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

We sat down with Ruston Main Street Director Amy Stegall to talk about the 2024 Peach Festival held last weekend.

LPJ: How do you judge whether it is a success?

Amy Stegall: So clearly, smiles on faces is a great way. Conversations both during the day and afterwards from people like seeking me out in the grocery store to say “This was phenomenal. Y’all are doing a great job. Thank you so much.” These are obviously a great measure. But also, our vendors, in the market and how well they have done. We had the lemonade stand who has been there since before we took over the event. They were out of lemons for their lemonade by 3 p.m. They have never been out, ever. They were like, what do I do? And that was early in the afternoon or towards the evening. And so, they were freaking out because they have never run out and have always made it to 11 p.m. We had three of our arts vendors completely sell out. One of our businesses downtown told me that she did 110% better than she did last year. So those are the kinds of things that we look to measure and say “okay, not only did the people who we brought in as vendors do well, but our regular merchants also did well and saw great numbers in record days.

LPJ: What other type of feedback have you received?

Amy Stegall: There is always feedback of we could turn the air conditioner down. Yes, that is always the feedback. But this year, for the first time, we have heard “We’re so glad it’s a little bit earlier because thinking about three weeks from now how hot it would be. Thank you for taking that into consideration.” We have heard a lot of positives about the kid’s alley. And so, people really enjoyed having free, first of all, and then also free activities for their kids to do. And so that is a huge community component of this because that is sponsored by Century Next Bank. But then also totally and completely run by organizations within the community such as the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, 4-H, NLAC, those tried-and-true organizations that are out there doing free things for the kids. And so, it is a great marriage in that way.

LPJ: Can you tell how many people attended and what the makeup was as far as Lincoln Parish residents compared to out-of-parish attendees?

Amy Stegall: We will know those numbers better when we get our metrics back because it will tell us a radius and we can pull mileage wise. But I have lived here since the ’90s. I have been to Peach Festivals a lot. I would say just in Amy Stegall terms of metrics it was 2 to 1 people that I did not know, which is insane. We will have cellular metrics and hopefully in a month or so we will have more definitive numbers on the attendance. We just want to make sure we are reporting correct numbers. I saw people that I had never seen before, which was great. We love to see visitors come in for it. I think it being free had a lot to do with that. If the weather forecast had been better during the week leading up to it, I think we would have seen even more people.

LPJ: Any surprises, good or bad?

Amy Stegall: Attendance was a big surprise. We knew free was going to be good for it, but we had such a tremendous turnout. And the Peach Prize Hunt was so much fun. It brought back memories of festivals from years past. In the recent past people have found it quickly and this year it took all five days. It made for a fun festival feel all week and people got excited about it. So that was a pleasant surprise for sure.

LPJ: Do you get vendor feedback?

Amy Stegall: We do ask for feedback from our vendors. We have heard things like “This is the best festival we get to go to.” They want the same spot, the same everything for next year. We do have that correspondence. We have in the past few years have done a survey and we typically have not gotten much feedback from it. We had QR codes up one year asking for feedback and like no one did it but like three of us making sure the QR codes worked. We do pay attention to all our social media accounts and do take the responses to those into consideration. We hear what people say like it was hot, or it was really congested during these hours. We are listening to those things, and we are making adjustments as we can to feel what that could look like next year. We are having footprint conversations. There are a lot of logistics that go into all of this. Last year we heard that people really missed the parade, so we made sure the parade came back this year and we figured out how to make it work.

LPJ: How was parking for this year’s event?

Amy Stegall: Parking was a bear. It is always going to be. The CVB really stepped up. We had strategic conversations with different entities leading up to it. We knew if it was free then it meant more people and we were going to have to figure out a way. We ran two shuttles. People used the shuttles. We also utilized a shuttle for the hotels so anyone who was in town could utilize it. We stopped at every hotel and brought them down here. That was a great move. General parking was over at Tech and so we ran a shuttle to that parking area as well. We have heard accessibility issues. We are listening to that. That is a very hard part of a festival, trying to make sure it is accommodating for everyone, but it’s very important to us and so that is something we are definitely we will work on to make better. Maybe have designated lots and drop off areas to get in and out of. We just want to make sure we are accommodating and open to everybody.

LPJ: Is there anything you want to add that we have not talked about?

Amy Stegall: I would just like to say that we are over the moon excited about the number of people that showed up, and that we have heard only good things from our merchants and from the vendors. They are seeing the benefits of the festival and where it is and how we do it. And so, just continuing to encourage people to come out, sponsor, volunteer, or do all the things because it is a great community event. I also want to thank our city staff. We are not a big city, so we are limited on workers and all of our folks who were a part of making this such a success spent a lot of hours trying to make it a success. I cannot thank everyone enough for their part in this year’s event.

