1.     “Hans Riegel,” Kessenichy ist Kult, accessed September 13, 2026, https://www.kessenich-ist-kult.de/kessenich-herz-des-bonner-suedens/personen-der-geschichte/hans-riegel/.

2.     “Haribo – About Us,” Haribo.com, accessed September 13, 2026, https://www.haribo.com/en-us/about-us/history.

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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.

A Ouachita Parish man was found dead by firefighters after his home near Calhoun was completely destroyed by fire.

The State Fire Marshal said the house fire on Luebenia Road claimed the life of the 63-year-old man. His name has not been released.

On September 23 at about 4:00 p.m., the Ouachita Parish Fire Department responded to the fire south of Calhoun. The small mobile home was completely destroyed. State Fire Marshal investigators determined the fire originated in the center of the home but additional investigation is underway.

In a written statement,  State Fire Marshal Chief Chad P. Sonnier said, “Our deepest sympathies are with this man’s family and loved ones as they face this heartbreaking loss. Tragedies like this are a painful reminder of how quickly a fire can become life-threatening. Having working smoke alarms in your home can provide those critical early seconds needed to recognize the danger, respond, and get to safety.”

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

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

Monday,, Sept. 28
11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome
1 p.m.: Ruston Duplicate Bridge Club meeting (Presbyterian Church, 212 N. Bonner St.)
6 p.m.: Toastmasters International meeting (Louisiana Center for the Blind, 101 South Trenton Street)
6-9 p.m.: Creative Meetups (Creatives at Work, 301 N. Trenton)

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

Wednesday, Sept. 30
7-8 a.m.: Veterans Coffee Club (PJ’s Coffee)
11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome
12-1 p.m.: Rotary Club meeting (Historic Fire Station)

Thursday, Oct. 1
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Kiwanis Club lunch and program (Trinity Methodist Church fellowship hall; Anyone is welcome to come to our meeting,please notify Richard Hamilton of your attendance. 318-518-2121)
1 p.m.: Ruston Duplicate Bridge Club meeting (Presbyterian Church, 212 N. Bonner St.)
6 p.m.: Southern A’Chord Chorus rehearsal (Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 212 N. Bonner St.; open to all women singers)

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

Saturday, Oct. 3
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Board Game Day (Depot)
2 p.m.: GSU football

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Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Louisiana Tech returns home this weekend as the Bulldogs host the fourth annual Argent Financial Classic at Squire Creek Country Club in Choudrant.

The three-day, 54-hole tournament begins Sunday and runs through Tuesday, with 13 teams scheduled to compete on the par-72, 7,105-yard course.

The Bulldogs are coming off a seventh-place finish at the Florida Atlantic Invitational in Jupiter, Florida, where three Tech golfers finished among the top 30.

Morton Bailey led the Bulldogs with a 4-under-par 212 to finish tied for 15th. Aidan Tudor was one shot behind Bailey at 3-under 213, tying for 20th, while Reda El Hali finished tied for 28th at 1-under 215.

Abel Derksen finished the tournament at 8 over, while Oskari Schuvalow was 19 over.

Tech will look to build on that performance while competing on its home course.

The Bulldogs tied for seventh in last year’s Argent Financial Classic. Bailey and Derksen are the only two players in this year’s starting five who were also in the lineup for Tech during the 2025 event.

Bailey tied for 15th last year, while Derksen tied for 79th.

Schuvalow, Gray Kingrea and Alejandro Sanchez also competed in last year’s tournament as individuals. Schuvalow tied for 15th with a 211, Kingrea finished 41st with a 216 and Sanchez finished 99th with a 250.

Louisiana Tech will be joined in this year’s 13-team field by East Texas A&M, Jacksonville State, LSU New Orleans, Lamar, Nicholls, North Texas, Tarleton State, Texas State, Troy, UL-Lafayette, ULM and West Florida.

East Texas A&M, Tarleton State and West Florida will make their first appearances in the Argent Financial Classic.

