One man was shot during a melee outside a Ruston restaurant early Sunday morning, according to Ruston Police.
RPD was notified of a disturbance involving a large crowd at Raising Canes at 659 North Service Road East at about 12:48 a.m. on May 24. While officers were responding, several calls were received reporting gunshots had been fired in the parking lot.
When police arrived at the scene, they learned a gunshot victim had already been transported by private vehicle to the Northern Louisiana Medical Center. Hospital staff reported to RPD that a large crowd had gathered outside the emergency room.
Patrol officers and criminal investigators responded to the hospital and contacted with the victim, who had sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The victim is reportedly from Arcadia.
Video recorded in the parking lot and posted on social media showed numerous young males engaged in the melee with others looking on. One young man can be seen knocked to the ground and punched and stomped by at least six others.
This incident remains under investigation. On Sunday afternoon police said no arrests had been made. Anyone with information regarding the incident is encouraged to call the Ruston Police Department at 318-255-4141.
In a second incident that night, a fight among several young women in the midst of a large crowd broke out on Park Avenue between Trenton Street and Monroe Street. Video on social media appeared to show the altercation was primarily between two women but a large crowd gathered with several recording the incident.
George T. Madison Hall is undergoing a complete renovation funded by state dollars.
By Malcolm Butler
For nearly six decades, George T. Madison Hall has stood as one of the most familiar landmarks on the campus of Louisiana Tech University.
Generations of students have passed through its classrooms for English lectures, history courses, sociology classes and core curriculum requirements.
Now, university leaders believe the aging academic building — known simply across campus as “GTM” — is about to become something entirely different.
The university’s renovation of George T. Madison Hall is transforming the nearly 60-year-old structure into what Tech President Jim Henderson called a flagship academic facility designed around modern student learning, collaboration and campus life.
“This building will be the exemplar of that mission,” Henderson said. “Creating environments that are conducive to learning, creating environments that faculty — it’s conducive to them practicing their craft at a high level. That’s a key component of our strategic framework.”
And perhaps just as surprising to university officials, the massive renovation is currently both ahead of schedule and well under budget.
“The building itself came in under budget, and as of now, they’re about two months ahead of schedule,” Henderson said. “Now, that’s unheard of. That’s front-page news.”
According to Louisiana Tech Associate Vice President/Chief Strategy Officer Adam McGuirt, the construction bids came in lower than expected.
“The construction bids came in about $10 million under budget,” McGuirt said. “That’s like a once-in-a-lifetime number.”
The final project cost settled around $34 million with $24 million to construction and an additional $10 million going towards designer fees, contingencies, and fully furnishing and equipping the building.
But the renovation goes far beyond cosmetic updates.
What currently sits behind the fencing and construction barriers today is essentially a building stripped down to its skeleton.
“It’s a complete gutting of the building,” McGuirt said. “If you look in right now, the only thing remaining are support columns, beams, concrete floor, but every interior wall — most every interior wall — is gone. It’s a complete gut and re-envisioning, reimagining of the building.”
Crews are replacing nearly every major infrastructure component inside the facility, including plumbing, electrical systems and air conditioning.
For Henderson, the renovation carries extra importance because of GTM’s role in campus life.
“George T. Madison Hall is the one building that almost every student that comes through Louisiana Tech will take a class in,” Henderson said.
That reality created a major logistical challenge once the building closed for construction during the winter quarter. Faculty offices and classrooms had to be scattered across campus while approximately 170 course sections each quarter were reassigned into temporary spaces.
Instead of disruption creating frustration, Henderson said faculty and staff adapted quickly.
“You can’t say enough about the willingness, the collegiality, of the faculty and the staff affected by that move,” Henderson said. “They’re thriving. They are doing extraordinarily well in not the most desirable circumstances, but they’re making it desirable.”
Henderson credited McGuirt with helping oversee much of that transition planning.
“Adam McGuirt has been a key player in ensuring that we do this in a strategic way and making sure that we’re making the best use of our space,” Henderson said.
When construction is completed, GTM will continue serving as a hub for the College of Liberal Arts while also housing aviation programs, literature and language studies and the School of Human Inquiry.
One of the most dramatic changes will come in areas of the building students historically barely used.
“You have more usable space because you’re gaining 25% of a building that you weren’t using,” McGuirt said.
Much of that new usable area comes from the basement level, which for years primarily served as storage and outdated telecommunications space. Under the redesign, the lower level is being converted into a creative maker space designed for collaboration and interdisciplinary work.
“The basement will become a creative maker space,” McGuirt said.
The space will include flexible work areas and collaborative environments geared toward creative arts and design-focused instruction.
“It’s not like a traditional chemistry lab,” McGuirt said. “Again, the creative arts, just different opportunities down there.”
Perhaps the most visually striking transformation involves the longtime open-air courtyard located in the center of GTM.
Under the renovation, the courtyard is being enclosed beneath a skylight roof system to create a year-round indoor commons area filled with natural light.
“The courtyard is covered now, but there’ll be sunlight coming in,” McGuirt said. “It’s like a skylight roof system put over, so it’s conditioned, can be used year-round.”
To make the redesign possible, construction crews excavated the courtyard nearly 10 feet deeper to add additional usable square footage while still allowing sunlight to reach lower-level spaces.
McGuirt believes the reimagined commons area could eventually become one of the signature gathering spaces on campus.
“It’s kind of like this space of energy that will be created,” he said.
Henderson already envisions the view from his office overlooking the completed project.
“I have a vantage point from my office looking down onto George T. Madison Hall and the big courtyard that is going to be covered with a new roof system with skylights that shine down into a convening space for students,” Henderson said. “It will be the premier academic facility, I dare say, in the state of Louisiana.”
University officials also focused heavily on improving how students and visitors move through the building.
The redesign creates clearly defined entrances facing both Hale Hall and the campus Quad, where student traffic naturally converges throughout the day.
“When you come up Railroad, you see this prominent entry to a newly renovated building,” McGuirt said.
The renovation is also expected to reshape the campus tour experience for prospective students and families visiting Louisiana Tech.
“You think about all tours starting at Hale Hall,” McGuirt said. “So now you come straight across, walk through this new building.”
