James Arlis “Jim” Dyess July 3, 1938 – April 26, 2024 Service: Wednesday, May 1, 2024, 1pm at Hixson Brothers Funeral Home, Alexandria.
Madelyn Blaize Kleinpeter Gaspar May 26, 1928 – April 25, 2024 Service: Friday, May 3, 2024, 11am at St. Rita’s Catholic Church, Alexandria.
Nancy Simpson Davis September 25, 1946 – April 26, 2024 Service: Friday, May 3, 2024, 2pm at Hixson Brothers Alexandria.
Hannon Louis Roy jr January 13, 1952 – April 22, 2024 Service: Saturday, May 4, 2024, 10am at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery #2, Marksville.
Quincy Delmonte Martin Alfred August 20, 2003 – April 22, 2024 Service: Saturday, May 4, 2024, 1pm at Calvary Tabernacle, Alexandria.
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)
Four parish high school baseball teams are in playoff action this weekend and three softball squads play state semifinal contests today in Sulphur, hoping to reach Saturday’s round of state championship games. All parish teams play in the Select divisions.
SOFTBALL
In the softball state tournament, top-seeded Grace Christian plays at 2:30 today on Field 17 at Frasch Park against No. 5 St. Joseph’s-Plaucheville in a Division V Select semi. The state championship game is at noon Saturday.
In Division I, sixth-ranked Pineville meets No. 2 John Curtis at 5 p.m. on Field 16, with a championship game appearance Saturday at 3 at Field 14 on the line.
Buckeye’s girls, No. 1 in Division II, also play at 5 today on Field 17 against fourth-seeded E.D. White. The state final is at 3 Saturday on Field 13.
BASEBALL
The ASH baseball team rolled into next week’s state quarterfinals with a doubleheader sweep (8-1, 15-1) Thursday over No. 11 Riverdale in a Division I Select series. The Trojans will play either No. 3 Rummell or 14th-seeded Carencro next.
Buckeye’s season came to a surprising end Thursday when visiting Evangel Christian closed out a three-game series with a 10-2 victory over the Panthers, marred by nine Buckeye errors. The Panthers won Thursday’s opener, a 7-2 decision that squared the series on the heels of a 1-0 ECA victory Wednesday in Game 1 of the Division 2 Select second-round matchup.
Today, Pineville, Tioga, Menard and Glenmora are in action.
Pineville must sweep two games today to survive in its Division I series. The No. 17 Rebels are in Baton Rouge facing No. 1-ranked Catholic, which is ranked as high as third nationally. The Bears won Game 1 Thursday 8-1 and will try to close out the best-of-3 series today at 4, with an if-necessary third game to follow if Pineville can prevail.
Tioga also dropped an 8-1 decision in Game 1 of its Division I series at Brother Martin. The teams meet again at 4 today in a game available to watch via a free stream through CrescentCitySports.com, and if the No. 10 Indians take that contest, the teams will square off again Friday evening to settle the series.
In Division III, No. 4 Menard opens its best-of-3 matchup with No. 13 Fisher at home at 6:30 tonight. The teams meet again at noon Saturday with an if-necessary Game 3 to follow. Fifth-ranked Dunham is awaiting the winner in the quarterfinals, a series Menard would host.
Glenmora in Division III must win twice today to survive after University Lab won the first game of the series 9-2 in Baton Rouge. Game 2 begins at 4 and if necessary, a decisive Game 3 would follow.
Three parish teams are alive in the Division V bracket, but Grace Christian, Oak Hill and Rapides won’t play their winner-take-all single games in quarterfinal action until late next week.
GENERALS STAR: Kashie Natt led the LSUA Generals to the NAIA Tournament and a conference championship. (Photo courtesy LSUA Athletics)
By JASON PUGH, Northwestern State SID, Written for LSWA
Two of the key members of McNeese’s record-setting men’s basketball turnaround season took home top honors on the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s 2023-24 All-Louisiana Men’s Basketball Team.
Senior guard Shahada Wells, a transfer from TCU, won both Player and Newcomer of the Year honors while Will Wade was named Coach of the Year after leading the Cowboys to a 30-4 record and the Southland Conference regular season and tournament titles. Grambling’s Donte’ Jackson was a strong contender for the coaching award.
Bossier Parish Community College guard John Awoke rounded out the individual award winners, taking home state Freshman of the Year acclaim after averaging 15 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.
Kashie Natt, the sensational junior guard who led the LSUA Generals to the Red River Athletic Conference championship and the NAIA Tournament, was a third-team selection.
Earlier this month, Natt won first-team NAIA All-America honors.
