Thanksgiving has always gotten a grade of “F” in my mind … “F” as in fantastic.

I mean, how could it get any better? Think about it, and what this Thanksgiving day brings to many of us — family, food, football, fun, feast, feathered foul often fried,and fireplaces — those are all fantastic “Fs” to celebrate this holiday.

It all starts with the focus on family so many of us are fortunate to enjoy on Thanksgiving day.

The Thanksgiving holiday always brings some of the most traveled days of the year in the U.S., with the Sunday after Thanksgiving being the most traveled day of all as people head home to return to their “real lives” for a short time as the Christmas season begins ramping up.

And that’s a big part of Thanksgiving to me — it’s the start of that “season of family” that continues until after New Year’s Day.

Thanksgiving provides an opportunity to strengthen the bonds of family. It’s a time of reflection and gratitude. In a world that at times seems to get crazier and crazier with each passing day, Thanksgiving provides an opportunity for face-to-face interaction and fun, something all too fleeting in this digital age.

And while Thanksgiving is centered around family, another “F” word is part of the celebration for many — the word friend.

Family is who you want it to be. Friendsgiving embraces the diversity of chosen families, where friends come together to share food, exchange stories, learn more about each other and strengthen their connections. Thanksgiving serves as a testament to the power of friendship and the sense of community that extends beyond blood relations.

And don’t forget the word that sounds like it begins with “F” but doesn’t — philanthropy. Thanksgiving can be a day of giving back to others. Don’t forget about those who might not have family or even many friends to be thankful for during the holidays.

If you know of such people, invite them to your friendsgiving celebration, or at least offer up some food to bring them the feeling of being thought of and cared about — every soul on Earth deserves a reason to be thankful on this day, no matter how big or small that reason may be.

Personally, football is a big part of my “F day” celebration on Thanksgiving. Growing up, Thanksgiving morning often started with some backyard touch football with family and friends while the holiday meal was being prepared inside.

Football on Thanksgiving day is a tradition that goes back longer than most people realize — to 1876 when  Princeton and Yale, playing a modified game of rugby, faced off in Hoboken, New Jersey, launching an American holiday tradition that is stronger than ever 148 years later.

And especially with today’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade not being televised for the first time in decades, I’m sure millions of televisions across the U.S. have started the morning with EA Sports College Football or Madden NFL football video games being played.

But I’m a traditionalist, and much more enjoy a backyard football game, even if my aging body doesn’t move as well as it used to. It’s the human touch, as in touch football — see what I did there? — that makes it a more important part of Thanksgiving day than a video game ever could.

And then there’s the Thanksgiving feast featuring a flavorful, finger-licking good feathered fowl (try saying that three times fast). 

Growing up it was the traditional oven-baked turkey that our Thanksgiving meals were based around. Later came the much better, in my humble opinion, fried turkey, which I still love to this day.

But today I’ll be outside not only playing a little touch football, but also firing up the grill to smoke a turkey, which has become our tradition in recent years after decades of eating the fried version on Thanksgiving. I still inject the big bird with flavorings as I did when they were being fried, but we’ve found that smoking them with pecan wood helps create the juiciest, most-delectable turkeys for us.

And when I come inside to sit down and watch some football, today might be the perfect time to light up our fireplace for the first time this fall as temperatures drop at the perfect time to begin the holiday season here in the piney hills of Lincoln Parish. 

There’s something about the sound of cracking wood and the feel of the warmth radiating from flicking flames that fires up and strengthens the feeling of family bonding on Thanksgiving day.

At this Thanksgiving season, I am thankful for the incredible City we live in. Ruston is truly “special”. A Hallmark kind of town that can’t be reproduced, where citizens really do care about their city, the school opportunities, the universities, their churches, and most of all, their neighbors.

I am thankful for a City Council that considers itself a team that wants to make our city exceptional and works together to accomplish that.

I am thankful for 300 City employees, who work tirelessly to make sure our residents have all the service we can offer, at great rates and always available.

I pray that Ruston continues to strive to become a city that others look to for example of what can happen when we all work together for common goals and dreams.

So, at this time of the year we say, “Thank You” to all of you who make Ruston a place where “Faith, Family, and Friends” still make a difference.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Ronny Walker
Mayor

Dear Citizens of Grambling and Lincoln Parish,

As we gather around tables filled with warmth and gratitude today, I, Alvin Bradley, Mayor and the City Council members, John Brown, Jr., Cathy Holmes-Giles, Jerry Lewis, DeVaria Hudson-Ponton, and Delores Wilkerson-Smith, extend heartfelt wishes for a joyous and abundant Thanksgiving.

This season, our hearts are brimming with appreciation for the unwavering support bestowed upon us by our cherished citizens and esteemed partners. We are thankful for President Martin Lemelle, Jr.,  and his administrative team for the multitude of areas where Grambling State University and the city are collaborating and partnering. 

We are profoundly grateful for the invaluable commitment from our esteemed Local, Parish, State and Federal Officials for their support and their continued work and help to enhance our infrastructure projects, including but not limited to roads, highways, sewage, water systems, and other crucial projects, which fortifies our shared vision of a better-served community for residents and visitors alike.

Additionally, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the churches  and pastors whose unwavering guidance and spiritual support have been a beacon of hope, especially during challenging times.

As we reflect on our blessings, let us embrace the spirit of unity, compassion, and generosity that defines our wonderful community of Grambling. Together, let us continue to cultivate a brighter future for all.

With warm wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving,

Alvin Bradley, Mayor
City of Grambling

By Kyle Roberts

RUSTON, La. — It’s a good sign for your high school football program when you’re still playing on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Such is the case for the No. 3 Ruston High Bearcats (9-2), as they will host the No. 6 Southside Sharks (9-2) in the quarterfinals of the 2024 LHSAA playoffs, with the winner earning the chance to play the winner of No. 2 Airline and No. 10. Destrehan.

