By Malcolm Butler

It’s been 26 years since Louisiana Tech and ULM last met on the football field.

That lengthy absence ends Saturday night in Monroe when the Bulldogs and Warhawks renew their rivalry in the inaugural Radiance Technologies I-20 Showdown.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Malone Stadium, with the contest televised on ESPN+.

Louisiana Tech (3-2, 1-0 Sun Belt) enters the contest riding the momentum of a dramatic 32-31 comeback victory over UL-Lafayette last Saturday in Ruston. The Bulldogs rallied from a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit to capture their first Sun Belt Conference victory.

Now Sonny Cumbie’s team faces another in-state rival, one that hasn’t beaten the Bulldogs since 1987. But the Tech head coach isn’t interested in records, winning streaks or what happened a week ago.

“None of those plays carry over to this week, and this week we’re 0-0,” Cumbie said. “We’re playing an opponent that’s had two weeks to prepare for us. We’re playing a team that’s going to play extremely physical on offense and defense and special teams, and they’re very well coached.”

ULM enters the contest winless in five games under head coach Bryant Vincent, but the Warhawks have had an open date to prepare for the Bulldogs. Cumbie said the Warhawks’ record doesn’t reflect the effort or talent he has seen on film, particularly from an offense capable of producing explosive plays through the passing game.

For Tech, Saturday represents an opportunity to build on the momentum of consecutive victories over Army and UL-Lafayette while remaining unbeaten in Sun Belt play.

The Bulldogs will once again turn to quarterback Blake Baker, who returned from injury last week and helped engineer the comeback against the Ragin’ Cajuns. Cumbie confirmed Baker will remain the starter, while the availability of Trey Kukuk continues to depend on his recovery from an injury suffered against Army.

“Blake is our starting quarterback,” Cumbie said. “Really proud of how Blake played, and hopefully we can get both of them healthy at the same time and be able to have both of them available.”

Baker’s return has coincided with the continued development of several Tech receivers, including Talyn Shettron, who enjoyed a breakout performance against UL-Lafayette. Shettron said his growing familiarity with the offense has allowed him to play with more confidence.

“Each week we just keep getting better and better,” Shettron said. “Just me growing in my confidence with the playbook and everything going on in the offense has allowed me to go out and just play free.”

The Bulldogs could be without one of their most explosive offensive weapons Saturday. Dylone Brooks, who played a major role in the victory over Army, was listed as questionable earlier this week after leaving the UL-Lafayette contest with an injury. Brooks had 200 yards of total offense and two scores in the win over the Black Knights.

Defensively, Tech will be challenged by a ULM passing attack that Cumbie believes is more dangerous than the Warhawks’ record suggests.

The Bulldogs forced three turnovers against UL-Lafayette, including a game-sealing interception by Jordan McRae, but Cumbie stressed the need for better communication in the secondary and improved execution on third and fourth downs.

Beyond the immediate conference implications, Saturday’s matchup carries considerable historical significance.

The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 30-13, including a 13-8 advantage in Monroe, and have won eight consecutive meetings. The schools last met as conference opponents in 1986 when both competed in the Southland Conference.

For Cumbie, the renewal of a rivalry between schools separated by approximately 35 miles gives his players an opportunity to create their own place in Tech history.

“There’s not many times that you have an opportunity to write history,” Cumbie said. “That’s what this team has an opportunity to do this week and certainly this year, our first season in the Sun Belt.”

And after watching his Bulldogs overcome long odds to defeat UL-Lafayette, Cumbie said you can’t take anything for granted Saturday night.

“There’s no room in football for forecasting or prediction, especially in rivalry games,” Cumbie said.

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By Kyle Roberts

RUSTON, La. — Ruston High (6-1, 2-0 District 2-5A) took quick care of the Peabody Warhorses (2-5, 0-2 District 2-5A) Friday night by a final score of 70-0 after scoring 42 points in the first quarter alone.

“I thought our guys came out to play and executed what we asked them to do for the most part,” Ruston High Head Coach Jerrod Baugh said. “We did have some busts early on that we’ve got to get corrected. We’ve got to get ready to play a good football team next week.”

It didn’t take long for the Bearcats to get rolling. Senior quarterback Sam Hartwell hit senior wide receiver Josiah Morgan on a 13-yard touchdown pass with 8:19 to go in the first quarter, capping a seven-play, 36-yard drive for a 7-0 lead.

Hartwell went back to work on the next possession, finding senior wide receiver JP Moak from seven yards out with 6:42 left in the first for a 14-0 advantage.

Then the defense got involved.

Senior defensive back Jayden Anding picked off a Peabody pass and took it 35 yards to the house with 5:19 to play in the first, and it was 21-0.

Back-up quarterback (and starting linebacker, no less) Aidan Adams then punched in a 5-yard touchdown run with 3:08 left in the first to make it 28-0. Hartwell then connected with junior running back Dalen Powell on an 11-yard touchdown pass with 2:25 to go in the quarter for a 35-0 lead.

Powell wasn’t done. With just two seconds left in the first, he took a handoff 51 yards for a touchdown to send the Bearcats to 42-0 after one. The first quarter alone took 57 minutes of real time before the running clock kicked in for the night.

Ruston started getting its younger players involved in the second quarter. Freshman quarterback Aulds Garvin found senior wide receiver Keshun Malcolm on a 5-yard touchdown pass with 5:45 to go in the half to make it 49-0.

Baugh said the extra snaps behind center were a welcome part of the night.

“We need to get those guys some snaps,” Baugh said. “Anytime you can get some other guys in the ballgame to get some experience, that’s always good. It was good to get an opportunity to get them in.”

Senior running back Davis DeMoss opened the second half with a 36-yard touchdown run with 10:25 to go in the third for a 56-0 lead. Garvin added a 15-yard touchdown run with 1:43 left in the third to make it 63-0.

Junior quarterback Tyler Osborne closed the scoring with a 60-yard touchdown run with 5:08 to play in the fourth.

Powell led the ground game with 88 yards and a score on six carries. Osborne’s one carry went for 60 yards, DeMoss had 40 yards and a touchdown on three carries, and Garvin added 15 yards and a score on his lone rush. Ruston finished with 232 rushing yards and averaged 13.6 yards per carry.

Through the air, Hartwell was 4-of-6 for 44 yards and three touchdowns. Garvin was 2-of-2 for 10 yards and a score. Senior tight end Ahmad Hudson led Ruston with two catches for 34 yards. Morgan, Powell, Malcolm and Moak each caught a touchdown pass.

The Bearcats finished with 307 total yards, while Peabody had minus-26 yards, four turnovers, one first down and no third-down conversions in seven tries.

Anding finished with two tackles and the interception return for a score, and Adams also had two tackles. Ruston’s defense also forced four turnovers.