The tournament consists of 18 holes each day. Sunday’s and Monday’s rounds begin at 7:30 a.m., with players teeing off from No. 10. Tuesday’s final round also begins at 7:30 a.m., with players starting from Nos. 1 and 10.

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Ervin Livingston, Jr
Saturday 10/26/1946 – Wednesday 09/23/2026
Family Gathering: Tuesday 09/29/2026 2:00pm at King’s Funeral Home
Visitation: Tuesday 09/29/2026 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home
Celebration of Life: Wednesday 09/30/2026 10:00am at King’s Funeral Home
Burial: Wednesday 09/30/2026, Mt. Harmony Baptist Church, 210 Mt. Harmony Church Road, Ruston

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

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LPJ Staff Report

Dr. Jim Henderson, president of Louisiana Tech, has announced his intention to retire at the end of the calendar year.

In an email sent out to faculty and staff this morning, Henderson announced his plan to focus on his health in upcoming months. 

“Over the past several months, I have made passing reference to many of you about a decline in my health,” he wrote. “That deterioration has continued, and while there is not an immediate threat to my mortality, there is a noticeable progression.  

“It is with utmost sadness that I share my intention to retire at the end of the calendar year. Serving as Louisiana Tech’s president the past three years has been the joy of my career. Returning to a college campus and engaging with faculty, staff, and students was exactly as I predicted–energizing and indescribably rewarding. What I could never have predicted was the warmth Tonia and I received not only from each of you but from the Ruston community at large and the broader Tech Family.” 

Henderson’s short tenure at Tech has already been marked with accomplishments, including three consecutive years of revenue-generating enrollment growth including record-breaking freshman classes and the highest retention rate in the UL System. Under his leadership, Tech also announced the Radiance Technologies Microchip facility to be built in Ruston by Bulldog Microchips, a subsidiary of the Louisiana Tech Foundation. The project will result in 150 new jobs to Ruston by 2032. Additionally,  $38 million in federal appropriations with defense partners was secured to advance research in areas including biomedical engineering, micromanufacturing, cyber engineering, and forest products.  

Henderson also worked closely with the City of Ruston and state on a utilities infrastructure project to be completed in 2028 that will replace antiquated steam generation and modernize failing infrastructure throughout campus while realizing $1.6 million saving annually. 

This is a developing story.

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Special to the LPJ

RUSTON, La. — Boys & Girls Clubs of North Louisiana hosted hundreds of volunteers for a community meal packing event on Wednesday, September 16. Supported by a grant from the 9/11 Day Foundation in partnership with AmeriCorps, local organizations, community members, Club kids and their families packed hundreds of boxes full of apple cinnamon oatmeal packs in just a few hours. More than 24,000 meals will be donated to community organizations to help support families facing hunger.

“We are so amazed by the incredible effort and energy our volunteers brought to our event,” said Lexi Wooten, Volunteer Coordinator for Boys & Girls Clubs of North Louisiana. “The turnout proves how deeply our community cares about showing up for our neighbors.”

This local event was part of 9/11 Day’s nationwide “UNITE For Good” campaign, an unprecedented effort to transform the anniversary of 9/11 into America’s largest day of service. Through its $3 million grant program, 9/11 Day empowers local organizations to address critical community needs, with a primary focus on combating hunger.

“We’re so thankful to 9/11 Day and AmeriCorps for making this possible, but the real magic was watching our local volunteers work together to make this happen,” said Eldontá Osborne, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of North Louisiana. “It’s one thing to tell the Club kids about the importance of giving back, but showing them firsthand what it looks like when a community steps up to help their neighbors, that’s a lesson that sticks with them.”

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Dubach Mayor Mona Wilson has announced she is running for re-election to a second term. In a statement, she summarized some of the progress in Dubach under her leadership:

As current Mayor of Dubach and seeking re-election in November, I would like to let the residents of Dubach know what it means to serve you. As a lifelong resident of Dubach I attended school in Dubach, and raised my children in Dubach. I want you to know how much I love Dubach and its people.

