Each Monday and Friday, the Lincoln Parish Journal will post a list of non-for-profit upcoming events happening in the parish. If you would like to add your event to this list or advertise your for-profit events, please email us at lpjnewsla@gmail.com.
Monday, August 26 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)
Wednesday, August 28 7-8 a.m.: Veterans Coffee Club (PJ’s Coffee) 9 a.m.: Ribbon cutting for Dilla’s (1003 Cooktown Rd., Ruston) 10 a.m.: Ribbon cutting for Cart Pros (2495 Hwy. 33, Ruston) 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome
Saturday, August 31 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 7 p.m.: LA Tech Football
SIZZLING SAM: After a closing 7-under 65 carried him to a runner-up finish Sunday at the FedEx Cup’s BMW Championship, Choudrant resident Sam Burns is one of the hottest players on the PGA Tour at precisely the right time. (Photo courtesy PGA Tour)
By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
With an incredible $25 million winner’s prize at stake next weekend in the PGA Tour’s Tour Championship at East Lake Country Club in Atlanta, there’s no better time for Sam Burns to be on a heater.
Sunday, the Choudrant resident nearly won the FedEx Cup’s penultimate event, the BMW Championship, finishing in a second-place tie to follow a fifth-place finish a week earlier at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the first in the Tour’s three-step playoffs.
Burns was the clubhouse leader Sunday on the Castle Pines Country Club course, a PGA Tour record 8,130-yard layout at altitude. He fired a seven-under 65, best among the 48 players, to zoom to 11-under.
It was nearly 12-under. Pitching out of a greenside bunker on the final hole, Burns finished a foot shy, on line, of draining the shot for a birdie.
“I knew it was a good line and I knew it was a pretty good weight. Sometimes they go in, sometimes they don’t,” he said, after falling to the ground in disappointment as the shot stopped short. “Yeah, (my reaction) was a little dramatic.”
That would have posted him at 12-under, the winning total by Keegan Bradley. Burns, a Shreveport natïve who plays out of Squire Creek Country Club, had eight birdies Sunday but bogeyed the par-5 14th.
His driving was best in the field Sunday, leading in fairway accuracy with 12 of 14 fairways hit. Burns was No. 2 in putting, holing 133 feet worth on the greens.
The strong finish jumped him into ninth in the FedEx Cup standings, same as his career-best finish last year after the Tour Championship. It means he will start at 4-under Thursday in Atlanta, with his pal Scottie Scheffler, the Cup standings leader, opening the tournament at 10-under.
Burns pocketed $1,503,333 with his three-way tie, matched by Adam Scott and Ludvig Amberg. It raised the former LSU All-American’s season winnings to $6.1 million and his career earnings to $27.9 million with his 16th career top five finish and the 36th Top 10 showing.
The 28-year-old will make his fourth straight Tour Championship appearance among the 30 most successful players of the season. Along with the $25 million winner’s share, the runner-up gets $12.5 million, third place earns $7.5 million and the top 12 finishers win at least a million. A $550,000 payout goes to the 30th-place golfer.
James “Shack” Harris & Doug Williams Field at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium and Willis Reed Court at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center will be receiving visual upgrades and enhancements prior to the 2024-25 season with the installation of new digital scoreboards and sound systems.
“On behalf of Grambling State Athletics, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to President Dr. Martin Lemelle Jr., VP Brandon A. Logan, and Grambling University Foundation Board Chairwoman Dr. Janet Barnes for their unwavering support in bringing our stadium digital signage project to life,” said Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Trayvean D. Scott.” “Their dedication and commitment continue to elevate GSU Athletics, and for that, we are truly grateful.”
“The transformative scoreboard and technology upgrades goes beyond enhancing our athletic facilities-it reaffirms our commitment to creating a premier experience for our entire community,” said Brandon A. Logan, Vice President for University Advancement & Innovation. “Central to this upgrade is the thoughtful repurposing of the boards inside the Hobdy Assembly Center, which will now serve to elevate the visitor experience. By strategically reallocating these resources, we are not just improving our infrastructure, but also enriching the way our story is told to everyone who steps onto our campus. This initiative symbolizes our dedication to honoring our legacy while investing in a future where every visit to Grambling State leaves a lasting impact.”
Robinson Memorial Stadium will be increasing its overall video screen size by approximately 140 square feet to a new 25′ tall by 47′ wide 10mm high resolution and high brightness outdoor display. GSU will also be treating fans to a brand-new stadium sound system which will provide more overall coverage but with a more superior range of sound.
The Hobdy Assembly Center will also be getting a major visual overhaul in the main arena, lobby and concourse areas. The biggest addition will be the new center hung structure with four large 10’x23′ high resolution 3.9mm indoor video screens providing fans with live video and real-time statistical information.
Two additional large 10’x18′ screens will be mounted on each back wall to enhance the game experience but also heighten the visual exposure for non-athletic events such as concerts and graduation ceremonies.
The arena will also get all new traditional scoreboards throughout the venue. The main lobby will welcome fans with a new high-resolution 7’x12′ video screen.
The digital videoboards will afford additional opportunities for Grambling State Athletics to increase corporate sponsorship opportunities and continue to enhance the GSU brand.
“The new digital board represents a significant leap forward in our efforts to monetize and enhance the visibility of the Grambling State brand. This investment not only promises to generate revenue for our athletics program but also elevates the entire university, reinforcing our legacy and expanding our reach within the broader community,” said Scott.
A new season of the Inside Bulldog Football coaches radio show returns on Thursday, Aug. 29 as head coach Sonny Cumbie will be joined by the Voice of the Bulldogs Malcolm Butler.
The hour-long show has been moved to Thursday nights at 6 p.m. live from the Dawghouse Sports Grill in Ruston. The one exception will be Monday, Oct. 21 at 11:30 a.m. when the show will take place live on the Louisiana Tech University campus (see full schedule below).