The project additionally includes upgrades to GTM’s longtime auditorium along with construction of a new 80-seat multipurpose venue.
“It’ll be 80 seats and it’s just a multi-use space for the college to use for whatever they see,” McGuirt said.
The renovation was designed by Yeager, Watson and Associates, with Louisiana Tech alumna Stephanie Morse serving among the lead designers. Construction is expected to continue through late 2027, though Henderson said the building could potentially reopen before the beginning of the fall quarter that year.
Even with more than a year of work remaining, Henderson said university leaders already view the project as one of the defining investments in Louisiana Tech’s future.
“We couldn’t be more excited,” Henderson said.
The GTM renovation is just one of several on-campus projects, including construction of the Origin Bank Center for Student Athlete Success and the Forest Products Innovation Center, both of which are set to open sometime this fall.
Rendering of the northwest entrance into George T. Madison Hall.Rendering of the courtyard being enclosed beneath a skylight roof system.
Amending parts of the Lincoln Parish Library’s (LPL) Events Center policies and fees, as well as considering potentially backing off plans to refloor the back room of the library, were primary orders of business as the LPL Board of Control held its May meeting Thursday evening.
Taking reflooring of the back room used for storage and office space out of plans for LPL renovations was discussed and considered, but the Board of Control voted unanimously to keep it in the plans to be used as part of the process of requesting bids for the planned renovations, which will include work on the room’s bathroom, new LED lighting and painting of the room.
LPL Events Center Chair Bill Jones proposed removing plans for new flooring for the back room to potentially lower renovation costs, but the board decided doing that work now while other renovations are being completed was the best move.
The flooring renovations have been estimated at $40,000 to $50,000.
Board member Stephanie Smith was vocal in her feelings about keeping flooring renovations in the plans for the room.
“I think we shouldn’t (remove the back room flooring) do it,” Smith said. “While we have the money and the opportunity, and this will present a chance to clean up back there, resort and resituate and see what other opportunities we could have in that room.
“And even if you kept the doors the same, having the opportunity to use the room more, even for (staff members) to use the room in a better way seems like a better idea. Plus, 20 years of it being walked on is just gross. Even if they don’t use the room much, it’s gross.”
Architect Mike Walpole, LPL Director Jeremy Bolom and Jones have created a four-phase plan for the $500,000 project planned to begin Nov. 2 and hopefully be completed by Feb. 8, 2027.
The edits to Events Center policies were also approved by the LPL Board of Control and read as follows:
• Auditorium — The auditorium (3,010 square feet) is multi-purpose and seats up to 300, with a raised stage-like platform, small backstage area with two dressing rooms and two restrooms, one with a shower. The auditorium can be divided into three smaller rooms, with the first section, the Dubach Room (1,075 square feet), having the platform and a drop-down projection screen with in-ceiling projector. The second section is called the Choudrant Room (946 square feet) and the third section is called the Simsboro Room (989 square feet), each having a drop-down projection screen with portable projector available. Nothing can be adhered to the walls or floors in any fashion. This includes painter’s tape, “command” hooks or strips, etc.
• Grambling Room — This room has a ceramic tile floor and is considered a common area for all events. Only if the entire facility is rented can it be used as additional space. Any setup in the Grambling Room by renters of partial spaces will lead to forfeiture of their deposit. The room is 2,236 square feet and can accommodate 200 people. Nothing can be adhered to the walls or floors in any fashion. This includes painter’s tape, “command” hooks or strips, etc.
• Ruston Room — This room is 5,810 square feet and can hold 600 in a standing reception, 600 theater-style, 340 in classroom style and 400 in banquet seating. There are tack board walls on two sides that can be used to decorate or hang items, but nothing may be adhered to the wall. This includes painter’s tape, “command” hooks or strips, etc.
• Catering Prep — There are two catering prep areas — one on the north side of the facility (adjacent to the Dubach Room) and another on the south side of the facility (behind the Ruston Room). Each is equipped with a commercial refrigerator, ice maker and sink, as well as various counters and multiple receptacles for warming stations. The Events Center also has a commercial convection oven located in the south kitchen and four rolling warming cabinets that can be moved as needed. If available, access to one of these areas and equipment comes standard with all rentals.
• Audiovisual and electronic equipment — Sound, amplification and projection devices are available for an additional charge (specified in the fee schedule). Customers may bring in their own presentation devices, but the library accepts no responsibility or liability regarding the operation, use, care or safety of personally supplied equipment. Laptop and tablet computers are permitted and can be attached to Events Center equipment for presentation purposes. Wireless internet is available at no charge. If possible, the library asks that all compatibility checks for use of personal equipment be done at least three days before events.
Fees for use of the Events Center are based on half-days (five hours) and whole days (8 a.m. to 11 p.m.) and are set for square footage deposits as follows:
• Dubach Room: $300 for a half-day and $600 for a whole day with a $200 deposit required
• Choudrant Room: $250 for a half-day and $500 for a whole day with a $200 deposit
• Simsboro Room: $250 for a half-day and $500 for a whole day with a $200 deposit
• Dubach/Choudrant Room: $500 for a half-day and $900 for a whole day with a $400 deposit
• Choudrant/Simsboro: $450 for a half-day and $800 for a whole day with a $400 deposit
• Auditorium (Dubach, Choudrant and Simsboro rooms combined): $700 for a half-day and $1,200 for a whole day with a $500 deposit required
Included with rental fees are 18-inch-by-5-foot tables, 36-inch-by-8-foot tables, limited availability of 5-foot round tables upon request, chairs and WiFi access.
Ancillary fees per unit are $25 for a projector and screen, $25 for a podium with microphone, $25 for a wireless microphone, $40 for a sound system, $10 for an easel and $20 for a rolling white board.
Rates for required security at events are the current hourly rate per officer as charged by local law enforcement plus a $5-per-hour booking fee.
Drive the back roads of Lincoln Parish and you can still catch glimpses of its agricultural past—an old barn leaning into the wind, a rusting tractor half hidden in the weeds, a stretch of open field where terracing still protects the land from erosion.
But Lincoln Parish has never been like the parishes to the east, where the flat lands of the Delta stretch out in wide, uniform fields of soybeans, sorghum, and cotton. Here, the terrain is more varied, the soil less uniform, and farming has always required a different kind of approach.
