As the wintery precipitation continues to melt, Lincoln Parish schools, Lincoln Prep and Cedar Creek will be closed on Friday as well. This will make a full week of closures for the school.
Lincoln Parish Superintendent Ricky Durrett said Lincoln Parish public schools will be closed tomorrow. The parish school board central office will be open form 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Central Office employees should report to work. Teachers may work at schools from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to finalize grades for second nine weeks grading period. Schools will reopen Monday.
According to Cedar Creek Head of School Cindy Hampton, Cedar Creek is going to be closed as well.
With winter temperatures expected to go well below freezing again tonight, parish schools have announced closures for Thursday.
Lincoln Parish Superintendent Ricky Durrett said Lincoln Parish public schools will be closed tomorrow, and that that this will be considered a virtual day. Students should check Google Classroom for any updated assignments.
Additionally, Lincoln Prep will be closed tomorrow, according to Gordan Ford, school executive director. Head of School Cindy Hampton also said that Cedar Creek Schools will be closed tomorrow.
City of Ruston employees will be returning to work as normal today while garbage pickup will be conducted as road conditions allow for residents within the city limits, according to Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker.
“The city will open up for business (today),” Walker said. “We will pick up as much trash as we can according to the condition of the roads. We will not be able to pick up outside the city limits.”
Employees that do not feel comfortable with the driving conditions for their respective commutes will be allowed to take PTO.
Residents will need to take their garbage cans to the road by 10 a.m. today and put them as close to the road as possible so trucks do not have to go on the edge of the roads.
Trash pickup will be conducted within the city limits, but only on roadways that are deemed safe for the trash trucks to drive.
“We’re actually going to have a pickup truck running in front of our garbage trucks to see if they can actually get down the road,” Walker said. “Trucks won’t be able to back track. We realize this is going to be a hit and miss, but it’s the only way we can start getting control of our situation.”
Recycling and trash will not be separated for today or tomorrow, but will still both be picked up. For residents that wish to keep their recycling separate, they will need to wait until next week to take their recycling to the road.
Garbage truck drivers will be using discretion while on the roads, which means that some roads and streets may not be entirely safe for total pickup. This could lead to some trash being picked up for some residents on a given road, while others may not have theirs picked up until Friday.
The City of Ruston will be aware of which garbage cans have not been picked up, meaning residents will not need to alert city hall and should leave their cans at the road.
Regular scheduled trash and recycling pickup is expected to resume next week including for residents outside of the city limits.
Both Louisiana Tech and Grambling State will resume somewhat normal schedules today following three days off from the winter storm.
Louisiana Tech
While major roadways are mostly navigable, dangerous driving conditions remain on rural and local streets as well as throughout campus sidewalks and parking lots. As a result, classes will be remote all day today. The remainder of campus operations will return to normal at 1 p.m., and we expect normal operations Friday.
Faculty are encouraged to use remote learning tools for class instruction during the inclement weather event. Classes are not to be considered canceled. Faculty will remain flexible with students due to weather conditions each student may encounter during this time.
University offices will open at 1:00 p.m. Employees unable to report to work should contact their supervisor. The Payroll Office will provide revised guidance for those unable to return today.
Food Services will open Tech Table at 10 a.m., and the remaining food service options will begin normal operations at noon today.
The Lambright will open at 10 a.m. and will return to normal operating hours for the rest of the day.
Grambling State
All morning classes (start times of 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.) will be delivered virtually. Face-to-face instruction of classes will resume at 1 p.m.
Employees will report to work at 11 a.m. and are asked to contact their supervisor if they are unable to safely do so.
McCall Dining Hall will open at 9 a.m. and closes at normal operation hours (midnight).
The men’s gym was affected by extreme temperatures and is currently without heat and power. Heating capabilities have also been disrupted in offices on the Douglas Hall side of the building leaving that area without heat. Facilities management and campus services is working to resolve the issue.
A Choudrant man was arrested Saturday morning after Lincoln Parish deputies went to his house to serve several arrest warrants.