Fans are encouraged to grab dinner and enjoy the show in person. You can also listen to Cumbie and Butler talk about the Bulldogs on KNBB 97.7 FM (Ruston), KDBS 94.7 FM/1410 AM (Alexandria), KQID 93.1 HD (Alexandria), and the LA Tech Athletics app.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Cynthia Aillet Kavanaugh Murry, 92, of Ruston, LA will be 10:00 A.M. Saturday, August 31, 2024, at St. Thomas Aquanis Catholic Church in Ruston, LA. Father Kevin Mues will officiate the Mass. Interment will follow in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Ruston, LA under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes in Ruston.
A visitation will be from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Friday, August 30, 2024, at Kilpatrick Funeral Home Chapel in Ruston, LA.
Cynthia was born on August 28, 1931, to Ruby Marie Comeaux Aillet and Joseph Roguet Aillet in Youngsville, LA and passed away peacefully at home in Ruston, LA.
Cynthia graduated from Ruston High School and went on to study vocal training at Louisiana Tech University. As a lifelong lover of music and dancing, Cynthia was proud of her Cajun heritage. Her parents instilled in her an enduring appreciation for sports, especially football and golf, and an exceptional talent for cooking. Her mother, Ruby, started the annual Gumbo Supper tradition at St. Thomas Catholic Church and they worked side by side for many years diligently serving meals along with numerous volunteers.
Affectionately known as Grandma, Mammaw, and Memaw for much of her life. Cynthia loved being involved in her six children’s school and sports activities, and later, her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was also very active in the Ruston Community over the course of her life, very much enjoying the Junior Guild, American Cancer Society, The Nifty Knitters, Pink Ladies at Lincoln General Hospital, multiple Bridge Clubs and St. Thomas Catholic Church.
Cynthia is preceded in death by her parents Joe and Ruby Aillet; brother, Richard Aillet; brother and sister-in-law, Bob and Dorothy Aillet; husbands, M. John Kavanaugh, Jr., and Joe Murry; daughter, Lisa Rose; granddaughter, Eliza Rose; and great grandson, Chase Gephart.
Her legacy lives on in her children, Lynn Rankin of Springdale, AR; M. John Kavanaugh III of Vivian, LA; Mark Kavanaugh (Caren) of Prairieville, LA; Kevin Kavanaugh (Laura) of Marshall, TX; Kelly Echols (Kyle) of Birmingham, AL; 24 grandchildren; 26 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of great friends.
Honoring Cynthia as her pallbearers will be her 10 grandsons!
Her children would like to express special thanks to Allegiance Hospice and her wonderful caregivers, Marilyn, Rosalind, Katrina, Jessica, and Simone.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to either The Orphan Train Society, P. O. Box 729, Opelousas, LA 70571 or St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 813 Carey Avenue, Ruston, LA 71270.
Funeral services celebrating the life of Mrs. Mary “Betty” Caldwell will be held at 2:00 PM, Sunday, August 25, 2024 at Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston, LA with Pastor John Austin officiating. Interment will follow in Longstraw Cemetery in Choudrant under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Mrs. Mary “Betty” Wilkerson was born on October 6, 1933 in Clarendon, AR. She was called to her heavenly home on August 22, 2024 at the age of 90.
Mrs. Betty was a loving mother and grandmother who enjoyed spending time with her family. Mrs. Betty enjoyed gardening, spending time outdoors, and loved shopping. She was always put together in a nice perfectly picked outfit, make up, and every hair in place.
Mrs. Betty was preceded in death by her parents: Lee Wilkerson and Alice McMullen Wilkerson; her husband B.W. Caldwell; daughters: Pamela Jean Wilkerson and Martha Jane Stanley; son Gerald Wayne Wolfe; one brother and two sisters.
Mrs. Betty is survived by her sons: Ronnie Lee Wolfe (wife Bonnie) of Downsville, LA., Buddy Leon Wolfe (wife Shelia) of Quitman, AR; daughter Debbie Lynn Evans (husband Gerald) of Choudrant, LA; 22 grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren; sister Judy Wilkerson Mitchell of Little Rock, AR; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and special friends.
Serving as pallbearers will be Ronnie Wolfe, Jr., Wayne Wolfe, Joseph Wolfe, Jeremy Morris, Brandon Woods, and Billy Hadder. Visitation will be held 5-7 PM Saturday, August 24, 2024 at Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Cynthia Aillet Kavanaugh Murry August 28, 1931 – August 24, 2024 Visitation: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – Ruston, Friday, August 30, 2024, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Service: St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, Saturday, August 31, 2024, 10:00 am Cemetery: Forest Lawn Cemetery ~ Ruston, Saturday, August 31, 2024 Mass: St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, Saturday, August 31, 2024, 10:00 am
Leon F. Blankenship, Jr. Monday 11/28/1955 — Friday 08/09/2024 Funeral Service: Friday 08/30/2024 10:00am at King’s Funeral Home Interment: Friday 08/30/2024 Following Service, Northeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, 2413 Highway 425, Rayville
Peggy May September 6, 1927 – August 19, 2024 Visitation: Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, Monday, August 26, 2024, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Funeral Service: Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, Monday, August 26, 2024, 10:00 AM Cemetery Committal: Simsboro City Cemetery, Monday, August 26, 2024
Theresa McMurray Mason Thursday 05/03/1951 — Wednesday 08/21/2024 Celebration of Life: Saturday 08/31/2024 11:00am, Miracle Temple Church of God in Christ, 1405 South Farmerville Street, Ruston Interment: Saturday 08/31/2024 Following Service, Woods Chapel Baptist Church, 326 Par Rd 454, Ruston
SHREVEPORT, La. — Returning senior running backs Jordan Hayes and Dylone Brooks made their opportunities count Friday night at the annual summer scrimmage against C.E. Byrd, with both players scoring multiple touchdowns on the ground and through the air.
