June 2024 – Page 8 – Lincoln Parish Journal (2024)

By Hanna Singh

The Boys and Girls Clubs of North Louisiana celebrated Monique Johnson’s 20th anniversary with the organization last Friday, thanking her for years of dedicated service.

Better known as “Sugar Mama” to the members, Johnson has devoted two decades to the nonprofit, pouring love into thousands of meals for hundreds of children.

Johnson began assisting in the kitchen at the Boys and Girls Clubs as a favor, and 20 years later, she serves as the food service director. Driven by her passion for the children, she leads the initiative to provide nutritious meals to local youth. From shopping and cooking to crafting daily menus, Johnson goes above and beyond to ensure every child is happy and healthy.

“This has been the best 20 years of my life. I came here 20 years ago to this day, and I am so excited,” Johnson said. “I want to thank everybody for the opportunity to do what I did. I’ve gotten to serve thousands of meals in all these years, and I’ve enjoyed every moment of it. I look forward to serving again and again.”

The staff recognized Johnson’s efforts by surprising her with a cake, balloons, flowers and several gifts upon her arrival Friday afternoon. She was greeted by a room full of cheering children and warm hugs from her companions thanking her for her service.

Chief executive officer of The Boys and Girls Clubs of North Louisiana, Eldonta’ Osborne, acknowledged the love “Sugar Mama” shows for the children and helping her community.

“Her concern and compassion for the kids is so evident in the amount of effort she puts in,” Osborne said. “She is one of the people that everybody knows, and we just want to celebrate this milestone for her.”

With Johnson and the kitchen staff’s dedication, The Boys and Girls Clubs of North Louisiana provides thousands of meals to children across the parish and North LA. Last year, the program provided around 37,000 meals over the 10-week summer period. Meals are prepared and served free of charge to children in the area to ensure that they receive healthy and nutritious meals over the summer.

Meals will be served at the following sites and dates over the summer for all eligible children without charge.

Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central LA -300 Memorial Dr, Ruston LA 71270

6/3/2024 to 7/26/2024 Monday – Friday

Closed on 6/19/2024, 7/4/2024

Breakfast 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Lunch 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM

New Living Word School -1900 West Barnett Springs Road, Ruston LA 71270

6/3/2024 to 7/12/2024 Monday – Friday

Closed on 6/19/2024, 7/4/2024

Breakfast 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Lunch 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Mt. Harmony Day Camp -222 Mt. Harmony Church Road, Ruston LA 71270

6/3/2024 to 8/9/2024 Monday – Friday

Closed on 6/19/2024, 7/4/2024

Breakfast 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Lunch 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Lincoln Family Housing -NC, 104 Greene Ln, Ruston LA 71270

6/3/2024 to 8/9/2024 Monday – Friday

Closed on 6/19/2024, 7/4/2024

Lunch 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Westwood Family Housing – NC 596 College Avenue, Grambling LA 71245

6/3/2024 to 8/9/2024 Monday – Friday Closed on 6/19/2024, 7/4/2024 Lunch 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Two Richland Parish deputy sheriffs were stabbed repeatedly when they attempted to arrest a Rayville man last Thursday.

On Thursday evening deputies responded to a disturbance where Colby Bazan, 23, allegedly threatened to harm his family members.

Bazan was not at the residence when deputies arrived. Deputies secured an arrest warrant for Bazan for simple assault and criminal trespass.

Deputies contacted Bazan by telephone and he agreed to meet deputies at the sheriff’s office.

At about 11 p.m., deputies told Bazan he was under arrest. He fled the sheriff’s office on foot, but deputies caught him, and a struggle ensued. During the struggle, Bazan produced a knife and stabbed two deputies multiple times.

Bazan was taken into custody and the deputies were transported to Richardson Medical Center in Rayville where they were treated and later released.

Bazan was taken to the Richland Parish Detention Center where he was booked for simple assault, criminal trespass, and three counts of attempted first degree murder of a police officer. Bail was set at $1 million.

Richland Sheriff Gary Gilley expressed his gratitude to the Rayville Police Department for its swift response to aid his deputies. He also requested prayers for the wounded deputies for a speedy recovery.

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.

Delta – On Wednesday, June 12, 2024, shortly after 9:00 a.m., Troopers with Louisiana State Police Troop F began investigating a single-vehicle fatal crash on LA 3218 just east of US 80. The crash claimed the life of 35-year-old Summer Rodgers of Greenville, Mississippi.

The initial investigation revealed that a 2007 Kia Amanti, driven by Rodgers, was traveling west on LA 3218. For reasons still under investigation, the Kia traveled off the right side of the road and overturned.

Rodgers, who was unrestrained, was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene. Routine toxicology samples were collected and will be submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.

Louisiana State Police would like to remind motorists to slow down, buckle up, and lessen the distractions in the vehicle. Crash forces do not care who you are or what you drive. The faster you drive, the greater the risk of serious injury or death; not wearing a seat belt dramatically increases that risk.

In 2024, Troop F has investigated 20 fatal crashes, resulting in 21 deaths.

For all those times you’ve wondered what it would be like to visit with sports stars you see on TV or read about, you get the opportunity free of charge next Thursday evening at the Welcome Reception kicking off the 2024 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration.

