A Ruston man was arrested Sunday after officers found cocaine on a traffic stop.
David Albritton, 59, was arrested December 7 after he was stopped for an equipment violation on his vehicle.
During the stop, Ruston Police recognized Albritton from previous encounters. During a search, a small amount of suspected crack cocaine was found in Albritton’s pocket.
Albritton was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for possession of cocaine.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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It was the summer of 1980; I had my driver’s license and was looking to buy a car. I had saved some money from working various jobs, but I didn’t have nearly enough for a vehicle.
I did have something of value though. I had collected baseball and football trading cards since as early as I could remember. Back in those days, Topps didn’t sell entire collections, but rather just sold individual packages of ten cards with a hard piece of bubble gum in the pack.
I can remember going into conveniences stores, buying a few packs, and then racing home to see if I got any new cards. When I got duplicates, I would often trade with friends.
At 15, I was at a crossroads. I had loved those cards for so long, but they were now in a closet, and I really wanted a car. For me, it was time to move forward.
Remember, there was no internet or online sales opportunity in 1980, so I put an ad in the Minden Press Herald and waited for a call. Sure enough, just a few days later, a man from St. Louis called and wanted to look at the collection.
He showed up at our apartment the following Saturday and offered me $500 for the entire collection. I had thousands of cards and knew that they would one day be worth a whole lot more, but I needed cash right then. We agreed, but he asked one question before he paid me.
He asked if I had removed any cards from the collection. He caught me off guard. He had thumbed through them and saw some very valuable cards, so I was troubled at this question. I was also troubled because I had removed three cards from the collection.
I told him he had access to every card that I had in my collection. I had duplicates of the three I pulled out. In my mind, he was getting a steal and just needed to be happy with it. So, I didn’t tell him the truth.
I was reminded of that moment just recently when I came across those three cards. Several thoughts rushed through my head when I saw those cards.
For one, it brought back great memories of all the time I had spent with those cards. That collection was the constant early on for me through my parents’ divorce, our move, and through some lonely times.
Secondly, it was a great learning experience of knowing when it’s time to move on from something. That collection was great while I had it, and would have been a good long-term investment, but for me, it was time to move on. I had to let go to move on in life. I have never regretted that decision.
Finally, I do regret not being honest with the purchaser that Saturday morning. I wish I had just told him that I had removed three cards the night before and that there were duplicates in the collection. He could take the deal or drive home to St. Louis with nothing. It would be his call.
Three questions for you:
What’s the constant in your life to help you through the tough times? Hopefully, it’s a “who” and not “what” as it was for me in the early days.
What are you holding on to that you need to let go of to move forward in your life?
Where do you need to be honest and quit hiding behind a lie fearful of things not working out as you planned?
Oh, I did purchase a 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass for $1200 a few months later. It wouldn’t go in reverse for several months, but it did go forward and allow me to go forward!
Doug provides professional speaking and coaching services to organizations and individuals. Whether you are looking for a speaker for your next event or a leadership coach to develop people and build a team culture, feel free to reach out to Doug at doug.strickel@gmail.com and learn more about PLUS.
For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox.Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
Each Monday through Friday, the Lincoln Parish Journal will post a list of non-for-profit upcoming events happening in the parish. If you would like to add your event to this list or advertise your for-profit events, please email us at lpjnewsla@gmail.com.
Thursday, Dec. 11 9:30 a.m.: Piney Hills Quilt Guild meeting (Grace Methodist Church) 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Kiwanis Club lunch and program (Trinity Methodist Church fellowship hall) 4-7 p.m.: Ice skating (Ruston Sports Complex (2001 Champions Way) 5:30-9 p.m.: Lincoln Parish Light Up the Pines (Lincoln Parish Park) 6 p.m.: Ruston Christmas Parade 7 p.m.: Christmas A’Chording to Us (Presbyterian Church of Ruston Fellowship Hall, 212 N. Bonner St.)
