RUSTON, La. — After 34 years in the legal profession, Ruston City Judge candidate Add Goff believes some of the most important lessons he would bring to the bench were learned outside the courtroom.

“Knowing the law is essential,” Goff said. “But being a good judge requires more than knowing the law. It requires maturity, patience, compassion, sound judgment, and the wisdom to understand how your decisions affect people’s lives—these kinds of things only come with age.”

Born and raised in Ruston, Goff has spent nearly six decades in the community he now hopes to serve as City Judge.

Long before he became an attorney, Goff earned the rank of Eagle Scout, an accomplishment that helped shape his understanding of leadership, preparedness, personal responsibility, and service to others.

“Scouting taught me early in life that leadership isn’t about having a title. It’s about accepting responsibility, being prepared, doing what’s right even when it’s difficult, and helping others,” Goff said. “Those are lessons I’ve tried to carry with me throughout my life.”

His grandfather and father practiced law in Ruston, and Goff joined the family firm in 1993 after beginning his career as a research attorney for the Louisiana Supreme Court.

Over the next 33 years, he represented people facing some of the most difficult circumstances of their lives. His practice has included criminal law, complex civil litigation, estate planning, and helping veterans and elderly clients and their families navigate difficult legal and financial decisions.

“Over the years, I’ve sat across the table from people who were frightened, angry, grieving, or facing decisions they never imagined having to make,” Goff said. “Those experiences teach you that every case involves real people, real problems, and real consequences.”

Life Experience Brings Perspective

Goff believes that maturity and wisdom come not only from professional experience, but also from facing life’s challenges.

“I’m nearly 60 years old. I’ve experienced life’s joys and disappointments. I’ve lost my father, and I’ve fought cancer myself. Those experiences have a way of changing your perspective. You learn that life is precious, that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed, and that everyone you meet may be carrying burdens you know nothing about.”

Goff says those lessons have helped shape the way he approaches people and difficult decisions.

“When you’ve faced your own mortality, you begin to see things differently. You learn patience. You learn humility. You learn to listen more carefully and to appreciate what really matters.”

He believes that perspective is especially important for a judge.

“People often come into court on one of the worst days of their lives,” Goff said. “Some have made serious mistakes. Others find themselves in difficult circumstances through no fault of their own. A judge must apply the law fairly and consistently, but should never lose sight of the human beings standing before him.”

For Goff, maturity means understanding that fairness and compassion can exist alongside accountability, and that wisdom sometimes comes from the hardest experiences life puts us through.

A Lifetime of Service to Lincoln Parish

For Goff, service to the community did not begin with a political campaign.

The commitment to service that began in Scouting decades ago and continued throughout his adult life. He has served as president of the Ruston Kiwanis Club, Ruston Jaycees, and Christian Community Action, and on the board of Louisiana Med Camps.

As a VA-accredited attorney, he has worked to assist wartime veterans. He has also volunteered with local organizations addressing hunger and helping families in need.

“Service has always been an important part of my life,” Goff said. “I’ve been fortunate to build a career and raise a family in this community. Running for judge is another opportunity to give something back to the place that has given so much to me.”

Goff has also served as a Hearing Committee Chair for the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board, presiding over evidentiary proceedings for a 20-parish region, ruling on objections, evaluating testimony, and making recommendations concerning attorney discipline.

He says that experience reinforced the importance of fairness, preparation, and the responsibility that comes with making decisions affecting others.

Accountability and Opportunity

Goff believes the City Court can play an important role in helping people make better decisions, particularly young people and first-time offenders.

“My faith teaches me that there must be consequences for our actions,” Goff said. “But it also teaches me that we should never give up on people who are genuinely willing to put in the work to turn their lives around.”

Goff has discussed exploring mentoring opportunities for eligible probationers and other lawful approaches that combine accountability with an opportunity to get back on track.

“We have to have accountability, but we also have to have opportunity,” Goff said “The goal should be to see fewer people return to court, not simply to process the same people through the system again and again.”

Goff says that philosophy is consistent with the lessons he first learned as an Eagle Scout: people should be held responsible for their actions, but they should also be encouraged to improve themselves and contribute positively to their community.

Why Run for Judge Now?

Goff says his decision to seek the judgeship is rooted in a desire to devote this stage of his career to public service.

“After more than three decades of practicing law, I’m not looking for another job to add to my schedule. I’m looking for an opportunity to use everything I’ve learned—professionally and personally—to serve the people of Lincoln Parish.”

If elected, Goff has committed to closing his private law practice and making the judgeship his only professional responsibility.

“I believe experience gives you knowledge, life gives you perspective, and service teaches you humility,” Goff said. “I would bring all three to the bench, along with the preparation and work ethic that have guided me throughout my career.”

Over his 34-year legal career, Goff has handled an extraordinary range of cases, from relatively simple matters to complex litigation, and from misdemeanors to serious felonies. He has practiced in courts across the country, including more than three decades of practice in Ruston City Court. Yet Goff believes that being a good judge requires more than an impressive legal résumé:

“People deserve a judge who understands the law, understands the community, and understands that every person who enters that courtroom deserves to be heard and treated fairly. That’s the kind of judge I intend to be.”

Paid for by Add Goff’s campaign.

The above information has been provided by a political campaign. Unless otherwise noted, the Lincoln Parish Journal publishing staff does not endorse specific candidates or ballot measures.

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On April 3, 1783, in the same week that New Yorkers learned of the Treaty of Paris which officially ended the American Revolutionary War, proud parents William and Sarah welcomed a new boy into the world. William was a prosperous merchant who envisioned his son eventually joining the family business. As the boy grew older, however, he became less interested in his schoolwork and more interested in tales of adventure. He was the type of student who got lost in his own imagination when he was supposed to be studying. He longed for an adventure of his own. In 1798, an outbreak of yellow fever provided the boy with an unexpected adventure. To escape the epidemic, his parents sent him and his siblings to Tarrytown, New York, a small rural port town about 25 miles north of Manhattan along the Hudson River. The city boy fell in love with the countryside, especially a nearby Dutch settlement known as Slapershaven. The boy, Geoffrey Crayon, later described the settlement: “Not far from this village, perhaps about two miles, there is a little valley or rather lap of land among high hills, which is one of the quietest places in the whole world. A small brook glides through it, with just murmur enough to lull one to repose; and the occasional whistle of a quail or tapping of a woodpecker is almost the only sound that ever breaks in upon the uniform tranquility.”  To Geoffrey, it was paradise.

