Dubach Mayor Mona Wilson resigned during Thursday night’s town council meeting.
by Wes Harris
Dubach Mayor Mona Wilson announced her resignation Thursday, two days after leading a three-candidate field in the town’s mayoral election. Wilson also asked to withdraw from the Dec. 12 runoff. If the state accepts her withdrawal, challenger Corey Beckham would be the sole remaining candidate and would be declared elected under Louisiana law.
In a signed, notarized memo dated Nov. 5 and addressed to town employees and council members, Wilson said she intended to resign immediately. She said she had mailed the necessary paperwork to the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office and expected it to arrive in a few days.
Wilson had been on medical leave for about a week. She cited her health and well-being and said she could no longer work with Councilwoman Evelyn Graham. Wilson also contended in the memo that Monday’s special council meeting was illegal.
Graham said she called the Nov. 2 meeting to discuss “town issues surrounding mayoral race.” She told those attending that it was her understanding any council member could call a special meeting as long as three members were present. Other council members said they had not been consulted about calling the meeting.
Louisiana law allows the mayor or a majority of the council to call a special meeting outside the regular meeting schedule. A separate provision requires a majority of council members to be present for a quorum.
At the start of the meeting, the council voted to broaden the agenda to allow discussion of any town issues. A larger-than-usual crowd attended, but several minutes passed in silence after the floor was opened for public comment. Only a few residents stepped to the microphone before Kyle Hennigan and Monique Roberts called for adjournment. The meeting lasted about 15 minutes.
Rumors and speculation circulated on social media in the days leading up to Tuesday’s election. Beckham and fellow challenger Kimberly Gill posted repeatedly about Wilson, making allegations against her. Some Dubach residents responded with appeals for civility, asking their neighbors to ease the personal criticism and focus on town issues.
Beckham and Gill continued posting on social media during the two days following the election.
Wilson received 121 votes, or 42%, according to complete but unofficial returns. Beckham received 93 votes, while Gill received 72. Wilson and Beckham advanced to the runoff because no candidate received a majority.
Wilson said the Secretary of State’s Office advised her that the mayor pro tem would assume her duties through the end of the year. She identified Councilwoman Mary Billberry as her replacement for the remainder of the term and said the new mayor would take office Jan. 1.
This is a developing story. The Lincoln Parish Journal will provide updates as more information becomes available.
(Members of the Future Farmers’ of America State Championship teams were honored at Thursday’s board meeting. Photo by Judith Roberts)
By Kyle and Judith Roberts
RUSTON, La. — The Lincoln Parish School Board approved one-time stipends of $2,000 for certified employees and $1,000 for support staff at its regular meeting Thursday at the main office, with the district covering nearly $400,000 in costs so employees the state’s funding does not reach can be included.
The board also approved a 2027 health plan renewal and raised its stop-loss limit.
Board President Gregg Phillips said the board looked at who the governor’s order covered and who it left out, and chose to cover as many employees as it could.
“When we looked at what the governor’s stipend mandate did, who it covered, who it didn’t, we had a burden for all of our employees, so we wanted to do as many employees as we possibly could,” Phillips said. “So the superintendent and his staff did a great job of finding as much funds as we could possibly do to help our employees, because every employee is so important to us. And so we wanted to recognize and help them as much as we could. We know times are tough. So we wanted to do what we could.”
The stipends stem from Executive Order 26-047, under which the state redirected $168 million in Minimum Foundation Program money. The packet says the order funds only certain positions, and any excluded employees must be paid with local funds or receive no stipend. The positions listed as excluded from the state-funded list include principals and other school administrators, school nurses, pre-K staff, resident teachers and several other groups.
The packet estimates the stipends will go to 597 certified employees at a cost of $1,434,560.17 and to 379 support staff at $421,191.72. The total cost with benefits is estimated at $1,855,751.89. Under the plan, part-time hourly support employees with regular schedules of at least 20 hours would receive $800. Part-time salaried certified employees and those working 10 to 20 hours would receive prorated amounts. Employees must be actively working Nov. 14 to be eligible, according to the packet.
The board’s local share will come from 2020 Sales Tax Fund one-time expense reserves. Payments will go out in the Dec. 17 payroll.
Every item on the agenda that required a vote passed unanimously. Board member Donna Doss, District 4, was absent.
The meeting opened with a recognition of Ruston High FFA state champions. LPSB Communications Coordinator Brandon Sutherland introduced two teams: The farm and agribusiness management team, which earned a bronze emblem at nationals, and the marketing plan team, which earned a silver emblem at nationals, placing it between the ninth and 16th best team in the nation.
Finance Committee Chairperson George Mack Jr. then reported on the committee’s meeting and turned to the health plan items.
Chief Financial Officer Juanita Duke reported that supplemental benefits such as cancer and disability plans will not change for 2027. The dental plan, however, will rise about 9 percent.
The board then voted to continue claims administration with UMR and pharmacy benefit management with Managed Pharmacy Alliance. It also approved the PPO plan design known as Option 2 for the plan year that begins Jan. 1, 2027.
Under the design, the annual out-of-pocket maximum rises from $6,500 to $7,500 per member. The deductible, which stays at $800, will no longer apply to doctor visits. Members will instead pay a $50 copay for a primary care visit and $75 for a specialist visit. Prescription copays for formulary and non-formulary drugs rise, and the specialty drug copay cap goes from $250 to $300 per prescription.
Jason Huffman of Brown & Brown, the plan’s broker consultant, said the changes affect few members.
“The number of folks that will typically hit that maximum out of pocket over the course of the year is between about 3 and 4 percent,” Huffman said. “So of the 170 or so retirees that are on that plan right now, that’s about six or seven folks. On the active side, we’ve got over 600 employees enrolled, and there we’re talking about 21 members or so that would see anything in terms of that maximum out of pocket. Everyone else will not even notice that that has changed at all.”
Huffman also said the copays give members certainty. A specialist visit before the deductible is met can cost $200 or more, he said, while a flat copay lets members know the cost in advance. He said UMR’s administrative fees will not increase.
The board then approved an 8.7 percent increase in plan contributions, or $1,254,000. Plan participants will contribute an estimated additional $368,600 and the school board $885,000 annually, starting Jan. 1, 2027. The 8.7 percent is an average across all coverage classes and does not apply equally to each.
Huffman said the increase ties to the plan design changes and gives the plan a 97 percent chance of covering projected 2027 costs. He said it also reduces the chance of a mid-year increase request or another increase in 2028.
“It’s about a $14 increase for the employee who’s enrolled in the employee-only program,” Huffman said. “Of that increase, $28 is covered by the school board. The $14 would go to the employee.”
Active employee-only premiums rise from $120.77 to $135.26 a month under the schedule in the board packet.
On the stop-loss policy, Duke said the plan buys specific stop-loss coverage that caps what one catastrophic claim can cost the plan in a year. The board voted to raise the limit from $200,000 to $250,000 per covered member and to renew with United Healthcare under Option 2.
Huffman said the change would save more than $260,000 in premium compared with the renewal quote at the current limit. The packet puts the Option 2 annual premium at $1,184,300.16, down 4.08 percent from the current $1,234,675.20.
Assistant Superintendent Justin Barron then presented a revision to the personal leave policy, GBRIA. The board waived its review-period policy so the change takes effect immediately, then approved extending four personal leave days to all full-time employees, except those who receive annual leave and bus operators.
James Odom reported October sales tax receipts of $2,850,900.55, up about 1.5 percent from a year earlier. Fiscal-year receipts are up about 2.4 percent, and the district has received no audit recoveries this year.
Odom also said general fund revenue is down about $2 million from last year, mainly because the state redirected Minimum Foundation Program money and last year’s funding included about $1.8 million for stipends paid outside the program. Health plan expenses rose from $11.9 million to $13.7 million, he said.