Friday, Dec. 12 5:30-9 p.m.: Lincoln Parish Light Up the Pines (Lincoln Parish Park)
Saturday, Dec. 13 8:30-11:30 a.m.: Hazardous Waste Material Collection and Recycling (2609 Farmerville St.) 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 2 p.m.: LA Tech men’s basketball 5:30-9 p.m.: Lincoln Parish Light Up the Pines (Lincoln Parish Park)
Sunday, Dec. 14 1-4 p.m.: Ruston Cookie Crawl (Downtown Ruston) 2-5 p.m.: Homes for Hope – Holiday Tour of Homes (Pine Hills Children’s Advocacy Center)
Monday, Dec. 15 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome 4-7 p.m.: Ice skating (Ruston Sports Complex (2001 Champions Way) 5:30 p.m.: Ruston Planning and Zoning meeting (Ruston City Hall) 6 p.m.: Toastmasters International meeting (Louisiana Center for the Blind, 101 South Trenton Street) 6-9 p.m.: Creative Meetups (Creatives at Work, 301 N. Trenton)
Tuesday, Dec. 16 Noon: Ribbon cutting celebrating Sweet Treasures Gift Shop (Located in The Diabetes Care Center, 707 S. Vienna St., Ruston) 2 p.m.: Ribbon cutting celebrating Ruston Tax and Accounting (2300 Commons Ct., Unit 3) 4-7 p.m.: Ice skating (Ruston Sports Complex (2001 Champions Way)
Wednesday, Dec. 17 7-8 a.m.: Veterans Coffee Club (PJ’s Coffee) 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome 12-1 p.m.: Rotary Club meeting (Historic Fire Station) 6:30 p.m.: Lady Techsters basketball
Thursday, Dec. 18 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Kiwanis Club lunch and program (Trinity Methodist Church fellowship hall) 4-7 p.m.: Ice skating (Ruston Sports Complex, 2001 Champions Way) 6 p.m.: Southern A’Chord Chorus rehearsal (Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 212 N. Bonner St.; open to all women singers) 6:30 p.m.: Ruston Rudolph Run 5k (Ruston Sports Complex, 2001 Champions Way) 7 p.m.: Holiday Portraits Concert by Russ-Town Band (212 N. Vienna, Ruston)
Saturday, Dec. 20 9-11 a.m.: Christmas at the Complex (Ruston Sports Complex, 2001 Champions Way) 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 12-2 p.m.: Free ice skating (Ruston Sports Complex, 2001 Champions Way) 2 p.m.: Lady Techsters basketball 5:30-8 p.m.: Holiday movie and hot cocoa (Ruston Sports Complex, 2001 Champions Way)
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The Ruston Farmers Market and Park Haus are hosting agingerbread house decorating contest this December. Judging is set to take place on December 12, and the houses will be on display during the farmers market the following Saturday, December 13.
Contestants will compete for the grand prize in three age categories: Adult (18+), Teen (11-17), and Youth (10 and under). To enter your gingerbread house, purchase an entry ticket on our website for $5 at rustonfarmersmarket.org. Contestants will supply their own materials for the contest.
Continuing the gingerbread festivities, preorder is available through December 15 for gingerbread cookie decorating kits. Ruston Farmers Market vendor, Harleigh Price with Lucky Bites Baked Goods, will be baking gingerbread cookies and mixing royal icing to create gingerbread cookie decorating kits. Each kit will include a half dozen cookies, icing, and various toppings. Preorder kits for $20 each at rustonfarmersmarket.org. Pickup will be during the final market of 2025 on Saturday, December 20.
Join us on Thursday, December 18 from 5-8 p.m. for a holiday night market. Various vendors will be there to support your last-minute holiday shopping needs. Enjoy live music by Elise Clare Causey, a hot cocoa bar, and a Letters to Santa station. We encourage everyone to attend and continue the holiday spirit this season!
About the Ruston Farmers Market Since 2008, the Ruston Farmers Market has been a vital part of the community, offering exclusively Louisiana-grown and produced goods. Operated by North Louisiana Farm Fresh (NLFF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit since 2014, the market has grown into a year-round destination for fresh food and community programming. The mission of NLFF is to provide direct producer-to-consumer sales opportunities, support the development of a local food network, and conduct educational outreach of sustainable agriculture, health, and nutrition throughout North Louisiana.
Ruston High alum, renowned artist and award-winning photographer Reggie McLeroy is selling his latest design as shirts in honor of the Bearcats making their march to the Superdome for the fourth season in a row.