When the threat of yellow fever subsided, the children returned to Manhattan and resumed their studies. Geoffrey continued to daydream at the expense of his education. More interested in the arts than in business, he dreamed of becoming a writer. In 1802, he began publishing articles about the local social and theater scene in the New York Morning Chronicle, a newspaper edited by his brother. In 1806, he took and barely passed the bar exam, but his passion remained writing. In 1807, he helped create a moderately successful satirical magazine in which he referred to New York City as Gotham more than 130 years before the name became associated with Batman. The War of 1812 was disastrous for many New York merchants, including Geoffrey’s family. In 1815, he traveled to England in an unsuccessful attempt to save the family’s trading company. Rather than returning home, Geoffrey remained in England to pursue his writing career. Although he failed to save the family business, his writing career thrived. His books were well received.

In 1819, Geoffrey began publishing essays and short stories in a collection called The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. His thoughts often returned to the little Dutch settlement he had visited as a boy. Slapershaven had made a lasting impression on him, and he used the peaceful community as the setting for one of his most famous stories. Geoffrey eventually returned to the United States and settled near the place that had captured his imagination as a boy. He remained there for the rest of his life. His tale became wildly popular and has never been out of print. It has been adapted for television, films, and other media. So popular was the story that the old Dutch community, originally known as Slapershaven, Dutch for Sleepers’ Harbor, eventually became known by the name in Geoffrey’s book. Geoffrey Crayon was not the name given to him by his parents, it was the pen name of Washington Irving, the author of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.  Happy Halloween!

Sources:

1.     Washington Irving, The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., 1820.

2.     Chicago Tribune, November 30, 1859, p.1.

3.     Washington Irving, Salmagundi, New York : R.F.Fenno, 1900, https://archive.org/details/salmagundi00irviiala/page/13/mode/2up.

4.     Tarrytown Daily News, December 11, 1996, p.1.

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The views of this letter do not necessarily reflect those of the publishing staff of the Lincoln Parish Journal.

The views of this letter do not necessarily reflect those of the publishing staff of the Lincoln Parish Journal.

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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.

Saturday, Oct. 31
Halloween
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market
10:30 a.m.: Festival on Main (Sponsored by Juneteenth Celebration, Main Street, Grambling)
6:30 p.m.: LA Tech volleyball

Monday, Nov. 2
11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome
5:30 p.m.: Ruston City Council meeting (Ruston City Hall)
6 p.m.: Toastmasters International meeting (Louisiana Center for the Blind, 101 South Trenton Street)
6-9 p.m.: Creative Meetups (Creatives at Work, 301 N. Trenton)

Tuesday, Nov. 3
Election Day
6:30 a.m.: Veterans free breakfast (VFW Post 3615, 206 Memorial Dr.)

Wednesday, Nov. 4
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.: GSU volleyball

Thursday, Nov. 5
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Kiwanis Club lunch and program (Trinity Methodist Church fellowship hall; Anyone is welcome to come to our meeting,please notify Richard Hamilton of your attendance. 318-518-2121)
Noon: Louisiana Master Gardeners Easy Pruning Workshop (Lincoln Parish Library Events Center)
4:30-5:30 p.m.: Free meal sponsored by Trinity’s Game Changers and Ruston Rotary Club to be served at the Ruston Housing Authority office, 901 MLK Drive. All are welcome.
6 p.m.: Lincoln Parish School Board meeting (410 S. Farmerville St., Ruston)
6 p.m.: Southern A’Chord Chorus rehearsal (Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 212 N. Bonner St.; open to all women singers)

Friday, Nov. 6
6 p.m.: GSU volleyball
6:30 p.m.: LA Tech volleyball
7 p.m.: Lincoln Prep v. Cedar Creek (at Cedar Creek)

Saturday, Nov. 7
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market
2 p.m.: GSU football
6:30 p.m.: LA Tech volleyball

Sunday, Nov. 8
6 p.m.: GSU volleyball

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Janie Blue
July 9, 1955  –  October 26, 2026
Final Resting Place: Forest Park Cemetery West, 4000 Meriwether Rd, Shreveport

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by Wesley Harris

Every old town has its ghosts.

Some have names. Others are nothing more than footsteps in an empty hallway, a shadow where no shadow belongs, or a sound in the darkness that makes you stop and wonder whether you’re really alone.

Stories have long circulated about strange happenings in some of the Ruston’s older buildings. Stow’s Bar—the old Hotel Ruston/Harris Hotel—had footsteps and things that went bump in the night. The old Ruston Sanitarium held tales of a nurse who perhaps never went off duty. Louisiana Tech’s Howard Auditorium possesses an audience that might not always be entirely visible.

Call them ghosts, spirits, or, in the old Southern vernacular, haints. Believe them or don’t.

During my years as a Ruston police officer, I visited all three places after dark. I don’t believe in ghosts, except the Holy Ghost. But I encountered a few things in those old buildings that I still can’t explain.

___________________________________

Stow’s: Something Upstairs

Of Ruston’s old ghost stories, perhaps none was better known than the haunting of Stow’s. Long before Stow’s became a popular Park Avenue watering hole, the old building had accumulated stories of gambling, backroom politics, and even a visit by a notorious outlaw couple.

As police officers, we had plenty of reasons to visit Stow’s that had nothing to do with the supernatural. We answered fights, disputes, and the usual problems associated with a busy bar.

The interesting stories came after closing.

