by Malcolm Butler

With exposed rebar visible in one travel lane and fresh patches appearing on the bridge deck, the condition of Ruston’s aging Cooktown Bridge has become increasingly difficult for motorists to ignore.

As construction continues on its replacement, many drivers have begun asking the same question: Will the 65-year-old bridge safely carry traffic until the new span opens?

According to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, the answer is yes.

While acknowledging the bridge requires ongoing maintenance as construction progresses, DOTD officials say they have no concerns at this time that the bridge will not remain in service until its replacement is completed.

“No, not at this time,” DOTD Public Information Officer Erin Buchanan said when asked whether the department is concerned the existing bridge will survive the next few years before the new one opens.

The existing Cooktown Bridge, built in 1961, is being replaced as part of an approximately $39 million state-funded project that includes construction of a new bridge immediately west of the current structure along with three roundabouts and other roadway improvements.

The project carries a four-year construction contract extending into 2029, although Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker has previously said he remains optimistic the bridge could be completed sometime in 2028.

In the meantime, DOTD said maintaining the existing bridge remains part of the project.

“During a construction project, the contractor is required to maintain from the beginning to end of their contract,” Buchanan said. “We’ve already had the contractor, JB James Construction, patch numerous locations shortly after the project began and will be doing that again soon.”

The bridge’s age is evident in several locations.

In the southbound travel lane currently open to traffic, motorists are driving across a section where reinforcing steel, commonly known as rebar, is exposed in the bridge deck. Buchanan said DOTD has already directed the contractor to patch numerous deteriorating areas since construction began, with additional repairs planned in the near future as crews continue maintaining the structure.

The bridge currently carries traffic in only one lane in each direction while crews continue constructing the replacement bridge and begin work associated with the future roundabouts.

Despite the lane reduction, DOTD said traffic volume itself is not placing additional stress on the bridge.

“The traffic volume is appropriate for the structure,” Buchanan said.

According to DOTD, approximately 17,550 vehicles cross the Cooktown Bridge each day in both directions. However, while the overall traffic volume has remained similar, does concentrating all traffic into one lane in each direction change the way the bridge is monitored or maintained during construction?

The department also said it has discussed contingency plans should an unexpected problem develop before construction is complete.

“Yes,” Buchanan said when asked whether DOTD has considered possible closure scenarios. “Most ‘scenarios’ could be repaired and the bridge reopened shortly.”

She cited a hole forming in the bridge deck as one example of a problem that could be repaired without permanently closing the structure.

“Example: A hole that forms in the deck could be patched,” Buchanan said. “We will continue to monitor the condition of the existing bridge and proceed with any necessary repairs.”

Buchanan said decisions involving any necessary repairs or potential temporary closures would be made jointly by DOTD and the project’s contractor.

“The City of Ruston technically has no jurisdiction over the roadway, but we would remain in communication with city officials so they are aware of the situation,” she said.

Construction began last fall and the project includes replacing the aging bridge, constructing three roundabouts and improving nearby roadways designed to better handle current traffic volumes and accommodate future growth.

But for now, Lincoln Parish residents are concerned about the present.

---

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 T. Scott Boatright

Granting approval for Mayor Alvin Bradley to search for and hire a new administrative assistant was the most pressing order of business during a special-called meeting Thursday evening in Grambling.

Bradley explained the need as the request began being discussed.

“I am making a personal request that (the City Council) give me approval to start a search to hire somebody because of Ms. Charlene Gray’s position,” Bradley said. “Ms. Gray has been out for a few weeks now. She’s had surgery and it looks like it may take a while for her to recover from that surgery, so I need somebody in the office. I needed it, like, yesterday. So I’m requesting that the council give me permission to find someone and make a hire.”

The City Council, with the exception of the absent John Brown, unanimously approved Bradley’s request.

Before the meeting began, a public hearing was held concerning amending an ordinance to correctly name the parcel owner of the property at 7455 Highway 80.

No one from the public made any comments during that public hearing.

During the meeting itself, the City Council approved amending that ordinance. That amendment changes the owner of the property from Elliott and Monica Jones to Councilwoman Cathy Holmes-Giles.

The vote was 3-1, with Holmes-Giles abstaining because amending the ordinance involves her.

Also approved was a request from Councilman Jerry Lewis, former fire chief/consultant of the Grambling Fire Department, former Lincoln Parish director of homeland security and former longtime member of the Ruston Fire Department.

That request was to hire Roxanne Jackson as a full-time registered firefighter.

“Miss Jackson has been with the Grambling Fire Department before she left,” Lewis said. “She has gotten at least three or four certifications.

“We’re trying to get her back into the fire department because what all those certifications do is help us on our (fire) rating. Anybody with those certifications helps tremendously as far as our manpower and our (fire) rating as far as our firefighting is concerned, so I’m recommending her tonight as a full-time hire for the Grambling Fire Department.”

Lewis’ motion passed 4-0.

Also hired was new full-time revenue specialist Terri Nichols.

“Ms. Nichols was interviewed by myself and a couple more people from the office and comes with experience in the water department in both Jonesboro and Winnfield,” Bradley said. “So I’m recommending that we hire Ms. Terri Nichols as a new full-time revenue specialist.

“We have one employee who could be out for six weeks, so this is a needed hire.”

Bradley’s request also passed 4-0.

Hired on a part-time basis as Grambling’s Main Street director was Raevyn Saint Val Lor.

“Main Street is one of the programs the city of Grambling has adopted and she’ll be working as director part time,” Bradley said.

Grambling’s Main Street program is part of the Louisiana Main Street initiative and is an economic program focused on historic preservation to help cities revitalize commercial districts by using core tenets including organization, promotion, design and economic vitality.

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 GSU Communications

Grambling State University’s Leisure Studies Program continues to hold a distinctive place in higher education as the only program in Louisiana accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT).

Housed in the Department of Kinesiology, Sport and Leisure Studies, the program is accredited through 2031. In a June 30, 2026, letter, COAPRT notified Grambling State University that the program’s 2026 Annual Progress Report met all requirements, supporting the program’s continued accreditation standing.

COAPRT accreditation is a national standard of academic quality for programs preparing students for careers in parks, recreation, tourism, leisure services, and related professions. For Grambling State students, the accreditation demonstrates that the program meets established standards in curriculum, student learning outcomes, assessment, continuous improvement, and professional preparation.

“At Grambling State University, academic excellence is not simply a goal; it is a standard we work every day to uphold,” said President Martin Lemelle, Jr. “The continued COAPRT accreditation of our Leisure Studies Program speaks to the quality of our faculty, the strength of our academic programs, and our commitment to preparing students for meaningful careers that serve communities and improve quality of life. We are especially proud that Grambling State remains home to Louisiana’s only COAPRT-accredited program.”

