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News
Published Articles on the Journal, after the morning update or breaking news
Local events
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, July 31
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Friends of the Library Book Sale (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
10 a.m.: PAWS for NELA Therapy Dogs at Lincoln Parish Library
3:30-5:30 p.m.: Summer DND Campaign for Teens & Tweens (Lincoln Parish Library) Please call 318-513-5518 for important information about participation.
4 p.m.: Teens End of Summer Reading Party (Lincoln Parish Library)
Saturday, Aug. 1
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market/Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will be at the Ruston Farmers Market with models of snakes, live “pet” snakes, and a baby alligator
10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Friends of the Library Book Sale (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
Sunday, Aug. 2
1-4 p.m.: Friends of the Library Book Sale (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
Monday, Aug. 3
11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome
Noon to 6 p.m.: Friends of the Library Book Sale (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
5:30 p.m.: Ruston City Council 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, Aug. 4
6:30 a.m.: Veterans free breakfast (VFW Post 3615, 206 Memorial Dr.)
6 p.m.: Lincoln Parish School Board meeting (Lincoln Parish School Board office)
Wednesday, Aug. 5
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, Aug. 6
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Kiwanis Club lunch and program (Trinity Methodist Church fellowship hall; Anyone is welcome to come to our meeting,please notify Richartd Hamilton of your attendance. 318-518-2121)
4:30-5:30 p.m.: Free meal sponsored by 5 Loaves 2 Fish Ministry to be served at Ruston Housing Authority Maryland Plaza office, 615 N. Farmerville Street. All are welcome.
6 p.m.: Southern A’Chord Chorus rehearsal (Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 212 N. Bonner St.; open to all women singers)
Saturday, Aug. 8
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
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.
Tech adds Schwartz to men’s hoops staff
Head coach Talvin Hester and Louisiana Tech men’s basketball officially announced the hiring of assistant coach Adam Schwartz to the coaching staff ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Schwartz joins the Dunkin’ Dogs after spending one season as an assistant coach at Chicago State, where he helped develop CJ Ray, who earned Northeast Conference third-team honors following the 2025-26 season.
Before his time at Chicago State, Schwartz served as an assistant coach under Landon Bussie at Alcorn State. During his first season with the Braves in 2023-24, he helped guide Alcorn to a 13-5 Southwestern Athletic Conference record and the No. 2 seed in the SWAC Tournament before the Braves fell to No. 7 seed Alabama A&M in the opening round.
Before joining Alcorn State, Schwartz spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas. During his tenure, he helped lead the Buccaneers to 74 wins. Fourteen players earned National Junior College Athletic Association All-Region honors, including five first-team selections and one All-American. Thirty-four players under his tutelage advanced to four-year universities, including 12 who signed with NCAA Division I programs. As the team’s academic coordinator, Schwartz helped achieve a 100% graduation rate while raising the team’s average GPA from 2.87 to 3.37.
Before arriving at Blinn, Schwartz served as the head boys basketball coach at Mojave High School in North Las Vegas, Nevada, for three seasons. In 2018-19, the Rattlers posted one of the most successful seasons in program history, finishing 22-8, winning the school’s first 3A Southern Region championship and earning just the program’s second state tournament appearance. Following that season, Schwartz was named Nevada Preps Coach of the Year. He also coached with the Las Vegas Prospects Nike EYBL program, where he worked with multiple top-100 recruits, two McDonald’s All-Americans and one top-15 NBA draft pick.
Before Mojave, Schwartz spent nine seasons with Lamar Community College. He served as the program’s head coach from 2009-15 after spending the previous two seasons as an assistant coach. He was named NJCAA Region IX South Sub-Region Coach of the Year after leading the Runnin’ Lopes to their first Region IX South Sub-Region championship in 2010-11. During his two seasons as an assistant, Schwartz helped the Runnin’ Lopes compile a 47-21 record while also helping the program capture its first Region IX championship and earn its first NJCAA National Tournament appearance, where Lamar finished fifth in 2008-09.
Schwartz spent the 2005-06 season as an assistant coach at Colorado Northwestern Community College before being promoted to head coach the following season. Under his leadership, the program increased its win total and completed its most successful two-year stretch in several years.
His coaching career began as a student assistant at UNLV from 2002-05 under Charlie Spoonhour (2002-04) and Lon Kruger (2004-05). He also served as a volunteer assistant coach at Durango High School in Las Vegas from 1999-2004 under Hall of Fame coach Al LaRocque.
Schwartz is married to the former Meagan O’Connell-Carne of Dayton, Ohio.
Notice of death — July 30, 2026
Lisa Diane Weaver
February 20, 1966 – July 27, 2026
Visitation: Friday, July 31, 2026, 9:00AM – 10:00AM, Dayspring Baptist Church, 3191 S VIenna St., Ruston
Service: Friday, July 31, 2026, 10:00AM, Dayspring Baptist Church, 3191 S VIenna St., Ruston
Final Resting Place: Pleasant Grove Cemetery, 1366 Pleasant Grove Road, Choudrant
Willie Jean Riley (Granny)
Tuesday 06/08/1937 — Saturday 07/25/2026
Visitation: Friday 07/31/2026 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home
Celebration of Life: Saturday 08/01/2026 11:00am, May’s Chapel CME, 513 West Line Avenue, Ruston
Interment: Saturday 08/01/2026, Grambling Memorial Garden, Highway 80 West, Grambling
Eleisha Yvette Levingston
Saturday 11/19/1966 — Thursday 07/23/2026
Memorial Service: Saturday 08/08/2026 10:00am at King’s Funeral Home
The lesson of ‘I Get To’ at MedCamps of Louisiana
by Malcolm Butler
During her freshman year at LSU, Ruston native Emily Stutzman took a public speaking class.
One of her first assignments was to write a speech about something that had impacted her life; a passion.
The topic for the assignment was one of the easiest decisions of Emily’s young life.
“It was all about MedCamps (of Louisiana),” said Emily, who is finishing her fourth summer as a counselor at the special needs camp located in Choudrant. “The title for my speech was ‘I Get To.'”
For the past four decades, thousands of young people — roughly 500 per summer — facing the challenge of living with various disabilities have rolled through the pine tree-covered hills of the 75-acre footprint that makes up MedCamps of Louisiana.
For many of them, it’s the only week of the year that they “get to.” It’s the magic of MedCamps of Louisiana, where the impossible becomes possible for campers and the routine becomes truly appreciated by counselors.
Emily quickly realized it was a life-altering experience.