Superintendent John Young thanked the board for including employees who were left out under the executive order and said the district had heard from many of them.
Young said the Louisiana Department of Education will release 2025-26 school performance scores on Dec. 1 at 11 a.m., an hour before the board’s December meeting. He said a presentation on the district’s results will follow if the district receives the embargoed results beforehand.
Young also announced a partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of North Louisiana, with sites at Glen View Elementary and Dubach School, offering leadership development, after-school meals and tutoring.
The Finance Committee will meet Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. to review the guaranteed maximum price for the Lincoln Parish Early Childhood Center renovations. The board’s next regular meeting is Dec. 1 at noon at Glen View Elementary.
A Ruston man was arrested early Wednesday after police responded to a disturbance in which a woman reported he threatened her with knives and damaged her car.
Jermichael Reynolds, 39, of Ruston, was arrested at 12:20 a.m. Nov. 4 by the Ruston Police Department.
According to an arrest affidavit, an officer was dispatched Tuesday to a Ruston residence. The officer found a red Cadillac with a slashed tire, shattered front and rear windshields, a broken headlight and a damaged bumper.
The car’s owner told the officer she had been dating Reynolds on and off for about six years and was trying to break up with him when he took two kitchen knives and threatened to harm her if she left. She sat on the couch in fear. He also grabbed a cinder block and threatened to damage her car with the knives and block.
She was able to calm Reynolds down and took him to the store. When they returned home, she tried to leave again. Reynolds collected the knives and cinder block, began damaging her car and drove his vehicle into hers repeatedly.
Reynolds was handcuffed, searched and advised of his rights. He was then taken to Lincoln Parish Detention Center.
He was booked on charges of felony criminal damage to property, false imprisonment, reckless operation and aggravated assault.
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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A property that consistently attracts deer doesn’t come together overnight, and it should ideally be appealing to deer all year, not just during hunting season. While hunters are already spending time in the woods this season, there are steps they can take now to make their land more inviting to deer, along with lasting improvements they make over time to create better habitat year-round. From providing reliable food and water sources to improving cover and travel corridors, successful property management involves looking at the land as a whole.
One of the easiest ways to begin improving a property is to identify the resources already available. Trail cameras can help reveal where deer are traveling, what they’re eating and when they’re most active. Looking for natural food sources, established trails, bedding cover and nearby water can help landowners determine areas worth improving.
Existing vegetation can be just as valuable as planted food plots and can be selectively preserved and multiplied. Deer browse on tender shoots, leaves, vines and woody vegetation, making areas with diverse understory growth important sources of natural forage. Allowing suitable vegetation to grow plentifully in selected areas can provide the food and cover deer need to feel safe on a property.
Even in more open, transitional areas, allowing grass and weeds to grow a little taller can create a sense of security for deer while allowing for natural travel between feeding and bedding areas. Maintaining these transitional areas can make a property more inviting without requiring extensive construction or planting.
Local hunter Brad Doughty jointly manages a family owned property as well as leased property and recommends opening paths through suitable areas to make travel easier for deer. He said, “Does tend to follow the easiest routes, and bucks will follow the does during the rut.” Creating or maintaining these pathways can help connect different parts of a property while encouraging more predictable deer movement.
Ideally opening up paths for deer should be done before season, but conservative changes can be made without the disturbance of power tools or bush hogs. Doughty often makes paths a little easier for deer to use with a machete or loppers, subtly encouraging the deer to take the path of least resistance.
Water deserves particular attention during extended dry periods like the one we’ve been experiencing. With less than 2 inches of rainfall per month in August and September followed by less than 1 inch in October in Lincoln Parish, deer are looking for water. Although north Louisiana usually has substantial rainfall throughout the year, this long stretch without much precipitation has caused smaller ponds and creeks that wildlife use to dry up.
A strategically placed and well maintained water trough can provide much needed and reliable relief for deer seeking hydration. Keep in mind that deer should be able to approach and drink without encountering any obstacles.
Location matters, too. A water source surrounded by suitable cover may be more attractive than one positioned in a completely exposed area. On smaller properties, placing water where deer can access it without crossing heavily traveled areas may encourage more consistent use.
Doughty also recommends paying attention to predator populations. Coyotes and bobcats are natural parts of the ecosystem, but landowners may consider lawful, responsible predator management when appropriate. Management of feral hogs may also be needed, given that this invasive species reproduces quickly, competes with deer for food and has the potential to displace deer from an area. Management of this kind can often take place during hunting season without significantly disrupting the existing deer on a property.
Another consideration during late season is the use of mineral sites. Doughty notes that mineral supplements have traditionally been used to help bucks replenish nutrients following the rut and support does through pregnancy. However, with the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD), regulations may change to restrict mineral sites and other supplemental attractants in certain areas. Landowners should always check current Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries regulations before establishing mineral sites or placing supplemental attractants.
Food plots are among the most recognizable habitat improvements, but choosing what to plant and when is important. Different plants provide forage at different times of the year, and a property with a variety of food sources throughout the year can offer deer more consistent nutrition than one that depends on a single seasonal planting. The goal is to create a property that both attracts and keeps deer all year.
Fall and winter plantings typically include cool-season varieties such as wheat, oats and cereal rye. Doughty recommends checking the ideal planting schedule for each but added that he has planted rye into November with success. These varieties can establish relatively quickly if planted before rainfall and provide tender green forage. Clover and brassicas, including turnips and radishes, can also be incorporated into cool-season plots.
Spring and summer offer opportunities to establish warm-season forage. Cowpeas and soybeans produce leafy vegetation that deer readily browse. These plants generally require warmer soil temperatures and adequate moisture to establish successfully.
Perennial options such as white clover and chicory can remain productive for multiple seasons when properly established and maintained. Rather than replanting every plot annually, property owners can dedicate portions of their land to longer-lasting forage.
Food plots don’t necessarily have to occupy open fields, either. Doughty suggests planting smaller plots inside pine thickets or within second-year growth in cutover areas. These locations can provide deer with food while keeping them close to protective cover.
Planting fruit- and mast-producing trees offers another long-term food source. Oaks produce acorns, while persimmon trees and other suitable fruit-bearing species provide additional seasonal forage. Some faster-growing oak varieties can begin producing acorns earlier than traditional oak plantings, offering another option for landowners interested in establishing a future mast crop. Native shrubs and other browse-producing vegetation can further diversify available forage.
A little planning can help ensure that all food sources don’t mature or become available at the same time. Combining cool-season plots, warm-season forage, perennial plants and native vegetation creates a more varied food supply throughout the year.
Before planting, property owners should consider soil conditions, available sunlight and drainage. A soil test through the LSU AgCenter can help determine whether lime or fertilizer is needed. Selecting plants suited to the property’s soil and growing conditions will generally produce better results than simply choosing whatever seed is being marketed for deer season.
Some of the most valuable habitat improvements require more preparation but can significantly influence how deer use a property over the long term.
Timber management, for example, can have a substantial effect on wildlife habitat. In heavily wooded areas, dense tree canopies may limit sunlight reaching the forest floor, leaving little understory vegetation for deer to browse. Selective thinning can allow more sunlight through, encouraging native plants and creating additional food and cover.
Prescribed burning can also stimulate new growth, improve plant diversity and maintain more open conditions in suitable pine and mixed-woodland habitats. Because burning requires careful planning and isn’t appropriate for every property or stand of timber, landowners should consult a qualified professional forester or wildlife biologist before undertaking it.
Maintaining a mixture of open areas, wooded cover, natural browse and transitional habitat is important. Deer benefit from properties that offer different resources within a relatively accessible area. Creating travel corridors between feeding and bedding areas can connect those resources while allowing deer to move through the property with some degree of security.
