Former Louisiana Tech Bulldog Kenneth Lofton, Jr., was released by the Memphis Grizzlies a week prior to Christmas in order to make room for Ja Morant’s return to the franchise.
However, Lofton signed a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers on December 23.
The undrafted second year player appeared in 39 total games for the Grizzlies the past two seasons. He averaged 4.1 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.9 assists while shooting 48.5 percent from the field during his time with the Grizzlies.
The 21-year-old won the 2022-23 NBA G League Rookie of the Year, averaging 20.2 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game during that award-winning G-League season..
Unless someone slammed a shopping cart into your shin or cut you off in traffic or sat you buy a drunk uncle at Present Opening Time, you might have counted your blessings in the past few says.
The spirit surrounding Christmastime and the New Year usually lends itself to such positive behavior.
Smelling coffee brewing and watching our 17-month-old granddaughter eat an apple and tell the puppy to ‘Get down!’ (a new phrase learned on Christmas Day) and considering that I can sense these things, even at the advanced stage of my development, reminds me that I might be the luckiest piece of protoplasm you could ever meet.
If not the luckiest, then at least in the Top 10 or so. There is really no other excuse for me even being here except by some mistake of nature.
First came winning the Uterine Lottery thanks to my personal mother, and then being born in America and not on some hill in some country whose name I can’t pronounce or even locate without Google and a map.
So started a chain of events of God putting people along my wayward path to teach and encourage and inspire. One of those has a birthday December 28, and since I’ve missed writing to tell him “Happy Birthday” for 80 consecutive years, I won’t make that mistake again this time.
He’s had other jobs before and after, but Keith Prince was the sports information director at Louisiana Tech for 25 years, beginning in 1969 through the time I was there as a student in the early 1980s. It was outside what is now Scotty Robertson Memorial Gym that he asked me if I wanted to go to graduate school and be his graduate assistant.
Once I finished laughing, I thanked him and reminded him it had already taken me six years to earn a four-year degree. But … besides being organized and efficient and a wonderful writer and athlete, he is a kind and persistent man, sneaky convincing, a teacher by example, and I signed on with him for what ended up being one of the great adventures of my life. Even graduated in the legit two years, like a person with any sense is supposed to do.
Sports information directors are today called Associate Athletic Directors for Strategic Communications, or something like that. The job is the same as always though: promote your student-athletes, cover the games, never get ahead, and have four days off a year.
It’s a job that requires stamina, talent, grace, and the ability to deal with egos that often accompany your more dynamic competitors.
To make us better, Mr. Prince introduced us, maybe even shared us, to others who did his job at their schools, to Bob Anderson at what was then Northeast, to Collie Nicholson at Grambling, Jerry Pierce at Northwestern State, Larry Hymel at Southeastern, the incomparable Louis Bonnette at McNeese State, and a bunch of others. They became our teachers but also our friends. Tremendous break.
Mr. Prince had all the tools, but his best attribute was grace under pressure. That, and the ability to convince you that you could earn a place. He gave me and so many others a chance. And he showed us the way. Still does.
For those reasons and many more, I hope this is his best birthday yet.
The Lincoln Parish Narcotics Enforcement Team made two arrests last Wednesday afternoon after spotting the suspect in one of their drug investigations.
Members of the team were on proactive patrol when they spotted Antonio Sims, 37, outside his residence on West Line Avenue in Ruston. Sims was stopped and placed under arrest on drug distribution charges. He was asked numerous times if he had anything illegal on his body and Sims stated no. During a subsequent search, a small bag of suspected marijuana was found in his pocket.
Another man at the residence was identified as Victor West, 28, of Ruston. It was learned West was wanted on numerous warrants from Ruston City Court. He was arrested and searched and suspected marijuana was found.
The two were booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center with Sims charged with two counts of distribution of alprazolam, two counts of distribution of marijuana. possession of marijuana, a warrant for failure to appear in court on a possession of marijuana charge, and introduction of contraband into a penal facility. Bail was set at $116,000.
West was booked for possession of marijuana and five warrants for failure to appear in Ruston City Court for running a stop sign, failure to register a vehicle, no liability insurance, speeding, and expired inspection sticker. His bail was set at $10,000.
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.
A Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office patrol supervisor arrested a 47-year-old man early last Friday morning after a high-speed pursuit in which bags of suspected methamphetamine and marijuana were thrown from the vehicle.
Just after midnight, the patrol supervisor saw a Nissan SUV make a from the I-20 Service Road onto Tarbutton Road from the wrong lane. The vehicle almost hit the curb and had to stop and maneuver abruptly to make the turn. When the deputy attempted to stop the SUV, it immediately sped up, running the stop sign at Tarbutton Road and La. Highway 150. The vehicle continued west on La. 150 at speeds over 100 miles an hour, leaving the roadway multiple times. At one point, the vehicle left the roadway completely, driving through the ditch and back onto the roadway. On three occasions during the pursuit, the driver threw bags out the driver’s side window.
The SUV stopped in the 2000 block of Martin Luther King Avenue in Grambling and the driver, Melvin J. Williams, surrendered. He was taken into custody.
Officers from Louisiana Tech Police, Grambling Police and Lincoln Parish deputies located two of the three bags. One of the bags contained suspected methamphetamine in multiple individually wrapped bags and the second suspected marijuana contained in multiple individually wrapped bags.
Williams said the drugs were his and not the passenger’s. He was taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center and booked for aggravated flight from an officer, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Bail was set at $62,500.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
This story was originally published on April 11, 2023.
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By Josh McDaniel
Major League Baseball is back and in full swing, and you’re sure to see a plethora of MLB hats when you’re out and about. There’s one hat I own that is more than just a hat; it’s a bond between my Maw-Maw and me.
This is her story.
This our story.
She stood maybe five foot five inches.
But she was a giant: built like an oak.
You have probably heard the phrase “big boned” a countless number of times, but Rubie Lee Jackson’s bones were solid. Even at her most frail, I struggled to lift her frame.
Her wit was sharp and quick, and so was her temper. I knew I was straying over the line with just a look from her dark eyes, and I knew I had crossed it when she said, “Go pick me out a switch.”
Now, young folks probably do not understand the art of switch picking.
Never, ever go for the thin, pliable bushes.
I learned this lesson the hard way. A weeping willow branch will wrap around your bare legs, and it will sting to high heaven.