Jared D. Sanford, 44, was found at a residence on La. Highway 821 about 8 a.m. Saturday. He was told he was under arrest and to place his hands behind his back. Instead, Sanford attempted to walk away from the deputies toward another room. He was taken by the arm but continued to attempt to pull away and tense up his body to avoid being taken under control. He was eventually placed in handcuffs and escorted to a patrol car.
Sanford then became irate, stating he could not go back to jail. He began kicking and headbutting the vehicle and was told to stop multiple times.
Sanford was transported to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center as he continued to kick and headbutt the prisoner enclosure in the patrol car back seat. Deputies had to stop along the highway to resecure Sanford to attempt to keep him from injuring himself and damaging the vehicle.
He was booked on a Lincoln Parish warrant for failure to appear in court on charges of aggravated flight from an officer, resisting an officer by flight on foot, possession of drug paraphernalia, open container, improper lane usage, no insurance, and improper vehicle lighting.
Sanford is also being held for the Jackson Parish Sheriff’s Office on a warrant for possession of a Schedule II controlled substance. For his conduct at the time of arrest, he was booked for resisting an officer and attempted simple criminal damage to property.
Tara Stone (left) of The Well and Phillip Thigpen of First West Thrift (courtesy photo)
Although they are located in Ouachita Parish, First West Thrift Store is doing its part to invest in Lincoln Parish through philanthropic means.
Recently, First West Thrift provided financial investments totaling almost $10,000 among three Lincoln Parish ministries: Freedom 13, Life Choices – Ruston and The Well Ministries.
The First West Thrift Store is the largest thrift store in North Louisiana with 13,000 square feet of retail space laid out like a department store.
“Our layout helps with the shopping experience; we even have a new section where we display all of our new and name brand clothing,” said First West Thift Director Phillip Thigpen. “First West Thrift has the largest selection of furniture of any thrift stores in North Louisiana. You can also find household items, decor, linens, electronics, TV’s, books, clothing and so much more.”
Located in downtown West Monroe on the corner of 4th and Mill Street (just off of I-20), First West Thrift’s hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Monday thru Friday) and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Saturday).
Donation drop off is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Monday thru Friday) and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Saturday). First West Thrift also does pickups in Ruston each Monday. Just call 318-410-0999 to schedule.
“Our mission at First Baptist Church of West Monroe is to see to it that no one misses the grace of God,” said Thigpen. “We at the Thrift Store do that by investing in local ministries. We currently have twenty-six local ministries we financially support.”
In 2023 First West Thrift Store invested over $350,000 into local ministries.
Freedom 13 was founded in 2015 and is on a mission to rebuild dignity in the lives of those we serve. They believe the best way to change our community is to be like Jesus in every way – to live the way He did, serve the way He served, and give our lives to the work of God’s kingdom. Freedom 13 serves the community in three areas, local jail ministries, local school outreaches, and providing resources for women needing a fresh start, specific to residential recovery resources.
“Having the support of incredible organizations like the First West Thrift Store means that Freedom13 can continue fulfilling God’s mission in this community through the Gospel message of Jesus Christ,” said Lindsey Crawford. “Freedom13 represents God‘s heart for the broken, but always redeemable, women in northeast Louisiana. Having support from other ministries not only helps us minister to these women, but represents how powerful it is when members of the body of Christ lock arms with one another.”
The Well is on a mission to offer everyone in our city access to a restored life through relationships and resources – providing a full continuum of care for people in our community who have intersected with the foster care system or have experienced family separation and/or family trauma.
They have two main avenues for this endeavor: Family Village and the LoveWell. Family Village is a community built around foster care and adoption. We offer practical resources and a community of support for families navigating either of these journeys. The LoveWell is a membership-based resource center offering access to practical resources and a community of friends for the vulnerable- many of whom have experienced family trauma and separation in their histories.
Life Choices of North Central Louisiana has been serving women in unplanned pregnancy for 28 years. We have served nearly 14,000 women with help and hope through a variety of services including pregnancy testing, ultrasound, options, counseling, material assistance, fatherhood support, mentoring, home visits, parenting classes and more.
More Information about Life Choices of North Central Louisiana, go to www.lifechoicesncla.org
A Ruston woman was arrested for DWI and other charges after she had allegedly run into a ditch while Impaired early Sunday morning.
