A naked man exposed himself to two women at Cook Park late Tuesday afternoon and escaped before police arrived.
A woman who saw the man described her experience on social media.
“Today my friend and I were sexually harassed by a naked man hiding in the woods who was filming himself performing explicit acts while watching and recording us,” the woman wrote.
“This is incredibly disturbing and unacceptable, especially at a park where many college students, high school students, families, and young children regularly run, walk, and play.”
The woman said the incident was reported to Ruston Police.
The woman described the suspect as a young white adult male of medium build with dark hair.
Lt. Kayla Loyd, spokesperson for RPD, said officers responded to Cook Park immediately and began searching for the suspect but he had not been found by Tuesday evening.
In her social media post, the woman also wrote, “We are sharing this to warn others so no one else has to experience something like this. Please stay alert, avoid walking alone if possible, and pay close attention to your surroundings when visiting the park.”
Loyd noted RPD has not received any similar reports at Cook Park or any city park in years.
Loyd said the incident is still under investigation and encourages anyone who sees suspicious activity in the area to phone 911 immediately.
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“Then Queen Esther answered, ‘If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life — this is my petition. And spare my people — this is my request.’” Esther 7:3 (NIV)
Today we see how a woman’s intuition and her proper preparation to meet the king is always a winning combo, especially against something as simple and blind as a man with revenge on his heart and mind.
We’ve come to the homestretch in the book of Esther, the Bible’s only book that never mentions God. That hardly means God is not represented. This book illustrates how God is orchestrating things for the greater good, running the universe without ever resorting to a Plan B, no matter what His children choose to do.
Queen Esther, the gorgeous Jewish arm candy that King Xerxes chose out of all the women in the land, prepared herself before God, asking friends for prayers and also praying and fasting herself, so she could, at the risk of her life, hopefully have an audience with the king and reveal to him a plot by the king’s evil prime minister, Haman, “An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman!” (see Esther 7:6), to have the Jews exterminated.
Esther’s plan, successful because of perfect timing and divine awareness, was successful. Haman ended up on the carnival midway as Haman-on-a-stick. Esther and the Jews survived and, years later, the Savior was born to a Jewish virgin.
Esther, by the way, was coy and brilliant. A cool customer. But when it was time to unload, she did. Adversary! Enemy! Vile! Three strikes. No wasted punches. Haman never knew what hit him. On several levels, there is a cautionary warning here for males, no matter if they are the prime minister of Persia or the street sweeper in Swartz. If your aim is to thwart a godly woman, you might as well jump into your grave and save someone the trouble of having to haul you; your chances of winning are zero. Egg. Empty set.
Game over.
One of my favorite Seinfeld bits is about the poll taken asking Americans to rank their biggest fears.
The fear of public speaking was No. 1. Dying was No. 2.
Consider that for a second: Americans fear public speaking more than they fear dying!
That means at a funeral, the guy giving the eulogy is in worse shape than the guy in the casket.
Since human nature is unchanging, if Gallup had polled the Persian population back in Esther’s day, the results would likely have been the same. Yet when it was time to speak up, Queen Esther did, both for her people and for a God who cannot fail.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the fourth of Teddy’s five-part series all about Esther’s life and lessons that can be learned.)
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A Farmerville man was killed in a crash on U.S. 167 near Dodson in Winn Parish Sunday, according to Louisiana State Police.
Miguel Angel Bello-Castillo, 44, was announced dead at the scene.
State Police at Troop E responded to the scene of a one-vehicle crash at around 9:10 a.m. Sunday. Troopers determined Bello-Castillo was driving a sedan south on U. S. 167 when, for reasons not yet known, he lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle left the roadway, struck a ditch embankment, and flipped over.
Authorities said Bello-Castillo was wearing a seatbelt, but was killed by the impact and was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger who was also restrained received moderate injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
LSP said toxicology samples were taken for analysis. Troopers suspect impairment may have contributed to the crash.
The investigation is continuing, LSP said.
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Ruston Police received reports of at least four car burglaries last week despite extra patrols and diligent investigations.
Lt. Kayla Loyd, spokesperson for RPD, said the most recent spate of break-ins was in the Alabama Avenue – Maple Street – Barnett Springs Avenue area.
Little or nothing was taken from the unlocked cars, Loyd said, but victims saw clear signs someone had rummaged through their vehicles.
“I think they were looking for guns, specifically, since other items of value like a laptop were not taken,” she said.
RPD has made several arrests in car burglary cases recently, but suspects bond out rather quickly and as yet unidentified suspects are also likely involved.
Police strongly encourage owners to lock their cars no matter where they are parked, even in carports and garages and avoid leaving valuables in plain view.