Never go thin.
Get you a branch.
Heck, pull up a tree trunk if you can.
It may hurt, but it will not sting nearly as bad.
She gave me my share of whippings, and I most likely deserved them all.
But she never held a grudge, and she loved me.
She loved me hard.
When my first pet died (a Beta fish named Deon), she loved me hard.
When my paternal grandmother died suddenly a few months before her 61st birthday, Rubie, despite my screaming and crying, loved me hard.
When I was at my lowest point during basketball season of my senior year in high school, she loved me hard.
We had an incredibly special bond that is hard to put into words.
She once told me, “I don’t like your spiky hair, and I don’t like when you color it. I don’t like your pants with holes in them. And I especially don’t like your earrings. But I love you, and this is my house. If you ever need a place to go, you’re always welcome here no matter what you look like.”
She loved me hard.
When I first started to school at Louisiana Tech in 2001, I could not find a job, so I decided that I would give plasma each week in order to make ends meet. Rubie got wind of my scheme, and she was appalled. She asked me, “How much will you make selling your blood each week?” Back then, the going rate was $40 per week. She said, “If I give you $40 a week, will you promise me that you will never sell your blood?”
I lived on $40 a week for a year, and I still have not sold my blood.
I never will.
She loved me hard.
She was the daughter of a sharecropper. My great-grandfather never had a son, and he treated Rubie like a mule. From all accounts I have been given, he was mean, and he was a drunk. Rubie stood up to him on behalf of her younger sister, and she often bore the brunt of his rage.
She married young, and she had three children with a man named Albert Henry. Albert, too, liked the bottle, and a divorce came soon after the third baby.
I often think about her strength.
How strong must she have been to divorce a man in the 50s while she had three young children?
On August 2, 1953, she married a man who once told me, “I knew from the moment I saw your Maw-Maw, I had to marry her. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.”
Mitchell and Rubie would have three kids together.
Their youngest would bring a baby boy into the world on July 13, 1981, and that is when I guess I officially met my best friend.
I do not remember much about the early years, but I do remember the smell of bacon, the taste of scrambled eggs with a slice of Kraft cheese melted ever so slightly, the feel of a soft quilt on my skin in front of a roaring fire, the sound of a country record on a Saturday morning as she cleaned, and the smell of PineSol after she was done.
Growing up, I never really spent the night at my friends’ house, I spent the night with Maw-Maw and Paw-Paw.
Their house was a safe haven where PBS shows helped mold my mind, and Little Debbie zebra cakes helped ruin my dinner.
Rubie loved her family, and she loved sports.
My cousins would often ask if they could watch TV, and she would tell them no regularly.
I learned how to play the system at a early age.
“Maw-Maw, can we watch the ballgame?”
Never once was I denied.
Football in the fall. She loved Warren Moon and his Oilers. I was a Broncos fan, and she hated John Elway or “El-Ray” as she called him.
Winter was basketball season. We both loved the Celtics and Larry Bird. Larry was considered a member of the family. If she talked about Larry, you just knew who she was referring to.
My parents bought her tickets to see Bird and the Celtics play in Houston in the early 90s. By then Larry’s back was bad, and Rubie’s first bout with cancer had taken a toll on her body, and she could not travel.
She would beat the cancer.
And then it came back again.
She beat it again.
I told you.
She was a strong woman.
The strongest I have ever known.
She worked and raised six kids while Uncle Sam sent my Paw-Paw to Germany and then to fight in Korea and then two tours of duty in the jungles of Vietnam. She helped raise grandkids, and she never lost her fighting spirit or that twinkle in her eye.
It was that twinkle I will never forget as I kissed her goodbye on her forehead on June 12, 2005.
She had beaten the cancer, but her body was not ready for the strokes. Her brain was betraying her, but I could see her mind was still there. I told her I loved her, and she mouthed, “I love you, too.”
Two days later, my mom called.
My Rubie Lee, my Maw-Maw, was gone.
I think about her often.
Every time I see flowers come to life in the spring, I think of her.
Some people were born with a green thumb; Rubie was born with green hands. Her flower beds were magnificent, and her lawn was meticulously mowed and shaped. She grew azaleas along the sidewalk, and roses just to the left before you got to the front porch steps. There were so many gorgeous bushes around the yard, and trees I would guess that are older than our country standing watch over it all.
It was paradise which she took great pride in.
I used to play football by myself on the sidewalk. I made up my own sports league, and each of the flowers and bushes were my fans. Their leafy green adoring hands reaching out to give a high five to their hero, the awkward kid in the Rec Specs with the big imagination.
I practiced my Pete Rose head-first slides in that yard.
Years before, I made mud pies and used sticks for guns.
Spring and summer were special times down Leon Stracener Road.
Those seasons brought baseball on the TV, and crops in the field.
I could hold my own in the watermelon field, but when it came to picking peas, I was an absolute failure.
My one and only time to pick peas came when I was 14. I had just finished eighth grade, and I was in pretty good shape to venture into the pea patch (or so I thought). I was the absolute slowest and worst pea picker to ever grace a South Louisiana field. Maw-Maw stood at the end of my row watching my struggles, and when everyone else had finished picking ALL OF THE OTHER ROWS IN THE FIELD, she quietly came to my rescue. I watched her frail, but knowing hands, shred the pea plants. I knew she grew up picking cotton, and apparently she picked a few peas in her day. When she finished picking my row and filling my bucket, she said, “Now you can get paid.”
I have never felt so unworthy of $4 in my life.
When I was in high school, we had lunch every Sunday at her house. She was often too weak to eat much more than Golden Flake cheesy poofs, but the quality time we had together is something I will forever treasure. It was through these years that she became my confidant, my listening ears, my best friend.
All throughout college, I tried to make it home as many weekends as I could. One of these college visits would give me the best memory I have of my Maw-Maw.
I popped in to her house announced, and I found her lying down in her back bedroom. We visited for a while, and I took my hat off because that is what you did in Maw-Maw’s house. After several minutes, I told her I was going to get a drink, and I would be right back. Before I had a chance to make my way back, I was greeted by the sight of a tiny frail woman and her walker.
She was wearing my Yankees hat and a huge grin.
I was overcome with laughter, and I told her, “Maw-Maw, I could have gotten it later.” To which she replied, “It’s alright. I like the Yankees.”