“That first summer honestly changed my whole perspective of life,” said Emily, a kinesiology major. “I realized that I get to wake up. I get to be independent. I get to drive a car. I get to walk.
“I thought it would be an awesome opportunity, but it has been more than that. I couldn’t have asked for anything better. I have loved it so much.”
For Emily, those three simple words became much more than the title of a speech. They became a way of looking at life.
Before arriving at MedCamps, Emily said she viewed the world much the way most young adults do. Like most people, she rarely stopped to think about the ordinary routines that filled each day. Things she took for granted.
Then she spent a summer at camp. And her perspective changed quickly as she walked beside children whose lives looked much different than her own.
Emily watched campers celebrate accomplishments many people never stop to consider. She listened to their stories. She laughed with them. She shared so many moments and emotions with them.
And during that first summer, Emily realized she had been looking at life through an entirely different lens then her campers.
“I realized that we get to feed ourselves,” she said. “Even things like going to the bathroom by yourself. I never thought about that not being an option. It’s something that I still think about today.”
The lesson wasn’t one of pity. If anything, it was the opposite. Emily wasn’t inspired by what the campers couldn’t do. She was inspired by what they could.
She watched campers throw themselves into activities with enthusiasm, celebrate victories that might seem small to someone else and embrace each day with a joy that proved happiness isn’t measured by physical ability.
That realization followed her to college in Baton Rouge.
And when her professor asked the students to choose a topic that had changed their lives, Emily didn’t have to search for an answer. She simply told the story of her experience with special needs campers.
She called it “I Get To.”
And in some ways, it’s a mantra for all counselors at MedCamps of Louisiana.
______________________________________
Emily’s story is deeply personal, but it isn’t unique.
Every summer, dozens of college students arrive at Camp Alabama for reasons that seem practical. Some want patient-care experience before applying to medical or physician assistant school. Others need internship or practicum hours. Some simply want to spend a summer making a difference.
Almost every one of them believes they’re coming to change someone else’s life. But instead, they leave with the campers changing theirs.
Executive Director Caleb Seney knows that transformation firsthand. A MedCamps counselor from 1993-97, Caleb has spent the past three decades watching the same thing happen to hundreds of young adults.
Long before the first camper arrives each summer, Caleb travels to college campuses across Louisiana searching for the next group of counselors. He’s looking for something more important than a résumé.
“We’re looking for people that are willing to serve,” said Caleb.
Every summer, they come. Some have never spent meaningful time around children or adults with disabilities.
Until they step foot on Camp Alabama and experience that first smile, laugh, victory by a camper.
For Choudrant native Trevor Trevillion, that lesson arrived during his very first week.
A Louisiana Tech biology major planning to attend medical school, Trevor came to MedCamps hoping to answer a practical question.
“I really wanted to find an experience where I could grow and kind of figure out if medicine really was what I wanted to do,” Trevor said.
Friends encouraged him to apply after hearing Seney speak to his fraternity. Trevor is a TKE at Tech. He expected valuable experience from the summer job. Instead, he found perspective from a life-altering experience.
One of his first campers was a young boy named Holden. Trevor quickly noticed something remarkable.
“It didn’t matter what event we were doing,” he said. “Everything we went to, he was super excited.”
Swimming. Playing games. Simply moving from one activity to another. Holden attacked every moment with enthusiasm.
Later in the summer, Trevor watched the same joy spread through an entire week of campers attending diabetes camp.
“Seeing the excitement, the screaming, the waterslide … we’re all painting each other, running around laughing,” Trevor said. “That’s what sticks out to me. They find so much joy in the simple things. It was easy to really hone in on that and feel it with them.”
Then, almost without realizing it, he found himself thinking much like Emily.
“All the things I’ve complained about, I have nothing to really complain about,” Trevor said. “Until you can’t walk, or you don’t get the privilege of privacy when you go to the bathroom, or you can’t shower yourself or feed yourself, you don’t realize how blessed you are.
“I’d say I left with a greater appreciation for life and humility.”
______________________________________
Jordan Vail came to MedCamps searching for patient care hours. He left seeing people differently.
Like Trevor, Jordan’s path to Camp Alabama was rooted in his future career. Preparing for physician assistant school, he wanted hands-on experience working with people in this type of setting.
Instead, MedCamps challenged something much deeper than a résumé. It challenged the way Jordan viewed disability.
“That first week opened my eyes,” said Jordan, a Cedar Creek alum and Louisiana Tech student. “These kids, they’re just kids. They have a disability, but they don’t care. They’re going to be themselves.”
That lesson became personal through a camper named Collin.
Collin uses a wheelchair. Outside of camp, Jordan said, Collin said he often felt like people noticed the wheelchair before they noticed him. At MedCamps, it was different.
“He told me, ‘Y’all treat us like we’re regular kids,'” Jordan recalled. “‘Not, ‘Oh, he’s in a wheelchair. He can’t do that.””
That simple statement stayed with him.
Jordan remembers another camper telling him recess was her least favorite part of school. She couldn’t enjoy the playground like the other children. Then she found MedCamps.
“You just can’t make up that pure joy,” Jordan said, choking back emotions.
Like Emily and Trevor, Jordan found himself grateful for things he once overlooked.
“They’re overcoming their challenge to find happiness,” he said.
For Haylee Shoemaker, however, the transformation wasn’t simply about gratitude. It changed the direction of her life.
When Haylee first arrived at MedCamps in the summer of 2025, she was completing a practicum while earning her degree in Human Development and Family Sciences at Louisiana Tech.
She enjoyed working with children. She thought camp would be a valuable learning experience, but she never expected it to redefine her future.
“It was the most amazing, beautiful experience I’ve ever had in my entire life,” Haylee said. “Coming into MedCamps made me do a full 180 in terms of what I wanted to do with my life. It completely transformed the way I wanted to pursue my life.”
After graduating from Louisiana Tech, Haylee is preparing to begin graduate school in child life – a career devoted to helping children and families navigate medical challenges. She credits MedCamps with helping her discover that calling.
“There’s always something about MedCamps that makes you want to come back,” said Haylee, who hopes one day she can return in a full-time role.
“I think MedCamps gives these kids a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do things that they never get to do anywhere else,” she said. “It really is beautiful seeing how MedCamps can have kids come out of their shell more and help them blossom.”
______________________________________
For Caleb, these stories are familiar. He’s watched them unfold summer after summer. Counselors arrive hoping they’ll make a difference, and weeks later, most leave realizing the experience has changed them for the better.