Ruston Juneteenth Coordinator Santoria Black said the fourth annual event continues to grow.

“It’s helped the community and the people here grow by understanding what Juneteenth is all about,” Black said. “The first year, I remember sitting in Railroad Park listening to the music and a woman sitting next me turned to me and said, ‘You know, I can remember when I could not go into a store in Ruston because I was Black, and now, to sit here and worship God with people who look like me, and people who don’t, is an amazing experience.’

“And for me personally, it’s about understanding for everybody what Juneteenth was all about — Juneteenth was not a pretty holiday. It’s really something that was forced — celebrating slaves being free is actually not a good thing. That’s uncomfortable, but it’s the truth. I think it all just shows that this is what real change is all about, trying to change the minds in a community where people respect one another’s heritage, culture, and get to understand what it’s all about.”

Grambling’s week and a half festivities continue at 7 p.m. tonight with the city’s second annual Juneteenth Gala. The semi-formal event will be held in the foyer of GSU’s Frederick C. Hobdy Assembly Center and tickets are required for the event.

Saturday will be the biggest day of Grambling’s Juneteenth celebration starting with a Heritage Wellness Walk at 8 a.m. followed by the annual Juneteenth Parade beginning at 10 a.m.

The rest of that day will include a Young Entrepreneur Fair at 10 a.m. with vendors crowding Main Street with the annual Kidzone and Car Show as well as the return of a stage for musical and other performances, something that will return for the first time since the COVID pandemic.

“At 10 a.m.Saturday we’ll also have our Young Entrepreneurs Fair,” said Deidre Dunbar, secretary of Grambling’s Juneteenth Committee. “This is where our Young Entrepreneurs will come out and set up and try to sell things that they’ve created. They’re paying a $5 fee to participate because we wanted them to have some kind of financial responsibility, too, as a learning kind of thing.

“Before COVID, Grambling used to have a stage set up and let people come and perform with poetry, puppets or whatever. We had an overflow of people wanting to participate in our Gospel Concert, so those people will be performing on stage on Saturday, too.”

After taking Sunday as a day of rest, a citywide Exercise Event is slated for 7 p.m. Monday at Grambling City Park.

Starting at 6 p.m. Tuesday will be a Mimosas and Marigolds event at the Grambling City Garden starting at 6 p.m.

Then on Juneteenth itself —- Wednesday — a fishing tournament will be held all day at Grambling City Park followed by a Fish Fry at 5:30 p.m.

Anglers older than 17 will be required to have a Louisiana Fishing License for that event.

Courtesy of LA Tech University Communications

Louisiana Tech biomedical engineering graduate Catherine Lacey was recently awarded a prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship (GRFP), paving the way for continuing her education. Lacey—one of a select few among more than 10,000 applicants to receive the fellowship—earned this coveted award due to her exemplary academic performance, demonstrated leadership, and extensive research experience.

Encouragement from her Louisiana Tech mentors was crucial in navigating the challenging application process. Her research supervisor, Dr. Mary Caldorera-Moore, and academic advisor, Dr. Matthew Hartmann, were particularly influential. Their support inspired her to apply despite the stiff competition.

When asked about Lacey’s work ethic, Biomedical Engineering Program Chair Dr. Louis Reis stated, “Catherine demonstrates the potential that all of our students are capable of. Whether through her studies, her work, or her leadership and service, Catherine clearly shows that she is an elite student who can compete with the top students from any university in our nation. We are delighted by this announcement and are extremely proud of Catherine and the work she has done to receive this prestigious fellowship and represent our university.”

Lacey credits her undergraduate experiences at Tech, including first-year engineering program Living with the Lab and the opportunity to tackle real-world problems in Caldorera-Moore’s lab, as transformative. These opportunities honed her skills and built her confidence to pitch her research interests.

“All the projects and extracurricular activities I did throughout my education here at Tech were crucial in helping me get my REU (research experience for undergraduates), internship, and, eventually, the NSF GRFP,” she said.

Building on her first-year hands-on experience in Living with the Lab, she joined Caldorera-Moore’s lab her sophom*ore year. There, her work sharpened her engineering skills and confidence. This experience led to her participation in the NSF REU at the University of Texas at Austin, where she researched a self-regulated biostimulation device, and an internship at Medtronic.