Some would argue Lincoln Parish is no longer an agricultural-oriented parish at all.
Granted, Lincoln Parish is not a typical farming community. That landscape is no longer as agriculture does not stand still. From cotton and peanuts to peaches and now poultry and timber, each generation has worked the same land in a different way.
Cotton once ruled Lincoln Parish, as it did most of Louisiana and the South. Farmers grew corn for the livestock, vegetables to feed the family, and cotton for cash. In the early 20th century, cotton covered the landscape, anchoring the local economy and shaping daily life. Mule teams pulled plows through the parish’s red clay soil, and entire families worked from sunup to sundown to bring in a crop.
During World War II when men left to serve their country, Ruston businesses closed early so clerks and storekeepers could go work the cotton to relieve the labor shortage.
Not every acre was planted in cotton. Foreseeing the futility of continuing decades of planting on worn-out soil, farmers tried other crops as well, including peanuts, which for a time became part of the mix. Though never dominant, peanuts reflected a period when growers were searching for alternatives—testing what the soil would support and what the market might reward.
Then came peaches.
For decades, Lincoln Parish became known for its orchards. In the summer months, the harvest brought both activity and identity, eventually giving rise to what is now the Louisiana Peach Festival in Ruston. The festival remains a point of pride, a reminder of a time when peaches were more than a symbol—they were a livelihood.
But peach farming was never easy, and over time, it became harder. Trees require constant attention and must be replanted as they age. A late frost can erase an entire season overnight. In more recent years, growers faced the loss of a commonly used pesticide that controlled a fungus destructive to peach trees. Following its ban by the Environmental Protection Agency, maintaining healthy orchards became a frustrating gesture.
One by one, growers stepped away.
The change can still be seen. The Peach Festival continues, but has been whittled down to a single day from a celebration that once stretched across two weeks. And in a quiet irony, many of the peaches featured each year are shipped in from outside the parish.
As peaches declined, those who work the land adapted again.
Today, poultry houses line rural roads where row crops and orchards once stood. Along with a few beef cattle operations, poultry and timber have become the backbone of agriculture in Lincoln Parish.
Other pieces of the past have faded entirely. Dairy farming, once present in the parish, disappeared by the early 1980s. The milk found in local stores comes from large operations in states like Arizona and California—far removed from the pastures that once existed here.
Farming itself has changed as well. Mechanization and shifting markets have reduced the number of people needed to work the land. What once required entire families—and sometimes entire communities—can now be managed by far fewer hands.
Still, the story of agriculture in Lincoln Parish is not something confined to the past. It is written across the landscape, in fields still worked, in land left fallow, and in the steady evolution of how people make a living from it.
From peanuts and cotton to peaches and now poultry and timber, the crops have changed—but the land remains. And if history is any guide, it will continue to change with whatever comes next.
A man was arrested Monday morning after Grambling Police investigated damage to a political sign on R.W.E. Jones Drive, according to an officer’s report.
Thomas O. Blake, 49, of Shreveport, was arrested around 11:46 a.m. May 18 in the 800 block of R.W.E. Jones Drive.
According to the report, an officer saw a City of Grambling mayoral candidate’s sign had been damaged. The report states someone had used a sharp object to cut the candidate’s name out of the middle of the sign.
Investigators obtained surveillance video from a nearby store, which reportedly showed Blake walk up to the sign, cut it, and walk away.
The reports states officers later made contact with Blake in the same area. After being advised of his rights, Blake reportedly admitted to damaging the sign and stated he was upset over political signs being placed in the area.
According to the report, Blake also stated that if he had known cameras were present, he would not have damaged the sign.
Blake was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for simple criminal damage to property.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
A Ruston man was arrested late Sunday night after deputies conducted a traffic stop on La. Hwy. 33, according to the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Bernard Norman Hollins Jr., 35, was arrested about 11:30 p.m. May 17 after deputies observed a Cadillac SUV make what the report described as an erratic lane change while traveling north on La. 33.
According to the affidavit, deputies conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the vehicle’s occupants. The driver reportedly stated she did not have a driver’s license or proof of insurance for the vehicle.
While speaking with the occupants, deputies detected the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. Hollins, a passenger, told deputies he had marijuana in the vehicle.
Deputies searched the vehicle and reportedly located a plastic baggie containing two separate baggies of suspected marijuana, along with a digital scale. The suspected marijuana weighed approximately 36 grams, according to the affidavit.
Hollins was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for possession of marijuana over 28 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia.
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.
I could never quite get it out of my mind—I wanted to skydive.
When I was younger, part of me—the part that craves adventure, like fast motorcycles and fast cars—kept urging me to stop at that little airstrip in North Carolina I passed so many times. But the other part of me—the husband and father—stayed practical and responsible and usually won out.
Then the kids grew up, retirement came into view, and life was supposed to slow down… right?
Well, yes—except that thought, that curiosity, that persistent tug just wouldn’t go away.
I finally said it out loud.
Me: I want to skydive. Wife: Ha! Me: Wife: Wait… really? Me: Yes. Wife: I wonder if your life insurance would still pay. Me: Does that mean okay? Wife: Whatever.
We were planning a trip to visit friends with a beach house on Ocean Isle Beach in North Carolina in a few months. My phone—which can read my mind—started feeding me skydiving ads. I quickly found Skydive Coastal Carolina. Skydiving at the beach… now that sounded pretty good.
I knew there was a place in Shreveport, but it didn’t offer the same view—the ocean, the coastline. And before Responsible Tim could talk me out of it, I went ahead and booked a jump for the week we’d be there.
When the day arrived, I still wanted to do it. So off to the airport we went. Mary, Jacque, and Celeste came along—Mary because she’s my wife, and our friends, Jacque and Celeste, supposedly, to support and cheer me on. But I had a feeling they were really there to keep Mary company… just in case. Well, you know.
If the folks running the skydive operation were trying to calm my nerves, they might want to rethink their process. I’d scheduled a 10:30 a.m. jump—late enough for a good breakfast, early enough to enjoy the rest of the day.
It quickly became clear I wasn’t going up anytime soon.
I told the girls to go shopping and that I’d text them when I had a better idea of when I might actually jump.
It was hot. After getting checked in, I waited in a hangar with the other jumpers.