About 7 a.m. Sunday, the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to a single vehicle crash on Larance Orchard Road. A Ruston public safety worker on his way to work told the responding deputy that he saw a vehicle stuck in the ditch and talked with the driver who said she was attempting to turn around and got stuck. She told the worker she had taken codeine the previous night.
The deputy found Lindsay Marie Barham, 45, In the driver’s seat of a Toyota Tacoma with the engine running. Barham first said she was visiting a friend on Sellers Road when they got in a fight, and she left headed to West Monroe. However, her direction of travel was in the opposite direction.
The deputy noticed signs of impairment and conducted field sobriety tests. Barham denied drinking any alcoholic beverages, taking any medications or any controlled substances. Due to her poor performance on the sobriety tests, she was determined to be under the influence and too impaired to drive. She was arrested and taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center where a drug recognition expert performed additional tests.
A records check showed Barham was wanted on warrants from the Fourth Judicial District Court for failure to appear in court on numerous drug charges. She was booked for first offense DWI, careless operation of a vehicle, possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance, and the Fourth District Court warrants.
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.
There are still both Limited and Commemorative Editions posters available to be purchased Twenty-five percent of all profits go directly to the Bearcat Football Club.
Individuals who have purchased a Limited Edition or Commemorative Edition copy of the Ruston Bearcat state title poster can pick up their poster(s) today between 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. at Black Rifle Coffee Company located at 1913 East Kentucky Avenue.
Anyone who ordered a poster has been emailed an invoice for their order to the email address from which the order was placed. Individuals can pay the invoice via credit card or pay with cash at the time of picking up the poster. Checks will not be accepted.
Questions can be sent to LPJMerchandise@gmail.com.
Head coach Jerrod Baugh and the Ruston Bearcats took our community on a memorable journey this year, capturing the 2023 Nonselect School Division I title with a 31-17 win over Zachary in the Caesar’s Superdome.
Baugh and the Bearcats captured the school’s ninth state title, its first since 1990 and they did so in a first-class fashion.
In recognition of the state title run, the Lincoln Parish Journal commissioned local graphic designer Courtney Pugh of Donnie Bell Design to create a commemorative edition and limited poster featuring photos from official GeauxPrep’s state title game photographer Josh McDaniel (FourSix3).
There are two unique versions of the 18 x 24 inch poster, each printed on 100-pound glossy:
a) a LIMITED edition ($75) with ONLY 75 copies available that features a gold gilded tint and a numbering system to differentiate each poster
b) a COMMEMORATIVE edition ($25) with an unlimited number of sales based on orders.
To order and secure a copy of either poster, email lpjmerchandise@gmail.com and include your name, email address, cell phone number, version of the poster (LIMITED or COMMEMORATIVE), and total number wanting to purchase. The LPJ will take orders on a first come, first serve basis and will continue to sell while supplies last.
The LPJ will take payment via credit card (an email invoice will be sent which can be processed by the buyer with a credit card) or cash. No checks will be accepted.
Don’t miss your chance to purchase this beautiful keepsake depicting the Bearcats title run in 2023. Email lpjmerchandise@gmail.com and include your name, email address, cell phone number, version of the poster (LIMITED or COMMEMORATIVE), and total number wanting to purchase.
Special thanks to Origin Bank and Forth Insurance for their support of this project.
How do you feel about a typical Monday morning?Are you tired, burned out, or feel like you are just going through the motions?Whether it’s a job that has become a monotonous process of the same thing day after day, the daily grind of balancing work and parenting, or a retirement that is anything but fulfilling, there is something that you can do about it.You don’t have to go through the rest of your life burned out, tired, or unfulfilled.
For most of us, we don’t need a job change, a stage of life change, or financial gain to experience a more fulfilling life.We may not need a change in circumstances at all.What we need though is a change in our approach to those circumstances.
If you painted a portrait of a perfect workday, what aspect of your job would you be engaged in?When you think about your response to that question, you will revert to what you enjoy doing, where you find fulfillment, or where you feel that you are making a meaningful contribution.The key here is that you are not only acting in a zone where you are finding affirmation, but you are performing in a zone where you are adding the most value to the organization.
