Something special about Ruston is the unique icons and pieces of culture that make the town more than just an address, but a home. If someone asked you to think of Ruston, images of peaches and bulldogs, football stadium lights and the Dixie theater might cross your mind. You know just how to describe it, and it’s a place to be proud of.
Of the many towns I’ve lived in and worked in over the years, Ruston might be the one with the most sense of self. The railroad tracks, the food truck parks, and the historic downtown, are all landmarks that make it something to remember. You know your favorite coffee shop, and you probably know the barista there too. You probably go to the Peach Festival every year and the farmers’ market on most Saturdays.
It’s sort of iconic, the murals and the main street and everything else. It’s truly a sight to see the trolly picking up game day passengers dressed in sparkling blue and crimson red on Saturday nights every fall. When we walk downtown, we make time to stop and take pictures with the bulldogs that hide around town. They have a whole album on my camera roll.
I’ve made a routine for myself that surrounds my life in Ruston. Going to the library and walking along the Rock Island Greenway every week. I shop at the boutiques where I’ve made friends with the owners and try new cocktails at the same restaurants where I always have ladies’ night. This town has earned its own special place in my schedule and my life, like a friend that you get so used to you forget that they’re always there.
Even when I drive hours away, if I tell people I’m from Ruston they know what that means. Down in New Orleans I had a conversation with a former Rustonite I ran into, where we gushed about our favorite date night spots and the plays at the community theater. I know some people who moved away for some time, after graduating from Tech or Grambling and wanting a fresh start far from home. But Ruston has a way of drawing people back, they say, because so many come back to the place they call home.
I learn as I travel around the state that Louisiana is a beautiful and unique place with new adventures in every Parish and every village. But no matter what corner I uncover, I’ve yet to find any place that matches up to the way I feel about my very own hometown. It’s funny how many people I’ve met who say the very same thing. It’s easy to love and hard to leave, because you know you’ll never find a place just like it.
Last fall’s Master Gardener Class: (Back Row – L to R): Debbie Abrahm, Jim Hatch, Allen Herbert, Anna Scroggins (Front Row – L to R):: Kyleigh Bass (LSU Ag Center Agent), Debbie Barnes, Roshunna Howard, Bernadette Huey, Barbara Lindy, Kay Lueg, Lynn Kilpatrick
Courtesy of LSU AgCenter
The Master Gardener Class is the perfect opportunity for anyone who loves gardening and wants to take their skills to the next level.
This 11‑week course, offered through the LSU AgCenter’s Louisiana Master Gardener Program, provides research‑based horticulture training taught by Extension specialists and experts.
Participants learn essential topics such as soils, plant nutrition, botany, insects, plant diseases, fruits, vegetables, ornamentals, lawns, and sustainable landscape practices this course is designed to build confident, knowledgeable home gardeners.
Classes will be held every Tuesday from 1:00–4:30 PM, June 30 through September 8, 2026, at the Lincoln Parish Extension Office.
After completing the course and final exam, graduates begin their volunteer service, helping share reliable gardening information throughout the community. Applications are due May 28.
Please contact Kyleigh Bass, Lincoln and Bienville Horticulture Agent, at KyleighBass@agcenter.lsu.edu or the Lincoln Parish Extension Office at (318) 251-5134.
On March 18, 2026, the Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM) was contacted by the Louisiana Department of Insurance (LDI) regarding suspected fraudulent insurance claims originating in Ouachita Parish. LDI advised that, in coordination with the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), they had initiated an investigation after identifying multiple suspicious insurance claims linked to a common group of individuals.
Following the initial notification, investigators with the OSFM Fire Investigations Unit conducted a comprehensive review and requested additional documentation related to numerous insurance claims spanning nearly a decade. Through the execution of multiple search warrants and the collection of digital evidence and witness statements, investigators developed probable cause to identify several individuals believed to be involved in insurance fraud, identity theft, and related criminal activity.
As a result of the ongoing investigation, the following individuals from West Monroe were arrested today with the assistance of Louisiana State Troopers from Troop F and Region 3 Criminal Investigations Division and Louisiana Probation and Parole:
This investigation remains active and ongoing. Additional arrests and/or charges are possible as investigators continue to review evidence and conduct interviews.
The OSFM encourages anyone with information related to this case or similar suspected fraudulent activity to come forward. Tips can be reported anonymously to the OSFM or to the LDI.
Wilmer McLean was a retired officer of the Virginia militia who became wealthy as a wholesale grocer based in Alexandria, Virginia. In 1850, he married Virginia Beverley Hooe. Three years later when Virginia was expecting their first child, Wilmer searched for a quiet, peaceful place for his growing family to live. On January 1, 1854, Wilmer’s son, John Wilmer, was born. Wilmer had his sights set on the 1200-acre rural Yorkshire Plantation north of Manassas along Bull Run, a 31-mile-long tributary of the Occoquan River. Shortly after baby John was born, Wilmer purchased the plantation. Three years later, they welcomed their second child, a daughter named Lucretia “Lula” Virginia. Theirs was a perfectly peaceful existence. They lived in a huge two-story house, some referred to it as a mansion, on one of the many rolling hills next to the lazy stream. It seemed as if they were living in a dream world which would last forever.
Their peaceful, dreamlike existence ended abruptly on July 21, 1861. Confederate Brigadier General P.G.T. Beauregard had commandeered Wilmer’s home and barn as his headquarters along the strategic Bull Run. Whether Wilmer and his family continued to live in their home with the soldiers or moved to a nearby home is unknown, but they remained in close proximity. On that hot July day, Union and Confederate soldiers fought an artillery duel on Wilmer’s plantation. General Beauregard later wrote, “A comical effect of this artillery fight was the destruction of the dinner of myself and staff by a Federal shell that fell into the fire-place of my headquarters at the McLean House.” What became known as The Battle of Bull Run was the first major campaign of the Civil War.