Baugh said the win doesn’t mean the work is done, especially with the focus on cleaning up habits in practice.

“It’s always great. I don’t take any victory for granted by any means. They’re all hard to come by,” Baugh said. “But Ruston always needs to work on Ruston. There are some things we’re going to need to clean up. Practice habits are one of them, and hopefully that’ll go better tomorrow when we can take it one day at a time leading into the ballgame on Friday.”

Next up is a road trip to central Louisiana to face the Alexandria Trojans next Friday, Oct. 23. Baugh said the Bearcats haven’t played well against ASH in recent years and that this senior class has not beaten the Trojans, aside from the handful of players who dressed out as freshmen.

“They are a really good football team. We haven’t played well against them the past couple of years,” Baugh said. “I feel like we should have some motivation going into tomorrow to start getting ready to play ASH next Friday night.”

For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:45 right to your inbox. Just CLICK HERE to sign up.

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by Tim Smith

Depending on how the Friday night statistics shake out, Cedar Creek’s Payton Harris may be the leading scorer in Louisiana high school football. Not just in Class 1A or Select Division IV, but all of Louisiana high school football.

Harris scored his 18th and 19th rushing touchdown of the year to help the Cougars (7-0, 1-0) defeat Glenbrook 35-15 in the district opener at Origin Bank Stadium.

“He’s a special player, special talent,” Cedar Creek head coach Jacob Angevine said of Harris, who carried the ball 29 times for 125 yards and the two scores. “The thing about him is he can see a crease and hit it, keep plays alive. It’s really impressive. It shows the kind of work he puts in.”

The Cougars took the opening kickoff and drove methodically down the field with a clock-eating, sustained running attack, capped off by a 4-yard touchdown run around the left end by Harris.

On Glenbrook’s first possession, Hayden Durrett jumped on a loose ball in the Apaches’ backfield, giving the Cougars the ball at midfield.

On the first play of the ensuing drive, Creek quarterback Brett Bell overthrew a wide-open Cohen Pottharst, who made a diving leap that came up a bit short. The Cougars could not convert and were forced to punt. The Apaches took over at their own 18 but went three-and-out and punted it away.

The Cougar offense once again showed its strength and dominance as the offensive line made a way for Harris on consecutive dive plays, grinding out yardage. Fullback Liam Durrett powered his way the final 6 yards to pay dirt, and the Campbell Woodard kick made it 14-0 for the Cougars early in the second quarter.

The stone wall that is the Cougar defense held its rival from Minden to yet another three-and-out, forcing a punt.

The Cougars’ next drive ended quickly with a turnover when Bell’s lateral pass was ruled a fumble and recovered by the Apaches at the Cougar 18. Glenbrook took advantage and scored on a 15-yard touchdown pass. Glenbrook was successful on the 2-point conversion, making the game close at 14-8.

The Cougars’ next drive also ended in a fumble recovered by the Apaches. Glenbrook was again unable to move the ball as time ran out in the half.

“We just need to clean up those little mistakes if we are going to be in the upper echelon of teams in Select Division IV,” Angevine said, referring to first-half fumbles and missed opportunities.

“We have developed this identity of being a second-half team but making mistakes in the first half.”

Despite those mistakes, the Cougar defense held a high-scoring Glenbrook offense to only about three minutes of possession time in the first quarter and a total of 42 net yards in the first half.

The second half didn’t get any better for the visiting Apaches. Having deferred after winning the coin toss, Glenbrook got the ball to start the third quarter. After just three plays, the visitors were forced to punt again.

The Cougars took over at their own 19 and once again mounted a relentless, clock-eating drive that began with an 18-yard run by Bell.

Liam Durrett and Harris ground out yardage once again as the Cougar offensive line and running backs began to wear down the opposing defense. Harris walked in from a yard out to cap the drive with 53 seconds left in the third quarter.

“We controlled the clock the entire third quarter. They may have had the ball about two minutes, and we had the rest of it and punched it in with a touchdown,” Angevine said.

At 21-8, the high-scoring Glenbrook offense still had a chance, but that chance was quickly dashed. With the Apache going for it on fourth-and-1, the Cougar defense stripped the ball away. As it bounced toward the Glenbrook sideline, it was scooped up by Cougar sophomore Case Phillips, who returned it 56 yards for a touchdown. Woodard’s kick stretched the Cougar lead to 28-8.

The Apaches went to the air on their next possession, but to little effect, turning the ball over on downs.

The Cougars took over and again began to drive the ball down the throats of the Apaches as Liam Durrett escaped and rumbled 26 yards into the end zone. Woodard added the extra point. Durrett rushed for 82 yards and two scores on the night.

In the waning moments, Glenbrook broke free and scored on a meaningless 49-yard run.

While Harris and the Cougar offense makes headlines, it is the defense that is making Origin Bank Stadium the place where opponent’s dreams go to die.

Noah Smith led that Creek defense with seven tackles, Hayden Durrett added six, and Aiden Haddox and Trigger Woodard five each while Phillips, Durrett and Thomas Walker each recorded a fumble recovery. Creek held the Apache to only 152 total yards on the night.

District play continues next Friday when the Cougars travel to Arcadia to take on the Hornets.

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By T. Scott Boatright

Time flies when you’re having fun.

It sure worked that way for the Ruston Bearcats Friday in their 70-0 win over Peabody at L.J. “Hoss” Garrett Stadium as they built a big enough lead to start a running clock at the beginning of the second quarter, already holding a 42-0 advantage over the Warhorses.

Seeing the clock start running without stoppage that early was something new for longtime Bearcats offensive coordinator Earl Griffin.

“I haven’t been part of anything like that,” Griffin said. “We talked about that on the sideline pretty early on. I’ve been around Ruston all of my life and I don’t think I’ve ever seen 70 points either. We were trying to get some of the younger guys in, but we wouldn’t be doing our jobs if we told them not to try to score. We can’t tell them that if they get a chance to score a touchdown, stop. It goes against everything we try to teach them. So just seeing the younger guys get to go out and compete and be excited for each other was great.

“We got our starters out of there late in the first quarter and early in the second quarter, and they were the biggest cheerleaders of anybody on the field. We preach that day in and day out, and they did a great job of doing that as well.”

The three-quarter running clock was also something new for RHS defensive coordinator Marcus Yanez, who saw his defense force multiple early turnovers that ignited the Bearcats’ early scoring onslaught.

“We were a little concerned about it because we didn’t think we had a very good week of practice overall as a team,” Yanez said. “You kind of go into it just watching on film, knowing that you may be a little better than the competition, but at the end of the day, this week, just like any other week, should be about Ruston getting Ruston better, regardless of who we’re playing.