“I think it’s been a pretty good week of practice,” Ruston High head coach Jerrod Baugh said. “The kids seem to be excited about being out here this week, and they’re looking forward to another game.”

The Sharks come in with only two losses on the season — first to Notre Dame in week one 21-20 and then district opponent Acadiana 43-10 in week eight. The Bearcats beat the Acadiana in week one by a final score of 35-27 to Ruston’s home opener.

A very run-heavy offense, Baugh made a familiar comparison for longtime Bearcat fans: the class Wing Formation that C.E. Byrd has run for decades, focusing on dives up the middle, option plays, and long passes if the defense is lulled to sleep.

“They operate their offense really well,” Baugh said. “They’re really trying to get the ball to Ramon Singleton, who they really try to make plays with. And not that they don’t make big plays in the throwing game, because they do. Anytime somebody is as run-heavy as they are, they can play-action pass on you. You look on a video and they’ve got a guy or two running wide open just because they run the ball so much that people sell out on the run, so their pass plays are normally big chunk plays or touchdowns.

“Defensively, they have a couple of really big guys inside. They like to blitz a lot, and they line up all over the place. Depending on what you do on offense, it seems like they rely on their secondary a bunch. They play a lot of man coverage, and that allows them to do a lot of different things up front.”

Last week, Ruston downed the Zachary Broncos for the third straight postseason in a row — this time by a final score of 42-21. Senior running back Jordan Hayes totaled 231 yards of offense with four touchdowns — three on the ground and one through the air on a critical third down in the second half.

“I think after the state championship game last year against Zachary, Jordan took it a little personal that he felt like he didn’t do his part, which is not the case, because we had a hard time running the ball against those guys,” Baugh said. “He really wanted to get out there and feel like he did his part (last week) and he absolutely did that. Jordan did what Jordan has been doing for us for the last three years: making big runs and getting a big catch for a touchdown at a crucial point in the game. We’re just really proud for him.

“It should show a lot of people that we, as a team, are willing to do whatever it is we need to do to win a game regardless of who it is that gets carries or throwing the football — it doesn’t matter. We’ll do whatever is necessary to try to win the game.”

Senior running back Dylone Brooks was also seen walking gingerly on the sideline Friday night and did not play in the second half. Baugh said that Brooks came in Saturday and had a good week of practice and treatment — he is expected to be ready to suit up.

Kickoff is set for Friday, Nov. 29, at 7 p.m. Tickets will need to be purchased on the GoFAN app.

The game will be broadcast on Q94.1 FM and will be streamed live on BearcatNationNetwork.com.

By Kyle Roberts

RICHWOOD, La. — Three games in three nights is a lot to ask of any basketball team.

Factor in a shorter roster against a deep Richwood team, and it spelled trouble for Ruston High as the Bearcats (0-3) fell to the Richwood Rams (2-0) by a final score of 84-42.

Ruston was tied with Richwood 11-11 at the end of the first quarter but were outscored 23-9 in the second to trail 34-20 at halftime. Things would get no better in the second half after the Rams scored 34 points in the third quarter alone en route to the win.

“We were out-manned tonight,” Ruston High assistant coach Corey Deans said. “They were bigger, faster and stronger than us. Once we got into foul trouble, we just didn’t have any substitutes to match what they were bringing in. They were bringing in five guys at a time and press us the whole game. And when our guards got a little tired, they ran off on us.”

Ruston High sophomore Keshun Malcolm scored in double figures for the third straight game, finishing with 17 points and going 9-of-10 from the free throw line.

“He’s coming into his own,” Deans said of Malcolm. “He believes he’s the best player on the floor, and it’s only going to get better for him when the rest of the (football players) come back, because right now the other teams are doubling and tripling on him defensively. But through that, he’s still putting up numbers, taking good shots and playing within the offense.”

Ruston’s 0-3 start is not what the staff had in mind, but Deans did say that there are positive takeaways from this week.

“So far, our offense has looked really good when we’re running all our sets,” Deans said. “And we can do everything defensively except for rebound. The guys we’ve played against are a little bit older and can push us around a little bit. But as far as competing and executing, man, I love it.”

Courtesy La Tech Communications

ESTERO, Fla. – Louisiana Tech needed yet another come-from-behind win at the Gulf Coast Showcase and they got it, coming back from 10 down to defeat Eastern Kentucky, 78-69, on Wednesday at Hertz Arena.

With only nine Bulldogs making the trip, LA Tech’s (7-0) physical and mental toughness was tested in every game at the multi-team event. First, the ‘Dogs battled back from 11 down to defeat SIU in overtime. Less than 24 hours later, the team overcame an 8-point deficit to win in the closing seconds versus Richmond.

Less than 24 hours after that, the Bulldogs trailed EKU (4-3) for almost the entire first half and were ultimately behind by eight with 13:36 remaining in the contest.

The Colonels held the lead in large part due to the three-pointer, draining 12 of them throughout the game. As for LA Tech, the three-ball was not falling.

Their first three-pointer did not come until 2:30 to go in the first half when Jordan Crawford buried his first one of the season. Devin Ree followed with one right before halftime to help slice what was then too an 8-point deficit down to one.

The same scenario played out trailing 43-51 as Al Green and Ree went back-to-back from beyond the arc. That was followed by a dump-off pass from Crawford to Will Allen to tie things up at 51-51.

Amaree Abram, who went scoreless in the first half, scored five straight points to give the ‘Dogs a 56-53 advantage (their largest lead since being up 3-0) at the midway point of the second half.

Helping LA Tech extend its lead was Kaden Cooper who also went scoreless in the first stanza. He had an offensive rebound and putback as well as a fastbreak layup to make it 64-56 in favor of the Bulldogs with 6:54 to go.

“They both joined the party in a big way in the second half,” Louisiana Tech head coach Talvin Hester said. “We were just dynamic in the second half. I think it was all sparked by us guarding them better.”

Crawford, Abram, and Cooper refused to let the Colonels back in it. Abram buried a late shot clock three-pointer. Another big offensive possession came when Crawford drove the middle of the lane and got the floater to go to give the ‘Dogs their largest lead of the game at 73-63 and 2:21 remaining.