Following the battle, the soldiers moved to other battlefields. Wilmer and his family returned to the peaceful existence on Yorkshire Plantation that they had enjoyed before the war. Soon thereafter, Virginia became pregnant with their third child. Once again, their peace was broken when soldiers converged again near the same strategic location. For three days in 1862, August 28-30, Confederate and Union soldiers fought the Second Battle of Bull Run. Shortly after the battle, Wilmer and his pregnant wife and their two children abandoned Yorkshire Plantation for safer environs.
On January 28, 1863, Virginia gave birth to a daughter named Nannie. Shortly thereafter, Wilmer and his family purchased a large home about 140 miles to the southwest in the village of Appomattox Court House, Virginia. For two years, Wilmer’s family lived far from the fields of battle. On April 9, 1865, Virginia was pregnant with their fourth child when Charles Marshall, Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s aide, asked Wilmer to show him a suitable place for Lee to meet another general. Wanting to distance his family from any connection to the war, Wilmer showed the aide a dilapidated home which he quickly rejected. With no other contenders, Wilmer reluctantly offered the use of his family’s home. At about 1 o’clock that afternoon at the McLean home, General Lee met with Union General Ulysses S. Grant. The Civil War ended during that meeting when General Lee surrendered the Confederate Army to General Grant. The Civil War began in Wilmer McLean’s front yard and ended in his front parlor.
Through it all, Wilmer wanted a safe and peaceful existence for himself and his family. In June 1870, Wilmer dedicated himself to ensuring that the citizens of Manassas township in Virginia had the same safe and peaceful existence that he had wanted to provide for his family. In June 1870, Wilmer McLean, whose homes bookended the Civil War, became a Justice of the Peace.
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 through Friday, the Lincoln Parish Journal will post a list of non-for-profit upcoming events happening in the parish. If you would like to add your event to this list or advertise your for-profit events, please email us at lpjnewsla@gmail.com.
Saturday, May 9 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 7:30 p.m.: Bull Riding Ruston Ramble (Lincoln Expo Center; for more information, call 318-372-4793)
Sunday, May 10 Mother’s Day
Monday, May 11 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome 6 p.m.: AI for Real Life (Lincoln Parish Library) 6 p.m.: Toastmasters International meeting (Louisiana Center for the Blind, 101 South Trenton Street) 6-9 p.m.: Creative Meetups/Creative Potluck (Creatives at Work, 301 N. Trenton)
Tuesday, May 12 6:30 a.m.: Veterans free breakfast (VFW Post 3615, 206 Memorial Dr.) 10 a.m.: Storytime : Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (Lincoln Parish Library) 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Hamburgers for Hunger fundraiser for 5 Loaves 2 Fish Ministry at the Ruston First Baptist Church parking lot (corner of Trenton and Texas). Tickets are $10 and available from board members and Origin Bank locations in downtown Ruston and on N. Trenton St. Tickets will also be available on site. 4 p.m.: Crafternoon : Cherry Blossom Bubble Wrap Paintings (Lincoln Parish Library) 6 p.m.: Video-Led Exercise class (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center) 7 p.m.: Lincoln Parish Police Jury meeting (Lincoln Parish Courthouse)
Wednesday, May 13 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, May 14 9:30 a.m.: Piney Hills Quilt Guild meeting (Grace Methodist Church) 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Kiwanis Club lunch and program (Trinity Methodist Church fellowship hall) 4 p.m.: Tween Time : Chinese Drum Craft (Lincoln Parish Library) 6 p.m.: Teen Time : Trivia Night (Lincoln Parish Library) 6 p.m.: Southern A’Chord Chorus rehearsal (Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 212 N. Bonner St.; open to all women singers) 6 p.m.: La Tech baseball
Friday, May 15 4 p.m.: Family Fun Friday : Movie Night: Moana 2 (Lincoln Parish Library) 6 p.m.: LA Tech baseball
Saturday, May 16 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 1 p.m.: LA Tech baseball
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.
Louisiana Tech will close out their final road Conference USA series of the regular season this weekend, traveling to face Liberty for a three-game set at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium.
The Bulldogs (29-21, 15-9 CUSA) and Flames (35-14, 18-6) are scheduled to open the series Friday at 5 p.m. CT before continuing Saturday at 2 p.m. CT and concluding Sunday at noon CT.
LA Tech enters the weekend coming off a 12-1 midweek victory over Northwestern State Demons, its sixth straight win over Northwestern State and largest margin of victory against the Demons since a 15-3 home win during the 2009 season. The Bulldogs rebounded from dropping the rubber game of last weekend’s series at Dallas Baptist Patriots.
The Bulldogs won last season’s home series against Liberty and also eliminated the Flames from the 2025 CUSA Championship in Lynchburg. LA Tech swept Liberty during the programs’ first meeting in 2024 before the Flames claimed an opening-round conference tournament matchup later that season. The Bulldogs responded with consecutive elimination-game victories over Liberty on the way to a CUSA championship game appearance.
Matt Houston has paced the Bulldogs offensively entering the series, driving in 10 runs over the last five games while batting .615 during that stretch. The senior also carries a nine-game hitting streak into the weekend after recording two doubles and two RBI in Tuesday’s win over Northwestern State.
Houston leads LA Tech with a .347 batting average and .792 slugging percentage while totaling nine home runs and 19 RBI in 27 appearances this season.
Sebastian Mexico added two doubles and four RBI in the midweek victory, marking his sixth game this season with at least four RBI. Mexico is batting .285 with 41 hits and 24 RBI on the year.