“But the kids did come out and took advantage of opportunities when they got them, and they did go and get them, create them. Seeing the scoreboard at the end of the first quarter and seeing the running clock start the second quarter was something I had never been part of until tonight. That part of it did surprise me a little bit. Kudos to Peabody, because they could have just quit, but you could see they had some kids out there still going full speed and playing all four quarters.”

Seeing quarterback Aulds Garvin, who also threw a 5-yard scoring pass, score on a 15-yard run before the Bearcats’ third QB of the night — Tyler Osborne — turned in a 60-yard scoring scamper was something Griffin took particular pride in.

“We had a scrimmage this past week and both of those guys ran the ball pretty good, so we had that in the game plan if our second or third group got to go in,” Griffin said. “They just capitalized on what we worked on in that Wednesday scrimmage. I’m proud of those two young guys for getting in there and scoring touchdowns.”

Griffin said being able to get younger Bearcats significantly more playing time than usual was invaluable.

“Of course, experience is second to none,” Griffin said. “Like at quarterback, with (starter) Sam Hartwell being a senior — next year he’s going to be getting out of here — we’re going to need one of those young guys to step up. So, I was glad to see them get in and have the confidence that if we need them again, they’ve got more experience after tonight.”

“I do have to hope this kind of win doesn’t cause a hangover next week,” Griffin said. “But with this group, I think we’ll be fine. Most of these guys didn’t help win the 2023 state championship, so they’re hungry.”

Yanez said seeing his Bearcats swarm to the football and hang on for the shutout was something the RHS defense can build on.

“We really try to focus on having more points than the opposing team, but any time you can keep the other team from getting to the end zone or putting points on the scoreboard is a good thing.

“The standard is always going to be the standard. Sometimes the biggest opponent can be yourself. This week they knew (the RHS coaching staff) wanted to see them not rest on their laurels and make sure we were making the effort to play our brand of football, and that’s being relentless in pursuing the football with all 11 hats. And that’s how we got the shutout tonight.”

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By T. Scott Boatright

After a homecoming win over Alcorn State followed by a victory over No. 1 Jackson State, Grambling State will fight for a third straight win today as the Tigers play at Alabama A&M in a game between two Top 10 HBCU powerhouses at Louis Crews Stadium in Huntsville, Alabama.

Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT, with the game available on SWAC TV.

Grambling stands at 4-2 overall and 2-1 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play and is ranked No. 5 in the Boxtorow HBCU poll, while Alabama A&M is 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the SWAC and is ranked No. 4

GSU coach Mickey Joseph hopes his Tigers can continue the momentum they’ve built with the win over Jackson State, which had been ranked No. 1 in the Boxtorow HBCU poll.

“It was a big win — so-called Homecoming Part II with J-State coming in the week after homecoming,” Joseph said. “We had a good game plan. The kids, you know, they showed they’ll fight. They don’t look at the scoreboard, so they’re slowly buying into what I’m telling them we need to do to win.

“And sometimes it’s hard to do that. It’s hard to do that because they have so many people in their ear. But they’re starting to block out the noise and listen to what we’re saying in this building. It’s starting to pay off, so I want to take my hat off to everybody who was involved in that game. Now we have to learn to finish on the road.”

Joseph knows his defense will be challenged by an Alabama A&M offense that scored 55 points last weekend in a win over Bethune-Cookman.

“We’ve got to stop the run,” Joseph said. “We’ve got to do a better job stopping the run. I spoke with (GSU defensive coordinator Jason) Rollins and the D-line coaches. But we’ve got to stop the run. We’ve got to figure out how to do it and see what we need to do and put the best game plan together to win the game this week.

“The thing is, we’ve got to start it and finish it on the road. That’s been the big message to our team this week — ‘You’ve got to finish on the road.’ And I’ll give them a couple examples of where I’m at on that, and they’ll understand what I’m saying.”

Containing Bulldogs quarterback Cornelious Brown IV is another thing Joseph is asking his team to focus on.

“He’s a big-time quarterback,” Joseph said. “We’ve got to figure that out. We’ve got to get the game plan and execute it. Sometimes kids have ideas. We’ve got to execute the game plan because there’s nothing wrong with the scheme. They just have to execute as players, and as coaches, we’ve got to get them to execute the game plan.”

Grambling quarterback Jakobe Robinson, who completed 17 of 21 passes for 212 yards and four touchdowns in last week’s 45-38 win over Jackson State while adding a rushing score, will be looking to build on that performance, as will his head coach.

“(First-year GSU offensive coordinator Bruce Eugene) is doing a good job of slowing Jakobe down in his mind,” Joseph said. “And a lot of people don’t understand this, but when you transfer to multiple schools and you really haven’t played, you’ve spent a lot of time on the sideline analyzing things. But being on the sideline and being in the game are two different things.

“You’ve got to react in the game. And Bruce is doing a good job of getting that out of him. The kid didn’t sign at Boston College, didn’t sign at Southern Miss, for no reason. The kid can play. So, we’ve just got to make sure that we slow things down for him and he’s in tune with the game plan. He’s starting to come out of his shell now and tell us what he likes and what he doesn’t like.”

Today’s contest marks the 32nd all-time meeting between GSU and AAMU. Grambling State leads the all-time series 22-9. The two teams first met in 1989, with the Tigers prevailing 34-22.

The G-Men are looking for their first win in Huntsville since Nov. 10, 2018. GSU won that contest 29-16.

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Class 5A

1. Karr (7-0) def. Archishop Rummel, 27-20

2. Ruston (6-1) def. Peabody, 70-0

3. St. Augustine (6-0) vs. Jesuit, Saturday

4. Archbishop Rummel (6-1)  lost to Karr, 27-20

5. Alexandria (6-1) def. Pineville, 48-10

6. Jesuit (5-1) vs. St. Augustine, Saturday

7. St. Thomas More (6-1)        def. Barbe, 35-14

8. Brother Martin (5-2)   def. John Curtis, 36-28

8. Barbe   (6-1)        lost to St. Thomas More, 35-14

10. Mandeville (7-0) def. Ponchatoula, 44-7

Others: John Curtis (2-5) lost to Brother Martin, 36-28, Catholic-Baton Rouge (4-3) def. Zachary, 70-38, Acadiana (4-3) lost to Sam Houston, 33-20, Zachary (4-3) lost to Catholic-BR, 70-38, Destrehan (6-1) def. Hahnville, 35-14, Northshore (7-0) def. Hammond, 24-13, Hahnville (4-3) lost to Destrehan, 35-14, Haughton (7-0) def. Byrd, 43-33.