The Leisure Studies Program prepares students for careers in recreation management, community programming, tourism, sport and leisure services, parks and recreation, and related fields. Through coursework, experiential learning, and professional development, students gain the knowledge and skills needed to lead programs and services that promote wellness, engagement, and community development.

Dr. Obadiah J.K. Simmons, Jr., head and director of the Department of Kinesiology, Sport and Leisure Studies and director of the Sport Administration Graduate Program, said the program’s accreditation standing is an important point of pride for Grambling State and for students pursuing careers in the field.

“This continued accreditation demonstrates the strength and relevance of Grambling State University’s Leisure Studies Program,” Simmons said. “Our faculty remain committed to preparing students who are knowledgeable, service-minded, and ready to lead in recreation, parks, tourism, sport, and leisure-related professions. Being the only COAPRT-accredited program in Louisiana is a distinction we value and a responsibility we take seriously.”

“Accreditation matters because it provides an external measure of quality and accountability,” said Dr. Connie Walton, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. “The continued recognition of the Leisure Studies Program speaks to the dedication of Dr. Simmons, the faculty, and the department’s ongoing work to support student success and strengthen academic programs that meet workforce and community needs.”

As Grambling State University marks 125 years of academic excellence, the continued COAPRT accreditation of the Leisure Studies Program adds to the University’s legacy of preparing students to lead, serve, and make an impact in Louisiana and beyond.

---

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 Malcolm Butler

Grace Tucker has a different perspective on life after college than most recent graduates.

In fact, the 22-year-old’s mindset is downright atypical when asked what’s next following her graduation from Louisiana Tech University in May.

“My goal in life is to never use my degree,” Grace said with a laugh.

Wait, what?

Grace doesn’t mean that as a knock on her mass communication education. Rather, it’s simply an honest reflection of the dream she’s been chasing for years.

“I want to be a full-time artist,” said Grace, who grew up on a farm in Horatio, Arkansas — a town of 920. “That’s always been the dream. The communications degree was important, but my goal has always been to make a living creating art.”

c

After transferring to Tech following one year at Ouachita Baptist University, she initially pursued studio art before realizing she wanted to spend more time creating the kind of work she loved rather than producing assignments for grades.

“I realized I was spending all of my time making art for classes instead of making the art I actually wanted to make,” Grace said. “I wanted more time to build my portfolio and paint murals.”

Instead, she switched her major to mass communication, allowing her to continue pursuing her artistic goals while earning a college degree.

“My parents always told me, ‘Get your degree. You can do whatever you want after that,'” Grace said. “I wanted to honor that because they’ve supported me so much. The communications degree was my way of keeping that promise while still chasing my dream.”

That dream has already begun taking shape.

From downtown Ruston to classrooms at A.E. Phillips Laboratory School, churches and businesses, Grace’s colorful murals have become part of the landscape of Lincoln Parish. Last summer, that dream carried her across the country to Oregon, where she completed another large-scale mural project.

Along the way, she has discovered that murals are about much more than paint.

“I really enjoy making things lighthearted and joyful,” Grace said. “I want people to enjoy looking at them. You don’t have to pay money to go into a museum to experience art. A mural is something everyone gets to enjoy.”

Grace admits her artwork hasn’t always reflected the bright colors and cheerful themes that have become her trademark.

“Part of what got me into art in high school was that… high school’s hard on everybody, but I was real sad in high school, angry, you know, real emotional,” Grace said. “I was using art all the time to express how I was feeling.”

She said much of her early work was “very sad, very depressing, very dark.”

Today, however, her philosophy has changed.

“Even though life is tough, I’m always trying to bring positivity,” Grace said.

Whitney Causey, a professor in Louisiana Tech’s School of Design, remembers Grace volunteering her own time to help paint one of Tech’s early mural projects at MedCamps of Louisiana even though she wasn’t enrolled in the class.

“She was really interested in doing murals,” Causey said. “She volunteered her time and came out on days when some of the other students weren’t able to be there. She was donating her time and trying to learn from the process.

“She’s a really driven person. If something piques her interest, she goes for it, and she’s not scared to ask for help and learn from someone else. That’s everything I ask for in a student.”

A perfectionist in some ways.

“She was always seeking outside advice and wanting feedback on her own work and mural designs,” said Causey. “That’s just a rare find in students nowadays.

“It takes extreme self-discipline and a drive to put yourself and your artwork out there constantly. You’ve got to get face time with people in the community so they learn your name and think about you when they think about art.”

That advice may explain what happened next.

“I knew in the summer of 2025 that I wanted to paint something in Ruston,” said Grace. “I wanted to get my name out here somehow.”

Rather than waiting for an opportunity to find her, Grace went looking for one.

“I would be skateboarding around campus, and I kept skating past the studio,” said Grace. “You could just see through the windows, and there was all this artwork inside. I kept skating past and skating past. Finally I said, ‘I just need to go in there. I don’t know what this place is.'”

Local artist Loretta Owens remembers the day Grace walked into her downtown gallery after repeatedly driving past the building and noticing a large blank exterior wall.

“She just came in off the street,” Owens recalled. “She told me she liked to do murals and had been looking at that wall. She asked if I’d ever thought about putting a mural on it.”

Owens had thought about adding a mural for years but had never found the right artist. Grace came prepared.

“She said, ‘I’ll draw you up some things. You can tell me what you’re interested in, and if you don’t like what I do, you can tell me,'” Owens said.

That straightforward approach immediately impressed the longtime artist.

“I really thought she was a gifted young woman, and she works hard,” Owens said.

The two collaborated on a design celebrating Ruston’s history and Louisiana Tech. During the process, Owens suggested the mural needed more color. Rather than resisting the feedback, Grace embraced it.

“She went back out there and added some more color,” Owens said. “She worked hard on it. She did the correct preparation of the wall, and that’s just as important as what you put on it if you want it to last.”

As Grace’s portfolio continued to grow, so did the variety of projects she was entrusted to complete.

A few of those brought her to A.E. Phillips Laboratory School, where most recently third-grade teacher Alli Smith had only a rough concept for a classroom mural.

“I gave kind of a very amateur mock-up of what I thought my students would like, and Grace took my little idea and turned it into something bigger than I ever imagined,” Smith said.

Smith said Grace’s creativity extended far beyond simply recreating the sketch she was given.

“She took our school colors and different elements from the school that I hadn’t even thought about or never dreamed of, and she just brought it to life,” Smith said.

