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.
Friday, Oct. 30 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Out to Lunch concert series (Heard Freighthouse Food Park) 6:30 p.m.: LA Tech volleyball 7 p.m.: RHS football 7 p.m.: Lincoln Prep football 7-10 p.m.: RCT Haunted Car Wash (Rocketfast Car Wash)
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
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.
Janie Blue, 71, resident of Choudrant, Louisiana, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister passed away on October 26, 2026 at Cornerstone Hospital in Bossier, LA. Janie was born on July 9, 1955 in Shreveport, LA, a daughter of the late Henry and Edith Nolte.
Janie was a 1973 graduate of Southwood High School and in her younger years, she worked at General Electric where she met and married her late husband, Carl Blue. She married Carl on September 28, 1979. They lived in Shreveport and eventually moved to Keithville, LA where they made it their permanent home. Carl passed away in January of 2009.
Janie was a stay-at-home mom while raising her children and was a full-time caregiver to her sister, Shirley Nolte. She enjoyed gardening, shopping for jewelry, arranging flowers, watching TV, loved to spend time visiting with family, sitting on her patio watching the birds, and checking up on relatives. While Janie struggled with her health, her family, especially her grandchildren, brought her great joy.
Survivors include her 2 children, Brandi (James) Strickland of West Monroe, LA and
Karla (Bryan) King of Ruston, LA; 8 grandchildren, Jay (Kameron) Strickland of Sterlington, LA; Mackenzie (Jay) Parker of Shreveport, LA; Chad Strickland of Searcy, AR; Connor and Caroline King of Ruston, LA; Cassidy (Caleb) Backus of Bossier, LA ; Colby (Itzel) King of Henderson, TX; Camryn (Garrett) Averitte of Ruston, LA; and 5 great grandchildren, Samuel Strickland; Oliver and Theo Backus; Azriel King; and Beck Averitte.
A celebration of Janie’s life will be held at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Ruston, LA on Friday, October 30, 2026 with Pastor James Doughty and Jay Strickland officiating. Visitation will be from 10AM-11AM with the service beginning at 11AM. Pallbearers will include Jay Strickland, Chad Strickland, Jay Parker, Connor King, Colby King, Caleb Backus, Garrett Averitte, James Ryals, Bryan King, and James Strickland.
Following the service, Janie’s final resting place will be at Forest Park Cemetery West in Shreveport, LA alongside her husband, Carl of 30 years.
Students working in Louisiana Tech’s Security Operations Center
Courtesy of LA Tech University Communications
Louisiana Tech University’s College of Engineering and Science (COES) has received $612,000 from the U.S. Department of War (DoW) to support cybersecurity scholarships and expand training capabilities, giving students greater access to careers protecting the nation’s digital infrastructure.
The award includes approximately $463,000 for Cyber Service Academy scholarships and $149,000 for capacity building involving artificial intelligence and security operations training. Led by Dr. Brad Glisson, professor of Computer Science, the effort builds on Louisiana Tech’s nationally recognized cybersecurity education and research programs.
The funding supports eight students with scholarships and stipends through the Cyber Service Academy. The competitive program connects cybersecurity education with the Department of War’s civilian cyber workforce, helping students pursue their degrees while preparing for federal service.
“Students choosing where to study cybersecurity should be able to see a clear connection between their education and the work they hope to do,” said Dr. Collin Wick, dean of the COES. “This award will help more students afford their degrees, apply their skills to real security challenges before they graduate, and secure better job placement after graduation.”
Louisiana Tech’s on-campus Student Security Operations Center gives students experience supporting the university’s cybersecurity mission alongside IT security professionals and industry partners. Students can analyze security alerts, investigate potential threats, and assist with incident triage under professional supervision. The center also offers workshops, training, and support for professional certifications.
Tech’s Cybersecurity Applied Innovation Laboratory (CyAIL) pairs students and faculty with industry partners to conduct research in areas including digital forensics, malware analysis, and applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning. The lab also supports Tech’s collegiate cyber defense competition team, helping students apply their skills to simulated cybersecurity challenges in a competitive setting.