It’s a true form of admiration, one that runs both directions.
“Every camper out here wants to be one of these camp counselors,” Caleb said. “We tell our staff during training, ‘You are a hero to these kids.'”
Caleb believes that’s why many counselors return year after year despite the demanding schedule.
Many come hoping to make a difference, but leave carrying something they never expected: a different perspective, a deeper gratitude, a clearer purpose.
Much like Emily Stutzman.
Four years after standing in front of her LSU classmates, she no longer needs note cards to remember the message: “I get to.”
She lives it.
For Emily and Trevor and Jordan and Haylee — and for countless MedCamp counselors who have walked the same trails through Camp Alabama — they’ve acquired a knowledge that the greatest gift they found at camp wasn’t one they gave.
It was one they received.
______________________________________
As the final week of the summer of 2026 at MedCamps of Louisiana comes to an end, Caleb said one of the biggest challenges begins: finding enough qualified counselors to meet the needs of the campers for next year.
While many counselors are students pursuing careers in medicine, nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, education and other service-related fields, Caleb said MedCamps looks for much more than just career goals in its counselors.
“We’re looking for leaders,” Caleb said. “We’re looking for people who have a heart to serve.”
He said previous experience working with individuals with disabilities is helpful but not required.
Instead, MedCamps focuses on recruiting young adults who are compassionate, willing to learn, and committed to creating a positive experience for campers.
“You can make more money working at Waffle House than working out here,” Caleb said. “But you can’t get the same reward.”
Applications for summer counselor positions typically open in early January. Meanwhile, Caleb begins the recruiting process for next year with visits to colleges and universities throughout Louisiana looking for his next Emily, Trevor, Jordan, and Haylee.
Information about counselor positions, volunteer opportunities and the various camps offered each summer is available on the website at MedCamps.org. Interested parties can also inquire by emailing info@medcamps.org.
Snippets from a Master Gardener – Snakes!
By Ann Taylor
Ruston is in for a treat this weekend. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will be at the Ruston Farmers Market this Saturday, Aug. 1, and they are coming with lots of good information about snakes and reptiles. They will have a display table with models of common snakes, some live “pet” snakes and a baby alligator! Come visit with us between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Ruston Farmers Market.
I was surprised to learn from the LDWF website that Louisiana is home to 47 native snake species, and only seven are venomous (that is just about 15%). The other 85% are nonvenomous. Both venomous and nonvenomous snakes play a big role in keeping ecosystems balanced by controlling rodents, insects and fish populations. So seeing a snake doesn’t mean trouble. Most snakes are harmless and busy doing important work in our backyards and wetlands.
Snake activity peaks from April through July, often during the cooler parts of the day in summer. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has lots of information on its website. In addition to a poster identifying snakes, “Snakes of Louisiana” (https://buff.ly/5TxgFWA), the department offers lots of practical advice.
If you see a snake:
• Give it space and let it move along.
• Don’t try to kill it — removing snakes can lead to more pests.
• Don’t be fooled by defensive behavior (like flattening its head) — many snakes are just bluffing.
Keep your yard snake-unfriendly:
• Clear debris and thick vegetation.
• Seal gaps around your home.
• Trim branches away from your roofline.
• Keep grass short and borders tidy.
As a basket maker, I have become a big fan of the longleaf pine tree, native to our area and eight other Southeastern states. Longleaf pines once towered majestically over about 90 million acres from Virginia to East Texas. Due to the demand for straight, tall timber, the need for turpentine and pitch, and extensive logging, less than 3 million acres of this iconic landscape remained by the 20th century. Fire suppression policies also influenced the historical fire regime essential for longleaf pine regeneration.
Longleaf pine forests are one of the most imperiled ecosystems in North America, supporting roughly 29 to 31 federally threatened and endangered species like the red-cockaded woodpecker, gopher tortoise and Louisiana pine snake. I was excited to see a press release from the Audubon Nature Institute stating the Audubon Zoo and its conservation partners released 14 Louisiana pine snakes in the Kisatchie National Forest on June 3, 2026. The release is part of an ongoing conservation effort to restore wild populations of this imperiled species.
“Louisiana pine snakes are an essential part of the longleaf pine ecosystem that is also home to pocket gophers, their primary food source,” said Mallory McKinney, senior herpetology keeper at Audubon Zoo. “Supporting Louisiana pine snake conservation and habitat management of these areas helps native species thrive. We are excited for our continued participation in this program.”
So a quote from the LDWF website: “Coexisting with wildlife can be as simple as giving a little space and letting nature do its thing.”
Woman gives deceased sister’s name during traffic stop
A Ruston woman told a deputy her name was her dead sister’s during a late-night traffic stop this past weekend, according to an arrest affidavit.
Queen Emunyla Payton, 32, of Ruston, was arrested July 25 by the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office. She was arrested again the following morning by the Grambling Police Department on a set of outstanding warrants.
A deputy on patrol was traveling behind a white Nissan Altima on U.S. 167 and ran the license plate, which came back as not insured. The deputy activated his emergency lights and stopped the vehicle on U.S. 167 at Deer Trail. Because the Altima stopped partially in the roadway, the stop was moved to Rabb Road.
The driver said she did not have any identification. While speaking with her, the deputy reported seeing suspected marijuana gleanings in the center console and detecting the odor of suspected marijuana while standing outside the vehicle.
The driver gave the name Octavia Jackson and a date of birth. When the deputy ran that information, dispatch advised that the person by that name was deceased.
The driver then said she had an open container inside the vehicle and had just started drinking from it. After hearing the dispatch response, she identified herself as Queen Payton and said the name she had given belonged to her deceased sister. She said she had used the name before and had received a citation under it on July 10.
Payton was placed in restraints and put in a marked patrol unit, and was advised of her rights. During a search of the vehicle, deputies reported finding a suspected marijuana cigar in the front passenger seat and a clear plastic bag containing suspected marijuana in the back seat.
Payton was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center on charges of possession of a Schedule I controlled dangerous substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was released on her own recognizance on both counts.
The next morning, a Grambling police officer arrested Payton at the detention center on three outstanding warrants: violation of a protective order, criminal trespass and disturbing the peace. Bond was set at $5,000 on the protective order count, with the remaining two counts released on her own recognizance.
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.
Local experts to address youth Saturday at “Behind the Scenes of Mental Health”
As conversations surrounding youth mental health continue to grow across the nation, one Ruston nonprofit is working to ensure families in north Louisiana have access to education, resources and support before the start of the new school year.