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Ahmad Hudson goes up for a windmill dunk as part of his 27-point performance. (Photo by Reggie McLeroy)
by Malcolm Butler
No. 2 seed Ruston looked rusty early.
But once the Bearcats (21-3) warmed up, they rolled.
Ahmad Hudson scored 27 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead Ruston to a 74-38 win over Barbe Tuesday night at RHS Gymnasium in a Non-Select School Division I second round playoff game.
“It was a good win,” said Ruston head coach Marcus Jackson. “We came out slow which was to be expected. We didn’t have a game in the (first round). … We kind of got it going at the end of the first (quarter).
“Collectively, I think we played good as a group on defense, which led to offense later on.”
Neither team could find an offensive rhythm early as Ruston held a slim 6-3 advantage five minutes into the first quarter. However, Jasen Morgan drilled a corner three and Darren Ford hit back-to-back buckets, including a slam dunk to ignite a 13-4 run to end the stanza. Ruston led 19-7.
Hudson got rolling in the second quarter, scoring 15 of his game-high 27 in the frame. The 6-foot-8 power forward, who is almost unstoppable when his motor is running at full tilt, started the frame with a reverse layup and then made back-to-back buckets, including a traditional three-point play with 5:30 to play in the quarter to up the lead to 29-7.
“He is a big asset for us,” said Jackson. “He is someone (the opponent) has to play close attention to. He can pull you out and beat you back to the basket. He can back you down. If you double him, other guys making shots is important. Ahmad is key for us.”
Hudson wasn’t the only Bearcat scoring in the second as Keshun Malcolm netted seven of his 13 points in the frame as well.
While the Bearcats were rolling offensively, Ruston’s defense was smothering Barbe (22-13). The Bucs had trouble getting clean looks as the Ruston perimeter defenders applied relentless pressure while Hudson protected the lane.
“Barbe runs a lot of action,” said Jackson. “They run a lot of motion; good flare screens and good picks. We went over it all week. My coaches and I watched a lot of film. There was a lack of sleep this week trying to figure out how to disrupt them. (Braylon Carter and Chris Rideau) are pretty good guards.
“They are really good guards. I think we did a good job being locked into the game plan.”
After leading 44-21 at halftime, Ruston used a 13-0 run over a two and a half minute period early in the third quarter to build a 59-23 advantage, forcing a running clock. The highlight of the run was a Hudson windmill dunk with 5:00 to play that ignited the crowd.
“We talked to Ahmad every day about pushing himself,” said Jackson. “That’s our job, to push him to find another level. When he plays like that it makes a lot of guys job easier. Hopefully in the playoffs, we can get him consistently playing like that.”
Leading 64-28 at the end of the third quarter, Jackson rested his starters for the fourth quarter although the Bearcats didn’t let up. Chase Harding and Cooper Goodwin combined for 10 points in the frame, including a three-pointer by each.
Carter led Barbe with 17 points.
With the victory, Ruston will now host No. 23 seed Parkway, which pulled a 63-57 overtime upset win over No. 7 seed Sulphur. Tipoff will be Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Lincoln Prep’s Jabari Levingston led Lincoln Prep with 15 points and 10 rebounds during Tuesday’s win over Block. (Photo by T. Scott Boatright)
By T. Scott Boatright
In a game that looked more like a defensive showdown on the gridiron than a Division IV Select School second round boys playoff game, top seeded Lincoln Preparatory School held on to a 37-21 over Block Tuesday night inside the LPS Gym.
The Panthers and Bears bumped and banged throughout the contest with Block actually scoring first on a Caleb Henderson layup 1:22 into the game.
Lincoln Prep then slowly scored seven unanswered points before the Bears’ Dominique Atkins hit a buzzer-beating short jumper to cut Lincoln Prep’s lead to 7-4 at the end of the opening stanza.
For Panthers coach Antonio Hudson, his feelings about the game boiled down to one simple point.
“We’ve got to play better,” Hudson said. “We defended. We defended from the start. But we just go through spells where we struggle to score. We’ve focused on that — not having those frequent possessions where we just struggle to score and we’re just too loose with the basketball.”
The discombobulated, frenetic play continued for the Panthers in the second quarter, with Lincoln Prep building no more than a nine-point advantage before the Bears would battle back as they ended up trailing 16-12 at the half.
“You’re not going to have a great game every game in basketball,” Hudson said. “But by the same token, you’ve got to try and control the narrative of what you can control. We cannot turn the ball over more than 20 times against a team that’s playing mostly zone. We cannot afford to turn the ball over against a team that’s playing us in zone (defense). That’s just unacceptable.
“We’ve got to get quality shots at the goal. We’ve got to get quality possessions every time. In the playoffs, every single possession matters. We just can’t go through a few possessions where we don’t get anything out of them. We’re got to control that kind of thing. That’s our job.”