“I thought both guys rans the ball really hard,” Ruston High Head Coach Jerrod Baugh said. “Jordan made some nice long runs and hit the holes that he was supposed to. And I thought Dylone ran the ball really hard and did a really good job with his pad-level. He was getting low on guys and getting extra yards after first contact. I thought they did really well.”
In the first section of the controlled scrimmage, Ruston High’s starting offense scored on both drives of 75 yards apiece. Hayes scampered in for his first score of the night with a 54-yard touchdown on a simple cutback to get free through the line and then breaking away into the secondary.
On the ensuing drive, Brooks rushed in from 14 yards out for Ruston’s second score.
Bearcat fans were able to see sophomore Ahmad Hudson lining up at tight end during the first series of the night. On a long play-action pass, senior quarterback Josh Brantley hit Hudson in the hands through double coverage, though the ball was knocked out for an incomplete pass. Hudson came over to the sidelines and was later seen icing his hand before heading to get x-rays on his right wrist. Baugh said that he expects to get an update on Hudson’s status soon.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Bearcats gave up a couple of first downs to the Yellowjackets, but Byrd was no where near able to score. Recording key tackles for the Bearcats were sophomore Jayden Anding and junior Keegan Goldsmith in Byrd’s series.
“I thought for the most part it was 11 guys running to the football and trying to gang-tackle guys,” Baugh said. “I was pretty pleased with how we handled Byrd’s option attack.”
In the second section, it was Hayes and Brooks again finding the end zone on back-to-back drives. Hayes caught a well thrown ball by Brantley from 29-yards out in the left side of the end zone, while Brooks powered his way on the following drive with multiple first down runs and a touchdown score from 11 yards out.
During the two 10-minute halves, both teams scored a touchdown apiece. Ruston’s came early after a botched snap on a punt that the Bearcats recovered inside the red zone. Hayes only needed three rushes to get all 18 yards and into the end zone for his third touchdown of the night.
“I thought we started out playing really well,” Baugh said. “I told the kids after it was over that we were competitive and played with high intensity to start. But as the game wore on, it looked like we lost interest in the scrimmage.
“Overall, it was productive with what we got done. We’ll get a chance to watch video and see this weekend where we need to improve.”
Baugh added that he was pleased with how Brantley was throwing the ball, despite a few drops.
“We’ve got to make those plays,” Baugh said of the dropped passes. “But I thought he did some really good throws in there.”
Hayes finished the night with 112 yards and three total touchdowns, while Brooks finished with two touchdowns and 100 yards.
Ruston and Neville will square off Saturday, Aug. 31, at 6 p.m. in the 2024 BayouJamb at Malone Stadium.
With so many young players seeing significant snaps this year, Cedar Creek is going to have some growing pains.
Some of those not-so-pleasant moments came tonight in its first live action of the year in a scrimmage against Lakeside at Cougar Field at Origin Bank Stadium.
During the almost two-hour mostly-controlled scrimmage, the Webster Parish Warriors scored six touchdowns behind a potent ground attack and an assortment of aerial targets while the Cougars were unable to cross the goal line.
Second year head coach William Parkerson addressed his team following the game and said his message was simple.
“You just have to lock arms and look in the mirror, honestly,” said Parkerson when asked about his message. “You have to evaluate yourself. What did you do good? What did you do bad? How do we improve.
“We will never make excuses but at times we were having to throw kids in spots they have never practiced before to get through it. They gladly jumped in and tried their best, but its hard play when you have never practiced the position before.”
With a lot of inexperienced skill position players on this year’s Cougar squad, the interior lines on both sides of the football are expected to be the strength of the team. However, for the vast majority of the night the Warriors controlled the trenches.
A pair of Lakeside tailbacks had success both inside and to the outside of the line of scrimmage, including a 60-yard TD run on the first offensive play from scrimmage for the Warriors.
Meanwhile the Cougars found sledding tough on the interior with the most explosive two runs of the night coming from eighth grader Payton Harris.
“They got after us,” said Parkerson in reference to the trenches. “That’s what we are built upon, but they were more physical than us. The more physical football team is going to win the night.”
Freshman Cason Floyd, senior James Myers, sophomore Hayden Durrett and Harris all saw time under center for Cedar Creek. The best two scoring opportunities for the Cougars came on play-action passes when the Cougar receiver got behind the Lakeside defensive backs. However, the connections weren’t made.
Parkerson said he saw some good and some bad during the scrimmage and expects his squad to use it as a learning tool.
“The good? I saw some young guys who have never played step up and perform,” said Parkerson. “The bad. We didn’t execute like I thought we would offensively. And we weren’t nearly as physical offensively or defensively then we anticipated. Hats off to (Lakeside). They were well coached and they were physical. It will be something to learn from.”
Creek will head to Monroe next Friday to face OCS at 4 p.m. in the Bayou Jamb.
“We just have to keep working and keep getting better and see how things turn out,” said Parkerson.
(This is one of our profiles on this year’s recipients selected by an anonymous committee out of an extensive list of nominees for the 2024 Lincoln Leader Award. The Lincoln Parish Journal thanks Mayor Ronny Walker and the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce for their support of this award. We would like to thank Kevin Hawkins at HawkinsPhoto.com for the headshots).
_________________________________________________
Name: John Robert Smith
Age: 38
Employer: HGA (Hunt, Guillot & Associates)
Title: Ruston Operations Manager (Engineering Business Unit)
Hometown: Ruston, La.
Years Living in Ruston: 38 Years
Civic Volunteer Organizations: Active member of Trinity Methodist Church in Ruston: Served as member on the General Council for three years, serve as Traditional Service Usher, have served as a mentor for the 6th Grade Confirmation Class. Volunteer coach for Ruston Youth Baseball (Regular League Play and Allstars – Multiple Years); Volunteer coach for Ruston Parks and Recreation – Football and Soccer Leagues previously).