As a professional artist with a decades-long portfolio, McLeroy has partnered once again with Tommy Cline of Tommy’s Tees in Ruston to sell shirts with the design seen below (without watermarks) titled “Back to the Dome: Four Years in a Row”.
T-Shirts will be available for purchase and are priced at $20 for youth and adult small through XL, $22 for XXL, and $24 for XXXL. Sweatshirts will also be available for purchase at $30 for youth and adult small through XL, $32 for XXL, and $34 for XXXL.
A Ruston graduate of 1980, McLeroy has designed multiple shirts, posters and other art media, including a 1990 National Championship poster for the Bearcats and the print “Season of Greatness” to commemorate the 2023 State Championship.
Shirts are available at Tommy’s Tees for purchase at 2305 S Service Rd West in Ruston. More information can be found at on Tommy’s Tees Facebook page or by calling 318.255.2907
A proceed of the profits will go to advance Ruston High School’s football program.
Over the course of my lifetime after growing up as an athlete, very few people have had the impact that coaches have. Today I’m going to salute a man that literally changed my life – a man who many hold with high regard not just as a coach, but as a person.
Back in 1979, Northwestern State head football coach A.L. Williams, and my recruiter, coach Al Miller, offered me the opportunity to play on the Division 1 level and get a college degree. Like most 18-year-old’s, you don’t always appreciate the opportunities you’re offered until later in life.
While I had several offers from other schools, there was just something different when I made my official visit to Northwestern. Right off the bat, the NSU Demon football players involved in my recruiting trip were great guys who really welcomed me as I felt right at home with both players and coaches.
Now understand, that when it comes to recruiting a player to any university, you’re going to see the best side of everyone involved as they will say and do anything to get a commitment from you. But there was something different about my visit to NSU; it felt comfortable and it felt like home.
Coach Williams is a Louisiana high school and college coaching legend and is also a former legendary running back for Louisiana Tech University. As a coach at Woodlawn High School in Shreveport, he coached some of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game like former Arkansas Razorback and Buffalo Bills QB Joe Ferguson, on the heels of former Louisiana Tech and Pittsburgh Steeler QB Terry Bradshaw.
Coach Williams, while at NSU, also groomed former USFL MVP (Michigan Panthers) and New Orleans Saints QB Bobby Hebert. I was truly proud to be a part of an era that many considered the greatest talent to ever play at Northwestern. That list starts with the Kansas City Chiefs running back Joe Delaney (1981 AFC Rookie of the Year, who died a hero two years later drowing trying to rescue three kids, one who survived). His track and football teammate was future Miami Dolphins All-Pro wide receiver Mark Duper. There was Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Victor Oatis and three-time All American and two-time Super Bowl champion Gary Reasons, the former New York Giants linebacker who is in the College Football Hall of Fame along with Joe.
There was a reason these guys came to Northwestern — to play for coach Williams! Coach did not put on a show when it came to recruiting players. He was honest and a man of great integrity who led by his actions. He was a man of great character and a tremendous judge of talent.
The one thing I remember most about playing under coach Williams was his dedication to family. Every week after practice, he would emphasize the importance of us calling our mom and dad and staying in touch with all family members.
They say behind every great man is an even greater woman and that was definitely the case for Coach Williams as his wife Sarah was the best team mom ever. Mrs. Sarah, as I called her, was such a sweet lady and treated all players as if they were the sons she never had.
She even gave my roommate and I a full-size roast one evening after we ran into her at the local grocery. We were actually looking for a good frozen pizza when Mrs. Sarah spotted us and said to follow her out to the house. Upon arrival, she proceeded to pull out of the oven a full-size roast; wrapped it in foil and said ‘enjoy’!
For two college kids, this was as close to a home-cooked meal as you could get! So, as we arrived back at the dorm, we had to hide the roast under a bunch of clothes in a laundry basket so we could get to our second floor room undetected. But that did not work well, as a bunch of hungry Demon football players followed the smell and raced up the stairs banging on our door. But no door was opened until we had our fill.
In today’s college athletics world, so many recruiters make promises they cannot keep. They tell players what they want to hear and flatter them with BS in order to get them to sign on the dotted line. Coach Williams was straight up with all his players. The only promise coach Williams made was giving you the opportunity; the opportunity to prove that you deserve to be in the starting lineup.