The bouncers were probably the best witnesses to whatever was—or wasn’t—happening. They were there when the customers had gone, the music stopped, and the old building became quiet. These were big men accustomed to corralling drunks and breaking up fights. It took a good bit to rattle them.

Yet I saw it several times: a burly bouncer wide-eyed and anxious after seeing or hearing something he could not explain.

Seeing the fear in a big man’s eyes can make a believer out of you.

They talked about footsteps and movement upstairs, where the building retained remnants of its earlier use as a hospital. People who ventured onto the upper floors remembered hospital furnishings, old bed frames, equipment, and abandoned rooms. Others reported footsteps overhead and sounds resembling beds being dragged across the floor.

One former bartender later wrote on a supernatural discussion board that he repeatedly heard what sounded like screaming from the upper floors while closing the bar. On another night, while mopping after closing, he said he watched bar stools topple from tables with no one near them.

Then there was Dr. John Brooks Harris, the presumed ghost, according to his descendants.

According to local lore, Harris suffered a serious brain injury in an automobile accident and was cared for upstairs, where he paced the floor day and night before eventually dying.

Around Halloween one year, two men conducted their own late-night investigation upstairs.

One man noticed a human-shaped shadow on the wall. Assuming it belonged to his companion, he called out to him.

His friend answered from farther down the hallway.

The shadow wasn’t his.

Both men quickly left by the fire escape, only to encounter a Ruston police officer outside shining a light on the building.

Maybe there were reasonable explanations for all of it. Old buildings creak. Pipes knock. Shadows move.

But explanations are harder to come by when a man who has spent his night breaking up bar fights tells you something is upstairs. And he’s scared.

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Ruston Sanitarium: The Nurse and the Empty Elevator

An old hospital does not need a ghost story to be frightening at night.

The Ruston-Lincoln Sanitarium opened in 1928, with a morgue on the first floor and surgical suite on the fourth. In 1963, the building became a nursing home, and in the 1970s it passed into use by Louisiana Tech.

Somewhere along the way came stories that someone from its medical past was still making rounds.

In 2007, The Tech Talk, the student newspaper, published accounts of strange experiences there. One former employee believed the presence might have been the nursing home’s former director of nurses, a strict but caring woman who lived in a fourth-floor apartment so she could respond quickly when needed.

Another staff member working after hours reportedly heard doors opening and closing along the fourth-floor hallway. When he investigated, every door was closed and securely locked.

Then there was the elevator. Stories circulated that it sometimes traveled from the first floor to the fourth without being called.

Of all the stories about the old sanitarium, the one about the elevator has always bothered me most. Because I watched it happen.

One night, while working as a Ruston police officer, I was among several officers sent to the old hospital to investigate something. I no longer remember exactly what prompted the call.

Our flashlights cut through dark corridors and empty rooms as the old hospital creaked and groaned around us. Occasionally, some sound deeper inside made us stop and listen.

We searched the building and found no one. Afterward, we gathered in the lobby, talking about just how creepy the place was.

Then the elevator started.

We heard the machinery engage above us and the car descending the shaft.

Conversation stopped. Had we missed somebody?

We stood back as the elevator reached the lobby and stopped. There was a moment’s hesitation before the doors opened.

The car was empty.

A chill came over us when those doors opened. For one strange moment, it almost felt as though something had gotten off.

After an interval, the doors closed, and the elevator rose again, traveling back to the top floor.

At the time, I knew nothing about an old nurse supposedly haunting the upper floor or stories of the elevator moving on its own.

There could have been a mechanical explanation.

But we had searched the building. No one was there. Perhaps the old nurse still had rounds to make.

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Howard Auditorium: Something in the Dark

Theaters seem made for ghost stories. Once the performance ends, the actors leave, the audience goes home, and the theater becomes dark.

Students and faculty have long shared tales of strange occurrences in Howard Auditorium: props and set pieces moving on their own, ghostly voices echoing in the empty theater, and unexplained cold drafts sweeping through the building.

Some performers have reported feeling a spectral presence while on stage, as if being watched by invisible eyes. Stage lights flicker, curtains sway, and mysterious sounds have left many to believe that Howard Auditorium is still occupied by spirits who never took their final bow.

The most well-known ghost is said to be that of a former actor who passed away under tragic circumstances. According to legend, this ghost can still be seen sitting in the audience or backstage, forever watching over the performances he loved in life.

The best-known story concerns the auditorium’s spring-loaded seats, which normally return upright when someone stands. According to legend, a seat has sometimes been found lowered when no one was sitting there.

One seat, down in an empty auditorium.

My own experience happened elsewhere in the building.

For reasons I no longer remember, I once accompanied a Louisiana Tech police officer in searching Howard Auditorium. Anyone who knows Howard only from performances might think of the stage and several hundred seats. But below the auditorium are numerous rooms. That was where we spent most of our time.

It was dark, with no convenient light switches. Our flashlights swept across walls, doorways, corners, and empty rooms.

The old building made noises around us—creaks, groans, and strange grunts, almost as though it were straining and stretching.

Then we heard other sounds that were harder to place. The kind that make you stop, turn toward the darkness, and listen.

Nothing. Shine the light. Nothing. We found no one.

But somewhere farther into the darkness, the old building had another noise waiting for us.

A door slammed. Hard. It seemed so close someone had to be just steps away.

I jumped. But we found nothing.

Wood expands. Pipes knock. Air moves through ducts. Old buildings settle. All perfectly reasonable. In daylight.

Reason becomes less reassuring when you are beneath an empty auditorium, pointing a flashlight toward a dark room you haven’t searched yet.

Especially when something inside it just made a noise.

And somewhere above you, hundreds of empty seats are waiting in the dark.

At least, you hope they’re empty.

___________________________________

Haunts and Haints

Are Ruston’s ghosts real?

I never saw Dr. Harris walking the upper floor of Stow’s, an old nurse making her rounds at the sanitarium, or anything waiting in the dark beneath Howard Auditorium.

But I have seen a big, tough bouncer frightened by something he could not explain. I have heard strange noises beneath an empty auditorium. And I have watched an empty elevator descend through an old hospital after we had searched the building and found no one there.