The award’s capacity-building component supports work involving artificial intelligence and security operations training, extending the University’s investment in applied cybersecurity education.
“Students can learn a security concept from a textbook. What they can’t learn there is what to do when an alert fires on a live system and they have to decide whether it’s real,” Glisson said. “That judgment comes from working next to professionals who make those calls every day. The scholarship and the federal service pathway mean students graduate having already done the job, not just studied it.”
Louisiana Tech established the nation’s first cyber engineering program in 2012, and its computer science program is the University’s third largest by student enrollment. The University holds National Security Agency (NSA) designations as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education and Cyber Research, reflecting its broader commitment to cybersecurity teaching and scholarship. Tech students can further develop their professional qualifications through professional credentials such as CompTIA Network+ and Security+.
Months of dry weather have left Lincoln Parish firefighters battling a wave of outdoor fires, from escaped debris burns to blazes sparked along Interstate 20.
Chief Kevin Reynolds of Lincoln Parish Fire District No. 1 said the prolonged drought has dried grass, leaves, and woods to the point where a small spark can quickly become a much larger problem, especially when the wind picks up.
“It is very dry. I don’t recall it ever being this dry,” Reynolds said.
During one recent weekend, from Friday morning through Sunday evening, the district responded to 20 fires. Reynolds estimated 13 or 14 were woods or other wildland fires.
Some had grown to a couple of acres before firefighters arrived. In rural parts of the parish, fires can burn unnoticed because homes are far apart and large stretches of property cannot be seen from the road.
The largest fire Reynolds recalled during the dry spell burned slightly more than 50 acres near the Louisiana Tech livestock unit on La. Highway 150 west of Grambling, in the area of the former Camp Ruston prisoner-of-war camp. Its cause is unknown.
Four state forestry bulldozers assisted with the fire. Reynolds said bulldozers become necessary when flames reach areas firefighters cannot easily access or a fire grows beyond what the district can contain with its own equipment.
Despite the burn ban in effect at the time of the interview, some residents continued burning leaves or other debris. Reynolds said the length of the ban had led some people to become less careful about following it. Others assumed a shower at their home meant burning was safe.
“Just because we’ve been under a burn ban so long, people have gotten lax and they think, well, we’re not under a burn ban anymore,” Reynolds said.
Chief Meteorologist Jarod Floyd of the Digital Weather Desk said, “Fire risk remains exceedingly high across the ArkLaMiss, especially given the lower humidity values. Burn bans are in place for a reason. If you’re not under a ban, please avoid any outdoor burning until further notice.”
Reynolds cautioned that a brief shower does not mean the danger has passed or a burn ban has been lifted. Rain in one part of the parish does not necessarily improve conditions elsewhere, and the area had not received significant, widespread rainfall.
Some fires begin when residents burn leaves and walk away, allowing the flames to escape. Others start in less obvious ways.
A vehicle with a failed bearing, a hot tire after a blowout, or a chain dragging along the highway can produce enough heat or sparks to ignite dry vegetation. Machinery can also start fires.
Reynolds advised caution with activities such as mowing, bush-hogging, and baling hay when conditions are especially dry. A mower blade striking a rock can create a spark.
Wind can turn a manageable fire into a fast-moving one. A red flag warning was in effect during the particularly busy weekend Reynolds described, with high winds adding to the danger.
Some fires along Interstate 20 have presented an additional challenge where vegetation has grown over deep layers of mulch left by clearing work. Reynolds said fire can move into the mulch, making it harder for crews to extinguish completely.
Until sufficient rainfall eases the danger, residents should comply with burn restrictions and avoid activities capable of producing a flame or spark.
A Choudrant man was arrested Sunday night after a woman told deputies he choked her during an argument.
Steven Clark, 60, of Choudrant, was arrested at 8:48 p.m. Oct. 25 by the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office.
According to an arrest affidavit, a deputy responded at about 8:48 p.m. to speak with the woman about a battery. She told the deputy she had just arrived at the residence she shared with Clark, her boyfriend, when he began arguing with her about their financial problems. She said he was also upset that she had been out of town.