A month or so later, I graduated from Tech.
She smiled when she saw my diploma, but it was nothing like the grin on the moment shared by just the two of us.
I had the privilege of giving her eulogy at her funeral, and I did so with a brand new Yankees hat on the podium, New Era 5950, size 7 1/4, just like the one she wore that day. Before her casket was closed, I managed to sneak her new Yankees hat inside.
So now if you see me on Sunday, I will be wearing my Yankees hat.
Sundays were our days, so my hat is a small tribute to a woman who wore it better than I ever could. It’s no longer the original 7 1/4. Steroids and my brain tumor pushed my head up three hat sizes, and I’m now in a 7 5/8. It’s dirty, and it shows some stains from the years we have spent together.
I will inevitably catch flack from someone for being a band wagoner or for supporting the Evil Empire, but I am used to the jeers and jabs at this point.
I welcome the question, “Why are you wearing a Yankees hat?!” because I get to share my story of a lady who liked the Yankees and loved her grandson.
William Parkerson is the new Cedar Creek head football coach.
This story was originally published on April 25, 2023.
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By Malcolm Butler
Cedar Creek will turn to a familiar face as its next head football coach.
Former Creek assistant coach William Parkerson was introduced to the Cougar players Monday afternoon culminating a three week search following the resignation of Matt Middleton, who departed April 3 to join the staff at Harding University.
Cedar Creek Head of School Cindy Hampton said Parkerson was chosen from an impressive pool of candidates.
“We were very fortunate and grateful to receive interest from many qualified football coaches, and we can’t say enough how impressed we were with the quality of the candidate pool,” said Hampton. “During the interview process, Coach Parkerson revealed himself to be an excellent fit for our football program.”
Parkerson returns to the Ruston-based Class A program where he previously spent seven seasons as an assistant coach for the Cougars on Ben Haddox’s staff. During that stretch, the Cougars posted a record of 57-26 with six playoff appearances, including four quarterfinal appearances and semifinal runs in 2013 and 2016.
“It’s returning home,” said Parkerson. “This place became home during my seven years here. I am excited to be back.”
He served as both the program’s offensive coordinator (2017-18) and defensive coordinator (2011-2017). He also led the Creek track and field team during his time at the school, including to state runner-up finishes on the boys side twice.
Parkerson said he plans to return to his roots when it comes to X’s and O’s.
“The plan is to move back to the flex bone triple option,” said Parkerson, referring to what offense the Cougars ran during his time at Creek. “It’s what I know, and it’s what I believe in. I always thought the entire time I was (at Cedar Creek) that it fit the kids we had, year in and year out. You can tweak it if you have a special quarterback. But I always said that if you can’t fix it on Friday night, then don’t run it. That’s what I’m able to fix when things are going bad so that is what we will do.”
Haddox, who is a Creek alum and who served as the head football and baseball coach and the school’s AD before departing to enter the business world a few years ago, said he believes Parkerson will be a great fit for the school.
“Having the opportunity to work alongside Coach Parkerson was tremendous,” said Haddox. “His dedication to his craft is second to none and it challenged the coaches, and more importantly, the players to perform at their best. I feel confident that he will prepare our student athletes not just for the challenges they face on Friday Nights, but for the world that awaits them when their Cedar Creek careers are over. I could not be more excited to have him leading our Cedar Creek football program.”
Parkerson, who served as a student assistant for Jack Bicknell at Louisiana Tech while earning his bachelor’s degree from the University, was the head coach at Catholic Pointe Coupee in 2008. He also served as an assistant coach at Central Catholic (2009, 2010) prior to his seven seasons with the Cougars.
The 41-year-old comes from a football family. His father was the head coach at West Feliciana High School for more than a quarter of a century and he knows the importance of the coach-player relationship.
“Building that trust is crucial.” said Parkerson. “I will meet with the seniors quickly and tell them whatever happens five years from now, you guys laid the foundation. I will ask them to trust me and buy into everything we are doing. And in return I will invest in them and fight for them.”
Parkerson, who will begin May 1, said he plans to forgo spring practice due to the tight time-frame. Instead he will utilize the LHSAA rule and add an extra week on the front end of fall workouts. However, he will use the final few weeks of the current school year and summer to begin acclimating himself back to the school and program and learning the current roster.
“I look forward to meeting with everyone individually and getting to know them,” Parkerson said. “I will probably observe for a week to see how everything is going before we start implementing how our training will be. I want to watch them work for a week without ripping the band aid off.
“We will stress from the beginning that everything we do we want to be fast, physical and aggressive. That will be how we work out. How we practice. Everything we do will be geared towards being fast, physical and aggressive.”
Parkerson did confirm that both Mark Ware and Jacob Angevine would remain on the staff with their current positions, something that he and school officials feel is integral for the stability of the program.
“It is critical to for us to build long-term success and stability for our program and for our student athletes,” said Board of Director member Lance Hall. “We are so fortunate to have such strong coaches and leaders in Coach Ware and Coach Angevine on campus to invest in and lead these young men. We look forward to long-term success as Coach Parkerson leads this strong staff.”
This story was originally published on April 29, 2023.
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By Malcolm Butler and Kyle Roberts
After a much contested bond proposal was sent to a public vote, the voters of the Ruston School District loudly cast a NO vote at the ballot box Saturday.
At least those that took the time to vote.
When the dust settled, a bond that would have generated $65 million over the next 20 years and that would have led to a consolidation of the four elementary schools within the parish was soundly defeated by a vote of 1,856 to 814 (70 percent to 30 percent).
Only 14 percent of a total of 18,761 eligible voters turned out at the polls. Of that percentage, early voting accounted for 46 percent of that total.
Lincoln Parish School Board Superintendent Ricky Durrett said that he isn’t 100 percent sure what would be next, but that he feels that for the time being its best to move forward as is.
“I am not sure what the next step is right now,” said Durrett. “We wanted to let everybody have a say. I think right now we will leave it like it is and continue with the way we have the schools presently.”
Members of the Coalition Against School Closures have been adamant that the plan would be detrimental to the black community.
“We are here for one purpose and one purpose only, hoping that the school board will reconsider consolidating our four elementary schools into two enhanced schools on the north side of Interstate 20,” said Co-Chair of the CASC Terence Flucas during the April school board meeting. “We believe that closing two schools on the south side of I-20 will be a detriment to our community. We understand that this Board took a vote back in the month of February to consolidate four elementary schools, but in the best interest of this school system we believe that this is a decision that should have been made with input from the community.”