You can be right there at the Hall of Fame museum at 800 Front Street (at the traffic circle) in Natchitoches. No need to dress fancy, just enjoy plentiful food and refreshments and music and a world-class museum, mingling with sports stars and their families from 5-7 next Thursday evening, June 20, at the museum.

Adding to the excitement – a brand-new exhibit showcasing Pete Maravich’s time at LSU, setting the basketball world on its collective ear, and the regal one-of-a-kind silver Heisman Trophy won by LSU’s Billy Cannon in 1959.

The “Showtime! LSU’s Spectacular Pistol Pete” exhibit debuts in the Atmos Energy Gallery on the first floor will include over 60 photos, many behind-the-scenes shots, of Maravich during his days from 1967-70 at LSU, some never seen in public. Baton Rouge photographer John Musemeche had unique access, and shares memories in an 8-minute documentary short film “We Were Fans” playing in the exhibit.

Upstairs, one of America’s most prized sports trophies will be on display on the second floor. Cannon’s 1959 Heisman Trophy will be in the house through the weekend festivities, courtesy of the Cannon Trust, as a cornerstone of the museum’s months-old Heisman Trophy exhibit that showcases the state’s (just updated) five winners: Cannon, John David Crow (1957), Joe Burrow (2019), DeVonta Smith (2020) and Jayden Daniels (2023).

But the spotlight is squarely on the Class of 2024, which includes a Super Bowl MVP (Drew Brees), a women’s basketball superstar (Seimone Augustus), one of the world’s most famous MMA fighters (Daniel Cormier), an Olympic gold medal wrestler (Kevin Jackson), a 19-year pro football veteran (Kerry Joseph), a game-changing Tulane basketball coach (Perry Clark) and one of America’s greatest jockeys (Ray Sibille).

There’s Grambling icon Wilbert Ellis, who coached baseball for the Tigers for 43 years, and became a state and national treasure for his community service out of uniform; and another retired coach, Frank Monica, who won state high school football championships at three different south Louisiana schools, lastly St. Charles Catholic. They are charismatic men who have stories and smiles aplenty.

Sports journalists Bobby Ardoin (Opelousas) and Ron Higgins (Baton Rouge) have covered many amazing games and highly-accomplished athletes, including plenty of LSHOF members, in their careers and will be inducted next weekend as well. So will Louisiana Tech graduate Tom Burnett, who was commissioner of the Southland Conference for two decades until 2022, and oversaw the last Final Four held in New Orleans.

The Welcome Reception is also a wonderful chance to stroll around the 27,500-square foot museum. Lots of display items have been recently rotated into exhibits, and there’s a Kim Mulkey exhibit showcasing the LSU women’s basketball coach and her iconic wardrobe. She will be at the induction ceremony on June 22.

A frequent reaction from first-time local and area visitors: “I didn’t realize it would be this great! I can’t believe I haven’t been here already. I’m bringing friends next time.”

That’s the same sentiment for the entire Induction Celebration, which includes a free Friday evening Rockin’ River Fest concert on the downtown riverbank stage. More about that tomorrow.

You’re invited to all the fun. Visit LaSportsHall.com to get more information and the schedule of events, make online ticket purchases, or call 318-238-4255 for participation opportunities for ticketed events.

This is a Journal Services advertorial.

A Shreveport man wanted in Texas for aggravated robbery was captured by the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office Saturday.

Quashon L. Williams, 20, was stopped for speeding by an LPSO patrol sergeant on Interstate 20 about 11 a.m. Saturday.

Williams was clocked by radar westbound on I-20 at 85 miles per hour in a 70 mph. A records check revealed Williams was wanted on a 2023 Tarrant County warrant for aggravated robbery.

After the warrant was confirmed, Williams was arrested and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center. He is being held pending extradition proceedings by Texas authorities.

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.

Now that we are officially into June, we are in my favorite time of the year. Summer has always been a favorite for me even going back to my high school days. It wasn’t just being out of school that made it desirable for me, but rather summer was three months of opportunity. Those three months allowed me to get a summer job. That summer job would allow me to make enough money to get through the next school year. I had a strict weekly budget during the school year to handle car insurance, gas, and general spending money. The money I made in the summer had to last nine months.

Summer was also a time of opportunity for me to invest in myself. I loved offseason workouts. I know that sounds very odd, but I always had this drive to get better, stronger, and faster in the offseason so that when we returned in the fall, I was more prepared to compete in athletics. My goal was to return to school different…better!

My summer schedule was very strict and very different from what many young people today pursue. The day started with an early morning football workout. An eight-hour workday out in the sun followed that workout. American Legion baseball was the night activity three or four nights a week. While there was still time for fun, the summer was a great opportunity to stash some cash and to get better!

While I am now many years past those teenage years at Minden High, I am embracing this summer the same way. I want to make this summer one of great opportunities again. The goals are a little different, but I want to make sure I invest my time wisely and enter the fall having both made an impact and improved myself over the summer.

I am training harder to be in better physical condition in the fall. There is no clear reason for that goal other than I just want to get better. I want to write and speak more this summer to impact more people. I want to read more and listen to more podcasts to broaden my learning and perspective to be better prepared for opportunities in the fall. Sure, I want to have some fun this summer too, but I want it to be a summer of opportunity taken!

How will you approach this summer? Is there an area of your life that you would like to improve? Is there a challenge that you want to take but have been avoiding? Is there something you could embrace to add meaning and purpose to your life?