There’s an explanation for all of it.

Probably.

But if you ever find yourself alone at night in one of Ruston’s old buildings and hear footsteps behind you, remember one thing.

You don’t have to believe in haints. Haints don’t necessarily require you to believe in them.

One final warning: Don’t go trespassing in search of Ruston’s ghosts. The haints may or may not get you, but the police certainly will.

Happy Halloween!

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Willis Knighton Health has been named to Newsweek’s list of America’s Best-In-State Hospitals 2027. It is the highest ranked hospital in North Louisiana to make the list.

“This is an extraordinary achievement that reflects the dedication, expertise and compassion of our entire Willis Knighton team,” says Jaf Fielder, president and CEO of Willis Knighton. “Every day, thousands of people across our organization work together with one goal in mind: providing exceptional care to the patients and families who place their trust in us. This recognition is a testament to that commitment. While awards and rankings are certainly gratifying, what matters most is the difference we make in people’s lives, every single day.”

The ranking of America’s Best-in-State Hospitals 2027 recognizes 800 leading hospitals across the nation. Hospitals were evaluated on four data pillars: hospital quality metrics, reputation, patient experience and patient recorded outcome measures.  Hospitals were selected based on medical performance indicators that included low mortality, complication and readmission rates, as well as recommendations from medical professionals and patient survey results.

While the report cites Willis Knighton North, the award covers all Willis Knighton hospitals since they are operated as a single entity with multiple locations and statistical data for all is reported under that name.

The list was developed to provide patients with a comprehensive resource to help make informed healthcare decisions.

For more information on Newsweek’s America’s Best-in-State Hospitals 2027, visit www.newsweek.com/rankings/americas-best-state-hospitals-2027

This is an advertorial

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A Ruston woman was arrested Sunday night after a business reported that an employee took lottery tickets without paying for them.

Yvette Polk, 39, of Ruston, was arrested at 8:40 p.m. Oct. 25 by the Ruston Police Department.

According to an arrest affidavit, an officer was dispatched to the business on a report of an employee stealing lottery tickets. The person who reported the theft showed the officer video footage of Polk taking multiple tickets from the dispenser without paying.

Polk is accused of doing the same on several other occasions, taking about $325 worth of lottery ticket merchandise in all.

Polk reported for work and was read her rights, which she said she understood. She was taken to Lincoln Parish Detention Center and booked on one count of misdemeanor theft.

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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RUSTON, La. — After 34 years in the legal profession, Ruston City Judge candidate Add Goff believes some of the most important lessons he would bring to the bench were learned outside the courtroom.

“Knowing the law is essential,” Goff said. “But being a good judge requires more than knowing the law. It requires maturity, patience, compassion, sound judgment, and the wisdom to understand how your decisions affect people’s lives—these kinds of things only come with age.”

Born and raised in Ruston, Goff has spent nearly six decades in the community he now hopes to serve as City Judge.

Long before he became an attorney, Goff earned the rank of Eagle Scout, an accomplishment that helped shape his understanding of leadership, preparedness, personal responsibility, and service to others.

“Scouting taught me early in life that leadership isn’t about having a title. It’s about accepting responsibility, being prepared, doing what’s right even when it’s difficult, and helping others,” Goff said. “Those are lessons I’ve tried to carry with me throughout my life.”

His grandfather and father practiced law in Ruston, and Goff joined the family firm in 1993 after beginning his career as a research attorney for the Louisiana Supreme Court.

Over the next 33 years, he represented people facing some of the most difficult circumstances of their lives. His practice has included criminal law, complex civil litigation, estate planning, and helping veterans and elderly clients and their families navigate difficult legal and financial decisions.

“Over the years, I’ve sat across the table from people who were frightened, angry, grieving, or facing decisions they never imagined having to make,” Goff said. “Those experiences teach you that every case involves real people, real problems, and real consequences.”

Life Experience Brings Perspective

Goff believes that maturity and wisdom come not only from professional experience, but also from facing life’s challenges.

“I’m nearly 60 years old. I’ve experienced life’s joys and disappointments. I’ve lost my father, and I’ve fought cancer myself. Those experiences have a way of changing your perspective. You learn that life is precious, that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed, and that everyone you meet may be carrying burdens you know nothing about.”

Goff says those lessons have helped shape the way he approaches people and difficult decisions.

“When you’ve faced your own mortality, you begin to see things differently. You learn patience. You learn humility. You learn to listen more carefully and to appreciate what really matters.”

He believes that perspective is especially important for a judge.

“People often come into court on one of the worst days of their lives,” Goff said. “Some have made serious mistakes. Others find themselves in difficult circumstances through no fault of their own. A judge must apply the law fairly and consistently, but should never lose sight of the human beings standing before him.”

For Goff, maturity means understanding that fairness and compassion can exist alongside accountability, and that wisdom sometimes comes from the hardest experiences life puts us through.

A Lifetime of Service to Lincoln Parish

For Goff, service to the community did not begin with a political campaign.

The commitment to service that began in Scouting decades ago and continued throughout his adult life. He has served as president of the Ruston Kiwanis Club, Ruston Jaycees, and Christian Community Action, and on the board of Louisiana Med Camps.

As a VA-accredited attorney, he has worked to assist wartime veterans. He has also volunteered with local organizations addressing hunger and helping families in need.

“Service has always been an important part of my life,” Goff said. “I’ve been fortunate to build a career and raise a family in this community. Running for judge is another opportunity to give something back to the place that has given so much to me.”

Goff has also served as a Hearing Committee Chair for the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board, presiding over evidentiary proceedings for a 20-parish region, ruling on objections, evaluating testimony, and making recommendations concerning attorney discipline.

He says that experience reinforced the importance of fairness, preparation, and the responsibility that comes with making decisions affecting others.

Accountability and Opportunity

Goff believes the City Court can play an important role in helping people make better decisions, particularly young people and first-time offenders.