EKU made things interesting late, connecting on back-to-back three-pointers to get to within four. After an offensive foul was called on Abram, the Colonels’ George Kimble III had an 18-foot jumper to make it a one-possession game, but Cooper came flying in for the block and grabbed the rebound. He then calmly made two free throws to put the game away.

LA Tech ended up shooting 53.6 percent from the field (went 16-of-27 in the second half). Daniel Batcho had his best game of the tournament, registering 19 points, eight boards, and two blocks. Abram finished with 14 points and a career-high eight rebounds. Green contributed 12 off the bench and Ree tallied 11 points.

EKU shot 40.0 percent from the field and were led in scoring by Kimble III who had 21 points. Devontae Blanton, the Colonels leading scorer, finished with 17 (had just six in the second half).

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.

The Lincoln Parish Journal wants to thank Karl Malone Toyota, Northern Louisiana Medical Center and Johnson Physical Therapy for their title and presenting sponsorships of this year’s College Football Pick’em contest.

We also want to thank Dubach Air and Heat, Ginn’s Autobody, Hart Designs, Dawghouse Sports Grill, Pattons Western Wear, Tanyard Creek, Stows Moving Co., Ruston Athletic Supply, Hot Rod’s BBQ, and Charlie’s Carpet Cleaning for their Pick’em Partnerships within the contest.

We encourage all of our readers to utilize the services and products provided by our advertisers!

CLICK HERE TO PLAY

_______________________________

CLICK HERE TO PLAY

Are you ready for some football?!?

Bigger question. Are you ready to win $200 in cash … with the potential to make it $400 if you are perfect on the week (including predicting the No. 1 tiebreaker exactly right).

The Lincoln Parish Journal is proud to host the Karl Malone Toyota College Football Pick’em Contest presented by Northern Louisiana Medical Center and Johnson Physical Therapy.

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

Readers are eligible to participate and each week one lucky winner will go home with a $200 cash prize (maybe $400).  Each week the winner will be the participant with the best record out of the predetermined 15 college football games (ties will be broken by two separate tiebreakers consisting of guessing the total points scored in two of our weekly contests).

Only one entry per participant will be accepted each week.

The Karl Malone Toyota College Football Pick’em Contest presented by Northern Louisiana Medical Center and Johnson Physical Therapy will be conducted for 14 regular season weeks of the college season starting with this week’s 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 at 6:55 a.m.  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 $200 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.

Funeral services for Nancy Lou Myhre Clark, age 85 of Ruston, LA, will be held at 10:00 AM, Friday, November 29, 2024 at Owens Memorial Chapel in Ruston with Rev. Andy Allred and daughter-in-law, Alice Clark officiating. A private burial will follow in the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Ruston under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston, LA. 

Nancy Lou Myhre Clark was born in Little Fork Village, Minnesota, on April 12, 1939, to Ella Mae and Floyd Myhre and passed away from this life into the arms of her Heavenly Father on November 25, 2024, at the age of 85 years. Her family eventually moved to Coquille, Oregon, where Nancy graduated from high school. She furthered her education in Portland, Oregon, attending and graduating from business school and then found a job working in the downtown area. She proudly told the story of working to purchase her own wedding gown.

Nancy married the love of her life, Paul Clark, in Milwaukie, Oregon, on February 24, 1961. They built a life together and grew their family, adding two sons. The family moved to Ruston in 1972. Nancy was a devoted wife and mother and enjoyed working part-time as a bookkeeper when her boys were in school. She continued her family devotion by moving her parents and sister to Ruston to care for them in the early 1980s. After the passing of her parents, she became the sole caregiver for her sister, Sally, until her death in March, 2023.

Nancy came to know Jesus as her Lord and Savior at a young age. She enjoyed being active in a church community group with her sister-in-love Artie Clark whom she greatly respected for her knowledge of the Bible, and she treasured the time they spent together, studying the Word of God.

She was a devoted grandmother, and her grandchildren will cherish their memories of her as a quiet, loving person they fondly called “Mammaw.” They, along with the rest of the family, will always remember how she loved to cook and bake for them and how she became quietly “famous” for her pecan pies and divinity candy.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a brother (Gary) and her sister (Sally). Left to cherish her memory are her sons, Tim (Alice) and Todd (Penny), her grandchildren, Ryan Clark (Sarah) and Hannah Wallace (Daniel) and Crystal Clark, as well as great grandchildren Ava Kate Wallace and Connor Paul Wallace and her fur baby, Maggie.

Proverbs 31: 27-30
²⁷ She looks well to the ways of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children rise up and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many women have done excellently,
    but you surpass them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Visitation will be from 9:00-10:00 AM, Friday, November 29, 2024 at Owens Memorial Chapel.

Vernon Hough, Jr. 
August 5, 1950 – November 24, 2024 
Visitation: Friday, November 29, 2024, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Magnolia Baptist Church, 1024 Cooper St., Saline 
Funeral Service, Saturday, November 30, 2024, 10:00 AM, Magnolia Baptist Church, 1024 Cooper St., Saline 
Graveside Service, Saturday, November 30, 2024, Magnolia Baptist Church Cemetery, 1024 Cooper St., Saline 

by Wesley Harris

How many American universities possesses a Cold War Era nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile?

Only one. Louisiana Tech University.

In 1962, F. Jay Taylor, a former Tech student and World War II Navy fighter pilot, became the school’s president when it was named Louisiana Polytechnic Institute. Within two years, Taylor had talked the U. S. Air Force out of the missile and a jet plane.

Not only was Tech the only college or university with its own missile, it was the only location where a Minuteman missile could be seen displayed outside the confines of a military facility.

The Air Force hardware did more than show Tech’s support for the military. With growing tension with the Soviet Union and the first American servicemen headed to Vietnam, the missile and jet were visible recruiting tools for the school’s Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) unit. Visitors could hardly get on campus without passing one of the two. Had a guard shack been present, those visitors might have thought they were approaching an Air Force base.