It was really hot.
Then I watched the plane land and pick up two people who had been waiting when I arrived.
This was the plane?
Wait… what?
That was not the plane from the website videos.
In those videos, jumpers sat on benches in a large, twin engine, colorful aircraft, casually making their way to a wide door before boldly stepping out into the open sky.
This plane? Not so much.
It was a small tail-dragger—a four-seat, single-engine plane with everything but the pilot’s seat removed. Built for four people, it now held two jumpers and two instructors and a pilot, all crammed in with parachutes. I watched it struggle—yes, struggle—to get off the ground.
Hmmm.
Two things became clear: that was the one and only plane, and it would be at least an hour before it came back.
While I waited, I watched an instructor carefully pack a parachute from an earlier jump. That turned out to be the most reassuring thing I’d seen all day. It was a meticulous, precise process—every fold and line placed just right to ensure it would deploy properly.
I remember thinking, I hope that’s the chute I get.
Nope.
Eventually, my time came, and I was approached by a guy who looked like he knew exactly what he was doing. Good sign. His name was Thomas—he pronounced it “Toe-maas”—and he was from South Africa. He explained the entire process while filming me with a camera strapped to his wrist—for posterity… or possibly insurance purposes in case… you know.
Around this time, I noticed something.
It was HOT.
Not just hot—HOT.
I had sweated through my T-shirt. Droplets ran down my face, arms, and legs. At the same time, my mouth had gone completely dry—like Arizona in August. Drinking water helped for about three seconds.
What’s going on? I’m not nervous. I want to do this.
And why is my stomach feeling funny?
I’m not nervous. I want to do this.
The plane returned, and I gave Mary a quick kiss and waved to Jacque and Celeste. The other jumper and instructor climbed in first. Then Thomas and I squeezed in, struggling to shut the door. I ended up facing backward, staring at the face of an 18-year-old kid who was also jumping.
Last in, first out.
Given how tightly we were packed—and the fact that I was pressed up against the door—I was definitely going to be first.
Two things became immediately clear. The kid crammed in the back of the plane was either extremely nervous or possibly stoned—his mouth hanging open didn’t help me decide which. The other thing I noticed was the pilot.
She was 12.
Our pilot was a blonde girl who might have weighed 87 pounds soaking wet and looked like she’d skipped middle school to be there.
Did I mention it was hot?
As we started rolling, I realized I couldn’t see where we were going—and that bothered me. I like to see where I’m going. The plane smelled funny, a weird mixture of aviation fuel, feet, and sweat. But that was probably me.
I’m not nervous. I want to do this.
As the pilot pushed the throttle forward, the plane rattled and shook its way down the runway. Eventually—after what felt like a very generous definition of “enough speed”—we lifted off.
It was still hot in the plane, and facing backward didn’t help. Then a thought crept in that I did not appreciate at all:
I hope I don’t get sick.
I’m not prone to motion sickness, but the mind is powerful. Before long, I started to feel queasy.
Oh no.
If I throw up, it’s going all over that kid—and that’s definitely more than he paid for.
As we climbed toward 10,000 feet, something finally improved. The air got cooler—much cooler. The breeze coming in around the door helped settle my stomach, though it did nothing for my desert-dry mouth.
Thomas kept filming and asking questions. I tried to respond, but with no saliva to speak of, I probably sounded like a man chewing sand.
Finally, he tapped my shoulder.
Time to go.
He told me to open the door.
I had this image of those folks in the videos—standing up, walking calmly to a wide doorway.
That was not happening here.
We were sitting on the floor of a tiny plane with zero extra space. I realized I was leaning against the door, and opening it might just spill me out.
Still, I opened it.
Air rushed in, Thomas tightened the straps connecting us, and then he yelled in my ear to step outside.
“Step” is generous.
It was more like placing one foot onto a platform about the size of an iPhone—attached to the wheel strut.
Then he said, “Lean forward and fall out of the plane.”
Wait… what?
Oh. Right. That’s the whole point, isn’t it?
So, in one of the boldest—or perhaps most questionable—decisions of my life, I leaned forward and fell.
And just like that, we were tumbling through open air.
As we spun, I caught a glimpse of the plane we had just left. Funny—it looked bigger from the outside.
Then Thomas deployed a small stabilizing chute—that is the “handkerchief-on-a-string thingy”—and we leveled out.
For the next forty seconds, the rest of the world disappeared. It was just me, soaring through the cloud speckled sky.
It was just me, flying over the Carolina coast.
It was incredible.
The freedom, the exhilaration, the view—it all came together in a way I had never experienced before.
Then came a strong tug.
The parachute opened.
My first thought: Aw, no—I want to keep flying.
Followed quickly by: Oh, good—I’m not going to die.
Everything grew quieter as we drifted down. Thomas handed me the control lines and let me steer for a bit. I turned left, then right, enjoying the feeling—until he decided it was time to take back control as the ground approached.
He guided us smoothly back to where we started, landing in the grass beside the hangar. Mary, Jacque, and Celeste were there, waving. Thomas told me to lift my legs, and moments later, we touched down gently, standing upright.
I still hadn’t produced a drop of saliva.
As soon as he unhooked us, Thomas went straight into interview mode with that wrist camera.
What did I think? Was it fun? What was the best part?
I almost said, “The part where I didn’t throw up,” but instead went with, “The freefall—it was amazing.”
Was it fun? Was it worth it?
Absolutely.
Would I do it again?
Yes… but I don’t need to. I do believe that sometimes we all need to do something that wakes us up. Something that immerses us in this thing we call life.
I probably won’t be back to Skydive Coastal Carolina, but my experience was amazing.
I would, however, still like to know if they really have that plane from the videos.
In April 1969, Gaynor Hopkins’s aunt heard her singing in her bedroom and entered her in a local talent competition. She was nervous and excited. The song she chose was the chart topper “Those Were the Days,” made popular by Mary Hopkin. It was the first time the 17-year-old had ever used a real microphone. Gaynor did not win the talent show but came in second place to an accordion player. People at the talent show praised Gaynor for her vocal delivery and sweet voice. The following week, Gaynor saw an advertisement in her local newspaper in which a singer named Bobby Wayne was looking to hire three female backup singers. The ad said, “No experience needed, training [would be] given.” Winning second in the talent show gave Gaynor the confidence to audition. Out of the 34 girls who auditioned, Gaynor was one of the three selected. For two years, she performed with Bobby Wayne and the Dixies. There was a problem. Gaynor Hopkins resembled and sounded like Mary Hopkin, and people often confused the two. Gaynor said she never really liked her name, so she took the opportunity to change it. She adopted her niece’s first name, added a common last name, and became Sherene Davis. She performed under that name with her own band called Imagination.
