Defending state champion Northwood-Lena advanced to the state finals by winning easily Tuesday at Marsh Madness in Hammond. (Photo by STEVEN MOODY, GeauxPreps.com)
At SLU’s University Center, Hammond
MONDAY’S SCORES
Semifinals
NS Div. IV – (1) Arcadia 60, (6) Lakeview 29 Sel. Div. V – (2) JS Clark 50, (3) Family Christian 36 Sel. Div. III – (2) Parkview 65, (3) Menard 46 Sel. Div. III – (4) University 50, (9) St. Thomas Aquinas 42 NS Div. IV – (2) Oakdale 57, (6) White Castle 50
TUESDAY’S SCORES
Semifinals
Sel. Div. IV – (2) Northwood-Lena 48, (5) Hamilton Christian 41 Sel. Div. V – (1) Oak Hill 79, (5) Plainview 46 Sel. Div. IV – (1) Southern Lab 54, (4) Sacred Heart-VP 23 NS Div. V – (1) Hicks 51, (4) Midland 45 NS Div. V – (2) Fairview 41, (3) Anacoco 37
WEDNESDAY’S GAMES
Semifinals
NS Div. – (4) Westlake (24-5) vs. (1) Rosepine (29-5), 1 p.m. NS Div. II – (6) Church Point (26-6) vs. (2) South Beauregard (26-7), 2:45 p.m. Sel. Div. II – (3) Madison Prep def. (2) Vandebilt Catholic, forfeit NS Div. II – (4) Albany (23-7) vs. (1) Wossman (27-4), 6:15 p.m. NS Div. III – (3) Doyle (30-4) vs. (2) Amite (28-5), 8 p.m.
THURSDAY’S GAMES
Semifinals
Sel. Div. I – (5) Woodlawn-BR (24-9) vs. (1) Huntington(29-5), 1 p.m. Sel. Div. II – (5) Bunkie (22-4) vs. (1) Lafayette Christian (29-1), 2:45 p.m. Sel. Div. I – (3) Liberty (24-4) vs. (2) John Curtis (20-4), 4:30 p.m. NS Div. I – (5) Parkway (28-6) vs. (1) Walker (35-1), 6:15 p.m. NS Div. I – (3) Mandeville (28-5) vs. (2) Denham Springs (28-4), 8 p.m.
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Finals
Sel. Div. V, JS Clark (23-6) vs. (1) Oak Hill (29-13), noon Sel. Div. IV, (2) Northwood-Lena (19-12) vs. (1) Southern Lab (27-7), 2 p.m. NS Div. IV, Arcadia (31-3) vs. (2) Oakdale (27-7), 4 p.m. Sel. Div. III, Parkview (23-10) vs. University (24-11), 6 p.m. NS Div. V, (1) Hicks (34-3) vs. (2) Fairview (31-7), 8 p.m.
SATURDAY’S GAMES
Finals
Sel. Div. I, noon Sel. Div. II, (3) Madison Prep (25-10) vs. TBD, 2 p.m. NS Div. II, 4 p.m, NS Div. I, 6 p.m. NS Div. III, 8 p.m.
Ordinary Angels, a faith-based Lionsgate film, tells the true story of “snow baby” Michelle Schmidt and the community effort to save her life after Louisville is hit by a major snowstorm during the 1994 North American cold wave.
Struggling hairdresser Sharon Stevens, played by the award-winning Hillary Swank, is the titled angel in this story, her selfless heart and no-nonsense attitude displayed as she takes on the plight of Michelle’s widowed father to save his critically ill daughter’s life.
This is a true story, not a rom-com, so expectations of a love connection between the two should be left at home. This is a selfless love, that innate desire to find meaning and make a difference when an innocent child’s life is in danger.
This is the story of what one woman’s determination can do to move mountains. The message is that we can all make a difference in the world, that we all have something to share if we are just brave enough to do so.
Swank plays one of life’s Ordinary Angels beautifully on screen. We should all play one in real life.
Ordinary Angels is playing nationwide at a theatre near you.
Jeanni Ritchie is a journalist on a journey, drawing inspiration from pop culture as well as her faith.