We can’t avoid all the unpleasant tasks in our work, but we can seek to arrange our approach to work to invest more time in the areas that we are drawn to and add the most value.Have you talked to your boss about the issue?Have you avoided being a victim of the job description and sought to use your skills to add the most value?I don’t know if people really get burned out on a job as much as they just lose sight of purpose and meaning in their work.When one finds daily purpose to pursue, any job assignment can become challenging and exciting.Mondays can be different.
What if you painted a portrait of your perfect retirement day?What would that day include?I know you might consider playing golf, traveling, or being consumed in some other hobby.Those are typical responses, but are those activities enough?If you press into that question of a “perfect day”, it likely goes beyond just the activity to include people, relationships, and interactions.While the activity may be an enjoyable reason to gather, the activity alone is not the secret to fulfillment or affirmation.What can you alter with your retirement plan to purposefully have more of those perfect days?
I altered my approach to work years ago to be more engaged in impacting the lives of others.I still had to perform various tasks, attend certain meetings, and abide by certain workplace expectations, but my focus was on the purpose of impacting others.I would either find a way to impact others in the mundane, unpleasant tasks, or work my way through these tasks efficiently to allow more time to impact others in various ways in my workday.
I’ve since moved on from my original career focus to redirect (not retire) to allow myself even more time to invest in impacting others in a wide range of intentional pursuits.My portrait of a perfect day may include several things but impacting others must be a part of that day.
What’s your portrait of a perfect day look like?
What changes can you make to have more perfect days?
The church near Victor’s home was badly in need of repair, but no one seemed to care. Generations of worshipers had passed through its doors, but, with each passing year, the building got dirtier, darker, and more damp. It needed a new roof. Its rafters needed repairs. It needed a little of everything, but nothing was offered. Unless something drastic happened, Victor feared that the old church would be torn down and a more modern building, maybe not even a church, would be put in its place. Victor was horrified by the thought. He saw something in the old church building that most others failed to see. Maybe they had seen it at one time, but most people in town largely ignored the old church. To Victor, the building was much more than merely walls and a roof. To him, the church was important.
What could Victor do? He was not an architect or carpenter. He held no political office. He had no authority to do anything towards preserving the church that he loved so dearly. Victor was a writer, mostly of poetry. Oh, dear. He published a paper entitled War [declared] on the Demolishers in which he argued for the preservation of old buildings such as his beloved church. Most of the people who read his paper were the ones who wanted to demolish buildings to make room to erect more modern structures. Victor was distraught.
Victor decided to write a book about the church in his spare time. For three years, Victor struggled to find the time to work on the book as his other literary projects, ones that earned money, took precedence. Rather than a clever title which would draw interest to the story, Victor simply used the name of the church as the title of the book. The church, an inanimate object, became almost a living, breathing character in itself. Finally, Victor finished the book, sent it to his publisher, and waited. Would anyone read a book about an almost forgotten church?
To Victor’s surprise, his book about the church became a hit. Readers flocked to see the old church which was featured so prominently in the book. They flocked to the same church they had previously ignored. The church had not changed, but their perception of it had. Victor’s book brought new interest in the church. With each passing year, Victor’s book became more popular. Thirteen years after Victor published his book, the king of the country ordered the restoration of the church, a project which lasted twenty years. With the success of Victor’s book, the church became much more than a building of worship. It became a national icon.
In the years since Victor’s book was first published, millions of visitors, myself included, have flocked to see the church because of the book. The church is currently undergoing another restoration following a disastrous fire. You and I know the story and the church well because of the book’s many stage, television, and film adaptations. Had Victor not written his book, the church which had stood for over 700 years would not have been saved, and you and I would never have heard of the church Notre-Dame de Paris. The original French title of Victor’s book was Notre-Dame de Paris, but English speaking countries know Victor Hugo’s 1831 book by its adapted title, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. This is just one example of the positive power of words.