Over the past five years as your mayor, many things have been improved upon and provided for our residents. I designed the entrance signs to Dubach to give a “Welcome to Dubach” inviting hometown atmosphere. These signs were built to last another lifetime for our residents. I designed a renovation of the James Lake Park and applied for a grant for its improvement. The added walk around the lake has made it a safe place for residents to come and “get their steps in.” Yes, the council must approve all things and they offered some input into them.

We were also able to make some headway with the run down apartments on Wynne Street. The owner was asked to tear down one of the dilapidated buildings and improve the looks of the others. There is still much to do, but it looks so much better than it did five years ago. The Town’s maintenance crew took over the clearing and upkeep of the Nature Trail on James Lake, making this a great place for bird watchers to visit our town and enjoy over 300 species of birds.

In regard to James Lake, I have worked with Wildlife and Fisheries to keep the algae out of the pond. This is an ongoing battle every year. I was successful in getting the park contractors to add a boat launch in their estimate when renovating the park. Many boaters have truly enjoyed being able to launch a boat in James Lake.

As Mayor, I have encouraged and worked with Dubach Legends in all their town projects over the past two years. As Mayor, I have made every effort to bring and assist new business coming to Dubach. I assisted Eric Hanna with bringing the GEM Theater back to our small town. Eric did the work but anything he needed from me or the Town, I was more than willing to help out.

For the past two years I have reached out to an investor about putting a fuel stop in Dubach. The property has been negotiated and hopefully in 2027, this may become a reality. A lot of work and planning goes into getting things of this nature, but I have been diligent about it and have never given up.

Three years in a row I was able to secure grants to install new garbage receptacles around the town and at the ball park. Anywhere you visit our downtown, you are able to see the new garbage receptacles. This helps our town to stay free of litter.

I was instrumental in obtaining enough voter signatures (going door to door) to add the sale of alcohol to the voter’s ballot and the voters were pleased to pass it. Although no alcohol is being sold at this time, it gives new businesses the opportunity to do so. It will also generate more revenue to our town. More revenue will keep our town moving forward in the years to come.

I have been working with local property owners and investors to bring new business to Dubach. A grocery store, a truck stop, a cafe, etc. This all takes time but as your Mayor I am consistently working and encouraging new business in our Town. I have raised donation funds and continue to everyday to bring a sense of community back to our town through town-wide events . These events are solely funded thru donations, large or small.

When I took office the donation fund was less that $1,000 and the Town of Dubach was only able to provide for the Santa Run at Christmas. Since then, I have begun many events such as Egg Drop for the kids, Trunk or Treat on Main Street, Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day lunches, Town wide clean-up day in conjunction with Love the Boot campaign, Pink Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness, continue with the Santa Run deliveries.  

I have been instrumental in putting together the Celebrate Dubach event around  July 4 for the past three years. It has become one of the largest fireworks shows in our parish. So many things go on “behind the scenes” at Town Hall that make these things become a reality. It takes making a lot of phone calls, letters and visits to people to ask for their support. As a Realtor for 35 years, I have made a lot of contacts and have no problem asking for their help. As the saying goes “it takes a village to run a town.” I could not do it without all of you.

Starting the food pantry filled a need in our community. It solely operates on donations of food and monetary donations. A lot of love and labor goes into it. However, with the rising cost of everything and the bulk of our community being on a fixed income, this has been the biggest blessing of all. The struggle is real people and helping in any way is a blessing.

Our water system has had thousands of dollars of improvements in the past five years. We still have things to do, but we are getting closer to getting a better grade on our water infrastructure. Our water operator of 20 years left and we were able to find not just one competent operator, but two in the last year. They have been able to repair and complete the items that had been overlooked for several years. We have had a rate study done on the water account and a rate increase was necessary to sustain the day-to-day operations of our water/sewer systems. Rates had not been changed in many years with an annual loss of $28,000 before  I took office.

Unpaid property taxes were not being collected. I implemented a system to get these collected and in 2026 we collected 96% of the property taxes owed by our residents.

Police traffic tickets were not being collected. I fixed that and have collected thousands of dollars due our town in past due traffic tickets.