Dr. Liz White, Co-Chair of the Coalition Against School Closures, said late tonight she was happy with the results.
“We still have a lot of work to do,” said Dr. White. “I think the people — and when I say the people I mean those who took an interest and voted — got involved in what was going on. They used their voice which is the ballot to vote. I am really happy that they did that. I just pray and hope that this will be an indication of what we will do in the future. This is what democracy is all about. If we don’t vote, then we are saying we don’t matter.”
The topic of consolidating the schools was first publicly addressed by the Lincoln Parish School Board in the February meeting. Some critics claimed that not enough time was given and enough clarity provided for the public to fully understand the details of the millages and the long-term affects of consolidating the elementary schools.
If the April 29 vote had passed, it would mean an existing 17.5 millage would be extended thus generating $65 million, the majority of that earmarked to restructure existing elementary schools within the parish.
The plan would have combined Hillcrest Elementary and Glen View Elementary back into K-5 schools and would have repurposed the two Ruston elementary schools on the south side of the city – Ruston Elementary and Cypress Springs. Both buildings would have been utilized for other purposes, including plans to move the LPSB central office to Cypress Springs.
“I think it was the right time to do it,” said Durrett. “I think we put a lot of time and effort in trying to figure out the options. I don’t think we did a good enough job of getting the clear message out there exactly what we were doing and how we got to that point. We will just stay with what we got. There may be a time, but people just don’t want to do anything right now. I still think we have good school system; good kids, good parents and good teachers working. We will continue to do that under the current system we have.”
Another portion of the $65 million was earmarked for construction of a multi-purpose covered facility at Ruston High School as well as upgrades to the Ruston High School baseball field. The multi-purpose covered facility at Ruston High School would have been used by soccer, football, band, cheerleaders, baseball and softball.
“We really needed a bond issue to be able to do (those projects),” said Durrett. “Those will be put off until maybe we can go back to the voters, whether it be in another year or three or four down the road. We just don’t have the money to do it out of the general fund. That will have to be put on hold for now.”
This story was originally published on May 8, 2023.
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By Kyle Roberts
Play golf with longtime Ruston resident Mike Walpole, and you can only assume that he’s been a scratch golfer for his entire life.
And after his third place finish in the Super Senior Division at the Louisiana Golf Association Amateur at Tamahka Trails in Marksville, La., where he shot 73 on Thursday, April 27, and 75 on Friday, April 28, his commitment to the game clearly shows.
“I’ve played in this league for the last three years,” Walpole said. “It’s the best golfers basically in your age range across the state; it’s a good way to gauge where you are in relation to other golfers in the state.
“I really enjoyed it. It’s a tight course; you can’t spray the ball off the tee. Thankfully, I drove the ball well, and I was able to turn my drive both ways when I needed to.”
Hearing that and seeing his scores, again you’d assume that he’s had decades to perfect his game. Turns out, the 67-year-old only ten years ago decided to really start taking the game seriously.
“I started golf as a youngster, but I did not get serious about it until I was 57,” Walpole said. “Until then, I had only broken 80 three or four times.”
It was then that he started working on flexibility and more weights in order to improve. A couple of years later, Walpole took some lessons and started to really improve his score at his home course at Squire Creek. He credits the practice facilities and the staff at the course for helping his begin his journey from an 8-handicap to a .5.
Walpole’s trip to Marksville started on Wednesday, April 25, for a qualifying round and then the tournament on Thursday and Friday, April 26-27. Walpole’s age put him in the super-senior category of players 65 years and older.
And no gimmes or improving your lie: standard tournament rules applied, meaning the ball had to be in the cup on every hole.
Walpole certainly had a chance to win the tournament and acknowledged that a few three-putts on the final day of the tournament was what kept from finishing higher.
“You’d like to think you don’t have any three-putts,” Walpole said of the last day of competition.“
Already well-known for his successful architecture business, Mike loves spending time with his family, his grandkids, and when he can, the golf course as well,
And by playing the best golf of his life now, it means there is hope for some us of yet.
Walpole laughed at that in agreement. “Yes. It’s hope for everybody.”
This story was originally published on May 18, 2023.
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by Malcolm Butler
Cedar Creek School is embarking on a $5 million athletics strategic plan.
Head of School Cindy Hampton said that the plan is just one piece of the puzzle for the k-12 school as it prepares for re-accreditation and looks for ways to grow its overall enrollment numbers.
“This is just one piece of our overall strategic plan for our re-accreditation,” said Hampton. “We are up for re-accreditation next year. We have an overall strategic school-wide plan. Athletics is one component of this overall plan. Now, this is a lot more visible than the academic side. This will be more in the public eye than our in-house policy changes. We can use this more for marketing. This will grab people’s attention.”
The plan has already been approved by the Cedar Creek Board of Directors and $1.5 million in commitments have been pledged towards the projects.
An email was sent out to Cedar Creek parents over a month ago communicating the plan which will be geared towards upgrading athletic facilities.
“We have to invest in these kids,” said Cedar Creek board member Lance Hall. “We have the luxury of being a k-12 on-campus facility. Our ability to create a strong (middle school program) should transition to a successful high school program. It’s dynamic for us, and it comes from having the right facilities and development program in place.”
“We need to show success in all areas,” said Hampton. “Having a strong, stable coaching staff will help stabilize and help build for the future. I think when you have success (in athletics) that will just permeate and vice versa. When you get the right kids in that are mission appropriate, your academics will be enhanced and your athletics will be enhanced. It can be a win-win.”
According to Hampton, Cedar Creek’s enrollment hovers between 600 to 650 students per year with the average tuition around $8,000 per year (the school provides discounts for families with multiple children enrolled). The vast majority of the schools budget comes from enrollment dollars.
As enrollment numbers grow so would the yearly budget, allowing additional funds to go directly towards in-school needs, including the ability to increase the number of teachers and salaries if chosen.
“We have to be very good stewards of our finances,” said Hampton.
Hampton, Hall and others at the school feel that upgrading its athletic facilities will be a strong step in not only attracting families but retaining the ones they already have.