In a significant initiative to foster local talent and address the critical need for healthcare professionals, CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital announced the launch of a Cohort Program in collaboration with Louisiana State University of Alexandria (LSUA). The program aims to empower and assist students pursuing a career in nursing by providing exclusive access, comprehensive training, and financial support throughout their academic journey.
The Cohort Program offers a range of benefits to eligible LSUA Nursing students, including exclusive training sessions, certification preparation, and access to specialized resources. Additionally, Cabrini will cover the tuition and fees for all collegiate courses at LSUA, offering financial assistance of up to $25,000 per student. Most impressively, Cabrini guarantees immediate employment for all cohort members who successfully graduate from the LSUA School of Nursing and pass the licensure exam.
Monte Wilson, CEO of CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital, explained, “The nation’s healthcare worker shortage threatens the viability of our community. CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital is pleased to partner with LSUA to establish strong pipelines of top-quality nursing and allied health students unhindered by the cost of tuition.”
The program will support up to 10 students per semester who have been accepted into the LSUA Nursing program or are entering LSUA Nursing clinicals. Exclusive training opportunities include group NCLEX preparation classes, hands-on clinical practice simulations, specialized boot camps, job shadowing experiences, and early access to scheduling interviews. These tailored resources are designed to equip cohort members with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to excel in their nursing education and transition seamlessly into the healthcare workforce.
Designed explicitly for LSUA students admitted to the School of Nursing who are eligible for the federal Pell Grant, the Cohort Program represents an inclusive and accessible pathway for aspiring nurses from diverse backgrounds. The initial funding package, totaling $1,000,000, underscores Cabrini’s commitment to supporting LSUA’s efforts to bolster the local healthcare workforce. Looking ahead, Cabrini’s leadership aims to expand the funding to ensure the long-term sustainability and success of the program.
“Today marks a pivotal moment for the future of Central Louisiana’s nursing workforce, as we join forces with CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital in a partnership bolstered by a $1,000,000 commitment to our nursing students,” stated Jeff Langston, LSUA Dean of the College of Health and Human Services. “This collaboration is crucial to addressing the shortage in Louisiana’s nursing workforce, ensuring nursing school becomes a tangible opportunity for many more in our region. Our gratitude extends to Monte Wilson, Dr. Paul Coreil, and our partners at the Cabrini Foundation for their unwavering support and collaboration in tackling this challenge head-on.”
The Cabrini Cohort and associated funding support serve as a tangible contribution by St. Frances Cabrini Hospital to LSUA’s broader mission of addressing the shortage of healthcare professionals in the region. This collaborative effort, alongside LSUA’s drive to develop a state-of-the-art Health Education Campus in downtown Alexandria, reflects LSUA’s steadfast commitment to transforming the healthcare landscape and fostering a healthier future for central Louisiana communities.
For more information about LSUA’s School of Nursing and its academic programs, visit www.lsua.edu/nursing.
I love movies! Lines and lyrics and spectacular cinematic moments live on in my soul, their pop culture perfection giving me inspiration internally and providing creativity in conversation.
“Why are you trying so hard to fit in when you were born to stand out?” Twenty years later I can still hear Ian’s message of self-acceptance in What a Girl Wants in my head when I start to spiral.
Movies matter!
I wasted no time rekindling my relationship with the Grand Theater in Alexandria when I moved back to my hometown last year. I often sit in this theater alone, the decade-ago parking lot shooting here most often touted as the reason for its sparsity. It’s unwarranted.
The shooting was a domestic disturbance with Central Louisiana’s only theater its sole casualty. Citizens shouldn’t accept the death as permanent. Recently acquired by San Antonio-based Santikos Entertainment, plans are reportedly underway for a total renovation. I hope that’s accurate. From minor issues like a confusing theater numbering system and an oft-out-of-order Skittles machine to bigger issues like a frequent malfunctioning GPX projector, its bones are good but it is is need of some major TLC.
Cinematic company culture needs an overhaul as well. These employees are doing their part: they have the vibe of chill cousins you see at annual family gatherings. They help, they encourage, they initiate. Diversity and inclusivity in staffing has always been represented here and the entire staff deserves recognition.
