The Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested a local woman after an investigation of cruelty to her children led to the discovery of 34 animals living in the home.
Darci Freligh Boyd, 41, was arrested after deputies accompanied personnel from the Department of Children and Family Services to a residence in the 4900 block of La. Highway 371 north of Ringgold regarding child welfare concerns.
Boyd, the mother of three juvenile children who were the subject of DCFS concerns, was located at the home. According to the Sheriff’s Office, DCFS made arrangements with family members to take custody of the children as they appeared to be victims of cruelty by Ms. Boyd.
BPSO also discovered the home was being used as an animal rescue for 27 dogs and seven cats, all being housed throughout the interior of the home and in a fenced area behind the home. Living conditions for the family as well as the animals were deplorable.
According to BPSO, Boyd claimed ownership of 10 dogs and the cats but said the remaining animals were being housed under the name of Hope Angel Rescue.
Boyd was charged with cruelty to juveniles and aggravated cruelty to animals. Bail was set at $20,000.
The animals were removed from the home and into the custody of Animal Rescue Corps from Tennessee and Animal Rescue New Orleans as well as volunteers from Texas. All animals are being examined by veterinarian Dr. Randy Clemons and vaccinated to allow out of state transportation. Boyd relinquished ownership of the animals in question to allow removal.
This rescue effort was arranged through officials from Dixon Correctional Institute which is a state penal facility north of Baton Rouge. The Sheriff’s Office thanked all who made the rescue a success.
A man who allegedly beat a woman who refused to have sex with him has been charged with forcible rape and false imprisonment.
The Grambling Police Department arrested Terria H. Harris, 67, of Grambling, about 6:30 a.m. last Sunday at an apartment on Ellis Washington Street.
According to an officer’s report, the incident began about 1:45 a.m. Sunday morning when Harris became upset with a female companion after she refused to have sex with him.
Harris punched the woman, dragged her into a bathroom, and forced her clothes off. He then supposedly hit the woman until she was defenseless and raped her, according to the arresting officer’s report.
Afterward, Harris allegedly refused to let the woman leave the house, blocking the door several times. Around 4:20 a.m., she escaped and walked to the Grambling Police station. Harris was arrested a few hours later.
Officers observed physical injuries to the woman’s face. She was taken to Northern Louisiana Medical Center for treatment.
Harris was booked into the Lincoln Parish Detention Center. His bail was set at $100,000.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox.Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
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.
Monday, June 16 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome 4 p.m.: Story hour at Lincoln Parish Library (Events Center) 5:30 p.m.: Ruston City 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, June 17 10 a.m.: Family storytime at Lincoln Parish Library (Events Center) 2 p.m.: Wildlife and Fisheries: Baby Alligators (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center) 4 p.m.: Photo comic club for teens (Lincoln Parish Library Community Room) 6 p.m.: Fitness class (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
Wednesday, June 18 7-8 a.m.: Veterans Coffee Club (PJ’s Coffee) 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome
Thursday, June 19 Juneteenth 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)
Friday, June 20 10:30 a.m.: Mic drop on culture Juneteenth performance (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
Saturday, June 21 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 9 a.m.: Fighting Gaming Community (Lincoln Parish Library Jack Beard Community Room)
Monday, June 23 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome 4 p.m.: Story hour at Lincoln Parish Library (Events Center) 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, June 24 10 a.m.: Family storytime at Lincoln Parish Library (Events Center) 2 p.m.: Crafternoon at Lincoln Parish Library Community Room (Ages 5 and up) 4 p.m.: Watercolor art class for teens (Lincoln Parish Library Community Room) 6 p.m.: Adult Craft Night (Lincoln Parish Library; must register by calling 318-513-5510) 6 p.m.: Fitness class (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center) 7 p.m. Temple Patriotic Program (Howard Auditorium, Louisiana Tech)
Wednesday, June 25 7-8 a.m.: Veterans Coffee Club (PJ’s Coffee) 11 a.m.: Technology Help Hour (Lincoln Parish Library George Byrnside Conference Room) 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome
Thursday, June 26 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Kiwanis Club lunch and program (Trinity Methodist Church fellowship hall) 2 p.m.: Tween Time at Lincoln Parish Library Community Room (Ages 9 and up) 4 p.m.: 4-H Nutrition Class for teens (Lincoln Parish Library Community Room) 6 p.m.: Southern A’Chord Chorus rehearsal (Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 212 N. Bonner St.; open to all women singers) 6 p.m.: Yoga at Lincoln Parish Library Events Center 7 p.m.: Ruston Community Theatre presents “Singing in the Rain Jr.” (Dixie Theatre)
Friday, June 27 10 a.m.: Therapy Dog storytime special (Lincoln Parish Library Community Room) 7 p.m.: Ruston Community Theatre presents “Singing in the Rain Jr.” (Dixie Theatre)
Saturday, June 28 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 3-5 p.m.: Puzzle swap (Lincoln Parish Library Community Room) 7 p.m.: Ruston Community Theatre presents “Singing in the Rain Jr.” (Dixie Theatre)
Sunday, June 29 2 p.m.: Ruston Community Theatre presents “Singing in the Rain Jr.” (Dixie Theatre)
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 Softball’s Alannah Rogers was one of eight student-athletes that received the Conference USA Spring Spirit of Service Award, announced by the league office on Tuesday.