The application featured a personal essay outlining her goals and a research proposal for graduate school. Lacey’s prior graduate-level research experience was vital, providing her with the technical knowledge and confidence to pitch her ideas.

When asked what the award meant to her, Lacey stated: “I am incredibly honored to be awarded the NSF GRFP as I continue my studies at Georgia Tech for an advanced degree in Electrical Engineering. This award will fully fund my graduate education and empower me to direct my own research. I want to thank my family, friends, professors, and mentors who have supported and encouraged me to continue to strive for excellence. These people believed in me and showed me that I could accomplish something incredible long before I did, and for that, I will be forever grateful.”

A man was arrested Wednesday morning after he allegedly robbed the Jonesboro State Bank.

Justin Nash, 23, of Jonesboro, was captured within eight minutes of the robbery, according to the Jackson Parish Sheriff’s Office.

JPSO said the department received a call that the bank was being robbed about 11:00 a.m. Wednesday. Deputies arrived on the scene within minutes and obtained a description of the suspect who had left on foot.

Nash was in custody within eight minutes, according to the Sheriff’s Office. No one was injured during this incident.

The Sheriff’s Office said Nash walked into the bank, passed a note stating he had a gun and needed all the money, and then left. Investigators have also tied him to an aggravated burglary case and he will be charged in that matter as well.

Nash was booked for armed robbery at the Jackson Parish Jail. His bail will likely not be set until Thursday or Friday.

As Ruston High begins the summer prep to defend its first state championship in over 30 years, head coach Jerrod Baugh sat down with the LPJ to give his thoughts on how his new roster is doing with the fall approaching.

The following conversation has been lightly edited for continuity. Click here for Part 1.

Lincoln Parish Journal: “There was a little bit of injury bug to a couple of key players in spring football. (Returning senior quarterback) Josh Brantley, for example, didn’t get a whole lot of snaps, so what did you see from some of the players who had to step into those roles?”

Jerrod Baugh: “I never want to see a player get hurt — Josh got rolled up two different times during spring. He did get some quality time and did some really good things whenever he was out there. But it gave us an opportunity to work (sophom*ore quarterback) Sam Hartwell with the first group. One of the coaching struggles is to try to find your next quarterback and give an opportunity to work with the first group, in case something like that happens, to see what it could look like. You need to know what things need to change in case of an injury, as far as our philosophy to get first downs and score the football with this other guy in at this and at that position.

“And so it really kind of gave the coaching staff an opportunity to see how to change gears. It gives everybody an opportunity to kind of go through the thought process of if something unfortunate did happen during the season. I think that was a great opportunity in the spring to look at it as a positive, rather than the middle of the season.”

LPJ: “We don’t want to overlook special teams, so how is replacing your deep snapper and punter going? Where are we standing with those positions?”

JB:“You never want to overlook special teams. Coach (Colt) Dunbar did a really good job with them during the spring. We did did some drill work, and then the kickers and the snappers and all kind of stayed separate. And Coach Dunbar did a really good job of trying to nail down who’s going to be the next in line. Joaquin Ramos is coming back and Jack Elliott is coming back and Cade Kelly was our junior varsity punter. I think he’s got a big leg — he’s just got to get more consistent. We’ve got a good starting point just like I talked about all those other spots.

“It’s just one of those things that you got to continuously keep evaluating those kids and keep working them. We don’t have a full time deep snapper like last year with (recently graduated) Joe Morrow — it’s what he did during practice all day which is a really good thing to have. The deep snappers we’ve got this year, they’re kind of scattered and do another position. And so we’re going to have to split some time, but we’ll just continue to to narrow that down and find the guys that can get the job done.”

LPJ:“How about your coaching staff?”

JB:“We’re pretty well lined out with that. We added (offensive line coach) Joshua Mote and C.J. Gatlin, who played here — he’s going to coach receivers which will free up (offensive coordinator Earl) Griffin to float around at a couple different spots during during practice. Gatlin will coach receivers and Mote will help with the offensive line. We’ve also got Corey Dean helping us with our freshman guys in the defensive skill position spots. He was hired on as an assistant basketball coach, and he’s going to help us for freshman football.

“Jacob Martin is going to help us this spring. He played safety here. He’s actually doing his resident teaching at the school this spring, and I think he’s going to be really good. He was really kind of one of those underrated players that really played way bigger than what he looked like. And so it’ll be good having him.”

LPJ:“It’s another brutal schedule non-district schedule. What are your feelings heading into Week One?”