“From a parent’s perspective, if I see a school that is progressing and trying to get better and not just being satisfied with the status quo, that sends a message to me,” said Hampton. “Okay, they are visionaries. They are thinking about the future. They are not just thinking about the kids they have right now, but they are thinking about their future. That is the message we need to send.
“Everybody wants to be on a winning team. Everybody wants to be in a winning program, whether that be academics, athletics or arts. Everybody wants to be on a winning team.”
The email outlined seven pillars of the strategic plan, including a financial commitment and game-plan for raising the necessary funds to retain attract and retain coaches, add coaching positions, and address the facility needs.
“The athletics portion of this strategic plan has two different prongs,” said Hampton. “We have restructured our corporate sponsorships. It’s a pilot program this year, and we will see how that goes. And the second part of that will be getting a capital campaign started as quickly as we can. We will get a capital campaign together to see where we go. As you talk to people, new ideas arise. It’s going to be fluid as we go through this process.”
One aspect of the fundraising includes increasing annual corporate sponsorship dollars with a goal of raising the yearly total by three times from $65,000 to $200,000 within one year. Some of the increased funds would also go towards additional support for the spirit squads at the school. The plan also calls for a capital campaign that would fund upgrades and renovations in almost every Cedar Creek athletic venue.
Projects include:
LED lights for our football, softball, and baseball fields
Construction of a new secondary gymnasium that could support PE, cheer and dance groups, pee wee, middle school and varsity basketball
Renovations to the Brick House gymnasium
Resurfacing of the track
A digital scoreboard for football
An new all-sports strength and conditioning performance center
Upgrades to baseball facility
Total resurfacing of football field with natural grass
Cosmetic upgrades to athletics fieldhouse
A specific timeline for all of the projects isn’t complete, but work will begin as soon as this summer. Creek officials believe that this will also aid in stabilizing its faculty and staff over the long run.
“Our whole plan about athletics is to help grow enrollment which will enhance the entire school, including the ability to raise teachers pay,” said Hall. “We want families to aspire to come to Cedar Creek because athletics and academics are equally important and equally successful. This investment in athletics will provide us an avenue that allows Cedar Creek to grow.”
Cedar Creek has hired three new head coaches over the past three months, including Katie Hall (girls basketball), William Parkerson (football) and Chad Yates (baseball).
Hampton said she feels as though the school is an important piece of elementary and secondary education in Lincoln Parish.
“We are a big part of this community,” said Hampton. “When families move into our area, sometimes they need a smaller environment for their children. Not every child can thrive in a big environment so Cedar Creek does serve a need in this community.”
Ruston head coach Jerrod Baugh with his high school coach Pat Collins
This story was originally published on October 19, 2023.
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By Kyle Roberts
“You’re kidding? I thought he was from Texas!”
That, or something like it, is the most common response I get when I tell people that Ruston High head football coach Jerrod Baugh is a 1995 graduate of West Ouachita High School, located south of Calhoun in the small community of Cadeville.
Take Exit 103 on I-20 and find your way south for about 10 minutes and you’ll eventually come to a large school, seemingly in the middle of nowhere.
But it was at this school that Baugh, now one of the top high school football coaches in Louisiana, started his love for, you guessed it … basketball.
“My dad was a basketball coach in Eros, when there was still a school there,” Baugh said of his father Roy. “He taught math and coached girls’ basketball for two or three years, and then got into the computer business as a data processor writing computer programs.”
Coaching did not stop for the family, as Baugh’s mother Nova went back to school to finish her college degree once all of the sons were at the age to go to school.
“Then my mother coached girls’ basketball and taught language arts at Ouachita Junior High before getting hired at Calhoun, where she coached until she retired,” Baugh said.
Baugh’s love of basketball did indeed begin to shift to where he has had most of his success: on the football field. In junior high in Calhoun, he began playing contact football and started as a tight end before moving to quarterback.
At the time, West Ouachita High School was in the middle of a tectonic shift for a small program in the early 90’s: the Chiefs had moved from 2A to 4A due to student enrollment, which was a sharp jump in the level of competition for a team that appeared on the rise in 2A with a talented junior high team coming in from Calhoun Middle.
“We had several guys that you could still hold back in the eighth grade, and we were really good in junior high,” Baugh said. “We played schools like Ouachita and Ruston, and we were undefeated coming through eighth grade. And we had a good group of guys coming in behind them, as well.”
Baugh suited up for the Chiefs as a freshman in 1992, playing safety and backup quarterback.
As fate would have it, a legend in North Louisiana took over the helm of the Chiefs program leading into his sophomore season: Pat Collins, I-AA national championship winning head coach at Northeast Louisiana University (now ULM) and head coach at Ouachita, Longview, and of course, West Ouachita.
And in no time, Collins was impressed with Baugh’s analytical mind and work ethic, keeping him one step ahead of the competition in whatever role he served.
“He had a real toughness,” Collins said. “And he was ready to give credit to those who deserved it and would do everything he could to try to make things better for everybody. He and I both have our degrees in math, so maybe that’s one reason we hit it off.
“But I always felt that Jerrod was going to be in 100 percent at whatever he does. And that impressed me.”
After not making the postseason his sophomore season under Collins, Baugh would lead West Ouachita into the playoffs both his junior and senior seasons as quarterback, running an I-formation offense that is similar to what Ruston High runs today.
“We were probably 35 percent of the time throwing the football,” Baugh said. “We had a really good running back and did a lot of play action passing that made it easier on me. Of course, I’m not the tallest guy, so we would sprint out a bunch and throw the ball. We didn’t have any big, tall receivers, but we had a couple of really good receivers, and I thought we were getting pretty good.”
Under Collins’ tutelage, Baugh began to shift away from basketball and started to appreciate the strategic pieces of football. From there, a bond between the two led Baugh from Calhoun to Ouachita to Longview, Texas, all with Collins primarily as the head coach.
But West Ouachita holds a special place in Baugh’s heart, in large part due to the family legacy that he, along with his two brothers Dean and Duston, have left as Chiefs on the gridiron.
“I always take a look at their roster, see the last names and wonder if I played with some of their dads,” Baugh said. “It’s neat to see. West Ouachita gets a bad rep sometimes for not being able to get things going. I think (head coach Mike) Rainwater is doing a great job. I think the injuries they’ve taken in some important spots has been detrimental. But one thing you’ll see on video is that those kids always play very hard.”