So many things have happened in the five years I have been in office. But there is so much more to do and accomplish. I would love to continue over the next four years to help Dubach move forward. I cannot do it alone! I need the support of your Town Council and of course the support of the residents. Make your voice heard and vote to re-elect me in November and I promise to continue fighting for you and our Town. There is still more I want to do! Why? Because I was born here and will die here in Good Ole Dubach, La.

Mayor Mona Wilson

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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From Staff Reports

Third Judicial District Attorney John Belton is among six semifinalists being considered to become the next president of the Southern University System.

The Southern University System Presidential Search Committee announced the six semifinalists Thursday following a national search that attracted interest from more than 60 potential candidates.

Belton, who serves as district attorney for Lincoln and Union parishes, is one of three Louisiana candidates to advance in the search. He has served as district attorney since 2014.

Belton also has extensive ties to Southern University.

Belton served on the Southern University Board of Supervisors from 1999 to 2005 and was elected chairman in 2001 and again in 2002.

Joining Belton as semifinalists are Brian Bridges, a senior adviser with Whiteboard Advisors and former New Jersey secretary of higher education; Jaffus Hardrick, former president of Florida Memorial University; Roscoe Jones, former dean of Drake University Law School; Larissa Littleton-Steib, chancellor of Delgado Community College; and Willie Smith, chancellor of Baton Rouge Community College.

Littleton-Steib and Smith join Belton as the three Louisiana-based candidates in the group.

The six semifinalists are scheduled to interview with the Presidential Search Committee on Oct. 7. Following those interviews, the committee is expected to recommend one or more candidates as finalists. Those selected will participate in another round of interviews with students, faculty and other Southern University stakeholders before the Southern University Board of Supervisors ultimately selects the new president.

Southern has been without a permanent system president since Dennis Shields left the position late last year. Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center Chancellor Orlando McMeans has served as interim president.

The search originally was expected to be completed earlier this year, but the timeline was extended.

The Southern University System is the nation’s only historically Black university system. The system includes campuses in Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Shreveport, along with the Southern University Law Center and Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center.

The Presidential Search Committee is expected to complete its work in the coming weeks before forwarding its finalists to the Board of Supervisors for consideration.

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A Monroe man ticketed for driving with a suspended license early Tuesday called 911 four times over the next hour to curse at dispatchers, then was arrested when an officer sent to check on him saw him driving again, according to an arrest affidavit.

Shannon Valdis Williams, 50, was arrested by the Ruston Police Department at 3:28 a.m. Sept. 22.

Ruston police stopped a white SUV driven by Williams at about 2:21 a.m. and cited him for driving under suspension and having no insurance. Officers then left the scene.

Over the next hour, Williams called 911 four times. Each time he was belligerent and yelled profanity at dispatchers because officers had taken his license plate.

After the fourth call, an officer was sent to the Exxon on West Alabama Avenue. The officer did not see Williams’ vehicle when he pulled into the lot, but while turning around he saw the SUV traveling west on West Alabama Avenue and turning into the Exxon parking lot.

The officer detained Williams and read him his rights. After being told of the charges, Williams said he did not mean to curse out the dispatchers.

Williams was booked into the Lincoln Parish Detention Center on charges of improper telecommunications, driving under suspension and no insurance. The driving under suspension and no insurance charges stem from his driving again after being cited earlier in the shift. He was released on his own recognizance on those two counts.

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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By April C. Doughty

After losing our first gator in our first year of gator hunting due to a torn line, we’ve been hard at it, continuing to fight stumps during the drawdown of Lake Bistineau. The whole process feels like a race. The lake drops 6 or 7 inches each day, and each time we launch the boat from one of the few ramps still open, the process gets harder. Eventually we’ll have to try another ramp or stop launching altogether. Fortunately, we’ve had some success and have only one tag left, so we’re not ready to give up yet.

As the lake has continued to drop, we’ve gradually learned the lay of the water. We’ve found a few clear paths through the stumps, figured out where we can troll and run the motor safely and slowly, and most importantly, we’ve figured out what works when it comes to setting our lines.