Long-term improvements also include planting trees and establishing perennial vegetation. Newly planted trees won’t produce mast immediately, and perennial food plots may require time and maintenance before reaching their full potential. However, consistent attention to vegetation, soil health, water availability and cover can gradually make a property more productive.
Not every landowner has the acreage or budget to implement every improvement. Fortunately, creating better deer habitat doesn’t require transforming an entire property at once. Maintaining a small water source, planting a few fruit trees, improving an existing food plot or allowing a section of native vegetation to grow can all be worthwhile starting points.
The city of Grambling received a clean overall audit opinion despite two compliance findings, the City Council learned during its November meeting Thursday night at City Hall.
John Murray, a certified public accountant with Mauldin & Jenkins LLC, the firm that conducted the audit, told council members that Grambling received an unmodified opinion, the highest level of assurance an independent auditor can provide on financial statements.
“In this audit, we did not identify any deficiencies in internal control that we consider to be control weaknesses,” Murray said. “So, there was nothing that we saw that we considered weaknesses in internal control to report.”
However, Murray said the audit identified two instances of noncompliance involving bond requirements and budget amendments.
The first finding involved the city’s failure to establish certain reserve accounts required under its bond agreements.
“Y’all set aside money for the sinking fund, which is required by the bond resolution, and that was sufficient,” Murray said.
A sinking fund is money set aside over time to repay debt or meet a future financial obligation.
“The bond resolution also calls for some other reserves to be set up, so we noted that those reserves do need to be set up and maintained in addition to the sinking fund,” Murray said.
He recommended that the city review its debt agreements and establish all required reserve accounts.
The second finding involved a Louisiana law requiring local governments to amend their budgets when actual revenues fall short of budgeted amounts by 5% or more or expenditures exceed budgeted amounts by 5% or more.
“Y’all had two funds that exceeded the budgeted amounts by 5%,” Murray said. “One of those was the general fund and the other was the health and sanitation fund.”
Murray recommended that city officials more closely monitor revenues and expenditures throughout the fiscal year and amend budgets when necessary to comply with state law.
Despite those findings, Murray said the audit produced positive results concerning the city’s federal grant programs.
Because Grambling received significant federal funding for utility projects, auditors conducted additional testing to determine whether the city complied with requirements governing those funds.
Murray said the firm found that Grambling complied with requirements that could have a direct and material effect on its major federal programs.
“So we gave an unmodified opinion on your compliance with those federal requirements,” Murray said.
In other business, the City Council approved the introduction of ordinances to amend the city’s 2026 budget and adopt its proposed 2027 budget.
Both ordinances are expected to be discussed and considered for approval during the council’s next meeting.
Council members also approved the city’s Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire for the fiscal year ending in 2026 and introduced an ordinance establishing the dates, times and location of regular City Council meetings for the 2027 calendar year.
The council also approved Grambling’s 2027 holiday schedule.
During the meeting, Planning and Zoning Committee Chairman Mark Hunter updated council members on efforts to revise the city’s building and abatement procedures.
Hunter said the committee is developing a more comprehensive document that will incorporate changes resulting from legislation passed by the Louisiana Legislature in 2025.
“The current one is one page, and what I’m doing is spreading it out to two pages,” Hunter said. “What has transpired is that in 2025, there was a new bill that was brought forth in the Louisiana Legislature that specifically affects the city of Grambling. So, we have to incorporate that in there.”
Hunter said the committee will continue reviewing the proposed revisions through the end of the year, with plans to make the completed document available online for residents.
“The document will thoroughly explain the phases of the demolition process,” Hunter said.
He said the revised procedures are expected to return to the council in January, following the inauguration of newly elected council members, for consideration and approval.
“Once we revise it, we’re going to bring it back in January after the inauguration of the new council members for their approval, and then we’re going to move forward with it,” Hunter said.
Temple Baptist Church invites you to join us Sunday, November 8, as we celebrate 100 years of God’s faithfulness. We will have a blended service at 9 a.m. and a contemporary worship service at 10:30 a.m. And grab a piece of birthday cake immediately following each service!
by Wesley Harris
There was nothing particularly impressive about Temple Baptist Church’s first building. The walls were little more than a framework of two-by-fours covered with tarpaper. There was no towering steeple, no elaborate sanctuary, and certainly nothing to suggest the modest structure on West Alabama Avenue would be the beginning of one of Ruston’s largest churches.
But the congregation had something more important than an impressive building. It had people determined to establish a church, even if they had to worship in a building that looked more like a construction project than a house of worship.
One hundred years later, Temple Baptist Church is celebrating a century of growth that took it from that tarpaper-covered building to a sprawling campus overlooking Interstate 20.
The transformation did not happen overnight. Over the decades, the little church on West Alabama Avenue grew into a complex of buildings that eventually occupied the entire city block. When Temple finally moved to its present location, it left behind a property that reflected generations of construction, expansion, and changing needs.
Humble beginnings
Temple Baptist Church was established in 1926, when Ruston was a much smaller community. Calvin Coolidge was president, Louisiana Tech was still known as Louisiana Polytechnic Institute, and the automobile was gradually changing how Americans traveled and lived.
Ruston was growing, but the town had not yet experienced the expansion that would come in the decades following World War II.
Against that backdrop, Temple’s congregation began worshiping in its simple building on West Alabama Avenue.
The contrast between the first building and what followed is striking. A congregation that began under tarpaper would eventually construct facilities accommodating hundreds of worshipers, Sunday school classes, and an expanding assortment of church activities.
As membership increased, the original building gave way to more substantial construction. Additional buildings followed, and the church gradually spread across the block.
The West Alabama Avenue property became a familiar part of Ruston’s landscape. Generations of children attended Sunday school there. Families gathered for weddings, funerals, revivals, and holiday programs. Members who had known the church as children returned as adults, sometimes bringing children and grandchildren of their own.
A changing town, a growing church
Temple’s first century unfolded during a remarkable period in Ruston’s history.
When the congregation began, much of the town’s business activity was concentrated downtown. The railroad remained an important link to the outside world, and Louisiana Polytechnic Institute was still developing into the university it would become.
The Great Depression arrived just three years after Temple’s founding. World War II followed, sending young men from Ruston and Lincoln Parish into military service and bringing significant changes to the home front.
After the war, Ruston expanded. New neighborhoods developed, automobile traffic increased, and Interstate 20 eventually reshaped the town’s commercial geography.
Through those changes, Temple continued to grow.
The church’s expansion on West Alabama Avenue was a physical record of that growth. What began as a makeshift structure eventually became a collection of permanent buildings occupying an entire block.
One of Temple’s most memorable traditions was its Singing Christmas Tree, an elaborate holiday production that brought the Christmas story to life through music. Choir members performed from a towering, tree-shaped structure decorated with lights, creating a spectacle that drew audiences from surrounding communities. More than a seasonal concert, the Singing Christmas Tree gave Temple a distinctive way to share the Gospel and the message of Christ’s birth.
For longtime members, the old property was more than a collection of bricks and mortar. It was the place where friendships began, families worshiped together, and countless personal milestones were observed.
But as the congregation continued expanding, the limitations of the downtown property became increasingly apparent.
A new home on the interstate
The most visible change in Temple’s history came when the congregation relocated from West Alabama Avenue to its present campus along Interstate 20.
The new facilities opened in January 1998, during the pastorate of Dr. Robert Magee.
The move represented a dramatic departure from the church’s beginnings. Instead of occupying a downtown block assembled through decades of additions, Temple now had a campus designed to accommodate a large congregation and a broad range of ministries.
The location also made the church one of the most visible religious landmarks in Ruston. Magee compared the church’s prominent setting to a city on a hill, an image drawn from the biblical Sermon on the Mount.
For a congregation that had begun behind walls of tarpaper, the comparison carried particular meaning.
More than Sunday mornings
Over the years, Temple developed programs reaching well beyond traditional worship services.