The award honors student-athletes with significant community service endeavors, good academic standing, and participation in their respective sport.
The junior right field saw action in 54 games for the Bulldogs this season with 52 starts in right field. She registered 36 hits, seven doubles, three triples, 22 runs scored and 15 RBI. Rogers drew 26 walks and stole seven bases. Rogers logged nine multi-hit games including a three hit, three run performance against ULM on Feb. 15.
The Surprise, Arizona, native carries a 3.46 GPA while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and dietetics. In the classroom she is a three-time Conference USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll, and a one-time NFCA Scholar-Athlete.
Rogers has participated in numerous community service projects including the Food Pantry, Dog Haul events, Christmas Shopping events and the Puerto Vallarta Elementary School event.
She is the seventh Bulldog softball player to earn this honor, joining Janine Godwin (2014), Kristen Miles (2015), Natalie Moran (2016), Morgan Turkoly (2018), Lindsay Edwards (2021) and Emma Hutchinson (2022).
Louisiana Tech Bowling head coach Matt Nantais announced the signing of Juliana Kerrigan, a transfer from Stephen F. Austin.
Kerrigan, a native of Ashland, Virginia, has spent the last two seasons with the Ladyjacks, earning All-American honors in each of her seasons.
“I’m excited to welcome someone with Juliana’s experience and talent to our team,” said Nantais. “She played a significant role in the success of the SFA program, and I’m confident she’ll make an immediate impact here. In the ever-changing world of athletics, it’s crucial to adapt quickly-and we feel fortunate to have been able to bring Juliana on board.”
Kerrigan helped lead SFA to a 70-41 record with a trip to the Arlington Regional Championship match. The Ladyjacks finished with a 58-47 record during her freshman campaign.
This past season, she ranked as the 48th best bowler in the nation as determined by the National Tenpin Coaches Association’s Player Composite Performance Index. She had an overall average of 20.1 per frame and a traditional average of 20.6 per frame. Her first ball nine or better percentage of 79.5 ranked eighth in the country.
Kerrigan earned the National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association All-American honorable mention this past season after earning the National Tenpin Coaches Association All-American honorable mention and All-Rookie first team during her freshman campaign.
Dr. Mike Cage May 8, 1936 – June 12, 2025 Visitation: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – Monroe, Monday, June 16, 2025, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm Service: St Paul’s United Methodist Church, Tuesday, June 17, 2025, 11:00 am
Windle Gorden April 19, 1931 – June 11, 2025 Visitation: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – West Monroe, Tuesday, June 17, 2025, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Service: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – West Monroe, Tuesday, June 17, 2025, 12:00 pm Cemetery: NELA Veteran’s Cemetery, Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Neal Stuart Mathis August 26, 1958 – June 11, 2025 Service: Private, Saturday, June 21, 2025
Choudrant resident Sam Burns walks off the green after a back-nine birdie Thursday at the U.S. Open.
OAKMONT, Pa. – Choudrant resident Sam Burns had a spectacular, and frustrating, opening round Thursday as the U.S. Open golf championship began.
Burns quickly surged into contention for the lead on both nines, but struggled home each time. Reaching 3-under par on the front and back sides, he bogeyed five holes and carded a double bogey on the par-3 16th in a topsy-turvy round that had him as high as second place before he finished tied for 33rd with a two-over par 72 at fabled Oakmont Country Club.
The Shreveport native and former two-time LSU All-American birdied the brutal opening hole and added another 3 on a pitch shot to birdie the par-4 third, then added a birdie on No. 5 to get to 3-under for the first time. But bogeys on the eighth and ninth slowed him, although he remained in the top 10. Burns, who plays out of Squire Creek Country Club, birdied the par-5 12th and added another bird on the par-4 14th to again move to the brink of the tournament lead (4-under by J.J. Spaun, who played in the morning while Burns went around in the afternoon).
But the taxing layout took a toll coming in. After a bogey at 15 came the double bogey on 16 and closing 5s for bogeys on 17 and 18.
Burns’ five birdies were second-best in the field of 156 players. It will be reduced to the top 60 and ties after today’s second round.
Burns’ threesome has an early morning tee time today. Nico Echavarria, Denny McCarthy and Burns go off the 10th hole at 6:29 CDT.
Live coverage from Oakmont begins on Peacock at 5:30 a.m. CDT with NBC covering the tournament from noon-6 p.m. with Peacock back from 6-7 p.m., and post-play coverage on Golf Channel.