After losing our first gator, we received some advice from a more experienced alligator hunter. He suggested that our problem probably wasn’t the strength of the line we were using but its length. We took his advice and shortened our bait lines. It made a difference.

On our next two trips to Lake Bistineau, we caught and harvested two alligators, one just shy of 8 feet and another just over 8 feet. For first-time alligator hunters, harvesting two gators that size was a pretty satisfying turnaround.

The actual process of catching and harvesting both gators went smoothly, and we’ve gained a much better understanding of what to expect. There’s still plenty we don’t know, but each trip has taught us something new. Brad even learned how to process the gators himself by watching YouTube videos, and he intends to try tanning the hides as well.

Since those first two successful hunts, we’ve had to balance our remaining alligator-hunting opportunities with everything else that comes with this time of year. We’ve been preparing for deer season, planning an anniversary bowfishing trip and keeping up with the kids’ extracurricular activities.

We’ve still baited and checked our remaining line a few more times, but the results have been less exciting. On some checks, the bait was gone. On others, it was untouched.

Technically, we could bait two lines for every unused tag, but we don’t want to catch more than one additional alligator since we have only one tag remaining. Louisiana regulations require an alligator caught in excess of the number of tags available to be released as humanely as possible. The regulations don’t provide additional detail about what that situation would look like in practice, and personally, I’d rather not find out.

So for now, we’re being conservative about how much bait we put out and enjoying the fact that we’ve already had a successful season.

One of the unexpected highlights of hunting Lake Bistineau has been the people. For the most part, others we’ve encountered on the lake, including other alligator hunters, have been friendly and willing to talk. We’ve learned a lot about where to find specific species of fish and where to go when we return with plans for rod-and-reel fishing or bowfishing.

We’ve also found that the boat ramp can be a particularly fun place when you have an alligator in the boat. Kids especially seem to get excited to see the catch up close, and people sometimes ask to take pictures, which we try to oblige.

At the same time, not every interaction we’ve had on the lake has been quite as positive. On the day we harvested our first gator, Brad had an interesting encounter with a group of other alligator hunters at the boat ramp. Our bowfishing boat tends to attract attention, so we’re used to fielding questions. This particular conversation started out casually enough. They talked about bowfishing and alligator hunting, and one of the men expressed an interest in bowfishing.

Brad told him that we’re planning to begin offering guided bowfishing trips next year and gave him information about how to find us on social media. Then, about 10 minutes after leaving the ramp, Brad received a call from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Someone had reported that he was “shooting gators with a bow.”

Brad explained that we weren’t shooting any alligators with a bow. We have a bowfishing boat, and we carry our bows because we’re often looking for opportunities to shoot fish. He even offered to let the game warden inspect the alligator, but the warden declined.

Interestingly, the warden explained that shooting an alligator with a bow is actually legal under Louisiana regulations and referred us to the appropriate section in the regulations handbook. We found that you can take an alligator with a bow, provided the arrow is barbed and has at least 300-pound-test line attached.

We won’t be taking that route. We’ll stick with the more traditional method, which we feel is safer and more humane.

Still, the experience was disappointing. We have no way of knowing whether the report resulted from a genuine misunderstanding or whether someone simply made an assumption and decided to involve wildlife enforcement before bothering to clarify what they had seen.

Brad had mentioned that he enjoys pursuing large alligator gar while bowfishing, so it’s possible the conversation was misunderstood. Whatever the reason, it was a reminder that not everyone you meet outdoors will necessarily give you the benefit of the doubt.

That can make you a little more cautious about sharing your experiences and successes, particularly when you’re participating in a relatively small outdoor community where people tend to cross paths repeatedly.

But we’re not going to let one questionable interaction overshadow the much more positive experiences we’ve had on Lake Bistineau. We’ve learned a lot, harvested two nice-sized alligators, met some genuinely friendly people, and gained a new appreciation for just how different alligator hunting is from the other outdoor pursuits we’re accustomed to.