For Grace, every mural eventually becomes part of someone else’s story. One project, in particular, changed her perspective. After traveling to Klamath, Oregon to paint a mural last summer, she realized there was a good chance she might never see it again.

“When I was putting the last touches on it and taking pictures, it really hit me that I may never see this piece of artwork ever again,” said Grace. “All I have are the pictures I took. That was really bittersweet. I was thinking about that whenever I was flying back, that it was one final goodbye.”

Instead of feeling disappointed, she found the thought surprisingly meaningful.

“That is my mark that I left, and I hope it brings joy to people,” said Grace. “That was the whole point — that it educates people a little bit and shows them what Klamath has to offer. And then I just had to say goodbye.”

The mural would remain long after she had left, becoming part of that community’s story just as her work has become part of Lincoln Parish.

“I want people to feel happy when they see my work,” she said. “If I can brighten someone’s day just by painting a wall, that’s a pretty amazing thing.”

Those interested in following Grace’s work or inquiring about a mural project can reach her by email at gracetucker.art@gmail.com, follow her on Instagram at @ggpaintbigwalls, or find her on Facebook under Grace Tucker.

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 Bossier City man was arrested on DWI and other charges early Sunday after Louisiana State Police say he briefly tried to evade a trooper during a traffic stop and was found carrying a fake Arkansas driver’s license.

Peyton M. Wilhite, 19, of Bossier City, was arrested July 19 by Louisiana State Police.

According to an arrest affidavit, a trooper observed a gray Chevrolet Silverado traveling west on West Alabama Avenue just before 1 a.m. when the vehicle made a sharp left turn onto Western Street and accelerated quickly toward the center of the roadway. At the end of Western Street, the vehicle turned sharply again without signaling, heading east on West Mississippi Avenue.

The trooper activated emergency lights, and the vehicle stopped on West Mississippi Avenue. The affidavit states the driver quickly exited the right rear passenger door in an apparent attempt to evade the trooper before being ordered to approach, which he did.

During the stop, the trooper reported smelling alcohol on Wilhite’s breath. Wilhite performed poorly on field sobriety testing, according to the affidavit, and was placed under arrest, handcuffed and checked for weapons. He was advised of his Miranda rights.

The vehicle was parked and locked at the West Mississippi Avenue address. Wilhite was transported to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for chemical testing, which he refused, according to the affidavit.

Wilhite was booked on charges of first-offense DWI, failure to signal a turn, improper lane usage and possession of a fake Arkansas driver’s license. Bond was set at $1,500 on the DWI count; he was released on his own recognizance on the remaining charges.

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

---

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

A confrontation over a truck’s dead battery and jumper cables escalated into a gun being drawn during a dispute at a Caney Lane residence, leading to a Grayson man’s arrest on a felony charge.

Tristan Baum, 25, of Grayson, was arrested July 20 by the Ruston Police Department.

According to an arrest affidavit, officers were dispatched to a residence on Caney Lane in reference to a disturbance. The resident told officers he arrived home and found his ex-girlfriend, identified in the affidavit as a witness, in his front yard with Baum, who were moving the witness’s belongings out of the residence.

The resident said he noticed his truck had been repositioned and connected with jumper cables to a vehicle the witness and Baum were using. He told officers he became upset, walked up to the two vehicles and ripped the jumper cables off both trucks, and said he told the pair he would beat someone up. The resident stated Baum then pulled out a pistol and held him at gunpoint.

The witness told officers she went inside the residence when the resident arrived and heard arguing outside before stepping back out and seeing Baum pointing the gun at the resident. She said she told Baum to put the gun down. The witness stated the resident’s threats were directed at property and the situation in general, not at any specific person, and that she did not feel her safety or anyone else’s was in danger from the resident.

Baum told officers he and the witness had moved the resident’s truck to jump-start their vehicle after its battery died. He said the resident arrived and first went to the passenger side of the vehicle, speaking aggressively though Baum could not make out what he was saying. Baum said the resident then walked around to the driver’s side and began approaching him, saying he wanted to beat him up. Baum stated he told the resident he had a gun and to stop advancing, but the resident kept walking toward him. Fearing for his safety, Baum said he drew the gun and pointed it at the resident, who then stopped. Baum said he put the gun back in his waistband and called police.

Baum was placed in restraints and transported to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center, where he was booked on one count of aggravated assault with a firearm.

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

---

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

DUBACH, La. — The history of Dubach is closely tied to Louisiana’s timber industry, and one home in the heart of the village stands as a reminder of the community’s lumber roots.

A Louisiana historical marker commemorates the Dubach House, a residence built in 1901 by lumberman Fred Dubach, whose name would become synonymous with the village that grew around his thriving timber operation.

According to the marker, Dubach, a native of Wisconsin, established one of the largest lumber companies in the South in 1899. As the business expanded, the town of Dubach quickly developed around the lumber mill, creating jobs and attracting families to the area.

The home constructed by Dubach in 1901 served as a symbol of the community’s early prosperity and the economic impact of the timber industry in North Louisiana.

The marker notes that both the Dubach Lumber Company and the home were later sold to businessman T.L. James, who lived in the residence until 1921. The house entered a new chapter in 1936 when it became the home of the Trammel family.

Recognized for its historical significance, the Dubach House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The historical marker was erected in 1976 by the Lincoln Parish American Bicentennial Committee and highlights the home’s importance to the history of industry, settlement and economic development in Lincoln Parish.

Located along Louisiana Highway 151, just east of U.S. Highway 167 in Dubach, the house stands as a lasting reminder of the timber boom that helped shape the village and much of North Louisiana during the early 20th century.

Marker Inscription:

“Built 1901 by Fred Dubach of Wisconsin. He established one of largest lumber companies in South here, 1899. Town soon developed. Dubach Lumber Co. and home later sold to T. L. James who lived here until 1921. House owned and occupied by Trammel family since 1936. On National Register.”

---

Courtesy of Louisiana State Police

On Thursday, July 23, 2026, shortly after 4:00 a.m., Troopers with Louisiana State Police Troop F began investigating a single-vehicle fatal crash on Cooper Lake Road, just north of Bernie Turner Road. The crash claimed the life of 46-year-old Pamela Reynolds of Bastrop.

The preliminary investigation revealed that Reynolds was traveling south on Cooper Lake Road in a 2024 Toyota Corolla. For reasons still under investigation, Reynolds ran off the left side of the road and struck a tree.

Reynolds, who was unrestrained, suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene. Although impairment is not suspected, routine toxicology samples were collected and will be submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.