Instead they’ve been stripped of discretionary benefits like free movies during off-hours, one of the proud perks older generations tell when sharing stories of their own cinema jobs of youth. Such incentives go a long way in motivation and employee retention, not to mention fostering community. It’s a perk theatre owners across the country should not lose sight of, the idealistic business of making movies being for the people not the pocketbook.
Even the pragmatists understand that morale builds motivation. Motivation provides growth and retention. Positive workplace culture benefits those in charge as well as those being served.
I call myself a pragmatic idealist; I get it. I’m also a romantic realist. I am an oxymoron.
But movies give me fuel and community gives me fire. My mission is to use my voice for change, not criticism. I promote movies as a way to reach all citizens. Broken down into my favorite teaching lesson on writing, movies (like essays) do one of three things: inform, entertain, or persuade.
When the lights go down and the screen comes up, our minds go on a journey. The experience is convenient at home but it often loses the connection that sticks in long-term memory.
Fewer and fewer people join me in attendance. That’s not just here. I see this in theaters across the country. Like a growing child’s disenchantment with Santa Claus, people have grown disillusioned with brick and mortar theaters.
Santikos Founder John Santikos had a visionary mission in 1911 with his first theater. Using profits from purchases, he poured back into the communities who supported the industry he adored.
From the website:
There is nothing like that moment when the lights go down, the sound goes up, and your attention locks on the screen above – except, of course, knowing that just by being there, you’re helping to make San Antonio a better place.
With their recent 7-state expansion, they have the opportunity to take Santikos’ mission for San Antonio to communities across the country, using cinema for positive culture climates and civic unity. It can start right here in Central Louisiana.
Hilda Raine Dorn January 15, 1939 – February 26, 2024 Service: Wednesday, February 28, 2024, Noon at Hixson Brothers Funeral Home, Pineville.
Tracy Denice Norris July 10, 1966 – February 21, 2024 Service: Thursday, February 29, 2024, 11am at New Scott Olly Baptist Church, Alexandria.
Kristin Hufford Duke February 5, 1949 – February 24, 2024 Service: Friday, March 1, 2024, 11am at St. Timothy Episcopal Church, Alexnarida.
Col. Fay D. Parker, USAF (Ret) April 14, 1928 – February 10, 2024 Service: Saturday, March 2, 2024, 11am at Hixson Brothers Alexandria.
Perry Dean Lockwood March 18, 1940 – February 20, 2024 Service: Saturday, March 9, 2024, 11am at New Scott Olly Baptist Church, Alexandria.
Fay Day January 3, 1942 – February 24, 2024 Service: Saturday, March 2, 2024, 1pm at St. Rita Catholic Church, Alexandra.
The Rapides Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $95. Contact your funeral provider or RPJNewsla@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Death shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to RPJNewsla@gmail.com)
Mr. O passed one last time in front of his boys, young and old, on Saturday morning.
They lined up in Boy Scout uniforms at attention and raised their hands in salute on either side of the main aisle as the boss of Troop 6, at age 85, was slowly wheeled past them on his final trek. It was the funeral Mass at a nearly packed St. Frances Cabrini Church for the legendary Scoutmaster, Emile Peter Oestriecher III.
A vast majority of the congregation were males of all ages who had either been scouts or adult leaders or assistant scoutmasters under Mr. O for some 50 years. At one point during the eulogy, they were all asked to stand and together recite the Boy Scouts oath. Six of his former scouts are priests, and five of them were concelebrants for the funeral service, not to mention a deacon and a seminarian with a Troop 6 connection.
One of the men in the congregation was 39-year-old Alexandria native William Watson, who traveled from Tuscaloosa, Ala., where he works for the National Weather Service. He’s one of many who achieved Eagle Scout, the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouts USA program. He did that in his final year as a scout in ’02 and then helped as an adult leader through 2014.
“He was always there for me,” said Watson, who knew Mr. O as a “friend and mentor.”
Speaking of Eagle Scouts, it was pointed out that only 5 percent of scouts nationally achieve that rank, but the number for Troop 6 is 22 percent (178), including five who received the award in a ceremony last week.