The 2023-24 LSWA All-Louisiana Men’s Basketball teams were selected by a statewide vote of school sports information directors and media members.
2023-24 LSWA All-Louisiana Men’s Basketball Teams
Player of the Year: Shahada Wells, G, McNeese
Newcomer of the Year: Shahada Wells, G, McNeese
Freshman of the Year: John Awoke, Bossier Parish Community College
Coach of the Year: Will Wade, McNeese
First Team
Shahada Wells, G, Gr., McNeese, Fort Worth, Texas
17.8 points per game, 4.7 assists per game, Southland Conference Player of the Year, SLC Newcomer of the Year, Major Madness First-Team All-American
Isaiah Crawford, F, Gr., Louisiana Tech, Fort Worth, Texas
16.3 points per game, 6.2 rebounds per game, Conference USA Player of the Year, CUSA Defensive Player of the Year, NABC All-District First Team
Daniel Batcho, F, R-Jr., Louisiana Tech, Paris, France
15.2 points per game, 9.8 rebounds per game, Conference USA Newcomer of the Year
Diante Smith, F, Sr., Nicholls, Fort Walton Beach, Florida
16.0 points per game, 6.2 rebounds per game, First-Team All-Southland Conference
Jordan Wright, F, Gr., LSU, Waggaman, Louisiana
15.1 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game
Second Team
Kobe Julien, F, R-Jr., UL Lafayette, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
17.3 points per game, 4.8 rebounds per game, Second-Team All-Sun Belt
Kevin Cross, F, Sr., Tulane, Little Rock, Arkansas
17.5 points per game, 7.3 rebounds per game, Third-Team All-American Athletic Conference
Christian Shumate, F, Jr., McNeese, Chicago, Illinois
12.1 points per game, 9.5 rebounds per game, Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year
Nick Caldwell, G/F, Sr., Southeastern Louisiana, Prairieville, Louisiana
15.4 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game, First-Team All-Southland Conference
The 2nd annual City of Lights crawfish cookoff hosted by the Natchitoches Parish Fair Board will be held on May 4th at the fairgrounds. Teams will be boiling their best recipes competing for cash prizes and people’s choice.
This event is open to the public, 11 am to 5 pm for only $30 – all-you-can-eat crawfish!!! There will be live entertainment provided by the Comeback Kids & the Born to Boogie band. A Taste of Heaven Food Truck, Cane River Pizza Co., snow cones, Murphy’s Sweets & eats, a bouncy house play area for the kids, and Antoons will be selling beer to that ID as 21 and over.
No ice chests or outside food or drinks will be allowed, bags will be checked, and lawn chairs are recommended. Visit our 2nd annual City of Lights crawfish cookoff Facebook page to find sponsorship and /or registration information to enter a team or to purchase pre-sale tickets.
All proceeds from this event will benefit the NRMC Cancer Center. So come to the fairgrounds on May 4th to support this great cause.
Brenda Kay Driskill Milam April 16, 1935 – April 19, 2024 Service: Saturday, April 27, 2024, 11am at St. Timothy Episcopal Church, Alexandria.
Shirley Dauzat McNeal January 9, 1945 – April 20, 2024 Service: Saturday, April 27, 2024, 10am at Hixson Brothers, Marksville.
Roy Paul Bordelon November 29, 1934 – April 23, 2024 Service: Monday, April 29, 2024, 10am at Kramer Funeral Home, Fifth Ward.
Hannon Louis Roy jr January 13, 1952 – April 22, 2024 Service: Saturday, May 4, 2024, 10am at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery #2, Marksville.
Quincy Delmonte Martin Alfred August 20, 2003 – April 22, 2024 Service: Saturday, May 4, 2024, 1pm at Calvary Tabernacle, Alexandria.
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)
Crossroads Soccer Association 3rd Annual Charity Event will be held tonight to benefit the Stafford Family.
Held annually to benefit a family facing hardship, area coaches select a family of one of their soccer players to share their support and boost morale while strengthening community ties.
This year’s recipient is the family of Jackson Stafford, 15, who has played Crossroads Soccer for years. Jackson’s mother, Courtney, is a local teacher and typical soccer mom who could always be found cheering Jackson on from the sidelines with his little sister Kerrigan, 11.
Dealing with grief over the recent loss of her mother, Courtney went in to her family practitioner in January 2024 for a routine exam feeling sad but otherwise fine. Within hours she’d been diagnosed with leukemia and admitted for a month-long stay at MD Anderson.
The absolute marvel in her voice today at such an early detection and the gratitude over the healthcare provisions she had in place are a testament to a life firmly rooted in faith. Despite the hardship, Courtney’s story is one of inspiration. There’s no question as to why she was selected as this year’s recipient.