Professional Highlights: Working with a great team of professionals at HGA over the last 12+ years to find solutions that meet if not exceed our customers’ expectations. I have been fortunate to work in a variety of industries that HGA serves and roles from project engineering, project management, and now in operations. I enjoy building relationships with people which is at the core of HGA’s focus internally and externally. Getting to be a part of projects that help progress our local communities’ infrastructure as well as our Nation’s sustainability and growth is something I am very proud and appreciative to be a part of. I am currently in my second year of a three-year program called “ECC Future Leader Program”. I was nominated to be a part of this program by HGA, which promotes leadership, networking within our industry, and collaboration with peers in the Capital Projects Engineering & Construction Community. I recently completed Leadership Lincoln ’23-’24 program through the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce which was also supported by HGA. It was a great experience and opportunity to meet and hear from local leaders and see organizations and industries within our community.
Trotter Hunt, Vice President of HGA, on John Robert Smith:
“I’m proud to have John Robert Smith as a friend and as a colleague at HGA. He is sharp, a hard-worker and a great communicator. I appreciate the leadership he exhibits in the workplace and within our community.
“John Robert began his career at HGA as a junior project manager. In this position, in addition to managing a variety of smaller projects, he played a key role in supporting Williams Companies in the design of compressor stations for their cross-country transmission pipeline projects. Excellent performance on these projects led to Williams becoming an alliance client for HGA. HGA has been executing projects for Williams consistently since 2010. After serving as a project manager for many years, John Robert recently moved into the operations manager role for the HGA Ruston engineering office. In this role, in addition to project management, he also leads our engineering disciplines in the Ruston office.
“Throughout his career John Robert has been able to develop strong relationships with clients and colleagues by genuinely listening to concerns, being very prepared, and delivering on commitments. Everyone at HGA would like to congratulate John Robert on being nominated for the 2024 Rising Lincoln Leaders award.”
Q&A with John Robert Smith
What makes Lincoln Parish special?
Lincoln Parish is very unique in its makeup. To have two recognized and historical universities creates a great opportunity for people from all over to come to our area as well as provide an opportunity for our local communities to be a part of these great institutions. Being a lifetime resident of Ruston and Lincoln Parish, it is great to see the growth and progress our community has seen over my lifetime. The commitment of our local leaders to continue the investments in our Parish, Municipalities, Schools, Commerce, and Infrastructure is not something see in other “rural” areas like ours.
How do you see your role/place in making our parish such a wonderful place to call home?
Lincoln Parish is home. My beautiful wife (Mandy) of 14+ years and I are raising our kids here and do not intend to go anywhere else. We know that it takes more than the governing bodies to make our community succeed and we are committed to doing our part in contributing time and resources where we can.
Who has played a role in your professional development and why?
It is hard to narrow it down to one or even two individuals. I have worked with a multitude of great professionals over the last 12+ years at HGA who have all helped me along the way. From the time I came into this organization as a young project engineer with only 3 years of experience I have been greeted with helping hands, mentorship, and friendship(s). It is that culture that has played the biggest role on my professional development.
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It started for Kate Pullin as most wonderful things do with a gentle nudging of the Holy Spirit in her prayer time.
In talking with her, she’ll tell you she knew all the way back in her sophomore year at Ruston High that her heart was attuned to kids with special needs.
“As a student, we interacted with special needs students, but only in short moments,” Pullin said. “But I also recognized that I really didn’t know these kids — I wanted to get to know them more.”
Now graduated, Pullin served as last year’s student council president for Ruston High School, where she and the student council were instrumental in starting Bearcat Buddies: a program that intentionally creates a community with special needs students that are in the self-contained classrooms, commonly called special ed students.
Starting last year, the program paired volunteer students who either had been on student council or the leadership council for the football team with students from the self-contained classrooms. The groups would meet on Mondays or Fridays every single week, starting with simple things like eating lunch together, helping with school work, or selling football tickets together.
“It just opened my eyes to the joy these students brought to others,” Pullin said. “Selling tickets gave them opportunities to be around others on Bearcat Fridays in the boulevard. It was such a fun time and really, really special.”
Since the program started, it has flourished at Ruston High School and been a wild success. And it should be noted that everyone interviewed made it clear this was never a “pity” or “feeling sorry” project. Bearcat Buddies is all about community and encouraging confidence in students who may not have had as much interaction with the rest of the school population previously.
Put simply, it’s students and administrators who are passionate about inclusivity, regardless of ability.
“One of the biggest things for us is that we didn’t want it to feel like you had to schedule formal time or give conversation starters — we just wanted to get together and form friendships,” Pullin said. “It was about talking back and forth — getting to know each other. Sometimes, we’d play games or dance, but most of the time, it was just conversations. That was really special.”
Bearcat Buddies was Pullin’s initiative as last year’s student council president. During the early stages, Ruston High School Principal Dan Gressett helped Pullin formulate a plan for the program, citing his desire to make the school as inclusive as possible.
“When we talk about our special education students, we’re talking about the ones in our self-contained classrooms,” said Gressett about those four classrooms at RHS. “These students’ exceptionalities range from mild to very moderate. They are pretty much in these rooms most of the day.
“There was no program prior quite like this one, though. It’s turned into an opportunity to bridge the gap and have all of our students spend more time together.”
Sara Moore serves as the special education site coordinator at Ruston High and was in the early meetings with Pullin and then-Vice President Chad Hamlin, along with a host of others. Moore’s role was to help match the personalities of the special education students with the student volunteers. She said she immediately saw change in the school when the program launched.
“This might be unbelievable, but there was a shift within the entire student body almost immediately when we started talking about (launching the program),” Moore said. “Some of the self-contained students wanted to start going to eat lunch in the boulevard with their peers. And then I would see some of the buddies down in the self-contained area when they weren’t even assigned to be there — they were just helping out. They all interacted really well.”
Ruston High English teacher Stephanie Treadway serves as the student council co-sponsor and Bearcat Buddy sponsor. She, like Moore, has seen the impact on the student body.