Vincent Brocato, who, as an assistant scoutmaster was given the rare honor of wearing a green hat (otherwise reserved for just the scoutmaster and the boys), went on several memorable trips with Mr. O and the troop. They went to places such as Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, N.M., and the Boundary Waters in Canada.
But Brocato fondly remembers a campfire, where some of the older boys and others who had aged out but returned, sat around and talked about old times.
“He didn’t say much, but he’d just listen,” Brocato said of Mr. O. “You could look at him and he was just beaming, listening to the boys he had helped become eagles.”
Brocato admired him for many reasons but one was the way he dealt with the boys, even in difficult times.
“If there was trouble or fisticuffs, he knew how to talk to them,” said Brocato. “He knew what to say and how to say it to make them feel better about themselves.
Words, however, were not always necessary for Mr. O.
“He had what we all called ‘the look,’” Brocato said. “If you did something wrong, he didn’t need to say a word.”
The “look” from Mr. O, Brocato suggested, could induce anything from embarrassment to an apology to a pledge to sacrifice one’s first-born male. Well, not really that last one.
When Mr. O did talk, though, he was a man of his word, said Jim Bouchie, a former scout who gave the eulogy. “His yes meant yes and his no meant mostly yes. He rarely turned down anyone asking for help.”
Honesty is one of the virtues promoted in scouting, and Mr. O, a graduate of Menard and LSU, cantor of his church choir and a family man, epitomized many of the scouting virtues, like honesty, integrity, loyalty and patience and courage. He had a distinguished business career as a certified public accountant, receiving a Lifetime Membership Award from the Society of Louisiana CPAs in 2022.
In June of ’22, Troop 6 hosted a reunion and campfire at Camp Attakapas to celebrate Oestriecher’s 50th year as Scoutmaster as well as the renaming of the camp to “The Mr. O Campgrounds at Camp Attakapas.” A generous endowment raised by his family helps support the upkeep of the camp and scouting in general.
The motto on the Troop 6 cap is “Optimus Optimorum,” which means “best of the best.”
Judging by the outpouring of respect and warmth for their departed leader, it’s evident the boys had a scoutmaster over the past five decades who epitomized that motto.
State Representative Mike Johnson stirred up social media recently when he posted a photo of a sign for a community favorite, Lou & Laura’s, which will be opening a location in Pineville soon adjacent to Sweet Joy Bakery on Military Highway.
“I am excited about the return of this Pineville landmark,” Johnson posted. “L&L has been a favorite since I was a little boy in the 60’s. I’ve encouraged these folks since they bought it to bring it back home. Good folks and great food.”
If you’re among the thousands who use U.S. Hwy. 167 (Military Highway), Pineville, everyday, the Rapides Area Planning Commission has good news for you.
The Commission’s Transportation Planning Committee is receiving public comment until Friday on its proposal to advance the timetable for a roundabout at the Pinecrest State School intersection.
The shift targets construction in federal FY 25-26 (year begins October 1, 2025.
The amendment schedules $2.45 million total, with an 80/20 cost share with the City of Pineville.
The bad news, if that’s a fair label, is the roundabout swaps places with improvement just down the highway at Edgewood Drive.
The TPC proposes the amendment on the basis of changing priority need.
The other proposed plan change is to add a planning phase for the carbon reduction program outreach and strategy plan to the current fiscal year projects, at an estimated cost of $200,000.
Several recent modifications to the TIP do not require formal committee action. They include:
Reconstruction of Foisy street, Alexandria, down its shake, rattle and roll route from Monroe to DeSoto, shifted from current fiscal year to next; Masonic Drive, Alexandria, safety improvements construction moved from current FY to next; Vandenburg Drive, Alexandria, construction moved to next FY; City of Alexandria asphalt rehab Phase III, technical/title changes; Town of Ball intersection improvements, shift construction phase from FY 24-25 to 25-26; Buhlow Central Greenway, move construction from financially constrained TIP to FY 26-27 (moved to advance Pinecrest roundabout on priority basis); Moved Edgewood Drive project to 26-27.
Comments on the amendment can be made in writing to 803 Johnson, Alexandria, by e-mail to jbolen@rapc.info or on the RAPC website.
With all the back and forth over removal of two Greater Alexandria Economic Development Authority members, the appointment of a new executive director has been pushed to Page 2.