Regardless of your stage of life, why not make the next few months a summer of opportunity for you too? It might be the change you need!

By T. Scott Boatright

Choudrant and Simsboro high school placed two players each on the 2024 Louisiana Baseball Coaches Association All-Region 2 team.

Junior infielder Colton Smith and senior utility player Eli Callendar represent the Aggies on the team.

Smith batted .436 on the season for the Aggies while Callendar, who has signed to continue his career collegiately as a pitcher for SouthArk Community College in El Dorado, Arkansas, posted a .436 ERA with 60 strikeouts and only six walks on the mound for Choudrant this season.

Simsboro is represented on the LBCA Team by junior utility player Hayden Rabo and freshman utility player Chris Harrell.

Rabo batted .490 on the season with 22 runs batted in while posting a .453 ERA on the mound.

Harrell turned in a .475 batting average during the 2024 season with 20 runs batted in.

Quitman senior Ian Tilley was named the LBCA All-Region 2 Pitcher of the Year while Natchitoches Central junior Brock Laird was named the LBCA All-Region 2 Hitter of the Year.

Special to the LPJ

The second annual Juneteenth Talent showcase finals is coming up this Friday, June 14, at 6 p.m. at Zion Traveler Baptist Church in Ruston.

After two rounds of tryouts, three contestants have advanced to the finals — Regina Rogers from Jonesboro, Inza English from Ruston and LIT SKWAD from Ruston.

The winner will receive $1000 and open for the Juneteenth concert Saturday, June 15, at Railroad Park in Ruston featuring The Mississippi Mass Choir.

On Friday morning at Zion traveler Baptist Church from 10 AM until noon there will be a music seminar for all aspiring gospel artist who want to know more about the music industry. This seminar will be taught by industry professionals to give advice on how artists can advance their careers.

For more information go to ziontravelercdc.com or email Weekendpraiseparty@gmail.com

Mary Patricia Mohin was born on September 29, 1909.Her father, Owen, was a coal merchant.Her mother was Mary Teresa Danher.In January 1919, Mary’s mother died during the birth of her fourth child, along with the baby.At the young age of 14, Mary became a nurse at Alder Hey Hospital.Four years later, she moved out of her family home because she was unable to get along with her stepmother.When she was 24, Mary became a nursing sister while working at Walton Hospital.In the United Kingdom, a nursing sister refers to a nurse of high rank.Nursing sisters are responsible for the overall running of each hospital ward or unit.Hospital staff may have called her a nursing sister, but her patients called her “the Angel.”

While working at Walton Hospital, Mary befriended another nurse name Jin.One night in 1940, Mary stopped by to visit Jin at her family’s home.There, Mary met Jim, Jin’s brother, for the first time.As they were visiting, the air raid sirens sounded.The German Luftwaffe were attacking.Mary was unable to leave and spent the evening huddled in the basem*nt with Jim and other members of their family.Jim and Mary began dating.

On April 15, 1941, 38-year-old Jim and 31-year-old Mary married.They rented a small home in a poor section of town.On June 18, 1942, Jim and Mary had their first child at Walton Hospital.Mary was given special treatment while at the hospital because she had previously been in charge of the maternity section at that hospital.They named young Jimmy after his father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather.

On January 7, 1944, Jim and Mary welcomed their second child, Michael.Shortly thereafter, the family moved to bungalow in a slightly better part of town.Mary stopped working for a while to raise Jimmy and Michael, but money was tight.Mary returned to nursing and became a part-time health visitor and a midwife.Mary was on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.When Mary received a call, she would don her navy-blue uniform and hat and pedal away on the family’s bicycle.They couldn’t afford a car.

Jim made little money, but Mary did well.Jimmy remembered, “My mum was the upwardly mobile force. She was always moving us to a better address.Originally, we had to go out to the sticks of Liverpool because of her work as a midwife. Roads were unmade but the midwife’s house came free. So economically it was a good idea. She always wanted to move out of rough areas.”Jimmy remembered that his mom loved to whistle.“That’s one of my fond memories of my mum.,” he said.You don’t hear many women whistling. She was quite musical.”

Like most parents, Mary wanted the best for her sons.She wanted them to succeed in life.Early on, Jimmy spoke with a strong accent and used a lot of slang.Jimmy remembered that his mother, “told me off about it.”Mary encouraged Jimmy to speak proper Queen’s English.Mary envisioned Jimmy becoming a doctor.

In the summer of 1955, Mary began to experience pains in her chest.She took large doses of BiSodol, which was used to treat indigestion and heartburn.In the following year, Michael went into Mary’s bedroom and saw her crying.Michael asked his mother why she was crying.She pulled herself together, forced a smile, and said, “nothing, love.”Soon thereafter, Mary was diagnosed with breast cancer.She went into the hospital for a mastectomy, but they were unable to stop the cancer.After surgery, Jim, Jimmy, and Michael went into the room to be with their mother.Jimmy remembered that it was “a huge shock to us.Suddenly she was ill.We were very young.”Jim sent Jimmy and Michael to stay with their aunt and uncle.While in the hospital, Mary told her sister-in-law, “I would have liked to have seen the boys grow up.”