“Bearcat Buddies is a labor of love,” Treadway said. “It’s brought tears to my eyes on multiple occasions. I’ve witnessed non-verbal students who have not really had an opportunity to connect with other students at our school form meaning friendships. I’ve just never seen anything like that. It’s such a great experience for special education students — and for the Bearcat Buddies — that we learn and grow from each other.”
Pullin also spoke about how meaningful it was for the school to hold a pep rally for the Ruston High students that were participating in the Special Olympics (Choudrant High does something similar — it has a school-wide sendoff for their participating students).
“It was a full-circle moment for me,” Pullin said. “These are our friends, and we’re cheering them on. It’s the same way they cheer on the football team or other sports where we compete.”
Senior Bearcat offensive-lineman Sam Nations was in the inaugural Bearcat Buddies group and cited some family members with special needs as motivation to be in the program.
“These kids are just like me,” Nations said. “They want to have friends. They want to laugh with us. They want to hang out with us. They want to be normal Ruston High students, and they absolutely should be included in the student body.”
Perhaps the most memorable moment for the Bearcat Buddies program came on graduation night this past year: now-senior cornerback Aidan Anding walked with his graduating-buddy to receive his diploma. In fact, Anding was the only student that his buddy trusted to be with him that night to walk across the stage at graduation.
“I loved getting to do that with him, because he and I had spent a lot of time together over the year,” Anding said. “For me to have an opportunity to enjoy his moment with him on stage was a big blessing to me and my family. And like (Nations) said earlier, these kids are really no different from us. There just may be some things they don’t have the ability to do, but they’re smart, kind, respectful — they’re regular human beings that have some disabilities that do not define them.”
Pullin will now be heading to the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville but her lasting legacy will be taken up by Trenton Richard, Ruston’s new student council president. Richard also spoke about family members motivating him to continue the program, and he hopes to add more to the Bearcat Buddies.
“This program is so important,” Richard said. “We want to continue moving it forward. We hope we can take some more field trips this year. I understand the importance of just ‘being there.’ Sometimes, it can be overwhelming in big group settings, so having that one-on-one time connection is so good. We want to keep building friendships, because we know how important that is.”
Though the program has only been in place for one full year, Special Education Transition Coordinator Kim White believes the impact on everyone in the Bearcat Buddies program will be long-lasting.
“It’s going to be far-reaching for our special education population,” White said. “(This program) is going to help these students assimilate into other areas of the community more easily because they’ll be comfortable in that capacity as a result of this program.
“As far as our regular education students, this experience will be invaluable to them because they’ll learn that people of all different ability levels have something to contribute. This might make you more accepting of someone and will help you work better with that person.
“On both sides of the table, the experience from this is just going to continue to grow, and everyone will benefit more and more from it.”
Hearing from so many involved, it’s clear that initial nudging of the Holy Spirit in Pullin will undoubtedly lead to generational change in both the school and community overall, as so many have worked hard to make Bearcat Buddies successful last year, this year, and hopefully into the future.
Nations may have perfectly summarized all the participants over-riding thoughts and feelings about this amazing program.
“It’s important because we’re not only changing their lives,” Nations said. “They’re changing ours. If you don’t take an opportunity like this, you’re missing out.”
Ruston Police arrested a Downsville man Monday after he allegedly shoplifted at the Walmart Neighborhood Market.
Officers responded to the store on West California Avenue about 2 p.m. Monday. Store management said a man took three bags of merchandise from the store without paying for it and said the suspect was in the pharmacy drive-thru in a white Toyota.
When Randall C. Lewis, 41, was located, he asked the manager if he could pay for the stolen items. The manager told police Lewis had been barred from Walmart properties in February for allegedly stealing at a Monroe store.
A records check revealed Lewis was wanted on a warrant from Third Judicial District Court in Union Parish for illegal possession of stolen things. Lewis was arrested and taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center where he was booked for theft, entering premises after being forbidden (criminal trespass), and the Union Parish warrant.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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The sun shined brilliantly overhead Thursday morning as Grambling State ushered in the dawn of a new age and era with a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the grand opening of the institution’s new Digital Library and Learning Commons.
A space to connect, create, and collaborate. The state-of-the-art, 50,000 square foot facility is designed to support all aspects of learning. With more than 150 computer stations, 17,000 square feet of study space, and multipurpose space for events, meetings, and seminars, it is the ultimate intersection of academics, curiosity, and community.
Thursday’s celebration was a historic moment for GSU, which saw the opening of the old A.C. Lewis Memorial Library in 1962, with an addition built in 1986.
But over the years, time took its toll on the old GSU library, and looking toward the future, in 2017, then President Rick Gallot began a digital library project to replace the existing facility. With the support of alumni, faculty, and students, the project gained funding and commitments, and in 2019, construction began on the first digital library at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU).
The journey toward the $16.6M library’s opening eventually became an arduous one due to circumstances beyond the university’s control. But perseverance and persistence finally paid off, leading up to Thursday’s official unveiling of GSU’s new doorway to the future.
Gallot, now President/CEO of the University of Louisiana System (ULS), was on hand for the grand opening celebration.
“The ribbon cutting of the GSU Digital Library and Learning Commons marks a transformational moment for Grambling State University, the University of Louisiana System, and the global landscape of academia,” Gallot said. “This modern marvel provides GSU scholars with a digital learning environment that rivals—and indeed, exceeds—the offerings of many world-renowned and well-resourced institutions.
“It equips our esteemed faculty and staff with immediate connectivity to a vast repository of digital resources and pedagogical tools. This milestone is a testament to the audacious spirit of Grambling State University, where no vision is too big, or too bold.”
Current Grambling State President Dr. Martin Lemelle, Jr. was Executive Vice President when planning and groundbreaking for the Digital Library and Learning Commons was being done. He called Thursday’s grand opening a journey of determination and resilience.
“We fought for this project because we know it’s important and we fight for Dear Ole Grambling because we believe in the boundless potential of every student who walks through our doors,” Lemelle said.