Not to mention her family’s unwavering devotion to Crossroads. “He eats, sleeps, and breathes soccer,” she said of Jackson.
Cheering on the teams with Jackson and his sister is Logan Stafford, their dad and Courtney’s husband who has been her biggest supporter. While Courtney will have to settle for the post-game play-by-play as she rebuilds her immune system, the rest of the Stafford family will be on hand to watch the all-Cenla players selected to participate in the match tonight, a group of high school players selected by the high school soccer coaches.
President of Crossroads Soccer Association Ian Ragsdale loves the opportunity to showcase these players in such an impactful way. “We are grateful for the opportunity to bring the All-Star match to the broader soccer community and tie our younger families into the high school soccer community through such a worthy cause.”
Ragsdale’s family has been a part of Cenla’s Crossroads since its inception in 1994. I laughingly shared the tale of my son playing his first and last year in ‘95. He couldn’t keep his hands off the ball! Many a coach and referee wore out their whistles over my 4-year old that year!
Leaving the ball-touching to the goalkeepers, these Cenla standouts will play at Johnny Downs tonight at 5:30 (Girls) and 7:30 PM (Boys). Drawings for raffle baskets will be held at each halftime. Raffle tickets may be bought at the game.
Knowing she had more resources than most made Courtney reluctant to accept many offers in the beginning of her journey but realizing the Crossroads offer was the soccer community supporting her children made her view this opportunity differently. Families often endure the hardships along with the patient and this unexpected trial was no different. Seeing the outpouring of love and support for her entire family is soothing to a mom’s heart.
But above all, Courtney wants to use her journey to share a message. “Don’t skip your annual exam,” she shares. “It could save your life.”
Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist who believes in the power of community for healing. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.
The play within a play concept can be hard to follow but the cast of Pineville High’s Theater is up to the task. Full of slapstick comedy, the talented cast adeptly portrays members of Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society as they put on a performance of The Murder at Haversham Manor.
During the performance, a plethora of disasters befalls the cast, including doors sticking, props falling from the walls, and floors collapsing. Cast members misplace props, forget lines, miss cues, break character, mispronounce words, step on fingers, and are mishandled off-stage.
My favorite part is when a cast member is knocked unconscious and the group’s technician replaces her. Reading the script as she performs until a mishap has her hilariously and inappropriately ad-libbing, Annie (Emma Stewart) falls in love with performing so much that she refuses to give the role up when original actress Sandra (Rayne Blake) returns. That’s showbiz!
The award-winning show has been hailed a cross between Monty Python & Sherlock Holmes and has delighted audiences since 2012. Laughter rings out from the PHS auditorium as well which only fuels this brilliant cast also including Keagan Moore, Charles Bubenzer, Matt McQuain, Olivia Goodnight, Andrew Abbott, Claire Groh, and Jolie Sabbides.
Directed by Katelyn Bush, who also stars as Denise, the multitalented senior has proven her capabilities on and off-stage. Pineville High School’s Theatre Department has had a real treasure the last four years in Bush and you don’t want to miss her final performance at Pineville High.
Under the artistic and technical direction of Kristopher Prestridge, The Play That Goes Wrong will be presented April 26-28 in Pineville High School’s Auditorium. Shows are Friday and Saturday at 7 PM and Sunday at 2 PM. Tickets can be purchased in advance at pinevillehightheatre.com or at the door.
Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist promoting community, education, and the arts in Central Louisiana.
NEW ORLEANS – Crescent City Sports will provide a free live stream of the LHSAA’s Division I select regional-round series between Tioga and Brother Martin.
Coverage from historic “Rags” Scheuermann Field at Kirsch-Rooney Stadium in New Orleans begins with today’s 7 p.m. opening game and continues Friday with games at 4:30 p.m. and, if necessary, at 7 p.m. Ken Trahan and former major league pitcher Kirk Bullinger will describe the action.
The No. 10 seed Indians (16-11) finished second to Neville in District 2-4A. The seventh-seeded Crusaders (20-10) finished in a second-place tie with John Curtis Christian in District 9-5A.
Both programs have great baseball traditions. Tioga has won three straight championships, most recently in Class 4A in 2019, and played for three other titles, while Brother Martin has a pair of state titles and four total appearances in title games.
The winner of the Tioga-Brother Martin series will face either No. 2 seed John Curtis or 15th seed St. Augustine in the quarterfinals next weekend.
The Crescent City Sports team is in its 13th season of producing live broadcasts for television and internet, having produced nearly 500 live streams since 2012, and is continuing its extensive commitment to prep sports coverage on its website. All written and video content on CCS is always free and does not require a subscription.