In 1979, Coach Williams took a chance on a young boy from East Texas and offered me that opportunity to play both college football and baseball while gaining an education and receiving my college degree. He helped to set me up for the rest of my life and there’s no way a person can ever repay that.
Coach Williams and I have stayed in touch over the years, and I still enjoy our phone calls. While he’s just one of many coaches who have had a huge impact on my life, A.L. Williams is the one who truly changed the course of my life and made me a proud NSU Demon.
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Pictured is James Ramsaur with the framed proclamation he received Tuesday night. (Photo by T. Scott Boatright)
By T. Scott Boatright
Wrapping up year-ending amended and proposed budgets and saying goodbye to Lincoln Parish Park Director James Ramsaur were key orders of business Tuesday as the Lincoln Parish Police Jury held its December meeting inside the Lincoln Parish Courthouse.
Ramsaur will step down from his role as park director at the end of the month after serving in that position for nearly 30 years.
Over his nearly three decades of service, Ramsaur has been instrumental in the development of the park’s cross country mountain bike trails, the completion of the campground and subsequent upgrades to tent and RV campsites, the addition of a paved walking path around the lake, and most recently, the development of the world’s first MTB Waterfall Hub that features five state-of-the-art flow trails designed for riders of all skill levels and built by world-famous trail designers Rogue Trails.
Those continued enhancements to Lincoln Parish Park have made this outdoor attraction one of the top-visited destinations in the area, drawing more than 100,000 visitors to the park annually.
Parish Administrator Courtney Hall read a framed proclamation honoring Ramsaur for his term of service before presenting it to him.
Ramsaur admits he truly will not be leaving the park as much as some of the duties the role requires.
“I’ll be there,” Ramsaur said. “I told them I am going to be volunteering. But I will be 65 in a couple of months, and I told them I am ready to enjoy whatever days I have left. It just feels like the right time.”
In other business, the LPPJ passed its 2025 amended and 2026 proposed budgets, the Humanitarian Enterprises of Lincoln Parish (H.E.L.P. Agency) 2025 amended and 2026 proposed budgets, the North Louisiana Exhibition Center 2025 amended and 2026 proposed budgets as well as set 2026 meeting dates and times, keeping them at 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month.
Also approved was authorization for LPPJ President Glenn Scriber to execute an intergovernmental agreement with the Lincoln Parish Coroner, an annual process to secure that position, as well as reappointments of Jan Canterbury to the Lincoln Parish Library Board of Control and John Sutton to the Greater Ward One Waterworks District.
The LPPJ also adopted a resolution deleting drainage structure from the Federal Off-System Bridge Program involving the bridge on Cedar Creek Road over Colvin Creek.
“Basically, this bridge is over the intersection of Kentucky Avenue and Cedar Creek Road,” Hall said. “It has been out of commission for a while and is more of a pedestrian bridge now. In fact, there is a lot of construction equipment around it right now and you cannot really get to it.
“The (Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development) has been very specific about bridges and they request a formal resolution deleting it from their off-system program, which is a funding source from the federal government to replace bridges.
Assistant Parish Administrator Kevin Klepzig clarified the matter even further.
“Even though it is a city bridge within the city limits of Ruston, it is not a state bridge as long as it is in the parish, so Ruston maintains it, technically, but it’s still under our jurisdiction which is why we need to make the deletion.” Klepzig said.
Also approved were 2026-2028 plans for the Capital Improvement Program as well as authorizing advertising for bids for the LCDBG (Louisiana Community Development Block Grants) Make a Difference Projects, which are competitive grants for local governments (cities/parishes, excluding big entitlement areas) to fund major community needs, especially benefiting low-to-moderate income residents, with projects like water/sewer upgrades, public facility improvements (streets, parks), and economic development, requiring significant local commitment (min $500k-$2M grants) and strong citizen input for funding consideration, aiming for tangible community impact.
Jurors also acted on bids, including awarding gasoline and diesel fuel bids to Suncoast LLC, and splitting the bids for gravel materials between Ruston Rock (for delivered materials) and Granite Mountain out of Arkansas, for picked-up supplies.