“My faith teaches me that there must be consequences for our actions,” Goff said. “But it also teaches me that we should never give up on people who are genuinely willing to put in the work to turn their lives around.”

Goff has discussed exploring mentoring opportunities for eligible probationers and other lawful approaches that combine accountability with an opportunity to get back on track.

“We have to have accountability, but we also have to have opportunity,” Goff said “The goal should be to see fewer people return to court, not simply to process the same people through the system again and again.”

Goff says that philosophy is consistent with the lessons he first learned as an Eagle Scout: people should be held responsible for their actions, but they should also be encouraged to improve themselves and contribute positively to their community.

Why Run for Judge Now?

Goff says his decision to seek the judgeship is rooted in a desire to devote this stage of his career to public service.

“After more than three decades of practicing law, I’m not looking for another job to add to my schedule. I’m looking for an opportunity to use everything I’ve learned—professionally and personally—to serve the people of Lincoln Parish.”

If elected, Goff has committed to closing his private law practice and making the judgeship his only professional responsibility.

“I believe experience gives you knowledge, life gives you perspective, and service teaches you humility,” Goff said. “I would bring all three to the bench, along with the preparation and work ethic that have guided me throughout my career.”

Over his 34-year legal career, Goff has handled an extraordinary range of cases, from relatively simple matters to complex litigation, and from misdemeanors to serious felonies. He has practiced in courts across the country, including more than three decades of practice in Ruston City Court. Yet Goff believes that being a good judge requires more than an impressive legal résumé:

“People deserve a judge who understands the law, understands the community, and understands that every person who enters that courtroom deserves to be heard and treated fairly. That’s the kind of judge I intend to be.”

Paid for by Add Goff’s campaign.

The above information has been provided by a political campaign. Unless otherwise noted, the Lincoln Parish Journal publishing staff does not endorse specific candidates or ballot measures.

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A candidate who sends out a negative mailer in the final days of a campaign does that, so their opponents don’t have enough time to answer to correct those negative misleading attacks before Election Day.  That is a political ploy, and it is misleading to the voters of Lincoln Parish. That alone should give every voter pause.  So should the poll – its questions weren’t written to find out what people think.  They were written to produce a political answer.

There is no time for a mailer, but the Mike Smith campaign has responded to those false issues and negative attacks in publications like the Ruston Leader and the Lincoln Parish Journal. 

Full-time is not an issue, since all the candidates have committed to serve full-time as City Judge.

And Mike Smith has said publicly that, before he takes the oath of office, he will transfer his ownership interest in the firm to his wife, Danielle, a licensed Louisiana attorney. That transfer will be a matter of public record, verifiable with the Louisiana Secretary of State.  He will not be filing lawsuits, appearing before a jury, or taking depositions or anything else that could create a conflict. Danielle will run and manage the firm and scale the practice to whatever she decides is appropriate.

That is the plan, stated plainly.  It allows Mike to serve the citizens of this parish without distraction, and to be available to law enforcement agencies, attorneys, and victims after hours and on weekends as the job requires.

Why did one candidate’s campaign choose to attack the other candidates in the race on a made-up issue?

The reason is simple. On the experience that matters for this bench, he cannot compare to the other candidates in the race.

Which brings us to what this election is actually about.

Everyone knows that all legal experience is not the same.

Every candidate in this race is an attorney, but their backgrounds are different, and practicing law for many years does not mean an attorney has spent those years handling the cases that come before City Court or managing and directing a court docket.

As a prosecutor,  Mike is the only candidate in this race who has been responsible for preparing, managing, and directing a high-volume courtroom docket, not simply appearing on one.

There is a significant difference between showing up for individual cases and running the docket itself. Directing a docket is the closest thing there is to presiding over a courtroom, and is an advantage in becoming a Ruston City Judge.

As a prosecutor, when Mike handles a courtroom docket, he represents the State and not any individual. 

He is seeking accountability and justice for the citizens of Lincoln Parish.

That duty demands sound judgment, fairness, and discretion every day. It has meant working directly with law enforcement, victims, witnesses, defendants, defense attorneys, judges, and court staff, the same people who walk into City Court every week.

Private civil practice alone cannot replicate that perspective.  When it comes to serving as a judge, relevant courtroom experience matters more than the number of years in the legal profession.

Mike Smith’s prosecutorial experience provides a perspective that private civil practice alone cannot replicate.

• Mike has served as an Assistant District Attorney in Lincoln Parish for 12 years.
• A candidate who does not have experience as a prosecutor does not understand that in today’s world, full-time is 24/7, not sitting in an office from 9 to 5.
• Mike has prosecuted misdemeanor, juvenile, and felony matters. He has prosecuted felony jury trials and handled criminal proceedings involving complex evidence and legal issues.
• His work has required him to regularly evaluate evidence, prepare cases, examine witnesses, and understand constitutional protections.
• As a prosecutor, Mike has worked directly with law enforcement, victims, witnesses, defendants, defense attorneys, judges, and court personnel.
• A prosecutor’s ethical responsibility is to seek justice, not merely convictions. 

That responsibility requires sound judgment, fairness, and discretion.

Mike has also had the opportunity to serve as acting magistrate in a municipal mayor’s court.  A magistrate presides over the mayor’s court to conduct trials and hearings, like a city court judge does in smaller towns.

“Mike’s full-time commitment, command of the law and familiarity with the kind of matters coming before Ruston City Court is documented case by case by and through his service as an Assistant District Attorney. He is prepared for whatever will come before him as Judge of the Ruston City Court — ready to serve, day one, full-time.” Wayne Smith. Retired Judge.

This is a paid advertorial from the Mike Smith for City Judge Campaign.

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The above information has been provided by a political campaign. Unless otherwise noted, the Lincoln Parish Journal publishing staff does not endorse specific candidates or ballot measures.

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A Ruston woman and a Mesquite, Texas, man were arrested Sunday after Grambling Police responding to a verbal disturbance found suspected psilocybin mushrooms in a residence.