The ROTC program was established in the fall of 1949 when the Soviets were flexing their muscles in Eastern Europe. Like many other U. S. colleges, active Air Force officers staffed the program and taught relevant courses. Students could work toward commission as an officer in the Armed Forces. Hundreds of young male students joined up that year.

Lieutenant General David Wade, commander of the Second Air Force at Barksdale Air Force Base dedicated the missile to Tech in a ceremony in October 1964 as the Soviets were building the Berlin Wall and muscling their way into defenseless countries. Wade, a Louisiana Tech graduate, said the missile was evidence of a great step forward in defending the United States. He said 600 such Minutemen missiles were stationed around the nation, demonstrating the country’s preparedness against potential nuclear attacks, an ever-present concern during the Cold War. The Claiborne Parish native said he hoped there would never be an occasion where they would have to be fired. 

Wade cited the words of George Washington nearly 200 years before “to be prepared for war is the best way of preserving the peace.”

President Taylor had requested the missile and obtained it for the Tech campus through the efforts of General Wade. The missile, obviously without its nuclear warhead, had previously been used as a model at the Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota.

During the dedication ceremony, Taylor said the missile was a symbol of the military strength that stands to defend the United States and a symbol of Tech’s admiration and appreciation of the U.S. Air Force and its motto of “Peace is our profession.” 

Taylor also described it as a symbol of the bond of friendship between Louisiana Tech, the Air Force, and the ROTC program, and a symbol of the future of the aerospace age. Lieutenant Colonel Jack Murphy, professor of air science and head of the ROTC unit, oversaw the dedication ceremony and the 600 Tech ROTC cadets who composed the unit. After his retirement from the Air Force, Murphy served on Taylor’s staff until 1980.

After graduating from Gibsland High School in 1940, Taylor attended Louisiana Tech for two years before enlisting as an aviation cadet in the United States Navy. He completed flight training in 1943 during World War II. As a Navy fighter plane pilot, he logged 2,000 hours of flight time in the Pacific and rose to the rank of lieutenant commander before receiving an honorable discharge after the war in 1946. Upon returning to civilian life, Taylor obtained several degrees while working as a commercial pilot before pursuing a career in higher education.

The missile joined a Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star in “protecting” Tech’s campus. The Air Force jet was the type used for training pilots. It has remained outside Graham Hall for over 60 years. 

Over the years, the 55-foot ICBM missile suffered internal rust that threatened to topple it. It was removed from its Tech Drive location in early 2000s.

Since several Tech ROTC grads have joined the U. S. Space Force, the newest branch of the armed services, is it time to get a spaceship or satellite to exhibit on the Quad?

by Hanna Singh

When people think of what makes Lincoln Parish so exemplary, the students are one thing that come to mind. Each year, three hardworking students are selected as the elementary, junior high and high school students of the year.

This year, these outstanding individuals are Ruston High School’s Abby Seney, Ruston Jr. High’s Avery Dixon, and A.E. Phillip’s Collins Reigelman. These students competed against many others from across the parish to earn the title of the 2024-25 students of the year.

As the High School Student of the Year, Abby Seney has worked meticulously over the last four years, creating an impressive portfolio of academic and athletic accomplishments, as well as community service projects. Not only does Seney put forth the work to succeed in her education, but also the young student has demonstrated incredible leadership and dedication to making her fellow students feel understood. Her father, Caleb Seney highlighted some of the commendable growth he has witnessed in his daughter over the years.

“It has been so fun watching Abby grow both as a student and as a person over the years.  To see that little awkward middle schooler, who was just beginning to figure out who she was, blossom into the confident leader that she is today has been a source of joy and pride for both me and her mother,” Caleb Seney said. “Abby has always been studious, and she’s always been kind. She does not meet a stranger, and she tries her best to include everyone.”

Likewise, Seney’s mother, Adrian, agrees that her success can be attributed to her drive to succeed not only as a student, but also a person as a whole.

“Abby has grown tremendously over the years both academically and as a person. Over the past few years, she has become more confident, more outgoing, and more driven in the classroom,” Adrian Seney said. “She puts tremendous effort into her classes and her extracurricular activities. She loves to learn and has an internal drive to do her best, not only in the classroom, but in everyday life.”

With so many opportunities available at Ruston High School, Seney is proud to take advantage of the many activities she finds interest in. Some of the most notable include being a longtime member of the student council, a catbox leader, a member of the golf team, a talented art qualifier and many more involvements. Seney credits the staff of RHS for supporting her through so many opportunities to grow and pursue different passions.

“I’m honored and excited to represent Lincoln Parish as Student of the Year,” Seney said. “I truly am so thankful to call Ruston High my home. Not only are the academics exceptional, but also the student body and faculty. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

As the parish student of the year, Seney will soon be competing in the regional section of the competition. RHS principal Dan Gressett expressed his appreciation for Seney’s dedication to the school and his support for her representing the school at the regional level.

“Abby is a wonderful student and a great representative of not only Ruston High School, but now the district. I’m not surprised at all that she won,” Gressett said. “We are very proud of her, and we wish her the best as she moves on”.

In the Junior High competition, a just as exceptional young student was named the parish student of the year.  Calling Ruston Jr. High her home. Avery Dixon excels inside and out of the classroom, managing to maintain a 4.0 grade point average alongside a full-time schedule.

Outside of her schoolwork, Dixon devoted her time to many extra-curricular activities and service opportunities. Dixon participates in the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) club, where she has taken an interest in working with special needs students at her school. She recently volunteered to work at the Special Olympics program. Principal of Ruston Jr. High, Keisha Douglas, describes the qualities that she believes make Dixon a worthy ambassador of the school.

“Avery Dixon demonstrates exceptional academic achievement, strong leadership qualities, active participation in extracurricular activities, a positive attitude, and a commitment to our community,” Douglas said. “She excels in multiple areas beyond just high grades.”