Weekend coverage will begin on USA Network and then move to NBC.
Courtesy of Louisiana Tech University Communications
Louisiana Tech University has announced its 2025 Spring Quarter president’s and dean’s honor lists.
Students whose names are followed by an asterisk earned recognition as members of the president’s honor list. That distinction signifies achievement of at least a 3.8 academic grade point average on a minimum of nine semester hours completed (100-level or higher), with no grade lower than a B.
To be eligible for the dean’s honor lists, a student is required to earn at least a 3.5 academic grade point average with no grade lower than a C on a minimum of nine semester hours completed (100-level or higher).
Courses yielding satisfactory/failure grades and courses audited do not count toward eligibility for either recognition. Only undergraduates with no incomplete grades are eligible.
Honor students are listed below by the hometown they have entered in their Workday Student profile, with all Louisiana students listed first by parish.
Below is the list of Lincoln Parish honor students. For the entire list, CLICK HERE.
Lincoln Parish Honor Students
Choudrant: Ella Barr*, Bryton Breeding*, Joshua Gilmore*, Penelope Hennigan*, Mattie Johnson*, Heather Murphey, Blair O’Blanc*, Virginia Ramsey, Richard Starks, Lachlan Thompson, Trevor Trevillion*, Matthew Watson
Dubach: Roy Bennett, Roselyn Bennett*, Atlis Britt, William Byrd, Ashlei Cahill-French*, Anna Colvin, Isaiah St Cyr*, Madeline Davis*, Caden French, Jessica Gean*, Davis Holmes*, Andrew Maestrini*, Emma Pearce, Mia Rabb, Kelsey Reed-Dison, Adyson Roberson, Aaron Sherman, Haydn Shoemaker*, Haylee Shoemaker, Kimberly Tumey*, Kenan Withers
Grambling: Joshua Hurlston*, Ty’Lan Worrall*
Ruston: Razan Abdelhamid, Georgia Albritton*, Garrett Aldridge, Chloe Alexander, Kinzley Allen*, Jed Allen*, David Allen*, Isabelle St Amant*, Maggie Ambrose*, Landon Amidon*, Gabriel Amorello, Preslea St Andre*, David Andres, Haylee Applewhite, Katelynn Arnold, Catherine Bain, James Barnett, Kate Barron, Zane Bayless*, Brilanne Bays, Maygoal Behbahani*, Emma Bell*, Abby Benton, Amanda Berg*, Andrew Black, Brayden Bockler*, Caitlyn Boudreaux*, Grant Bowling, Madison Bratton*, Donovan Breeding, Ashtyn Brittian, Sadie Brown, Aubrie Brown*, Caitlin Brownfield*, Isabelle Burns, Brady Burns, Cade Calcote, Anna Caldwell*, Illias Calzada, Alexia Castillo, Lindey Castine*, Alexis Chavez, Lucy Clement, Caleb Collins, Robert Collinsworth*, Madison Colvin, Bethany Colvin*, Trinity Conant, Bonnie Cooper*, Catherine Cooper, Catherine Cox, Kaylee Craddock*, Olivia Creager*, Caroline Cresap, Bankston Darland-Huckaby, Matthew Daulton*, Seth Davenport, Kennedi David, Alexis Davis, Brooks Davis*, Camila Derosa, Bailee Deshotel*, Madison Dicarlo*, Wesley Dinh, Lauren Dodds*, Rylee Dynge, Ethan Ennis, William Estes, Alyssa Ewing, Tate Farrar, Felicity Faust*, Lesleigh Faz, Emily Floyd*, Noah Forester*, Philip Forsyth, David Foster*, Emma Frechette*, Shelby Freeman, Stephenie Fuller, Hillarie Gallien*, Tess Gardner, Yendri Alvarado Garro, Paul Gaudet, Carter Gay, Ryleigh Geis*, Gabrieal Gibson*, Kieran Gilpin*, Darbi Gonsoulin, Elizabeth Goree*, Walker Gray*, Mackenzie Gray*, Lily Gregory*, Michaela Griffith, Austin Guillory*, Joseph Gulledge*, Max Hamlin, Andrew Hancock, Grace Harrington, Paige Harris, Ian Harris*, Raegan Harrold*, Elizabeth Hastings*, Madeline Hatten, Audrey Hennigan*, William Herbert*, Layla Hill*, Jack Himel*, Lyndsay Hogg*, Alice Holland, Jacob Hollis, Brooke Houdashelt, Zane Houston*, Brianna Hudson, Logan Hughes, Karlyn Ivy*, Brooke Jackson*, Ava James*, Dylan Johnson, Ginger Johnson*, Riley Jones, Annie Jones, Jordan Jones*, Jacob Jones, Joshua Kaffka, Nikolai Karpovs*, Collin Kyle, Ava Lacour*, Katelyn Lacy, Jack Lanam*, Rileigh Langston, Adriana Acevedo Larios, Valerie Lay, Ethan Le*, Whitney Leblanc*, Caiden Ledet*, Hojun Lee*, Karen Lewis, Xavier Lewis, John Littleton, Connor Lockwood, Cole Magee*, Cindy Mai*, Andy Mai, Mykel Manuel, Abigail Martin, Macie May, Nathaniel Mayfield, Jadon Mayfield, Daniel Mayfield, Aurora Mccain, Morgan