The LPPJ also awarded the bid for maintenance hot mix to Amethyst and agreed to investigate a proposal for service from Union Parish for landfill tipping fees.
Tabled was a discussion on new generator installations to provide time for additional gathering of information.
The LPPJ passed a motion to purchase portable defibrillators with opioid-settlement funding that will allow such units to be placed in all governmental buildings as well as emergency vehicles.
“That opioid lawsuit money is out there and we’ve never been able to come up with a viable way to use it,” Hall said. “Looking at what other parishes are doing, they have used the money to purchase these lifepacks, basically AEDs (automated external defibrillators) for first responders.
“With the combined money that the sheriff has now, and the Police Jury, there’s basically a way to put them into all law enforcement and fire department vehicles.”
Parish Office of Homeland Security Director Kip Franklin said other units will be stored inside governmental buildings for even faster and more widespread usage when needed.
“We’ll also put them in supervisor’s vehicles for Public Works out at the Highway Department and the landfill,” Franklin said. “Some of these will go in what we call Pelican Cases that will be in a squad car, others will be in a wall cabinet in facilities like Grambling, Simsboro, Dubach, Choudrant and Vienna Town Halls, the library, Lincoln Hall, the Expo Center, Highway Department Office and all of that.”
Louisiana Tech received a grant from Keep Louisiana Beautiful (KLB) to purchase branded reusable water bottles for use on campus, one part of a statewide initiative to engage college students in environmental stewardship and sustainability practices and further the goal of keeping Louisiana beautiful.
By joining the KLB University Affiliate Network, Tech is one of 13 universities in the program, the largest and most successful program of its kind in the country.
Tech’s Student Activities and Student Programs Director Wes Cavin spearheaded the year-long on-campus project to secure the $4,500 grant. To become an affiliate, Tech was required to conduct a waste audit, litter survey and assessment, participate in Love the Boot Week, form an affiliate leadership committee, design an affiliate logo, and create a work plan.
Various recycling projects encountered roadblocks until sustained efforts gained traction through the idea of reusable aluminum water bottles branded with Tech icons like the Lady of the Mist, Keeny Hall, and the classic State-and-T logo.
“We observed that people were using the bottles multiple times and determined that purchasing more could aid in the reduction of plastic water bottles and other disposables across campus,” Cavin said. “Securing the grant could also assist the University in bringing awareness to the campus for all of our recycling and sustainability efforts.”
After production, the bottles will be distributed through various campus events. The grant covered the purchase of more than 3,000 bottles, which also feature the KLB logo as a reminder of this effort to reduce single-use disposables and the efforts to Keep Louisiana — and Louisiana Tech — beautiful.
“We are dedicated to fostering a culture of sustainability and environmental responsibility at Louisiana Tech,” Cavin said. “Joining the Keep Louisiana Beautiful University Affiliate program marks a significant step in our commitment to reducing waste, promoting recycling, and engaging our campus community in meaningful environmental initiatives. We look forward to collaborating with fellow institutions across the state to create a cleaner, greener Louisiana for future generations.”
Being a Keep Louisiana Beautiful University Affiliate is a special mark of distinction and represents a commitment by each school to continual improvement in sustainability and environmental issues, promoting student environmental stewardship and engagement, and rigorous outcome measurement. It offers state recognition and sends a strong message to university stakeholders, as well as city, state, and national leaders. It signifies that schools are part of a greater movement of over 600 National Affiliates and 44 Community Affiliates that have a proven track record of behavioral change and preserving the beauty of Louisiana.
Besides Tech, affiliates include Dillard University, Grambling State University, Loyola University New Orleans, Louisiana State University, Nicholls State University, Northwestern State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, Tulane University, University of Louisiana Monroe, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, University of New Orleans, and Xavier University of Louisiana.
The University Affiliate program was developed in 2021 in response to a growing interest in sustainability, waste reduction, and litter prevention at the university level.
“These 13 Louisiana universities are leading the way in sustainability and waste reduction in higher education,” Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser said. “The future of our state is looking bright with these young changemakers at the helm. I can’t wait to see the positive change they’ll bring to Louisiana and the world.”