At the elementary level, 5^th grade student Collins Reigelman was named the student of the year for parish and at A.E. Phillips school. As far as academics go, Reigelman continuously earns straight A’s and advanced test scores. The young performer and leader has shown promise for a bright future going forward in her schooling.

In her free time, Reigelman participates in various activities and sports including extra-curricular basketball, cross country, 4-H and choir. She also displays a variety of artistic talent, playing piano and performing in many productions at the Ruston Community Theatre. Reigelman displays a strong heart for service, volunteering for many community service projects including Habitat for Humanity and Rolling Hills Bookstore.

A.E. Phillips principal, Jenny Blalock, described the impressive attitude and abilities that made Reigelman a perfect candidate for student of the year.

“I have had the pleasure of watching sweet Collins grow up, and I currently serve as her principal. Every interaction with Collins is a pleasure. She always has a beautiful smile. Collins is a student of impeccable character and kindness,” Blalock said. “She is kind to all of her classmates. When I ask how her day is going, she always takes a moment to ask about my day as well. She is also a very well-rounded student, excelling in and out of the classroom.”

These three exceptional individuals have truly shown what it means to be a student in Lincoln Parish. Their dedication to their academics, community and extra-curricular activities shows how willing they are to be involved and make a difference. The Lincoln Parish community is proud to show their support for these hardworking students as they work toward competing at the regional level. They will do an excellent job of representing the parish and their schools.

A Louisiana state trooper arrested a Florida man last week after over 150 pounds of marijuana were found in his vehicle on an Interstate 20 traffic stop in Lincoln Parish.

Melvin Apolinar Gonzalez, Jr., 42, of Orlando, was arrested about 9:00 p.m. on November 21 after he was stopped for improper lane usage.

Gonzalez told the trooper he was traveling to Orlando from Dallas, Texas, after taking a dog there to sell. The trooper smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle.

During a search, approximately 156 pounds of marijuana were found concealed within the trunk. Gonzalez said he rented the car and did not know the marijuana was there.

Gonzalez was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. His bail was set at $300,000.

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.

Unless you are Santa Claus, you are faced with some tough haberdashery decisions when forced to take a ride on the Christmas Season Social Circuit.

Santa has it made. He’s got one suit.

Here’s a guy who never has to worry about whether or not his bow tie is crooked. No matter what clothing etiquette the holiday occasion calls for, Santa Claus is literally covered.

Red suit with white trim. Black belt and boots. Red hat with white trim and white fuzzy ball. He carries the big bag if he wants to accessorize. Standard gear, worldwide, for the past several hundred years, give or take.

That is why he’s so jolly all the time; all he has to do is keep the one outfit fairly clean and he’s set.

Not so with non-Santas. For you and me, the holiday dress-code road is ice-patched, long and winding, the woods dark and deep.

The Situation: A holiday party looms, and the invitation reads “gala.” You panic, because you thought Gala was a girl’s name.

Is a “gala” different from a “festive occasion”? Is a gala automatically a “black-tie affair”? Or is it just a dressed-up word meaning “a party”?

No clue.

Say a guy wants to barbecue chicken in December in his backyard. Can he invite people and call it a gala? Can he have a gala if he’s barbecuing alone? Can barbecue sauce and a gala co-exist, or does one automatically cancel the other?

Can you wear a baseball cap to a gala? If you can’t, why? If you can and the party is after 5 p.m., is a black cap preferable?

Probably not. But then, what about this:

If a bunch of iron workers decide to have their Christmas party immediately after work one Friday and if refreshments come straight out of ice chests sitting in the back of their dusty pickups, and if the guy who puts on a clean T-shirt is considered overdressed, are you going to tell them their party is not a gala if that’s what they want to call it?

I think not.

Even reindeer have it better than we do. They can show up at a gala stark naked, with maybe a bell or two on, and nobody says squat.

For a moment, let’s define gala as “a big festive party involving finger foods and people with ties on and dresses they wear only three times a year, max.” Fine. Now, when does it stop being a “gala” and start becoming a “bunch of guys standing around talking and wanting to get out of their rented shoes”?

It’s enough to make you long for Groundhog Day.

And is it pronounced gay-la, gah-la, or gal-a? The dictionary has it all three ways.

See what we’re saying? It’s hard to dress for something you don’t even know how to pronounce.

The bottom line is “gala” is a mysterious word and thing. So there’s no mystery about what many of us need going into this Christmas season.

A clean and pressed red suit.

And a fashion clue.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

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.

The Lincoln Parish Journal wants to thank Karl Malone Toyota, Northern Louisiana Medical Center and Johnson Physical Therapy for their title and presenting sponsorships of this year’s College Football Pick’em contest.

We also want to thank Dubach Air and Heat, Ginn’s Autobody, Hart Designs, Dawghouse Sports Grill, Pattons Western Wear, Tanyard Creek, Stows Moving Co., Ruston Athletic Supply, Hot Rod’s BBQ, and Charlie’s Carpet Cleaning for their Pick’em Partnerships within the contest.

We encourage all of our readers to utilize the services and products provided by our advertisers!

CLICK HERE TO PLAY

_______________________________

CLICK HERE TO PLAY

Are you ready for some football?!?

Bigger question. Are you ready to win $200 in cash … with the potential to make it $400 if you are perfect on the week (including predicting the No. 1 tiebreaker exactly right).

The Lincoln Parish Journal is proud to host the Karl Malone Toyota College Football Pick’em Contest presented by Northern Louisiana Medical Center and Johnson Physical Therapy.

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

Readers are eligible to participate and each week one lucky winner will go home with a $200 cash prize (maybe $400).  Each week the winner will be the participant with the best record out of the predetermined 15 college football games (ties will be broken by two separate tiebreakers consisting of guessing the total points scored in two of our weekly contests).

Only one entry per participant will be accepted each week.

The Karl Malone Toyota College Football Pick’em Contest presented by Northern Louisiana Medical Center and Johnson Physical Therapy will be conducted for 14 regular season weeks of the college season starting with this week’s 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 at 6:55 a.m.  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 $200 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.