Liberty enters the weekend after winning seven straight CUSA weekend series, with its lone conference series loss coming earlier this season at Missouri State. The Flames swept New Mexico State Aggies last weekend before falling to Virginia Tech Hokies in a midweek contest Tuesday.
Flames ace Ben Blair ranks second in Conference USA in both strikeouts and innings pitched with 91 strikeouts across 71.1 innings. Blair, the preseason favorite for CUSA Pitcher of the Year, owns a 3.15 ERA.
Liberty’s Zayac Bradley enters the series with a 7-0 record in 11 starts, tying LA Tech pitcher Declan Dahl for the conference lead in wins. Bradley carries a 3.13 ERA into the weekend.
Offensively, the Flames are led by Tanner Marsh, Jordan Jaffe and Nick Barone, all of whom are batting above .300. Marsh ranks fourth in CUSA with a .366 average while leading the conference in triples (five) and runs scored (60). Barone leads Liberty with 10 home runs and 50 RBI.
Bradi Gallaway celebrates after scoring the game-tying run in the top of the sixth inning. (Photo by Josh McDaniel)
No. 7 seed Louisiana Tech needed extra innings for the second straight day, defeating No. 5 seed New Mexico State 3-1 in 11 innings Thursday evening at the Delaware Softball Diamond to stay alive in the 2026 CUSA Softball Championship.
Tech (31-24) will now face WKU today at 2:30 p.m. in another elimination game.
The Bulldogs (31-24) broke a 1-1 deadlock in the top of the 11th inning with consecutive RBI singles. Aleah Brooks delivered the go-ahead hit to score Reagan Marchant before Allie Furr followed with another run-scoring single that brought home Jina Baffuto for an insurance run.
Tech outhit the Aggies 12-5 in the contest, and the win avenged a series sweep at the hands of NMSU in Las Cruces in mid-March.
LA Tech pitcher Bryannah Campos (9-3) turned in another strong relief performance, allowing one earned run on two hits over seven innings to earn her second victory of the tournament. After surrendering a solo home run in the fifth inning, Campos retired hitters consistently over the final six frames while allowing only one additional hit.
Laney Johnson worked a solid 4.0 innings in the circle in the start for the Bulldogs, allowing just three hits while keeping the Aggies off the scoreboard.
The Bulldogs backed Campos with strong defensive play throughout the contest, including three double plays and several key infield stops to keep the Aggies (27-27) from generating scoring opportunities.
Gracie Flores recorded a pair of hits to extend her CUSA best hitting streak to 21 games, while Marchant, Bradi Gallaway, and Furr all recorded multi-hit performances.
LA Tech advanced in the elimination bracket after also winning an extra-inning game Wednesday against FIU before falling to Liberty.
Bonnie Faye Ricks May April 4, 1934 – May 5, 2026 Service: Friday, May 8, 2026, 10:00AM, Kilpatrick Funeral Homes of West Monroe Final Resting Place: Roselawn Memorial Gardens, 451 LA 151 S, Calhoun
Nancy Hayden Burch July 14, 1953 – May 1, 2026 Visitation: Sunday, May 10, 2026, 3:00PM – 4:00PM, Kilbourne Hall at Grace Episcopal Church, 405 Glenmar Avenue, Monroe Service: Sunday, May 10, 2026, 4:00PM, Grace Episcopal Church, 405 Glenmar Avenue, Monroe Final Resting Place: Grace Episcopal Church columbarium, 405 Glenmar Avenue, Monroe
There was a time in Ruston when you didn’t need to make plans.
You just went to Hood’s.
Long before group texts and social media, before anyone talked about “meeting up,” Hood’s Drive-In on U.S. Highway 80 was the default setting. If you were in high school—or even if you just wanted to feel like you were—you made the loop through that parking lot.
Over and over again.
I asked some social media friends to share their memories of that unforgettable place.
“It was the place to be and the place to be seen in the mid to late sixties,” one former regular recalled. Another put it even more simply: “Hood’s was the hangout.”
Hood’s wasn’t just popular—it was, in every sense of the word, iconic. Overused as that word may be, it fits here. For nearly half a century, Hood’s wasn’t just part of Ruston life. It was Ruston life.
It even left its mark beyond the parking lot. If anyone ever captured Hood’s in words, it was writer and Louisiana Tech professor Wiley Hilburn, who returned to it again and again in his Shreveport Times columns—because, like so many others, he never really left it behind.
Hood’s was Ruston’s version of Happy Days—only louder, more crowded, and unmistakably local.
You didn’t walk into Hood’s so much as you arrived.
Cars squeezed into the parking lot. Engines idled. Radios played. Conversations drifted from one rolled-down window to the next. Somebody always knew somebody. And if you didn’t see who you were looking for on the first pass, you circled back.
“I musta driven that circle a thousand times,” one man remembered.
That slow loop was more than just something to do—it was a ritual. A moving social scene where you could take the measure of the night in a single pass. Who was there. Who wasn’t. Who just pulled in. Who left with who.
“The highlight of the day was to drive through Hood’s to check out all our friends,” one told me.
And while the scene mattered, the food had a reputation all its own—one that hasn’t faded with time.
“The best open face hamburger and fries!” one person insisted.
“Best fries ever!!” said another.
For some, it wasn’t just the taste—it was the routine.
“My favorite meal there as a child: minced beef BBQ sandwich, curly fries and a glass of cold, frothy milk from that big milk dispenser,” one woman recalled.
Others remember the onion rings and Cherry Cokes.
But as good as the food was, it wasn’t why people stayed. It was everything happening around it.