Its college ministry has served generations of students attending Louisiana Tech University and Grambling State University. Other ministries have focused on children, families, senior adults, and individuals seeking counseling or assistance.
Temple also became involved in mission projects and church planting, supporting new congregations in communities across the United States.
Closer to home, the church’s LoveLincoln Freedom Fest has brought residents together for patriotic music, fireworks, and community fellowship.
The activities illustrate the church’s expanding role. What began as a congregation meeting in a rudimentary building became an institution with programs serving people of different ages and backgrounds.
Preparing for the centennial
Temple began another major construction project in January 2025, this time renovating the sanctuary and adjoining areas of its I-20 campus.
The work included improvements to the sanctuary, foyer, first-floor hallways, and a gathering space called Connections Corner.
The congregation returned to the renovated sanctuary in August 2025, completing a major improvement in advance of its 100th anniversary.
Executive Pastor Jason Walsworth said renovating the sanctuary before the centennial had been a goal in the church’s strategic planning.
The project marked the first major renovation of the sanctuary since the current campus opened in 1998.
Temple also invited members and former members to contribute memories and devotional writings for a commemorative anniversary book. A separate project gathered a century’s worth of photographs for a published pictorial history.
Those recollections provide a different kind of church history, one that cannot be measured in square footage, construction costs, or membership totals.
A century in the making
The people who first gathered on West Alabama Avenue in 1926 could scarcely have imagined the Ruston of 2026.
They lived in a town without Interstate 20, without many of today’s neighborhoods and businesses, and without the modern campus Temple now occupies.
They could not have known how large their congregation would become or how many families would pass through its doors over the next century.
The church survived the Depression, a world war, changing generations, and the inevitable challenges that come with a growing congregation.
Its buildings changed repeatedly. Its pastors and members came and went. The community surrounding it changed almost beyond recognition.
Yet the congregation established in that tarpaper-covered structure remained.
A hundred years after its founding, Temple Baptist Church’s history can be traced from a few two-by-fours on West Alabama Avenue to a campus visible from one of Louisiana’s busiest highways.
It is quite a journey for a church that started with little beyond a congregation willing to begin.
Inside a gallery at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, the work of Louisiana Tech artist and professor brooke cassady (spelling is intentional) slowly evolved over the course of a two-month exhibition this fall. Her show, into the current: eroding and evolving, takes a closer look at something we are all a part of, but sometimes have a hard time recognizing until it has left a large footprint: change.
For cassady, water has become a powerful way of exploring transformation. Her experiences witnessing communities rebuild after devastation like Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans or Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, and spending time in Mexico City, where water scarcity has become a growing concern, have shaped her understanding of water as both a life-giving and destructive force. Her work also explores the relationship between water, memory and the unconscious mind.
Cassady’s artistic practice often combines materials in ways that challenge their conventional uses. The show in Arkansas featured ceramics, fibers and metals arranged in installations that grew, unraveled and disappeared. “I have such a deep love and curiosity for materials and a desire to walk through the world with my eyes wide open,” says cassady, “I’m always curious about testing new materials and watching them interact with each other.”
The gallery itself became part of the artistic experience. Captivated by the pale blue-green light filtering through its glass blocks, cassady envisioned the building’s two levels as interconnected worlds: the upstairs representing dreams and the unconscious, and the downstairs reflecting the physical world. A waterfall appeared to emerge from an upstairs wall, accompanied by passion flower vines, a plant traditionally known for facilitating sleep. Below, an altar of handmade and found natural objects underneath an array of raindrops, represented the continuing cycles of life.
Throughout the exhibition, familiar forms such as seashells, bird nests, seeds and bones suggested both beginnings and endings. Some held the promise of life yet to emerge, while others carried evidence of things that once existed. Through these familiar forms, cassady invited viewers to consider how the things we keep, and those we leave behind, shape our lives.
For cassady, the process of creating art is as important as the finished work. The lessons she learns through experimenting with materials, arranging installations and observing how viewers engage with her work become part of what she shares with her students.
In the classroom she urges students to approach their work with an open mind. “I encourage them to make mistakes and risk failing, and I have to constantly remind myself to do the same in my studio,” cassady explains.
A native of Athens, Georgia, cassady earned a bachelor’s degree in art history from Boston University and a Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics from Louisiana State University. She serves as an Associate Professor of Studio Art at Louisiana Tech University and directs the School of Design Galleries.
GET READY TO SHOP! The holiday season is right around the corner, and Holidays in CedarTown is back for another exciting year! Join us November 12–14 at the Ruston Civic Center as we transform the venue into a festive holiday shopping destination. Hosted by the Cedar Creek School Parent Club, this three-day market brings together shoppers and vendors from across the South for one of North Louisiana’s favorite holiday shopping traditions.
With more than 30 booths filled with unique gifts, holiday décor, clothing, accessories, and more, Holidays in CedarTown is the perfect place to get a head start on your Christmas shopping while supporting local and regional businesses. This year’s exciting lineup of merchants includes Goldie Boutique, The Fashion of Ruston, North Forty Woodworks, Sugarplums & The Vintage Marketplace, Heirloom, Rock Creek Farms, Legacy House Ruston, The Dance Wearhouse, Mid South Pecans, Arcadia Publishing, Blush by Elle, Bella Magnolia, Bows by Tammy, Simply Chic Boutique, Let’s Go Mahjong, Urban Collective, The Children’s Shoppe & Peach Lemonade, National Jewelry, Billy’s Barnhouse, American Flyway Waterfowl, Lilburns, Sis & Hunny, The Prissy Pelican, Sandy + Rizzo, Different Strokes, Big Creek Pecans & Honey, Art by Sarah Katherine Semon, and many more!
The festivities kick off on Thursday, November 12, with our Holidays After Hours Preview Party from 5:00 to 8:30 p.m. Shoppers will enjoy an exclusive first look at this year’s market while sipping and sampling complimentary drinks and appetizers from local favorites, including Crumbs Catering, Iron Cactus, Uptown Downtown, Ponchatoulas, Beau Vines, and Newk’s Eatery. Preview Party tickets are $30 and can be purchased online in advance. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door, but don’t wait—last year’s event sold out!
Shopping continues Friday, November 13, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Whether you’re shopping for the perfect gift or treating yourself to something special, there’s something for everyone! To add a little extra holiday cheer, some of our Cedar Creek Lower School students will be present to help spread the Christmas spirit with caroling performances throughout the day! And in celebration of Friday night lights, shoppers wearing their favorite team spirit gear can enjoy FREE general admission from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. General admission tickets are $10 and can be purchased online or at the door.
Saturday, November 14, brings a little extra Christmas magic with Santa’s Cookie Crew from 9:30 a.m. to noon! Little ones are invited to enjoy a festive morning filled with cookies, letters to Santa, and photos with the big man himself. Tickets are $10 per child and can be purchased online, with a limited number available at the door. Meanwhile, shoppers can squeeze in those last-minute finds as the market continues until 2:00 p.m. Saturday general admission is $10.
And while you’re shopping, don’t forget to stop by our Sounds of the Season raffle table for your chance to take home a Turtlebox Cub! Sponsored by Cross Country Infrastructure, raffle tickets are just $10 each or three for $20 and can be purchased online or throughout the event. The lucky winner will be drawn at the close of the market on Saturday, and you do not have to be present to win!
Mark your calendars, grab your shopping buddies, and get ready to kick off the Christmas season with us! Holidays in CedarTown returns November 12–14 to the Ruston Civic Center, and we can’t wait to welcome you for three days of shopping, holiday cheer, and festive fun.
This beloved holiday tradition wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our wonderful vendors, shoppers, and sponsors. Thank you for helping make Holidays in CedarTown a special part of the Christmas season in North Louisiana. We can’t wait to see you in CedarTown!