And now Baugh’s nephew Harper, Duston’s son, will be suited up on the opposing sideline, wearing No. 57 as an offensive lineman and linebacker. Talking about Harper and his family stirs emotion within Baugh that is evident when he shares their bond.
“I got really close to my nephews when they were younger,” Baugh said of Duston’s sons. “I think Harper knows that at the end of the day, I like to win. We used to have game nights, and it didn’t matter what kind of game we played. They were going to have to catch it just like everybody else.
“I fully plan to go out there and do my best to win, and Harper knows that. We’re all very competitive. That’s the way we grew up; we were pretty sore losers if it didn’t go our way amongst ourselves.”
Ruston and West Ouachita will play Friday night at Red Sims stadium for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
This story was originally published on June 21, 2023.
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By T. Scott Boatright
Unemployment in Lincoln Parish is about to take a jump after Ardagh Glass Packaging – North America announced to employees on Tuesday that it is shutting down its Simsboro glass plant, located off the Industry exit on Interstate 20.
The company said it expects the closure to be completed by next month, a release sent today to the LPJ by Ardagh Vice President of Marketing, Communications and New Product Development Gina L. Behrman.
That release reads as follows:
“Ardagh Glass Packaging – North America (AGP – North America) continues to focus on enhancing our overall performance as a leading supplier of glass packaging to the food and beverage industries.
“Our multi-year performance optimization program, involving targeted investments in enhanced capacity and ongoing cost optimization, underpins our ability to continue to provide existing and prospective customers with high quality, American-made sustainable glass packaging.
“Pursuant to this program and in response to recent weakness in market demand, we have today announced certain adjustments to our manufacturing footprint involving the closure of our Ruston (Simsboro), Louisiana, and Wilson, North Carolina glass production facilities, effective mid-July 2023. Existing customers of these facilities will continue to be supplied from alternative locations in our network.”
In 2018, around 450 people were working at the plant, which was more than the 350 workers the facility needed to employ to stay in compliance with its deal with the state.
As news of the impending closure spread Tuesday afternoon, it was being said by some that changes to the company’s deal with the state of Louisiana could have played a role in its decision to close the plant.
“Be like Louisiana,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson after the state became the first in the nation to receive full approval of its Initial Proposal for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program.
Volume 2 of the proposal was approved this month, while Vol. 1 was approved in September. This milestone means that Louisiana can move from the planning phase to the implementation phase and begin accessing the $1.355 billion allocation to expand broadband networks throughout the state.
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said in a press release, “Louisiana is taking a major step toward ensuring that no one in the state is held back by a lack of Internet access. I congratulate Governor Edwards and the team at ConnectLA on this terrific achievement for Louisiana’s workers, businesses, communities, and families.”
Gov. John Bel Edwards said, “We will start executing shovel-ready projects in 2024 under the BEAD program.”
“The world is a little less bright today . . . but heaven is much brighter.”
That assessment by Rhonda Boyd in reminiscing about Dr. Tommy Grafton, longtime Louisiana Tech educator, summed up the thoughts of many who mourned his passing on December 22.
Grafton served as an educator for many years with his last position at Louisiana Tech, focusing on health and saving young people from the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.
Grafton pulled community resources together to work with youth, calling on athletic superstars and even the spouse of a well-known but addicted Hollywood actor to get his programs’ message across. His latter years at Tech involved overseeing alcohol abuse prevention programs and community coalitions to promote prevention.
Boyd, a kinesiology instructor who worked alongside Grafton, said, “When I came to Tech, Tommy hired me as a health educator for Project Northland, an underage alcohol prevention program for sixth, seventh, and eighth graders. He gave me some great advice when I began teaching that I have never forgotten: ‘When it comes to health education, you will not be able to save everyone, but if you save one—if what you share and teach causes one person to live better and make healthy decisions—then you have been a success.’”
Boyd said Grafton was a source of encouragement and inspiration to her. “No doubt he saved MANY in his years of education,” she said.
Addie Smith also worked as an alcohol and drug educator under Grafton’s supervision. Smith was coordinator of a local community coalition known as the North Central Alliance Partners in Prevention funded by a grant Grafton wrote.
“Dr. Grafton was very dear to me,” the current I. A. Lewis School counselor said. “He was more than just a boss. He was a mentor and fatherly figure in my life. He was generous, encouraging, and kind to everyone.”
Smith and Grafton stayed in touch after she moved to counseling for Lincoln Parish Schools. “I am so thankful we were able to visit by phone just last week. He told some stories and wanted to know about me & my family.”
Boyd and Smith both expressed thanks for Grafton’s role in their lives. “Thank you for believing in me!” said Boyd.
“I’m so grateful for all the things he taught me about living, honoring God, and putting others first,” Smith said. “I will miss him terribly, but I am happy to know he is rejoicing in heaven with the Father he knows so well!”
Funeral arrangements for Dr. Grafton are pending through Farrar Funeral Home of Farmerville.
Timothy C. Babcock, born on October 7, 1950, peacefully went to be with the Lord on December 24, 2023, following a recent decline in his health. He was only 73 years old.
Tim is survived by his loving wife, Beverly “Ginger” Babcock, devoted son, Stephen Babcock and his wife Jessie and granddaughter Audrey of Baton Rouge, LA, brothers Steven Babcock, wife Rita, of Wapato, WA and Dennis Babcock, wife Janice, of Kennewick, WA, sister Janice Babcock of Bolivar, MO, and stepdaughters Mallory Smith of Ruston, LA, Rebecca Mooney of Nashville, TN, and Rachel Drago of Denham Springs, LA. He also leaves several nieces, nephews, loyal friends, and extended family members behind. Tim was predeceased by his father, Don Babcock, and mother, Alene Babcock.
Born in Portland, Oregon, Tim moved to Simsboro at the age of 16, ultimately finding his lifelong home in Ruston in 1970. A graduate of Louisiana Tech University with a business degree, he embarked on a successful career as a real estate broker and developer before discovering his true passion as a real estate appraiser.
Beyond his professional life, Timothy was a dedicated community servant, actively involved in organizations such as the Kiwanis Club, Boys and Girls Club, Jaycees, Teen Challenge, Celebrate Recovery at Calvary Baptist, and the March of Dimes. He served two terms on the Lincoln Parish Police Jury, leaving an indelible mark on the community he cherished and shared with his friends and family. He organized the first-ever employee appreciation event for city/parish workers during his tenure on the Lincoln Parish Police Jury and was instrumental in creating Operation Celebration on July 4, 1991, where about 500 singers participated in a musical salute to Lincoln Parish veterans at the Thomas Assembly Center.