Car hops carrying food out to teenagers perched on hoods and tailgates. Music pouring out of car radios. Friends laughing, flirting, telling stories that grew bigger with every retelling. First dates began there. Relationships formed there. Lifelong memories were made there.
“Asked my wife for our first date at Hood’s…fifty-nine years later I’m glad she said yes,” one man wrote me.
“Hanging out at Hood’s is one of my best memories of high school,” another said.
One said, “My dad used to say, ‘If you were asked if you wanted to go to Hood’s or Heaven, you answered Hood’s.”
And if you were looking for someone, you didn’t have to search long.
“It was the place to find anybody you were looking for!” one person laughed.
There was also, by all accounts, a quiet line you didn’t cross.
“If you got outta hand, Mrs. Hood would come talk to you about it,” one former regular remembered.
That presence—firm, watchful, and respected—helped make Hood’s something rare. It gave teenagers freedom, but not chaos. It gave parents confidence that somebody was keeping an eye on things.
And that may be why so many people remember it not just as fun—but as safe.
“We were fortunate to grow up in Ruston… we were safe going to Hood’s and anywhere else we wanted to go,” one commenter wrote.
For a generation that came of age in the 1950s and ’60s, Hood’s wasn’t just part of growing up—it defined it. Even into the early 1970s, the tradition held on, with students still making passes through the lot after ballgames and on Saturday nights.
But like so many places tied to a particular moment, it couldn’t last forever.
By the late 1960s, something shifted. The crowds thinned. The circle slowed. Though Hood’s stayed open into the late 1970s, it was never quite the same after about 1968, when the woman who had quietly kept order in that parking lot decided she’d had enough of raising nearly fifty years’ worth of teenagers.
Exact closing dates are hard to pin down, but ask anyone who was there, and they’ll tell you—the real Hood’s ended when the crowd did.
But talk to the people who remember, and you’ll notice something.
They don’t just remember eating there. They remember circling, waiting, watching, laughing, a testament to how deeply the place was woven into Ruston’s culture.
Hilburn admitted in one column that even the empty shell meant something to him. He compared its demolition in 1995 to “burying an old horse”—something that had to be done, but not without feeling.
“Once,” he wrote, “it filled my weekends with a life that doesn’t exist anymore.”
For three generations of Ruston teenagers, Hood’s wasn’t just a drive-in.
Brian Lamb, Co-CEO and founder of SWIVL, visited Louisiana Tech to discuss a new development in technology to enhance teacher education.
“Teaching has always been a challenging profession, but today’s classroom demands even more from educators,” Lamb said. “Our goal is to support teachers, not replace them. Our tools provide real-time feedback and help them refine their classroom management skills while staying in the profession.”
The CIL Department has collaborated with SWIVL for more than a decade, using their tools that have been implemented both on campus and in partner school districts throughout the region. This next phase of the partnership introduces the M2 system, integrating AI to provide immediate and reflective feedback for future and current educators.
The M2 system allows educators to practice teaching, receive AI-driven insight, and apply feedback instantly in a classroom setting. This approach helps fast-track current teacher candidates’ skill development during their training.
Louisiana Tech has already seen the impact of SWIVL technology through earlier implementations. The original system expanded the CIL Department’s ability to conduct faculty evaluations and supervision across partner districts statewide, breaking down the barriers of campus and increasing access to high-quality feedback.
”This next phase will move from clinical evaluation to a continuous coaching process,” Amy Vessel, professor in the CIL Department and director of the Clinical Residency and Recruitment Center, said. “The ability for teacher candidates to reflect on their own teaching and receive immediate, meaningful feedback is powerful.”
The M2 system builds off of that foundation by shifting focus from evaluation to coaching. The technology allows teachers to engage in reflective dialogue about their lessons, identify areas for growth, and receive targeted feedback in a supportive environment.
“The human presence of a teacher is the essence of education,” Lamb said. “Our tools are designed to support teacher-led instruction by offering feedback, strategies, and insights that make educators more effective in the classroom.”
Looking ahead, the CIL Department plans to expand the use of SWIVL technology across its partner schools, including a pilot at A.E. Phillips Laboratory School on Louisiana Tech’s campus. They also plan to integrate the tools into their TEAM Model, making M2 a “virtual team member”.
“Our TEAM Model is not about replacing what we do, it’s about making it stronger,” Vessel said. “By combining innovative technology with human-centered teaching, we are transforming how we prepare the next generation of educators.”
LPSO detectives have arrested five Colombian nationals in connection with a series of burglaries that have impacted Lincoln Parish and surrounding areas, with suspected ties to additional crimes across the region, including the state of Texas.
The individuals arrested have been identified as:
• Yeison Arnulfo Riascos Riascos • Rosa Leydy Rivas Riascos • William Mauricio Riascos Renteria • Jhon Larry Montano Mosquera • Omar A. Riascos Alban
Lincoln Parish authorities said the arrests were related to a series of burglaries in and around Ruston in recent weeks. Similar break-ins had occurred in other nearby jurisdictions. The suspects housed in the Lincoln Parish Detention Center are currently charged with illegal possession of stolen things while the investigation continues.
The arrests are the result of a coordinated, multi-agency investigation involving the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office and the following partner agencies: Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office, Ruston Police Department, West Monroe Police Department, Monroe Police Department, Union Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigations.
Investigators believe the suspects were involved in a pattern of organized burglary activity spanning multiple jurisdictions. Evidence gathered thus far indicates potential connections to similar offenses beyond Louisiana, including in Texas.
“This case highlights the importance of strong interagency collaboration when addressing organized criminal activity that crosses jurisdictional lines,” Sheriff Williams said. “Through coordinated efforts and information sharing, law enforcement agencies were able to identify, locate, and apprehend these suspects.”