Holidays in CedarTown is a project of the Cedar Creek School Parent Club. For sponsorship, merchant, or ticket information, contact Cedar Creek School oradvancement@cedarcreekschool.org.
Cedar Creek School practices a nondiscriminatory policy whereby it does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
A Ruston man was arrested Wednesday afternoon after a traffic stop on South Maple Street led to the discovery of suspected marijuana in his vehicle.
Dmitry Payne, 23, of Ruston, was arrested at 1:15 p.m. Nov. 4 by the Ruston Police Department at West Barnett Springs Avenue and South Maple Street.
According to an arrest affidavit, a lieutenant saw a gray Toyota Camry that appeared to be speeding at about 1 p.m. His in-car radar measured the vehicle at 47 mph in a 25 mph zone, and he stopped it at the intersection.
Payne got out of the vehicle, trying to keep the door closed behind him. The lieutenant detected an odor of marijuana coming from Payne, who was extremely nervous, shaking and stumbling over his words.
When Payne opened the door to get his insurance information, the lieutenant detected a very strong odor of raw marijuana coming from the vehicle. He waited for a second unit to arrive.
Payne was advised of his rights and said he understood them. When asked how much marijuana was in the vehicle, he said 13 or 14 grams.
During a search, an officer found a glass mason jar behind the front passenger seat. It held six individually packaged baggies of suspected marijuana with a combined weight of 37.1 grams.
Payne was taken to the Lincoln Parish Narcotics Enforcement Team office, where he spoke with a lieutenant, and then to Lincoln Parish Detention Center. He was booked on a charge of possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I drug.
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 6:45 right to your inbox.Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
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.
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.
In a community where generations of the same families have passed through the school’s halls, homecoming is an annual reunion of friends and family.
Parents return to the same campus their children now attend, former students gather along the sidelines and in the stands, and grandparents arrive to watch their younger Aggies take the court. And with Choudrant’s recent growth, families who have been part of the school for decades are mingling with those who have only recently made Choudrant home.
“Homecoming is always one of my favorite events of the school year,” Choudrant High Principal Chris Jones said. “We get to link the past to the present and celebrate a tradition that has gone on for almost 100 years. This year we are honoring the class of 1976 for their 50th reunion. They will come for the presentation and take a tour and see all of the changes that have taken place in the last 50 years, but they will also tell the stories of their favorite events and their former teachers and reminisce on what made Choudrant High School special to them.”
Choudrant High School has seen enrollment increase substantially over the past decade, with younger classes considerably larger than many of the graduating classes ahead of them. Yet events like homecoming still preserve something distinctly small-town: the sense that the school belongs not only to its current students, but to the community around it.
Friday’s celebration will bring together those different generations of Aggies through the assembly, royal court presentation and basketball game. This year’s Homecoming Court, led by Queen Lydia Dickerson and Maid of Honor Kelsee Guillotte, will be presented at 5:30 pm Friday, November 6, followed by a 6 pm back-to-back basketball scrimmages against Saline High School, with the boys taking the court first.
For current students, this is one of the signature weeks of the school year. For former students, it is a wonderful time to come back. Have fun everyone, and Go Aggies!
RUSTON, La. — Ruston High closes the regular season Friday night on the road against the West Monroe, with a fifth straight win over the Rebels and a shot at a fifth straight first-round playoff bye both in play.
The Bearcats (8-2, 3-1 District 2-5A) are No. 5 in the power rankings and need to climb to No. 4 to earn the first-round bye. Ruston head coach Jerrod Baugh said the week-10 game is a useful measuring stick before the playoffs begin.
“I think this is a really good ball game to have in week 10 to give us an indication of where we are going into the playoffs,” Baugh said. “Are we going to play like a confident team going into the playoffs? You really don’t want to go out and not play well and not have a good feeling going into the playoffs. So I think this is a good test for us to see exactly where we are, looking at the playoff run.”
Ruston has beaten West Monroe (6-3, 3-1 District 2-5A) four seasons in a row, though Baugh noted the recent winning streak has not been a topic of conversation inside the Bearcat program.
“I haven’t heard anything on that. We haven’t really talked about that,” Baugh said. “I think it got talked about a bunch whenever we were trying to win that ball game a few years ago. I don’t think so much now. I think our kids expect to go out and win that ball game now. Maybe from their perspective, it may get talked about a little bit more over there than it did when it was flip-flopped.
“I think our kids seem to be more focused this week, probably more so than any other week, to be honest. As long as we can continue that all the way up until 7 o’clock on Friday, we shouldn’t have any excuse not to play well.”
On film, Baugh said the first thing that stands out about West Monroe is its defense, which he said has been strong over the past three weeks even when the Rebels have played their backups.
“You can look at the scores of their games the past three weeks, and you can tell their defense is playing well,” Baugh said. “I don’t care who it is you’re playing, if you can keep the other team from scoring… It wasn’t just their first group out there. They’re putting second group, third group out there, and you can still keep a zero on the scoreboard for the other team. That’s a big deal.”
Baugh also credited the return of West Monroe quarterback Brady Guillot with steadying the Rebel offense.
“I do think getting their quarterback back has steadied them up on offense,” Baugh said. “I think he’s got a really good handle on what it is that they’re asking him to do with the offense.”
The Rebels’ offensive line is the part of the matchup Baugh said concerns him most. West Monroe’s roster lists several linemen at 300 pounds or more, among them 6-foot-3, 310-pound Alex Adkins and 6-foot-1, 305-pound Armon Hargrove.
“One thing that bothers me a little bit is their offensive line. They’re really big. They’re very physical, and of course, we’re undersized up front on the defensive line,” Baugh said. “So I think that matchup, how we handle those big guys up front, is going to be something to keep an eye on.”
Ruston arrives at West Monroe in good physical shape, though illness has hit the team this week. Baugh said the Bearcats are about as healthy as a team can expect to be in week 10, with the exception of a flu bug and stomach bugs that have kept some players out of practice.
“We’re probably about as healthy as we could be going into week 10,” Baugh said. “Seems to be a flu bug and stomach bugs going around this week, so we’ve had some kids missing here or there. But as far as body injuries, I think we’re in as good a shape as what you’d expect to be in going into the 10th week.”
The prospect of the first-round bye is what Baugh is following most closely. He said the bracket setup gives Ruston an advantage, and that a bye gives the team a week of practice to work on things it cannot always emphasize during a normal game week.
“The things that I feel like have been beneficial to us are absolutely having the bye to be able to go out to practice that week and work on some things that you might not have an opportunity to really hone in on when you’re getting ready for an opponent,” Baugh said. “And playing a lot of home playoff games has been really good. I think our community and fans and students have shown up to support our guys, and that’s a really big deal, not having to get on the road for playoff games. We haven’t played a road playoff game since, I think, 2022. I absolutely think that has been an advantage.
“So the higher up there we can land, I think that’s absolutely beneficial for our team. I have kept an eye on that, so hopefully that works out in our favor too.”
The Rebels are on a three-game winning streak and most recently beat Peabody 48-0. The Bearcats won their homecoming game last week against Pineville 48-14.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. tonight and will be broadcast on Q94.1 FM and will be streamed on BearcatNationNetwork.com.
Payton Harris (#1) hopes to lead Cedar Creek into the playoffs on a high note. (Photo by Darrell James)
By T. Scott Boatright
A pair of Lincoln Parish District 1-1A teams looking to rebound from losses last week will meet at 7 p.m. tonight as Cedar Creek plays host to Lincoln Prep at Cougar Stadium in the regular-season finale for both.
The Cougars stand at 8-1 overall and 2-1 in district play after falling 29-20 at Haynesville last week, while the Panthers enter the contest at 3-6 overall and 1-2 in District 1-1A play after falling 50-24 at home to Glenbrook.
Lincoln Prep coach Chaunce Davison knows this one will be won and lost in the trenches.