In 1975, Gaynor was performing with her band at a local hotspot called “The Townsman” which was in a multi-story building. Talent scout Roger Bell went to the building to see Vic Oakley sing, but he went to the wrong floor by mistake. Roger liked what he heard and invited Gaynor to London to record a demo. That demo led to a contract with RCA Records. Gaynor released her first single in 1976, but it was a flop. Her second, “Lost in France,” fared much better, then there was another career setback. After suffering with a sore throat, Gaynor’s doctor said she needed surgery to remove nodules from her vocal cords. In the spring of 1977, her doctor said the operation was a success and her voice would return to normal if she remained completely silent for the six-week recovery period. He instructed her to communicate only by writing. Gaynor, a self-proclaimed chatterbox, tried but failed and strained her voice. Her doctor explained that the damage was irreversible.
Gaynor had years left on her contract with RCA, so they brought her in for another recording session. After singing the first six words of a song in the studio, everyone involved was worried. The sweetness was replaced with a huskiness. RCA released the song as a single in November 1977 only after the song’s producer and songwriters threatened to terminate their contracts with RCA. To RCA’s surprise, the song rose to the top 10 in 20 countries and to the number one spot in 8 of those countries. That song was “It’s a Heartache.” Gaynor had many other hit songs including “Holding Out for a Hero” and “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” When Gaynor signed her contract with RCA, they stipulated that Gaynor change her stage name from Sherene Davis to something that sounded less like a belly dancer. She bought two newspapers from which she listed all the Christian names and surnames. She tried many different combinations until she found one that suited her. You may never have heard the names Gaynor Hopkins or Sherene Davis, but the world knows her as Bonnie Tyler.
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 23 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 9:30 a.m.: Louisiana Tech Graduation for College of Applied and Natural Sciences, Business, and Education and Human Sciences 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.: Board Game Meetup hosted by local experts (Lincoln Parish Library) 10 a.m.: Designing a Small Butterfly Garden by North Central Louisiana Master Gardeners (Lincoln Parish Park Children’s Playground Area) 2:30 p.m.: Louisiana Tech Graduation for College of Engineering, Liberal Arts
Monday, May 25 Memorial Day Library closed 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome 6 p.m.: Toastmasters International meeting (Louisiana Center for the Blind, 101 South Trenton Street) 6-9 p.m.: Creative Meetups (Creatives at Work, 301 N. Trenton)
Tuesday, May 26 6:30 a.m.: Veterans free breakfast (VFW Post 3615, 206 Memorial Dr.) 10 a.m.: Storytime : Turtles (Lincoln Parish Library) 10 a.m.: Re-opening of the tree trail featuring 82 trees displaying tree tags with QR codes that link to tree characteristics, designed by North Central Louisiana Master Gardeners and other individuals (Lincoln Parish Park) 4 p.m.: Crafternoon : Bowl Turtles (Lincoln Parish Library) 6 p.m.: Video-Led Exercise class (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center) 6 p.m.: Adult Craft Night: Folded Book Vases; registration required 318-513-5510 (Lincoln Parish Library)
Wednesday, May 27 7-8 a.m.: Veterans Coffee Club (PJ’s Coffee) 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome 12-1 p.m.: Rotary Club meeting (Historic Fire Station)
Thursday, May 28 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Kiwanis Club lunch and program (Trinity Methodist Church fellowship hall) 6 p.m.: Southern A’Chord Chorus rehearsal (Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 212 N. Bonner St.; open to all women singers) 6 p.m.: Tween Time : Rat Maze Activity (Lincoln Parish Library) 6 p.m.: Teen Time : Play Card Baskets (Lincoln Parish Library)
Saturday, May 30 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 2-4 p.m. Summer Reading Kickoff with Snake ID, Dat Does the Trick balloons, and Kona Ice (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox.Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
Louisiana Tech will conclude its 2026 season in the Conference USA Baseball Championship on Friday morning when the Bulldogs face Liberty at Mickey Dunn Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia.
First pitch is scheduled for 8 a.m. CT as the Diamond ’Dogs (33-24) look to bounce back after a heartbreaking 14-13 loss to Sam Houston in Wednesday’s tournament opener.
Regardless of the outcome of today’s game, the Bulldogs will not advance to the semifinals of the nine-team tournament after Missouri State defeated Kennesaw State Thursday night.
The loss dropped Tech to 18-18 all-time in CUSA Championship games since joining the league in 2014.
Liberty (39-18) opened tournament play Thursday with a 10-4 victory over Sam Houston. The Flames used four-run innings in both the sixth and ninth frames, fueled by three-run home runs in each inning, to secure the win.
Liberty — based on being the highest seed in the three-team pod — has already clinched a spot in the semifinals, regardless of the outcome of today’s game.
Louisiana Tech also saw pitcher Declan Dahl reach a milestone during Wednesday’s opener. Dahl became the ninth pitcher in program history to record 100 strikeouts in a season and the first Bulldog to reach the mark in fewer than 90 innings pitched. His 102 strikeouts rank eighth on the program’s single-season list.
Wednesday’s opener marked the highest-scoring postseason game involving Louisiana Tech since the Bulldogs and Dallas Baptist combined for 27 runs in the 2024 CUSA Championship game in Ruston. The 13 runs scored by Tech were its most in a postseason game since a 13-8 win over Charlotte on May 24, 2023, in Houston.
The Bulldogs won their regular-season series against Liberty earlier this month in Lynchburg, taking the first two games before falling 3-2 in the finale. Louisiana Tech did not trail during the first 19 innings of that series.
Louisiana Tech Tennis added three accomplished student-athletes to its 2026-27 roster as head coach Amy Sargeant announced Wednesday the signings of Manal Ennaciri, Carolina Correia, and Natalia Trigosso.