JB:“It’s just like every year, and I hate to sound like a broken record, but I think from beginning to end, it’s going to give us some really good opportunities week after week to continuously evaluate where we are going into the playoffs. You get started with somebody like Acadiana, then you’re going to see where you are physically, because they’re going to line up and and run the ball at you — we’re going to be able to see if our defense ready to dig in when somebody is ready to do that. I think it’ll be a really good indication of who we have who it is where we need up front? They’re always really good defensively — it’ll give us a good opportunity to see where are we offensively. If you constantly have those teams lined up one by one and the next team will do something different offensively and defensively.

“But they’re good, and so seeing how our team can handle all of the different things that they’re going to see against quality people. You are really able to cut the video afterwards and see if we have a deficiency here or there. If you’re not playing that caliber of team, then sometimes you get a false sense of security about yourself.

“Can it be on rough on your team to have to constantly have to get up and play those kinds of games? Yes. Mentally, that gets to be a rough deal. But to me, it’s the best way to make sure that you’re prepared for a playoff run, because you have to do that in the playoffs. You’ll have to play a good team, and hopefully, if it goes well, then you get a chance to play another good team, and you’ve got to flush whatever happened and figure out as quickly as you can to to make corrections and what things we messed up during that game. Because if you don’t, you don’t get to keep going.

“You’ve got to learn how to continuously make corrections and do things that you’re supposed to do. To me, that’s the only way to to simulate the playoffs. And yes, it makes for a long season. But I think that that is one thing that our kids have come to expect, and they want to go play people they’ve never played before. So many people say the best football is in Texas, or whatever. It’s a great opportunity to not just represent your school and our team at that point — I think we feel like we’ll represent the state of Louisiana and how we match up to the other teams. It’s a great opportunity for us to do that. And I think our kids are looking forward to it.”

LPJ:“Thank you for your time.”

Show these to our partners for your weekly deals! (Businesses that wish to participate can email LPJnewsla@gmail.com for more information.)

Special to the LPJ

With two major universities housed within this parish, the quality and quantity of talent that blossoms in our area is in no short supply. A lot of that talent comes from all over the world, but sometimes you only need to look in your own back yard to realize just how much of it is home grown right here on Lincoln Parish soil.

A native of Ruston, La., Shamar White has been creating art since he could hold a pencil in his hand. Since the tender age of three to four years old, White loved to recreate the cartoons he watched on television. From there, he says his passion for creating just continued to grow. Anyone who has seen his most recent works can attest to the fact that his skills have more than kept up with his passion.

Choosing to stay close to home, White attended Grambling State University. There he continued pursuing his art, even outside of the classroom curriculum. Along with other local artists, he worked to bring the Greenwood Community Mural to life in late 2022.

White also participated in the North Central Louisiana Arts Council’s annual Peach Art Exhibit for many years. White was awarded 1st Place in the Adult Drawing category in 2023. Most recently he secured both 3rd Place and an Honorable Mention award for his two entries in the same category this year. White has also showcased his works in other events around our community including the City of Grambling’s Juneteenth Heritage Festival. White graduated with a degree in Graphic Design from Grambling State University in December of 2023.

White favors working with Prismacolor pencils, oil paints and digital design tools for his works. His creations include everything from large scale decorative wall pieces to logos, clothing graphics, posters, album covers and more. He says he is very inspired by the works of American artists, Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Since graduating, he says that he has been focusing on pursuing not only his own art but also networking with other creatives and potential clients alike. When asked what message he hopes to convey to others through his works, he didn’t hesitate with his answer.

“You can’t go wrong in art. Don’t beat yourself up trying to be perfect. You can be comfortable in your own art and still get the point across,” says White.

He loves seeing the reactions people have to his creations. At 24 years old, White says he really feels like he can do something with his talent and skills long term. He acknowledges that it is a blessing to be able to do something he loves while also providing support for his family and that is just what he plans to continue pursuing. In the next five years he hopes to expand his clothing line and see his art on display in more places than just here close to home.

White currently has three pieces on display in the 2024 NCLAC Peach Art Exhibit. The exhibit will remain on display at the Lincoln Parish Library through July 1st. To see more of White’s work you can follow him on Instagram at shamarszn.

I was taking the shortcut through Wal-Mart the other day. I was on my way to the doggie treat section. If you want a growing stock, I suggest the doggie treat industry because I am single-handedly causing a growth in the industry. Our dogs like certain treats and it seems Wal-Mart is always “out of them.” I have noticed that the doggie treats are growing more expensive with each trip to restock.