Troopers urge drivers to always make safe decisions behind the wheel: never drive impaired, always wear a seat belt, and avoid distractions. Taking a few extra seconds to buckle up or slow down can be the difference between life and death. 

---

By Brad Dison

In the early months of 1915, New York policemen knew unsavory characters had been living rent free in the dilapidated and seemingly abandoned building across the street from their station house in Brooklyn.  Finally, in late April, construction workers began demolishing the old building.  Only then did the policemen realize the scope of their problem.  As each floor was systematically disassembled, the unwelcome tenants just moved closer to street level.  The tenants that left the building took up residence in adjoining buildings or lived in the street.  They even began occupying the police station itself.  When policemen chased one away, it seemed that two or three more would take its place.  The New York Times reported, “Policemen who have faced all kinds of danger unflinchingly do not hesitate to say that it makes them feel decidedly uncomfortable.” That was an understatement.  The problem with the unwelcome tenants was out of control.  It affected all of the policemen in one way or another.  Some were unable to eat properly.  Others were unable to get a good night’s sleep.  Their work performance waned.  The whole area was going to pot.  The problem was not relegated to a single station house.  Other New York police station houses including Morrisania Police Station, Alexander Avenue station, and West 152d Street station were facing similar crises.               

In May 1915, the New York City Police Department added more than 100 new officers from a certain local tribe whose sole purpose was to rid their areas of the unwanted tenants by any means necessary.  A team of new officers at the Morrisania Police Station was led by an officer named Peter whom that station’s Lieutenant Peter Brady had adopted and named after himself years earlier.  In some cases, the police department filled the position by using the local homeless population, which solved two problems at the same time.  At the Alexander Avenue station, one new officer was not only homeless but nameless as well.  At the time of the New Yok Times’s report, the other officers at the Alexander Avenue station were trying to come up with a name for him.  One of the new officers at the Brooklyn Station who was described as being large and battle-scarred took the “by any means necessary” portion of his orders to heart.  The New York Times reported, “No count was kept of the number of [them] which [he] dispatched, but those he failed to slay he routed completely from the station house, so terrifying them that, according to the police, [none] since has had the temerity to show his nose in the place.”  With the help of the new officers, the crisis of the New York Police Department was resolved.  Why have you not heard of this murdering cop or his fellow officers who certainly performed similar atrocities against the unwelcome tenants?  They were from, as the New York Times reported, the “Feline Tribe.”  Those police officers and the unwelcome tenants were respectively… cats and rats.        

Source: New York Times, May 7, 1915, p. 23.

---

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.

---

Loading
crossword puzzle. One moment please.

---

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

Friday, July 24
2 p.m.: Forestry with Darrell Streett( Lincoln Parish Library)
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.
7 p.m.: Ruston Community Theatre presents “Guys and Dolls” (Dixie Theatre)

Saturday, July 25
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market
7 p.m.: Ruston Community Theatre presents “Guys and Dolls” (Dixie Theatre)

Sunday, July 26
2 p.m.: Ruston Community Theatre presents “Guys and Dolls” (Dixie Theatre)

Monday, July 27
11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome
4 p.m.: Storytime : Fruit (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
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 28
6:30 a.m.: Veterans free breakfast (VFW Post 3615, 206 Memorial Dr.)
10 a.m.: Storytime : Fruit (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
2 p.m.: Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries with Special Guests: BABY ALLIGATORS (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
4 p.m.: Teen Time :  Plant Pattern Bookmarks (Lincoln Parish Library)
6 p.m.: Video-Led Exercise class (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
6 p.m.: Adult Craft Night: Flower Mandala Garden Stake; registration required 318-513-5510 (Lincoln Parish Library)

Wednesday, July 29
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, July 30
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 : Watermelon Slime (Lincoln Parish Library)
4 p.m.: Teen Time :  Jigsaw Puzzle Craft (Lincoln Parish Library)
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 31
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Friends of the Library Book Sale (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
10 a.m.: PAWS for NELA Therapy Dogs at Lincoln Parish Library
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.
4 p.m.: Teens End of Summer Reading Party (Lincoln Parish Library)

Saturday, Aug. 1
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market
10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Friends of the Library Book Sale (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)

Sunday, Aug. 2
1-4 p.m.: Friends of the Library Book Sale (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)

---

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 head men’s golf coach Keenan Hickton announced the signing of sophomore transfer Jakub Janda, who will join the Bulldogs for the 2026-27 season.

Janda arrives in Ruston after spending his freshman season at the University of Houston. A native of Zruc-Senec, Czech Republic, he attended Sportovni Gymnasium before beginning his collegiate career with the Cougars.

Janda earned Academic All-Big 12 Conference Rookie Team honors during the 2025-26 season while competing in three tournaments during his freshman campaign.

He made his collegiate debut at the Houston Classic, carding an even-par 72 in the second round and tying for 33rd with a 54-hole score of 224. Janda later recorded his best collegiate finish by tying for 18th at the All-American Intercollegiate Individual at the Golf Club of Houston. He also posted a career-best 36-hole score of 145 at the Claud Jacobs Invitational.

He had an average round score of 76.44 after recording 688 strokes across his nine rounds.

Janda’s career-low round of 72 came twice during his freshman campaign, first at the Houston Classic and again at the Claud Jacobs Invitational.

Prior to his collegiate career, Janda enjoyed a successful junior golf career in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. He recorded multiple top-five finishes on the Czech Open Tour and SKGA Junior Tour, highlighted by a runner-up finish at the 2023 SKGA Tour IV Championship and third-place finish at the 2023 SKGA Junior Tour IV Championship. In 2024, he placed fourth at the Bohemia Cup Junior Championship and Czech Open Tour 4 before tying for fifth at the Czech Open Tour 5 Grand Finale. He also posted a ninth-place finish at the 2025 UAX Golf Tour Kaskada and recorded a top-10 finish at the 2023 First Tee Miami Doral Junior Classic in Florida.

---

The family of John Ed McKinney announces his passing on Wednesday, July 22^nd at the age of 88.  John was born in Warren, Arkansas on the family farm on April 15, 1938.  John is preceded in death by his parents, David McKinney and Gertrude Halligan McKinney.  He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Mary Lou, son Richard McKinney (Laura), and daughter Jennifer Haarala (Joel) and his sister Sue Lung.  John had five grandchildren:  Gavin McKinney (Nina), Brady McKinney (Bailey), Courtney McKinney, Michael Haarala (Breena)and Jacob Haarala and six great-grandchildren.