Angela Varnado, with 10 years on board, took the title on an “acting” basis on January 22, succeeding an ill Clifford Moller. The “acting” was dropped Feb. 14 at a special meeting of the board.
The chain of events leading to the transition unfolded the prior week.
On January 17 near the end of its regular meeting the board went into executive session to discuss something regarding someone.
Whether that was Moller, Varnado or Taylor Swift is known only by those privy to the closed talk.
On re-entering public session the board scheduled a Jan. 19 Executive Committee meeting as outlined, apparently, in GAEDA’s succession plan.
Presumably that plan stipulates the succession steps in such a manner that board meeting action is not required.
There is no readily apparent notice of a board meeting or agenda on the agency’s website.
Nor is there apparent posted notice of the committee meeting, its agenda or its minutes.
Nor is there notice of the Feb. 14 meeting, its agenda or its minutes.
Nor is there notice of a special meeting called for Feb. 24 or its agenda, a session subsequently cancelled.
State law requires public bodies with active web sites to post agency and committee meeting notices, their agenda and subsequent minutes.
All of those may be on GAEDA’s site but not readily apparent to a casual visitor.
LSU newcomer Luke Holman, a transfer from Alabama, has impressed Tiger baseball fans in his first two starts this season. (Photo by KRISTEN YOUNG, LSU Athletics)
By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
BATON ROUGE – LSU head coach Jay Johnson doesn’t like to lose games, but he can accept it if the Tigers play to his standards.
But if LSU doesn’t, even in a victory, then his postgame speeches in the locker room become very pointed.
The No. 2 Tigers (7-1) went 3-1 in the four-game set over the weekend in Alex Box Stadium. LSU swept Northern Illinois with wins of 10-2 and 5-2 on Thursday and Saturday respectively and split with Stony Brook losing 5-2 on Friday and winning 18-10 on Sunday.
What peeved Johnson were the impatient at-bats taken by his team in the loss to Stony Brook followed by the win over Northern Illinois.
The Tigers managed 6 hits vs. Stony Brook but also hit 4 first pitches for outs and 2 second pitches for outs. The next day, LSU had a mere 3 hits against Northern Illinois and hit 7 first pitches for outs and 3 second pitches for outs.
“We have a brand of baseball that we play and it hasn’t been that the last two days for sure,” Johnson said after the Saturday win over Northern Illinois when he reached 100 victories faster than any LSU baseball coach in history. “What happens is guys are swinging earlier in the count when they should not be and that’s part of what we need to clean up.
“The game went nine innings, was over in (just) 2 hours and 5 minutes (actually 2:09) and it had nothing to do with the pitch clock. It made me want to vomit. It’s just very out of character.”
Apparently, the windy weather throughout the series psyched out the Tigers at the plate. Winds of 12 to 15 miles per hour blowing from left field to right field held up any hard-hit fly ball.
“You do something right (at the plate) but you don’t get the result,” Johnson said. “Then guys are searching for that hit to make up for the bad results that they got. And then they’re outside their plan and mediocre pitching takes advantage of it. And that’s not that’s not where we’re going with this thing.”
LSU batted .290 for the weekend, saved by its 17 hits in the Sunday series finale vs. Northern Illinois. Before that, the Tigers’ batting average in the first three games was .198.
“Every week, every game, we need to kind of slow down (at the plate), be within ourselves and do what we do,” said LSU outfielder Mac Bingham, who had the Tigers’ lone homer of the series to left field with a 3-run shot in Saturday’s win over Northern Illinois. “We have a lot of confidence in the dugout.”
Sophomore outfielder Paxton Kling was LSU’s best hitter in the season’s second weekend, batting .667 (6-for-9) with one homer, three RBI, five runs, six walks, three hit-by-pitches, two steals and a .789 on-base percentage. He reached base 15 times in 19 plate appearances and he completed the week by reaching base nine consecutive times.
Only two starting pitchers from the first weekend – returning righthander Thatcher Hurd and Alabama righthanded transfer Luke Holman – started in the second go-around.
And again, Holman was superb, and again Hurd struggled mightily.