The short cut took me through the toy section. I have not been in the toy section in years. I found myself amid the place that children still drag their parents. At least I hope kids still drag their parents to the toy section. I know the video game section is also a big draw for the kids.

This nice boy and his mom were standing in the toy section. She had pulled a toy off the shelf that she was going to buy for the little boy. She handed the toy to the little boy, and he said to his mom, “I don’t want that one.”

The nice little boy was very polite and nice about it. I’m guessing that mom picked out the wrong superhero or something. I didn’t stay long enough to see if the toy selection came to a successful conclusion or not. I hope the little boy received the toy he wanted. He was certainly polite and nice in helping his mom pick the correct toy.

Here’s the thing though. He was receiving a gift, yet he wanted to decide which gift he wanted to receive.

I wonder how many times God has tried to send us His love and grace and we, by word or deed, have said to God, “I don’t want that one.”

A Simsboro man was arrested for domestic violence Thursday evening after deputies investigated an assault that allegedly occurred at his relatives’ residence.

Deputies found a woman at the scene who appeared to have been struck in the jaw. She refused medical treatment. The woman said Kedrick Wilson, 39, had returned home from Texas and had been acting aggressively toward her. Due to his behavior, the woman told Wilson he had to leave.

At that time he attacked the woman causing the facial injury. While deputies were investigating at the residence, the Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office reported their deputies had apprehended Wilson on a vehicle stop.

Bienville deputies booked Wilson at the Bienville Parish Detention Center and Lincoln deputies transferred him to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center on a charge of domestic abuse battery.

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 Hanna Singh

After countless hours of preparation, the Ruston High School Conduct of Chapter team took first place at the Louisiana State FFA competition. The team will go on to compete at nationals in Indianapolis in the fall.

Seven freshmen students from Ruston High School competed in the Conduct of Chapter Leadership Development Event on June 4^th. The competition included a 25-question written exam on parliamentary law and FFA bylaws along with a 13-minute demonstration.

For the demonstration, the participants were tasked with conducting a business meeting as leaders in their chapter and deciding on a motion while demonstrating knowledge of parliamentary law. The meeting specifically showed the opening ceremonies, debate on a main motion, closing ceremonies and oral questions about parliamentary law.

The winning team included Ruston FFA chapter leaders, president Joe Aulds, vice president Emma Medders, secretary Boston Smith, treasurer Paige Bordelon, reporter Isaiah Dozier, sentinel Kayden Woods and advisor Lauren Strickland.

FFA advisor Cadie Coleman acknowledged the immense workload the team took on in their preparation for the competition and the teamwork they displayed in the process.

“I am so proud of this team, not just for the work that they put in but for the extra time they took to care for each other,” Coleman said. “It has been amazing to watch these kids come together with one goal and then to realize that they have built a family in the process.”

In preparation for the event, the students studied after school for over 100 hours in the 3 months before the competition date. They will continue to train over the summer to compete at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, IN in October of 2024.

Each Monday and 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, June 14
10 a.m.: Tommy Terrific Magic Show (Lincoln Parish Library, Dubach Room)

Saturday, June 15
8 a.m.: Juneteenth Heritage Wellness Walk (The Village; Grambling)
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market
10 a.m.: Juneteenth Parade (The Village; Grambling)
10 a.m.: Young Entrepreneur Fair (The Village; Grambling)
6:30 p.m.: Juneteenth celebration (Railroad Park, Ruston)

Sunday, June 16
Father’s Day

There’s gonna be the best kind of Earthquake during next weekend’s Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration.

Specifically, it’s going to happen next Friday evening into night, June 21, in Natchitoches, on the Rue Beauport stage bordering Cane River Lake smack dab in the middle of the City of Lights’ historic and beautiful downtown district.

The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame show band, Johnny Earthquake and the Moondogs, will provide the prevailing vibe for the coolest concert for miles around, the free Rockin’ Riverfest party presented by Rapides Regional Medical Center.

Cranking things up will be the energetic and enthusiastic south Louisiana group Coteau Grove, performers who also are in the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.

Go online to TheMoondogs.com and CoteauGrove.com websites for a great scouting report on the Rockin’ Riverfest’s soundtrack.

Good times will abound during the riverfront concert, which runs from 6 p.m. to 10:30. One of the highlights: a little after 9 o’clock, the Hall’s impressive Class of 2024 will be introduced on stage, and celebrated with a 10-minute fireworks show set to sports-themed music over Cane River Lake. And yes, you read correctly. It’s free. There will be food and beverage vendors on the riverfront, and of course, Front Street’s always fun watering holes/restaurants are just a few steps away.