“We’re incredibly proud to see our network of University Affiliates continue to grow,” Cabell Mouton, KLB Community Engagement and Affiliate Services Director, said. “This program is truly one-of-a-kind in the nation, and it’s an honor to support these dedicated students and campuses as they lead the way in environmental stewardship and sustainability practices.”
KLB is a state program under the Office of the Lieutenant Governor and the Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism promoting personal, corporate, and community responsibility for a clean and beautiful Louisiana. KLB supports local communities through programs and resources for litter education, prevention, removal, enforcement, beautification, recycling, waste reduction, and sustainability initiatives. KLB is affiliated with the national organization, Keep America Beautiful, and is supported by a robust statewide network of Community Affiliates and University Affiliates.
Grambling State University awarded Attorney Elizabeth Guillory Pierre the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during its Fall 2025 Commencement Ceremony, celebrating a life defined by service, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to expanding opportunity across North Louisiana.
A native of Palmetto, Louisiana, Attorney Pierre grew up anchored by the values instilled by her parents, Jack and Lelia Guillory Curette—principles that shaped a path rooted in purpose and possibility. After completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, she earned her Juris Doctorate from Southern University Law Center in 1994, guided by a conviction that the law could be a force for community advancement.
Her early legal experience as an associate in Baton Rouge and later as a judicial clerk for the 4th Judicial District Court formed the foundation of a career that would span private practice, economic development, and higher education governance. After moving to Monroe in 1997, she joined Pierre & Pierre, LLC, before stepping into a pivotal regional role administering federal tax incentive programs with the Ouachita Economic Development Corporation.
That assignment grew into more than two decades of leadership as Senior Vice President of Research and Legal Affairs for the North Louisiana Economic Partnership, where she shaped strategies benefiting fourteen parishes and championed sustainable economic growth with consistency, clarity, and vision.
In 2017, Attorney Pierre was appointed by Governor John Bel Edwards to the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors, the governing body for nine institutions including Grambling State. Her tenure—including her service as Chairman from 2023–2024—was marked by thoughtful stewardship, equitable policy-making, and a sustained commitment to student success across the system. Reappointed in 2023, she continues to lend her expertise to the Academic and Student Affairs Committee and other key initiatives.
Grambling State President Martin Lemelle, Jr. noted that honoring Attorney Pierre was both timely and deeply deserved, recognizing her as a champion for higher education and a steadfast advocate for Grambling State.
“Her service to the University of Louisiana System, her advocacy for students and institutions, and her commitment to expanding opportunity across North Louisiana reflect the values we champion at Grambling State,” said Lemelle. “Our graduates witnessed an example of integrity, purpose, and impact—someone who has used her platform to elevate others and to shape a more equitable future. Her presence enriched this commencement, and her legacy will continue to inspire the next generation of leaders who pass through our doors.”
Outside of her professional impact, Attorney Pierre is known for the values that shape her daily life—faith, family, and service. She and her husband, Attorney J. Rodney Pierre, are the proud parents of three adult children and grandparents to three adored grandchildren. She is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and finds joy in golfing, audiobooks, and crafting.
Ruston Police arrested a local man Sunday after he was involved in an altercation in which he allegedly pointed a firearm at a female acquaintance before chasing her vehicle through the city.
Ladarrius Deonte Dunn, 32, was arrested for aggravated assault with a firearm and numerous other charges after police located him after the incident.
A woman called police reporting a man was chasing her vehicle in a gray Dodge. Police located the woman on West Florida Avenue and saw the gray Dodge leaving the area. Officers could not immediately track down the Dodge.
The woman told police Dunn had taken her phone because he thought she was talking to another man. Dunn allegedly damaged the phone and then threatened her with a handgun.
An officer saw a bloody injury to one of the woman’s fingers.
Dunn was later located and arrested. He admitted damaging the phone but denied threatening the woman with a gun. He was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for aggravated assault, simple criminal damage to property, and warrants for failure to appear in Ruston City Court for resisting an officer, open container, and texting while driving.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox.Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
Her husband gave her an electric skillet for Christmas. Three days later, he gave her its lid.
On her birthday.
“Pitiful,” she said.
She no longer has the husband, but she’s stuck with the birthdate.
“By December 28,” she said, “everyone’s Christmased and partied and gift-gived out.”