Mccready*, Mckenzie Mcfadden*, Ethan Mcgee, Colin Mcginity, Jackson Mckinney*, Hannah Mcpherson, Keaton Meese*, Kaitlyn Middleton*, Ethan Miller, Cooper Miller, Jaden Mitchell*, Kayleigh Mizzell*, Jackson Mock*, Ashtyne Monceaux*, Anamaria Montes, Adrienne Montgomery, Taylor Moore, Emma Moore*, Landon Moore, Clayton Morganthall*, Andie Moss*, Ryan Mulkey, Sashnia Murray, Brandon Ngo, Khai Tran Nguyen*, Connor Norris*, Rylie Nutt*, Alexis Odenbaugh, Hannah Ogden*, Joshua Ogden*, Norma Olinde, Sophia Parkman, Laina Parkman, Emmaline Parks*, Parker Perez*, Diana Ventura Perez*, Garrison Perry*, John Peshoff, Caleb St Pierre, Kristopher Pleasant, Vada Porter*, Micah Pruitt*, Sophia Puljak*, Ellie Puljak*, Liam Purifoy*, Landry Pyles, Ella Quarles, Cristalyn Quinn*, Earl Raue*, Natalie Remedies*, Allie Richardson, Lainey Roberts, Ethan Robertson*, Luke Robertson, Hannah Rollins*, John Rowton, Ethan Rugg, Madelyn Ryan, Izabella Sandifer, Aidan Schardien*, Elizabeth Scott*, Reese Seals, Malory Segura, Maksim Selmic, Audrey Seney*, Anna Simpson, Camdyn Slade, Troy Smith*, Kinslee Spatafora*, Coleman Stafford*, Erin Stallings*, Callie Stegall, Grace Stepanek, Joel Stephens, Jed Stephens*, Austin Stephenson, Dillan Stokes, Katherine Swanner, Alyssa Sylvester*, Faith Tarver, Antonio Taylor, Jacob Terrell*, Teagan Thomas, Genevieve Thomas, Aiden Thomas, Fletcher Thompson, Brian Thompson, Noah Thurman, Jake Touchet*, Emma Trammell, Emily Trammell*, Benjamin Turner, Lyla Turner*, Olivia Underwood*, Adrian Lamkin V, Max Vallaire, Amelia Venters, Kaden Victor*, Ashley Vining*, Nhu Vuong*, Jessica Walker*, Gabriel Walker, Sarah Wallen, Leah Ward, Caleb Watson, Caleb Weaver, Anna Welch, John Whitaker, Reid Williams, Mynesha Williams*, Jaliyah Wimberly, Matthew Yates*, Macie Yeagle*, Lydia Young*, Dylan Young
Simsboro: Richard Canterbury*, Tambri Leedy, Emma Reeves*, Kayden Sullivan*
The Security Operations Center at Louisiana Tech serves as the hub for monitoring, detecting, and responding to cybersecurity threats.
Courtesy of Louisiana Tech University Communications
Louisiana Tech University has established the Security Operations Center, designed to enhance cybersecurity defenses while offering advanced educational opportunities for students.
With a $122,000 hardware contribution from the Louisiana Board of Regents, the project strengthens the University’s ability to protect its IT infrastructure while equipping students with skills for the rapidly-evolving cybersecurity industry.
The SOC will function as a central hub for monitoring, detecting, and responding to cybersecurity threats 24/7, ensuring the protection of the University’s critical assets and sensitive data. Additionally, the SOC serves as a unique educational platform, providing students with hands-on training through internships and collaborative cybersecurity research.
Darrell Eddy, project manager and strategic planning coordinator for Louisiana Tech’s Division of Information Technology, led the design and development of this transformative initiative. With over 26 years of service to Louisiana Tech, Eddy has played an integral role in shaping the University’s IT capabilities. His experience in information technology ensures that the SOC was built to the highest standards of security and technological advancement.
“My goal for this project is to build something adaptable to the University’s evolving needs: a fully functional Security Operations Center that will protect our information technology and users while dynamically responding to the ever-changing threat landscape,” said Eddy.
Dr. William Brad Gleason, associate professor of computer science and principal of the Cyber Applied Innovation Laboratory, serves as the lead instructor for students involved in the SOC. His expertise in digital forensics, information assurance, software engineering, and applied computing science ensures that students will receive rigorous and cutting-edge training. By incorporating theoretical education with gamified cybersecurity challenges, Gleason’s instruction gives students a competitive edge as they enter the cybersecurity job market.