REGIONAL CHAMPS: Winning the Region 1-5A championship in the boys 4×200 meter relay was ASH’s foursome of Jordan Johnson, Ja’voric Allen, Jaylin Johnson, and JT Lindsey. (Journal photo by DOUG IRELAND)
The Alexandria Senior High track and field teams qualified seven boys and eight girls entries for next Saturday’s Class 5A state meet in Baton Rouge by recording top three finishes Wednesday at the Region 1-5A Championships at Northwestern State’s Walter P. Ledet Track Complex.
Pineville had two state meet qualifiers.
Ten local entries were regional champions.
BOYS
ASH (74 points, third place)
4×800 meter relay – first, 8:04.34, Omar Isa, Nicholas Scott, Dartez Simon, Jeremy Fisher 4×200 relay – first, 1:26.77, Jaylin Johnson, Jordan Johnson, Ja’voric Allen, JT Lindsey 4×400 relay – second, 41.88, Jaylin Johnson, Jordan Johnson, Allen, Lindsey 100 meter dash – Jordan Johnson, third, 11.11 Discus – Hunter Rivet, second, 170-8 Long jump – Marquis Butler, third, 21-8 Triple jump – Butler, first, 47-7
There are plenty of folks who include the outdoors as a part of their lives. They hunt; they fish; they hike but their nine-to-five jobs occupy the majority of their time.
For a handful of others, the outdoors is basically their life; they’re consumed with the woods and waters. That’s why this select group can’t wait to wake up every morning and go to their job in some form of making their living in outdoor industries. John Brown is just such a fellow.
For the 57-year-old Brown, it started some 30-odd years ago when he teamed up with fellow Ruston High School graduate Rex Moncrief to plan, film produce and star in an outdoor television show, “The Outdoor News,” which ran for a few years on area TV stations.
Wanting more exposure to the outdoors, Brown had become adept at handling video equipment and he began doing free-lance video works for such outdoors-related companies as Knight and Hale, Primos, Mossy Oak. His work caught the attention of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) and for near 30 years, Brown worked with that organization eventually becoming executive producer of their television and video work.
Aside from his involvement with the outdoors, Brown developed an interest in coaching youth baseball. While living in Edgefield, SC, headquarters of the NWTF, he coached youngsters and in 2019, his team of 12-year-olds won a national championship. Interestingly, the tourney was held in Ruston.
“I came to Ruston for the tournament and it was like a homecoming to me. I wanted to plant myself back here in north Louisiana where I was raised. I told my boss at the NWTF I wanted to take an early retirement so I could move back home,” said Brown.
After retiring, Brown and his wife, a retired school teacher, live in the country outside W. Monroe. Has he retired from his outdoors ventures? That’s not in Brown’s DNA. He writes features for LA Sportsman magazine and has taken a consuming interest in 51 acres of land in Caldwell Parish his dad had purchased before he passed away last year. Brown is converting the property his dad left him to a mecca for wildlife.
“When I first walked over the property, it was so thick and overgrown you could hardly pick your way through it. There was no way you could think about finding a turkey track. For the past year and a half I have worked on the land, clearing brush and establishing food plots. Last week,” said Brown, “I called up two longbeard gobblers, a hen and six jakes at one time.
“I have rededicated myself to telling the conservation story that no matter if a piece of property is large or small, if you work on the habitat, wildlife will react and find it.”
Brown’s next project, which will reach fruition on April 30, is his book, “Gathering Light.’
“Before he passed away, my dad had encouraged me to write down what I had done in stories I could pass down as a legacy to my kids and grandchildren. I finally did it. The book tells about my growing up in Franklin Parish on the Tensas River as well as my outdoors-related work down through the years,” he said.
The hard cover book as well as in E-book form will be available starting April 30. Search for it on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.
This book will appeal to not only outdoorsmen and women but with John Brown’s God given ability to tell a story, it’s a book anyone will enjoy reading.
The Natchitoches Historic Foundation is delighted to announce a Dedication Ceremony and Gala event to commemorate the completion of the Pacalé-Roque House restoration project, located on the picturesque Cane River Lake downtown riverbank. After more than a year of dedicated work, we are thrilled to invite the community to join us in celebrating this momentous occasion.
The Dedication Ceremony will take place on Thursday, May 9 at 2 PM, on the grounds of the Pacalé-Roque House. The public is warmly invited to attend this special ceremony at no charge, as we express our gratitude for the support and enthusiasm shown throughout the restoration process.