Class 4A

1. Westgate (6-0)     def. Northside, 48-6

2. Neville (5-1) def. Franklin Parish, 49-24

3. North DeSoto (7-0)     def. Southwood, 57-6

4. Archbishop Shaw (6-1) def. Belle Chasse, 34-6

5. Franklin Parish (5-2) lost to Neville, 49-24

6. Madison Prep (5-2)     def. Brusly, 53-20

7. John F. Kennedy (6-1)        def. McDonough #35, 26-7

8. Lake Charles Prep (6-1)        def. Sterlington, 39-38

9. Lafayette Renaissance (5-2)        def. Teurlings Catholic, 32-27

10. Leesville (6-1) def. North Vermilion, 67-22

Others: Cecilia (5-2) def. Beau Chene, 61-14, Salmen (4-3) def. Lakeshore, 20-17, Tioga (5-2) lost to Dutchtown, 20-16, Plaquemine (4-3) def. Tara, 55-0, St. Michael (6-1) def. McKinley, 42-0, Belle Chasse 4, Opelousas (5-2) def. Livonia, 33-0.

Class 3A

1. St. Charles (6-1) def. Patterson, 63-18

2. St. James (5-2)    lost to Lutcher, 35-20

3. University (5-2)  def. Collegiate-BR, 62-0

4. Sterlington  (4-3)  lost to Lake Charles Prep, 39-38

5. Jena (5-2)    def. Grant, 52-12

6. Eunice (7-0)        def. Northwest, 30-23

7. West Feliciana (7-0) def. Port Allen, 49-0

8. Marksville  (6-1) def. Erath, 32-29

9. Jewel Sumner (5-2) def. Bogalusa, 48-12

10. Vandebilt Catholic (5-2)        def. Berwick, 46-0

Others: Loyola Prep (4-3) won by forfeit, Iowa (3-3) def. St. Louis, 56-21, Jennings (5-2) def. DeRidder, 48-7, Northwest (4-3) lost to Eunice, 30-23, Lutcher (5-2) def. St. James, 35-20.

Class 2A

1. Calvary Baptist (7-0) def. North Caddo, 61-0

2. Notre Dame (7-0) def. Basile, 50-0

3. Mangham    (6-1) def. Ferriday, 49-16

4. Amite (6-1) def. Independence, 42-6

5. Newman (6-1) def. Houma Christian, 50-7

6. Dunham (4-3)     def. Donaldsonville, 35-6

7. Lafayette Christian Academy (5-2) def. Franklin, 43-6

8. Catholic-New Iberia (4-3)  lost to Loreauville, 12-10

9. Lake Arthur (7-0) def. Kinder, 42-0

10. Mansfield  (6-1)        def. Woodlawn-Shreveport, 40-20

Others: Loreauville (5-2) def. Catholic-NI, 12-10, Vinton (7-0) def. DeQuincy, 42-3, Oak Grove (3-4) def. Beekman Charter, 58-23, Welsh (6-1) def. Washington-Marion, 56-13, Green Oaks (6-0) Open, West St. Mary (4-3) def. Delcambre, 26-22, Country Day (4-3) def. Fisher, 70-13, Rosepine (7-0) def. Plain Dealing, 47-0.

Class 1A

1. Ouachita Christian (7-0) def. Lincoln Prep, 65-12

2. Ascension Catholic (7-0) def. St. Martin’s, 26-21

3. Riverside Academy (6-1) def. South Plaquemines, 50-22

4. Haynesville (6-1)        def. Arcadia, 50-6

5. Southern Lab (6-0)     def. North Iberville, 53-0

6. Kentwood   (7-0)        def. Central Private, 53-0

7. Westminster-Lafayette (7-0) def. Central Catholic, 48-7

8. Jeanerette (5-1) def. Vermilion Catholic, 52-16

9. Cedar Creek (7-0)       def. Glenbrook, 35-15

10. Logansport (6-1)       def. Lakeview, 50-0

Others: East Feliciana (6-1) def. Mentorship Academy, 50-6, South Plaquemines (3-3) lost to Riverside Academy, 50-22, Elton (5-2) lost to Oakdale, 28-24, Ascension Episcopal (4-3) def. Hanson, 42-0, Jonesboro-Hodge (5-2) lost to St. Mary’s, 55-20, Sacred Heart-VP (7-0) def. North Central, 49-14, St. John-Plaquemine (5-1) won by forfeit.

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By Brad Dison

Dr. Kathryn “Kathy” Sullivan wanted to take a walk, but this was no walk around the block.  She wanted to take a 140-mile walk.  Let me explain.  Kathy’s brother Grant had heard about the planned walk, had applied to be a participant, and encouraged Kathy to apply as well.  She was uninterested at first because she wanted to take a seven-mile swim in the Pacific Ocean instead.  Kathy disregarded Grant’s suggestion until she saw an advertisement for the upcoming walk in a scientific magazine.  Shortly after she applied for the walk, William Ryan of Columbia University offered Kathy the chance to take the seven-mile swim that she had been dreaming of for years.  William and Kathy discussed the walk and the swim, and they concluded that Kathy should wait to hear if her application to take the walk was accepted.  Williams reassured Kathy that she would have another opportunity to take the swim but the opportunity to take the walk would probably never happen again.  Kathy’s wait was worth it.  She was invited for a week of interviews, psychological examinations, and physical examinations.  Of the large group who were chosen, Kathy was one of six females selected.  Grant, Kathy’s brother who had encouraged her to apply, was not selected.                    

The magazine advertisement I mentioned earlier said women could apply, but many scientists believed that women would be unable to complete such a walk because they were inferior to men.  Scientists believed women would require more specialized equipment than men to complete such a walk.  Of course, those scientists were mostly men.  Kathy was fitted with a special pressurized suit which provided oxygen and blocked out the Sun’s rays.  Kathy spent years training for the 140-mile walk which would last just a few hours.  On October 11, 1984, 33-year-old Kathy dressed carefully in her specialized clothing which weighed more than she did.  Then, she stepped out of the vehicle and began her walk.  There were no trees, no sidewalks, nor automobiles on her route.  Despite the initial doubts of scientists, she completed the walk without any trouble at all.  Kathy made history.

Kathy still wanted to take that seven-mile swim, but it took longer than she had imagined.  36 years after Kathy completed her walk, she finally got the opportunity to take that swim in the Pacific Ocean.  Just as she had for her walk, Kathy prepared well and used specialized equipment.  On June 8, 2020, sixty-eight-year-old Kathy finally fulfilled her dream and completed the swim that she had dreamed of for decades.                   

Kathy does not consider herself an adrenaline junkie, but a scientist and explorer.  You see, the 140 miles I mentioned was not the distance she traveled on her walk, but the height above the Earth she was when she took her walk.  On October 11, 1984, Kathryn Sullivan became the first American woman to take a walk…a spacewalk 140 miles up in space.  On June 8, 2020, she became the first woman to swim, well… descend, in a submersible to Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, the deepest known point in Earth’s oceans.  Kathy is the only woman known to have both walked in space and visited Challenger Deep.