Lincoln Prep pushed its lead to eight points at 18-12 on a Josiah Spann layup 28 seconds into the third quarter before Zion Hicks hit a baby hook in front of the basket off an assist by Trey Spann at the 5:40 mark of the third quarter.
A short running jumper by Hicks pushed the Panthers’ advantage to 10 points at 24-14 with 1:58 left in the period before the Bears hit a free throw to cut Lincoln Prep’s lead to 24-15 heading into the fourth quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Panthers went into a deliberate offensive slowdown, using quick, deliberate passing to try and keep the ball away from the Bears and chew time off the clock.
“Sometimes you’ve just got to slow it down and cherish the possession,” Hudson said. “I can’t stress enough. There was one time in the second quarter where we had the ball six possessions and didn’t even get a shot off. That’s unacceptable. That’s not a championship team.
“Everybody looks at the No. 1 (Lincoln Prep’s seeding in the playoffs) and think that’s something good. No. 1 just means that you’ve got a bigger target on your back than everyone else. So, we’re going to take the best shots everyone can give us.”
The play of the game came with around 2:30 remaining with the Panthers on top 33-19.
Lincoln Prep’s Kaden Vernon found himself with a turnover and a wide open path to the basket.
Vernon pushed the ball forward looking like he was going in for the layup before turning around and backing the ball back out to milk the clock even more, much like a football player having an easy touchdown ahead before sitting down on the 2-yard line to chew more time off the clock.
“He’s coming along — he understands and is playing really well for us right now at the right time,” Hudson said of Vernon. “I appreciate that. You know, at the beginning of the season, he’d have pushed the ball down in there and would have tried to shoot it off the glass.
“But look at that play — he did what he had to do and we still ended up turning the ball over. It doesn’t make sense, man.”
Hudson said he wasn’t totally surprised by the way Block stayed in the contest despite the seeding disparity.
“One thing — Block really wasn’t a 17 seed,” Hudson said. “I don’t care what their record says. Even with their size. They’re young and they’ll be back. We were just blessed to pull off this win. But we’ve got to play better moving forward.”
Sophomore Jabari Levingston led the Panthers with 15 points and 10 rebounds while Trey Spann added seven points and Zaviour Combs chipped in with five.
Next up for the Panthers will be a game against ninth-seeded Ouachita Christian, which went on the road and pulled off a 51-28 win over eighth seeded Ascension Episcopal.
Leading 21-19 at the half, the No. 11 seeded Choudrant Aggies went ice cold in the third quarter.
And No. 6 seed Stanley took advantage, outscoring Choudrant 13-1 over the eight minute frame to take the momentum and control en route to a 51-36 victory in the second round of the Class B playoffs.
With the loss, Choudrant ends the season 21-12.
“Tonight didn’t end up how we hoped, but I want to give all the credit to our guys,” said head coach Ryan Smith. “They really battled and put us in a chance to win tonight’s game. I can’t thank our seniors enough for everything they have done for our program.”
The Aggies came out of the gates strong, holding a 14-12 lead after the first quarter on the road. Carson Carrico hit a pair of three-pointers while Clarence Menyweather netted five points to help Choudrant take the slim lead.
Neither team could find much offense in the second quarter as both netted only seven points. Menyweather scored five while Braden Pye added a basket as the Aggies maintained their two point advantage.
However, the third quarter proved to be problematic. A Jackson Ambrose free throw was the only point of the eight-minute period for Choudrant as Stanley built a 32-22 lead with one quarter left.
Turner Rhodes attempted to shoot the Aggies back into the game in the final stanza, hitting three three-pointers, but it wasn’t enough.
Menyweather led Choudrant with 11 points.
Jermontrice Sudds led Stanley (22-6) with 23 points, including 17 in the second half.
Simsboro managed to tie at 33-33 at halftime Tuesday night but third-quarter struggles were too much to overcome as the Tigers went on the road and fell 77-57 at Lacassine in the second round of the Class B Boys basketball playoffs.
The Tigers were outscored 15-10 in the first quarter but roared back to tie things up at 33-33 at intermission thanks in large part to an 11-point second-quarter effort by Amaren Woodard.
But Lacassine outscored Simsboro 19-11 in the third quarter and 25-13 in the final period to pull off the win.
“We just didn’t come out after halftime and do what we needed to do,” said Simsboro coach Adam Wodach. “Credit Lacassine for that. I hate it for (senior) Justin Terrall (who finished with seven points), but it was a good, hard-fought season for a young team that had to fight some adversity along the way. I’m proud of this team and they will be back.”