“This SOC is a major leap forward in safeguarding our digital environment while simultaneously enriching our students’ education in one of the most critical fields of our time,” said Dr. Thomas Hoover, Louisiana Tech CIO. “Darrell Eddy’s leadership, combined with the support of TekStream, Amazon Web Services, CrowdStrike, and the Louisiana Board of Regents, guarantees the success of this initiative.”
Dr. Majd Tahat, who designed the training pipeline to prepare students for live operations and who will help launch a dedicated SOC Analysis course, oversees day-to-day incident response, student mentoring, and industry partnerships.
“This SOC is more than a lab; it’s a real-world training ground,” Tahat said. “It’s a launchpad for careers, research, and leadership, and it’s a shield that protects our campus every day. All of that, and we’re just getting started.”
The funding provided by the Louisiana Board of Regents plays a critical role in outfitting the SOC with state-of-the-art technology, enabling real-time monitoring and threat detection. The SOC will also comply with essential regulatory requirements, including FERPA, HIPAA, and GLBA, to ensure the security and privacy of university systems.
Key Objectives of the SOC:
Enhance cybersecurity operations through continuous, real-time monitoring and response.
Provide students with hands-on experience and professional development through SOC internships.
Support academic research in cybersecurity through collaborations between students, faculty, and industry professionals.
Ensure compliance with cybersecurity regulations and industry standards.
Strengthen the University’s resilience against cyber incidents and improve business continuity.
An open house event during the first week of May gave university personnel a firsthand look at the new SOC space on campus and the technology within. The collaboration of the University’s IT operations and the computer science program represents a significant step in both securing the University’s digital assets and enhancing Louisiana Tech’s educational programs in cybersecurity.
A Dubach man was arrested by Ruston Police last week after he was found unconscious in a parked recreational vehicle and was later found in possession of drugs.
Richard Lee Reid, 66, was found by a patrol officer in an RV in a business parking lot June 3. The side door of the RV was open, and Reid was seen passed out in the passenger seat.
Officers were able to waken Reid and ask him to exit the RV. He was observed to have pinpoint pupils consistent with drug use.
Reid denied using narcotics, but a search of the vehicle located a cigarette pack containing a small bag of suspected methamphetamine. A glass smoking pipe containing methamphetamine residue, a zipper bag containing a small amount of marijuana, and five small bags each containing 10 tablets of trazodone hydrochloride.
Reid was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession of a legend drug, and possession of drug paraphernalia and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center.
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.
A Ruston man was arrested June 3 after he allegedly attempted to kick down the door of an ex-girlfriend’s apartment.
Demarius Jenkins, 33, was booked for simple criminal damage to property, possession of marijuana, and public intimidation of an officer after police responded to a West Alabama Avenue residence.
Responding officers found Jenkins on top of a table attempting to reach the balcony of the victim’s apartment. He was ordered down and complied. He was handcuffed and searched, and a small bag containing marijuana was found in his pocket.
The victim said she had kicked Jenkins out of the apartment a couple of days earlier, and he came back attempting to retrieve some property. She stated she left some of his property outside so she would not have to talk to him, but he wanted inside the apartment.
According to the victim, he attempted to kick in the door, and she called police. The reporting officer wrote of finding a footprint on the lower half of the door that matched the shoes Jenkins was wearing.
As Jenkins was being taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center, he made a comment several times to an officer that he “was not going to let the white boy touch me again.” When the officer asked what would happen, Jenkins said, “Take the handcuffs off and you’ll find out.” Additionally, upon arrival at the detention center, Jenkins was heard to say, “If he opens that door, I’m kicking him.”
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox.Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
It’s been nearly half a decade since the last Ruston High Bearcat made the LSWA 5A All-State team.
Not so anymore as junior Jackson Lee earned the honor after his role in the Bearcats’ turnaround season that saw Ruston compete for a district title and make it into the second round of the 2025 playoffs.
Lee started every game in centerfield for Ruston and batted .413 for the season with 16 extra-base hits.
“I’m really excited for Jackson getting first team honors,” Ruston High head coach Bryan Beck said. “It tells you a lot about that kid. He had an incredible year for us and for his team — he’s an incredible worker and an even better kid. When you’re able to be around kids like that, it makes your job really easy. Our team loves him, and he’s an incredible baseball player who plays the game the right way.
“It goes hand in hand with the year we had. He batted lead off for us and is the only player who started in every game we had this year. He deserves that award, and I’m extremely happy for his family and him to be able to celebrate this.”
Ruston also saw senior pitcher David Griep and sophomores Tyler Roach (pitcher) and J.P. Moak (OF) earn honorable mention honors.
“All three of those guys had an incredible year for us,” Beck said. “They were also instrumental for us to be able to have the season we did. We’re very, very happy to have them to be Ruston High Bearcats and to be able to showcase their talents for us.”
The last time Ruston had a first-team selection was J.R. Tollett in 2021 as a pitcher.