She said Clark got out of a recliner and swatted her hand away. When she pointed her finger at him, she said, he put his right arm around her throat and began choking her. She said she scratched his arm and face to get away.
The woman said Clark then threw her to the ground, and she hit a coffee table on the way down. She said he grabbed both of her arms and locked them behind her back. She was able to leave the residence and call 911.
The deputy saw blood on the woman’s right arm and red marks around her neck. She also had a bruise on the back of her head from hitting the coffee table.
The deputy then spoke with Clark at his residence and noted an odor of alcohol coming from him. Clark was advised of his rights and said he understood them. He told the deputy he was upset about their financial problems and that the woman put her finger in his face. He said that is when he stood up, put his arm around her throat and began choking her. He also said he took her to the ground and locked her hands behind her back to make her “chill.”
Clark was placed in handcuffs and taken to Lincoln Parish Detention Center, where he was booked on one count of battery of a dating partner by strangulation.
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 6:45 right to your inbox.Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
An evening of family fun, Halloween festivities and community fellowship is on tap Saturday as MedCamps of Louisiana hosts its annual Fall Bash at Camp Alabama in Choudrant.
The event, which is open to the public, will run from 4-7 p.m. at Camp Alabama, located at 2090 Highway 145.
Families attending the Fall Bash can enjoy a wide variety of activities, including horseback riding, archery, carnival games, arts and crafts, face painting, a petting zoo, jumpers, a photo booth and live music.
And with the event falling on Halloween, children will have an opportunity to trick-or-treat at each of the sponsored cabins throughout the camp.
Other treats and activities will include popcorn, cotton candy, snow cones and s’mores.
Admission is $15 per person at the door, while children ages 5 and younger and MedCamps campers will be admitted free. Tickets can also be purchased in advance at www.medcamps.org.
Food trucks will be on-site throughout the evening, offering a variety of food and beverages for purchase. Participating vendors include Cedric Smoke Meats & BBQ, Leighlah’s Lemonade Lounge, Karen’s Kitchen & Sweet Shop and Swampfire Pizza.
The Fall Bash provides an opportunity for families throughout Lincoln Parish and the surrounding communities to visit Camp Alabama, enjoy an evening of entertainment and support MedCamps of Louisiana.
The event is made possible through the support of numerous local businesses, organizations and individuals.
Title sponsors include Chick-fil-A, Southern States Equipment, VCOM Louisiana, House of Raeford, Byrnes Mechanical Contractors, Century Next Bank, Care Solutions and O’Nealgas.
Cabin sponsors include House of Raeford, Thrive Pediatric Therapy, Building Futures Pediatric Therapy, Origin Bank, Rotary Club of Ruston, Academy of Collaborative Education, Louisiana Tech Bulldog Softball, Century Next Bank, Lincoln Parish Library, Big as the Sky LLC, Southern A’Chord Chorus and Phillip Ellis for District Judge.
From trick-or-treating and carnival games to horseback riding and live entertainment, the Fall Bash promises something for visitors of all ages.
For more information about the event or to purchase advance tickets, visit www.medcamps.org.
A Monroe man was arrested early Saturday morning after a traffic stop in Ruston.
Brandon Lewis, 41, of Monroe, was arrested at 1:34 a.m. Oct. 24 by the Ruston Police Department at North Service Road and North Trenton Street.
According to an arrest affidavit, officers stopped Lewis at about 1:20 a.m. after seeing his vehicle cross lane lines. The officer who spoke with him detected an odor of alcohol that grew stronger as he spoke.
Lewis agreed to perform standardized field sobriety tests and performed poorly, the affidavit states. He was taken to Lincoln Parish Detention Center, where he was given the opportunity to take a breath test on an Intoxilyzer 9000. He refused.
Lewis was booked on charges of driving under the influence, second offense, and improper lane usage. Bond was set at $2,500 on the DUI charge.
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 6:45 right to your inbox.Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
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.
RUSTON, La. — The Ruston High Speech and Debate Team opened its season with two tournament weekends that produced multiple first-place finishes, including a title in Novice Public Forum Debate at the Teurlings Catholic High Rebel Classic.