Ahmad Smith, who hit two 3-pointers, and Woodard, who connected on four long-range shots, led Simsboro with 14 points each while Mike Smith added 12.
TIOGA, La. — Ruston got clutch runs in the top of the seventh inning to beat Tioga on Monday 4-3 and will now start a stretch of home games later this week.
“We squeaked out a victory,” Ruston High Head Coach Bryan Beck said. “It’s a really tough place to play. They always have a good team, and their community gets behind their high school. They had a big crowd, and it was rowdy down there. Our kids are tough. They played some tough games lately and I’m really proud of them and our coaches for sticking together through some tough times.”
After falling behind 2-0 in the bottom of the third, the Bearcats got on the board in the top of the fifth after senior Hudson Wood tripled into left field to score both senior Jackson Lee and junior JP Moak to tie the game 2-2.
“Hudson really got us back in this one offensively,” Beck said. “We had a lot of changes early, and we’re just really aggressive, and sometimes that runs you out of innings. But that’s the style of ball we aply, and we’re not going to apologize for that.”
The Bearcats added the two runs they needed in the top of the seventh after senior Jackson Burroughs drew a bases-loaded walk to score Lee, and in the next at-bat, senior Nolan Parnell singled to first base and scored Moak.
The Bearcats would hold on despite an Indian run in the bottom of the seventh.
Wood led the team with two hits and two RBI at the plate. Junior Peyton Nations came in relief of sophomore mid-week starter Hudson Wilkerson to get the win on the mound after fanning six batters in 3.2 innings.
“Hudson grinded and grinded as much as he could, and then we turned it over to Peyton, and he was lights out,” Beck said. “His stuff was really, really good. We’ve got to have a bullpen to make a run in our district and in the playoffs.”
Junior Sam Hartwell came in for the final inning to record the save.
Ruston will return home Thursday, March 5, to take on Weston for Lincoln Parish School Board Night. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
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.
Wednesday, March 4 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) 6 p.m.: GSU softball 6 p.m.: LA Tech baseball
Thursday, March 5 9 a.m.: Ribbon cutting celebrating Chase Bank (297 North Service Rd., Ruston) 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Kiwanis Club lunch and program (Trinity Methodist Church fellowship hall) 4:30-5:30 p.m.: Free meal to be served at the Ruston Housing Authority Community Room at 901 MLK Dr. Sponsored by 5 Loaves 3 Fish Ministry. All are invited. 6 p.m.: Southern A’Chord Chorus rehearsal (Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 212 N. Bonner St.; open to all women singers) 6:30 p.m.: Lady Techster basketball 7 p.m.: Ruston Community Theatre presents “The Stinky Cheese Man”
Friday, March 6 1 p.m.: Grambling State softball 7 p.m.: Ruston Community Theatre presents “The Stinky Cheese Man”
Saturday, March 7 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Find Your Voice: Empowering Women through Song (Presbyterian Church of Ruston Fellowship Hall) 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Third annual Geektogether (Lincoln Parish Library and LPL Events Center) Noon: Grambling State softball 2 p.m.: Grambling State softball 7 p.m.: Ruston Community Theatre presents “The Stinky Cheese Man”
Sunday, March 8 2 p.m.: Ruston Community Theatre presents “The Stinky Cheese Man”
Monday March 9 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, March 10 1 p.m.: Grambling State softball 6 p.m.: LA Tech softball 6 p.m.: LA Tech baseball 7 p.m.: Lincoln Parish Police Jury meeting (Lincoln Courthouse)
Wednesday, March 11 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) 4 p.m.: LA Tech softball 6 p.m.: GSU baseball
Thursday, March 12 9:30 a.m.: Piney Hills Quilt Guild meeting (Grace Methodist Church) 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Kiwanis Club lunch and program (Trinity Methodist Church fellowship hall) 6 p.m.: Southern A’Chord Chorus rehearsal (Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 212 N. Bonner St.; open to all women singers)
Friday, March 13 6-9 p.m.: Beer Crawl (Downtown Ruston) 6 p.m.: LA Tech baseball 6 p.m.: LA Tech softball
Saturday, March 14 8 a.m. to noon: Friends of the Library Community Garage Sale (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center) 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 2 p.m.: LA Tech baseball 2 p.m.: LA Tech softball
Sunday, March 15 11 a.m.: LA Tech baseball 11 a.m.: LA Tech softball
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Rachel Boersma knew how to land somewhere and stay. Born in New Orleans on August 23, 1965, she grew up on the West Bank. It was the kind of place that teaches you to be direct, to be loud, and to never confuse volume with unkindness. She was all three of those things and sometimes all in the same sentence.