“We’re going to have to attack that line, which is a very good line,” Davison said of the Cougars. “We’re going to need to hold our ground and take care of our gap assignments and play cleanly but physically and try to not only do that but make some plays defensively — not only stop them, but create some losses and not let that offense control the line of scrimmage and control the clock.
“They’ll try to do that — try to wear down our defense. We need to tackle. We need to create turnovers. We need to limit their number and time of possessions. We need to not give up big plays on the ground. We need to play our best game of the season because we need a win. We need a win badly.”
That won’t come easily. The Panthers have lost three straight and are on the bubble in the Division IV Select power rankings heading into the contest, standing at No. 22 with only 24 teams in the playoff bracket.
“We can’t worry about playoffs at this point,” Davison said. “We can only worry about the next game — the next play. We need to go out and win the next play. That’s all we can do — focus on ourselves, not make the kinds of mistakes that have cost us recently, and win the next play and the game against Cedar Creek.”
Davison knows slowing Cougars running back Payton Harris and quarterback Brett Bell, who have helped their offense gain 2,987 rushing yards — an average of 332 yards per game — will be key, just as Cedar Creek coach Jacob Angevine knows slowing Panthers quarterback Jabari Levingston will be crucial for his team.
Levingston has completed 62% of his passes for 1,020 yards and 10 touchdowns while adding 834 rushing yards and 13 more TDs on the ground.
He has also scored on an interception return.
“Levingston is arguably one of the best athletes in this part of the state, if not the whole state,” Angevine said. “He’s a heckuva player and the engine running the train that they are on. I think that if we can stop him, we’ll have a really good shot at winning. But that’s a pretty big if.
“And they’ve got some other pretty good skill guys around him. I know they lost their quarterback before the season started and their top running back early on, but they have enough talent where other guys have stepped up and filled those voids. We’re going to have to be focused and play well for sure.”
Angevine said the game against the Panthers will mean much for the Cougars’ next season — the upcoming postseason.
“We want to get on a run and it starts against Lincoln Prep,” Angevine said. “Coming off a loss like we had last week against a strong Haynesville team, I think it’s going to be good for us. It’s really important to try and finish on a high note heading into Week 11, whether it’s a bye week or facing another team.
“The thing is, we believe we have enough talent on this team right now to make a run to the (quarterfinals), and I think we can still do that. I’ve told the kids all year, the coaches know it, too, if you make a run to the quarters, anything’s possible. Crazy things happen in the quarterfinals. All bets are off, throw records, tendencies or whatever else out of the window.”
Angevine hopes the bad taste of the loss to Haynesville can fuel the fire in his Cougars from here on out.
“I think that they knew they had a chance to win, and I think a lot of them expected to win,” Angevine said. “And you could tell that by their body language after the game. They were disappointed. But I think that the ones that weren’t fully in on the train, I think they kind of said OK, we’ve got a really solid team if we’re competing with the top dog in Division IV Nonselect — the defending state champion.
“So, I’m really excited. I’ve said it all along, I’ve bragged to my kids that I know we’ve got enough talent in the room, it’s just making them believe it. Just from being 1-9 two years ago with basically the same roster to where we are now is big. Kudos to our kids and our staff for buying into the sauce that they’re liking. Next game up and we need a win.”
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, Nov. 6 7-9 a.m.: Kiwanis Pancake breakfast (Ruston Civic Center) 6 p.m.: GSU volleyball 6:30 p.m.: LA Tech volleyball 7 p.m.: Lincoln Prep v. Cedar Creek (at Cedar Creek)
Saturday, Nov. 7 Ruston Community Men’s Shed Open House; ShedEats at noon 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 2 p.m.: GSU football 6:30 p.m.: LA Tech volleyball
Sunday, Nov. 8 6 p.m.: GSU volleyball
Monday, Nov. 9 11 a.m.: Veterans Day program hosted by Lincoln Parish branch of NAACP (Ruston Sports Complex, Origin Bank Room) 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome 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)
Wednesday, Nov. 11 Veterans Day 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, Nov. 12 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Kiwanis Club lunch and program (Trinity Methodist Church fellowship hall; Anyone is welcome to come to our meeting,please notify Richard Hamilton of your attendance. 318-518-2121) 4 p.m.: Tween Time (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center) 5-8:30 p.m.: Holidays in Cedartown (Ruston Civic Center) 6 p.m.: Southern A’Chord Chorus rehearsal (Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 212 N. Bonner St.; open to all women singers) 6 p.m.: Teen Nutcracker Decorating (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center) 6 p.m.: Bonds, Blooms, & Building the Future: Americans and the Holocaust, with Louisiana Tech University (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
Friday, Nov. 13 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Holidays in Cedartown (Ruston Civic Center) 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Out to Lunch concert series (Heard Freighthouse Food Park)
Saturday, Nov. 14 8:30-11:30 a.m.: Hazardous Waste Material Collection and Recycling (2609 Farmerville St.) 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Holidays in Cedartown (Ruston Civic Center) 4 p.m.: LA Tech football
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Louisiana Tech used a dominating performance on the boards and a balanced offensive attack to roll past Texas A&M-Texarkana 90-51 Thursday morning in its home opener at the Thomas Assembly Center.
Playing in front of nearly 3,500 fans, most of them local schoolchildren attending the annual Education Day game, the Lady Techsters outrebounded the Eagles 49-19 while placing five players in double figures.
Nine Lady Techsters scored in the victory as Tech bounced back from its season-opening loss at Toledo on Monday.
“Excited about how our team came out and started in front of a great crowd,” Tech head coach Brooke Stoehr said. “This is one of the best days of the year because we have such a great opportunity to positively impact so many students that could be attending their first college basketball game.
“We take great pride in competing in a way that inspires them and showcase how to be a great teammate, be coachable and give great effort.”
Tech wasted little time taking control, scoring the game’s first 13 points before Texas A&M-Texarkana responded with seven straight to cut the deficit to six.
The Lady Techsters maintained their advantage over the remainder of the opening quarter, taking a 19-11 lead into the second period. Tech forced eight turnovers in the first 10 minutes, converting them into 13 points.
The Lady Techsters turned up the defensive pressure in the second quarter, limiting the Eagles to just one field goal while forcing eight more turnovers.
Six Tech players scored during the period as the Lady Techsters outscored Texas A&M-Texarkana 17-7 to take a 38-18 halftime lead.
Jordan Marshall led Tech with nine first-half points, while Isla Airey provided a spark off the bench with five points and four offensive rebounds in less than four minutes of action.
The Lady Techsters continued to pull away in the second half, using improved ball movement and perimeter shooting to stretch their advantage.
Tech shot 50% from the field after halftime and connected on seven 3-pointers, shooting 41.2% from beyond the arc over the final two quarters.
Defensively, the Lady Techsters forced 13 second-half turnovers, blocked three shots and limited the Eagles to just five field goals.
Airey finished with 10 rebounds, including a career-high eight on the offensive glass. It marked her first double-digit rebounding performance since grabbing 12 against Lindenwood in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament during her freshman season.
Tech’s 30-rebound advantage was its largest since outrebounding Louisiana Christian by 27 last season.
Stoehr was pleased with her team’s overall performance, although she acknowledged there were areas that needed improvement.
“A lot of positives to take away from game two of the season, a little sloppy at times,” Stoehr said. “A few moments of carelessness, but I thought we came out in the second half and really moved the ball well and hunted good shots together.”
She travels to face McNeese State Sunday.
_____________________________
Bulldogs 76, Arkansas-Monticello 17
Louisiana Tech turned in a suffocating defensive performance Thursday night, holding Arkansas-Monticello to just six field goals in a 76-17 rout of the Boll Weevils at the Thomas Assembly Center.