 Sources:

1.     Colin Dwyer, “1st U.S. Woman To Walk In Space Dives To Deepest Point In The Ocean,” NPR, June 9, 2020, accessed September 27, 2026, https://www.npr.org/2020/06/09/873194201/first-u-s-woman-to-walk-in-space-dives-to-deepest-point-in-the-ocean.

2.     Mark Kahn, “Kathryn D. Sullivan: From Outer Space to Under the Sea,” September 17, 2022, accessed September 27, 2026, https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/kathryn-sullivan-outer-space-under-sea.

3.      “The New Space Age with Kathryn Sullivan,” University of Alaska Anchorage, accessed September 27, 2026, https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/academics/college-of-arts-and-sciences/cas-community-lecture-series/sullivan.cshtml.

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Lincoln Parish voters are reminded of several important dates and deadlines ahead of the Tuesday, Nov. 3 election.

Early voting will be held Tuesday, Oct. 20, through Tuesday, Oct. 27, excluding Sunday, Oct. 25. Early voting hours are 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day at the Lincoln Parish Registrar of Voters Office, 100 W. Texas Ave. in Ruston.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Friday, Oct. 30, at 4:30 p.m., except for military and overseas voters. Eligible voters may request an absentee ballot online through the Louisiana Voter Portal or in writing through the Registrar of Voters Office.

Completed absentee ballots must be received by the Registrar of Voters Office no later than 4:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, except for military and overseas voters.

On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Voters can also use the Louisiana Voter Portal to check their registration status, view a sample ballot and find their Election Day polling location.

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

Friday, Oct. 16
Fall break – Lincoln Parish Schools
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Community Vaccination Clinic with Walgreens (Jack Beard Community Room, Lincoln Parish Library)
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Out to Lunch concert series (Heard Freighthouse Food Park)
6 p.m.: GSU volleyball
6:30 p.m.: Tech volleyball
7 p.m.: RHS football
7 p.m.: Cedar Creek football

Saturday, Oct. 17
7:30-10 a.m.: Faith Walk 2026 “Recovery Walk” (Elisha Ministries, 608 S. Trenton Street)
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market
9:30-11 a.m.: Vote Early Rally for Local Voter Turnout (No. 9 Books and Records, Ruston)
10 a.m. to noon: Community Health Fair hosted by New Hope Missionary Baptist Church of Ruston’s Health and Hope Ministry in collaboration with GSU’s Foster-Joohnson Health Center and Intramural Center (Main Gym, Intramural Center, GSU)
4-8 p.m.: Blueseum Fest (Lincoln Parish Museum, 609 N. Vienna St.)
5:30 p.m.: Simsboro Lions Club presents Trunk or Treat and Movie in the Park (Ragan Madden Park, Simsboro)
6:30 p.m.: LA Tech volleyball

Sunday, Oct. 18
10 a.m.: Breast Cancer Awareness Month Observance hosted by New Hope Missionary Baptist Church of Ruston’s Women’s Ministry and Jolly Matrons
6 p.m.: GSU volleyball

Monday, Oct. 19
11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome
5:30-6:30 p.m.: Ruston Planning and Zoning Meeting (Ruston City Hall)
6 p.m.: Toastmasters International meeting (Louisiana Center for the Blind, 101 South Trenton Street)
6-9 p.m.: Creative Meetups (Creatives at Work, 301 N. Trenton)

Tuesday, Oct. 20
6:30 a.m.: Veterans free breakfast (VFW Post 3615, 206 Memorial Dr.)
6 p.m.: GSU volleyball

Wednesday, Oct. 21
7-8 a.m.: Veterans Coffee Club (PJ’s Coffee)
11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome
12-1 p.m.: Rotary Club meeting (Historic Fire Station)

Thursday, Oct. 22
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Kiwanis Club lunch and program (Trinity Methodist Church fellowship hall; Anyone is welcome to come to our meeting,please notify Richard Hamilton of your attendance. 318-518-2121)
4 p.m.: Tween Time: Spooky Soap (Library Events Center)
4:30-5:30 p.m.: Free meal sponsored by Halff Associates and 5 Loaves 2 Fish Ministry to be served at Dubach Community Center on 167 N just past the post office on the corner of Smith Street. All are welcome!
6 p.m.: LA Tech Homecoming Parade
6 p.m.: Southern A’Chord Chorus rehearsal (Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 212 N. Bonner St.; open to all women singers)
6 p.m.: Teens: The Great Coin Caper Mystery (George Byrnside Community Room; Lincoln Parish Library)
6 p.m.: Video fitness (Library Events Center)
6 p.m.: Halloween songs and spooky Louisiana stories with Ricky Pittman (Library Events Center)
7 p.m.: LA Tech Tech R Treat (Argent Pavilion)

Friday, Oct. 23
12-5 p.m.: Dogs in Downtown (Railroad Park)
6 p.m.: GSU volleyball
6:30-9:30 p.m.: Wine Walk (Railroad Park)
7 p.m.: Lincoln Prep football

Saturday, Oct. 24
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market
7 p.m.: LA Tech Homecoming game

Sunday, Oct. 25
2 p.m.: New Hope Missionary Baptist Church of Ruston’s 155th Church anniversary featuring the Rev. John Williams, pastor of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church of Ruston (301 W. Vaughn Ave.)
4:30 p.m.: Foster parent orientation meeting (413 N. Homer St., Ruston)
6 p.m.: GSU volleyball

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For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:45 right to your inbox. Just CLICK HERE to sign up.

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Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Louisiana Tech Athletics announced Friday the launch of The Next Shot, a program that gives high school photographers and videographers the chance to earn a sideline credential for Bulldog football at Origin Bank Field at Joe Aillet Stadium.

Students will enter a lottery for each of Tech’s final three home games against Old Dominion, Southern Miss, and Arkansas State. Selected students will work alongside Louisiana Tech Athletics creative staff in a job-shadow role.

To register for the lottery, visit LATechSports.com/thenextshot.

“Our students are the heartbeat of what we do and how we operate,” said Kyle Kavanaugh, Senior Associate AD for External Affairs and Chief Brand Officer. “We lean on them every day. We trust them, and they deliver. Most people in this business don’t come in with all the answers, and they aren’t always ready for the role right away. You get better by doing, by getting your reps in, and in order to get those reps, someone has to give you an opportunity. We believe that extends beyond our walls. There are plenty of talented, creative people out there just looking for a chance. We say recruit everyone, every day, and we mean it. Sometimes that starts with handing a kid a credential.”