Her childhood took a turn most people don’t. Her family moved to Dubai, where Rachel spent her formative years in the desert, a world away from the West Bank. She’d mention it later with the same casual delivery she brought to everything: “And when I was growing up in Dubai…” dropped into conversation like it was the most ordinary thing in the world. She had a pet camel but did not think this required further explanation. She came to Ruston, LA, for college and never left. She met David Boersma, and that was that. Ruston became home, not because she couldn’t go anywhere else, but because she’d found the people she wanted to be with.
She built a life there with David and raised two sons, Aaron and Wesley, with the same no-nonsense grace she brought to everything. Rachel spent her career at Crossmark Management Group in Ruston, working in accounting and finance — work that suited her practical mind and her instinct for keeping things in order. She was good at it the way she was good at most things: quietly, without fanfare.
But if you knew Rachel, you didn’t know her for her resume. You knew her for what she said when things got hard. “We got this.” Not a question, not a hope but a declaration. When she was diagnosed with cancer, she said it then too. “Build a bridge and get over it.” “It’s going to be okay.” She meant it every time. That wasn’t denial. That was faith. The deep-water kind, the kind that holds when the current picks up. Her favorite hymn was “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” and she didn’t just sing it. She lived inside of it.
Rachel Boersma died on March 1, 2026, in the same town where she’d planted her life decades earlier. She was 60 years old. She is survived by her husband, David Boersma; her sons, Aaron Boersma and his wife Jane, and Wesley Boersma; her three grandsons, Travis Dale Boersma, Charles Brooks Boersma, and John Arthur Boersma; her mother, Linda Stack; her sisters, Rebecca Lazenby and Roz Manfredi; and her brother, Roger D. Stack Jr. She was preceded in death by her father, Roger D. Stack Sr.
Visitation will be held Thursday, March 5, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Kilpatrick’s Funeral Home in Ruston, Louisiana. The funeral service will be held Friday, March 6, at 10:00 AM at Temple Baptist Chapel in Ruston, Louisiana. Rev. Len Woods will be officiate the service. Interment will follow in Kilpatrick’s Memorial Gardens under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes in Ruston, LA.
Pallbearers will be Jackie Rome, Chris Moran, Mark Boersma, Jackson Boersma, Jason Lazenby, George Haudel, Brent Ellender, and John Kyte.
In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be made to Trinity Church Club Nine 3, 1000 Woodward Avenue, Ruston, LA 71270 or visit trinityruston.org and select Give; a ministry for adults with special needs.
Funeral services for Lamar Haddox, age 87, of Arcadia, LA will be 10:00 A.M. Thursday, March 5, 2026, at Kilpatrick Funeral Homes Chapel in Ruston, LA. Officiating the service will be Rev. George Lee, IV. Interment will follow in Kilpatrick’s Memorial Gardens in Ruston under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes in Ruston, LA.
A visitation for family and friends will be 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at Kilpatrick Funeral Home, 209 North Bonner, in Ruston, LA.
Albert Lamar Haddox was born June 19th, 1938, in Fryeburg, LA to Byron and Grace Wall Haddox and passed away March 1st, 2026, surrounded by family at his home in Arcadia, LA.
Lamar graduated from Farmerville High School in 1956, and shortly after began his career in road construction at the young age of 18. After many years of moving around for work, he eventually settled in Ruston. Despite a lucrative career in the construction business, his need to constantly stay busy led him and his brother, Doug, into a train wreck salvaging business. He spent many years collecting train memorabilia, which he proudly displayed in his offices and home. After closing Soil Stabilizers in 2020 he spent his time collecting and restoring old trucks and equipment. He enjoyed sharing this passion with all of his family and friends, spending much time at his corner car shop in Arcadia watching his old junk cars and trucks being restored.
He was such a generous soul and always wanted to help out those closest to him. Everyone was always welcome to fish on his pond and admire his Canadian geese and ducks. He spent the final years enjoying life on his hill in Arcadia. He was beloved by all and will be truly missed. Lamar was preceded in death by his mother and father.
He is survived by his wife Linda Bentley Haddox; children, Greg Haddox, Leah Anderson (Michael), and Sallie Haddox; step-children, Joe Leslie (Andrea), and Kate Brashear (Jed); grandchildren, Whitney Buck (Joey), Lamar Haddox (Kelsey), Jessica Duncan (Shayne), Sara Wiles (Evan), Lauren Vann, Mitchell Haddox, Morgan Vann, Parker Stallings (fiance’ Ashton), Chloe and Keatyn Brashear; 9 great grandchildren; his siblings, Doug Haddox (Debbie), Mike Haddox (Roni), and Cindy Razer (T.V.); his aunt, Beth Wall Suggs; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.
Pallbearers will be Lamar Haddox, Mitchell Haddox, Parker Stallings, Jake Haddox, Shayne Duncan, and Evan Wiles.