Today is Friday, June 13th. It’s the only Friday the 13th in the calendar year 2025. So, what are the origins of this myth? See below courtesy of History.com.
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Long considered a harbinger of bad luck, Friday the 13th has inspired a late 19th-century secret society, an early 20th-century novel, a horror film franchise and not one but two unwieldy terms—paraskavedekatriaphobia and friggatriskaidekaphobia—that describe fear of this supposedly unlucky day.
The Fear of 13
Just like walking under a ladder, crossing paths with a black cat or breaking a mirror, many people hold fast to the belief that Friday the 13th brings bad luck. Though it’s uncertain exactly when this particular tradition began, negative superstitions have swirled around the number 13 for centuries.
While Western cultures have historically associated the number 12 with completeness (there are 12 days of Christmas, 12 months and zodiac signs, 12 labors of Hercules, 12 gods of Olympus and 12 tribes of Israel, just to name a few examples), its successor 13 has a long history as a sign of bad luck.
The ancient Code of Hammurabi, for example, reportedly omitted a 13th law from its list of legal rules. Though this was probably a clerical error, superstitious people sometimes point to this as proof of 13’s longstanding negative associations.
Fear of the number 13 has even earned a psychological term: triskaidekaphobia.
Why is Friday the 13th Unlucky?
According to biblical tradition, 13 guests attended the Last Supper, held on Maundy Thursday, including Jesus and his 12 apostles (one of whom, Judas, betrayed him). The next day, of course, was Good Friday, the day of Jesus’ crucifixion.
The seating arrangement at the Last Supper is believed to have given rise to a longstanding Christian superstition that having 13 guests at a table was a bad omen—specifically, that it was courting death.
Though Friday’s negative associations are weaker, some have suggested they also have roots in Christian tradition: Just as Jesus was crucified on a Friday, Friday was also said to be the day Eve gave Adam the fateful apple from the Tree of Knowledge, as well as the day Cain killed his brother, Abel.
The Thirteen Club
In the late-19th century, a New Yorker named Captain William Fowler (1827-1897) sought to remove the enduring stigma surrounding the number 13—and particularly the unwritten rule about not having 13 guests at a dinner table—by founding an exclusive society called the Thirteen Club.
The group dined regularly on the 13th day of the month in room 13 of the Knickerbocker Cottage, a popular watering hole Fowler owned from 1863 to 1883. Before sitting down for a 13-course dinner, members would pass beneath a ladder and a banner reading “Morituri te Salutamus,” Latin for “Those of us who are about to die salute you.”
Four former U.S. presidents (Chester A. Arthur, Grover Cleveland, Benjamin Harrison and Theodore Roosevelt) would join the Thirteen Club’s ranks at one time or another.
Friday the 13th in Pop Culture
An important milestone in the history of the Friday the 13th legend in particular (not just the number 13) occurred in 1907, with the publication of the novel Friday, the Thirteenth written by Thomas William Lawson.
The book told the story of a New York City stockbroker who plays on superstitions about the date to create chaos on Wall Street, and make a killing on the market.
The horror movie Friday the 13th, released in 1980, introduced the world to a hockey mask-wearing killer named Jason, and is perhaps the best-known example of the famous superstition in pop culture history. The movie spawned multiple sequels, as well as comic books, novellas, video games, related merchandise and countless terrifying Halloween costumes.
What Bad Things Happened on Friday 13th?
On Friday, October 13, 1307, officers of King Philip IV of France arrested hundreds of the Knights Templar, a powerful religious and military order formed in the 12th century for the defense of the Holy Land.
Imprisoned on charges of various illegal behaviors (but really because the king wanted access to their financial resources), many Templars were later executed. Some cite the link with the Templars as the origin of the Friday the 13th superstition, but like many legends involving the Templars and their history, the truth remains murky.
In more recent times, a number of traumatic events have occurred on Friday the 13th, including the German bombing of Buckingham Palace (September 1940); the murder of Kitty Genovese in Queens, New York (March 1964); a cyclone that killed more than 300,000 people in Bangladesh (November 1970); the disappearance of a Chilean Air Force plane in the Andes (October 1972); the death of rapper Tupac Shakur (September 1996) and the crash of the Costa Concordia cruise ship off the coast of Italy, which killed 30 people (January 2012).
On the afternoon of June 4, 1987, 22-year-old Marquisa Kellogg was working at the Grand Slam Restaurant, a once-popular eatery in the Madisonville neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio. She had served cheese coneys to two men in their early 20s whom she considered friends. She said she knew them “from the neighborhood.” Marquisa and the two customers exchanged pleasantries. There was no reason for Marquisa to suspect that this day would be any different than any other workday at the restaurant, but according to newspaper accounts from 1987, it all went wrong when the two men walked up to the cash register. The men had a brazen plan to rob Marquisa’s cash register. When they approached Marquisa, one of the men pulled a weapon. Marquisa took one look at the robber’s weapon and fled from her post at the open cash register. When she regained her composure and returned to the cash register, she found that it was short by $25 and called the police.