Ennaciri arrives in Ruston after spending three seasons at the University of South Alabama, while Correia joins the Bulldogs from Braga, Portugal, and Trigosso transfers to Louisiana Tech following two seasons at the University of Nebraska.
A native of Mohammedia, Morocco, Ennaciri joins LA Tech as a senior after helping South Alabama compile a 41-18 overall team record during her three seasons with the Jaguars. USA appeared in the ITA national team rankings each year, climbing as high as No. 41 nationally during the 2025 campaign.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome Manal to Louisiana Tech Tennis,” said Sargeant. “She brings a wealth of experience, relentless tenacity, and a true passion for both the team and the game. Her competitive spirit, work ethic, and drive to elevate those around her make her a perfect fit for our culture. We cannot wait to see the impact she will have on our program and are thrilled to have her join the Bulldog family.”
Ennaciri totaled 71 combined victories across singles and doubles play during her collegiate career. This past season, she recorded 16 singles wins, including a 7-7 dual match mark while primarily competing at the No. 2 position. She earned notable victories over Tulane and Texas State while also advancing to the ITA Southern Regional quarterfinals during fall competition following a five-match winning streak.
“I chose Louisiana Tech because of the people, the culture, and the vision coach Sargeant has built,” said Ennaciri. “Knowing the way this program develops its players and the standard the team holds itself to, I knew this was the place to take the next step in my career. So excited to be a Bulldog!”
Ennaciri also excelled in doubles play, posting 14 wins this past season and an 8-6 dual record primarily at the No. 1 position. Prior to her collegiate career, she represented Morocco twice in Billie Jean King Cup competition and owns a career-high UTR rating of 9.28.
Correia joins the Bulldogs as a freshman after competing extensively on the international junior circuit in Portugal while representing Clube Tenis de Braga. A product of Escola Secundaria Alberto Sampaio, she has shown significant development over the past year, improving her UTR rating by nearly two points.
Among her recent accomplishments, Correia collected three singles victories in the 100 Lousada main draw and advanced to the quarterfinals at the J30 Fes tournament.
“We are thrilled to officially welcome Carolina to Louisiana Tech Tennis,” said Sargeant. “She brings tremendous talent, passion, and potential to our program, and we could not be more excited for her to begin her journey in Ruston. We truly believe her best tennis is ahead of her, and we cannot wait to watch her grow, develop, and fulfill the incredible potential she possesses both on and off the court.”
Correia said she chose Louisiana Tech because “It was the best place for me to grow both as an athlete and as a person. The program, the coaching staff, and the opportunity to compete at a high level made my decision easy. I am excited to represent the university and help the team achieve great success.”
Trigosso heads to Ruston after two seasons at Nebraska, where she helped the Cornhuskers maintain a national top 50 ranking during the 2025-26 season. A native of La Paz, Bolivia, she will join the Bulldogs as a junior with extensive experience competing against high-level collegiate competition.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome Natalia to our LA Tech Tennis family,” said Sargeant. “She brings a level of experience, passion, and work ethic that immediately stood out throughout the recruiting process. She competes with great intensity and carries herself with the kind of determination and love for the game that fits perfectly with our program culture. We believe she has tremendous potential, and I am excited to watch her continue to develop and make an impact both on and off the court.”
During her time at Nebraska, she totaled 33 combined victories in singles and doubles competition. This past season, she posted a 9-3 overall singles record, including a perfect 5-0 mark in dual matches while competing at the No. 5 and No. 6 positions. She also earned victories over Memphis, Minnesota, and Arkansas during the ITA Fall Regionals.
In doubles play, Trigosso compiled a 14-6 dual record and advanced to the ITA Regional Round of 16 following victories over Kansas State and Iowa State. She also recorded notable doubles wins over Big Ten opponents Penn State, Indiana, Purdue, Oregon, and Washington.
“I chose Louisiana Tech because it is the perfect place for me to continue developing as both a person and an athlete,” said Trigosso.
Prior to her collegiate career, Trigosso represented Team Bolivia twice in Billie Jean King Cup junior competition. She reached a career-best ITF singles ranking of No. 124 and owns a career-high UTR rating of 9.44.
Ennaciri, Correia, and Trigosso join recent signee Lucia Gallegos as members of LA Tech’s 2026-27 recruiting class.
Grambling State’s late rally came up one run short Thursday afternoon as the Tigers saw their season end with a 7-6 loss to Bethune-Cookman in an elimination game of the 2026 Southwestern Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament at historic Rickwood Field.
Grambling State finished the season 21-32 overall after battling back from a five-run deficit and bringing the tying run to the plate in the ninth inning.
The Tigers grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Dillon Braxton and Trey Bridges opened the game with consecutive singles before Aidan Lopez moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Charles Ashe III then drove in Braxton with a groundout to give GSU the advantage.
Bethune-Cookman answered in the second inning when Jose Fernandez blasted a solo home run to right field, tying the game at 1-1.
The Wildcats seized control in the third inning, scoring five runs on five hits. Maikol Lucena delivered an RBI single before Erick Almonte launched a three-run homer to right field to push the lead to 6-1.
Grambling State began chipping away in the fifth inning. Martavius Thomas reached after being hit by a pitch and later scored on a fielder’s choice by Braxton, trimming the deficit to 6-2.
Bethune-Cookman added what proved to be the decisive run in the bottom half of the inning when Michael Rodriguez scored on an infield throwing error to extend the Wildcats’ lead to 7-2.
The Tigers mounted their comeback in the eighth inning.
Braxton led off the frame with a double before Bridges singled to place runners on the corners. A wild pitch allowed Braxton to score and cut the deficit to 7-3. Ashe followed with a single to load the bases before Cameron Hill drew a bases-loaded walk. Chris Marcellus later added an RBI walk and Thomas lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, pulling Grambling State within 7-6.
The Tigers, however, were unable to complete the comeback as Pablo Torres retired Grambling State in order in the ninth inning to secure the save.
Bridges led the Tigers offensively, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a walk. Hill added two hits while Ashe finished with a hit and two RBIs. Braxton scored twice and collected two hits.