The Lincoln Parish Journal will once again be providing you a Thanksgiving Day special edition this year, but we won’t be publishing on Black Friday.

The LPJ will return on Saturday with complete coverage of Ruston High’s playoff game and previews for both the Bulldogs and the Tigers.

We wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving and hope you enjoy your day with family and friends.

by JJ Seldge (Special to the LPJ)

Writer’s note: I’ve decided to change the name of these articles moving forward. Instead of “From a Fan’s Perspective,” these will now be titled “Front Row Focus.” I think it fits what I do and where I watch from a little better.

Fall Baseball (at least at the college level) is for the diehards, the ones who enjoy the sport no matter what time of year. It’s not always a huge number, but they are going to show up if the gates are open. It’s a mix of fans, family and former players. For fans like me, you want to try and learn names, faces and numbers to prepare for the upcoming season. Family members are there hoping whoever they are related to does well enough to secure a roster spot. Ultimately, it’s just another way to enjoy a sport you love.

For the first time in at least five years, if not more, there will be new faces in new places. Tech lost big names like Cole McConnell, who was drafted by the White Sox. Adarius Myers, the Junkyard Dog who was the final player to take the field in both the old and new Love Shack, finished his eligibility and will be a graduate manager for the Dogs this season. Ethan Bates, the nation’s save leader and Tech’s DH, graduated and played in the independent Pioneer League this summer. And arguably the toughest to replace is Jorge Corona. One of the all-time Tech greats was signed by the White Sox as a free agent and joined McConnell out in the Arizona desert this summer for rookie ball.

Tech also has a new face on the coaching side. Longtime assistant Mitch Gaspard announced his retirement this offseason after a career spanning over three decades. “Coach G,” as he was known to players and parents alike, helped bring in many of the names you’ve gotten to know over the tenure of Coach Burroughs. However, the man chosen to succeed him is not a stranger to Ruston. Jake Wells returns to Ruston after 5 years at ULL. Wells was a part of the 2015 and 2016 Tech coaching staff that preceded Coach Burroughs, and was instrumental in helping build the 2016 roster that reached the Starkville regional and broke a nearly 30-year postseason drought for the Diamond Dogs. Based off what I heard at scrimmages, Wells brings a lot of enthusiasm and clearly has a passion for wanting the best out of players.

One other change is that Tech switched their equipment providers this fall. After being with Marucci for the last few years, Tech will now be getting their bats and gloves from the Rawlings family of brands. After talking with several players and parents, the team is excited about the switch, and I could notice a difference in terms of the sound of contact from bat to ball.

But all that being said, this might be the deepest roster that Louisiana Tech has had in the last six or seven years. The ratio of returners and newcomers is almost 50-50. Yet the depth of position players is something Tech hasn’t seen in a while and gives a small comfort level if there is an injury or change that needs to happen. There were numerous position battles that, if they haven’t already been decided, will still be decided in the weeks leading up to the start of the season, which will be February 14 vs Maine.

Before I give my Fall Ball grades, I do want to give some context. It is not like what you would see during the regular season. There really aren’t rules regarding how many players can play or pitch per game. So, you would see a different pitcher every inning or you may see multiple designated hitters in the same inning. The purpose of this is to get as many players time in game situations as possible. Because you never really know how someone may react in a game vs practice.

Grading Fall Ball:

Scrimmages: B

• For 4 weekends in September and October, as well as a single Wednesday, the 2025 squad was split up into Red vs Blue for scrimmages. Both teams had a mix of potential starters as well as likely reserve/rotational players. As I mentioned above, it is all about seeing how a player performs in a game “situation.” I think there were a lot of positives Tech took away from fall camp. Some new faces definitely took advantage of their opportunities and stood out. A few positional players that come to mind are freshman Trey Hawsey and transfers Garrison Berkley and Zeb Ruddell. I’d like to add that I was pleasantly surprised by 2 seniors who have been reserves for nearly their entire career. Thaxton Berch and Slade Netterville clearly put the work in over the summer and made some major improvements to their games. In terms of pitching, you knew what you had with all the returnees. Some new pitchers that stood out in my mind were transfers Logan Forsythe, Luke Cooley, and Owen Schexnaydre.

Fall Ball Game at Home vs Little Rock: B+

• Under partly cloudy October skies and in front of a great crowd (including a surprising number of Little Rock fans), Tech split the day against the Trojans. Game 1 was a 10-7 loss, and Game 2 ended on a walk off Jake LaRocca single for a 5-4 win. And despite what the final scores may have said, pitching was the more dominant factor of the day for the Dogs against Little Rock. Outside of a couple of innings, the Dogs pitching staff looked confident and composed. I was impressed with many of the newcomers who were clearly making their case to be a part of the rotation. On the flip side, it was clear that Tech was adjusting to pitchers who were wearing a different uniform. But once they settled in, they began to make some solid contact. It was also the first time Tech had played with a full umpire crew. There was some adjusting to new strike zones which was also a bit of a challenge after using the Trackman system for nearly all of the fall.

Fall Ball Game on the road at Southeastern Louisiana (Hammond, LA): C-

• Under mostly cloudy skies, and a predominantly Tech crowd, the Dogs took on Southeastern at “The Pat” in Hammond on November 2^nd. Unlike the games against Little Rock, the Dogs hitting would be the bigger factor of the day. Despite losing both games to Southeastern (8-5, 9-8), the bats kept the Dogs in both games all day. And to be honest, the second game felt like a heavyweight boxing match. You could sense the disappointment in the dugout after giving it all they had. Unfortunately, a mental mistake here and there ended up being the difference in both losses. And those mental mistakes happened at just the wrong time.

Overall Fall Ball Score: B-.