The team competed at the Caddo Magnet Red River Classic on Oct. 16-17 and at the Teurlings Catholic High Rebel Classic on Oct. 23-24. Ruston High Speech and Debate Coach Sydney Phillips said the results point to a strong year.
“Overall, this has been an outstanding beginning to what is shaping up to be one of our best seasons since I took over as coach,” Phillips said. “This is the largest team we have had in years with 21 competitors, and I am so excited to have seen all of the talent these students have shine these past two weekends.”
Results from both tournaments are listed below.
Caddo Magnet Red River Classic (Oct. 16-17)
Dramatic Interpretation
2nd place: Abigail Ligon
Humorous Interpretation
1st place: Oli Deal
2nd place: Caed Baines
Informative Speaking
1st place: Oli Deal
Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate
1st place: Avery Cox
Teurlings Catholic High Rebel Classic (Oct. 23-24)
It was 2:15 am this past Wednesday morning. I had wrapped up a conference in Los Angeles on Tuesday and was getting up for an early flight home. My plan was prayer, a quick workout, and getting ready to catch my uber ride to the airport at 3:15 am.
I had scheduled the ride the night before but was very relieved when I saw Will pull up a few minutes early. There aren’t many options at that time of morning if he cancels on me!
As I got into the backseat, I thanked him for being there and being so prompt. Will turned and told me, “Doug, I am here to serve you. I’ll get you to the airport safely and on time.”
We proceeded to talk for the entire 45-minute drive to Terminal 4 at LAX. He told me that he was a retired Los Angeles City bus driver. He described all kinds of people that got on his bus each day. They ranged from business professionals seeking to avoid driving in traffic to homeless people seeking a ride to a shelter for a meal.
He said he greeted them all the same – “Come on in and find a seat. I’ll get you where you need to go!”
He told me that he had retired a few years ago and spent some time traveling in those first few months of retirement. He and his wife wanted to see some places, and they did just that. However, after six months, he said he felt empty. The passion he had for life was gone. Something was missing.
As we approached a red light and stopped, Will turned to me and said, “I was no longer serving. I was put on this earth to serve, and I had to get back in the game.” He went on to tell me two decisions that he made that eventful day when he decided to address that “empty” feeling.
He decided to drive for Uber and go to culinary school.
He was already a skilled driver, knew the area very well, and always found fulfillment in serving through transporting others. Uber was a natural choice. He could set his hours and serve as much as he desired.
I asked about the culinary choice.
He said he always wanted to learn to be a chef and now had the time. He took those culinary skills after graduation and turned down the high-end restaurants for the homeless shelter. He cooks two days a week for a local shelter – serving in another way. He saw those people getting on the bus and wanted to serve them in some manner.
Will was a servant for sure. He told me he was back to his purpose-driven self. He was no longer empty. He found fulfillment in serving others!
Before I got out of the car at the airport, I reminded Will about Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:40 where He said, “Truly I say to you, as you did it for one of the least of these my brothers, you did it for me.” I told Will what a blessing he was to me on that Uber ride. Who would have thought?
I have reflected on that conversation for days now. Will found fulfillment in serving others. He was empty, serving only himself. There was nothing wrong with traveling. He had saved the money. They loved the adventure. However, when that was all there was, he was left empty and unfulfilled.
What’s your takeaway from my 45-minute ride with Will? Did Will share something that might be meaningful to you?
Two things I got:
1. Serving others results in fulfillment.
2. Serving only self leads to empty.
I would rather be driving on a full tank than running on empty!
Doug equips leaders to make organizations better. He has two leadership books available on all online platforms. Whether you are looking for a speaker for your next event or a leadership coach to develop people and build an authentic team, contact 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 6:45 right to your inbox.Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
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.
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.
A longtime Ruston tradition returns Friday, Nov. 6, as the Ruston Kiwanis Club hosts its 74th annual Pancake Breakfast at the Ruston Civic Center.
The popular community fundraiser will run from 6:30 to 9 a.m., giving residents an opportunity to enjoy a delicious breakfast while supporting programs and organizations that benefit children throughout Lincoln Parish.
Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased in advance from any Ruston Kiwanis Club member or at the door on the morning of the event. Both dine-in and takeout options will be available.
For local businesses, schools and other groups interested in providing breakfast for employees or members, delivery is available for orders of 30 or more plates. All delivery orders must be purchased by Wednesday, Nov. 4.
Proceeds from the annual fundraiser will help support numerous organizations and initiatives dedicated to improving the lives of local children.
Among the beneficiaries are the Boys and Girls Club, MedCamps of Louisiana, 5 Loaves, 2 Fish Ministries, the Food for Backpack Program, the Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home, Ruston High School Key Club and Cedar Creek Key Club.
The club also recently launched a reading program at the Paul E. Slaton Head Start Center. Through the initiative, Kiwanis members are helping encourage literacy among young children, with books provided for students to take home at the end of the school year.
Ruston Kiwanis Club President Randall Boyd said the annual Pancake Breakfast represents the organization’s commitment to serving children while bringing the community together for a worthwhile cause.
“Kiwanis is about helping children,” Boyd said. “The Lincoln Parish community is so incredibly supportive of Ruston Kiwanis and our fundraisers, and we are so grateful. We help children in many different ways through local organizations.
“The Pancake Breakfast is such a great community event, supporting children while enjoying great food and fellowship. Please buy a ticket and come join the fun. We look forward to seeing everyone this year on the morning of November 6.”
With 74 years of tradition behind it, the annual Pancake Breakfast continues to provide Lincoln Parish residents with a simple way to make a difference in the lives of local children.
Make plans now to be part of this year’s tradition. Purchase your $10 ticket from a Ruston Kiwanis member, gather your family, friends or coworkers, and join the community at the Ruston Civic Center on Nov. 6. Can’t stay for breakfast? Pick up a plate to go or organize a delivery order of 30 or more by Nov. 4.
One breakfast. One great cause. Countless opportunities to make a difference for the children of Lincoln Parish.
Eighth-grade running back Kylon Miller (43, with ball) has stepped up to play a key role for Lincoln Prep this season.(Photo by T. Scott Boatright)
By T. Scott Boatright
Last season, Lincoln Preparatory School started a late-season resurgence with a 25-7 win over Glenbrook.
The Panthers are hoping to double up against the Apaches as they face Glenbrook at 7 p.m. today at Panthers Field.
It’s a crucial game for both teams. The Panthers head into the District 1-1A showdown at 3-5 overall and 1-1 in district action, while Glenbrook stands at 3-5 and 0-2.
Last season, Panthers head coach Chaunce Davison became a gridiron chemist of sorts, moving players around to find the right mix to create a winning combination.
This year, he hopes fate plays in the Panthers’ favor as they potentially see the return of two key senior two-way linemen — Nick Nelson and Sheldon Holmes — from concussion protocol that kept them both out of last week’s home loss to Haynesville.
“They got cleared (to practice) today from concussion, so they will play,” Davison said of Nelson and Holmes. “It’ll make a difference having them back. I hope they come back and play like saviors. I’m happy to get them back and hope we go out as a whole team and play ball.”
Davison knows how important the Panthers’ next two games — tonight against the Apaches and next week against Cedar Creek — are for his team.
“These next two games are incredibly important,” Davison said. “These next two games can make a difference for us. We want to beat Glenbrook and we want to beat Cedar Creek. We need to beat Glenbrook and need to beat Cedar Creek.”
The injury bug has not been kind to the Panthers this season.
Not even close.
Lincoln Prep lost senior starting quarterback Josh Kelly this summer to a knee injury suffered during the Panthers’ spring scrimmages against Winnfield and Green Oaks, forcing Panthers running back Jabari Levingston into the starting role behind center.
And after a strong start to the season as a rushing workhorse, Jakaylon Armstrong was lost for the remainder of the season with a high ankle sprain requiring surgery.
“That’s football,” Davison said. “You just have to adjust and keep pushing forward. We’ve been fortunate to have Goins move from his primary role in the defensive secondary to running back, with young guys like Howard Kirkpatrick Jr. and eighth-grader Kylon Miller giving us solid reps at the running back position.”