Trevor Esparza (4-3) suffered the loss after allowing six runs in three innings. Rafael Capistran and Payton Allen combined to hold Bethune-Cookman scoreless over the final five innings.
In order for our Lincoln Parish Journal staff to spend time with family and friends this holiday weekend, we will not have our usual Monday publication.
However, our Tuesday publication will arrive in your inbox at its regular time at 6:55 a.m.
Remember, if you’re not currently subscribed to receive our email five days a week, please sign up by clicking HERE. The Lincoln Parish Journal always publishes free news articles, and they will always be free.
Carolyn Ruth Byrd Barnes December 2, 1939 – May 18, 2026 Visitation: Friday, May 22, 2026, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Service: Friday, May 22, 2026, 10:00 AM, Owens Memorial Chapel
Frances Harrison Visitation: 9 a.m. Monday, May 25, 2026, at St. Rest Baptist Church, Hwy 146 near Dubach, La. Service: 10 a.m., Monday, May 25, 2026, at St. Rest Baptist Church, Hwy 146 near Dubach, La. Burial: Saint Rest Cemetery
Dianne Wilson Tuesday 11/08/1949 — Friday 05/15/2026 Visitation: Friday 05/22/2026 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Celebration of Life: Saturday 05/23/2026 11:00am, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, 446 Bowden Road, Ruston (Clay) Interment: Saturday 05/23/2026, Pleasant Grove Cemetery, 446 Bowden Road, Ruston (Clay)
William (Billy) Rich September 28, 1942 – May 18, 2026 Visitation: Saturday, May 23, 2026, 1:00PM – 2:00PM, Temple Baptist Church Chapel, 1515 South Service Rd West, Ruston Service: Saturday, May 23, 2026, 2:00PM, Temple Baptist Church Chapel, 1515 South Service Rd West, Ruston Final Resting Place: Lisbon Methodist Cemetery
Louisiana Tech University’s Dr. Abdur Rahman received a two-year, $185,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) award to develop artificial intelligence systems that can identify problems in critical infrastructure such as power grids, water networks, manufacturing facilities, and transportation systems.
The award marks an early research milestone for Rahman, who is completing his first year as assistant professor in the College of Engineering and Science (COES) Industrial Engineering program.
The project, titled ERI: Flexible, Adaptive, and Explainable Anomaly Detection under Distribution Shift in Multivariate Time Series, focuses on developing AI models that can adapt as real-world conditions change while providing clear explanations for their decisions in complex sensor-based systems. Rahman’s research addresses a major challenge in AI known as “distribution shift,” where systems trained under one set of conditions struggle to remain accurate as environments evolve over time.
“AI models often perform very well in controlled environments, but real-world systems constantly change,” Rahman said. “Equipment ages, operating conditions shift, and environmental factors vary. Our goal is to develop AI systems that can adapt to those changes while remaining reliable and transparent for the people who depend on them.”
Anomaly detection identifies unusual patterns that may signal equipment failures, safety concerns, cyberattacks, or operational problems. Early detection can help prevent costly downtime, reduce safety risks, and stop small issues from becoming major failures. Rahman’s approach emphasizes flexibility, adaptability, and explainability.
“Explainability is essential when AI is being used in systems people rely on every day,” Rahman said. “Operators need to understand not only that an alert was triggered but also why it was triggered, so they can make informed decisions quickly and confidently.”
COES Dean Collin Wick said the project supports both infrastructure resilience and student development.
“Dr. Rahman’s research addresses challenges that directly affect the safety, reliability, and resilience of critical infrastructure while creating meaningful opportunities for student involvement and workforce development,” Wick said. “This award marks the second grant received this month by a first-year COES faculty member, reflecting the college’s continued investment in recruiting high-impact faculty and researchers by expanding its growing research enterprise.”
The funding will support graduate and undergraduate researchers at Louisiana Tech, providing hands-on experience in machine learning, reinforcement learning, explainable AI, industrial analytics, and time-series analysis. Students will contribute to software development, publications, and applied research initiatives that prepare them for careers in AI and engineering.
“In the long term, I hope this work contributes to AI systems that are more robust, transparent, and practical for engineers and operators responsible for critical infrastructure and public safety,” Rahman said.
The project also aligns with broader COES investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure, including a new AI laboratory under construction in Nethken Hall that will provide students and faculty access to 15 NVIDIA Spark workstations for research, instruction, and collaboration beginning in Fall 2026.
About Louisiana Tech’s College of Engineering and Science:
The College of Engineering and Science’s mission is to create the best dynamic and supportive educational environment that produces the highest caliber and most sought-after graduates in the region with interdisciplinary research and scholarship that has a transformative impact.
An 37-year-old woman was arrested Friday afternoon after officers responded to an unwanted person complaint at a Ruston business, according to the Ruston Police Department.
Crystal King, of Oklahoma City, Okla., was arrested about 3:11 p.m. May 15 at a convenience store on the South Service Road.
According to the affidavit, officers responded to the location after management reported an unwanted person on the property. Store management told officers King had previously been told she was not allowed on the property following an earlier incident.
Management told officers King had returned to the store and requested she be banned from the property.
After speaking with management, officers told King she was banned from the business and not to return. According to the affidavit, King acknowledged she understood the instruction.
A short time later, officers observed King return to the business. She was arrested and booked on a charge of criminal trespass.
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.
Grambling State University students once again proved themselves among the nation’s best in applied data science, capturing the top prize and multiple top finishes at the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth x Atlanta University Center Data Science Initiative 2026 Data Challenge.
In a field of more than 100 student teams representing 25 colleges and universities, Grambling State stood apart with five teams advancing to the finals—more than any other institution—and three teams finishing among the competition’s top six.
The finals were held April 30–May 2, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia.
This year’s challenge, themed “Healthy Economies, Healthy Communities,” asked students to explore how inclusive economic conditions shape healthcare access and how small businesses can help improve outcomes in under-resourced communities. Grambling State’s students rose to the occasion with data-driven, solutions-focused work that earned national recognition.
Leading the way was Team Data4Access—Aaron Paddy, Michael Adofo, and Enoch Owusu Ansah—which earned 1st Place and $15,000 in prize money.