Her story is the story of many others, and each tale ends the same: A potential gift dies in Birthday No-Man’s Land.
These are The People Born Too Close To Christmas. They are short-changed annually because they committed the cardinal sin of being conceived during that first inviting, luscious breath of spring. In a world where timing is everything, they blew it right out of the proverbial chute.
They would kill for a February 29 birth date.
They get presents wrapped in Christmas paper — if they get a birthday present at all. An unofficial poll reveals the most common statement made when handing a present to The People Born Too Close To Christmas is this: “Well, here’s your birthday present and your Christmas present.”
Sigh …
So does this mean they’ll get a two-times-bigger-than-normal present? I mean, it would be different if they said that to you and handed you the keys to a new truck.
But that doesn’t happen. Again, unofficial poll results reveal the presents are often smaller, usually because the gift-giver is thinking, “This sap had the nerve to be born during Christmas when my wallet is already stretched tighter than Santa’s belt.”
They’re lucky to get a skillet lid.
Or a belt.
There is no exact date that determines whether or not you are one of The People Born Too Close To Christmas. “Loved ones” responsible for remembering that you even have a birthday are often too busy before Christmas and too broke after.
Double Jeopardy.
My friend Glenda was born December 17, but the only birthday party she ever had was when she turned 16.
“It’s a bad deal,” Glenda said.
Now Glenda has a daughter, born on December 6 and 16 years old.
“It’s a bad deal,” Glenda’s birthday-poor daughter said.
Again, there is no set rule. A December 6 birth date might give you some breathing room, or you could be in for a rough road if you’re hanging around with a stingy crowd. It all depends on perception and how well your loved ones handle guilt.
Logic suggests that if your birth date is after December 20, you are solidly in the No Gift Danger Zone. And the closer it gets to Christmas, the more risk you run of getting either nothing or — this is worse — a fruitcake with candles in it.
For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox.Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
Japrinceton Jermaine Island was arrested by the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Courtesy of Union Parish Sheriff’s Office
The Union Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested an individual following an investigation that began at a local elementary school on Monday, December 8, 2025.
School staff notified the UPSO School Resource Officer after a student turned in a bottle containing suspected crack cocaine. The SRO and narcotics investigators responded and met with school personnel to gather information and ensure the safety of the students involved.
Deputies learned that two juveniles had been in possession of the bottle before bringing it to the school office. Deputies interviewed both children, who provided information indicating to whom the substance belonged. The investigation further revealed that additional illegal narcotics may be present at two separate residences in Marion.
Based on the information provided, deputies obtained search warrants for the locations. Upon executing the warrants, deputies recovered a significant cache of illegal drugs that included nearly nine-hundred suspected Ecstasy pills, more than thirty suspected crack rocks, cocaine, marijuana, Xanax, and multiple tools used for packaging and distributing narcotics. The investigation revealed Japrinceton Jermaine Island, 30, of Marion, as the suspect. Island was taken into custody and booked into the Union Parish Detention Center on the following charges:
Distribution of Schedule II Narcotics Violation of Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law Drug Free Zone Illegal Use of Controlled Dangerous Substances in the Presence of a Minor Cruelty to a Juvenile (2 cts.) Possession of Schedule II Narcotics with Intent to Distribute Possession of Schedule IV Narcotics with Intent to Distribute Possession of Schedule I Narcotics with Intent to Distribute (Ecstasy) Possession of Schedule I Narcotics with Intent to Distribute (Marijuana) Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Island’s total bond was set by a Third District judge at $160,000. Island is currently on Probation and has a hold by his probation officer.
Clarence Menyweather (Photo courtesy of Snazzy Shenanigans Photography)
Staff Reports
Reese Brown scored 18 points and Sadie Jones added 12 to lead Choudrant High School to a 55-18 win over Jonesboro-Hodge Tuesday night.
“We played intense defense, rebounded the ball, had lots of momentum,” said head coach Brandy Roberson. “We moved the ball well and really put it away early. I thought we played very well and it was an all around team effort.”
The Lady Aggies jumped out to a 24-7 lead after the first quarter as Brown netted 10 points and Jones added six points while Piper Jackson added four points.