On Halloween morning, October 31, 1956, Jimmy and Michael had barely woken up when Aunt Joan told them, “Love, your mum’s dead.”Mary had died from an embolism, a blood clot, while recovering from surgery.14-year-old Jimmy cried and prayed.He described them as “Daft prayers, you know. If you bring her back, I’ll be very, very good for always.I thought, it just shows how stupid religion is.See, the prayers didn’t work when I really needed them.”Shortly after Mary’s death, Jim bought his sons a guitar.He thought it could help them escape from the pain.Michael remembered that “It was just after mother’s death that it started.It became an obsession.It took over [Jimmy’s] whole life.You lose a mother – and you find a guitar.”

30 years after her death, Jimmy said, “I was fourteen. It’s a very difficult age, fourteen, because you are growing up and you’re getting your act together. So, it was a tough time to have something as devastating as that happen. I think I probably covered a lot of it up at the time, as you would, a fourteen-year-old boy.”

Jimmy learned to play the guitar pretty well.A decade and a half after his mother’s death, he wrote a little song about his mother.“When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom, let it be.”The world knows Jimmy… James Paul McCartney.

Sources:

1.“Paul McCartney’s Mother Mary Dies,” The Beatles Bible,https://www.beatlesbible.com/1956/10/31/paul-mccartneys-mother-mary-dies/.

2.Jordan Runtagh, “Paul McCartney Reflects on How His Late Mother Became His Greatest Muse,” People.com, November 2, 2021,https://people.com/music/paul-mccartney-reflects-on-how-his-late-mother-became-his-greatest-muse/.

Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Louisiana Tech’s Ethan Bates and Cole McConnell were named NCBWA All-American, the NCBWA announced on Wednesday. Bates’s and McConnell’s All-American selections now put Louisiana Tech at 14 All-Americans in program history.

Bates, with his second All-American honor, was named to Collegiate Baseball first-team All-American in 2023. The Arkansas native earned a First-Team honor as a relief pitcher after having an ERA of 3.43 on the bump with 52 punchouts and 20 walks in relief this season. Bates had 44.2 innings (36 appearances) of relief with a 2-1 record and led the nation in saves with 17. Bates also had a batting-against average of .180, second lowest on the team.

McConnell earned his first All-American honor as a Louisiana Tech Bulldog. The Beaumont, Texas native senior campaign ended with him batting .378 at the plate, led CUSA in batting average, while also having 71 RBI this season, which was second on the team. McConnell, in 60 games, had 94 hits on the year with 18 home runs.

Courtesy of GSU Athletic Communications

The Grambling State University football team will play five games on the ESPN Linear and Digital platforms during the 2024 season. The Tigers will play four games on ESPN+ and one game on ESPNU.

GSU’s ESPN+ slate features three home games versus Jackson State (Sept. 21), Alcorn State (Oct. 12) and Alabama State (Nov. 9). The annual State Fair Classic with Prairie View A&M at Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, Texas (Sept. 28) will also be carried on ESPN+.

The television slate also features a Thursday night showdown at Alabama A&M on Nov. 14. That game will be broadcast on ESPNU.

Grambling State’s ESPN games are a part of a 34-game ESPN schedule released by the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) on Wednesday morning.

Grambling State ESPN Linear and Digital Schedule
Sept. 21 – Jackson State | ESPN+ | 6 p.m. CST
Sept. 28 – vs. Prairie View A&M | ESPN+ | 6 p.m. CST
Oct. 12 – Alcorn State | ESPN+ | 2 p.m. CST
Nov. 9 – Alabama State | ESPN+ | 2 p.m. CST
Nov. 14 – at Alabama A&M | ESPNU | 7 p.m. CST

A graveside service for Shirley Ann Hunt Colvin will be held on Friday, June 14, 2024, at 2pm under the the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home. Reverend Dale Oden will officiate. Pallbearers will be Neil Barfield, Dr. William Green, Jay Melancon, Glen Hunt, Johnny Decker, and Greg Ferrel.

Shirley Ann was born on July 10, 1944, in Ruston, Louisiana and passed away peacefully in her home on June 11, 2024. She was proceeded in death by her parents, Jack Lee Hunt and Lucille Tanner Hunt, and brother, Clyde Hunt.

Shirley had a long and successful career as a realtor and broker at Acres & Avenues Realty, where she loved helping her clients find their perfect home. Shirley was a member of Temple Baptist Church where she served as a Sunday School teacher for many years and chaperoned numerous mission trips with the Temple Baptist Youth Ministry. She never met a stranger and was well known as a faithful prayer warrior to all.

Shirley is survived by her loving husband of almost 62 years, Willie “Bill” C. Colvin, Jr; daughter, LeeAnn Colvin Yesse (Brandon); and granddaughters, Adalyn and Avery Yesse. She is also survived by sisters: Nell Grafton, Judy Mabry, Jane Hunt; brother, Glen Hunt; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Anthony Caesar
Thursday 02/20/1969 — Saturday 06/01/2024
Visitation: Friday 06/14/2024 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home
Celebration of Life: Saturday 06/15/2024 11:00am at King’s Funeral Home
Interment: Saturday 06/15/2024 Following Service, New Prosperity Cemetery, Clay

Mattie P. McConnell
Thursday 11/28/1935 — Sunday 06/02/2024
Celebration of Life: Thursday 06/13/2024 10:00am, St. Rest Baptist Church, 831 Saint Rest Road, Quitman