A talented musician with a deep love for music, Tim served as the song leader at Central Baptist Church throughout the 1970s and 1980s and played the organ in the worship band at Calvary Baptist Church in the 2000s. He was also a choir member and Sunday school teacher at several area churches. Tim’s fondness for the Hammond B3 organ was clear as he donated and played several Hammond B3 organs to churches over the years.
Tim’s impact extended far beyond his professional accomplishments, leaving a lasting legacy of commitment to community service and bettering those around him. He will be fondly remembered for his unwavering dedication to Ruston, the churches he attended, and the lives he touched through his various endeavors.
Tim’s funeral is at Temple Baptist Church on Friday, December 29, 2023. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. A service officiated by Reggie Bridges, pastor of Temple Baptist Church, will be held immediately afterward. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston, LA.
Michael Terrell Prater Tuesday 09/26/1972 — Saturday 12/16/2023 Age: 51 Visitation: Friday 12/29/2023 3:00pm to 5:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Celebration of Life: Saturday 12/30/2023 11:00am, New Hope Baptist Church, 204 W Vaughn Ave., Ruston Interment: Saturday 12/30/2023, Grambling Memorial Garden, Highway 80 West, Grambling
Kevin A. Mitchell Wednesday 12/13/1967 — Tuesday 12/19/2023 Memorial Service: Saturday 12/30/2023 2:00pm at King’s Funeral Home
Rev. Charles Ralph Penuell June 19, 1944 – December 22, 2023 Visitation: Saturday, December 30, 2023. 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM, Douglas Church, 1642 HWY 821, Ruston Memorial Service, Saturday, December 30, 2023, 1:00 PM, Douglas Church, 1642 HWY 821, Ruston
Simsboro School enjoyed the holidays before winter break with a Christmas program and a Deck the Halls Art Walk Dec. 19-20.
For the two days before break, the auditorium was packed with friends and family who attended to watch their children sing Christmas songs and recite poetry. Families then attended an art walk, where each student had a piece of art and an ornament on display.
Music was directed by Melane Slocum, and the art gallery was directed by Leigh Nugent.
This was the second annual Christmas program and Deck the Hallls Art Walk for Simsboro School, and faculty, staff, students and families are looking forward to many more years of celebrating Christmas with their students in this special way.
MONROE, La. — A last-minute addition to the Ruston High (7-7) boys’ basketball schedule ended up with a win for head coach Ryan Bond and his crew over the Carroll Bulldogs Friday, Dec. 23, at the Holiday Hoopfest on the campus of Wossman High School.
The Bearcats cruised to a 75-50 win after three separate Bearcats scored in double-digits.
“The guys played well,” Bond said. “Our defensive effort was great. Joran Parker was very good on both ends of the floor. We had some guys sick and nicked up, but they battled.”
The ‘Cats led 30-23 at the half before outscoring the Bulldogs 45-27 in the second half.
Parker led all scorers with 17 points, while senior Zhy Scott finished with 14. Junior Aidan Anding added 12 points.
Parker finished the night with three three-pointers, while Anding added two.
Ruston returns to action Thursday, Dec. 28, at the West Monroe tournament.
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).
The poster is for sale with 25 percent of all proceeds going directly to the official Ruston Bearcat Football Club.
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.
The posters will be available in late January-early February with additional details provided on pickup/sales dates and locations. However, orders are being taken now.
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.
The Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested a 23-year-old Ruston resident last Friday night after he reportedly crashed his pickup truck on South Barnett Springs Road.
Deputies responded to a single vehicle crash at about 8:30 p.m. Friday night. Investigation at the scene showed that for reasons unknown, the truck left the roadway and crashed. Tyler L. Smith of Ruston said he was unsure what had happened. He was bleeding from a head injury and was transported to the North Louisiana Medical Center by Ruston Ambulance Service.
Smith was interviewed in the emergency room. When asked what caused him to leave the roadway and crash, Smith said he was unsure because he had been drinking. A deputy asked Smith if his drinking had affected his ability to drive, and Smith replied yes. He also admitted to taking a medication that makes him drowsy.
A blood sample was obtained for lab analysis. After treatment, Smith was arrested and taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center where he was booked for first offense DWI, careless operation of a vehicle, and a warrant for failure to appear in Ruston City Court on a charge of possession of marijuana.
Bail was set at $6,500.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Ruston Police arrested a Quitman woman and a Ruston man early last Tuesday morning after they were found passed out in a vehicle at the gas pumps of a local convenience store.
Police responded to the EZ Mart at 1500 South Vienna Street about 5 a.m. Tuesday to investigate a report of a Dodge Charger parked that had been parked at the gas pumps with the engine running for several hours. Officers found a man passed out in the driver’s seat and a woman passed out on the back seat.
The driver was awakened and a large plastic bag in the driver ‘s side door containing suspected marijuana was spotted.
The woman, Aleisha Horton Johnson was awakened, and a records check showed she was wanted for failure to appear in Ruston City Court on a no liability insurance charge. Johnson said she did not know the man behind the wheel of her car. A search of the vehicle yielded a small black zipper pouch containing methamphetamine in the driver side door and a spoon with suspected methamphetamine residue in Johnson’s purse.
The man said his name was Jakae Caleb Modest with a birth date indicating he was 16 years old. However, identification was found in Johnson’s purse showing his name was Donald Jenkins, 39, of Ruston. Jenkins was wanted on two bench warrants for failure to appear in Third District Court.
Jenkins and Johnson were taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center. Johnson was booked for possession of marijuana, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and the failure to appear warrant.
Jenkins was booked for possession of marijuana, possession of methamphetamine, resisting an officer by providing false information, and the two bench warrants from Third District Court.
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.
My 2016 Christmas was supposed to be the year’s redemption.
We started the year early on with my father’s passing due to dementia. I was seven months pregnant with our daughter, Penny, at the time. My heart broke that my daughter – the one whose name he picked out three years previously – would not meet her grandfather. Would not experience his humor, his kindness, and his love. He would never hold her like he held our firstborn, never know the legacy he was leaving behind with our little girl.