Davison knows what his Panthers defense will be facing in a Glenbrook offense that scored 57 points in a win over North Caddo and 43 against LaSalle.
Wide receivers Darron Hollingsworth and Carson Powell, along with slotback Brayson Festervan, are the primary receivers for Glenbrook, with Powell leading the way with 60.6 receiving yards per game and eight touchdowns.
“No. 1 (Festervan) is a dog, man,” Davison said of the Apaches’ offensive weapons. “The receiver they’ve got — he’s a pretty good athlete. They’ve got some athletes — No. 5 (QB Louie Collins) and No. 7 (QB Ryan Reagan) — so we just need to make sure we stay in front of them and make some plays.
“We just need to recognize what sets and formations they’re in and go out there and make plays.”
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, Oct. 29 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) 1 p.m.: Ruston Duplicate Bridge Club meeting (Presbyterian Church, 212 N. Bonner St.) 5-7 p.m.: RPAR 6th annual Monster Mash (Ruston Sports Complex) 6 p.m.: Southern A’Chord Chorus rehearsal (Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 212 N. Bonner St.; open to all women singers) 6 p.m.: Teens: Video Game Night (Library Events Center) 6 p.m.: Video fitness (Library Events Center) 7-10 p.m.: RCT Haunted Car Wash (Rocketfast Car Wash)
Friday, Oct. 30 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Out to Lunch concert series (Heard Freighthouse Food Park) 6:30 p.m.: LA Tech volleyball 7 p.m.: RHS football 7 p.m.: Lincoln Prep football 7-10 p.m.: RCT Haunted Car Wash (Rocketfast Car Wash)
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
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.
2026 Choudrant High School Homecoming Court (L to R): Ashlyn Riggin, Emery Boggs, Avery Impson, Capri Martin, Madi Breslin, Addison Worley, Queen-Lydia Dickerson, Maid of Honor- Kelsee Guillotte, Aakayla Menyweather, Isabella Ammons, Sophia Antis, Kennedi Otwell (photo by CHS Yearbook)
Choudrant High School will honor it’s 2026 Homecoming Court on Friday, November 6th when the Aggies host Saline at 6:00 p.m. The court will be presented prior to the game at 5:30. The Homecoming Assembly will be Friday, November 6th at 1:30 in the new gym.
Queen: Lydia Dickerson
Maid of Honor: Kelsee Guillotte
Senior Maids and Escorts:
Madi Breslin and Sawyer Cunningham
Queen- Lydia Dickerson and Cash Camp
Maid of Honor- Kelsee Guillotte and Rhett James
Aakayla Menyweather and Pierce Johnston
Addison Worley and Waylon Tipton
Junior Maids and Escorts:
Isabella Ammons and Jax Taylor
Avery Impson and Braxton Smith
Capri Martin and Kyle Mills
Sophomore Maids and Escorts:
Emery Boggs and Hudson Futrell
Sophia Antis and JT New
Freshman Maids and Escorts:
Kennedi Otwell and Jaxson Barmore
Ashlyn Riggin and Nolan Brown
The Lincoln Parish Journal congratulates these young ladies on their honor.
Grambling State University has been awarded a $1.6 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) through the Parren J. Mitchell Entrepreneurship Education Program to expand entrepreneurship education and help students and community entrepreneurs move promising ideas toward viable businesses and commercialization.
The two-year project, ASCEND: Advancing Stage-Gated Commercialization and Entrepreneurship through a Network for Development, will be led by Dr. Derrick V. Warren, Dean of the Thomas & Joyce Moorehead College of Business & Entrepreneurship, who will serve as Principal Investigator.
The $1.6 million award is the largest federal grant received by the Thomas & Joyce Moorehead College of Business & Entrepreneurship to date.
ASCEND will establish a Business Optimization and Intellectual Property Intake Hub at Grambling State, creating a structured pathway for participants to develop, evaluate and strengthen business concepts. Faculty mentors and business advisers will help participants assess market demand, develop business and financial strategies, and determine whether their concepts are ready to advance toward commercialization.