Claudia M. Wagner
Thursday 11/12/1931 — Wednesday 06/05/2024
Visitation: Thursday 06/13/2024 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home
Memorial Service: Friday 06/14/2024 11:00am at King’s Funeral Home
Interment: Friday 06/14/2024 Following Service, Grambling Memorial Garden, Highway 80 West, Grambling

Shanta Thurman
Sunday 10/03/1976 — Friday 06/07/2024
Visitation: Friday 06/14/2024 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home
Celebration of Life: Saturday 06/15/2024 1:00pm, Miracle Temple Church of God in Christ, 1405 South Farmerville Street, Ruston
Interment: Saturday 06/15/2024 Following Service, New Prosperity Cemetery, Clay

Cecilia EstelleSkipper
September 18, 1934 – June 11, 2024
Services to be arranged

Ronald Hendry
December 8, 1963 – June 8, 2024
Memorial service to be held at later date

By T. Scott Boatright

Teamwork was a recurring theme during the Lincoln Parish Police Jury’s meeting for the month of June Tuesday at the Lincoln Parish Courthouse.

That’s because the LPPJ moved forward with a plan to team with the City of Ruston to overlay Tech Farm Road while also approving renewal of an intergovernmental agreement with the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office for security services at the courthouse.

Parish Administrator Courtney Hall explained to the jurors what the planned team-up with the city of Ruston will mean.

“We were approached by the city because they’re getting ready to take bids on that project,” Hall said. “Part of Tech Farm Road is within city limits, part is in the parish and it just makes sense to collaborate and overlay the road all at one time. It’s actually cheaper that way.

“The city will bid the project out and will then bill us for our portion of the road. I can you bring you back a firmer price once the city bids out the project.”

Hall also explained the approved agreement between the LPPJ and LPSO concerning courthouse security service at both the parish courthouse and its annex.

“The previous agreement was for four years also,” Hall said. “Really, the only change in the contract is that we are currently paying $94,000 and the sheriff is asking for a 17-20% increase up to $112,020. The first agreement was pre-COVID, and everybody’s costs have gone up since then.”

Also approved by the LPPJ paying $1.275 million to overlay Chander Road from U.S. Hwy. 80 to La. Hwy. 821, a 17,350-section of the roadway, as well as passed accepting a bid from Amethyst for a six-month contract running from July to the end of the year to provide hot mix for $110 per ton and also authorized advertising for bids to the 2024 Capital Improvement Program Hot Mix Overlay Project.

Also approved by the LPPJ during the meeting was a request from the Village of Choudrant to help trim tree limbs at the corner of North Depot Street and U.S. Hwy. 80 while also providing a street sign for the corner of North Depot and Elm Street in Choudrant as well as agreeing to provide assistance for draining issues in the town of Dubach.

“What the Police Jury can do right now is provide Dubach with some culvert and ditch cleanouts to help with that,” Hall said.

The LPPJ also granted permission to accept the budget for the Lincoln Parish Sales and Use Tax Commission for 2024-25 which is expected to add $43,434 to LPPJ coffers for the parish’s portion.

In other business, the LPPJ authorized paying the Arthur J. Gallagher Co. $33,750 to be paid in six installments for a comprehensive compensation study, adopted an ordinance for sale of adjudicated property on Chesboro and Newman streets in Ruston through the Lot Next Door program and announced a pending Greater Ward One Waterworks District for the seat for Don Hogan.

Courtesy of Louisiana Tech University Communications

Students from Carroll High School in Monroe City Schools recently visited Louisiana Tech’s Emergent Learning Research Institute (ELRI) in the College of Education and Human Sciences as part of their Career and Technical Education curriculum.

The visit, orchestrated by Carroll High School teacher Shirley Neal, aimed to provide students with hands-on exposure to innovative technologies beyond the classroom.

“Our students gained practical experience and knowledge that are highly sought after in today’s job market,” Neal said. “The visit to ELRI offered our students a unique opportunity to enhance their technical expertise, explore new college and career pathways within the tech industry, and network with professionals in the field.”

ELRI integrates emerging technologies into educational practices to enhance teaching and learning. Introducing high school students to interactive workshops featuring artificial intelligence (AI), augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR), and coding helps broaden an understanding of the future of technology.

“By exposing visitors to these cutting-edge tools, ELRI introduces the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape,” Dr. Lisa Flanders-Dick, ELRI coordinator, said.

Along with student workshops, Missy Wooley, assistant director for the STEM Collective for Innovative Louisiana Stakeholders (SCILS), extended her coding session and allowed participants to continue their projects using Co-Spaces for the rest of the academic year.

Teachers were also invited back to ELRI’s Create Studio this summer to use Synthesia software that creates video content using AI without cameras, microphones, or studios. This software allows teachers to create a digital representation of themselves that performs human-like behaviors, emotions, and interactions.

“We desire to provide educators from K-12, higher education, health, industry, and military domains with innovative resources to develop their knowledge and skills,” Dr. Don Schillinger, interim chair for the Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Leadership said. “The joy of learning that occurs when curiosity and guided play are encouraged was evident during the visit from Carroll High School, especially in an educational environment designed to enhance those traits.”

“At ELRI, our commitment is promoting and fostering lifelong learners by providing resources to enhance their skills through emerging technologies,” Flanders-Dick said.

For more information on ELRI and its programs, visit here or contact Dr. Lisa Flanders-Dick at LDick@LATech.edu

By Kyle Roberts

Louisiana Tech may have found a pair of local linebackers to “ride together” in 2025.