Honorary Pallbearers will be TV Razer, Lee Jay Haddox, Brian Vann, Jody Hoenke, Mike Smith, Lee Sullivan, Cary Glen Stevens, Brett May, Terry Lowery, Curtis Goodling, and Wayne Patterson.
Katherine Dorena “Doe” Wilson Clark February 23, 1948 – February 15, 2026 Visitation: Saturday, March 14, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM, Feazel Chapel at First Baptist Church West Monroe, 311 Mill St., West Monroe Celebration of Life: Saturday, March 14, 2026, 2:00 PM, Feazel Chapel at First Baptist Church West Monroe, 311 Mill St., West Monroe
Rachel Boersma August 23, 1965 – March 1, 2026 Visitation: Thursday, March 5, 2026, 5:00PM – 7:00PM, Kilpatrick Funeral Homes Service: Friday, March 6, 2026, 10:00AM, Temple Baptist Church Chapel, 1515 South Service Rd West, Ruston Final Resting Place: Kilpatrick’s Memorial Gardens, 1270 Highway 544, Ruston
Lamar Haddox June 19, 1938 – March 1, 2026 Visitation: Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 5:00PM – 7:00PM, Kilpatrick Funeral Homes Service: Thursday, March 5, 2026, 10:00AM, Kilpatrick Funeral Homes Final Resting Place: Kilpatrick’s Memorial Gardens, 1270 Highway 544, Ruston
With Mayor Pro Tem Angela Mayfield at the helm because of the absence of Mayor Ronny Walker, who was out of town, the Ruston City cruised through an under 20 minute meeting for the month of March Monday evening at City Hall.
One of the biggest moves made on the night was passing an ordinance authorizing the city to enter into a contract relating to easing traffic congestion by extending Goyne Street, a dead-end street in between two apartment complexes west of the Thomas Assembly Center.
The planned construction would extend Goyne Street from where he begins off of Highway 150 (also known as Alabama Street or Old Grambling Road) to the Interstate 20 South Service Road.
Amethyst Construction of West Monroe turned in the lowest of three bids for Phase 1 of that, with the City Council agreeing to that low bid of $692,138 and will upgrade the road as it stands now with the city paying 10% and the state of Louisiana paying 90%.
Phase 2 of the project would extend the upgraded Goyne Street from the current dead end to the South Service Road. More than $1.5 million currently has a low-priority designation in Louisiana Capital Outlay bill but hopes are that that designation will be upgraded in light of the all the current construction going on involving the Cooktown/Tech Drive overpass and the Tarbutton overpass to help ease traffic issues that could be exacerbated by all of that construction.
“I’m really looking forward to this addition,” said Ward 5 Councilman Bruce Siegmund. “It is in Ward 5 and there’s nothing like a nice, good shortcut to get around traffic. And I think we’re going to have traffic for a little while. The will be great for (Louisiana Tech University), it will be great for Ward 5 and it will be great for (the city of) Ruston.”
The City Council also authorized accepting the low bid of $86,880 from J.B. Guillory of Alexandria relating to drainage projects that will include drainage improvements at three intersections by replacing existing storm drains, installation of catch basins and filling in ditches for safer turning radiuses at those intersections, which are East California Avenue at Edgewood Street, Oriole Avenue at Lewis Street and South Trenton Street and D Avenue.
Also passed was an ordinance authorizing the incurring of debt not exceeding $26 million in sales tax revenue bonds in one or more series, prescribing the form, terms and conditions of said bonds, designating the date, denomination and place of payment of said bonds, providing for the payment thereof in principal and interest authorizing an agreement with the paying agent, and providing for other matters in connection therewith.
Tony Cortez of Stifel Financial Advisors explained what that means.
“Your CFO (Julie Keen) is always looking for ways to save money, so we’re always looking for these opportunities,” Cortez said. “And we found some opportunities and are going to be refunding your 2016 bonds by issuing around $23 million in bonds and will save over a million dollars and this resolution will allow you to do that.”
The City Council also passed another ordinance adopting amendments for the period Oct. 1, 2024 through Sept. 30, 2025.
In other business, the City Council authorized beginning the condemnation process for buildings and structures located at 1312 South Trenton St./198 Cotton St., giving the owner 30 days to demolish, remove or rebuild the buildings or structures and authorized the city to enter into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with Lincoln Total Community Action, Inc.
During the meeting the City Council also introduced three ordinances expected to be discussed and voted on during next month’s meeting — one amending Article I of Chapter 17 of the Ruston Code of Ordinances relating to nuisances, another amending Chapter 29 of the Code of Ordinances by changing certain zoning district boundaries relating to approving an amended preliminary plat for Russ-Town Crossing and the last amending sections of Chapter 13 of the Code of Ordinances relating to Fire Prevention Codes.