At the age of two, John’s family moved to Smackover, Arkansas where he grew up.  His mother Gertrude owned a dry goods store, and his father co-owned a grocery store.  John worked as a butcher in the family business and when he went to college in Conway, Arkansas, he worked as a butcher at Safeway.  John grew up working long hours in the family business, and it instilled in him a strong desire to have his own business one day.  John also met Mary Lou in high school in Smackover.  He and Mary Lou married and relocated to Ruston in 1958 where they both attended and graduated from Louisiana Tech University.

John and Mary Lou started a business in Simsboro, Louisiana selling chain saws in 1961.  By 1965, they also became a Honda motorcycle dealership and relocated the business to Ruston.  The new store was called McKinney Saw & Cycle and continues to be a family operated and owned business today.  John never forgot a face or a customer.  He remembered their names, what they had purchased and when they bought it.  He always wanted to help his customers and wanted to take care of them.  John loved going to work every day.  To him, it wasn’t work. 

John enjoyed duck hunting with friends and family, deer hunting with family at the Arkansas deer camp, attending La. Tech football games, spending time with his grandchildren, and spending time at the beach in Destin as well as traveling.  John also loved fishing but especially loved fileting the fish, his own and everyone else’s! John was a member of Grace United Methodist Church for over 60 years and was a member of the Board of Directors of Ruston State Bank.  He served in the National Guard for 4 years.

Visitation for John will be held at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Ruston, on Sunday, July 26^th from 4:00pm-7:00pm.  The service will be held on Monday, July 27, 2026, at 10:00am at Kilpatrick Funeral Home Chapel in Ruston.  Officiating the service will be Reverend Wayne Evans.  A private interment will be at Kilpatrick Memorial Gardens in Ruston.

Pallbearers will be Gavin McKinney, Brady McKinney, Michael Haarala, Jacob Haarala, Howard Halligan and Robert Temple.

The family would like to thank Premier Hospice, The Gardens at Georgia Tucker Memory Care Unit, Quality Care at Home and his special sitters Lisa Hanes and Priscilla Boateng for their loving care and compassion. 

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Methodist Children’s Home or the Alzheimer’s Association.

---

Jerry Whitman 
May 20, 1950  –  July 17, 2026 
Visitation: Friday, July 24, 2026, 9:30AM – 11:00AM, Temple Baptist Church Sanctuary 
Service: Friday, July 24, 2026, 11:00AM, Temple Baptist Church Sanctuary 
Final Resting Place: Choudrant Memorial Cemetery, Jones Street, Choudrant  

Charlotte Ann Washington   
Saturday 08/04/1951 — Wednesday 07/08/2026    
Memorial: Saturday 07/25/2026 10:00am at King’s Funeral Home 

---

By Malcolm Butler

Pardon the progress.

For Ruston motorists, that progress will require a large serving of patience over the next few years when it comes to traffic around the construction of the new Cooktown Bridge.

Traffic delays have already become a daily reality lately for many drivers navigating one of the city’s busiest corridors. And with Louisiana Tech University and Lincoln Parish schools set to resume classes in August, Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker knows the congestion is about to become even more challenging.

The ongoing bridge replacement project, combined with multiple nearby road improvements, utility relocations and new commercial development, is creating what Walker describes as one of the most congested areas in the city.

“If there is any way I can avoid that area, I think I would do that because that’s going to be congested,” Walker said. “And it’s only going to get more challenging when school starts back.”

Walker said the inconvenience is unavoidable, but so is the need for the project. The existing Cooktown Bridge, built in 1961, has served as one of Ruston’s primary gateways for more than six decades and is being replaced with a modern structure designed to serve the city for generations to come.

The approximately $39 million state-funded project will not only replace the aging bridge, but also transform one of Ruston’s busiest transportation corridors with three roundabouts, improved traffic flow and safer intersections.

While traffic backups have become common throughout the summer, Walker believes the return of thousands of students to Louisiana Tech University and Lincoln Parish schools will create the biggest challenge motorists have faced since construction began.

The bridge project sits along one of the city’s busiest areas, serving Louisiana Tech, Ruston Junior High School, numerous businesses and thousands of commuters each day.

Walker said bridge construction is only part of what’s causing congestion.

Crews continue working on the bridge itself while recently shifting traffic to allow construction of the project’s roundabouts and surrounding roadway improvements.

“What they’re doing now with the way they moved the traffic over is so they can start working on the roundabout and all those areas around it,” Walker said. “They’re still working on the bridge, of course.”

Utility relocations have also become a visible part of the project as poles and other infrastructure are moved to accommodate the new roadway configuration.

Adding to the congestion are several other projects taking place in the same area.

New commercial development continues near the intersection. The City of Ruston is constructing improvements along the Interstate 20 frontage road designed to reduce traffic backups during student pickup and dismissal at Ruston Junior High School. At the same time, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development is completing culvert work on the service road.

“It’s not just the bridge,” Walker said. “We also have new businesses going in right there on the corner. Then if you hit the frontage road going west, we’re working on the piece of the frontage road to alleviate the backup that Ruston Junior High causes. DOTD is also doing some culvert work between Trinity Methodist and Montessori School.”

Walker said construction on Cooktown Bridge continues to move forward as expected.

The contractor has a four-year contract extending into late 2029, although Walker believes the work could be completed sooner.

“It’s a four-year contract, so they have until 2029 to finish,” Walker said. “Based on what we’ve been told, we believe it’s going to be sooner than that. I still think it’ll be 2028 before it’s actually finished.”

As construction progresses, motorists can expect additional traffic shifts as crews move from one phase of the project to the next.

Some people have suggested assigning police officers to direct traffic once schools reopen.

Walker said the city has already discussed the issue with Ruston Police Chief Eric Watson but noted staffing limitations make assigning multiple officers to one location difficult.

“We’re already talking with Chief Watson about what we can do,” Walker said. “It’s really hard. If we have six officers on a shift and you have two or three of them there, it makes it tough.”

Walker noted officers have helped with school traffic in the area in previous years and said the city will continue looking for ways to ease congestion while working within DOTD’s traffic management plans.

“We’re doing everything we can to alleviate the issues,” Walker said. “But anytime you take a four-lane road and make it a two-lane road, there’s going to be problems.”

Walker knows the next couple of years will require patience from Ruston motorists. But he also believes the finished project will be worth the inconvenience.

The new Cooktown Bridge will replace infrastructure that has served Ruston since 1961 while improving one of the city’s busiest transportation corridors with safer intersections, improved traffic flow and infrastructure designed to accommodate future growth.

Until then, Walker urges motorists to stay alert, obey construction barricades and slow down through the work zone.

“I saw a lady the other night that was inside the barricades trying to get to Hobby Lobby,” Walker said. “People just need to pay attention. More importantly, they need to slow down.”