Ruston High School soon-to-be senior linebacker Zheric Hill committed this past week to stay home and play collegiately for the Bulldogs, reuniting the dynamic duo both Hill and recently graduated Jadon Mayfield, who were both recently a crucial part of the 2023 Non-Select Division I state championship — the first for Ruston High in over 30 years.

For Louisiana Tech, it will be “Bad Boys 2.0” as they call themselves, going from red and white to red and blue.

“It’s a very special situation for those two,” Ruston High head coach Jerrod Baugh said. “They developed a really tight relationship through the years. It made it easy (for Zheric) to make that decision, and I’m proud for them. It never makes me any difference for where the kids go to school as long as it’s something they’re comfortable with and an opportunity to further their education.”

Hill said that Tech’s current coaching staff made the university feel like home, especially on his Junior Day tour.

“It was a beautiful day,” Hill said. “I’ve lived my whole life here, but I got to see what Tech was really like. And I love the relationships that I have been able to build with the coaches so far.”

And who else would host Hill on his visit? Of course — Mayfield, his former first team All-District 2-5A and All-Lincoln Parish Bearcat teammate, who just so happened to be the Louisiana Sports Writers Association All-State 5A Defensive MVP in 2023 .

“It was a great time,” Mayfield said. “It’s very exciting to see him want to come to the school that I’m at — and now we get to run it together for another three, four years. I think we can dominate this conference again. I’m just so happy that we can help bring winning back to Louisiana Tech and help make it a better program where everybody wants to come.”

Hill, too, is excited to reunite with Mayfield after the pair’s incredible 2022 and 2023 seasons together at Ruston High, where, incredibly, the two combined for over 450 total tackles and 15 sacks over their two years.

“The chemistry is there,” Hill said. “We’ve already played together for two years in a row, so it’s going to be exciting for me to watch him play when I’m beside him again, and I’ll just piggy-back off of what he does.”

Even better for Hill, multiple players from the 2022 Bearcat state runner-up team are already in a Tech uniform: Jaden Osborne, Dyson Fields and most recently, Christian Davis, who transferred to Louisiana Tech from Northwestern State.

“It’s really unique as far as these former high school teammates who (are at Tech now),” Baugh said about the reunion of former Bearcats on Tech’s roster. “So I think this helped Hill’s decision along with his relationship with Mayfield.”

But before Hill dons the State-T on his helmet, he’ll be one of the main leaders on the defense that is looking to defend a state championship — a Bearcat defense that graduated plenty of starters from last season.

“It makes me very excited to bring it everyday,” Hill said. “Last week was our first week of summer workouts, and we’re just putting the pieces together to try to get back to the state championship. I’m excited, and I’m ready (for the season), to be honest.”

And for Mayfield, he has no doubt that Hill is up to the task.

“It’s been amazing seeing him becoming the man he is and becoming a leader,” Mayfield said. “He’s taking control of this team in his own way. It’s very exciting to see what a young man he’s become from his freshman to his senior year.”

A Ruston man wanted for failure to register as a sex offender was arrested last Wednesday night after he was stopped for speeding.

A Ruston Police sergeant stopped Tyrone Harris, 53, for speeding on East Vaughn Avenue about 8:15 p.m. Wednesday. Harris first identified himself as Eddie Jackson and then Anthony Jackson and gave a 1967 birthdate.

Harris was detained until he provided his correct name. A records check showed he was wanted on a warrant from Third Judicial District Court for failure to register as a sex offender.

Harris was arrested and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for resisting an officer by providing a false identity and the warrant.

Bail was set at $101,000.

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

By Kyle Roberts

Men don’t grow up; we just grow old — The Internet

A few weeks ago, I received the offer of a lifetime: my kid brother, who has found himself working long hours for a local fast food chain, had a brand new PlayStation 5 at his house. It was one he bought a few months ago thinking he’d have time to play it in his spare time.

Turns out, a full-time restaurant job doesn’t leave much time for recreation, leaving a brand new PS5 gathering metaphorical (and soon-to-be real) dust.

With my wife and kids over at his place for dinner, my brother walks in with the shiny console, a pristine white coating and shaped like a Star Trek contraption, with both controllers looking as sleek as a new Tesla.

“You can have it,” my brother said. “Free of charge.”

Without hesitation, I responded with two surprising words: “No thanks.”

Befuddled, my brother looked at me sideways. “I said it was free.”

“I know,” I responded, feeling the child inside me dying a little more than a normal day of getting older. “I just can’t do it.”

You see, there is one reason and one reason alone that I politely declined this incredible offer: EA SPORTS College Football 25, a video game franchise that is returning for the first time in over a decade where you, the player, take your favorite university on a road to glory, building a dynasty that can last for decades at a time. It’s literally the only reason I’d want his PlayStation 5.

Now, people who have known me for decades are asking themselves if I’m okay, or if I’ve been body-swapped. In fact, I nearly failed out of Louisiana Tech because of the time I spent on my PlayStation 2 playing college football games in the early 2000’s (Naturally, I’m dating myself).