When Penny was born, I was so thankful. We had spent a small stint in NICU with Alice, but with Penny, she was healthy enough to go home quickly, and our household of three turned into a household of four.
But then – something went wrong.
It started when she was five weeks old with a nighttime trip to the emergency room. After following up with her pediatrician the following day and a short hospital stay, it was determined that she had an issue with renal reflux, which, while it could have been worse, broke my mama heart. During her hospital stay, my baby had to have a spinal tap. At five weeks old.
She had another flare up a few months later, and our pediatrician warned us that this could be a long-term issue, one that would follow her around for, if not the length of her childhood, possibly her entire life.
But Christmas was coming.
I was excited – I wanted to be excited. I wanted the joy and magic of Christmas to exude through my children, where I could get lost in the mystery and wholesomeness of the season and not think about how hard this year had been. I wanted to focus on Jesus and the story of the first Christmas and how much He meant to me.
We visited my aunt in Mississippi on Christmas Eve, and Penny seemed off. Tired. Cranky. She was quite a spoiled baby at any rate (even commented on by our pediatrician at one point!), so I tried to put my anxiety at ease, thinking that it was just her being in a new environment with a lot of new people. Nothing to worry about.
By that evening, once we arrived home, we realized she was running fever. Again. And any fever she had at this point was always followed by a trip to the ER.
I remember sitting, holding this precious, precious little infant in my arms, wondering why her first Christmas was spent in the ER. Why instead of putting her in her sweet little crib and whispering about presents in the morning and being with her father and sister, she and I were settling into a hospital room on the peds floor.
It wasn’t fair.
I was so angry. Bitter even. My baby deserved better than this, I thought. Heck, I deserved better after this year. Why did this have to happen?
Life just happens.
The good, the bad, the ugly – we don’t get to escape the last two and just keep the first one. We don’t get to say that we only deserve the good. We have to take the punches when they come and just hope when they do come, we’re ready for them, whether that be a solid relationship with Christ, a close community of friends and family, a good therapist – or a mix of all three or something else.
When Penny was hospitalized that first Christmas, I was ready. I was mad at first – but I was ready. I cried out to God, I railed against Him – because He could take it. He was ready for me, and He could handle my anger.
Once we settled in, we brought up her little walker from the house, and since she was the only patient on the peds floor, she got the run of the hall, exploring and making friends with the nurses and doctors. We had a steady stream of visitors, and, because our older daughter was only 3, we still had our little family Christmas morning.
When Penny was released from the hospital, we told Alice, our older daughter, that this was the night of Christmas Eve. And she was 3, so she believed it. And we did the traditional Christmas morning just fine – just a couple of days late.
Now, when we tell Penny the story of her first Christmas, we talk about the struggles we went through, the trials we endured and how incredibly thankful we are for her health and for the care she received from doctors, nurses, family and friends during that time. We joke about how Christmas came late and how wonderful it was. We talk about how Christmas is more than just a date on the calendar – that it means more because it is more.
Oh, and in case you’re wondering, Penny hasn’t had an issue with renal reflux since that Christmas Eve. We are still conscious that it’s part of her medical history, but we don’t worry about it like we did. We call her our little warrior princess – and we tell her about that Christmas when, even through suffering, we celebrated the true joy of Christmas – our Savior.
In the quiet aftermath of Christmas, as echoes of festive cheer gently fade, I find myself in a contemplative space. This particular holiday season has led me to explore the deeper currents that flow beneath the surface of our celebrations. Maybe you feel the same.
The twinkling lights that have adorned homes like scattered constellations are fading away one house at a time, with the remaining ones casting a soft glow on the canvas of my thoughts.
For the past several weeks, almost-daily drives throughout the area have brightened my and Hooshang’s thoughts, and these excursions are now being transformed into cherished memories. Their flickering brilliance seems etched into the tapestry of time. In their gentle luminance, I see a reflection of an abiding truth – one that extends beyond the boundary of tinsel and gift wrap.
Christmas, I’ve come to realize, is not merely a day to mark on the calendar but a state of being. It’s a reminder that light exists even in the quiet corners of our lives, patiently waiting for us to notice its subtle radiance. In the ordinary moments that follow the festive whirlwind, there is an invitation to discover the extraordinary.
Christmas trees, once the centerpiece of joyous gatherings, now stand as sentinels in the quietude of living rooms across the globe. Their branches, once weighed down by ornaments, now reach upward like silent prayers. In that image, I find a metaphor for the resilience that resides within us – the ability to stand tall, even in moments of solitude, and to find beauty in simplicity.
As the post-Christmas serenity settles around us, I reflect on the beauty that emerges when we embrace the present moment. The Christmas story, with its humble beginnings in a stable, whispers that significance can be found in the most unassuming places. It challenges us to see beyond the surface, to recognize the profound in the everyday.
In the hush of these days, a sense of gratitude arises – an appreciation for the ordinary gifts of life. It’s a gratitude not rooted in grand gestures or elaborate festivities but in the awareness of breath, the warmth of connection and – as we noted in my previous column – the simple act of being present. Christmas, it seems, offers an invitation to savor the richness of the now.
Amid the peaceful moments, I’m reminded of a profound truth: Jesus, the light of the world. In the midst of our daily lives, he stands as a beacon, illuminating the path with love and grace. The Christmas season, with its emphasis on light and love, echoes the timeless message that in Jesus, we find a guiding light that transcends the shadows.
The hustle and bustle of the season have given way to a stillness that carries its own kind of enchantment. This tranquility is a gentle reminder that Christmas, with its emphasis on light and love, is not confined to a single day. It’s a timeless spirit that lingers, inviting us to cultivate kindness, foster connection and seek beauty in unexpected places.
As we step into the day after Christmas, let us carry this spirit forward. In the rhythm of our lives, may we remain attuned to the light that resides within and around us. Let us continue to unwrap the gift of introspection, finding joy in the ordinary and embracing the enduring light that guides us through the fabric of our days.
For, in the gentle cadence of post-Christmas reflections, we discover that the true magic of the season is not in the grandeur of the celebrations but in the quiet whispers of the heart.
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Sallie Rose Hollis lives in Ruston and retired from Louisiana Tech as an associate professor of journalism and the assistant director of the News Bureau. She can be contacted at sallierose@mail.com.