The Next Shot Lottery Guidelines

1. Applicants must be in good academic and conduct standing. Contact information for a principal, counselor, or teacher at the applicant’s school is required for verification.
2. Applicants must provide contact information for a parent or legal guardian to confirm permission and availability to attend the game.
3. Applicants must list the photography or video equipment they currently use. Students must have adequate equipment; cell phones alone do not qualify.
4. Applicants must submit a portfolio link or social media handle showing examples of their work.
5. Selected students will work alongside LA Tech Athletics staff in a job shadow role, per NCAA rules.
6. Selected students must share their edited photos and/or video with LA Tech Athletics following the game. LA Tech Athletics may use submitted work with credit.
7. Selected students may post their work to personal social media accounts but may not sell photos or video to LA Tech student-athletes or their families.
8. Selected students must follow all game-day rules for credentialed photographers and videographers and the direction of LA Tech Athletics staff.
9. Selected students must dress appropriately while working the game.
10. This is an unpaid job shadow opportunity. Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from the game.
11. Selected students and their parent or legal guardian must complete the required media release and liability waiver before participating.
12. LA Tech Athletics will select up to three eligible students per game through a lottery.

Available Games and Application Deadlines

Applicants may select all games they are available to attend. Applications close at 11:59 p.m. Central on the Monday before each game, and selected students will be notified by email on Tuesday.

• LA Tech vs. ODU – Saturday, Oct. 24 (Homecoming): Applications close Monday, Oct. 19. Selected students notified Tuesday, Oct. 20.
• LA Tech vs. Southern Miss – Saturday, Nov. 14: Applications close Monday, Nov. 9. Selected students notified Tuesday, Nov. 10.
• LA Tech vs. Arkansas State – Saturday, Nov. 21: Applications close Monday, Nov. 16. Selected students notified Tuesday, Nov. 17.

Submitting an application does not guarantee selection or a game-day credential.

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A celebration of life for Marilynn Shalane Lewis will be held at 11:00 AM, on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at Temple Baptist Church Chapel under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home of Ruston.   Officiating the service will be Dr. Reggie Bridges.  A visitation will be held prior to the service from 10:00 AM till service time at 11:00 AM

Marilynn was born in Monroe, LA on October 25, 1938, and was the only child of Edwin and Ruby Crowley.

Marilynn was raised in the church where her parents were charter members of Parkview Baptist Church. She sang in the choir, and met the love of her life, Jim Lewis.  They were high school sweethearts and dated through their years at Neville High School.

After marriage, the couple moved to 29 Palms California where Jim served as a J.A.G. officer in the United States Marine Corps.  It was during that time Marilynn gave birth to her only child, James Beauregard “Beau” Lewis. Upon Beau’s arrival, Jim left the Marine Corps, and the couple returned to Monroe, LA.  Marilynn used her gift of singing in productions at the Strauss Little Theatre with leading rolls in “Hello Dolly”, “South Pacific”, and “Guys and Dolls”.  Marilynn was also very active in the Monroe Junior League.

Wherever she lived, Marilynn always loved tending to her home and yard.  While living in Ruston, she cared for Jim during his battle with cancer until his passing in 2012.  Upon Jims death, she moved back to Monroe briefly, but returned to Ruston to live with her son, where she faithfully attended Temple Baptist Church, was president of Littera Club, and a member of the Ruston Republican Women’s Club.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Edwin William Crowley and Ruby Key Crowley; and her husband James Edwin Lewis.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home, or Life Choices of North Central Louisiana.

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Dr. Earlo Anderson
Wednesday 06/25/1941 — Friday 10/09/2026
Visitation: Saturday 10/24/2026 8:00am to 10:00am, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Grambling
Celebration of Life: Saturday 10/24/2026 10:00am, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Grambling
Interment: Saturday 10/24/2026 Following Service, Grambling Memorial Garden, Highway 80 West, Grambling

Gail Skipper
Oct 4, 1947 — Oct 13, 2026
Visitation: Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, Saturday, October 17, 2026, 9:00 – 10:00 am
Funeral Service: Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, Saturday, October 17, 2026, 10:00 am

Rebecca Williams
Tuesday 01/10/1967 — Tuesday 10/06/2026
Memorial Service: Saturday 10/17/2026 2:00pm at King’s Funeral Home

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By Wesley Harris

Anyone looking for an unusual purchase in January 1905 could have found one advertised in The Billboard.

For sale or lease: one complete circus.

And prospective buyers were told to inquire in Ruston.

The circus belonged to Alex Glasscock, a veteran showman whose traveling operation had grown considerably during the first years of the 20th century. In January 1903, the New York Clipper reported Alex Glasscock’s Dog and Pony Show was touring southern Louisiana and doing good business. Glasscock was listed as the show’s sole owner and manager.

By that fall, it was much more than a dog and pony show.

Glasscock reported the company had begun its 16th season with 12 wagons. It had since expanded to 28 wagons and about 40 people. Five cages formed its menagerie, along with what the show claimed was “the only snow white camel in the country.” The performance included 22 acts in the main show and another eight in the concert, with acrobats, trapeze performers, jugglers, tumblers, knife throwers, riders and two troupes of trained ponies.

The circus continued to grow.

At the beginning of 1904, Glasscock reported from winter quarters in Longview, Texas, that the company had just completed the most successful season in its history. What had started with about 20 people and 10 wagons finished with more than 50 people, 30 wagons, five animal cages and considerably larger tents. Plans for the coming season, Glasscock said, were already underway.

Those plans included abandoning the wagons for the railroad.

By late 1904, the operation had become the Alexander Glasscock Mammoth Railroad Shows. The Billboard reported the circus would travel aboard six new railroad cars. The lengthy roster included a railroad contractor, treasurer, construction superintendent, announcer, animal man, canvas man, bandleader, billposter, advance agent and a large cast of performers. Many carried the Glasscock name.

Another report from the period said the railroad show was touring Texas with about 50 people and “doing good business.”

But the expansion from wagons to rails did not go smoothly.

In August 1904, the railroad show ran into financial trouble at Anadarko, Oklahoma. Members of the company sued for about $800 in unpaid wages, and the county sheriff seized the show while the dispute was pending. The matter was apparently resolved because the show returned to the rails.

Still, the episode left a cloud over an operation that, on the surface, appeared to be expanding.

Then, in January 1905, Ruston entered the story.

The Jan. 21, 1905, issue of The Billboard contained a classified advertisement offering the entire Alex Glasscock Mammoth Railroad Show “for sale or lease.”

The inventory would have made for an unusual auction.

There were eight cages of animals, including a white camel, leopard, black bear and smaller animals. The buyer would also receive two spotted mules, a trick mule and five trick ponies.

Transportation was included: a 54-foot flatcar, a 64-foot flatcar, a 44-foot sleeping car, a 40-foot stock car and an advance car.