Janikla Coleman, 31, of Ruston, and Thaddeus Jackson, 27, of Mesquite, were arrested at 8:04 p.m. Oct. 25 by the Grambling Police Department.

According to arrest affidavits, officers were dispatched at about 8 p.m. to the residence. Jackson told them he had been living there with Coleman and that she was refusing to let him retrieve his belongings.

Coleman, who appeared visibly angry, said Jackson owed her money and that his laptop and microphone were no longer inside. After speaking with an officer, she allowed Jackson and the officer inside to gather his things.

While Jackson was retrieving a container, the officer saw three large, clear bags holding a substance suspected to be psilocybin mushrooms, along with a thermometer. Based on the officer’s training and experience, the bags, their contents and the thermometer raised his suspicion that the mushrooms may have been used for cultivation, storage or distribution.

Both were advised of their rights and said they understood them.

Jackson said he didn’t know who owned the container. Coleman said it belonged to Jackson and that she had only realized that day what was inside. She also provided text messages in which she had previously communicated with Jackson about the mushrooms.

“I don’t want no shrooms in my living room anyway,” Coleman said in one of the messages.

Both were handcuffed and taken to the Grambling Police Department, where the suspected mushrooms weighed 8 pounds, 4.45 ounces. They were then booked into Lincoln Parish Detention Center on one count of possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I drug.

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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For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:45 right to your inbox. Just CLICK HERE to sign up.

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GET READY TO SHOP! The holiday season is right around the corner, and Holidays in CedarTown is back for another exciting year! Join us November 12–14 at the Ruston Civic Center as we transform the venue into a festive holiday shopping destination. Hosted by the Cedar Creek School Parent Club, this three-day market brings together shoppers and vendors from across the South for one of North Louisiana’s favorite holiday shopping traditions.

With more than 30 booths filled with unique gifts, holiday décor, clothing, accessories, and more, Holidays in CedarTown is the perfect place to get a head start on your Christmas shopping while supporting local and regional businesses. This year’s exciting lineup of merchants includes Goldie Boutique, The Fashion of Ruston, North Forty Woodworks, Sugarplums & The Vintage Marketplace, Heirloom, Rock Creek Farms, Legacy House Ruston, The Dance Wearhouse, Mid South Pecans, Arcadia Publishing, Blush by Elle, Bella Magnolia, Bows by Tammy, Simply Chic Boutique, Let’s Go Mahjong, Urban Collective, The Children’s Shoppe & Peach Lemonade, National Jewelry, Billy’s Barnhouse, American Flyway Waterfowl, Lilburns, Sis & Hunny, The Prissy Pelican, Sandy + Rizzo, Different Strokes, Big Creek Pecans & Honey, Art by Sarah Katherine Semon, and many more!

The festivities kick off on Thursday, November 12, with our Holidays After Hours Preview Party from 5:00 to 8:30 p.m. Shoppers will enjoy an exclusive first look at this year’s market while sipping and sampling complimentary drinks and appetizers from local favorites, including Crumbs Catering, Iron Cactus, Uptown Downtown, Ponchatoulas, Beau Vines, and Newk’s Eatery. Preview Party tickets are $30 and can be purchased online in advance. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door, but don’t wait—last year’s event sold out!

Shopping continues Friday, November 13, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Whether you’re shopping for the perfect gift or treating yourself to something special, there’s something for everyone! To add a little extra holiday cheer, some of our Cedar Creek Lower School students will be present to help spread the Christmas spirit with caroling performances throughout the day! And in celebration of Friday night lights, shoppers wearing their favorite team spirit gear can enjoy FREE general admission from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. General admission tickets are $10 and can be purchased online or at the door.

Saturday, November 14, brings a little extra Christmas magic with Santa’s Cookie Crew from 9:30 a.m. to noon! Little ones are invited to enjoy a festive morning filled with cookies, letters to Santa, and photos with the big man himself. Tickets are $10 per child and can be purchased online, with a limited number available at the door. Meanwhile, shoppers can squeeze in those last-minute finds as the market continues until 2:00 p.m. Saturday general admission is $10.

And while you’re shopping, don’t forget to stop by our Sounds of the Season raffle table for your chance to take home a Turtlebox Cub! Sponsored by Cross Country Infrastructure, raffle tickets are just $10 each or three for $20 and can be purchased online or throughout the event. The lucky winner will be drawn at the close of the market on Saturday, and you do not have to be present to win!

Mark your calendars, grab your shopping buddies, and get ready to kick off the Christmas season with us! Holidays in CedarTown returns November 12–14 to the Ruston Civic Center, and we can’t wait to welcome you for three days of shopping, holiday cheer, and festive fun.

This beloved holiday tradition wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our wonderful vendors, shoppers, and sponsors. Thank you for helping make Holidays in CedarTown a special part of the Christmas season in North Louisiana. We can’t wait to see you in CedarTown!

Holidays in CedarTown is a project of the Cedar Creek School Parent Club. For sponsorship, merchant, or ticket information, contact Cedar Creek School or advancement@cedarcreekschool.org.

2400 Cedar Creek Drive, Ruston, Louisiana 71270

318.255.7707 – www.cedarcreekschool.org

Cedar Creek School practices a nondiscriminatory policy whereby it does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

This is a paid advertorial.

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by Hanna Singh

Every October, Ruston transforms into a festive fall storybook town, with paper pumpkin lanterns hanging in the trees and twinkling lights strung across downtown streets. I’ve heard people call it the Stars Hollow of Louisiana, and it sure lives up to the title. But as picturesque as our pretty town can be, I see a spooky side of Ruston too. From the sound of railroad tracks rattling in the night to the cold spots in the old auditorium, there’s something eerie to be found for those who go looking.

Peeking through the nooks and crannies of historic buildings is a history that would make for a good campfire story. Rumors of local hauntings are whispered about around town. The Biomedical Engineering Building holds a reputation for mischievous behavior, particularly around the elevator shaft. Formerly a hospital, the building is reportedly home to odd occurrences, including a self-operating elevator and doors that open and shut on their own. Disembodied voices and strange noises have also been reported over the years. It’s a place that holds both a history and mystery.