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities anticipate additional arrests as further evidence is developed. Anyone with information related to these burglaries or similar incidents is encouraged to contact the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office or your local agency.
Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
Fringe: An Art Experience, is celebrating Ruston’s first dog park opening with Fetch, an art show dedicated to the beloved canines in our lives and those in our community that need love.
“The Bark Park,” designed by Louisiana Tech students and supported by the City of Ruston, will occupy around five acres at 1212 McAllister Street behind the Ruston Animal Shelter. The ribbon cutting is scheduled for May 22nd at the end of Tech’s spring quarter.
The public is welcome to attend the opening reception for Fetch at the Fringe gallery, located at 111 E. Mississippi Ave in downtown Ruston today from 5 to 7 p.m.
The celebration continues Friday, May 8th with A Tails Tale, a special event hosted by Fringe artist member Shelly Nealy. Elementary students from Chautauqua Woods will visit the gallery from 1 to 2pm to learn what a dog’s tail can tell us about how they are feeling, from happy to sad, and everything in between. Students will then make their own tails, tour the show, and enjoy refreshments.
Fringe: An Art Experience, is an artist co-op founded in Ruston in 2017. Its members seek to enrich the community and inspire local artists through its work, and invite guest artists to participate in special group shows like this one. To learn more about Fringe, go to http://www.fringeart.org.
A Ruston woman has been arrested in connection with a reported vehicle theft and vehicle burglaries, according to reports by the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office and Ruston Police.
Crystal Jones, 29, was arrested May 4 after investigations into a stolen vehicle from Hickory Street and vehicle burglaries reported on Gill Street.
Deputies responded around 6 p.m. to the 1800 block of Hickory Street after the owner of a 2014 Nissan Versa reported it had been stolen. The owner said he had left the keys in the ignition while preparing to sell the vehicle and that a female got in and drove away.
Later that evening, the sheriff’s office received a call that the vehicle was at Cinnamon Square Apartments in Ruston. Authorities located Jones in the area. She admitted having possession and driving the vehicle, according to the affidavit, but said she did not steal it.
In the burglary investigation, Ruston Police reported contact with a property owner on Gill Street, where two vehicles were being repaired. The owner of the vehicles said a wiring harness to a factory radio from a Honda Accord and an air bag from a second vehicle were stolen. The stolen items were found among Jones’s belongings.
Jones was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center on charges including theft of a motor vehicle and two counts of simple burglary theft from a motor vehicle.
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.
Someone once said that you can judge the worth of a society by watching how they treat their elderly. I think the same thing can be said about how they treat their historic landmarks. A case in point is how an historic landmark – like the Fred B. Dubach house on Annie Lee Street in Dubach Louisiana – has being treated over the years.
Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, this stately 8-room two-story mansion with its large white columns was built in 1900 by the town’s namesake and later owned by some notable North Louisiana entrepreneurs like T.L. James, B.H. Rainwater, and George Trammel, Sr.
A retired banker from Ruston now owns it. He’s had it on the market for years and so far no one has been willing to meet his asking price plus come up with the amount of money it’s going to take to restore the property.
And it’s questionable whether the home can now be restored at all. Years of neglect may have taken an unreversible toll. A hole in the roof has let years of rainwater in and caused some of the flooring to collapse. The pier and beam floors are no longer level. Most of the windowpanes are broken. The porches are unsafe to step out on and their railings are broken; and the exterior paint is peeling. Yes, it has become quite an eyesore.
The folks that were living in Dubach – back when the mansion was used for wedding receptions and parties – will tell you they get tears in their eyes when they drive by and see what once was the “Pride of Dubach” and one of the finest homes in this part of the country.
You’re probably wondering about grants and tax credits. Yes, there are tax credits available – as high as 50 percent – that can be applied against the cost of reconstruction. However, there’s a catch: To qualify for tax credits, the property has to be used for for-profit commercial purposes (Airbnb, rooming house, event venue, museum, Bed & Breakfast, etc.) for a period of 5 years before it can be used as a residence again.
I guess it makes sense that these government agencies that issue grants and tax credits don’t want to pay to restore your home. Nor has anyone been willing to shell out money to restore a property that they don’t own.
Dubach is not without some successful historic restoration projects. We restored the 1950’s ballpark, the Dog Trot House, the Autry House, Hamilton Warehouse, and most recently the downtown GEM theater is in the process of being restore. So, if
society is to be our judge – on how we treat our elderly and how we preserve our historic landmarks – with the possible exception of the Fred B. Dubach House – I think we’re in pretty good shape. Afterall, we can only restore things within our control, and we can’t rightly go back in time to convince someone to do what they should have done all along.
But who knows? Maybe one day someone will come along – hopefully before the mansion is too far gone – purchase the property and restore it back to its greatness. Otherwise, there may come a time when all we’re left to do is thank her for all the good times and tell the Old Girl goodbye.
A woman was arrested last week following an incident involving alleged narcotics possession, according to the Ruston Police Department.
D’waykeneyah Wilson, 27, of Ruston, was arrested on May 2 after she allegedly fought officers.
According to an arrest affidavit, officers were in the area of East Line Avenue and Arlington Street when they heard gunshots. Wilson and a man were seen walking and officers attempted to stop them.
Wilson attempted to flee and resisted officers as they tried to detain her. Wilson continued resisting while being placed in restraints but was eventually secured.
During a search of the patrol vehicle after Wilson was removed at the detention center, officers located a plastic baggie containing less than one gram of suspected methamphetamine.
Wilson was booked for possession of methamphetamine, battery of a police officer, resisting an officer, and a 2025 warrant from Third District Court for possession of a Schedule II controlled substance.
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.