MANDEVILLE, La. – Keep Louisiana Beautiful (KLB), in alignment with its mission to promote clean and sustainable communities, announces the opening of registration for comprehensive educational workshops for classroom educators of grades K-5 in Monroe, Lafourche, and Orleans Parishes. The workshops will offer valuable insights into youth environmental stewardship and community engagement.
“Through effective litter education for the children of Louisiana, we can increase a child’s understanding of just how litter causes various environmental issues,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “If we can reach our children when they are young, they can form anti-littering habits. We can teach them pride in their communities and to do their part to make Louisiana a clean and beautiful place to live.”
Scheduled workshop dates and locations are as follows:
February 17, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Ouachita Parish at Tower Place,1500 N. 19th St., Monroe
KLB will offer stipends for up to $150 for teachers participating. Teachers who attend and stay for the duration of the workshop will receive a $50 stipend. Teachers have the opportunity to earn an additional $100 to implement the lessons.
“America is in the midst of one of the most profound and rapid societal shifts in history,” said KLB Executive Director Susan Russell. “Today’s generation of children is the first to grow up indoors. Their ‘plugged-in’ lives are often devoid of exploring the natural world. As tomorrow’s leaders, they need to be equipped for the challenges the future brings and it is our responsibility to prepare our children for the future they will inherit. That requires a commitment to providing our children with an environmental education.”
The desired result of this program is an increase in knowledge and awareness that yields a positive change in perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors related to caring for the environment and community. The workshops and lessons will cover a range of topics including:
Impact of litter on wildlife
Reducing waste in your personal life
Plastic pollution
Microplastics
Mapping litter at school
Recycling, reusing, and reducing
Watersheds
At the end of each lesson, students will be encouraged to apply what they learned from each lesson by participating in student-driven activities. These interactive sessions, led by experienced environmental educators Dr. Pam Blanchard and Dr. Mary Legoria aim to empower educators to engage young minds and instill a sense of responsibility for environmental stewardship.
The Grambling State University football program revealed its 2024 schedule on Wednesday evening. The upcoming slate features 12 games, including five homes games, two neutral site classics and one game versus an FBS opponent.
2024 ushers in a new era of Grambling State football as it will mark the debut of new head coach Mickey Joseph.
GSU begins the season on Aug. 31 in Lafyette, La. versus the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns. It will mark the second meeting all-time between GSU and UL and the first time since 2018.
On Sept. 7, the Tigers welcome Tuskegee to town for the 2024 home opener. This year’s game marks the first contest between GSU and TU since 1949.
An unfamiliar foe emerges on the slate in week three as Grambling State travels to Texas A&M-Commerce of the Southland Conference for the first meeting all-time between the two programs.
Grambling State returns to the friendly confines of Harris-Williams Field at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium to square off against Jackson State on Sept. 21 in a non-conference game.
The Tigers sets its sight on the Lone Star State and the State Fair Classic to battle Prairie View A&M at the Cotton Bowl.
After a bye week, Grambling State gears up for back-to-back home games. On Oct. 12, GSU hosts Alcorn State. Homecoming 2024 is scheduled for Oct. 19 versus University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
GSU then hits the road for a pair of away games. On Oct. 26, the G-Men make the trek to Houston, Texas to face Texas Southern before opening the month of November with a road tilt at Bethune-Cookman on Nov. 2.
Grambling State’s home finale and Senior Day is set for Nov. 9 when Alabama State pays a visit to Robinson Stadium.
On Nov. 16, GSU visits Huntsville, Ala. for a showdown with Alabama A&M.
The Tigers close the regular season in New Orleans, La. for the 51st annual Bayou Classic versus Southern University on Nov. 30.
Information on game times and season tickets will be released at a later date.