The Mt. Zion Community Faith Healing Restoration Project will host Behind the Scenes of Mental Health from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Aug. 1, at the Zion Traveler Baptist Church Family Life Center, 1201 Martin Luther King Drive in Ruston.
The free event is designed for Pre-K through college students, along with parents and teachers, and will feature age-specific breakout sessions led by educators, counselors and community leaders. Organizers say the goal is to equip attendees with practical tools to recognize and address mental health challenges while reducing the stigma often associated with seeking help.
Participants who register by July 20 will be eligible to receive free school supplies, and a sack lunch will be provided at the conclusion of the program.
Executive Director E.C. Morgan said the Mt. Zion Community Faith Healing Restoration Project views the seminar as another step in its mission to improve mental health awareness and support throughout rural north Louisiana.
“The Mt. Zion Faith Healing Restoration Project continues to be intentional in its commitment to meet the challenge as a nonprofit community agency and strengthen its role as a trusted resource for addressing the mental health crisis in our rural communities,” Morgan said. “Our purpose is to address the life-altering and complex issues surrounding mental health, particularly in rural and other underserved communities. This seminar will bring together youth, parents, teachers and mental health professionals to equip students and families with the support and resources they need as they prepare for the upcoming school year.”
Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all presentation, organizers have designed the event around age-appropriate breakout sessions that focus on the unique emotional and mental health challenges participants are likely to face.
Children in Pre-K through third grade will participate in sessions centered on Learning About Feelings and Friendships. Mike Smith (Assistant District Attorney, 3rd Judicial Court) will present “Awakening Awareness: Starting the Conversation,” while Jamie Arthurlee (LCSW) will lead discussions designed to help young children recognize emotions, build healthy friendships and develop positive social skills.
Students in grades 4 and 5 will focus on Bullying and Exercises to Help With Anxiety during a presentation led by Minister Darrius Stewart. The session is intended to provide practical strategies for responding to bullying while teaching simple techniques students can use to manage anxiety and build confidence.
Middle school students in grades 6 through 8 will participate in Stress Management, Emotional Resilience and Social Media, led by Roddric Johnson (LPC). The presentation will address the increasing pressures faced by adolescents, including the effects of social media, while emphasizing healthy coping skills and emotional resilience.
High school and college students will hear from Dr. Tiffany Bates (PhD, LPC), who will present Stress Management and Academic Burnout. The session will focus on helping older students recognize the signs of overwhelming stress and develop strategies to balance academic demands while maintaining their mental well-being.
Parents and teachers will participate in a separate session, Bridging Home, School and Community, presented by Dr. Stephanie Bundle (PhD, LMSW, RSW). That discussion will emphasize collaboration among families, schools and community organizations to better support children’s emotional health and academic success.
The Mt. Zion Community Faith Healing Restoration Project said the event reflects its ongoing mission to address the growing need for mental health resources in rural communities.
The organization works to support young adults, children, parents, veterans and their families by providing education, referrals, telehealth access and resources related to depression, anxiety, trauma and family stress. Organizers hope programs such as Behind the Scenes of Mental Health will encourage open conversations about emotional well-being while connecting families with available support services.
Registration is now open. Organizers encourage students, parents, teachers and community members to register by July 29 to be eligible to receive free school supplies. A sack lunch will be provided following the program.
To register or obtain additional information, email mtzfaithhealingproject@outlook.com.
This is an advertorial.
Bulldog Aquatic Club closes season with all-state honors, state record at Louisiana Championships
LPJ Sports Report
BATON ROUGE — The Bulldog Aquatic Club wrapped up its 2026 long course season with an all-state performance, a Louisiana state record and a top-12 overall team finish at the Louisiana Summer 15 & Over State Championship Swim Meet, held July 16-19 in Baton Rouge.
The meet featured approximately 300 of Louisiana’s fastest high school and college-age swimmers competing over 3½ days. Swimmers were eligible for up to six individual events in addition to relays, with preliminary races each morning and the top 32 finishers advancing to evening finals.
Bulldog Aquatic Club, coached by Paulette Butterfield, finished 12th overall among 18 teams. The club placed sixth in the boys standings and 13th in the girls standings.
Leading the way was J.J. Hoover, who earned all-state honors by finishing among the top three in five individual events. Hoover captured state championships in the 100-yard butterfly and 200 butterfly, finished second in the 200 breaststroke and placed third in both the 50 and 100 breaststroke. Hoover also set a Louisiana Swimming state record in the 50 butterfly.
The club’s 200 mixed medley relay team of KaraLin Hoover, Camdyn Napper, Samuel Jackson and Breanna Senn also established a Louisiana Swimming state record.
“We sent a solid group of 15 athletes to compete in the meet,” Butterfield said. “It was a long hot weekend with some competing in up to 8 events per day. They showed a lot of mental toughness and grit.”
Several Bulldog swimmers turned in top-10 finishes throughout the meet.
For the girls, Breanna Senn placed ninth in the 1,500 freestyle and Emily Xu recorded fourth-place finishes in both the 1,500 and 800 freestyle while adding ninth-place finishes in the 200 and 400 freestyle.
On the boys side, Jack Groce finished eighth in the 400 individual medley and 10th in the 200 individual medley. Camdyn Napper posted four top-seven finishes, placing fifth in the 400 individual medley, sixth in both the 200 backstroke and 200 butterfly, and seventh in the 200 individual medley.
In the Multi-Class Division, Brendan Pilgreen earned runner-up finishes in the 100 freestyle and 50 backstroke while placing third in the 50 freestyle. William Smith finished second in the 50 freestyle and third in the 50 butterfly, 50 backstroke and 100 freestyle.
The Bulldogs also recorded strong relay performances, highlighted by a seventh-place finish in the boys 200 freestyle relay. The boys added eighth-place finishes in the 400 freestyle and 400 medley relays, while the girls’ best relay finish was 17th in the 400 medley relay.
Butterfield said the meet also marked the end of an era for one of the program’s veteran swimmers.
“This last meet of the season is always bittersweet as we cheered on our graduating Ruston senior, KaraLin Hoover who will be attending Pepperdine in the fall,” Butterfield said.
Although the state meet concluded the season for most of the team, several Bulldog swimmers remain in competition.
“This meet was not even the end of the season for a few of our swimmers,” Butterfield said. “We have 3 swimmers, Senn, Roach and Romanski, currently competing in the Southern Zone Senior Championships in Houston, TX. This meet brings swimmers from 14 different regions in the southeast to one venue.”