It was almost ten years ago. I was driving home from Ft Smith to Memphis on I40 when I saw the van in front of me run off the interstate and flip over numerous times. The van came to rest on its side in some brush about 20 yards off the road.
I quickly pulled over and just stared at the smoking van for a few seconds. A car behind me pulled up and a hysterical lady ran toward me screaming and asking what she could do. I told her to call 911, and I started running toward the van.
As I approached the van, all kinds of thoughts rushed through my head. I expected to see a family. What if children were in that van? I wasn’t sure how I was going to get them out. I wasn’t sure how injured they would be.
I climbed to the top of the van to get a look inside the driver’s side window. As I made my way up, I could see movement. The driver was trying to climb up. He was pushing the door. We were able to get it open, and he climbed out.
He was shaken, but not seriously injured. I looked back inside to see how many others were there but didn’t see anyone. He kept telling me that he was alone, but I wanted to make sure. The guy was not fully coherent. The crash and rollover were so impactful that his shoes had been jarred off his feet.
The van was still smoking, so I led him away from the van over to my vehicle. The lady was on the phone with 911, and help was in route.
Evidently, he had a seizure and lost control of the vehicle. He would be fine.
Looking back, the uncertainty of what I would find in that vehicle was one of the toughest mental challenges that I can recall. I had no idea what to expect, and my mind was taking me to all kinds of places as I raced to that van.
Uncertainty can be hard for many of us. We seek control. We long for comfort. We want to know the outcome.
We fear the unknown. We avoid the uncertain. We lose sleep over what we can’t see.
While it’s natural for many of us to struggle with uncertainty, we can’t allow it to cripple us.
Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God”.
Consider these thoughts as you seek to effectively deal with uncertainty in your life:
Focus on today: By focusing on the moment in front of us, we alleviate the stress of tomorrow.
Rest in faith of forever: Perspective beyond the uncertainty we face reduces the tension.
Stay in control: Focusing on what we can control drives our day, actions, and mindset.
Trusted friends matter: Talk about the anxiety of uncertainty. Don’t hold it and grow it.
Thankful: Take a thankful walk. When we focus on thankfulness, the anxiety of uncertainty tends to diminish as our mindset turns to gratitude.
Uncertainty is a very real part of life. If you are struggling with it, it’s perfectly normal, but you don’t have to be controlled by it.
When the need of someone in that van becomes your focus, you don’t hesitate to run toward that issue regardless of the uncertainty of that door being opened!
Doug equips leaders to make organizations better. He has two leadership books available on all online platforms. Whether you are looking for a speaker for your next event or a leadership coach to develop people and build an authentic team, contact Doug at doug.strickel@gmail.com and learn more about PLUS.
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.
On Wednesday, May 6, 2026, shortly before 9:00 a.m., Troopers with Louisiana State Police Troop F began investigating a two-vehicle fatal crash that occurred on Louisiana Highway 2 at its intersection with Louisiana Highway 828. The crash claimed the life of 92-year-old Lonnie Pardue Jr. of Farmerville.
The initial investigation revealed that a 2009 Lincoln Town Car, driven by Pardue, was traveling south on Louisiana Highway 828. At the same time, a 2016 Peterbilt pulling an empty equipment trailer was traveling west on Louisiana Highway 2. For reasons still under investigation, as Pardue approached the intersection at Louisiana Highway 2, he failed to yield at the stop sign and traveled into the path of the Peterbilt. As a result, the Peterbilt struck the Lincoln in the westbound lane of Louisiana Highway 2.
Pardue, who was unrestrained, suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene. The driver of the Peterbilt, who was also unrestrained, suffered minor injuries and was transferred to an area hospital for treatment. Although impairment is not suspected, routine toxicology samples were collected and will be submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.
While not all crashes are survivable, statistics show that properly wearing your seat belt will dramatically reduce your chances of being severely injured or killed in a crash. Louisiana law requires that every person in a vehicle, regardless of seating position, remain buckled up at all times. Properly wearing your seat belt is one of the most effective ways to save your life and reduce injuries during crashes.
The longtime local high school and college basketball coach decided to hire Custom Curbing to add a concrete landscape border along his flower beds in his front and side yards.
“Ann and I saw a picture of Custom Curbing in a Lincoln Parish Journal advertisement a couple of years ago and really liked how it looked,” said Jack. “We called Aaron Cash, he came to our house and suggested options and colors we could use. After discussing this with Aaron we decided to install Custom Curbing around our flower beds.”
And according to Jack, he sure is happy he did.
“We love the way it looks,” said Jack. “It really enhances the appearance of our front yard. The curbing also makes weed eating around the flower beds so much easier.
“Aaron and his crew were friendly, very professional, easy to work with and did a wonderful job installing the curbing. I highly recommend Aaron and Custom Curbing. I think anyone will be highly satisfied with how it adds to the appearance of their yard.”
Jan Grigsby was another happy customer. Grigsby had her flower beds done by Custom Curbing in 2023.
“I saw it from one of my neighbor’s houses, and I loved it,” said Jan. “It has defined my yard. I can’t tell you how many people have come by and said, ‘Your yard looks so good.’ It has really defined my yard. I also got him to do my backyard. It has really made all the difference.”
Custom Curbing is owned by Aaron Cash and is based out of West Monroe. The company has been around for almost three decades and is making a splash in Lincoln Parish.
“Basically, we put really nice borders around flower beds,” said Aaron. “The business was established in 1996, so we have been serving northeast Louisiana for almost 30 years. It’s like adding a beautiful frame around your landscape. Our longtime slogan is ‘Frame Your Landscaping.’”