“So yes, we are building, and we are fighting. We’re building a future where every student can excel, and we are fighting to ensure that Grambling remains a beacon of hope, resilience and excellence. We’re building a bridge between the past and the future, and we are fighting to keep the legacy of our flame burning bright.”
Lemelle said the Digital Library and Learning Commons will be a place where ideas are born, and boundaries are broken.
“It will be where we light the torch of victory,” Lemelle said. “Victory in learning. Victory in innovation. And victory in community. It is here that we will fight for Dear Ole Grambling, and in this fight we will arm ourselves with the knowledge, perseverance, and the unyielding spirit that defines us.
“So, as we stand here today, let us remember what we set out to do — let us tell them we are building, not just structures, but the future. Let us tell them we’re building not just spaces but legacies. And as we continue to build, let us also fight — fight for the dreams of our students, fight for the excellence of our university, and yes, fight for Dear Ole Grambling for we are the pride of the USA and there is no doubt that we will win today, tomorrow and always.”
Dean of GSU’s Digital Library and Learning Commons Adrienne Webber said the new facility will propel GSU and its students into a bigger and brighter future than ever before.
“Let me tell you what’s going to happen with this program — we’re going to have a ‘Maker’s Space’ because our students think differently than I did when I would go to class, learn something, graduate, and do what I learned. These students today are a little different. When they think about it, they dream about it, they write about it, they draw about it and then they want to put it together and see what will happen.
“So, we need to have things like 3-D imaging and 3-D printers because they can change the world. Students at another institution designed a straw that filters water and that was later purchased by Walmart. … That can happen right here at Grambling State University because this library will have the tools that the students will use to do that.”
Webber said plans are for the library to include laser and etching machines, a cricut maker, a soldering station, hot wire cutter and plastic vending machines among other tools.
“If you think it, you can make it,” Webber said. “And then we’re going to be able to find out if an idea is an original or if someone has it already. We’re hoping to become a patent and trade resource center. These students are so creative. Their audio, video and AI skills are tremendous and we’re going to provide them with the tools to build on those skills.
“We’re going to have a digital repository, so when our students write, they can also take that and have it published. We’re going to change how people view our students. From poetry to something scientific, whatever is in the repository will be transferred to those areas. The students will not have a reason not to learn more and do more.”
Others speaking during the grand opening ceremony included Student Government Association President Morgan Patton, Miss Grambling State University Jess’Lyn Sanders, city of Grambling Mayor Alvin Bradley, ULS Board Chair Mark Romero, and Louisiana Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Kim Hunter.
“It took too long for us to get here, but we are mighty glad that we are here today,” Hunter said. “To open this amazing and historic digital library for the students of Grambling State University was important because a dream deferred is not a dream denied.”
Hunter, whose parents graduated from GSU, said the Digital Library and Learning Commons is not her parents’ library.
“There’s no Dewey Decimal system, no card catalog, and no dusty books for miles to go,” Hunter said. “And no sweet librarians shushing you when you’re making too much noise. But a library is still the heartbeat of every campus, a place where students grow, gather, and collaborate. And this one is special because education today is about research, innovation, and technology around amazing online databases, AI, and information beyond that as well.
“That’s what makes today special. We are moving into the future with this amazing facility, and we know great things will happen inside of it. And it’s the first for an HBCU and the first for the state of Louisiana. So, as I look at this facility, I would say it is beautiful. It is historic. It is an amazing nod to Grambling’s past, and it is an exclamation point on Grambling’s future.”
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It took all of two minutes for the Ruston City Council to complete Thursday’s special-called meeting held in the courtroom at City Hall.
That’s all the time it took for the Board of Alderman to introduce an ordinance to adopt the budget of revenue and expenditures for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2024, and ending Sept. 30, 2025, for the city of Ruston and also introduce an ordinance levying and imposing taxes on all property subject to taxation in the city of Ruston.
There were no matters discussed. Those two ordinances will be discussed and voted on during the City Council’s next meeting on Sept. 9. That meeting will be held on the second Monday of Sept. 9 because of the Sept. 2 Labor Day holiday.
Because it’s yet to be discussed it’s unclear what the Ruston City Council will decide to do with that second ordinance that will set millage rates that affect property taxes charged to home and business owners.
In recent weeks around 9,000 Lincoln Parish residential and commercial property owners received reassessment notices from the parish assessor’s office indicating they will see a 15% or more increase in assessed value received notices.
That presents the potential of increased property tax charges at the end of the year.
But earlier this month, in the midst of economically turbulent times, the Lincoln Parish School Board rolled back most of its millages to counter increases in revenue caused by increased assessed values.
The Lincoln Parish Police Jury made a similar move a week later, voting to collect less property tax revenue for library operations in order to balance out what the jurors felt was needed increased revenue for general alimony, road construction and road maintenance millages.
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A Ruston woman was arrested Sunday after police investigating a report of a woman screaming discovered she was wanted on several warrants.
Aujaney M. Simmons, 24, was located when Ruston Police responded to a call of a woman screaming on Dunn Street about 11 a.m. Sunday. Simmons told officers she ran out of gas and was waiting for someone to pick her up.
A records check showed Simmons was wanted on two warrants from Ruston City Court for failure to appear on charges of disturbing the peace and theft. Another warrant from Third Judicial District Court with bail set at $150,000 was also located. The nature of the charge was not available at publication time.
Simmons was arrested and taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center where she was booked on the three warrants. The total bail was said at $158,000.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Legendary local artist and Lincoln Parish Journal photographer Reggie McLeroy’s latest print is now available for purchase.
Titled “A Season of Greatness,” the print features the championship trophy along with an exact rendering of the championship ring presented to the team following the 2023 Non-Select, Division I title after beating Zachary 31-17.
Recently, the original was auctioned at the Friday Night Lights Community Tailgate party for $5,000 with the proceeds going to benefit Ruston High School’s football team.