2024 Grambling State Football Schedule Aug. 31 – at Louisiana Cajun Field – Lafayette, La. GAME DAY COLOR – WHITE
Sept. 7 – vs. Tuskegee Harris-Williams Field at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium – Grambling, La. GAME DAY COLOR – BLACK
Sept. 14 – at Texas A&M Commerce Ernest Hawkins Field at Memorial Stadium – Commerce, Texas GAME DAY COLOR – WHITE
Sept. 21 – vs. Jackson State Harris-Williams Field at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium – Grambling, La. GAME DAY COLOR – GOLD
Sept. 28 – vs. Prairie View A&M / State Fair Classic Cotton Bowl – Dallas, Texas GAME DAY COLOR – BLACK
Oct. 12 – vs. Alcorn State Harris-Williams Field at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium – Grambling, La. GAME DAY COLOR – PINK (Breast Cancer Awareness)
Oct. 19 – vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff / HOMECOMING Harris-Williams Field at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium – Grambling, La. GAME DAY COLOR – BLACK
Oct. 26 – at Texas Southern Shell Energy Stadium – Houston, Texas GAME DAY COLOR – GOLD
Nov. 2 – at Bethune-Cookman Daytona Stadium – Daytona Beach, Fla. GAME DAY COLOR – WHITE
Nov. 9 – vs. Alabama State / SENIOR DAY Harris-Williams Field at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium – Grambling, La. GAME DAY COLOR – GOLD
Nov. 16 – at Alabama A&M Louis Crews Stadium – Huntsville, Ala. GAME DAY COLOR – WHITE
Nov. 30 – vs. Southern / 51st Annual Bayou Classic Caesars Superdome – New Orleans, La. GAME DAY COLOR – TBA
Louisiana Tech head coach Sonny Cumbie and his coaching staff will provide an in-depth look at the Bulldogs’ 2024 signing class during a signing day event on Wednesday, Feb. 7 at 11:45 a.m. at the Davison Athletics Complex.
The event is sponsored by Origin Bank.
Tech signed 15 exciting recruits in the early period in December and will sign additional student-athletes prior to the event on Feb. 7, during the late signing period.
This event is an excellent opportunity for Bulldog fans to get a chance to meet the coaching staff and find out detailed information on the newest Bulldog signees as LA Tech welcomes the 2024 signing class to The Boot.
Coach Cumbie will also give fans presentations on each of the Bulldogs’ signees.
Doors to the annual event will open at 11:45 a.m., with a buffet lunch before programming starts at 12:15 p.m. The event will conclude by roughly 12:45 p.m.
Individual tickets are $35 per person. Regular tables of six are also available for $350, allowing you to sit with a LA Tech Football coach and current student-athlete.
To purchase ticket tables or more event information, please visit caringcent.org/lat/nsd2024. Fans can also contact the Director of LTAC Taylor Cross at tcross@latechalumni.org or by calling 318-295-4919 for more information.
After helping Louisiana Tech open up its 2024 spring season with a pair of victories, junior Ana Rodrigues was named as the Conference USA Women’s Tennis Athlete of the Week.
Rodrigues went a combined 5-1 in the three dual matches played at the Hurricane Invite in Tulsa, Oklahoma, guiding the Bulldogs to wins over Mountain West Conference defending champion Wyoming and Omaha.
In the season opener versus the Cowgirls, Rodrigues teamed up with Valentina Vasquez to win 6-4 on court two to help LA Tech claim the doubles point, which proved to be the difference in the match as the two teams split the six singles matches.
The duo would end up going a perfect 3-0 on the weekend, claiming victories of 7-5 and 6-1 versus Tulsa and Omaha. Rodrigues provided the lone point against the Golden Hurricane, winning 6-4, 7-6 (5) at the No. 2 spot. She also picked up a 6-4, 6-0 win on court two versus the Mavericks as the Bulldogs won, 5-2.
This marks the first CUSA weekly honor for the junior, becoming just the fifth Bulldog in program history in receive a CUSA Athlete of the Week award.
Rodrigues and LA Tech are scheduled to be back in action on Saturday, Jan. 20 when they travel south to Baton Rouge to face LSU.
Virginia Earlene Dixon October 4, 1932 – January 11, 2024 Graveside Service: Friday, January 19, 2024, 1:00 PM, Forest Lawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum, 4000 Monroe Hwy, Ball
Nita Ann Mobley February 23, 1956 – January 10, 2024 Visitation: Temple Baptist Church Chapel, Thursday, January 18, 2024, 9:00 am Service: Temple Baptist Church Chapel, Thursday, January 18, 2024, 10:00 am Cemetery: Mineral Springs Cemetery, Thursday, January 18, 2024
With winter temperatures expected to go well below freezing again tonight, parish schools have announced closures for Thursday.