Butterfield also noted Hoover’s season is continuing on the national stage.
“Next week (August 3-7), J.J. Hoover will be traveling to Irvine, CA to participate in USA Swimming’s Speedo Junior National Championships,” Butterfield said. “This is a true national meet where swimmers from the entire US race at one meet.”
Registration open for Liberty Ruck 5K set for August 15
For a decade, the City of Ruston has hosted its annual Veterans Day Celebration. And with this being the 10th Anniversary of the event, the Veterans Day Committee has added something special.
“It’s a privilege for us to honor the selfless acts and sacrifices of our military men and women,” said Jessica Greer, Sr. VolunteerUNITED Manager and Committee Chair. “Each year it’s always so special to present our city’s Veterans Day Celebration, but we wanted to make this year’s celebration extra special.”
One of the new additions is the Liberty Ruck 5K, an exciting new addition to the festivities. Scheduled for August 15, registration is now open for this distinctive event honoring service, strength, and community.
“As a committee, we’ve been looking for a way to bring people together and help us do something extra special for the 10th year of our Veterans Day Celebration,” added Lauren Dowden, City of Ruston Main Street Director. “That’s really where the idea for the Veterans 5K Run and Ruck came from. We wanted an event that anyone could join in on, something fun and centered around supporting the veterans who live right here in our community.”
The name of the event directly connects to the expectations of the men and women who serve in the military. A “ruck” can be as simple as walking around with a backpack on a hike, or as difficult as moving fast with all your military gear over rugged terrain. However, for the Liberty Ruck 5K you don’t have to worry about carrying anything at all.
Participants will choose either a 5K or a 1.7-mile run for the local ruck. The event starts at 8:00 A.M. at 418 Dan Reneau Drive, at the corner of the Integrated Engineering and Science Building on the Louisiana Tech University campus. Register at https://runsignup.com/Race/Register/?raceId=204059 or by using the QR code seen here. Entry is $30 now or $40 the day of the race.
“We also want to encourage those participating to wear something that represents their favorite branch of the U.S. Military,” Greer added. “This can include the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, or Space Force.”
Every runner will receive a special set of commemorative dog tags, and the winner of each race category will receive a custom-made plaque. Sergeant First Class Chris Taylor, Louisiana Army National Guard, and a committee member, said the Liberty Ruck 5K is more than just a race.
“This is a chance for our community to stand alongside our veterans and show appreciation for their service,” Taylor said. “Having served here for 17 years, I’ve seen how proud North Louisiana is of its veterans, and this event reflects that spirit.”
The race also provides an opportunity to give back. While 90% of proceeds will support the annual Veterans Day Program, 10% will be donated to VFW Post 3615. And the money dedicated to the 10th Anniversary Celebration will allow this year’s event to include some special additions.
“We’re excited because this run doesn’t just add a new activity,” Dowden continued. “It helps us raise the funds we need to make this year’s celebration bigger and better than ever.”
Proceeds from the ruck will help fund The Victory Belles, a popular vocal trio based at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, specializing in 1940s-style music and three-part harmonies. For the Veterans Day Celebration, they will perform patriotic songs and wartime hits to honor veterans and promote wartime nostalgia.
“We are excited about how this race can bring the community together in support of our military and honor their sacrifice,” Greer said. “We hope to see everyone there as we show our pride and honor our veterans.”
For race details or to support the Liberty Ruck 5K, contact Laurel Pesnell at 318-550-6104 or Jessica Greer at 318-791-4384 or jgreer@unitedwaynela.org.
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Farmerville man arrested on second-offense DWI
A traffic stop on U.S. 80 in Grambling early Sunday morning ended with a driver jailed on a second-offense DWI charge after he refused field sobriety and breath testing, according to the affidavit.
Laquan Simpkins, 30, of Farmerville, was arrested July 26 by the Louisiana State Police.
A trooper was called to the scene after the Grambling Police Department reported a possible impaired driver. Grambling officers had detained the driver, later identified as Simpkins, before the trooper arrived.
The trooper reported observing bloodshot eyes, incoherent speech and a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on Simpkins’ breath. After being advised of his Miranda rights, Simpkins was asked how much he had to drink and said “a beer.” He initially refused a standardized field sobriety test and became agitated. Then he agreed to the test after a second request.
After performing poorly on the sobriety test, Simpkins was handcuffed, searched and transported to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center. There, he was brought to an Intoxilyzer 9000 and read his rights related to chemical testing, which he refused. Following a 15-minute observation period, he refused to provide a breath sample. He was released to detention center staff without incident and booked.
A criminal history check showed a prior DWI in 2025.
Simpkins was booked on one count of DWI, second offense. Bond was set at $2,500.
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.
COLUMN: What really defines a community?
We have moved around a few times over my work career. We have experienced both large and small communities. Regardless of the size, location, or stage of life, I have found there are five keys to every successful community.
Economic Growth: The local business community is growing. Jobs are being created and wages are advancing.
Public Education System: Quality schools are comprised of caring teachers, engaged parents, a committed administration, and a supportive community.
Health Care: At a minimum, a community needs access to reliable basic health care for emergencies, routine, and diagnostic procedures to be handled locally.
Housing: There is access to well-maintained rental property, home access for first-time buyers, and ample opportunities for those seeking the “next” home purchase as well as those moving to the community.
Safety: Citizens consider the community safe and have good relationships with various law enforcement agencies.
While I have found these five to be consistent factors over the years, there is one overriding attribute that defines a community at its core.
That attribute is character.
The character of the members of the community is what I am referring to here. Authentic character is what I am referencing.
- Character that is evidenced in the tough times.
- Character that comes to light when things go dark.
- Character that rises to the level of the challenge when things are sinking all around.
Character is revealed in governing body meetings when disagreements occur. Whether it’s City Counsel, School Board, or Policy Jury, disagreements are resolved in calm, open-discussion dialogue.
Character is revealed in youth sports activities where parents allow young people to learn skills, competitive focus, and sportsmanship. Parents are encouraging observers!
Character is revealed in how citizens support local non-profits that serve the community, how citizens support one another directly, and how citizens conduct themselves in election season.
In essence, authentic character is displayed when our actions reflect our convictions.
We often lose poise, composure, and character when:
- We focus on self, not on others
- We zero in on one issue, rather than the overall picture
- We focus on our words rather than listen to others.
- We have a desire to be right, to win, and to feel vindicated more than we seek what’s best for all.