Aaron said much of the business comes from neighbors seeing the finished product at other neighbors’ houses. And based on his clientele’s satisfaction, it’s understandable.
“They are so great,” said Linda Tuten, another satisfied customer, in regard to Cash and his Custom Curbing team. “They are some hard-working guys. They came in and really got after it. They are so polite. They clean up after the job is over. They don’t leave a mess. They are so professional and friendly.”
The hits just keep on coming.
“I am so pleased,” said Jan. “When I go outside, I look at it and just smile. They did such a super job. So many people have said, ‘Oh, Jan. Your yard looks so much better.’ And Aaron and his guys were so pleasant to work with during the process.”
Aaron said that at the end of the day, it’s all about the client being happy with the finished product.
“We typically stick with earth tones; tans, and browns, and greys and charcoals,” said Aaron. “We want to use colors that will be in style for years to come. Typically, that is earth tones. I see what their needs are and give them my advice on what would look better and how to alleviate some problems such as beds washing out or the grass encroaching in the beds.
“We also remove lots of dangerous metal edging that has become rusty and jagged and replace it with our concrete border system. We figure out the best designs and go from there.”
According to Aaron, a “typical” job costs between $1,200 and $1,500, but the price can vary depending on style/color of curb, amount of ground prep, drainage work, root work, travel distance, number of areas, etc.
An average job can be completed within a day.
“We have had multiple people comment on our yard, saying how great it looks,” said Linda. “We highly recommend them anytime anyone asks.”
For more information, individuals can call 318-598-YARD or click on the CONTACT link on the website.
Each Monday through Friday, the Lincoln Parish Journal will post a list of non-for-profit upcoming events happening in the parish. If you would like to add your event to this list or advertise your for-profit events, please email us at lpjnewsla@gmail.com.
Thursday, May 7 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Kiwanis Club lunch and program (Trinity Methodist Church fellowship hall) 4 p.m.: Tween Time : Maracas (Lincoln Parish Library) 4:30-5:30 p.m.: Free meal sponsored by Halff Associates with 5 Loaves 2 Fish Ministry at the Ruston Housing Authority office at 901 MLK Dr. Ruston. We’re celebrating Cinco de Mayo with fajitas! Everyone is welcome. 5-7 p.m.: Fetch Art Show (111 E. Mississippi Ave., Ruston) 6 p.m.: Teen Time : Teen Advisory Board Meeting (Lincoln Parish Library) 6 p.m.: Southern A’Chord Chorus rehearsal (Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 212 N. Bonner St.; open to all women singers)
Saturday, May 9 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 7:30 p.m.: Bull Riding Ruston Ramble (Lincoln Expo Center; for more information, call 318-372-4793)
Sunday, May 10 Mother’s Day
Monday, May 11 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome 6 p.m.: AI for Real Life (Lincoln Parish Library) 6 p.m.: Toastmasters International meeting (Louisiana Center for the Blind, 101 South Trenton Street) 6-9 p.m.: Creative Meetups/Creative Potluck (Creatives at Work, 301 N. Trenton)
Tuesday, May 12 6:30 a.m.: Veterans free breakfast (VFW Post 3615, 206 Memorial Dr.) 10 a.m.: Storytime : Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (Lincoln Parish Library) 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Hamburgers for Hunger fundraiser for 5 Loaves 2 Fish Ministry at the Ruston First Baptist Church parking lot (corner of Trenton and Texas). Tickets are $10 and available from board members and Origin Bank locations in downtown Ruston and on N. Trenton St. Tickets will also be available on site. 4 p.m.: Crafternoon : Cherry Blossom Bubble Wrap Paintings (Lincoln Parish Library) 6 p.m.: Video-Led Exercise class (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center) 7 p.m.: Lincoln Parish Police Jury meeting (Lincoln Parish Courthouse)
Wednesday, May 13 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, May 14 9:30 a.m.: Piney Hills Quilt Guild meeting (Grace Methodist Church) 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Kiwanis Club lunch and program (Trinity Methodist Church fellowship hall) 4 p.m.: Tween Time : Chinese Drum Craft (Lincoln Parish Library) 6 p.m.: Teen Time : Trivia Night (Lincoln Parish Library) 6 p.m.: Southern A’Chord Chorus rehearsal (Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 212 N. Bonner St.; open to all women singers) 6 p.m.: La Tech baseball
Friday, May 15 4 p.m.: Family Fun Friday : Movie Night: Moana 2 (Lincoln Parish Library) 6 p.m.: LA Tech baseball
Saturday, May 16 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 1 p.m.: LA Tech baseball
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.
Senior Jina Baffuto slides under the tag for the game-winning run in the top of the eighth inning against FIU Wednesday. (Photo by Josh McDaniel)
Louisiana Tech split a pair of games on the opening day of the 2026 Conference USA Softball Championship on Wednesday at the Delaware Softball Diamond, defeating FIU in extra innings before falling to Liberty later in the evening.
The No. 7 seed Bulldogs opened the tournament with a 2-1 elimination-game victory over No. 6 FIU before suffering a 9-0 run-rule loss to No. 3 Liberty. LA Tech moved to 30-24 overall and remained alive in the tournament, advancing to face No. 5 New Mexico State in another elimination game Thursday evening.
Against FIU, Allie Furr delivered the game-winning hit in the top of the eighth inning on her 21st birthday. With two outs and runners on second and third, Furr lined a single up the middle to score Jina Baffuto, who slid home safely with the go-ahead run just in front of the tag.
The Bulldogs managed just two runs despite struggling in scoring opportunities, recording only one hit in their previous 14 at-bats with runners in scoring position before Furr’s clutch hit. Tech stranded 12 runners on base.