Dr. Stephanie Murphy, Vice President of Culture and Experience at UnitedHealth Group and a doctoral graduate of Louisiana Tech, will serve as keynote speaker for Tech’s Winter Commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 7 at the Thomas Assembly Center on the Ruston campus.
In her leadership role with UnitedHealth Group, Murphy guides enterprise employee listening, culture, and experience strategy that impacts more than 400,000 employees globally. With more than 15 years of experience in people analytics, assessments, and organizational research, she is nationally recognized for advancing employee experience through data-driven leadership.
Murphy grew up in LaPlace, graduated from East St. John High, then earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of New Orleans in 2009 before pursuing her doctoral degree at Tech, where “the faculty was welcoming and the quarter system made it easier to complete the work more efficiently without sacrificing the learning and knowledge attained,” she said.
During commencement, she hopes to impress upon Tech graduates “the importance of a support system and a strong network,” she said, impactful keys to helping her both in graduate school and now in her career.
“Success,” Murphy said, “is not achieved alone.”
She completed her Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Tech in 2015.
Besides her work with UnitedHealth Group, Murphy is the Founder and Executive Director of the Society for People Analytics (SPA), a global nonprofit community of more than 8,000 members dedicated to strengthening the people analytics profession. She has also held leadership roles at Dell Technologies and has experience across public and private sector organizations, including the U.S. Department of Treasury, Louisiana State Police, and Lumen Technologies.
A frequent keynote speaker at national conferences, she has been recognized as a Top 10 Data Analytics Professional, Top 20 People Analytics Influencer, Top 100 HR Influencer, Top 25 Emerging Culture Creator, and an Austin 40 Under 40 Finalist. She also serves as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business.
RUSTON, La. — Darren Ford has a quiet and calm presence when you talk to him off the court.
A Ruston High sophomore of few words, Ford is a player content to let his on-court game do the talking.
And his presence on the floor speaks volumes.
Tonight starts the next chapter in the 2025-26 season for the Bearcats as the postseason begins at home against Barbe at 6:30 p.m., and right now, Bearcat basketball fans see a young man who just crossed the 1,000-point mark and is averaging over 20 points per game on a talented team.
But what’s easy to miss is just how much the staff has worked at the “team” aspect in an age of social media and star-level rating systems bombarding these athletes every day — work that began all the way back over the summer when Ford and his family moved to Ruston.
“We watched him this summer when he got here and saw how well he was going to fit with us,” Ruston High head coach Marcus Jackson said. “We wanted to see how we could use his talents in all facets on offense and defense. He’s played well on the ball and off the ball this summer. But a big part of the summer and early in the season was trying to build chemistry and rapport.”
Most of Ruston’s roster has known each other and played together for years. Because of this, Ford had to learn the team and the team had to learn Ford — but it didn’t take long for everyone to see that Ford would be a great addition for the team.
“It been very fun, but very challenging,” Ford said. “Practice has been very competitive, and we’ve got good coaches around trying to take us to the next level.”
Ford is certainly a high-profile talent among plenty of others on this Ruston roster. His ability to score quickly combined with good defense is getting this young man plenty of looks from college basketball teams from all over the map.
“People forget that 50 percent of basketball is defense, and defense wins championships,” Ruston High assistant coach Kyle Thorne said. “One thing I was really impressed with in Darren is how willing he is to be coachable on the defensive end and trying to mold his game — he’s improved significantly from last year and even from the summer. You see him scoring, but his defense has really helped us — especially his ability to rebound. It’s an unspoken asset on this team: he’s a terrific rebounding guard.”
Now the No. 2 seed in the LHSAA playoffs this year, Ruston has become one of the most high profile teams in the entire state. It’s a challenge Jackson and his staff are embracing, as Jackson has implemented his “We Over Me” mentality and is trying to prime this school for what could be its first hoops title in four decades. And that’s created a culture that has embraced Ford’s talent and has made Ruston High his home.
Jackson cited that one of the reasons for going out-of-state to the Capitol City Classic in Salem, Oregon, in December was because of the lack of games the team played together over the summer and while football season was going on.
“We know that most of our kids didn’t all grow up together. We graduated five seniors from last year, and we knew we would need other kids step in and play and lastly, build rapport and team bonding, which is essential,” Jackson said. “We knew that was going to be key for our team’s success so we had to build our team mentality first.”
Oregon was a rousing success for sure: the Bearcats ended up winning the entire tournament, and multiple Bearcats won honors with junior Keshun Malcolm named MVP of the opening day against Central High School in Oregon, junior Ahmad Hudson MVP of the two games against Wilsonville and Tualatin, and then Ford earning MVP honors in the championship win against St. Mary’s.