Emotional reactions lead to regretful words and actions. Conviction-based responses often lead to statements that are remembered!
We can nail all five of the keys noted at the beginning of the article, but if we miss the character attribute, it’s just a matter of time before things erode.
If you want to get a read on the character of your community, attend a government meeting, a youth sports event, or a local political rally.
Passion for a position, with poise in presentation, provides a positive-focused perspective.
Doug equips leaders to make organizations better. He has two leadership books available on all online platforms. Whether you are looking for a speaker for your next event or a leadership coach to develop people and build an authentic team, contact Doug at doug.strickel@gmail.com and learn more about PLUS.
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Book Review: A North Louisiana Con Artist Plays to Win
by Wesley Harris
First Lie Wins, a Novel by Ashley Elston, Pamela Dorman Books/Viking, 2024
Ashley Elston’s First Lie Wins opens with a perfect Southern life that is almost entirely false.
Evie Porter has a handsome boyfriend, an attractive home and a place among the well-connected residents of Lake Forbing, Louisiana. The problem is that Evie Porter does not exist. The name, background, and personality have been created for an assignment, and boyfriend Ryan Sumner is not simply a romantic interest. He is her target.
Evie works for a mysterious figure known only as Mr. Smith. He supplies identities and locations, then sends her into other people’s lives to gather information, manipulate events, or steal what he wants. She has survived by becoming whatever each assignment requires, but the Lake Forbing operation begins to unravel when a woman arrives using Evie’s real name and personal history.
From that point, the novel becomes a fast-moving contest over identity, loyalty, and control. Evie must determine what Mr. Smith knows, why Ryan was selected, and whether the life she has built can become more than another temporary performance.
Published in 2024, First Lie Wins was Ashley Elston’s first adult novel after six books for young adults. It became a No. 1 New York Times bestseller and was selected as Reese’s Book Club choice for January 2024. Reese Witherspoon praised its secret identities, mysterious employer and cat-and-mouse structure.
For North Louisiana readers, however, much of the book’s appeal lies in its setting.
Elston lives in Shreveport, graduated from LSU-Shreveport and has built her writing career in North Louisiana. The novel takes place mainly in the fictional town of Lake Forbing, described as a medium-sized North Louisiana community known for fertile farmland, natural gas, and quietly held wealth.
Although Elston does not identify Lake Forbing as Shreveport, she has explained that readers familiar with the area should recognize the city through its descriptions. She wanted the setting to function almost as another character, using details of Southern social life rather than relying on the Louisiana shorthand of Mardi Gras, swamps, and New Orleans.
That choice gives the book a refreshing regional authenticity. This is a Louisiana of suburban homes, inherited businesses, country-club friendships, gas wealth, watch parties, and social circles formed over decades. People know one another’s families, histories, and reputations. An outsider may be welcomed politely, but she will also be examined closely.
That atmosphere suits a novel about deception. Evie can create a convincing identity, but Lake Forbing is the kind of community where every answer may lead to another question. Ryan’s friends are suspicious not because they are detectives, but because they have known him most of their lives and instinctively recognize that Evie appeared without a past.
Elston uses that social scrutiny effectively. In a larger or more anonymous city, Evie might disappear into the crowd. In Lake Forbing, her ability to survive depends on winning over people who notice inconsistencies and have the resources to investigate them.
The plot moves between Evie’s current assignment and earlier identities she assumed in other places. Those flashbacks gradually explain how she became skilled at reading people, improvising under pressure and escaping when plans collapse. They also reveal the emotional cost of living without a stable name or home.
Evie is a morally complicated protagonist, but Elston makes her easy to follow and often easy to admire. She lies, steals and manipulates, yet she is also resourceful, disciplined and increasingly determined to escape the person controlling her. Her attraction to Ryan adds another uncertainty: she may be using him, but she is no longer sure that everything between them is false.
Ryan is similarly difficult to classify. He appears to be the comfortable heir to a successful Louisiana business, but his wealth and activities carry questions of their own. Elston keeps both characters just ambiguous enough that the reader cannot be certain who is deceiving whom.
The novel’s greatest strength is its construction. Identities, objects, and conversations that appear incidental often return with greater importance. Elston gives readers enough information to form theories but withholds enough to keep those theories unstable. Each revelation changes the meaning of something that came earlier.
At times, the story depends on an unusually elaborate level of planning and coincidence. Readers who prefer strictly realistic crime fiction may find some of the machinery too polished. The characters also move through dangerous situations with the confidence and efficiency of figures in a caper film.
But First Lie Wins is not attempting to be a police procedural. It is a sleek psychological thriller built around reinvention, misdirection, and the pleasure of watching a capable protagonist turn a trap back on the people who designed it.
Its North Louisiana setting adds more than scenery. Lake Forbing provides the wealth, familiarity, and social pressure that make Evie’s assignment possible—and dangerous. Elston understands that deception works differently in a place where appearances matter and where people quietly keep track of who belongs.
The result is a clever, highly readable thriller that gives North Louisiana a rare role in popular suspense fiction. Rather than presenting the region as exotic or backward, Elston uses its modern neighborhoods, energy wealth, and close social networks as the natural setting for a sophisticated game of lies. Beware, the book includes a couple of words you can’t say on television.
For local readers, recognizing the world behind Lake Forbing is part of the fun. First Lie Wins offers a twisting story about a woman who has lived through countless false identities and finally decides to take control of the truth.
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Local events
Each Monday through Friday, the Lincoln Parish Journal will post a list of non-for-profit upcoming events happening in the parish. If you would like to add your event to this list or advertise your for-profit events, please email us at lpjnewsla@gmail.com.
Thursday, July 30
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Kiwanis Club lunch and program (Trinity Methodist Church fellowship hall; Anyone is welcome to come to our meeting,please notify Richartd Hamilton of your attendance. 318-518-2121)
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.: Picnic in the Park (Railroad Park)
2 p.m.: Tween Time : Watermelon Slime (Lincoln Parish Library)
4 p.m.: Teen Time : Jigsaw Puzzle Craft (Lincoln Parish Library)
6 p.m.: Video-Led Tai Chi class (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
6 p.m.: Southern A’Chord Chorus rehearsal (Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 212 N. Bonner St.; open to all women singers)
Friday, July 31
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Friends of the Library Book Sale (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
10 a.m.: PAWS for NELA Therapy Dogs at Lincoln Parish Library
3:30-5:30 p.m.: Summer DND Campaign for Teens & Tweens (Lincoln Parish Library) Please call 318-513-5518 for important information about participation.