Police arrived at the restaurant, spoke with Marquisa, and began interviewing other customers. Police struggled to find witnesses to the crime. Upon hearing Marquisa scream, customers turned toward the cash register and saw her run away, but no one actually saw either of the men take money from the cash register. Was this part of the plan? Did the robbers intentionally steer the other customers’ attention onto the fleeing cashier and away from the cash register to enable them to quickly snatch some money? Was this their grand slam?
Marquisa later said the police failed to take the robbery seriously. You see, rather than using a weapon that most people would normally expect a robber to use, such as a gun or knife, this robber used a much smaller weapon which was only about an inch-and-a-half long. The weapon that the robber used to frighten Marquisa away from her cash register long enough to take money from it was a harmless six-legged winged insect called a Cicada.
In an interview in 2021, Marquisa said the robbery at the Grand Slam Restaurant which received national news coverage had been blown out of proportion. She said it had all been a prank gone wrong, but her register was still short $25. Police made no arrests in this case.
Sources:
1. Wilmington News-Journal, June 5, 1987, p.1.
2. News Journal, June 6, 1987, p.12.
3. The Cincinnati Enquirer, June 19, 2021, p.A5.
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.
Friday, June 13 10 a.m.: The Army’s 250th birthday celebration (Ruston City Hall) 2 p.m.: Tweens and teens writer workshop interest meeting (Lincoln Parish Library Community Room) 6-8 p.m.: 2025 Miss Juneteenth Pageant (TH Harris Auditorium, GSU)
Saturday, June 14 8:30-11:30 a.m.: Hazardous Waste Material Collection and Recycling (2609 Farmerville St.) 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 10 a.m.: Grambling Juneteenth heritage festival car show (Downtown Grambling) 10 a.m.: Grambling Juneteenth heritage festival fishing tournament (For more information call John Brown at 318-497-5306) 5-8 p.m.: Ruston Juneteenth celebration (moved to the Thomas Assembly Center)
Sunday, June 15 Father’s Day
Monday, June 16 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome 4 p.m.: Story hour at Lincoln Parish Library (Events Center) 5:30 p.m.: Ruston City 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, June 17 10 a.m.: Family storytime at Lincoln Parish Library (Events Center) 2 p.m.: Wildlife and Fisheries: Baby Alligators (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center) 4 p.m.: Photo comic club for teens (Lincoln Parish Library Community Room) 6 p.m.: Fitness class (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
Wednesday, June 18 7-8 a.m.: Veterans Coffee Club (PJ’s Coffee) 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome
Thursday, June 19 Juneteenth 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)
Friday, June 20 10:30 a.m.: Mic drop on culture Juneteenth performance (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
Saturday, June 21 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 9 a.m.: Fighting Gaming Community (Lincoln Parish Library Jack Beard Community Room)
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 guard AJ Bates has been selected to join Athletes in Action Basketball for an international tour this summer, traveling to the Czech Republic from June 28 to July 11.
Bates will be part of a select team comprised of student-athletes from eight college basketball programs across the country. The team will compete in exhibition games against the Czech Republic’s U20 and U23 national teams while also participating in outreach activities, including a one-day youth basketball camp and coaching clinic.
Athletes in Action is a faith-based organization that partners with college athletes across the country, organizing sports tours and leadership training experiences aimed at fostering personal development and global impact.
As a freshman for the Bulldogs this past season, Bates appeared in 29 games with four starts. He averaged 4.6 points per game, including four double-digit scoring outings. Bates also contributed 57 rebounds, 49 assists, and 22 steals.
The two-week experience will offer Bates the chance to sharpen his skills in a competitive international setting while representing both Louisiana Tech and Athletes in Action abroad.
Louisiana Tech Softball saw 10 players earn Easton/NFCA Scholar-Athlete honors for the 2024-25 season.
To be eligible, a student-athlete must achieve a 3.5 or better cumulative GPA for the 2024-25 academic year.
Jina Baffuto, KB Briley, Allie Furr, Nicole Hammoude, Elena Heng, Laney Johnson, Alyssa Martin, Karli Sellers, Ryleigh Shull and Reese Torres were the 10 Bulldogs who earned the prestigious honors for their work in the classroom during the academic year.
Furr and Martin both carry 4.0 GPAs as they were named to the CUSA All-Academic Team. Martin and Briley were two of five Bulldogs represented on the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team.
In addition, the Bulldogs had 19 players on the CUSA Commissioner’s Honor Roll while eight players were CUSA Academic Medal Recipients.
The Bulldogs posted a 3.51 team GPA for the 2024-25 season and will be reviewed in the running to become an Easton and NFCA Top 10 Academic Team this fall.