Bottom line is there may not be any good answer as construction on the bridge continues, but it’s a long past due necessity for Ruston.

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 Wesley Harris

As a child, I knew Shadow Glen Farm before I knew the word “conservation.”

To me, it was simply a magical place north of Ruston—a place of muscadines, good fishing, and deer slipping through the trees, and buffalo moving across the pasture like something out of an old Western. It was the kind of place a child never forgot, partly because it seemed too unusual to be real and partly because its owner, Glen L. Shadow, had made it that way on purpose.

My father worked for Glen Shadow and his brother Hale Shadow for a time at the Ruston Coca-Cola Bottling Company. Like many working men of his generation, Dad also picked up extra money where he could, and some weekends that meant going out to Shadow Glen Farm to bushhog, repair equipment, or help with whatever needed doing. While he worked, I explored.

I collected muscadines. I fished in the lake. I watched the buffalo. I remember the farm as a place where land, water, animals, trees, and people all seemed to belong together.

The harmony was no accident. One newspaper article described Shadow Glen Farm as “a conservation farm that is prettier than a picture,” with rolling green slopes, fine trees, springs, lakes, pasture, wildlife, and carefully planned soil conservation work. Shadow reportedly said he had never owned a piece of land that he did not leave in better shape than when he got it.

Like much of North Louisiana, Shadow Glen had felt the effects of decades of cotton farming. Shadow converted depleted fields into productive pasture planted in Bermuda grass, lespedeza, clover, and Dallis grass. He terraced the land, limed the soil, protected timber, and reforested worn acreage. He selectively cut timber rather than stripping the land bare.

He grew grass and trees as deliberately as another man might grow cotton. His registered Shorthorn cattle harvested the grass, and he took great pride in that herd, which he shipped to several states and even Mexico. But the cattle were only one part of the larger design. Shadow Glen was pasture, timber, lakes, springs, wildlife refuge, and working farm all at once.

The wildlife made the place unforgettable. Buffalo roamed there—seven at one point—and they were among the farm’s most striking sights. Shadow had bought three buffalo because of his deep interest in preserving an animal about to disappear from North America. Over time, the herd grew, even producing newborns on the farm.

The deer were just as important. During the cotton years, deer had mostly vanished from north Louisiana. Shadow brought them back to his land, raising them under permit and protecting them behind fences. Visitors might see 25 or more bounding through the woods. Some became tame enough to feed from his hand. He supplemented their winter forage with corn and oats. He knew their habits well enough to joke, or perhaps complain, that they loved his pecan trees, pears, and apples as much as the corn.

Shadow’s idea of conservation was not merely practical, it was protective. When foresters once asked if they might hunt squirrels on the place, Shadow reportedly told them they could hunt all they wanted—but not to bring guns. When rabbits damaged young pine seedlings, he preferred buying more seedlings than killing the rabbits.

That spirit helped define Shadow Glen. The farm was not just land improved for profit. It was land restored for life.

There were birds, too—pheasants, quail, cranes, even peacocks. There were fish so tame they came to the bank to be fed when Shadow drove down to the lake with bread.  

Glen Shadow loved dogs as much as he loved wildlife. Behind his Bonner Street home stood a complex of pens housing rare and unusual breeds. At one time, he owned 56 canines. He imported Bernese Mountain Dogs from Switzerland—the first brought into America—including a female that had received high European honors. He also imported collies from England, owned little tailless Belgian Schipperkes, and kept Shetland sheepdogs.

His interest in unusual breeds dated back to World War I. While stationed in Europe, he became acquainted with one of the keepers of the dogs at Buckingham Palace in London, a connection that would prove significant years later.

That war almost took his life. Shadow nearly died and later credited a French woman with nursing him back to health and saving his life.

During World War II, amid fears that German bombing might threaten Buckingham Palace, Shadow was asked to care for the royal dogs. They were dispatched to Ruston for safekeeping. By the time the war ended, the dogs were five years older, and the complexities of safely shipping them back to England led authorities to ask Shadow to keep them permanently.

My own first pet came from Mr. Glen. That toy terrier made the man and his farm personal to me in a way the buffalo and deer could not. Among all the animals he owned, it was a tiny dog that left the deepest mark on me. I still think of “Buttons” often.

Shadow’s interest in animals had deep roots. He once said the farm “went back to when I was a kid” and that, as a boy, he had been interested in anything that breathed. He had dreamed of such a farm long before he built one.

His life had taken him through several places before Ruston. Born June 13, 1893, Glen Shadow came from a family that had worked in nursery and fruit tree cultivation. The family eventually moved south, and Glen’s path brought him to Ruston, where he became associated with Coca-Cola and later built Shadow Glen into a conservation landmark. Brother Hale joined him when Glen asked for his help in running the company.

The Ruston businessman was also part of a broader conservation movement. He helped originate the “Keep Louisiana Green” program, and one organizational gathering was held at Shadow Glen Farm. He protected timber, kept fire out, built terraces, improved pastures, and surrounded his farm with miles of fencing. Even the fence was unusual: old Model T frames were used as posts along sections of the farm.

Shadow Glen was not open as a tourist attraction. Shadow kept it locked, not because he was unfriendly, but because open gates could mean escaped animals or damaged work. Friends and visitors were welcome by appointment, and those who came found a man eager to talk about conservation in almost any form.

Looking back, I understand now what I could not have fully understood as a child. Shadow Glen felt magical because it was rare. It was not simply a pretty farm. It was a restoration project, a wildlife refuge, a demonstration of soil conservation, a pasture system, a timber preserve, and a boyhood dream made real.

When I watched the buffalo, gathered muscadines standing on top of Dad’s truck to reach the vines, or fished while my father worked nearby, I was seeing the result of decades of intention. Glen Shadow had taken tired land and given it back its abundance. He brought back grass and trees where cotton had worn out the soil, deer where cultivation had wiped away the woods, and buffalo where no one expected buffalo to be.

For a child, it was wonder. As an adult, I came to see something more. Glen and Hale Shadow’s deep faith was reflected in the way they treated both the land and the people around them. Their conservation work was not simply practical; it was an act of stewardship.

Shadow Glen Farm was conservation ahead of its time. In ways both visible and lasting, the Shadow family helped shape Ruston and Lincoln Parish for the better.

---

Courtesy of LA Tech University Communications

The School of Human Ecology in Louisiana Tech University’s College of Education and Human Sciences is launching a new undergraduate certificate in Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), designed to prepare students for careers such as Registered Behavior Technicians.