Holman, who was the Crimson Tide’s Friday night starter last season, threw seven innings of two-hit shutout baseball in Saturday’s win over Northern Illinois. He struck out eight and had no walks.
“Every game, I put everything into it and try not to look ahead,” said Holman, who’s 2-0 and has an ERA of 0.00 with 18 strikeouts, 1 walk and 5 hits allowed. “It’s been very comfortable coming here. The fans are great and I kind of fit that role.”
Hurd, one of LSU’s best pitchers in last season’s NCAA tourney run to win the national championship, gave up 3 runs and 6 innings in 4.1 innings as he started in Friday’s loss to Stony Brook. He has an ERA of 9.00, allowing 11 hits and 7 runs (all earned) in two appearances.
Getting their first starts were junior lefthanded UCLA transfer Gage Jump in the series opener and returning junior lefty Javen Coleman.
Jump, returning from Tommy John surgery that sidelined him for 22 months, struck out 4, walked 1, and gave up 2 hits and 1 run (not earned) in 2.1 innings.
He threw 52 pitches (30 for strikes) after he debuted in LSU’s season-opening win over VMI on Feb. 16 when he closed out the visitors in the ninth inning on 11 pitches.
The Tigers left Monday on their road swing to Houston. They’ll play at Rice on Wednesday, then move to Minute Maid Park for three games in the Astros College Classic in three days. LSU plays No. 14 Texas on Friday at 7 p.m., UL-Lafayette on Saturday at 7 p.m., and Texas State on Sunday at 3 p.m.
“I like getting away for one weekend before conference,” Johnson said, “and I like doing it for an extended period.
“We’ll be gone for six days. That can do a lot for bonding the team. They (his players) tell me they want to play in those (big stadiums) and tell me they want to play in front of sold-out crowds, which we’re going to have on Friday and Saturday.
“We’ll see. Can you control yourself and play to your potential? I don’t know that we’re there yet. But we’re going to learn a lot about our team and about our players’ mental disposition and their poise. And that’s going to do nothing but help us regardless of how the result goes.”
Carley Meynard tries to score inside Monday at the University Center in Hammond as Holy Savior Menard played in Marsh Madness, but despite her 14 points and 14 rebounds, the Lady Eagles fell in the state semifinals to Parkview Baptist. (Photo by STEVEN MOODY, GeauxPreps.com)
Three parish girls teams tip off in state semifinal games at Marsh Madness in Hammond today, while five boys squads are in early-round LHSAA basketball playoffs including four playing at home this evening.
One season ended Monday. For the second straight year, the Menard girls team bowed out in the state semifinals, falling to defending state Division III champion Parkview Baptist of Baton Rouge.
The third-seeded Lady Eagles (20-12) fell 65-46, unable to overcome their 19 turnovers and subpar first-half shooting (6 of 26) or second-seeded Parkview Baptist’s fast pace and explosive guards. PBHS (23-10) made just five turnovers and came up with 10 steals.
Carley Meynard scored 14 points and grabbed a game-best 14 rebounds for Menard, while Lauren Smith topped the Lady Eagles with 18 points and snagged 9 rebounds. Guard Addy Bernhard scored 26 points, making 11 of 13 at the free throw line, to pace the winners.
Parkview led 30-20 at halftime and more than doubled it in the third quarter, taking a 54-32 advantage into the final eight minutes by scoring 16 third-period points off Menard turnovers.
Still, Menard earned the respect of Parkview coach Brett Shelton.
“That was a tough team … better than the score indicated,” he told Robin Fambrough of the Baton Rouge Advocate. “Inside I thought they were pretty dominant.”
Today in Hammond, defending Division IV state champion Northwood-Lena plays in a semifinal game as the No. 2 seed at 1 o’clock. In the next semifinal, a Division V contest, No. 1-ranked Oak Hill meets parish rival Plainview, the fifth seed, at 2:45.
Tonight, ASH, Pineville, and Peabody all host second-round games. Rapides opens the playoffs in the Division V bracket at home. Buckeye travels to the New Orleans area for a second-round contest.
All parish schools, public and private, play in the LHSAA’s Select division.