But it was off the court, too, where the team had the chance to gel with visits to the Nike headquarters and then watching Oregon and Gonzaga play high-level college basketball.
(Ford, right, at the Modacenter in Oregon with his teammates)
Coming back home, there have been tough practices, yes, but it’s not only about the grind of basketball for the squad: shared experiences with travel, meals and church visits are just as important for team-building and quieting the noise.
“We’re all preaching to them about what can break a team, but what can also strengthen a team,” Jackson said. “We want to build on that success — together. We tell them that you’ve got to love each other on the court and play hard for one another. Good teams all have to play on one accord in order for team success.”
Right now, Ruston has not lost a game in nearly two months and breezed its way for the most part through District 2-5A en route to a championship. Most impressive was the Bearcat blowout win against an Alexandria team that featured the top senior basketball player in Louisiana in Tyshawn Duncan.
“That game was easily one of my favorite memories,” Ford said. “It was a big game, and then we just had a huge celebration in the locker room. It was some good moments in there.”
Now, the spotlight will shine brighter on the team and the staff as postseason play begins. This is where the work and the talent have to combine together to advance in the playoffs. The hope is that it’s all been worth it and that a genuine brotherhood has been created in the process.
And when you ask Ford, he’d certainly agree to that.
“I love my team, and I’m so happy to be here,” Ford said.
Tip off is set for 6:30 p.m. tonight in Ruston High’s Main Gym.
The Ruston Police Department is alerting the public to a phone scam that falsely claims its police chief is trying to collect money by phone to avoid arrest on a warrant.
“We have been made aware of a scam in which individuals are calling residents while falsely claiming to be Ruston Chief of Police Eric Watson,” Ruston Police Lt. Kayla Loyd warned. “The caller states that you have an active warrant for your arrest and then instructs you to withdraw money and send payment using gift cards or provide personal information over the phone.”
Loyd said law enforcement never requests payment over the phone, neither by gift cards, wire transfers, personal financial information, or any other means.
“Warrants are not handled or resolved by phone calls,” Loyd said.
Recipients of such calls are advised to avoid providing any information, hang up immediately, and report the call to the local law enforcement agency.
For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox.Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
The Richland Parish Sheriff’s Office has located a suspect wanted for an Georgia sexual assault who fled on foot after a state police pursuit near Rayville.
Jorge Eduardo Hinojosa, 45, of Candler County, Georgia, was arrested by Richland Parish deputies March 1.
The Candler County Sheriff’s Office was searching for Hinojosa in connection with a sexual assault that occurred in Candler County on February 27. Investigators obtained arrest warrants for Hinojosa for rape and kidnapping.
Investigators developed information Saturday morning that Hinojosa had fled Candler County and was believed to be in Louisiana. Louisiana State Police were notified in an effort to intercept him.
Early Saturday, Hinojosa fled from Louisiana State Police on Interstate 20 in the Rayville area. During the pursuit, Hinojosa crashed his vehicle and fled on foot. An extensive manhunt continued through the weekend.
Authorities say Hinojosa was located and arrested Sunday night, March 1, on Rescue Street within Rayville just a few blocks from Interstate 20. Richland Parish deputies took him into custody with assistance from Louisiana State Police.
Hinojosa was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.
Georgia authorities thanked Louisiana law enforcement for capturing Hinojosa.
“We greatly appreciate our law enforcement partners assisting with this investigation, especially the Louisiana State Police, the Richland Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the other assisting law enforcement agencies involved in the ongoing search,” Candler County said.
In a statement, LSP said, “This fugitive from justice was taken into custody as a direct result of the perseverance, coordination, and unwavering dedication of all agencies involved. The collaborative efforts of the Louisiana State Police, the Richland Parish Sheriff’s Office, and our local law enforcement partners demonstrate firsthand our shared commitment to public safety and to protecting the communities we serve.”
“We appreciate the public’s cooperation and patience throughout this operation. When agencies work together with a unified mission, outcomes like this are possible.”
Extradition proceedings will now begin to return Hinojosa to Candler County to face the charges. Candler County is located on Interstate 16 near Savannah.
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.
For a limited time, Bojangles is offering a “Buy One, Get One” deal on Tuesdays for a 3-piece tender combo that includes a side, a biscuit and a drink for $9.59!
That’s TWO tender combos for less than 10 bucks!
While you’re there, check out the rest of the menu, and don’t leave without trying their signature from-scratch biscuits and fixin’s.
Bojangles is located at 2202 Farmerville Hwy in Ruston, and is a proud supporter of the Lincoln Parish Journal.