This certificate aims to address the increasing demand for trained professionals who support individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental and behavioral needs.

“The Applied Behavioral Analysis Undergraduate Certificate was developed to meet a growing need within our community,” Dr. Matthew Thornton, director of the School of Human Ecology, said. “As more children are identified with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental challenges, the demand for high-quality ABA services has increased. This certificate creates a clear pathway for students to enter this vital field, equipping them with the skills needed to support children and families while strengthening the capacity of local services.”

Through coursework focused on the principles of behavior analysis, students will develop practical skills that can be applied in clinical, educational, and community-based settings.

For Kaitlyn Brown, adjunct professor in the School of Human Ecology, the addition of the certificate represents an opportunity to prepare students for meaningful careers.

“The rates of autism are increasingly high in our country, and providers who can render effective and ethical treatment are highly sought after,” Brown said. “Students of this program will be able to immediately serve this need in their communities. Children and young adults in Northwest Louisiana will feel the effect of having an increase in additional providers equipped to help improve the quality of their lives.”

The impact of the program extends beyond the classroom. According to DeAnna Morrow, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), ABA business owner, and Louisiana Tech alumna, the certificate will help future students enter the workforce with the knowledge and confidence needed to make a difference.

“This program represents a meaningful investment in preparing students with practical, evidence-based skills that are increasingly valuable across education, healthcare, human services, and community settings,” Morrow said. “For students in the human development and family sciences (HDFS) program, the ABA certificate provides an opportunity to build competencies in understanding behavior, teaching new skills, and supporting individuals with diverse needs. These are highly transferable skills that enhance graduates’ ability to serve children, families, and communities in a wide variety of professional roles.”

As the demand for ABA professionals grows, the School of Human Ecology is committed to preparing students for careers that meet critical workforce needs while improving the quality of life for individuals and families across communities.

---

A search of a Choudrant home for a woman wanted on multiple warrants, including one for failing to register as a sex offender, ended with deputies finding her hidden in a secret room behind a bedroom closet — and led to a second arrest at the same address.

Sommer Hattaway, 34, of Choudrant, was arrested July 19 by the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office. Jeremy Gates, 41, also of Choudrant, was arrested the same day in connection with the search.

According to an arrest affidavit, deputies went to a residence on New Hope Road in reference to the possibility that Hattaway, who had several active warrants, was inside. Deputies made contact with Gates, who initially told them Hattaway was not there and that he had not seen her in some time.

Gates gave deputies consent to search the residence. During the search, deputies located a hidden room in the master bedroom closet that could only be locked from the inside with a deadbolt. Deputies advised Gates of his rights and instructed him to tell Hattaway to come out of the room. She complied and was taken into custody.

According to the affidavit, Gates initially withheld Hattaway’s presence from deputies before she was located. He was arrested on a charge of harboring or concealing a sex offender.

Deputies noted that an active protective order listed Gates as a protected person against Hattaway at the New Hope Road address, putting her in violation of that order as well.

Both were transported to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center. Hattaway was booked on charges of domestic abuse battery amended to simple battery, simple battery, aggravated assault, failure to register as a sex offender (fifth offense), and violation of a protective order; bond on the sex-offender registration charge was set at $150,000, with no bond set on the remaining charges. Gates was booked on a charge of harboring or concealing a sex offender.

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.

---

By Wesley Harris

Somewhere along the way, black-and-white movies developed an undeserved reputation. Mention one, and people react as though watching it might permanently damage their eyesight.

“It’s black and white?”

Yes. And so are newspapers. Somehow we’ve survived both.

The truth is some of Hollywood’s greatest stories were filmed before color became standard. These movies rely on sharp writing, memorable characters and performances so good you’ll forget they’re not in Technicolor after about five minutes.

If you’ve never ventured into classic cinema—or if it’s been a while—here are 10 black-and-white films that deserve a spot on your watch list.

The Canterville Ghost (1944)

Adorable child actress Margaret O’Brien steals nearly every scene in this charming comedy-fantasy about a centuries-old ghost who can’t seem to scare the U.S. Army unit that moves into his castle during World War II. Charles Laughton is wonderfully grumpy as the frustrated ghost, but it’s O’Brien’s warmth and determination that make this film unforgettable. Funny, touching, sometimes a little silly and just spooky enough, the film is an irresistible mixture of ghost story, wartime comedy and family adventure.

Roman Holiday (1953)

Audrey Hepburn won the Academy Award for best actress in her very first starring role, and it’s easy to see why. She plays a European princess who slips away from her royal duties to spend one magical day exploring Rome with an American reporter played by Gregory Peck, who doesn’t let on that he knows who she is. Funny, romantic and bittersweet, this is one of Hollywood’s most beloved love stories.

Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)

If your family gatherings seem a little unusual, wait until you meet the Brewsters. Cary Grant races through this wonderfully chaotic comedy after discovering his sweet elderly aunts have a rather disturbing hobby involving lonely old gentlemen and homemade elderberry wine. It’s one of the funniest dark comedies ever filmed.

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

Gregory Peck’s Oscar-winning performance as Atticus Finch anchors this faithful adaptation of Harper Lee’s classic novel. Told through the eyes of young Scout, the film explores justice, courage and compassion in a small Southern town. Powerful, moving and just as relevant today as when it premiered.

Red River (1948)

Before modern Westerns became fashionable, John Wayne and Montgomery Clift showed everyone how it was done. This epic cattle-drive adventure delivers breathtaking scenery, tense action and a memorable clash between a stubborn trail boss and the young man who challenges his authority.

The Grapes of Wrath (1940)

John Ford’s adaptation of John Steinbeck’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel follows the Joad family as they leave the Dust Bowl in search of a better life in California. Henry Fonda gives one of the finest performances of his career in a film that remains both heartbreaking and inspiring.

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947)

Part romance, part fantasy and part ghost story, this gentle classic tells the story of a young widow who moves into a seaside cottage haunted by a retired sea captain. Rex Harrison and Gene Tierney create one of cinema’s most unusual—and touching—love stories.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

James Stewart plays an idealistic young senator who discovers honesty isn’t exactly popular in Washington. Frank Capra’s timeless political drama is inspiring, funny and suspenseful, featuring one of the greatest filibuster scenes ever put on film.

The Thin Man (1934)

Forget every detective you’ve ever seen on television. William Powell and Myrna Loy are Nick and Nora Charles, a wealthy, wisecracking married couple who stumble into a murder mystery while trading witty banter, sipping cocktails and letting their wire fox terrier, Asta, steal a few scenes of his own. Equal parts mystery and comedy, it’s one of the most entertaining films Hollywood ever produced.