Lincoln Parish Superintendent Ricky Durrett said Lincoln Parish public schools will be closed tomorrow, and that that this will be considered a virtual day. Students should check Google Classroom for any updated assignments.
Additionally, Lincoln Prep will be closed tomorrow, according to Gordan Ford, school executive director. Head of School Cindy Hampton also said that Cedar Creek Schools will be closed tomorrow.
While major roadways are mostly navigable, dangerous driving conditions remain on rural and local streets as well as throughout campus sidewalks and parking lots. As a result, classes will be remote all day Thursday, January 18. The remainder of campus operations will return to normal at 1 p.m. Thursday, and we expect normal operations Friday.
Faculty are encouraged to use remote learning tools for class instruction during the inclement weather event. Classes are not to be considered canceled. Faculty will remain flexible with students due to weather conditions each student may encounter during this time.
University offices will open at 1:00 p.m. Employees unable to report to work should contact their supervisor. The Payroll Office will provide revised guidance for those unable to return tomorrow.
Food Services will open Tech Table at 10:00 a.m., and the remaining food service options will begin normal operations at noon tomorrow.
The Lambright will open at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow and will return to normal operating hours for the rest of the day.
City of Ruston employees will be returning to work as normal on Thursday while garbage pickup will be conducted as road conditions allow for residents within the city limits, according to Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker.
“The city will open up for business tomorrow,” Walker said. “We will pick up as much trash as we can according to the condition of the roads. We will not be able to pick up outside the city limits.”
Employees that do not feel comfortable with the driving conditions for their respective commutes will be allowed to take PTO.
Residents will need to take their garbage cans to the road by 10 a.m. Thursday morning and put them as close to the road as possible so trucks do not have to go on the edge of the roads.
Trash pickup will be conducted within the city limits, but only on roadways that are deemed safe for the trash trucks to drive.
“We’re actually going to have a pickup truck running in front of our garbage trucks to see if they can actually get down the road,” Walker said. “Trucks won’t be able to back track. We realize this is going to be a hit and miss, but it’s the only way we can start getting control of our situation.”
Recycling and trash will not be separated for Thursday and Friday but will still both be picked up. For residents that wish to keep their recycling separate, they will need to wait until next week to take their recycling to the road.
For Thursday, trash truck drivers will be using discretion while on the roads, which means that some roads and streets may not be entirely safe for total pickup. This could lead to some trash being picked up for some residents on a given road, while others may not have theirs picked up until Friday.
The City of Ruston will be aware of which garbage cans have not been picked up, meaning residents will not need to alert city hall and should leave their cans at the road.
Regular scheduled trash and recycling pickup is expected to resume next week including for residents outside of the city limits.
Police block off part of Frazier Road Tuesday afternoon while a truck dumps sand on it.
By Malcolm Butler
Although the sun and traffic helped thaw some of the main roadways across Lincoln Parish on Tuesday afternoon, many of the side roads and back roads are still very treacherous.
With overnight lows staying well below freezing — dipping down into the low teens — much of the ice turned slush or water during Tuesday froze once again overnight.
Lincoln Parish Sheriff Stephen Williams said drivers should be overly cautious this morning if they have to get out on the roads.
“It’s far from over,” said Williams in regards to treacherous driving conditions. “There’s going to be some black ice because (Tuesday night and Wednesday morning). We’ve had a lot of melt today and a lot of it just sits there on the road. It’s frozen back now and it looks just like asphalt.”
Williams stressed that anyone who doesn’t need to be on the roads this morning should wait as temperatures are supposed to get into the low 40s by the afternoon, which should help conditions immensely.
“I think tomorrow they are saying we are going to get six or seven hours of sunshine and higher temperatures,” said Williams. “We should be in much better shape by the afternoon.”
Williams said the past two days have seen plenty of incidents on the road ways.