4 p.m.: Teens End of Summer Reading Party (Lincoln Parish Library)
Saturday, Aug. 1
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market/Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will be at the Ruston Farmers Market with models of snakes, live “pet” snakes, and a baby alligator
10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Friends of the Library Book Sale (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
Sunday, Aug. 2
1-4 p.m.: Friends of the Library Book Sale (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
Monday, Aug. 3
11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome
Noon to 6 p.m.: Friends of the Library Book Sale (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
5:30 p.m.: Ruston City Council 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, Aug. 4
6:30 a.m.: Veterans free breakfast (VFW Post 3615, 206 Memorial Dr.)
6 p.m.: Lincoln Parish School Board meeting (Lincoln Parish School Board office)
Wednesday, Aug. 5
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, Aug. 6
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Kiwanis Club lunch and program (Trinity Methodist Church fellowship hall; Anyone is welcome to come to our meeting,please notify Richartd Hamilton of your attendance. 318-518-2121)
4:30-5:30 p.m.: Free meal sponsored by 5 Loaves 2 Fish Ministry to be served at Ruston Housing Authority Maryland Plaza office, 615 N. Farmerville Street. All are welcome.
6 p.m.: Southern A’Chord Chorus rehearsal (Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 212 N. Bonner St.; open to all women singers)
Saturday, Aug. 8
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
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.
Tech Athletics completes lifelong fan story with launch of Varsity Blue
Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
Every Louisiana Tech fan has a story.
For some, it begins with their first football game as a child. Others discover Louisiana Tech through a family tradition, celebrate championships with friends, become students, and eventually return years later with children of their own.
Others simply grow up loving Bulldog and Lady Techster Athletics and carry those memories with them wherever life leads.
Every story is different, but every stage of life deserves a place to belong.
With the launch of Varsity Blue, a new membership program designed for middle school and high school students ages 13-18, Louisiana Tech Athletics has completed a lifelong fan development system that now connects supporters from childhood through alumni life.
From your first game… to your first degree… and every season after… there’s a place for you here.
“One of the greatest strengths of college athletics is its ability to create memories that last a lifetime,” said Vice President and Director of Athletics Ryan Ivey. “Whether someone is attending their very first game with their family, experiencing Louisiana Tech as a student, or returning years later as an alumnus, we want every fan to know they are part of something bigger than a single season. Varsity Blue creates one more opportunity to belong, ensuring those connections continue to grow during some of the most formative years in a young person’s life.”
Louisiana Tech Athletics isn’t simply creating game days-it is creating the moments that become memories, the memories that become traditions, and the traditions that become legacy. Every game, every experience, and every chapter helps write a story that can last a lifetime.
Built around the belief that lifelong relationships are created one chapter at a time, Louisiana Tech Athletics has intentionally created four connected chapters that grow alongside its fans.
The story begins with Champ’s Kids Club, for kids ages 4-12, where young fans discover Louisiana Tech through unforgettable game day experiences, exclusive events and lifelong memories.
The next chapter is Varsity Blue, where middle school and high school students continue growing their connection to Louisiana Tech through all-sport admission, exclusive apparel, member-only opportunities and experiences designed specifically for this stage of life. Whether members eventually attend Louisiana Tech or simply remain lifelong supporters of Bulldog and Lady Techster Athletics, Varsity Blue is designed to help families spend more time together creating memories that last far beyond the final score.
For those who choose Louisiana Tech, the story can continue through Blue Bloods, Louisiana Tech Athletics’ official student fan organization, where students find their community, build traditions and create memories that define their college experience.
The story doesn’t end at graduation.
Through LTAC, alumni and supporters continue giving back-remaining engaged as season ticket holders, donors, mentors and advocates while helping create those same experiences for the next generation of Louisiana Tech fans.
Rather than building individual membership programs, Louisiana Tech Athletics has intentionally built one lifelong relationship with its fans. Every chapter creates another opportunity to strengthen that connection, but every fan’s story is uniquely their own.
“The goal was never to create another membership program,” said Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs and Chief Brand Officer Kyle Kavanaugh. “The goal has always been to build lifelong relationships with Louisiana Tech. Every experience should naturally lead to the next, creating stronger connections between people and this university throughout every stage of life. With Varsity Blue, we’ve completed the story by creating a place for young fans to continue growing their connection, whether that means becoming a future Blue Blood, a lifelong season ticket holder, or simply someone whose favorite memories were made cheering on Louisiana Tech.”
For many families, like Lindsey Vincent and her kids, that story has already begun.
“When our children joined Kids Club, we just thought we were signing up for discounted game tickets and a T-shirt,” said Vincent. “What we didn’t realize was we were starting family game day traditions and giving our kids unique opportunities to be an active part of the Tech family. Some of our favorite memories have come at Louisiana Tech games, and those experiences have made our kids feel more connected to the University long before they ever make a college decision.”
For just $99 annually, Varsity Blue provides families with admission to every regular-season Louisiana Tech home athletic event, an exclusive performance T-shirt, access to a members-only online apparel store featuring discounted Louisiana Tech merchandise, and exclusive experiences throughout the year. It’s designed to deliver exceptional value while creating more opportunities for families to spend time together supporting Bulldog and Lady Techster Athletics. Additional member benefits and experiences will continue to be added as the program grows.
Every story starts somewhere.
For some, it’s a first game with Mom and Dad. For others, it’s running the bases after a baseball game, high-fiving Champ, packing the Kennel as a Blue Blood, or returning years later with children of their own.
However your story begins, Louisiana Tech Athletics hopes to be part of every chapter that follows.
“They get to know the players; they get to know the coaches; and they get to know what it means to be a Bulldog or Lady Techster because they see the character, skill, grit and integrity up close whether watching games at Billy Bundrick Field, in Joe Aillet Stadium, The Love Shack, or in the TAC,” Vincent continued. “Knowing there’s now a program that keeps them connected through middle and high school means we get to continue making these memories as a family for many more years to come.”
From your first game… to your first degree… and every season after…there’s a place for you here.
To learn more about Varsity Blue and all the chapters of the Louisiana Tech Athletics Fan Journey, CLICK HERE.
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.