It’s family friendly. A free interactive kids zone presented by Louisiana Propane Dealers will include basketball, football, golf and science games for all ages to enjoy.

If you want to beat the summer heat and enjoy a tasty collection of Louisiana foods and specialty refreshments, you better hurry and visit LaSportsHall.com to snap up a few of the fast-disappearing $100 tickets to the VIP Taste of Tailgating presented by Hanco*ck Whitney.

That party runs from 7-10 p.m. in the air-conditioned comfort of Mama’s Oyster House and Blues Room that will provide exclusive access to the 12-member 2024 Induction Class.

That star-studded group includes women’s basketball superstar Seimone Augustus, Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees, Tulane basketball coaching hero Perry Clark, Olympic wrestler and MMA legend Daniel Cormier, Grambling baseball icon Coach Wilbert Ellis, south Louisiana high school football coaching great Frank Monica, Olympic gold medalist and LSU All-American wrestler Kevin Jackson, New Iberia/McNeese product and 19-year pro footballer Kerry Joseph, and one of America’s winningest jockeys, Sunset’s Ray Sibille.

Acclaimed Louisiana sports journalists Bobby Ardoin and Ron Higgins, and longtime Southland Conference commissioner Tom Burnett, round out the Class of 2024.

Maybe we’ll see the musical debut of Seimone and Sibille, or perhaps we’ll hear Kerry, Perry and Kevin crooning on stage. Could DC and Drew show dance moves? Frank Monica on the harmonica? Anything is possible as the Rockin’ Riverfest rolls on.

This is a paid advertorial

Join the fun and celebrate some of Louisiana’s sports greats, for free, on Friday evening, June 21, in downtown Natchitoches. For information on all of the events during the June 20-22 Class of 2024 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration, visit LaSportsHall.com or call 318-238-4255.

Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Louisiana Tech’s Riley Hnatyshyn was one of nine student-athletes that received the Conference USA Spring Spirit of Service Award, announced by the league office on Tuesday.

The award honors student-athletes with significant community service endeavors, good academic standing, and participation in their respective sport.

Hnatyshyn saw action in four events this past season for the Bulldog Golf team with his best individual finish coming in 39th at the season-opening Argent Financial Classic where he shot a season-low round of 71.

He registered a stroke average of 77.50 over 12 rounds, shooting two rounds at or under par. He totaled 29 birdies, including a season-high five at the Fallen Oak Collegiate Invitational.

Hnatyshyn, a sophom*ore majoring in Finance, owns a 3.42 cumulative GPA and is a two-time CUSA Commissioner’s Honor Roll recipient. He has been an AD Honor Roll student for six consecutive quarters and was on the Dean’s List for the 2024 spring quarter.

The Abita Springs, Louisiana native has also logged several hours of community services including projects with Dogs with a Cause, Football Green Out Game, Hillcrest Carnival, and Glenview Field Day.

Carolyn Sue Holton (Pye), 72, a lifelong resident of Choudrant and Ruston, Louisiana, passed gently into the arms of her Lord on the 9th of June, 2024. Born on August 3, 1951, she was the daughter of the late Algie and Vivian (Lockwood) Pye and a proud graduate of Choudrant High School, class of 1969.

Carolyn dedicated 17 years of service to Walmart before her well-deserved retirement. Known for her unwavering support of the Chicago Cubs, she also reveled in the joy of cooking and the warmth of family gatherings, leaving behind a legacy of treasured memories.

Her heart was the center of her family, and she leaves behind her husband of nearly 49 years, Roy James Holton, along with her loving children, Jennifer and Chris Holton (spouse Roxanne). Carolyn’s light shone brightly as a grandmother to Kyleigh Harper (Fiancee Kendrick Adams), Jai Harper (partner Kythe Walker), Abigail Holton, Kennyn Harper, and Andrew Holton. With great anticipation, she awaited the birth of her first great-grandson, Khysen Harper. In addition to numerous bonus children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Her memory will be cherished by her brother, Randy Pye (spouse Debbie), her favorite Aunt Frances Albritton, sister-in-law Janie Barrow, her steadfast best friend of over six decades, Kerry Reis, and a host of beloved aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, bonus family members, and friends.

Preceding her in passing were her parents, Algie and Vivian Pye, and her brother, Tommy Pye.

An announcement regarding Carolyn’s memorial services will follow at a later date. Her gentle soul and kind demeanor will be dearly missed by all who were blessed to know her.