Howard Auditorium has also been deemed a spooky spot. Many students have claimed to see an apparition of a woman or feel the coldness of her presence. Seats that lower as if someone is sitting in them, only to pop back up, have given many a fright. Who the ghost might be, no one can say. But students over the years have reported enough strange occurrences to keep the rumors alive.

Possibly the most notoriously haunted place of all is the former Stow’s Bar building, which still stands empty in downtown Ruston. Sitting on the site of a former hospital, the building is believed by some to be haunted by former patients. During its busy years, diners at the bar reported odd occurrences, and stories of hauntings have continued even after its doors closed. Passersby have also claimed to see figures in the windows, despite the building being unoccupied.

For all its cozy small-town charm, Ruston has a mysterious side that is just waiting to be explored. Behind its historic buildings, familiar streets and quiet corners are stories that have been passed down through the years, some with a ghostly twist. Whether the rumors are true or simply part of the town’s folklore, there is something fun about searching for the unexplained. And with Halloween weekend just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to take a closer look at Ruston’s spookier side. Keep an eye out for what might be lurking around the next corner, and maybe you’ll find that there’s more to our quiet town than meets the eye.

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Lincoln Parish Journal readers have an opportunity each week to win FREE money in the Karl Malone Toyota College Football Pick’em presented by Johnson Physical Therapy, Ruston Athletic Supply, and The Rental Association.

And the best part is it’s FREE … just like your subscription to the LPJ.

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The Lincoln Parish Journal wants to thank Karl Malone Toyota, Johnson Physical Therapy, Ruston Athletic Supply, and The Rental Association for their title and presenting sponsorships of this year’s College Football Pick’em contest.

We also want to thank Dubach Air and Heat, Ginn’s Autobody, Hart Designs, Charlie’s Carpet Cleaning, Tommy’s Tees, Mike Smith Law Office, Smoothie King of Ruston, CoreTechs, and Jeremy Hebert at Edward Jones for their Pick’em Partnerships within the contest. 

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Are you ready for some football?!?

Bigger question. Are you ready to win $150 in cash … with the potential to make it $300 if you are perfect on the week (including predicting the No. 1 tiebreaker exactly right).

The Lincoln Parish Journal is holding the 5th Annual Karl Malone Toyota College Football Pick’em Contest presented by The Rental Association, Ruston Athletic Supply, and Johnson Physical Therapy.

If you live in the deep south, you know College Football is King!

Anyone is eligible to participate and each week one lucky winner will go home with a $150 cash prize.  Each week the winner will be the participant with the best record out of 15 selected college football games (ties will be broken by two separate tiebreakers consisting of guessing the total points scored in two of our weekly contests).

The Karl Malone Toyota College Football Pick’em Contest presented by Ruston Athletic Supply, Johnson Physical Therapy, and The Rental Association will be conducted for 14 regular season weeks of the college season starting with Week 1 games.

There is no entry fee, just like there is no cost to SUBSCRIBE to the Lincoln Parish Journal where it will come to your inbox every weekday morning.  It takes 20-30 seconds to sign up and not much longer than that to make your picks.

All contest decisions by LPJ management are final. Weekly winners will be notified Monday and will be requested to take a photo that will run in the following week’s LPJ.

Every participant will receive a FREE subscription to the Journal, if you’re not already signed up for the easily-navigated, convenient 6:55 a.m. daily e-mail. Enjoy it all, for FREE, and enter each week’s contest. You could collect $150 each week!

Follow the Lincoln Parish Journal each morning at 6:55 right to your inbox. It’s FREE! Just CLICK HERE to sign up.

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By Kyle Roberts

RUSTON, La. — Tonight will be about focus and effort for Ruston High.

Already into Week 9 of the 2026 season, the Bearcats (6-2, 2-1 District 2-5A) will try to play a full game from the opening kickoff tonight as the Pineville Rebels (1-7, 1-2 District 2-5A) come in as the 2026 homecoming opponent at 7 p.m. at James Field at Hoss Garrett Stadium.

Baugh said he has stressed to his players that how they approach a game matters as much as the opponent’s record, and he said his message this week is simple: If Ruston is the better team, it has to look like it from the start.

“If the guys feel like the other team isn’t any good, well, that’s what it needs to look like on Friday,” Baugh said. “And if it doesn’t, then I’m going to be upset. If you run around and talk about this or that, and they’re not supposed to be very good, well, it needs to be that from the first kickoff all the way through the entire ball game.”

Baugh said the Peabody game showed him what he does not want to see. He said the effort showed up once the game started, not during the week.

“The practices didn’t go very good, but once the kickoff started, if we’re supposed to be that much better than the other group, then from the very beginning, it needs to look like that,” Baugh said. “It doesn’t need to look disjointed, and we’re sleepwalking and not interested in being in the game. That’s when I’m going to have an issue.”

Baugh also said he sees a bigger purpose in taking care of business early. He said it gives younger players a chance to play, and he tied that to the program’s future.

“I think it’s important for our first group to realize that it’s important to take care of their business so they can give other kids an opportunity to get into the ball game,” Baugh said. “That was their first opportunity to get in when they were a younger player, when other groups took care of their business and then they had a chance to get into the ball game. To me, that’s giving something back to our football program to help us for years down the road, because it isn’t all about you.”

Pineville’s lone win this season came against Peabody, marking the first time in over a decade the Rebels have won a district game. Ruston beat Peabody two weeks in a game that Ruston High head coach Jerrod Baugh said got away from the Rebels’ fellow opponent early enough that he changed how he handled his starters in the second half.

Baugh said Peabody game was the first time he did not send the first group back out for the first series of the second half. He said he normally wants his starters to stay in the halftime routine, even when backups have played in the first half.

“That game was pretty well out of whack, and I didn’t want to make it seem like I was trying to stomp anybody while they were down,” Baugh said. “We’ll just see how that goes. I hope our first group get out there and take care of what they need, too, and I’m not trying to indicate that that’s how the ball game is going to go.”