NCAA football video games had borderline consumed my life in college. There was something magical about being a complete non-athlete in real life and being in charge of a college team virtually. You’d play a realistic schedule every year in games that would last an hour of real time. Doing the math, which you’d have to ignore my undergrad GPA to assume I could do math at all, each season would be around 14 hours of real life consumed to get through each season and in a year while waiting for the next installment, we’d play 25 seasons. And then, there was a recruiting section that added four extra hours at a time between the seasons.

So, I cringe to report this: in any given year, I’d give up 350 hours of real life, equaling 14 24-hour days cumulatively around the clock. Meaning two entire weeks of a calendar year were gone at the altar of the NCAA football gods.

Now, I will admit: it was not all bad at all (Again, ignore my undergrad GPA), because in the midst of playing countless hours of football, it turned out to be exponentially more fun when I was playing within our tight-knit friend group.

For nearly my entire pursuit of my bachelor’s degree at Louisiana Tech, my closest friends (Bret, Binni and Alan) would all be playing, as well. We’d pass a PS2 memory card back and forth, begging each other to get their game in so we could advance the week. Innumerable nights at the Baptist Collegiate Ministry house had the living room TV bright with whichever school’s colors we were playing or competing with.

And when we were mostly getting married (pre-kids of course), we added a couple of others into the fold (Fox and Charlie). I even put together a point system that had real life implications: the winner got a free dinner at Tokyo Steakhouse in Monroe with the rest of the guys ponying up the cost (Somehow I won; imagine that).

As I reflect on those years, the nostalgia hits like a virtual outside linebacker. Laugh if you want, but strong friendships that have endured decades were forged through the days playing against each other and nights trying to recruit our new teams for the upcoming “season.” We’d negotiate times, places, food — you name it to spend those four hours going after non-existent four star and five star recruits.

But “time” has a way of changing things. Priorities shift. Families grow. And fast forward to now: through the lens of my 41-year-old self as a dad and husband (and many other hats), I can’t fathom giving up 14 days to ANYTHING that doesn’t include my wife and family. Sure, we have other fun things to do to fill our time. But EA SPORTS College Football 25 for Judith and the girls? That’s a sell not even Don Draper could pull off.

That same “time” now is a non-negotiable in a way it wasn’t in my twenties.

I can now for certain say the “No thanks” was earnest and sincere. Because I know that as much as I’d like to run things back with the guys (from the comfort of our own homes, thanks to online play), I wouldn’t be able to give it 100 percent. In fact, turning down the PlayStation 5 and the chance to buy EA Sports 25 is better than trying it and not giving the gang my best to keep up with our own dynasties.

So, to my old crew — if you happen to get the new EA SPORTS College Football game and start your own dynasty together: I wish you nothing but the best. I hope you’ll text me all the fun things you’re doing, the national championships, and the Heisman races.

Even though I won’t be with you, I’ll be cheering for you all from afar. And just know that I still cherish every single hour (day, week, whatever) that we put into it.

The biggest, most star-studded and fun-filled party of every summer for miles around is coming your way next weekend.

Three days of festivities are right around the corner, Thursday June 20 through Saturday June 22, with the 2024 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration in Natchitoches.

The LSHOF’s Class of 2024 will be enshrined next Saturday night at the Natchitoches Events Center to culminate the 65^th Induction Celebration.

The Induction Celebration will kick off Thursday, June 20, with the Welcome Reception from 5-7 p.m., free to the public at the Hall of Fame museum.

The Friday, June 21 schedule begins with the Celebrity Bowling Bash presented by BOM at Four Seasons Bowling Center in Alexandria. The 2024 Rockin’ River Fest, a free concert presented by Rapides Regional Medical Center on the downtown riverbank stage, begins at 6 p.m. and runs until 10:30. In conjunction with the Rockin’ River Fest is the VIP Taste of Tailgating party.

The slate on Saturday, June 22 kicks off with the free LSHOF Junior Training Camp led by community relations personnel from the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans, on the NSU campus at the Webb Wellness and Recreation Center and Turpin Stadium. This event has been filled to capacity since last month.

At noon Saturday, the Round Table Luncheon presented by the Tiger Athletic Foundation is set for Riverside Reserve on Mill Street.

Festivities culminate Saturday evening with the Induction Reception at the LSHOF museum beginning at 5, followed at 7 by the Induction Ceremony at the Natchitoches Events Center. Northwestern State University and State Farm Agents of Louisiana are presenting sponsors Saturday evening.

The VIP Taste of Tailgating, the Bowling Bash, the Round Table Luncheon and the Induction Reception and Ceremony are ticketed events requiring purchase in advance through LaSportsHall.com or by calling 318-238-4255. Those events are nearing sellouts.

The Thursday reception, the Friday evening River Fest and the Junior Training Camp are free.

The Class of 2024 is headlined by a star-studded group of eight inductees from the LSHOF “competitors ballot,” led by national sports celebrities Seimone Augustus, Drew Brees and Daniel Cormier.

Along with Brees, the New Orleans Saints’ NFL record-setting passer, is Augustus, a Baton Rouge native who is one of women’s basketball’s all-time best, and Cormier, the Lafayette born-and-raised Olympic wrestler who became and remains one of the most prominent figures in MMA.

This year’s class also includes 1992 Olympic wrestling gold medalist Kevin Jackson from LSU along with former basketball coach Tulane Perry Clark and McNeese football great Kerry Joseph, who had a 19-year pro career.