Notice of death — July 29, 2026
Lisa Diane Weaver
February 20, 1966 – July 27, 2026
Visitation: Friday, July 31, 2026, 9:00AM – 10:00AM, Dayspring Baptist Church, 3191 S VIenna St., Ruston
Service: Friday, July 31, 2026, 10:00AM, Dayspring Baptist Church, 3191 S VIenna St., Ruston
Final Resting Place: Pleasant Grove Cemetery, 1366 Pleasant Grove Road, Choudrant
Willie Jean Riley (Granny)
Tuesday 06/08/1937 — Saturday 07/25/2026
Visitation: Friday 07/31/2026 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home
Celebration of Life: Saturday 08/01/2026 11:00am, May’s Chapel CME, 513 West Line Avenue, Ruston
Interment: Saturday 08/01/2026, Grambling Memorial Garden, Highway 80 West, Grambling
Eleisha Yvette Levingston
Saturday 11/19/1966 — Thursday 07/23/2026
Memorial Service: Saturday 08/08/2026 10:00am at King’s Funeral Home
Joyie Eloise Griffith
October 27, 1938 – July 26, 2026
Visitation: Thursday, July 30, 2026, 9:00AM – 10:00AM, Farmerville Kilpatrick Funeral Homes, 202 N Washington, Farmerville
Service: Thursday, July 30, 2026, 10:00AM, Farmerville Kilpatrick Funeral Homes, 202 N Washington, Farmerville
Dubach funds $39,500 in water system upgrades
By Wesley Harris
The Town of Dubach plans to spend $39,500 from its water/sewer account on water system upgrades.
Mayor Mona Wilson said, “We chose to pay for the $39,500 in water system upgrades out of our Water/Sewer account and use the LGAP Funds [originally planned for that purpose] to do [Main Street] paving.”
The upcoming project follows other changes to Dubach’s water system in recent years.
Wilson said the town replaced antiquated water meters with radio-read meters. The newer equipment allows the town to record water usage more accurately at individual residences.
“We were able to obtain radio read water meters to better retain the amount of usage for each house,” Wilson said. “Our water meters were over 50 years old.”
The town also completed a rate study of its water system and raised rates in an effort to make the water/sewer account financially sustainable.
Wilson said residents sometimes misunderstand how municipal decisions such as rate increases are made.
“We have a rate study on our water system and increased the rates to at least sustain the water/sewer account,” Wilson said.
The rate review was part of Louisiana’s water system accountability requirements. Community water systems must have a rate study performed at least once every five years, with the study examining whether current charges are sufficient to maintain the system’s financial sustainability. The Louisiana Department of Health can deduct points from a system’s annual water grade for failing to complete a rate study or failing to implement adequate rates indicated by the study.
Upcoming improvements to the water and sewer systems include new pumps for the sewer system, paddle wheels for the water aeration system, and professional cleaning of the system’s two water tanks. The work is intended to rectify water system deficiencies that led to an “F” letter grade from the Louisiana Department of Health in its annual Dubach water system report. Dubach has already addressed high levels of TTHM, a contaminant that played a role in the low audit score.
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 University joins national initiative to strengthen semiconductor workforce
Courtesy of LA Tech University Communications
Louisiana Tech University joined a national initiative in an effort to build America’s microelectronics and semiconductor workforce. The SEMI Foundation, which serves as a Hub Operator for the National Network for Microelectronics Education (NNME), announced the launch of the first four Regional Nodes of the NNME.
Beginning in one of the largest and most influential semiconductor regions in the country, Louisiana Tech will become a part of a multi-state collaboration that connects higher education institutions, microelectronics sector employers, workforce development organizations, and economic development partners. Led by the University of Texas at Austin, the NNME South Regional Node serves Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah.
“Louisiana Tech has been providing education and training in this field for at least the past 30 years, so we bring a lot of experience on how to prepare graduates for these jobs,” Arden Moore, director of the Institute for Micromanufacturing, said. “In this project, our goal is to build upon that foundation and grow the number of students engaging with our semiconductor processing tools, resources, processes, and technology at all levels on our campus so a greater number of students are employed not just in the industry but in our specific region.”
Funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce, NNME and the SEMI Foundation’s work aims to address the demand for national workforce opportunities across the region.
“Our involvement provides a remarkable pathway to building and strengthening relationships with regional employers to ensure what we are doing is relevant, modern, and optimized for their needs,” Moore added. “Industry-relevant and modern hands-on laboratory activities will be developed in consultation with industry partners to engage, recruit, train, and matriculate a skilled workforce ready for hire.”
Moore also noted that this initiative compliments Louisiana Tech’s growing partnerships with Radiance Technologies and Louisiana Economic Development to establish a semiconductor manufacturing facility in Ruston. Together, these efforts strengthen North Louisiana’s growing semiconductor ecosystem while supporting future economic growth.
“Our efforts with NNME are not specific to those partnerships, but they represent a means of stacking strategic investments and achieving greater outcomes for all,” Moore said. “By ensuring in part through NNME activities that Louisiana Tech graduates are well-prepared for the industry, we are providing a qualified talent pipeline for Radiance or other microelectronics companies attracted to the area to recruit with ease and confidence.”
Louisiana Tech’s participation builds on more than three decades of educating students in microelectronics and semiconductor technologies while creating new opportunities to expand workforce development efforts.
“Louisiana Tech is unique in its ability to bring the type of hands-on, student-focused technical education it is well known for to an industrial field as large and impactful as semiconductors, which is more typically associated with only the largest universities,” Moore added. “We have a good track record of sending our graduates to some of the largest semiconductor companies in the world, and by this time next year, I hope that our list of alumni placement and industry partners has grown significantly through the connections and relationships we build through NNME.”
Traffic stop leads to drug distribution arrest
A traffic stop in Ruston led to a woman’s arrest on distribution and drug possession charges after agents said they found digital scales and concealed narcotics, according to an arrest affidavit.
Portia Huntley, 38, of Ruston, was arrested Wednesday by Lincoln Parish Narcotics Enforcement Team (LPNET) agents.
Agents were following a blue Honda Accord they knew to be driven by Huntley when they saw the vehicle cross the yellow center line near MacAllister Street and Duque Drive. Agents conducted a traffic stop and made contact with Huntley, who provided a valid driver’s license and insurance information.
Agents asked Huntley to step out of the vehicle to speak with her further, then searched the vehicle for weapons or illegal items. During the search, agents found digital scales in the center console. Huntley was then informed of an active warrant for distribution of a Schedule I controlled substance and was placed in handcuffs and advised of her Miranda rights,.
Before arriving at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center, Huntley told agents she had synthetic marijuana concealed on her person.
Huntley was booked on the outstanding warrant for distribution of a Schedule I controlled substance, along with charges of possession of a Schedule I controlled substance (synthetic marijuana) 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.
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.