The Bulldogs (2-0) forced 23 turnovers, recorded 18 steals and limited their NCAA Division II opponent to just 15.8% shooting from the field in lopsided victory.
Tech led 38-8 at halftime and continued to pull away in the second half, outscoring the Boll Weevils 38-9 over the final 20 minutes.
Braylon Wenger led the Bulldogs with 13 points, connecting on three 3-pointers, while Iyran Francis Jr. added 12 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals. Adam Boyd provided a spark off the bench with 10 points, connecting on all five of his field-goal attempts.
The victory was Tech’s second straight to open its 100th season of basketball after the Bulldogs defeated Kent State 85-75 on Monday night.
Thursday’s contest was a much different challenge for fifth-year head coach Talvin Hester’s squad, which overwhelmed Arkansas-Monticello on both ends of the floor. Tech scored the game’s first four points and quickly built a 13-1 advantage as Francis scored six early points, including a pair of dunks.
The Boll Weevils struggled to find any offensive rhythm against Tech’s defensive pressure, making just three of their 21 first-half field-goal attempts while committing 11 turnovers.
The Bulldogs shot 55.2% from the field in the opening half, connecting on five 3-pointers while building their 30-point halftime advantage.
The defensive dominance continued after intermission.
Arkansas-Monticello managed just three field goals in the second half, shooting 17.6% while committing 12 additional turnovers. Tech took advantage of those miscues, scoring 36 points off turnovers for the game while holding the Boll Weevils to just four points off its own mistakes.
The Bulldogs also dominated inside, outscoring Arkansas-Monticello 46-8 in the paint and holding a 39-22 rebounding advantage. Tech finished shooting 52.6% from the field, connecting on 30 of 57 attempts, while recording 23 assists on its 30 made baskets. The Bulldogs also received 32 points from their bench.
Jay Tyler added eight points and three assists, while Jaylen Fenner and Trashaun Combs-Pierce scored six points apiece. Deven Bates contributed five points, seven rebounds and a team-high five assists, while Ethan Blackmon added five points and six rebounds.
Marvin Schindler led Arkansas-Monticello with seven points and seven rebounds. The Boll Weevils connected on just two of 17 attempts from beyond the arc.
The Bulldogs will face a much stiffer challenge Monday when they travel to Baton Rouge to face LSU at 7 p.m.
_____________________________
McNeese 56, Grambling State 51
Grambling State erased most of a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit but couldn’t complete the comeback as McNeese held on for a 56-51 victory Thursday night at Townsley Law Arena.
The Lady Tigers (0-2) outscored the Cowgirls 16-8 in the final quarter, pulling within three points in the closing seconds before McNeese (2-0) sealed the victory at the free-throw line.
Angel Wilkinson led Grambling State with a game-high 20 points, including a 10-of-13 performance at the free-throw line. She also added four rebounds and two steals.
Da’Naya Ross contributed 10 points and seven rebounds, while Princess Anderson finished with seven points and three steals.
Despite shooting just 23.2% from the field, the Lady Tigers stayed within striking distance thanks in part to their work on the boards and at the free-throw line.
Grambling State pulled down 50 rebounds, including 17 on the offensive glass, and recorded 11 steals. The Lady Tigers also converted 23 of 32 free-throw attempts.
The two teams battled through a competitive opening quarter, with Grambling State taking a 12-11 advantage following a 3-pointer by Wilkinson.
McNeese responded in the second quarter, outscoring the Lady Tigers 18-12 to build a 31-24 halftime advantage.
The Cowgirls continued to extend their lead in the third quarter, taking a 48-35 advantage into the final 10 minutes.
However, Grambling State refused to go away.
Anderson helped spark the comeback, connecting on a pair of free throws with 7:32 remaining to pull the Lady Tigers within six at 48-42.
After McNeese pushed its lead back to seven, Ross converted two free throws to make it 51-44. Anderson followed with two more from the charity stripe, cutting the deficit to 51-46 with 3:51 remaining.
Wilkinson continued to lead the charge down the stretch, converting four late free throws, including two with 22 seconds remaining, to pull Grambling State within three at 54-51.
However, McNeese answered with two free throws in the closing seconds to preserve the victory.
Eve Fiala added four points and seven rebounds for Grambling State, while Aeris Macon pulled down six rebounds.
Valencia Fontenelle-Posson and Matilde Motta led McNeese with 14 points apiece, while Avari Berry added 11 points, four assists and four steals.
The Cowgirls shot 33.3% from the field and 32% from 3-point range, compared to Grambling State’s 23.2% overall shooting and 11.1% from beyond the arc.
Yanelia is lovingly remembered by her husband of 59 years, Gary Shaw. They met at Shipley’s Do-nut in Ruston, summer of 1967 and married a few months later. It was a true love story and as she always said, he made her laugh every day.
She is survived by her daughters, Tammy Pearson and Shelaine Murphy (Jesse); grandchildren, Vance Shaw, Hannah Turrentine (Ben), Leah Gordon (Andrew), and Luke Murphy; great-grands, Tommy & June Turrentine; her sisters, Delores Smith (David), Shirley Davis (Joel); and brother, Richard Cotten (Beth), as well as many nieces and nephews – she loved you all.
Momma loved Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla but her favorite flavor was Pecan Pralines & Cream. She liked chocolate pie but preferred pecan and her pecan pie was the best. Momma wanted her water ice cold and her coffee hot hot. And if it wasn’t, she’d refuse to drink it. Momma always wanted a good cold coke which meant heavy on the good ice.
Yanelia loved George Taber azaleas like the ones that line the front of their home. Momma had lots of collections like Precious Moments, Coca-Cola, anything Ruston or Peach Festival, cookbooks, and her cherished Follette pottery. Momma also loved animals and we’ve adopted many from 4 Paws Rescue Inc of Ruston. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to their mission.
She loved her many doctors, nurses, various therapists, and everyone that cared for her over the years. And there was definitely a special place in her heart for children. One of her many gifts was caring for and teaching little ones. It all started at Nell Chance Daycare and soon she opened Ms. Yanelia’s Daycare. Years later, she taught at Emmanuel Baptist followed by Temple Baptist before retiring. If you ever called her Ms. Yanelia as a child – SHE LOVED YOU dearly!
It may seem redundant but it’s simple – Momma loved… and we loved her. Some called her Yunkie, many cherished her as Ms. Yanelia, and one lucky guy called her Doll. She loved Coca-Cola and she loved Gary Shaw. She loved her friends and family, she loved the children. She also loved the Lord and was ready to go home. Years ago, her doctor said that her body had failed her. Her body betrayed her over and over again but her Lord and Savior never has – she is healed at last!
Thank you to Jackson Parish Ambulance, Jackson Parish Hospital, Dr. Ed, amazing nurses and staff for your loving care these past months and dedicated service to our community. Thank you to Christus Highland doctors, nurses, and staff over these last two weeks. Thank you to Christus Highland Hospice for your kindness through these last days.
Please join us at Antioch Cumberland Presbyterian Church after the service as we honor her wishes and fellowship over Johnny’s pizza and a good cold Coke. To leave an online memorial message for the family, please visit www.owensmemorialfuneralhome.com
Bobby Joe Hodge June 2, 1934 — Nov 3, 2026 Visitation: Friday, November 6, 2026, 1:00 – 2:00 pm, Crossroads Church of Christ, 3575 LA-2, Farmerville Funeral Service: Friday, November 6, 2026, 2:00 pm, Crossroads Church of Christ, 3575 LA-2, Farmerville Burial: Friday, November 6, 2026, Crossroads cemetery, 9027 La 142, Farmerville
Experience Ruston (Ruston Lincoln Convention & Visitors Bureau) is pleased to announce Da’Mon Moreland as the organization’s new Sports Tourism Manager. In this role, Moreland will focus on attracting sporting events to Ruston and Lincoln Parish, helping increase visitation and generate economic impact for the community. Moreland officially joined the Experience Ruston team on November 2, 2026.