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

Claudia M. Wagner
Thursday 11/12/1931 — Wednesday 06/05/2024
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 Wesley Harris

Friday is Flag Day. It’s one of those observances often overlooked, coming in between Memorial Day and Independence Day, holidays usually accompanied by a brief vacation from work.

But most of us will be working Friday. Even though it is an official national observance, first signed into law by President Harry Truman in 1949, it usually passes by uneventfully.

To me, Flag Day is a big deal. It celebrates more than our national flag but the country the flag represents.

I have toured the Washington, DC museums and monuments many times. Nothing stirs more emotion than the Star Spangled Banner in the National Museum of American History. That flag flew decades after the war for American independence during a conflict to see if the new nation would survive as a free country.

On September 14, 1814, U.S. soldiers at Baltimore’s Fort McHenry raised the huge American flag to celebrate a crucial victory over British forces during the War of 1812. The sight of those “broad stripes and bright stars” inspired Francis Scott Key to write the song that became America’s national anthem. Key’s words gave significance to a national emblem that stirs emotions among those who realize it represents all the sacrifices necessary to ensure our freedoms and way of life endure.

The flag that flew at Fort McHenry is tattered, missing almost a quarter of its length, not because of war damage, but because it was so sacred to Americans that many pieces were cut off and given away as treasured keepsakes.

In his 1915 Flag Day address, President Woodrow Wilson said, “For me the flag does not express a mere body vague of sentiment. The flag of the United States has not been created by rhetorical sentences in declarations of independence and in bills of rights. It has been created by the experience of a great people, and nothing is written upon it that has not been written by their life. It is the embodiment, not of sentiment but of a history, and no man can rightly serve under that flag who has not caught some of the meaning of that history. Experience, ladies and gentlemen, is made by men and women. National experience is the product of those who do the living under that flag. It is their living that has created its significance, ”

The flag has always been important in our community. Not only does it fly at government buildings but at schools, businesses, ball parks, and private homes.

The flag is an expression of national identity, of unity, pride, perseverance, freedom.

Fly it proudly Friday.

by Hanna Singh

Hillcrest Elementary School announced Becky Sutherland as its new principal, following years of dedicated service in the Lincoln Parish School District. Sutherland looks forward to being an active part of the educational framework Hillcrest provides to families and children in the community.

Sutherland began her educational career at Hillcrest Elementary in 2010 as a 4^th grade teacher, where she transitioned into Ruston Elementary to teach 3^rd and 4^th grade. She returned to Hillcrest as a 2^nd grade teacher and later served as the ELA and Math instructional coach. Most recently, Sutherland served as the coordinating teacher at Hillcrest Elementary. Sutherland expressed her gratitude for her many years of involvement in the Lincoln Parish School District.

“This journey has been very fulfilling as I have met and worked alongside so many wonderful people who have touched my life along the way,” Sutherland said. “These relationships and experiences have truly written my professional story.”

As the new principal, Sutherland shared plans to build on the firm foundation Hillcrest has established in the past. She discussed new literacy initiatives and incentives to fuel reading achievements in the upcoming school year, along with plans to strengthen the STEM program.

“I want to say thank you to everyone who has believed in me and supported me in this accomplishment,” Sutherland said. “I am humbled and grateful to have this opportunity to serve Hillcrest students and their families, an amazing faculty, and the many community members connected to our school.”

Lincoln Parish School Board Superintendent, Ricky Durrett acknowledged Sutherland’s educational excellence and shared his confidence in her capabilities as the new principal.

“I think it will be a really smooth transition for her to move into that spot. She has a lot of experience with the K-2 schools and their curriculum,” Durrett said. “There’s excitement among faculty and staff for her coming and I think she’ll do a great job in the position.”

As Ruston High begins the summer prep to defend its first state championship in over 30 years, head coach Jerrod Baugh sat down with the LPJ to give his thoughts on how his new roster is doing with the fall approaching.

The following conversation has been lightly edited for continuity. Part 2 will run tomorrow.

Lincoln Parish Journal: “Following spring practice, what are your overall thoughts as you have been able to digest the month of May and how you feel about this new team returning after winning a state championship?”

Jerrod Baugh: “I thought we got a lot of the things done during the spring that we needed to get done. You know, once you scrape the seniors off of the depth chart, and then you start plugging in guys and shuffling the rest up, you have your ideas of what guys have done during junior varsity games or during varsity games — all during the year. So you have an idea of what that looks like. But you don’t actually really know until you start putting those guys out there together to see what that looks like.