“This investment will give our students and aspiring entrepreneurs greater access to the expertise and resources needed to move an idea from concept to market,” said Grambling State University President Martin Lemelle, Jr. “It also strengthens Grambling State University’s ability to develop talent, support new businesses and build partnerships that contribute to economic growth across our region. We are pleased to work alongside the University of Louisiana at Lafayette to expand these opportunities for our students and communities.”
Participants whose business concepts successfully complete the program’s readiness process will have access to advanced fabrication and commercialization resources at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, including support through its Office of Innovation Management. Participants may receive assistance with prototyping, technology transfer, intellectual property development and other activities needed to prepare products and technologies for the marketplace.
“ASCEND gives entrepreneurs a defined process for taking an idea and determining what it will take to build a viable business around it,” Warren said. “Participants will examine their markets, test assumptions, strengthen their business and financial plans, and connect with specialized resources as their ventures progress. The goal is to give students and community entrepreneurs practical support at each stage of development.”
Warren also credited Dr. Augustine Dzathor, Entrepreneur-in-Residence Kimberly Penn, Dr. Gaurav Sood and Dr. Terence Bradford, along with other Grambling State faculty and staff, for their work in securing the grant and their roles in the project’s implementation.
“This award was a team effort, and I am grateful to the faculty and staff whose expertise and commitment helped bring ASCEND to Grambling State University,” Warren said. “Their continued involvement will be important as we put the program into action and begin working with students and entrepreneurs.”
Over the two-year project period, ASCEND aims to:
• Enroll 350 students in entrepreneurship education and innovation activities;
• Support 270 participants through successful program completion;
• Facilitate the creation of 18 new businesses;
• Support the creation of 35 new jobs; and
• Strengthen pathways for intellectual property development, technology transfer and commercialization.
The project will bring together faculty expertise in entrepreneurship, innovation management, business development and community engagement while giving students opportunities to work in areas that extend beyond traditional classroom instruction.
“This grant strengthens Grambling State University’s research and sponsored programs enterprise while creating valuable hands-on opportunities for our students,” said Theodore Callier, Vice President for Research and Sponsored Programs. “Connecting entrepreneurship with intellectual property and commercialization gives students direct experience with how ideas are developed, evaluated and moved toward the marketplace while also supporting workforce and economic development throughout the region.”
The Parren J. Mitchell Entrepreneurship Education Program supports practical, evidence-based entrepreneurship education designed to strengthen skills in areas such as business and financial management, market analysis, innovation, strategic planning, technology adoption and commercialization.
For Grambling State, ASCEND will build on existing entrepreneurship and innovation efforts within the Thomas & Joyce Moorehead College of Business and Entrepreneurship while expanding access to resources for entrepreneurs beyond the University.
The ASCEND at Grambling State University project began in October 2026 and will continue through September 2028.
A Jonesboro man was arrested Saturday morning after police responded to a report of theft at a Ruston store.
Brandal Hollingsworth, 50, of Jonesboro, was arrested at 10:18 a.m. Oct. 24 by the Ruston Police Department at South Monroe and Jones streets.
According to an arrest affidavit, an officer was dispatched at about 10:05 a.m. to the store on South Monroe Street. A caller reported seeing a man carrying a blue bag walk down Jones Street, approach a white truck, remove items from the bag and continue walking.
The officer found a man matching the description and questioned him about the items reportedly taken from the store. Hollingsworth denied taking anything and said he approached the people in the white vehicle to ask for a cigarette, the affidavit states.
The officer patted Hollingsworth down, placed him in the back of a patrol unit and located the white vehicle on John Street. A woman in the vehicle said she had given Hollingsworth $20 in exchange for the items in his bag. She surrendered the items and asked that her money be returned.
The officer then told Hollingsworth he was under arrest and read him his rights.
A store manager said Hollingsworth also entered the store at about 8 p.m. Oct. 23, and she suspected he was stealing but could not catch him. She said surveillance showed he entered the store at about 10:02 a.m. Oct. 24 and left through the front door about a minute later with a bag over his shoulder. The items were valued at $44.40.
Hollingsworth was booked on charges of criminal trespass and 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.
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.