With one tag left, we may eventually fill it. Or we may decide that two successful gators are enough for our first season. Either way, we’ll keep following the regulations, learning as we go, and as with most outdoor activities, we’ll try to focus on the good parts: the knowledge gained and the experiences that make getting out on the water worthwhile.

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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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by Wesley Harris

A Ruston man has been sentenced to over 17 years in prison after he appeared in federal court last week.

On September 18, United States District Judge David C. Joseph sentenced Charles Lamar Williams, 31, of Ruston, to 208 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, followed by five years of supervised release, after his guilty plea on March 16.

According to police and court documents, Williams was arrested on August 16, 2025, inside a Ford Fiesta parked at an apartment complex in Ruston. Agents recovered pure methamphetamine and cocaine, cocaine base, hydrocodone, approximately 984 grams of marijuana, 148 grams of synthetic marijuana, 34 fluid units of promethazine, alprazolam, and other drugs and related paraphernalia.

At the time, Ruston Police called Williams’s apprehension “a significant drug arrest.”  

At about 4:43 p.m. that day, Ruston Police officers were conducting routine patrols in the parking lot of a local apartment complex when they saw Williams seated inside a parked vehicle. Officers recognized Williams and were aware that he had active warrants for his arrest.

As officers awaited backup, Williams entered an apartment within the complex. Officers were able to locate the apartment, make contact with the residents, and safely take Williams into custody without incident.

Officers saw, in plain view through the vehicle’s rolled-up windows, a bag of suspected methamphetamines, multiple pill bottles with the labels removed, and mail bearing Williams’ name. The Lincoln Parish Narcotics Enforcement Team was contacted, and a search warrant for the vehicle was obtained.

The search recovered a substantial quantity of illegal narcotics and related contraband, including $6,033 in U.S. currency.

In a prepared statement after the arrest,, RPD said, “This arrest and seizure represent a significant disruption to illegal drug activity in the Ruston community. The Ruston Police Department remains committed to working alongside local and regional partners to combat narcotics trafficking and to ensure the safety of our citizens.”

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by Wesley Harris

The Louisiana Chicken Festival will return to downtown Dubach Sept. 25–26, bringing two days of food, music, contests, a parade, an antique car show, and other activities to the north Lincoln Parish community.

This year marks the 37th annual festival, which celebrates Dubach’s ties to Louisiana’s poultry industry and carries the theme “Rooted in Tradition.”

Activities begin Friday as food vendors start setting up at noon. Bingo will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Hamilton Warehouse, while Kingdom Sounds will provide live music from 6 to 10 p.m.

The festival gets an early start Saturday with arts and crafts vendors opening at 8 a.m. and setup beginning for the antique car show.

Opening ceremonies will be held at 9 a.m. at the First Guaranty Bank lot, followed by the invocation and national anthem. The antique car show also begins at 9 a.m. on Hico Street.

One of the festival’s traditional highlights, the parade, will line up at the Dubach School lot at 9:30 a.m. and begin at 10 a.m.

Several activities will run throughout the late morning and early afternoon. A LifeShare blood bus will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and visitors can take a “Dogtrot Tour” during the same hours.

The festival’s contests begin at 11 a.m. with a cakewalk at First Guaranty Bank. DRABO, the host organization, will have chicken plates available beginning at 11 a.m. at the DRABO office on Main Street and continuing while supplies last.

A drumstick eating contest will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the bank lot, followed by “Strut, Cackle & Crow” at noon. The Newlywed Game begins at 12:30 p.m., and a hula hoop contest follows at 1 p.m.

A DJ will provide entertainment from 1 to 4 p.m. Winners of the antique car show are scheduled to be announced at 2 p.m., and the cooler raffle drawing will be held at 3:30 p.m.

In addition to the scheduled activities, the festival will feature food, music, games, vendors, and other attractions throughout the weekend.

The Louisiana Chicken Festival has become a longstanding fall tradition in Dubach, drawing residents and visitors to the community for a weekend centered on local food, entertainment, and small-town traditions.

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