Baugh said he respects what Pineville is trying to build and does not expect the Rebels to roll over.

“I feel like the (Head Coach Justin Charles) is doing a good job trying to get the wheels spinning at Pineville,” Baugh said. “Our district is a rough district to try to start your program and get things going, and I think he’s doing a good job. I think their kids are playing hard. So it’s not like they’re going to come out and just let us do those things, but we’re further along in our program development than where they are. It should be a situation where our guys take control of the game, and we’ll see if it goes that way.”

Ruston changed its preparation this week because of the uncertainty for the Bearcats in earning a possible first round bye. For the last four years, Baugh said, the bye week has helped the Bearcats because it gives them time to work on situational football that gets squeezed out when they are preparing for a specific opponent. He said he removed some items from practice, rearranged others and added some of those situations.

Baugh said he also added competition to practice to keep players focused on one another rather than on the opponent.

“I think it changes your focus about what you’re doing during practice,” Baugh said. “I don’t think it’s disregarding the other team, but I do think it was really good for the competitive part of what we need to get done for practice.”

Baugh described a red zone drill in which the ball is placed at the 20-yard line with a first-and-10. The offense and defense each earn points, and the first group to 15 wins. The offense had three series and won that segment, Baugh said. The second group played to 10, and the defense won. A tiebreaker from the 10-yard line with a first-and-goal went to the offense, which will receive a reward, he said.

Baugh said practice started slowly Tuesday and the team was not as focused as he wanted, but it improved as the session went on. He said both groups competed well by the end.

Kickoff tonight is at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on Q94.1 FM and streamed on the Bearcat Nation Network.

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by Malcolm Butler

Eight wins and zero losses.

Just two years removed from a one-win season.

Regardless of what happens tonight in Haynesville, the Cedar Creek Cougars have already authored one of the better turnaround stories in north Louisiana high school football this fall.

But now comes the biggest test.

When ninth-ranked Cedar Creek (8-0, 2-0) travels to face fourth-ranked Haynesville (6-1, 3-0), the Cougars will encounter something they haven’t seen during the first eight weeks of the season: a perennial state championship contender.

And while the outcome won’t define Cedar Creek’s season, it should provide a pretty good indication of just how far this program has come under second-year head coach Jacob Angevine.

Make no mistake. What Angevine and his players have accomplished through eight games deserves recognition and praise and should not be diminished if the Cougars finish second on the scoreboard tonight.

Winning eight straight football games isn’t easy, regardless of the competition. The Cougars have taken care of business each week, and that’s exactly what good football teams are supposed to do.

But there is another side to the equation.

The combined record of Cedar Creek’s eight opponents is 19-43. Only one of those teams — Beekman Charter at 5-3 — currently owns a winning record. Four of the Cougars’ eight victories have come against programs that wouldn’t qualify for the playoffs if the season ended today.

North Webster and Beekman Charter represent Cedar Creek’s two most impressive wins to date.

None of that is intended to diminish what the Cougars have accomplished. You play the teams on your schedule and four of those teams were 2A and one was 3A. You don’t get to choose their records.

But it does raise a legitimate question. Just how good is this Cedar Creek football team? Are they good enough to make a deep run in the upcoming Select School Division IV playoffs? Friday night should provide some answers.

Haynesville is one of the most tradition-rich small-school programs in Louisiana. The Golden Tornado are perennial championship contenders and currently sit seventh in the Division IV Non-Select power ratings. They will unquestionably be the best team Cedar Creek has faced during the regular season.

And that makes this matchup so intriguing.

Can the Cougars establish their running game against a Haynesville defense that has shown some vulnerability this season?

Payton Harris and Brett Bell have been outstanding behind Cedar Creek’s offensive line. Last week against Arcadia, Harris rushed for 208 yards on just 14 carries, while Bell added 108 yards on four attempts. Harris is one of the top running backs in Class A if not the state and ran past the 1,000-yard rushing mark a few games back.

At times the duo has put up video game numbers.

But Haynesville isn’t Arcadia. Nor Delhi Charter. Nor Glenbrook. The Golden Tors are the “team to beat” in the district and tonight, the Cougars will get their opportunity to do so.

Despite their perennial pedigree, the Golden Tornado haven’t exactly been impenetrable defensively. Four of their seven opponents have scored at least 26 points. That suggests opportunities could exist for Harris, Bell and company.

On the other side of the football, can Cedar Creek’s defense continue its impressive play? The Cougars have allowed 20 or more points just once this season. That’s an outstanding statistic, regardless of the competition.

But can that defense limit explosive plays against a Haynesville team accustomed to playing meaningful football games deep into November and December? Can the Cougars force turnovers? Can they get off the field on third down? Can they withstand the physicality that comes with facing a legitimate championship contender?

Those are questions that need answering before the postseason arrives.

And speaking of the postseason, there’s plenty at stake beyond bragging rights. Cedar Creek currently sits eighth in the Division IV Select power ratings. The top 24 teams qualify for the playoffs, with the top eight seeds earning a valuable first-round bye.

There’s a significant difference between finishing eighth and ninth. A win tonight against a highly rated opponent would prove important as the Cougars attempt to secure that coveted bye.

But I keep coming back to the bigger picture.

Two years ago, Cedar Creek won one football game.

Today, the Cougars are undefeated entering the final stretch of the regular season and preparing for a showdown against one of Louisiana’s most respected small-school programs. That’s a remarkable accomplishment.

And Friday night’s result won’t erase any of it.

A win would certainly make a statement. It would remove any uncertainty surrounding Cedar Creek’s strength of schedule and whether the Cougars are deep playoff run legit. It would establish the Cougars as a team capable of making some noise in November.

A loss wouldn’t necessarily mean the opposite.

Regardless of what the scoreboard reads when the final horn sounds tonight, the test should help Cedar Creek better understand what it will take to make a postseason run and where the Cougars stand.

The most important games of this season are still ahead.

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