“We had that opportunity in the spring. I thought we ironed some of those things out in some areas. We still have some work to do, but I think it gave us a very good starting point coming into the summer to figure out where we need to continue to really press some guys in some areas. And so, I think it’s just a continual deal. You know, we’ll have some time in June where we’re doing some seven-on-seven things so some skill guys will have opportunities to get in this spot, that spot and continue to see how they’re doing and hopefully get as many of those things ironed out before you get into week one, as you can.

“Once you get into the meat of the season, you’d like to try to get where you’re not juggling guys in the middle of the season still trying to figure out who can do what and who needs to be where. If you have to, you have to, but you’d like to have all of those things ironed out so that you can give those guys an opportunity to continue just to play together and jell together and be comfortable with each other.”

LPJ:You graduated an incredible senior class, mostly on the defensive side of the football — a lot of Division one scholarship opportunities. That’s obviously the question that everybody has: what does the defense look like moving into the future after this graduating class? What what is your early assessment of that heading into the summer?

JB:“You know, it’s one of those things everybody’s completely aware of: you lose those big name guys that we have defensively, and, immediately, everybody says “the defense is going to take a while before they get things together.” And I think those kids that are that are moving into those spots — they’ll take that as a challenge. I think they probably, quietly, already have. And, I was pleased with what I saw defensively during the spring. And again, we’ve still got some work to do.

“You start sliding guys around and pushing them up in the depth chart and all of that. We meet with them and do our exit meetings in January, February and March and specifically talk about those things and what our expectations for them are. And (the players) talk about what their expectations for the next season are. I made sure to tell those guys that we’re expecting to fill those spots like (linebacker) Zander Hayes — we don’t need you to be Jayden Mayfield. That’s not what we’re asking you to do. You need to be Zander Hayes. Zander’s going to do some things better than Jaden. And he’s not going to do some things as well as Jaden — but we don’t want him running around trying to be someone that he’s not. He needs to settle in and be himself and and just learn how to play.

“I think that was a comfort to some of them because when you come behind a really good player, you feel like I need to live up to that. And that’s not really what we need him to do. We need them to get out there and be the best version of themselves. I think the kids understood that. And offensively, whenever we were moving Josh (Brantley) in there at quarterback last year and we had some new receivers, it took a little while to try to really hone in on what our identity was on offense. It’s a, you know, a progressive process.

“But, overall,I think those guys came a long way in the spring. I think they’ll continue to do that in the summer. And I think it’ll probably be surprising to some people during the year about how those guys have accepted the challenge of what it’s like to be replacing those really good players that we lost due to graduation.”

LPJ: “You talked about Zander — who were some of the other players that we may not have heard much about in the last couple of years that you’ve seen rise to that challenge, on both sides of the ball?”

JB: “Replacing all three safeties is a big deal. I mean, you take Jacoryian Crowe out of the fold. You take Nate Johnson out of the fold, and Ronald Finley — those three get the majority of the snaps at the at the safety spot. Now we’re plugging in juniors Miles Brown, Alex Hunt and Trindon Moore and sophom*ore Jayden Anding — we kind of worked a bunch of those guys in there at those spots. We’ve got to put some pressure on them to be able to really see what it is that they’re going to be able to execute and do under pressure situations. It’ll be interesting to see kind of how that turns out.

“I thought it was good during the spring that Aiden Anding was in the state track meet the first week. That allowed us to rotate a bunch of corners. I thought that that was good because we needed to find who the next guy is now that Semaj Jones is gone. Fabian Stringfellow had gotten some snaps last year at corner and safety. He was kind of our next defensive back in in the ball game, but we needed to look at all of those guys and give them an opportunity to get out there. It’s the same thing in the defensive line. I think we returned two guys that were starters, but we had some other guys that had rotated in at times — you just start plugging guys in to see what it’s going to look like there. And again, I was really pleased with how that looked.

“The same thing offensively. We got some guys to replace there — we lost Zhy Scott, who is really versatile player and able to do so many things as you know. We need to know what Cullen Clark and Jake Tyler are they’re able to do. So we really need to push them to see if they can do those things. If you don’t, then you got to change personnel groupings and you just have to do some things differently. And the better job you do to figure all of those things out before the season starts, the more you can really continuously work on what our guys can do through the season. The quicker you can do that, it allows you to be able to work that what you are able to do really well over and over during the season to get really good at it.

“Obviously the clock is ticking. We need to we evaluate that daily as we come in and say “we need to quit fooling with this — he can’t do it or yes he can.” We need to push him to do it and and figure out all of those things. You got to continue to work at it and continue to evaluate.”

Part 2 will run tomorrow.

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.