Choudrant increased it’s advantage to 38-7 at the half with Brown and Jackson each scoring four points in the second quarter.
Samone Mallard led J-Hodge with 10 points.
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Clarence Menyweather scored 22 points and Brayden Pye added 17 to lead the Aggies to a 62-56 win over Jonesboro-Hodge.
Choudrant trailed 27-26 at halftime and 47-46 at the end of three, but the Aggies outscored the Tigers 16-9 in the fourth quarter to pull away for the win.
Menyweather and Pye combined for all 16 points over the final eight minutes for the Aggies.
Each Monday through Friday, the Lincoln Parish Journal will post a list of non-for-profit upcoming events happening in the parish. If you would like to add your event to this list or advertise your for-profit events, please email us at lpjnewsla@gmail.com.
Wednesday, Dec. 10 7-8 a.m.: Veterans Coffee Club (PJ’s Coffee) 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome 12-1 p.m.: Rotary Club meeting (Historic Fire Station)
Thursday, Dec. 11 9:30 a.m.: Piney Hills Quilt Guild meeting (Grace Methodist Church) 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Kiwanis Club lunch and program (Trinity Methodist Church fellowship hall) 4-7 p.m.: Ice skating (Ruston Sports Complex (2001 Champions Way) 5:30-9 p.m.: Lincoln Parish Light Up the Pines (Lincoln Parish Park) 6 p.m.: Ruston Christmas Parade 7 p.m.: Christmas A’Chording to Us (Presbyterian Church of Ruston Fellowship Hall, 212 N. Bonner St.)
Friday, Dec. 12 5:30-9 p.m.: Lincoln Parish Light Up the Pines (Lincoln Parish Park)
Saturday, Dec. 13 8:30-11:30 a.m.: Hazardous Waste Material Collection and Recycling (2609 Farmerville St.) 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 2 p.m.: LA Tech men’s basketball 5:30-9 p.m.: Lincoln Parish Light Up the Pines (Lincoln Parish Park)
Sunday, Dec. 14 1-4 p.m.: Ruston Cookie Crawl (Downtown Ruston) 2-5 p.m.: Homes for Hope – Holiday Tour of Homes (Pine Hills Children’s Advocacy Center)
Monday, Dec. 15 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome 4-7 p.m.: Ice skating (Ruston Sports Complex (2001 Champions Way) 5:30 p.m.: Ruston Planning and Zoning meeting (Ruston City Hall) 6 p.m.: Toastmasters International meeting (Louisiana Center for the Blind, 101 South Trenton Street) 6-9 p.m.: Creative Meetups (Creatives at Work, 301 N. Trenton)
Tuesday, Dec. 16 Noon: Ribbon cutting celebrating Sweet Treasures Gift Shop (Located in The Diabetes Care Center, 707 S. Vienna St., Ruston) 2 p.m.: Ribbon cutting celebrating Ruston Tax and Accounting (2300 Commons Ct., Unit 3) 4-7 p.m.: Ice skating (Ruston Sports Complex (2001 Champions Way)
Wednesday, Dec. 17 7-8 a.m.: Veterans Coffee Club (PJ’s Coffee) 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome 12-1 p.m.: Rotary Club meeting (Historic Fire Station) 6:30 p.m.: Lady Techsters basketball
Thursday, Dec. 18 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Kiwanis Club lunch and program (Trinity Methodist Church fellowship hall) 4-7 p.m.: Ice skating (Ruston Sports Complex, 2001 Champions Way) 6 p.m.: Southern A’Chord Chorus rehearsal (Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 212 N. Bonner St.; open to all women singers) 6:30 p.m.: Ruston Rudolph Run 5k (Ruston Sports Complex, 2001 Champions Way) 7 p.m.: Holiday Portraits Concert by Russ-Town Band (212 N. Vienna, Ruston)
Saturday, Dec. 20 9-11 a.m.: Christmas at the Complex (Ruston Sports Complex, 2001 Champions Way) 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 12-2 p.m.: Free ice skating (Ruston Sports Complex, 2001 Champions Way) 2 p.m.: Lady Techsters basketball 5:30-8 p.m.: Holiday movie and hot cocoa (Ruston Sports Complex, 2001 Champions Way)
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