Mickey Howard “Mule” Sherrill November 7, 1958 – June 10, 2025 Visitation: Friday, June 13, 2025, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home Memorial Service: Friday, June 13, 2025, 2:00 PM, Owens Memorial Chapel
It might seem like a Tampa story at first, but the Argent Institutional Trust Company announcement last week of an agreement to acquire the corporate trust and institutional custody business of The Huntington National Bank is as Ruston as peach cobbler.
And for Argent Financial CEO Kyle McDonald, the continued growth for the company since its inception in 1990 is another exciting chapter in the story of a company committed to staying rooted in Lincoln Parish.
“One of our statements that was made early on was there may be a limit of things we can do in Ruston, but there’s no limit on the things we can do from Ruston,” McDonald said. “This is an example of that. We had a base here, and we built that. We’ve always done these types of activities in corporate trust and institutional custody work. This is a big add-on, and it’s an opportunity for us to establish industries nationally, so we think it’s a good deal for us, and we’re glad to get it to this stage.”
McDonald said that the acquisition will lead to five new offices opening in Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. And while that may be a world away from home, the headquarters in Ruston will stay busy.
“All of the revenue from our 44 different offices gets accounted for here in Ruston,” McDonald said. “Our HR group is here, as are so many operations. It strengthens our core in Ruston, and we’re very committed to maintaining our headquarters here at home.”
See original release below.
Argent Institutional Trust Company (AITC), a Tampa, Florida-based trust company and a leading provider of corporate and institutional trust services, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the corporate trust and institutional custody business of The Huntington National Bank (“Huntington”), a wholly owned banking subsidiary of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (Nasdaq: HBAN).
This strategic acquisition will significantly expand AITC’s institutional trust footprint, deepening its capabilities and strengthening its position as a national leader in corporate trust and custody services. The transaction includes the transfer of key client relationships, personnel, and operational infrastructure from Huntington to AITC.
AITC and Huntington will have an ongoing relationship in which Argent will provide corporate trust, escrow, and custody solutions to Huntington’s business and commercial banking clients. By aligning AITC’s administration teams with Huntington’s corporate, commercial, and government banking teams, clients will continue to have access to their current banking solutions through Huntington plus an expanded array of corporate trust and institutional custody options through AITC. Key Huntington personnel will be transferring to AITC, meaning clients will continue to receive exceptional service.
“This acquisition aligns with our long-term growth strategy and commitment to delivering high-quality, customized trust and agency solutions,” said Anthony (Tony) Guthrie, Chairman of AITC. “We are excited to welcome Huntington’s talented team and their clients to AITC. This addition enhances our scale, expertise, and the depth of service we can offer to our institutional partners across the country.”
“I’m delighted that Huntington recognized the expertise and quality of corporate trust and institutional custody services at AITC and was confident that its clients would continue to receive unparalleled support from a full-service provider,” added Steven B. Eason, CEO of AITC.
Huntington’s corporate trust and institutional custody business, which provides bond trustee, paying agent, escrow agent, collateral agent, and custody services to corporations, municipalities, mutual funds, and not-for-profit clients, will be integrated into AITC’s national platform through the acquisition, ensuring continuity for existing clients while enhancing service flexibility and innovation.
“Our mission is to keep clients at the center of all we do, and this relationship allows these corporate trust and institutional custody clients to continue to benefit from a high level of expertise, service and commitment to their financial success,” said Melissa Holding, Executive Vice President and Director of Wealth Management at Huntington. “We’re confident that clients will continue to receive the exceptional service they have come to expect, and that both clients and colleagues will experience a seamless transition.”
AITC plans a seamless transition, with full integration expected to be completed in the coming months. The company will continue to operate with the same client-centered philosophy that has defined its more than 70-year history.
About Argent Institutional Trust Company (AITC) Originally founded as Trust Management Incorporated in 1954, TMI was a Texas-chartered trust company. In August 2023, TMI merged with Argent Financial Group to become AITC and is headquartered in Tampa, FL, as a Florida trust company. Since its inception, AITC has grown into a full-service provider of trust and agency services.
AITC operates administration offices in Tampa (FL), Atlanta (GA), Fort Worth (TX), Milwaukee (WI), and New York City (NY), delivering exceptional client care across four primary service categories: trustee, escrow, and loan agency; custody services; IRA; family office and investment partnerships.
AITC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Argent Financial Group (Argent), a leading, independent client asset services firm with a particular focus on corporate trust and custody services through AITC. Following this acquisition, the firm will be responsible for more than $175 billion in client assets. Formed in 1990 in Ruston, Louisiana, Argent can trace its roots back to 1930. For more information, visit ArgentFinancial.com.
About Huntington Huntington Bancshares Incorporated is a $210 billion asset regional bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 1866, The Huntington National Bank and its affiliates provide consumers, small and middle‐market businesses, corporations, municipalities, and other organizations with a comprehensive suite of banking, payments, wealth management, and risk management products and services. Huntington operates 968 branches in 13 states, with certain businesses operating in extended geographies. Visit Huntington.com for more information.