Bryannah Campos earned the win in relief for LA Tech, improving to 8-3 after tossing six scoreless innings. Campos allowed only one hit while striking out four and repeatedly escaped trouble, including working out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the sixth inning. FIU finished 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
FIU’s J’dah Girigorie took the loss after allowing two runs on nine hits over 7 2/3 innings while striking out five.
With the win, Tech recorded its 30th victory for the fifth straight season and extended its season-best winning streak to eight games.
Later Wednesday night, Liberty used a pair of explosive innings to hand the Bulldogs a season-high margin defeat in a 9-0 run-rule decision.
Savannah Jesse paced the Lady Flames offense with five RBIs, going 2-for-2 with a two-run home run in the third inning and a two-run double in the fourth. Alexia Carrasquillo added a solo homer while Savanah Whatley and Brynn McManus each contributed RBI hits during Liberty’s eight-run surge across the third and fourth innings.
Camden Anders earned the shutout victory for Liberty, allowing only three singles while striking out six and walking two.
Ruby Fidge suffered the loss for LA Tech after surrendering four runs on five hits in 2 2/3 innings. Gracie Flores extended her CUSA leading hit streak to 20 games, the longest streak by a Bulldog in more than five years.
Liberty advanced to face No. 2 seed WKU on Thursday afternoon, while the Bulldogs prepared for another elimination game against New Mexico State at 4 p.m. CT. The game can be seen on ESPN+.
Bonnie Faye Ricks May April 4, 1934 – May 5, 2026 Service: Friday, May 8, 2026, 10:00AM, Kilpatrick Funeral Homes of West Monroe Final Resting Place: Roselawn Memorial Gardens, 451 LA 151 S, Calhoun
Nancy Hayden Burch July 14, 1953 – May 1, 2026 Visitation: Sunday, May 10, 2026, 3:00PM – 4:00PM, Kilbourne Hall at Grace Episcopal Church, 405 Glenmar Avenue, Monroe Service: Sunday, May 10, 2026, 4:00PM, Grace Episcopal Church, 405 Glenmar Avenue, Monroe Final Resting Place: Grace Episcopal Church columbarium, 405 Glenmar Avenue, Monroe
John Young is pictured speaking to the LSPB and the crowd in attendance at Tuesday’s meeting. (Photo by T. Scott Boatright)
By T. Scott Boatright
It was a foregone conclusion with only one candidate being considered, but now it’s official.
The Lincoln Parish School Board unanimously elected current Assistant Superintendent John Young as the successor to Superintendent Ricky Durrett during Tuesday’s LPSB meeting held at Ruston Junior High School’s STEM Center.
Young will take over the parish school system following Durrett’s final day on June 30 before his retirement becomes official.
Durrett was hired Jan. 1, 2021, and had one year remaining on his contract, but after coaching basketball for the previous 20 years, Durrett said he realized the time was right to step away from his role as superintendent.
Young, a 45-year-old Ruston native, previously served as principal at I.A. Lewis School for three years and Ruston Junior High School for three years after coaching, teaching science and even driving school buses.
“I’m passionate about serving the kids in this community,” Young said. “I can think of no other place than here to do it.
“We have an A-rated school system. But along with that rating, we’ve got accountability coming on the horizon. We have metrics of moving kids that have been historically underperforming, and we’re charged with helping them perform better. Not only that, we have high-performing kids that have been scoring mastery and advanced, but our challenge is to get all of our students to go past what they believe they can do and what they’ve already done.”
Young said that heading into his new role, he has three goals.
“My first goal is related to school and district performance,” Young said. “One of the things I am is a competitor. I like challenges. And at the end of the day, I want to see Lincoln Parish rated as the top school system in the state of Louisiana.
“Goal No. 2 is improving our operations and also campus safety. Being a principal, I know what a secure campus means. There’s a lot going on in our society today where people do bad things, and I think that as a school system, our most precious commodities are our teachers, employees and students. So making improvements toward campus safety will be one of my biggest goals.”
Young said his third goal is enhancing public trust in the school system.
“I see applications every day where home-schooled students want to play on our athletic teams, they want to participate in our cheer and dance organizations. I plan to use that as an avenue. You can try out for our team, and if you make it, parent, how about you let us educate? That’s one thing I want to stress as well.”
Young said organizational efficiency is something he will stress.
“Are we being good stewards of the public’s money?” Young said. “Are we being financially transparent? And are we making the correct staffing decisions? Because as a superintendent, there’s only a few things you can leverage. It’s money — are you doing the best thing financially to get the best outcome?”
Young said he believes his biggest challenge will be getting Lincoln Parish ranked as the top school district in the state.
“You have a lot of schools that rank above us that don’t have the same demographics or socioeconomics that we have,” Young said. “But that’s not an excuse. When you look at how many of our families are socially or economically disadvantaged, we’re not going to use that as an excuse. I think we owe it to our students to help provide the best outcomes and get to being ranked No. 1 in the state for all of our students, and not just a few.”
Young said that heading into the 2026-27 school year, his biggest priority is making sure the reconfiguration of Ruston schools goes smoothly after the LPSB approved the transition to a PK-5 neighborhood school model for Ruston’s elementary schools.
“Since I’ve been at the Central Office, we’ve never had a challenge as big as this,” Young said. “I have to make sure those schools are staffed right and funded right, but also that they’re set up to achieve. Those are my biggest priorities right now.”
During the meeting, the LPSB also received an Independent Audit Report from Amy Tynes of Allen, Green and Williamson, with auditors issuing an unmodified report.
The LPSB also gave permission for distribution of instructional monies from the 1979 sales tax collections for 2026-27, adopted millages for the 2026 tax roll while keeping those rates the same as 2025, and granted permission to sell obsolete equipment.