“I don’t have a total, but I know we had six or seven in the ditch today,” said Williams. “Just during working hours (Tuesday) when I was out. I went in about 4:30 a.m. and got off at 3 p.m. We had everything from 18-wheelers on the interstate to one or two that were overturned. Then some that just slipped off in the ditch with no damage.”
Williams warned drivers to be cautious and not to get too comfortable with higher speeds even if a particular road looks clear.
“Some of our secondary roads are still bad,” said Williams. “It’s going to be a few days thawing out. That’s what happens. You get a good half mile of good dry asphalt and then you round a corner and as far as you can see its shaded ice and you are going 45 or 50 miles an hour. And you are done.”
The LPJ will be updating this post as more closures are announced in Lincoln Parish.
Ruston girls basketball vs. Peabody has been cancelled
South Maple Street between W. Barnett Springs Ave and Beech Ave is closed
Lincoln Parish Schools (Jan. 15-17)
Lincoln Parish Police Jury (Jan. 15-17)
City of Ruston (Jan. 15-17)
Lincoln Parish Library (Jan. 15-17)
Louisiana Tech (Jan. 15-17)
Grambling State (Jan. 15-17)
Cedar Creek School (Jan. 15-17)
Lincoln Parish Police Jury Update: All departments, the courthouse, and the landfill will be closed on January 17, 2024 due to inclement weather.
City of Ruston: All City of Ruston municipal offices will remain closed Wednesday, January 17, 2024, due to current road conditions and forecasted low temperatures tonight. Garbage trucks will not run Wednesday morning. Updated garbage schedules will be posted Wednesday afternoon.
Churches (Tuesday, Jan. 16): First Baptist Church – We have consulted with the police and sheriff departments and have decided to cancel our service tonight. We feel like the roads are still too dangerous to travel on. However, we will be able to stream a Life Action sermon by Brent. We hope that you can join us on our website or Facebook at 6:00 pm tonight.
The church follows the Lincoln Parish Schools, so therefore the church office is closed today and tomorrow. We are planning to have our Wednesday night meal and our Life Action service tomorrow at 6:00 pm.
Thanks
First Baptist Staff
Churches (Wednesday, Jan. 17):
Temple Baptist Church – With continued freezing temperatures and poor road conditions, we have decided to cancel all Wednesday Night Activities for January 17.
The Church Office will be open from 12 – 5 p.m. Wednesday, January 17.
(Ruston High senior Ahmad Breaux with counselors Diana Humphries, Kelly Ratcliff and Erin Henderson)
By Kyle Roberts
Already proven both a standout student and athlete, Ruston High senior defensive-end Ahmad Breaux was given permission to graduate early to head down to Louisiana State University, where he will begin classes today.
Breaux was made an official graduate on Friday, Jan. 12, and said he is thankful for Ruston High for allowing him the opportunity to graduate early and start in the spring semester to ready himself for the Tigers football squad that he signed with back in December.
“I feel like it really shows that they care,” Breaux said of the Ruston administration. “They cared enough about my career and my playing career in getting started college in early, and it really meant a lot to me.”
For Ruston High principal Dan Gressett, it was a no-brainer to allow him to graduate early given Breaux’s commitment to academics.
“He’s taken care of business in the classroom,” Gressett said. “He’s a high honor graduate. He was willing to put in extra work when seniors normally go on partial days in their last year. He’s an unbelievable kid.”
Ruston High head coach Jerrod Baugh echoed Gressett’s praise for Breaux’s academic excellence.
“Ahmad has definitely earned this opportunity to go ahead and get to work this spring at LSU so they can evaluate him and see if he fits into their plans for the upcoming season,” Baugh said. “He will have a head start on the players coming in during the summer and fall. We are all very proud of him for sure and wish him the very best.”
With classes starting today for Breaux, the computer-science major is ready for the new challenge ahead of him, and he credits Ruston High’s standards of excellence for preparing him for his next chapter.
“It hasn’t really hit me yet,” Breaux said of being at LSU. “Ruston is very rigorous school; it has surely gotten me even more prepared for college. I really think Ruston prepares you for life and and careers beyond high school.”