The Philadelphia Story (1940)

Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant and James Stewart form one of the greatest casts ever assembled. Set during the chaotic days leading up to a society wedding, this sparkling romantic comedy is full of sharp dialogue, mistaken identities and enough charm to brighten any evening.

The next time you’re scrolling endlessly through streaming services looking for something “new,” consider going back 80 years or so. These films have lasted because they tell great stories with unforgettable characters, not because of special effects. You may have to seek a DVD or Amazon rental since you won’t find these on Netflix or Apple TV+.

Give one a try. Within a few minutes, you’ll probably stop noticing it’s black and white—and start wondering why you waited so long. You might even find yourself wondering what other cinematic treasures you’ve been missing.

---

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 theft investigation involving multiple visits to the same property led to the arrest of a Ruston man on felony charges.

David Blackwelder, 33, of Ruston, was arrested July 19 by Lincoln Parish deputies.

According to an arrest affidavit, deputies responded to a Bethany Lane address regarding a theft complaint. Deputies had already responded to the property earlier that day for items reported stolen, as well as on July 16.

The affidavit states the property owner placed a trail camera on the land after deputies left earlier in the day. He received a notification and observed a red SUV hauling a small trailer with a green four-wheeler on the property.

Deputies had separately made contact with Blackwelder at the Sheriff’s Office, where he was found driving a red SUV with a small trailer matching the one seen in the trail cam video, though without the four-wheeler. The victim had originally reported a four-wheeler stolen from the property on July 16.

According to the affidavit, the victim said he was contacted by someone on Facebook who had seen a post listing the stolen property for sale. That person provided a license plate number and identified the driver as Blackwelder.

While deputies were on scene, Blackwelder arrived driving the same vehicle seen in the video, with a matching license plate. He had a yellow four-wheeler loaded on the trailer, which had also been reported stolen on July 16 — indicating he had entered the property on at least three separate occasions.

Blackwelder was detained and advised of his Miranda rights, which he acknowledged understanding. When questioned about the items, he said he was told to collect them as payment for work he had done for someone he could not name. Using a list of items provided by the victim, Blackwelder admitted to taking everything on the list except a chainsaw, including both four-wheelers, a large water pump, multiple tables and chairs, a charcoal grill, a wooden kitchen island with a marble countertop, and decorative signs. He told deputies he could show them where the property was located, at an abandoned house off Tech Farm Road. The victim estimated the total value of the stolen property at $9,000.

Deputies transported Blackwelder to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center, where they located the property at the address he provided. The wooden kitchen island was visible in plain view on the exterior of the residence and appeared damaged, with pieces of wood broken or missing and the marble countertop missing.

Blackwelder was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center on three counts of criminal trespassing, felony theft, and simple criminal damage to property.

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

---

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

by Caleb Seney, Executive Director of MedCamps of Louisiana

Each summer, MedCamps of Louisiana welcomes hundreds of children living with chronic illnesses and disabilities to Camp Alabama in Choudrant, where they discover adventure, friendship, and confidence in a medically safe environment. One of the most meaningful weeks of the summer is Camp Little Giants, a residential camp designed specifically for children ages 6–16 living with Sickle Cell Disease.

For many families, the daily realities of Sickle Cell Disease can be challenging. Sickle Cell Disease is an inherited blood disorder that causes red blood cells to become hard and sickle-shaped rather than round. These misshapen cells can block blood flow, leading to severe pain episodes, anemia, infections, and other serious health complications. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 100,000 people in the United States are living with Sickle Cell Disease, with the condition affecting about 1 in every 365 African American births.

Camp Little Giants provides these children with something every child deserves—a week filled with swimming, fishing, canoeing, arts and crafts, archery, outdoor adventures, campfires, music, games, and lasting friendships. While campers experience all the excitement of a traditional summer camp, parents enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing their children are surrounded by medical professionals who understand their unique healthcare needs.

This exceptional level of care is made possible through MedCamps’ longstanding partnership with the St. Jude Affiliate Clinic at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital in Baton Rouge. The clinic provides an outstanding team of physicians, physician assistants, social workers, and child life specialists who volunteer their time throughout the week. Together, they deliver around-the-clock medical care, educational programming that helps campers better understand and manage their condition, and support families by recruiting campers through the clinic’s patient network.

The partnership allows children to participate in activities they may never have imagined possible while remaining under the supervision of healthcare providers who specialize in treating Sickle Cell Disease. Throughout the week, campers build confidence, learn valuable self-management skills, and connect with peers who truly understand their experiences.

“For kids living with sickle cell disease, MedCamps (Camp Little Giants) is so much more than a week away. It’s a place that truly feels like home,” says J. Mason Kent, PA-C| Physician Assistant at St. Jude’s Baton Rouge Affiliate Clinic.  “I’ve had the privilege of coming to this camp for nearly 10 years, and every year I am reminded of the incredible impact it has.  From the leadership to the counselors, every child is seen, loved, supported, and cared for.  They get to leave behind the worries that come with living with a chronic illness and simply be kids.  That’s why they talk about camp all year and can’t wait to come back.

“And for me, MedCamps is where I get to set down the stethoscope and just be with them. Not just as their physician assistant, but as someone who gets to laugh with them, hear their questions, their fears, their hopes, and build connections that help us care for them better.”  Mason says as he attends a archery session with a cabin group.  Mason adds, “I love these kid. I love their families.  And I’m incredibly grateful and honored to be a small part of their lives. MedCamps is a reminder of why I chose this profession, and why I keep coming back.”

Since 1987, MedCamps of Louisiana has remained committed to providing free camping experiences for children living with chronic illnesses and disabilities. Thanks to generous donors, community partners, volunteers, and dedicated medical professionals, families never receive a bill for their child’s camp experience.

Programs like Camp Little Giants demonstrate the incredible impact that collaboration can have. By combining MedCamps’ tradition of creating life-changing camp experiences with the medical expertise of the St. Jude Affiliate Clinic at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital, children living with Sickle Cell Disease are given the opportunity to enjoy childhood, gain independence, and create memories that will last a lifetime.

For more information about MedCamps of Louisiana or to learn how you can support its mission, visit MedCamps.org.

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.

---

Reminder for Lincoln Parish Residents!

Just a friendly reminder about the new notification system that keeps you informed about emergencies, weather updates, and local events in Lincoln Parish.

Participants found this extremely useful during the recent winter storm and you will too!

If you haven’t signed up yet, make sure you do so to stay in the know. Your safety matters to us, so don’t miss out on important updates!

Click the link to sign up for alerts: www.lincalerts.org Stay safe and informed!

---