TODAY’S LHSAA BASKETBALL PLAYOFF GAMES
GIRLS MARSH MADNESS
At the University Center, Hammond
Division IV
No. 2 Northwood-Lena (18-12) vs. No. 3 Hamilton Christian, Tuesday, 1 p.m.
Division V
No. 5 Plainview (16-18) vs. No. 1 Oak Hill (27-13), Tuesday, 2:45 p.m.
BOYS (at home sites)
Division V
First round
No. 13 Family Community (5-22) at No. 4 Rapides (21-11), 6 p.m.
The LSUA School of Nursing proudly announces a remarkable achievement as it kicks off the statistical year of 2024 with a flawless 100% first-time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for the Fall 2023 cohort.
The LSUA School of Nursing has a distinguished track record of producing highly skilled and competent nurses. This noteworthy accomplishment marks the second time in six years that LSUA has seen all students in a cohort pass the NCLEX on their first attempt, underscoring the school’s commitment to excellence in nursing education and preparation. The school’s dedication to academic rigor and student success is reflected in the overall pass rates of its cohorts, which consistently surpass national averages. In 2023, the national first-time pass rate was 79.2% while LSUA’s stood at 89.7%.
Sarita James, Ph.D., is the Director of LSUA’s School of Nursing. James honored her recent graduates and noted the difficulty of the new testing format, saying: “We celebrate the success of these 40 new nurses from LSUA, who demonstrate the strength, care, and dedication characteristic of our graduates. They faced the first iteration of the reformatted NextGen NCLEX state board exam. Despite broad expectations of lower pass rates with the new format, Louisiana achieved the second-highest pass rate for first-time test takers. The hard work of these graduates in becoming proficient nurses for our demanding healthcare sector is commendable. Their achievements affirm that the LSUA School of Nursing offers the ideal blend of clinical judgment training and student success, backed by an outstanding faculty.”
Amidst fluctuations in national pass rates over recent years, LSUA has maintained a strong performance, with an average first-time pass rate of 88.2% over the past six years, significantly exceeding the national average of 80.7% over the same period. This emphasizes LSUA’s unmatched ability to prepare nursing students for licensure and ensure their readiness to enter the profession.
According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, multiple steps must be completed before a nurse can safely enter the profession. These steps typically include:
Graduating from a recognized nursing program
Meeting the specific requirements of the state board of nursing
Passing the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) NCLEX® examination for registered nurses
The NCLEX serves as a critical milestone for aspiring nurses, ensuring they possess the knowledge and skills necessary to provide safe and effective patient care. LSUA’s consistent achievement of high pass rates underscores the school’s commitment to academic excellence, faculty expertise, and student support, providing a solid foundation for graduates to thrive in their nursing careers.
Jeff Langston, LSUA Dean of the College of Health and Human Services, said: “We are excited to see another strong class of nurses entering the workforce to help address the critical needs of our community. Having a 100% first-time pass rate is indicative of the hard work and dedication of our nursing program faculty and leadership. They are passionate about preparing every student to be successful, and it shows!”
As LSUA celebrates the outstanding success of its Fall 2023 nursing cohort, the school reaffirms its dedication to delivering quality nursing education and preparing future generations of compassionate and competent healthcare professionals. For more information about LSUA’s School of Nursing and its academic programs, visit www.lsua.edu/nursing.
Darwin Durison, 37, Elmer — escape, resisting, theft 3 counts, driving under suspension, careless operation, no insurance, no registration,,driver’s license not in possession, improper lane usage, disturbing peace sound, contempt, $59,000 bail.
Louisiana Christian University convergence media and public relations students swept the Southeast Journalism Conference on-site awards Sunday—placing 2nd in the overall number of awards given and bringing home seven 1st place awards and a total of 14 top three nods.
“Ecstatic doesn’t even come close to how proud I am of our entire team,” said Dr. Elizabeth Clarke, chair of the Department of Media and Communication. “These students earned so much validation for their hard work. LCU is the smallest member school in SEJC, and this shows the quality of education and time our faculty have to invest in our students, andit pays off when they are committed to their craft like these students are.”
Nine students attended SEJC at Troy University in Troy, Alabama Feb . 23-25 and participated in on-site competitions against students from other universities across the Southeast.