Then there was the big top — a 100-foot round tent with a 50-foot middle section — along with other show property.

At the bottom of the advertisement was the contact: E. R. Glasscock, Ruston, La.

Who E. R. Glasscock was and why the circus was being offered through Ruston remain unclear. The advertisement also does not establish that the circus itself was in Ruston. It gives Ruston as E. R. Glasscock’s address, but the animals, railroad cars, tents and other property could have been elsewhere.

The timing raises an obvious question. The Glasscock show had suffered financial trouble only months earlier, yet by December the trade press was announcing an ambitious railroad operation with six new cars and dozens of employees and performers. Then, in January 1905, the entire show was offered for sale or lease through Ruston.

Whether the August wage dispute had anything to do with the decision to sell is unknown. The advertisement offered no explanation.

The advertisement did not spell the end of Alex Glasscock’s circus career. By 1906, his show was traveling again. That September, The Billboard reported Ruth, the show’s baby elephant, died at Eagle Lake, Texas, from injuries received earlier at Rock Island. Arrangements were already being made to send Glasscock two replacement elephants.

Glasscock remained in the circus business for years. In 1909, Variety reported he had opened another wagon show in Hamilton, Texas, intending to spend the winter playing small Southern towns. Six years later, an advertisement for the Alex Glasscock and Ben J. Benschamp Big Combined Shows sought Wild West performers, circus people and musicians.

Even decades later, Glasscock had not completely left circus life. In 1936, The Billboard reported he was negotiating to purchase another complete circus near his horse and mule barns in San Antonio. If the deal went through, Glasscock said, the show would be turned over to his son.

The circus had been the Glasscocks’ business for generations. A history of Texas tent shows traces the family circus to Alex’s father, John Benjamin Glasscock. In 1898, the Glasscock Circus crossed the Neches River with about 25 brightly painted wagons. The entourage included trained dogs, lions and elephants. Alex reportedly brought the elephants to the river to spray water for the gathered crowd, while his sister Gracie, a circus performer known as “LaGracier,” crossed above the water on the ferry’s cable wire.

For a family accustomed to traveling with elephants, lions, acrobats and entire tented cities, perhaps selling a circus through a small Louisiana town was simply another day’s business.

But the advertisement leaves a tantalizing piece of Ruston history behind.

For at least a brief moment in 1905, anyone in the market for a white camel, a leopard, a black bear, five trick ponies, five railroad cars and a 100-foot circus tent knew where to inquire: Ruston, Louisiana.

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Courtesy of LA Tech University Communications

Louisiana Tech University is announcing Dr. Rosy Carranza as director of the University’s Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness (PDRIB). Carranza is a graduate of Louisiana Tech and has more than 20 years of experience in the field of blind education, especially as it relates to advocacy and policy.

“Dr. Carranza will leverage her proficiencies to create dynamic professional development, learning experiences, and research, and inform and provide resources to the community,” Tech’s College of Education and Human Sciences Dean Henrietta Pichon said. “Through her background with the Louisiana Center for the Blind and the National Federation of the Blind, we believe she will provide excellent leadership and insight into the program.”

Carranza earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in 2003 and her master’s degree in Teaching Blind Students in 2004, both from Tech. She earned her doctoral degree from the University of Maryland in Curriculum and Instruction: Minority and Urban Education in 2017.

“The future of education and rehabilitation for blind people depends on strong leaders who understand the needs and have the perspective to imagine what is possible; Dr. Rosy Ramirez Carranza brings that powerful combination to the Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness,” Pam Allen, executive director of the Louisiana Center for the Blind (LCB) since 2001, said. “Her expertise, leadership, ability to make connections, and her lived experience as a blind person position her uniquely to lead this work and motivate the team around her. As a Louisiana Center for the Blind and Louisiana Tech graduate, she also represents the very success that our partnership seeks to create. We are grateful for the decades of collaboration between Louisiana Tech and the Louisiana Center for the Blind, and we are excited to see Dr. Ramirez Carranza build on that legacy and help take this work to an even higher level.”

The institute grew out of a late-1990s partnership between Tech and the LCB. That collaboration continues to anchor PDRIB’s immersion training and mentorship model.

The PDRIB exists to transform the lives of individuals with blindness or low vision through its unique training model, Structured Discovery, which has a core philosophy that individuals living with blindness or low vision can enjoy full lives of productivity, civic engagement, independent living, and employment.

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A vehicle pursuit through Ruston ended with a man found hiding in a bedroom closet at an apartment complex Tuesday afternoon.

Derrian D. Maxwell, 33, of Ruston, was arrested Oct. 13 by the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office on charges of flight from an officer in a vehicle, flight from an officer on foot, resisting an officer and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. He also was booked on three outstanding warrants for failure to appear on charges of hit and run, expired license plate and driver’s license suspension.

A sergeant was patrolling the area of South Farmerville Street and Texas Avenue looking for a suspect who had trespassed from Village Green Trailer Park, according to an arrest affidavit. A maintenance worker there said the suspect had returned to the property and that they were following the suspect through Ruston. A registration check on the vehicle’s license plate showed it was heading north on South Farmerville Street.

The sergeant saw the vehicle pass going south at Texas Avenue and positioned a patrol unit behind it at South Farmerville Street and MLK Drive. When the vehicle turned east onto MLK Drive, the sergeant activated emergency lights and sirens. The vehicle continued east, then turned south onto Gill Street. When it became apparent the driver was not going to stop, the sergeant advised dispatch of a pursuit.

The vehicle then turned left onto Second Street, heading east, and pulled into Brooks Village Apartments, where the subject fled on foot. The subject ran south toward MLK Drive, went through a fence and then headed east toward McAllister Drive.

Deputies set up a perimeter and called for a K-9. The vehicle’s owner told the sergeant she had not given anyone permission to drive her car and that she had been sleeping and did not know anyone was in it. The K-9 conducted an area search, and based on its findings, deputies were granted access to two apartments to search for the suspect. Maxwell was found in the master bedroom closet of the second apartment, hiding behind a pile of clothes.

Maxwell was advised of his rights, handcuffed and placed in the back of a patrol vehicle. A name search showed he had three outstanding warrants. When asked, Maxwell said he knew about the warrants and that was why he ran. He was taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center and booked.

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

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For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:45 right to your inbox. Just CLICK HERE to sign up.

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The above information has been provided by a political campaign. Unless otherwise noted, the Lincoln Parish Journal publishing staff does not endorse specific candidates or ballot measures.

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This is a paid advertorial.

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By T. Scott Boatright

The ever-increasing cost of living affects everything and everybody, including the Lincoln Parish Library.