More inductees are high school football coach Frank Monica, who won state titles at three different south Louisiana schools, and Ray Sibille, a Breeders’ Cup-winning thoroughbred jockey from Sunset who ranks among the nation’s elite riders.

Grambling’s Wilbert Ellis becomes the second-ever recipient of the Louisiana Sports Ambassador Award. During his 43-year baseball coaching career and since, Ellis has made local, statewide and national impact not only in the competitive arena but also in community service and leadership.

Winners of the LSWA’s Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism are widely-respected south Louisiana sportswriters Bobby Ardoin and Ron Higgins. Longtime Southland Conference commissioner Tom Burnett, a Louisiana Tech graduate, will receive the Dave Dixon Louisiana Sports Leadership Award.

The 2024 Induction Celebration will be hosted by the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation, the support organization for the Hall of Fame. The LSHOF Foundation was established as a 501 c 3 non-profit entity in 1975 and is governed by a statewide board of directors.

For information on sponsorship opportunities and other participation, contact Foundation President/CEO Ronnie Rantz at 225-802-6040 or RonnieRantz@LaSportsHall.com, or Greg Burke, Director of Business Development and Public Relations, at 318-663-5459 or GregBurke@LaSportsHall.com via email.

This is a paid advertorial

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Lincoln Parish deputies responded to a Highway 80 residence Wednesday regarding a complaint of an unwanted person. Tanner B. Dethomas, 30, had gone to the residence although he was under a protective order to stay away, according to a deputy’s report.

While deputies were at the residence, Dethomas made several phone calls to the victim as well as text texting her. The victim said to Thomas passes by her residence several times a day checking to see if she is home. She provided videos of Dethomas at the front door as well as passing the house in his truck. She provided deputies with a copy of the protective order which banned him from stalking or harassing her.

Dethomas was found at his residence and was arrested. He asked deputies to lock his truck, and while doing so, a strong odor of marijuana was detected inside. A glass jar containing suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia were recovered.

Dethomas was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for violation of a protective order, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

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.

We catch a lot of heat in Louisiana for being backward and a few baseballs shy of a sack. Last in this and next-to-last in that.

Sometimes I think the rest of America just makes stuff up about us so they can feel better about themselves.

True, we bring some of it on ourselves.

But one thing we’ve about got figured out, and that’s ball. Any sport of any kind — we’ll take a knee and give you the winter sports — we’ll call you and raise you.

Louisiana knows ball. Louisiana knows all about competition. And winning.

Case in point: the annual Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies are a week from Saturday, June 22, in Natchitoches, home of the state’s Hall. (To be a part of the celebration, visit LASportsHall.com and join in the three-day festivities, beginning Thursday afternoon, June 20. Good times!)

Among the “only” inductees we could come up with this year are NFL record-setting passer and Super Bowl XLIV MVP Drew Brees of your New Orleans Saints, eight-time WNBA All-Star Seimone Augustus of Capitol High in Baton Rouge, 1992 Olympic wrestling gold medalist and LSU All-American Kevin Jackson, and Breeders’ Cup-winning thoroughbred jockey Ray Sibille from Sunset, who in retirement was selected by his peers as the winner of the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, given annually “for career achievements and personal character that reflect positively on the sport of thoroughbred racing”; his mounts won nearly $69 million over a 35-year career.

And that’s not even HALF the class.

Most other states are scraping around to find three or maybe four inductees into their Sports Halls each year. Our 40-person Louisiana Sports Writers Association selection committee dukes it out all year until a Sunday in August when we gather and fistfight and pray and laugh and argue until we can settle oneight— and that’s not counting a couple of other awards that honor top-shelf media and worldwide leaders from Louisiana.

This year the panel considered 149 nominees from 28 different sports categories. The ballot was 35 pages.

It’s not easy, even if you know what you’re doing. We have Olympians and All-Pros and All-Americans on the ballot in-waiting. Their only flaw? — their deep ties to a state where you can’t swing a cat without hitting some athletic superstar.

Star-studded, every year.

Perry Clark will be enshrined next week. His masterful job of guiding Tulane basketball in the 1990s might never be duplicated.

McNeese football’s Kerry Joseph was a pro who could play for anyone and most any skill position.

Frank Monica won state titles coaching at three different south Louisiana schools.

Daniel Cormier of Lafayette’s Northside High is a name as familiar to mixed martial arts fans as Babe Ruth’s is to baseball fans. An all-state football player and All-American wrestler, he transitioned to mixed martial arts, where the King of the Cage became a UFC Hall of Famer and is now a staple as a commentator on ESPN’s UFC events.

This year, the second-ever recipient of the Louisiana Sports Ambassador Award will be presented to Wilbert Ellis, and if there’s been a more humble or honorable inductee, most of us are scratching our heads to figure out who that could be. The retired Grambling baseball coach is being recognized with this non-annual award, first presented in 2020 to network broadcaster Tim Brando of Fair Park, for his “long-term exemplary contributions to the perception of Louisiana.” Coach Ellis represents the best we have.

Since its founding in 1958, the Hall will have enshrined 492 men and women by next Saturday. If you’ve been to any of these ceremonies, you’ve witnessed taped video introductions that defy even the most sports minded. You’ve shared in gracious acceptance speeches, most including laughs, many including tears. It’s the best night of the year for Louisiana sports because the Hall of Famers and Louisiana’s fans, the best in the business, make it so.

Contact Teddy atteddy@latech.edu