The following LCU students placed:
Victoria Watson – Arts and Entertainment Photography, 3rd place
Nathan Roper – Arts and Entertainment Radio Reporting, 3rd place
Cayden Walls – Arts and Entertainment TV Reporting, 1st place
Cayden Walls – Feature TV Reporting, 1st place
Carmen Taffi – TV News Reporting, 3rd place
Julia Keller – Sports Radio Reporting, 1st place
Noel Schonhoff – TV Anchoring, 3rd place
Victoria Watson – TV New Producer, 1st place
Nathan Roper, Carmen Taffi and Samuel Hair: Public Relations Campaign, 2nd place
Kaleigh Power and Cayden Walls – Artificial Intelligence Collaboration, 1st place
Samuel Hair – Media Law Quiz, 1st place
In addition, Best of the South awards were given to the best student submissions representing published and broadcast works of journalism for 2023.
The following students were recognized:
Lexi Rachal – Best Graphic Designer/Data Journalist, 1st place
Brandon Brown – Best TV News Reporter, 3rd place
Best Audio Program –“Whitewashed” by Phoebe Lim, 3rd place
SEJC includes 25 colleges and universities in the Southeast and is open to all schools in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky.
Clarke and Al Quartemont, assistant professor of journalism, will oversee the SEJC Best of the South Competition for 2025.
George J. Hackney March 4, 1950 – February 24, 2024
Service: Tuesday, February 27, 2024, 5pm at Hixson Brothers, Alexandria.
Tracy Denice Norris July 10, 1966 – February 21, 2024 Service: Thursday, February 29, 2024, 11am at New Scott Olly Baptist Church, Alexandria.
Col. Fay D. Parker, USAF (Ret) April 14, 1928 – February 10, 2024 Service: Saturday, March 2, 2024, 11am at Hixson Brothers Alexandria.
Perry Dean Lockwood March 18, 1940 – February 20, 2024 Service: Saturday, March 9, 2024, 11am at New Scott Olly Baptist Church, Alexandria.
Fay Day January 3, 1942 – February 24, 2024 Service: Saturday, March 2, 2024, 1pm at St. Rita Catholic Church, Alexandra.
The Rapides Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $95. Contact your funeral provider or RPJNewsla@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Death shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to RPJNewsla@gmail.com)
The Alexandria Police Department responded to the 2000 block of Levin Street on Feb. 24 around 2:55 am in reference to a deceased individual. Responding officers discovered Mickel Fells, 54 of Alexandria, deceasedfrom an apparent gunshot wound.
This is currently an ongoing investigation.
If anyone has any information about this incident or any other type of crime in the Alexandria area, please contact the Alexandria Police Detective Division at the phone number(318) 441–6416, or APD Dispatch (318) 441–6559. You may also email information to detectives at: APDDetectives@cityofalex.com.
For a cash reward, call Crime Stoppers of CenLaat (318) 443–7867. The Crime Stoppers P3 Tipster App can also be downloaded to leave tips and get a claim number for a cash reward athttp://www.p3tips.com/community/mobile
Northwestern State University hosted over 2,600 high school students, faculty sponsors and families from 38 schools from throughout the region for the Northwest Louisiana Literary Rally Saturday.
The Louisiana High School Rally, an academic competition held throughout the state since 1909, with the regional competition being held at NSU since the 1960s, is an academic competition in which high school students compete by taking exams in a variety of subjects taught in high school. The Northwest Louisiana Rally held at NSU featured 51 different tests ranging from Agriscience to Calculus.
Rapides Parish was ably represented by several teams of sharp young people from schools such as Bolton, ASH, Buckeye and Glenmora High Schools. Students who earn qualifying scores on their test or performance will advance to compete at the state literary rally at LSU in Baton Rouge in March. NSU’s Art and Science departments also held demonstrations and a drone flying contest.
Hard working teachers raising our young people’s sights and encouraging academic excellence are part and parcel of our schools’ mission. Thank you ladies and gentlemen for the hours of hard work, dedication and belief in your students’ abilities. Lastly, the Rapides Parish Journal wishes all the best to our parish’s students who will go on to represent the parish at the state rally in Baton Rouge. Well done!