And that’s why the Lincoln Parish Library Board of Control voted Thursday evening to enter into a contract with Gallagher Human Resources and Consulting Services to conduct a study on the library’s wage scale.

That contract is for $12,745, with results and advice expected within four months.

“Let me point out the reason we need professionals to do this,” LPL Board of Control Chair Bill Jones said. “We can’t just look at other libraries because our employees have skills that are common to many businesses. We are not competing against the Monroe Library, the Jonesboro Library or whatever. We aren’t competing against libraries.

“We’re competing against Lincoln Parish businesses, and that’s why we need this type of information.”

“That puts us into 2027,” Jones said. “I know that. But we can handle that, OK? We can handle that. And I also want to point out that there has not been a month that the library hasn’t had vacant jobs.

“The marketplace has sent us a message. We’ve got good people who work here. … We have to face the fact we’ve got inflation that’s been over 3 1/2% for two or three years and now it’s almost 4%. And that doesn’t just impact us, it impacts the people that work here.”

Library board member Richard Pyles expressed agreement with the plan.

“I think just employee retention is the biggie right now, because we can’t get replacements,” Pyles said. “And this is a step in the right direction to retain what we have left.”

Gallagher’s approach to presenting the report will consist of 12 steps:

• Data collection
• Job documentation review
• Confirm classifications, review and deliverables
• Develop custom market intelligence approach
• Identify benchmark jobs
• Align on compensation philosophy
• Market collection and analysis
• Review and validation of market findings
• Compensation structure development
• Internal equity assessment
• Deliverables review
• Final deliverables

The library board also voted to allow LPL Director Jeremy Bolom to decide whether to keep the library open on Nov. 1 — a Sunday — only two days before renovation work on the facility is expected to begin.

But Jones did present an option other than closing the library that day.

“You want me to float my idea?” Jones said. “We have employees who are working 22-24 hours per week. We can offer them six more hours and we’ll still save on the part-time category. Full-time employees, we could offer additional hours and of course they’re compensated with overtime.

“And then, as a final, hopefully unnecessary backup, we would like the board to consider Jeremy to have the option to close the library the Sunday before the construction starts.”

That motion passed unanimously, with Deborah Gilliam being the only board member absent.

Bolom also reported that $660 came from surplus goods sales prior to the upcoming renovations, in addition to a recent Friends of the Lincoln Parish Library book sale.

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Smoke coming from a parked car on the Grambling State University campus led to the arrest of a Ruston man on marijuana charges Monday morning.

Adunyea Trevan Nichols, 28, of Ruston, was arrested Oct. 12 by the Grambling State University Police Department on charges of possession of marijuana in a drug-free zone and simple possession of marijuana.

An officer patrolling Doug Williams Drive saw a blue four-door sedan parked in a lot with smoke coming from inside, according to an arrest affidavit. As the officer approached, he detected an odor commonly associated with marijuana. When the driver rolled down the window, smoke rose from inside the vehicle and the odor became stronger.

The driver was identified as Nichols. He was asked to step out of the vehicle and was asked what was going on. Nichols admitted he had been smoking marijuana inside the vehicle, and an undetermined amount of suspected marijuana was found on his person.

Nichols was advised of his rights, handcuffed and taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center, where he was booked without further incident.

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

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For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:45 right to your inbox. Just CLICK HERE to sign up.

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By Kyle Roberts

RUSTON, La. — It’s the four words no athlete ever wants to hear.

“Your season is over.”

Ruston High junior linebacker Aidan Adams experienced that jolt early in the week in a routine practice before the Catholic game. The first sign of trouble? Head trainer Chris Brister tested his ankle, and Adams felt pain shooting all the way up his leg.

“We thought we needed to get to the emergency room right away, but we weren’t able to get there that day,” Adams said. “We went the next morning and got an MRI.”

Adams was told the early read of the results showed that everything was fine. Then, while he was doing treatment one morning in the following days, a doctor called back with the bad news. Adams said he was pulled into an office with coaches and told his 2026 season was done.

“It hurt,” Adams said and noted the hardest part was thinking he had played his last snaps with the team’s seniors. He said he made himself keep a good mindset and put on a brave face.

“If those guys see me down, then it’s going to bring them down,” Adams said. “I knew I couldn’t really show how I felt at first, because I knew they’ve got to keep going without me.”

When Ruston High Assistant Coach Kyle Williams first heard of Adams’ original diagnosis, his heart ran a gamut of emotions. Williams said his first job was to help Adams think through how to handle an injury and focus on the longterm.

“I spend a lot of time with this young man. I care about this young man, and I knew that it hurt him,” Williams said. “All of the football and coaching stuff goes to the back burner, and you’re more concerned about him as an individual.”

Thankfully for Adams, his 2026 story would not end there: a second opinion completely changed and reversed the outlook early the next week and gave him the gift of a second chance to return to a sensational linebacking group and resurrect his junior campaign.

And as much as he would have wanted to be back on the field, the staff did not rush Adams back for West Point, the final non-district game of the year. Given the Green Wave’s tendency to run a Wing-T offense, and despite dressing out and participating in warmups, Williams did not want Adams to risk having his ankle rolled up in a pile.

“Everything we do is about the team, but when it comes into situations like that, it’s what is best for him,” Williams said.

The gradual return gave Adams time to prepare mentally and physically, and Adams said stepping onto the field against Ouachita last week brought along plenty of emotions.

“It was exciting to be back on the field. I just couldn’t stop moving,” Adams said. “I was just so happy to be on the field playing with the guys and being with the people I love the most.”

Williams described Adams as conscientious, detailed and a good communicator with teammates.

“He wants to be better,” Williams said. “He wants our defense to be great. He wants our team to be great.”

Ruston High Head Coach Jerrod Baugh said the next step for Adams is to become the vocal leader he believes he can be. By nature, Baugh said, Adams is more of a polite and quiet person, and while leading by example is most of leadership, there are times when a leader needs to speak up.

“We need him to be a little more vocal, probably, because his teammates need that positive role model,” Baugh said. “He’s such a genuinely good person, and we need that to be spoken with his voice as well as his actions.”

Baugh said Adams has also handled the injury and return well and said that kind of appreciation is hard to teach.

“I feel like I see him appreciating the fact that he’s been able to be back and not taking it for granted,” Baugh said. “I don’t think you genuinely understand that until you’re in the middle of it, and you don’t have it, or think that you don’t, and then you’re able to come back. Then you have a deeper appreciation for being able to go out and practice and get back on the field.”

Adams said the experience has pushed him to raise his level, especially for the seniors he thought he would not play with again.

“Now I just have to go out even harder and play for those guys so we can come back with a championship,” Adams said in conclusion.

A second chance he’ll forever be grateful for.

Ruston will host Peabody tonight at Hoss Garrett Stadium. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

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