Two additional Grambling State teams also secured top honors:
Team Data Drive — David Nintang, Holy Agyei, and Iminabo Roberts — 3rd Place ($5,800)
Team Access Terrain — Christotes Nartey-Tetteh and Richmond Azadze — 3rd Place ($5,800)
Other Grambling State finalist teams included:
DataRX — Nonso Duaka, Joshua Udo, Favour Aina, and Samuel Torto
The JEM Lab — Jason Chimdinma Jason, Eniola Farinde, and Mofetoluwa Akinkoye
In total, more than $50,000 in prize money was awarded across six winning teams in the competition, including one first-place team, two second-place teams, and three third-place teams.
“This achievement reflects the talent, preparation, and determination of our students, who represented disciplines across the arts, engineering, science, and business,” said Dr. Derrick V. Warren, Dean of the Thomas & Joyce Moorehead College of Business and Entrepreneurship. “To repeat as champions on a national stage, and to have more teams in the finals than any other university, speaks volumes about the culture of excellence we are building at Grambling State. Our students are not just competing—they are developing solutions that matter.”
Grambling State’s finalist teams were coached by Entrepreneur-in-Residence Kimberly Penn, Dr. Basidi Dembele, Dr. Mir Ali, Dr. Olatunde Ogunyemi, and Dean Derrick Warren.
The 2026 championship builds on Grambling State’s strong performance in 2025, when the university also earned first- and third-place honors in the competition. Together, those back-to-back wins underscore the university’s growing leadership in applied data science and its commitment to preparing students to solve real-world problems through innovation, collaboration, and analytical rigor.
All finalist teams received an all-expenses-paid trip to Atlanta, where they presented their work before industry leaders and national stakeholders.
For Grambling State, the results represent more than a competition victory. They reflect the continued emergence of student talent prepared to lead in data, business, technology, and community-centered innovation—on campus, across the region, and on a national stage.
Our “Annual Plant Sale” is the biggest and only fundraiser we put on each year. The sale was held on Saturday, April 25th, typically a 5-hour sale, and this year, with remaining plants, we held a “Second Chance Plant Sale” at the Ruston Farmers Market the following Saturday, May 2. The most common question we get asked at our Plant Sales is “what do you do with the funds y’all raise?” (The next most common question is “will this plant grow for me?”)
While fundraising from our plant sale gives us working capital, we have found that by leveraging our fundraising dollars with the use of our volunteer’s time and energy, we provide great value for our community.
I asked Kylie Bass, our LSU AgCenter Horticulture Agent for Lincoln and Bienville Parishes, if she could give me a breakdown of the number of volunteer hours we spend in the community. In 2025, our North Central Louisiana Master Gardeners was the 8th largest group in the state. We amassed over 3,300 hours and over $94,000 worth of volunteer value. LSU AgCenter figures we reached over 62,000 persons through all our activities. Our biggest contribution to our community is our volunteers.
Here are some of what the North Central Master Gardeners do:
Since we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit, educational and volunteer-oriented organization, our emphasis is on providing educational opportunities for our members and for our community.
A portion of the funds raised goes toward purchasing seeds, plants, and supplies (potting soil and pots) for next year. We are so fortunate to have a close working partnership with the Louisiana Tech University Horticulture Greenhouses. We can grow the plants ourselves because they provide a space for us to start seeds and grow our plants. We teach our members about all aspects of growing plants at the greenhouse. Volunteers spend many hours each week during the winter and early spring starting seeds, transplanting, watering, and learning about the plants we are growing. It is such a unique opportunity!
We have several projects all over Ruston that showcase plants and are maintained with our volunteer force:
The Butterfly Garden at the intersection of North Vienna Street and East Georgia Street with seasonal flowers and the butterfly pavilion.
The sign garden at the Lincoln Parish Police Jury building on Homer Street.
The Butterfly Garden and the Xeriscape Garden at Lincoln Parish Park.
We collect pots at our sheds at the Police Jury parking lot so they can be recycled and re-used.
The Tree Trail at Lincoln Parish Park has been refurbished this past year with new signs and QR codes which allow users of the trail to get information about trees along the trail. The Tree Trail was originally a project of the Master Gardeners 10 years ago and the new mountain bike trails at the Park provided us with an opportunity to expand the Tree Trail. Our volunteers worked with community organizations to identify trees and utilize new technology. There are also many opportunities for teachers and students to explore the Tree Trail.
Our monthly seminars at the Lincoln Parish Library offer the community and our members a chance to learn more about a variety of topics. This month the seminar will move to the Lincoln Parish Park, Children’s Playground Area, on Saturday, May 23 at 10:00 am so participants can see how to design a small butterfly garden.
The Ruston Farmers Market is another teaching/learning environment where Master Gardeners spend one Saturday a month on a timely topic. On June 13, the topic will be Maximizing the Use of Fertilizers.
Scholarships are another big emphasis for use of our funds.
We provided 2 major scholarships to 2 Louisiana Tech students this spring.
4-H holds a camp each summer and we have provided scholarship assistance for numerous students for this upcoming summer.
If you are interested in becoming a Master Gardener and volunteering with us, a new 11-week Master Gardener class is forming and will begin on June 30. Contact Kyleigh Bass, Lincoln and Bienville Parishes Horticulture Agent at KyleighBass@agcenter.lsu.edu or the Lincoln Parish Extension Office at (318) 251-5134. Deadline for class sign-up is May 28.
If you have gardening questions, please send them to us at NCLAMasterGardener@gmail.com and we will do our best to answer your questions. We will continue to provide “snippets” of information, and you can also visit our Facebook page (North Central Louisiana Master Gardeners) for information about gardening and our upcoming events. Until next time – Happy Gardening!
A man was arrested early Monday morning following a suspicious person complaint on Null Road, according to the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Christopher D. Thomas, 46, of Simsboro, was arrested around 1 a.m. May 18 after deputies responded to a residence regarding a suspicious person.
According to an arrest affidavit, a homeowner provided deputies with Ring doorbell images of a man she said had been banging on her door and attempting to enter the residence.
While speaking with the homeowner, deputies received another dispatch reporting a man lying in the roadway nearby. Deputies located the individual on Mondy Road and identified him as Thomas.
Thomas appeared intoxicated and disoriented at the time deputies found him. He was booked for criminal mischief and disturbing the peace by intoxication in public.
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.