Following the dedication, the festivities will continue with an elegant Gala event, beginning at 7 PM on the same evening. Hosted at a stunning location, this adult-only affair promises an evening of sophistication, featuring delectable cuisine, refreshing beverages, and live entertainment provided by the talented Katrice Lacour.
Tickets for the Gala are priced at $50 per person and can be purchased by contacting Lee Akin at (832) 729-2610 or visiting www.nhfla.com. Additionally, businesses and groups are invited to become sponsors by purchasing a table for $500, which includes seating for eight individuals, prominent signage at the event, and the opportunity to have their chosen name engraved on the Preservationist Wall.
For those who wish to leave a lasting legacy in support of historic preservation, we invite you to consider adding your name or the name of a loved one to the Preservationist Wall. For a contribution of $150, your name will be eternally memorialized as a testament to your commitment to the preservation of Natchitoches’ rich history.
Join us as we celebrate the culmination of our hard work and dedication to preserving the cultural heritage of Natchitoches. Together, let us honor the legacy of the Pacalé-Roque House and ensure its enduring presence for generations to come.
For further information or inquiries, please contact Lee Akin at (832) 729-2610.
Joshua Beasley allegedly accessed a social networking site, action forbidden under Louisiana law to registered sex offenders.
Beasley, 34, of Alexandria is registered as a result of a September 2022 conviction of molestation and carnal knowledge.
That stemmed from arrest in October 2019 on 12 counts of molestation of juveniles at least 13 but under 17 over whom he had control or supervision, along with accusations of indecent behavior and carnal knowledge.
The current charge carries a penalty if convicted of up to $10,000 and up to 10 years in prison without parole, probation or suspension of sentence.
Circumstances regarding Bradley’s arrest Tuesday have not been released. He remained in custody under $5,000 bail Wednesday.
The bad for Christopher Mayeaux is he’s been arrested again.
The good, for someone, is he didn’t try to burn anything down.
Mayeaux, 37, of Pineville was booked Tuesday on charges of aggravated battery and criminal trespass. His arrests record includes two alleged instances of arson.
The most notable of those, it is recalled, was allegedly attempting to burn a car dealership office he had burglarized in February 2019. First, it was charged, he stole 100 sets of keys and began fitting them in vehicles on the MacArthur Drive lot.
Ultimately he drove away five, parking four one at a time a short distance away, then starting the fire and escaping in the fifth vehicle.
Not long thereafter he got into a squabble at a nearby hotel. When officers arrived he fled in the allegedly stolen ride and was captured a few blocks away, tasered when he resisted.
The record shows a busy 2019 for the suspect. In June he was charged with disturbing the peace, in September with narcotics possession, in November with contempt and trespassing and in December with two possession counts.
As the calendar flipped to a new decade Mayeaux, like many in Pandemic Year 1, had tough going in isolation times.
There were arrests in March, possession, contempt 4 counts; April, arson, possession, contraband penal facility; November, contempt 5 counts; December, possession, burglary.
He was not booked again, the record shows, until November 2021, on 9 contempt counts. It was another two years before booking last
If you have followed The Copper Whisk for awhile you know that Mom’s Brownies are THE #1 recipe on my website! Now you can make and serve this absolutely delicious White Chocolate Sauce alongside the brownies for dipping. It is without a doubt the perfect partner. I love it for strawberries too.
Ingredients:
§ 1 cup heavy whipping cream
§ 2 egg yolks
§ ½ cup sugar
§ 1 teaspoon vanilla
§ ¼ teaspoon salt
§ 1 package white chocolate chips
Directions
In a heavy sauce pan simmer bring heavy cream to a low boil. As soon as it boils add egg yolks. Whisk rapidly, and as soon as eggs are incorporated well remove from heat. Stir in sugar, vanilla, salt, and white chocolate chips. Stir until white chocolate chips are melted. You can let simmer on low heat to thicken if you like, but at this point the sauce is ready.
I like to make this ahead of time and refrigerate as it will thicken as it cools. This is so so fantastic with Mom’s Brownies, strawberries, graham crackers, and pretzels.
Ashley Madden Rowton is a wife, mom and published cookbook author who lives in Minden, La.
Brenda Kay Driskill Milam April 16, 1935 – April 19, 2024 Service: Saturday, April 27, 2024, 11am at St. Timothl Episcopal Church, Alexandria.
Shirley Dauzat McNeal January 9, 1945 – April 20, 2024 Service: Saturday, April 27, 2024, 10am at Hixson Brothers, Marksville.
Hannon Louis Roy jr January 13, 1952 – April 22, 2024 Service: Saturday, May 4, 2024, 10am at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery #2, Marksville.
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)