• While there were highs and lows on both sides of the diamond, it’s still fall ball and there are always going to be things that can be worked on fundamentally. Sometimes pitch and catch can become work, not play. And things that are second nature have to almost be relearned. I felt like there were a few players who were maybe trying to do too much instead of focusing on the fundamentals, especially at the plate. There were also several position battles that were either decided or that will come down to who performs better early in the season. I will say that there is a lot of excitement, hope and optimism in my mind for the upcoming season. If everything comes together, this could be one of the better Tech teams in recent history.

Thoughts on the 2025 schedule:

• The 2025 schedule (https://latechsports.com/sports/baseball/schedule) is definitely an interesting one. The season opens with the Maine Black Bears returning to Ruston. Tech last played Maine in 2020 at Ruston High’s field as J.C. Love Field was in the process of reconstruction after the 2019 tornado. There are a few rivalries being renewed, as Tech will have single games at LSU and hosting Grambling State. And as per usual, Tech will play both ULM and ULL home and away. 13 of the first 16 games are at home, in which Tech will play teams from the Southland, American and Sun Belt Conferences.

That home stretch will be key for building rhythm and chemistry since the following two weeks (March 12-23) will be spent almost entirely on the road. I think that road stretch could potentially set the tone for the 2025 season. Tech will play Oklahoma in Norman on March 12, and then will head up to Wichita State (played there in 2020) for a weekend series. They’ll briefly return home for a game vs ULM before traveling down to Huntsville to play at Sam Houston to open conference play.

Fortunately, Tech will get the biggest conference foe in Ruston this year, as DBU comes to town in late April. However, they will have to travel to both Sam Houston and Western Kentucky. Newcomer Kennesaw State will also visit Ruston, who is a potential conference dark horse in my mind. I would like to note to Tech fans that the next 3 conference baseball tournaments will be away from Ruston, beginning this season with it being held at Liberty. DBU and Sam Houston will be next in line for 2026 and 2027, respectively, to host at their facilities.

Overall, I think this is a very winnable schedule.  While there are some tough stretches, there should be confidence that every game and series is winnable. With the new depth Tech has, it gives a bit more peace of mind (at least for now) in terms of making a change at a particular position for any reason. In an era of uncertainty in college sports, Coach Burroughs continues to find hidden gems through both recruiting and the transfer portal. How he does it year in and year out is a mystery to me. But I do know Coach Burroughs and his staff will have them ready to go and hopefully they’ll bring home another C-USA trophy for the case and maybe even another regional appearance as well.

A Simsboro man stopped for driving with no headlights on the Grambling State University campus was charged with several drug offenses last week.

Trenston J. Allen, 19, was stopped about 8:40 p.m. on November 21 when a GSU police officer saw him traveling on R.W.E. Jones Drive with no headlights or tail lights on.

As the GSU officer talked with Allen, a strong odor of marijuana was detected coming from inside the vehicle. During a search, the officer located a bag of suspected marijuana inside another bag on the front passenger seat. Also located were clear sandwich bags, lighters, smoked marijuana “blunts,” and $495 in cash.

Allen admitted the marijuana was his. He was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for possession of marijuana over 14 gram, violation of the drug free zone law, possession of drug paraphernalia, and no headlights.

Allen’s bail was set at $2,500.

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

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

Jess Curtis knows a thing or two about winning state titles.

During his time as the head coach at Many High School, Curtis led the Tigers to six state title appearances and state championships in 2014, 2020 and 2022.

Curtis made the move to Southside High School, located in Youngsville, and in his first year at the helm of the program has led the Sharks to the Non-Select School Division I quarterfinals.

The Sharks defeated Live Oak 42-10 and Walker 47-0 in their first two playoff games and now face their toughest test of the postseason with a road match-up against Ruston Friday.

Southside is 9-2 on the season with the losses coming to Notre Dame 21-20 and Acadiana 43-10.

The Sharks, oddly enough, like to stick to the land as they run their flex bone option running attack.

“They are 95 to 97 percent run, and it may be even higher than that,” said Eric Narcisse, who writes for the Acadiana Advocate. “They very rarely put the ball in the air. They are going to line up and punch you in the mouth, play after play after play. That is their style. They want to shorten the game, keep the ball away from you, and put together these long, timely drives.”

Southside has a solid one-two punch in the backfield that consists of Ramon Singleton and Justin Williams, who have combined for 2,056 yards and 22 TDs on the ground this year.

“Everything starts with their running back, Ramon Singleton,” said Narcisse. “He is their bell cow in the backfield. He has some speed but he isn’t a blazer.”

Singleton has rushed for 1,132 yards and 12 scores on 172 totes this season, while Williams has totaled 924 yards and 10 scores. 

“None of their running backs are big home run threats,” said Narcisse. “They are going to hit you with the fullback dive or pitch it to a guy off the option.”

Quarterback Parker Dies has also done some damage on the ground this year, rushing for 336 yards and four touchdowns. Dies has started every game this year for the Sharks, but has only completed 7-of-20 passes for just over 100 yards and two scores on the season.

“It’s run the football,” said Narcisse. “There is no secret to what they want to do. It’s an old school, smash mouth style of football. Let’s see if you can stop it.”

Defensively, the strength of the Sharks is in the secondary where Southside utilizes a lot of man coverage, according to their radio play-by-play voice Steve Peloquin.

“Southside plays a lot, and I mean a lot, of man coverage,” said Peloquin. “They put guys on an island because they blitz a lot. They ask their (secondary) to play a lot of man-on-man coverage.”

According to Peloquin, the Sharks have some skilled secondary players.

“Their best (defensive) player is Derrick Collins,” said Peloquin. “He is getting some looks from (some small colleges). He is their best cover guy for sure. Cameron Allen is their other best cornerback, and he is pretty good too. I really think that is the strength of their team defensively.

“They may get hit with a big play every now and then because they do blitz so much, but it’s difficult to pass on them.”

The question for Southside’s defense is whether they can hold up against the Ruston power running attack as the Bearcats have had success against their opponents with the legs of Jordan Hayes, Dylone Brooks and Josh Brantley the past two years.