A Ruston graduate from the class of 1980, McLeroy’s love for the Bearcats is second to none.
“I’m honored that I can use my talent to give back,” McLeroy said. “It’s a way to give back to Ruston High — the school I graduated from. I look at people who received their PhD, I look at other students in college who have received their masters, I look at students in high school who receive their diplomas or who did not finish school and they can get their GED. And when I think about what I have, I have my “GGT”, which is my “God-given-talent,” because without God, I have nothing.
“God has a way of slowing people down. As soon as the championship game was over, and my brain went to work to see what I could do with my art to honor the state title. I start picturing things in my mind of what I want it to look like. The next day, Hunter Smith called and asked me what I was thinking about as far as drawing the picture. I knew what I wanted to do, but I wasn’t entirely sure what I could use. Once I got the okay to include the items I wanted to use, I immediately got to work.”
The print is a majority of black and white, with the only color being the sharp red “R” on the state championship ring. McLeroy started the print fairly quickly after the championship win in December and wanted to include the ring in the drawing but kept everything under wraps until the players got their championship hardware.
“Coach Baugh asked me to wait until after the kids got their championship rings before I could show anyone,” McLeroy said. “During that time, I looked back and realized something was missing. What I noticed missing was honoring our district championship. And nowhere in the picture was the year “2023.” It gave me the opportunity to redo it and add those things that were missing. I truly thank God for slowing me down in order to make those changes.
“After working in the school system for 20-plus years as the discipline coordinator and not having as much time to draw like I normally do, I think it was by God that I was put back into the classroom to teach art, which also gives me time to draw again. When I look at that, I think there are some other things that God has given me, which are my purposes: one, to work with kids with their art talents, and two, to help kids develop their basketball skills. Being an assistant coach allows me to give my basketball knowledge to those players. It also allows me the opportunity to give my students sound advice about life.”
McLeroy also wanted to give thanks and appreciation to Lincoln Parish School Board Superintendent Ricky Durrett for his help in working with the LHSAA to allow the replica of the trophy to be included in the artwork.
“It means a lot to do this drawing, because I think about doing my first one in ’88 when we won the state championship,” McLeroy said. “It means a lot to be able to do it again for ’23. I want to thank the people of Ruston and in the surrounding areas for supporting me and my artwork through the years.”
The prints will be $80 with a run of 200 being printed.
To order your print, please email reggiemcleroy@gmail.com. If there is a specific number that you would like to order that is available, you can request it in the email.
Time and place for payment and pickup with be announced soon.
Following the weeks of fall camp, where your primary opponent wears the same uniform as you do, it’s finally to see somebody else.
So tonight, the the Ruston High Bearcats will travel over to Shreveport for the annual C.E. Byrd summer scrimmage matchup, which will be played on Byrd’s campus.
“I think I feel a little bit of excitement,” Ruston High School Head Football Coach Jerrod Baugh said. “I think we’re just ready to stop playing against each other. It’s that time. I mean, you go all summer and basically all spring going against the same guys or are the same group of guys, and that gets old. It wears on them. I think they’ll get excited as the day moves along today too, and hopefully be ready to get out there and perform.”
The format will be identical to last year: the freshmen will play at 6 p.m. and varsity scheduled to start after. There will be two rounds of a controlled scrimmage before the teams will play two 12-minute halves.
Entering his tenth year at the head of the Bearcat football program, Ruston and Byrd have squared off for every season that Baugh has been the head coach for Ruston High, with the teams alternating who will serve as the host site.
For Baugh, measuring success tonight will not necessarily be what shows up on the scoreboard.
” I think if we can just get out and make adjustments, that’s how we’ll be successful,” Baugh said. “So Byrd is going to do some different things than what we’ve been preparing against, which is our stuff. And so, I really want to see can kids take coaching on the sideline, and then take that into the game and make some adjustments and be able to do in-game adjustments. That’s one of the biggest things of the game — you just don’t really have a way to practice that because you do so much preparation. You watch video, see what somebody does against this person, that person and all of that. So we kind of surprise them with that — bringing them into the game unprepared with what the other team does. And they go out and they’ve got to look and see what’s going on. And then, once we get off the field, they’ll take coaching, make adjustments to be able to run back out there and do that. So it’s a really good way for us to to practice that.”
The scrimmage will be held at Byrd High School and located at 3201 Line Ave. in Shreveport. Admission is $5.
The Bearcats will play in the BayouJamb Saturday, Aug. 31, at 6 p.m. against historic rival Neville High before kicking off the 2024 regular season at home on Friday, Sept. 6, at 7 p.m. against Acadiana.
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Cedar Creek will host Lakeside tonight at 6 p.m. (photo by Darrell James)
by Malcolm Butler
Last year, Cedar Creek traveled to Lakeside for a preseason scrimmage.
This year the Warriors will return the favor.
The Cougars will host their Webster Parish foes tonight at 6 p.m. at Cougar Field at Origin Bank Stadium in the final scrimmage prior to next Friday’s Bayou Jamb match-up against OCS.
Head coach William Parkerson said following last week’s intrasquad scrimmage that he has certain things he hopes to accomplish in tonight’s first action against players not wearing Cougars across their jerseys.
“Defensively are we going to get 11 hats to the ball,” said Parkerson. “First thing we do every day is the pursuit drill. So is that going to carry over. And then offensively can we control the line of scrimmage and get that inside run game going.”
Cedar Creek opens its regular season Sept. 6 at Delhi Charter.
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Lincoln Prep’s Verlanski Glosson heads up field on this 32-yard reception during Thursday night’s scrimmage against Booker T. Washington. (Photo by T. Scott Boatright)
By T. Scott Boatright
The scoreboard wasn’t on, and points weren’t officially tallied.
Both teams wore white jerseys for that matter.
But it still felt like a winning effort for the Lincoln Preparatory School football team Thursday night as the Panthers hosted Shreveport’s Booker T. Washington in a preseason scrimmage held at Panthers Field.