The creation of the Sports Tourism Manager position follows a restructuring of Experience Ruston’s destination sales department to pursue new sporting events more proactively. Moreland will lead efforts to identify and develop qualified leads, attract and retain youth, amateur, and recreational sporting events, and strengthen relationships with event organizers and key sports tourism partners. Through these efforts, Experience Ruston aims to build a stronger pipeline of sporting events that generate hotel room nights, visitor spending, and economic benefits for the community.
As part of this restructuring, Moreland will work under Jennifer Mamon, Experience Ruston’s Director of Destination Sales. With dedicated leadership for sports tourism, Mamon will have greater capacity to pursue other sales opportunities that encourage weekday visitation and attract visitors during traditionally slower shoulder seasons. Together, these complementary efforts will help diversify Experience Ruston’s sales strategy and promote more consistent visitation throughout the year.
“Sports tourism has become an increasingly important part of our visitor economy, and we see tremendous opportunity to build on that momentum,” said Tori Davis, President & CEO of Experience Ruston. “By dedicating more resources to recruiting and servicing sporting events, we’re positioning Ruston and Lincoln Parish to attract new visitors, support our local businesses, and drive economic impact throughout the year. Da’Mon brings a well-balanced combination of leadership experience, community connection, and enthusiasm to this role, and we’re excited to have him on our team as we continue growing our sports tourism efforts.”
Moreland’s background includes seven years of professional experience with the Boys & Girls Club, serving across multiple roles over those years. Most recently, he led as Unit Director/Site Coordinator of Ruston, Dubach, and Homer, where he oversaw daily operations and coordinated programming. His experience also includes recruiting youth participants, supervising staff, managing event logistics, and collaborating with families, schools, and community organizations to deliver engaging youth programs.
Moreland brings a deep commitment to sports and the Ruston community to this role. He previously served as a youth soccer coach with Ruston Parks & Recreation, coaching players, recruiting participants, refereeing games, and supporting team development. A 2019 student-athlete graduate of Ruston High School, Moreland understands the role athletics can play in bringing people together and creating meaningful experiences for athletes, families, and communities.
“I’m excited to join this amazing team of people who work to show as many people as possible that Ruston is the place to be.” said Moreland. “I look forward to working with sports organizations, event organizers, and community partners to showcase what makes Ruston such a great place to host sporting events. I’m ready to get to work and help more people discover all that Ruston has to offer!”
Sixty years ago, Ruston Police had a system to help locate criminals shortly after committing a crime.
The system, rather quaint by today’s standards, involved making four phone calls right after a crime where a vehicle description was available. The dispatcher would call a citizen who lived on U.S. 80 east of Ruston, one who lived on U.S. 80 west of town, one north on U.S. 167, and one south on U.S. 167. The citizens would watch for the fleeing car and phone in if it was spotted.
A flawed system, certainly, since the bad guy could leave town before the calls could be made, or he could take a less obvious route. Or one or more of the designated citizens may not be home to answer the phone.
No one remains from the police department of those days to tell us how effective it was. But at least there was an effort to use the technology of the day—a landline telephone—to make a difference in crimefighting.
Technology has advanced since then. Automatic license plate readers use specialized cameras and software to capture license plate numbers from passing vehicles. Each reading generally includes a photograph, the plate number, and the date, time, and location.
Ruston Police Chief Eric Watson said police can compare those readings against lists of stolen vehicles, wanted vehicles, or license plates associated with investigations.
Unlike conventional surveillance cameras, LPR systems make vehicle information searchable. Investigators can determine whether a particular vehicle passed a camera and when.
The cameras do not necessarily identify the driver or establish that the vehicle’s owner committed a crime. A plate reading is an investigative lead that must be evaluated with other evidence.
Across the United States, LPRs are used to locate stolen automobiles, investigate violent crimes, find missing persons, and identify vehicles associated with criminal activity.
A common term for LPRs is Flock cameras but that’s just one brand of LPR. Flock received some criticism for sharing information from the cameras with business entities but that issue has been resolved. And RPD does not use Flock cameras but a LPR system manufactured by Motorola.
Last week, Virgil Mack, Jr. was convicted of murder for a convenience store parking lot shooting in 2025. Both store cameras and LPRs played a significant role in capturing Mack and ensuring his conviction.
Watson said surveillance cameras at the store recorded the suspect and the license plate of his car. RPD entered the information in it automatic plate recognition system and discovered the vehicle had just passed a camera headed west on I-20.
Police to the west were notified and Mack’s car was spotted on I-20 and after a high-speed chase into Texas, he was captured.
“Ninety minutes after the shooting, we had the suspect in custody,” Waston said.
Now Mack faces life in prison plus a trial in Utah for another murder committed before the Ruston case.
Watson said he knows LPRs have faced criticism from members of the public who believe the cameras are an invasion of privacy. But the courts at all levels have been virtually unanimous that no expectation of privacy exists out in public within the cameras’ field of view.
The chief pointed out that those who complain about privacy intrusions invariably carry a cell phone that tracks them much better than a LPR system ever could.
Both Watson and Deputy Chief Ben Thomas are confident the policies RPD has in place protects the information the cameras record.
Thomas closely monitors the records of use of the LPR system. Reports show him when an officer accesses the system, what case the inquiry pertains to, and the reason of the inquiry. Audit procedures include purging data every 60 days that is not being used in a criminal investigation.
“You can’t just look up a license plate number just out of curiosity or to see what your neighbor is doing,” Watson said. Officers must have training to access the system.
Ruston has eight LPR locations with a total of 24 cameras. Most are mounted on utility poles.
“We’re not trying to hide them,” Watson said.
He said Ruston’s location on major north-south and east-west highways allows people who commit crimes in the city to “get out of here fast.” That’s where the LPRs come in handy, Watson said.
Many crimes have been solved by Ruston’s LPRs as well as apprehension of wanted criminals and stolen vehicles that were coming into Ruston. LPRs played a critical role in building a case against suspects who were committing numerous vehicle burglaries around Ruston.
“LPRs solidified those cases,” along with other technologies, Watson said.
Watson said the LPRs allow city officers to be more effective in protecting Ruston. A big improvement on the phone system of 60 years ago.
“Anything we can do to work smarter, not harder benefits the Ruston Police Department and the public,” he said. “When you look at the big picture, investing in LPRs is an investment in keeping crime out of our town.”
Three Farmerville residents were arrested Sunday night after a Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy searched a vehicle outside a Highway 33 travel center and found suspected methamphetamine, buprenorphine and a glass smoking pipe.
Charles Smith, 33; Lacey Holleman, 28; and Amy Holleman, 55, all of Farmerville, were arrested at 11:23 p.m. Nov. 1.
According to arrest affidavits, a deputy walked into the travel center at about 11 p.m. and Amy Holleman, upon seeing the officer, immediately walked out the back door. The deputy drove behind the building and found a white Kia with Lacey Holleman standing next to it.
Deputies brought Amy Holleman outside and advised both women of their rights. Smith, who had ridden in the vehicle with them, was also advised of his rights.
A search turned up two bags of suspected methamphetamine, numerous doses of buprenorphine and a glass smoking pipe. The buprenorphine was in Amy Holleman’s wallet, behind her driver’s license.
Smith said the methamphetamine belonged to him. The affidavits state that all three were within arm’s length of the drugs while riding to work.
The Hollemans were handcuffed and taken to Lincoln Parish Detention Center in the deputy’s patrol unit. Smith was taken by another deputy.
Smith and Lacey Holleman were each booked on charges of possession of a Schedule II drug (methamphetamine) and possession of drug paraphernalia. Amy Holleman was booked on those two charges and a count of possession of a Schedule III drug (buprenorphine).
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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