“I think the question is if teams are big and able to run the football at them … ,” said Peloquin. “The secondary is outstanding but their linebackers aren’t the biggest guys. They will put pressure on the quarterback by blitzing a lot, but can they hold up against a power running attack … that’s the question.

“They rely on their speed to have a lot of success. They just don’t have a lot of size. Their strength is their athleticism and they can do a lot of things.”

Peloquin believes Southside has the talent to beat anyone.

“I think if they can run the football and move the chains, I think they are capable of beating anyone,” said Peloquin. “They are a really good team and they play the type of football that can frustrate opponents.”

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.

Most of Tom’s life was spent in incarceration, but now he was sentenced to death by guillotine.  The date of his execution was set for November 19.  As he sat on death row, he could do nothing but wait.  From his jail cell, he could see others awaiting a similar fate.  Tom knew nothing of their reasons for being there, whether they were innocent or guilty, but Tom was absolutely innocent.  As the old saying goes, “everyone on death row is innocent.”  One by one he watched as they were led away never to return.  Shortly after their cells were vacated, other prisoners took their place in a seemingly never-ending cycle.  Finally, his day had come.  He spoke not a word as he was led out of his jail cell and onto the platform.  The only thing that could save Tom now would be a last-minute reprieve, but it had never happened to someone under Tom’s circumstances.  There was little hope.

Tom’s time had come.  From the platform which had been set up in such a way as to give the public a good view, Tom looked out at the crowd as they looked back at him.  Rather than a somber occasion, the crowd was relaxed and seemed almost cheerful.  The crowd knew something that Tom did not.  A man stood next to Tom and begin to speak to the crowd.  Like the crowd, the speaker was smiling and cheerful as he spoke.  Tom watched the crowd in silence.  During his speech, the man told the crowd that he was commuting Tom’s death sentence to life in prison.  Tom was saved from the guillotine.  After some brief remarks, a quick photo, and a few questions from reporters, the speaker gave the sign and John was whisked away from the podium.  He was transported back to his cell at the Keithley McPherrin turkey breeding farms in Sunnymead, California.  Tom, a white 55-pound turkey, was the first turkey in history to receive a pardon from the President of the United States.

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.

There are a lot of hunters that can look back on Thanksgiving with fond memories. It’s not just about the food and football, but about their hunts as well. While some hunt ducks, quail or squirrels, others head for their favorite deer stand on Thanksgiving morning. Today we’ll go back in time during the early ‘70s on a hunt I’ll never forget.

Every year as far back as I can remember, my favorite time to go hunting was on Thanksgiving morning. There was just something special about this day and waking up early knowing that three good things were going to happen that day. First, I was going deer hunting looking to shoot a good buck. Next, I knew there would be one heck of a Thanksgiving spread waiting for me after the hunt. 

This would be a meal that would include my mom’s tasty cornbread dressing, fresh brown gravy, candied sweet potatoes, green beans, hot butter top rolls, deviled eggs, and either a pan roasted turkey or, every once in a while, she would shake things up with oven baked Cornish hens. To wash all this down you could choose grape Kool-Aid or sweet tea. For dessert, there was a choice between sweet potato or pecan pie, along with mom’s famous fruit salad (which was better after day 3) covered in homemade whip cream topped with walnuts. 

As you can see, there was no shortage of food. But the third thing I looked forward to, that Thanksgiving Day would not be complete without, was a Dallas Cowboys victory. Nothing was more satisfying after a great meal than watching the Cowboy’s destroy their opponent.

But let’s talk about a Thanksgiving hunt I will remember forever…my first buck at the age of 12. This particular morning the temperature was in the mid 40’s with sunny skies predicted. A great morning for blowing smoke as you sat on your deer stand. But this day had a different feel, a feeling of anticipation because I had already seen the buck I was after the weekend before. 

It appeared to be a solid mature eight-point buck that I hoped would make his presence known. But for some odd reason, I decided not to sit in my stand which was in the woods at the top of a hill overlooking a creek. There was also a game trail crossing this creek that deer were using on a regular basis. 

So, I set up at the base of a huge pin oak tree just 20 yards off the game trail. It wasn’t long (30 minutes) before I heard the sound of something crashing through the woods headed directly in my direction. As I peered through the dense wood cover, I saw the huge buck crossing the creek and coming straight at me. Then halfway up the hill, the big eight point stopped and locked up as if he knew something wasn’t right.  

I knew at this point the deer had probably gotten wind of me. I sat motionless with the buck looking in my direction about 30 feet away pawing at the ground. At one point it was as if we made actual eye contact. While this seemed like an eternity, I don’t think I took a breath for at least two minutes. 

Finally, the buck looked back in the direction he came from and that’s when I raised my Remington 308 rifle and fired one shot. The buck jumped in the air and whirled around and headed back across the creek. I thought, “Surely, I didn’t miss that buck!” I mean he was the biggest buck in the county in my eyes! But then I heard him hit the ground confirming that I had made a clean shot. 

The man I was hunting with, who was a good friend of the family, heard my shot and came immediately. We slowly walked towards the deer as we crossed the shallow creek and there he was, a really nice mature eight-point buck that I thought was the same deer I had seen the weekend before. 

To say this was my favorite Thanksgiving ever would be an understatement! I was so excited and could not wait to show the deer to my family and friends. This is just one story of many that so many hunters get to experience during this time of year. 

It’s also another reason for all of us to be thankful, not just for the opportunity to go hunting, but for the time we get to share with each other. Till next time, good luck, good hunting, as I would like to wish each of you a happy Thanksgiving!  

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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.

Each Monday and 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. 

As LPJ will not publish on Friday, we are publishing Weekend Events today instead of Friday. Weekly events will resume as normal on Monday.

Wednesday, Nov. 27
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

Thursday, Nov. 28
Thanksgiving

Friday, Nov. 29
7 p.m.: RHS playoff game

Saturday, Nov. 30
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market
10:30 a.m.: LA Tech men’s basketball
3 p.m.: LA Tech football

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.