The Class 1A Panthers knew they were for a challenge as they faced off against the Class 4A Lions.
That’s just what Lincoln Prep coach Glen Hall wanted for his team — a challenge.
And in the end, he liked what he saw from his Panthers.
“I think we faced adversity,” Hall said. “And we hit it in the mouth. We came out flat, nervous, but once we got through those first 10 plays and we were able to understand the game and settled down, we started making plays. And that’s all I try to get them to do.
“You don’t have to make big plays, you just have to make a little play, and all of those little plays will add up to a big play.”
Lincoln Prep opened the game with a three-and-out series with a pair of bad snaps costing the Panthers 20 yards in losses. Their next two series weren’t much better, with D’Tavion Wright’s 6-yard catch and 13-run yard being the two biggest gains on the next six plays.
”But once we got past that fatigue factor, after the second 10 plays while they (Lincoln Prep’s linemen) were also playing 10 plays on defense, it got better. I’ve just got to do a better job of getting them into shape.”
When the Lions’ offense got its first three series, the Panthers gave up 34 yards before interceptions by Verlanski Glosson and freshman JaQuan Qualls gave Lincoln Prep some much needed confidence.
“(Booker T. Washington) is a big school, but I’ve always said we’re a big team, too,” Hall said. “We work out in the weight room, too. We’ve been working them all summer, but they’re just now learning to believe. They didn’t believe in themselves the first series.
“(The Lions) had guys 350-360 pounds, but we’ve got guys 300, 350 pounds. So when they found out that they’re just as big and just as strong, they fought back. They started picking up blitzes and talking more on the lines. I’m proud of them.”
Lincoln Prep’s biggest play was a 57-yard scoring strike from quarterback Jordan Brown to Wright, who used his deceptive speed to turn what looked to be a short reception into a touchdown.
That sparked big plays from Trey Spann, who recorded a 17-yard catch and an interception, running back Jaylin Hunter, who turned in a couple of big rushes, Cenario Wilson, who hauled in a 27-yard catch and Glosson, who added a 32-reception on a pass from backup quarterback Michael Lewis.
“Everybody bought in, and once everybody bought in — that’s what a team is about,” Hall said. “You’ve got to be proud of them, but we’ve just got to keep working. We’ve got to work harder than we did yesterday.”
Next up for the Panthers will be facing Delta Charter at the Delhi Jamboree on Aug. 30.
“I want to see fewer mistakes,” Hall said about what he wants to see in that jamboree game. “I want to see us tackle better, I want to see us not miss the blitzes and let the other team get to our quarterbacks. I want to see our quarterback become more of a leader. He still struggles to be a leader.
“And when we tell him to throw the ball, he hesitates. We could have scored the ball a couple more times if he had released the ball. You’ve got to release the ball on point. It’s simple things. We’ve just got to keep drilling that into his head, take the game out of his hands and coach everybody else through it and let him be a manager and not the playmaker.”
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The Bearcat Nation is all about tradition and this year is no different. Ruston High School’s Alumni Association has recently experienced a revival. One of its primary goals was to bring back the tradition of recognizing distinguished alumni each year during homecoming week.
The last alumni awards luncheon to be held was during 2017. This year, six awards will be presented to alumni on Friday, November 1st, when the luncheon is held at the Davison Athletic Complex on Louisiana Tech’s campus.
Nominations for alumni awards are being taken now and will be taken until Friday, September 20. The awards given will be:
Award recipients will be recognized at the luncheon and recognized on social media and in local news outlets.
If you have questions or want more information about the awards or the luncheon, please contact Heather Reeder at awards.bearcatalum@gmail.com or 318-548-8166.
An event is unfolding around us. Even readers of this article have a perspective on it.
For Educators this is an annual occurrence. They have prepared for this episode for weeks. They busy themselves with lesson plans, room decorations, seating charts, and wondering which student will thrive and which student will struggle because of this event. They are confident, even in the face of the unknown, of their skills and experience.
For parents the annual event is like a whirlwind. Parents have been praying for this event since the sounding of the last school bell in May. They have met the challenges of the summer taxi service. They have endured parties, sleep overs, and travel ball tournaments. They have refereed spats with siblings, negotiated time share for the video games, and prayed a healthy amount of prayers dealing with the length of the summer. They are actually happy this event is finally here.
I am a casual observer of this occurrence. I know it is happening because the front of Walmart is filled with school supplies. I note for you the school supplies have now been replaced with Halloween candy. I have observed an increase in traffic. I personally must decide which route to take to work. I must negotiate a left turn onto Cooktown Road from the Interstate. My time of arrival at the exit determines my direction of travel. I have enjoyed some philosophical thought and discussion about taking the left-hand turn chance or driving past the exit and backtracking.
The students are the ones most affected by this event. They slept with impunity all summer. They have relaxed and excelled at play and goofing off. They were kids all summer and now that summer is gone. Some will celebrate the start of their senior year. Some experience all the trials and tribulations of being a freshman. Still others are starting school for the first time.
One event, the start of school, and there are many perspectives about the same event depending on your frame of reference. The teachers are ready, the parents delighted, the children face it with mixed emotions. Even us casual observers see the event differently depending on traffic and the time of day.
When you are deep in the middle of an event in your life, remember there are numerous lenses through which you can view the event. Those lenses are called your mindset. The one event was going back to school. I only described four perspectives. Can you imagine how complex perspectives could become? In many cases the educator is both a parent and a student. The student might also be a parent. You see how quickly a simple thing becomes complex.
The next time an event is happening, it might mean taking a deep breath and being in that moment. In a moment of curiosity you might ask, what does Jesus want me to learn now? In His kingdom we are all students.
Doug de Graffenried is Pastor of Trinity Methodist Church.
Each Monday and 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, August 23 10 a.m.: Ribbon cutting for Path-Maker (2111 N. Trenton St.)
Saturday, August 24 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market
