By JIM BUTLER

The Sheriff’s Office has about $300,000 that officers found, if you’re missing such. But be advised you will have to provide information regarding your entitlement.

About a month ago deputies stopped an out-of-state driver on I49 north-bound for allegedly following too close.

Finding narcotics, the drug enforcement team was alerted and found $282,345 cached away in the vehicle.

The accused driver bonded out the next day and went on his way, less the cash alleged to be proceeds of drugs transactions.

Now officials propose to keep the money. Anyone wishing to contest the forfeiture should contact RPSO or the DA’s Office by July 21.

In doing so you’ll have to attest to the circumstances of your acquisition of any ownership of the money. Just saying.

In 1990 Julie Evans gained employment as a school bus driver for Calvin High School. The position was perfect, “I brought my kids to school and home again” Julie laughs, and states “I always knew they arrived safely”. Julie retired after 23 years of service to fulfill the requirements of a higher education.

Julie graduated from Northwestern State University in 2012 with a Bachelor’s degree in Addiction Studies, with a minor in Psychology, and again in 2014 with a Master’s degree in Counseling with concentrations in school counseling.

After graduation, Evans enter the school system again as student counselor in Red River Parish. “It was a blessing to begin my professional career with such a supportive administration”, shared Evans. She later gained employment with Winn Community Health Center where she humbly serves as student counselor for the Winn Parish students. She went on to say, “I am thankful for my employer, Mr. Deano Thornton, and my position within the school-based clinic”.

In 2020 Julie enrolled into the University of Holy Cross in New Orleans in the Ph.D. Counseling, Leadership, and Education program. Having graduated with her Ph.D. Evans calls it her last degree while her family just nods and laughs.

In 2022, with a nudge from the Holy Spirit, Julie began forming a private practice offering Christian counseling services. Evans says, “There is such a need, people want more than what the secular world can offer”. She counts her practice, Ash Street Ministries LLC, as a blessing from the Lord and without Him, she states, it “just wouldn’t work”. Evans admits being called Dr. Evans will take some getting used to, as she humbly says, “Ms. Julie works just as well”.

Julie is a wife, mother, grandmother, and a child of God. ASM takes all insurances, and welcomes new patients.

Julie Evans, Ph.D.
National Board Certified Licensed Professional Counselor
Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor
Certified Telemental Health Provider

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call Dr. Evans at 318-471-1221 or email her at ministriesllc@yahoo.com

By T. SCOTT BOATRIGHT, Lincoln Parish Journal

NATCHITOCHES — The numbers spoke volumes, but the spontaneous response said it all.

College Baseball Hall of Fame coach and Grambling State icon Wilbert Ellis was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Saturday night.

Ellis became only the second honoree of the LSHOF’s Louisiana Sports Ambassador Award, joining national broadcaster and Shreveport resident Tim Brando, who was inducted in 2020. The Ambassador Award recognizes exemplary representation of the state on a national scale by a Louisiana sports figure.

Judging from the small army of supporters that showed up at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony, ambassador might be an understatement for Ellis.

On Saturday, Ellis became both Louisiana sports royalty and minister while accepting his honor during an on-stage interview with broadcaster and 2018 LSHOF inductee Lyn Rollins.

The night began with the Walk of Legends featuring previous LSHOF inductees, followed with the new inductees walking across the stage, with Ellis receiving his first standing ovation of the night before the induction interviews ever began.

“There have been other inductees over the years that have had big crowds of followers like Coach Ellis did, and who got long ovations,” said Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame chair Doug Ireland. “But the thing that struck me was Coach Ellis received the first-ever standing ovation, probably a half-minute long, during the Walk of Legends. It stopped the Walk for a few moments. That never happened before.”

After that, each new inductee in attendance took to the stage for live interviews with one of two well-known broadcasters, Rollins, or Baton Rouge’s Victor Howell.

When it was his turn in the induction lineup, following a short video featuring Ellis’ history including comments by lifelong friend James Davison of Ruston, former GSU and Major League Baseball standout Gary Eave, current Grambling State baseball coach Davin Pierre and his pastor, Maurice White of Zion Traveler Baptist in Ruston, Ellis was called to the stage.

What followed was a near minute-long standing ovation.

Rollins began the interview with Ellis talking about the impact of youth baseball camps that are part of the reason he was honored with the Ambassador Award.

“I always wanted to give back,” Ellis said. “I always wanted to make a difference. I always wanted to teach fundamental baseball skills, but I also wanted those teachings to go into life, and to motivate young people to build the right roots and be able to make a difference in their lives.

“That was my prayer. God gave me that prayer. I’ve been all over the country doing it. I had some of the greatest people in the world supporting me, starting with my mother and father, Mattie, and Houston Ellis. There are so many people in my community (that helped him). Then when I got to Grambling State University, I met some of the finest people in the world.”

Ellis, 88, then rattled off a Who’s Who list of Grambling State royalty — former president and baseball coach R.W.E. Jones, iconic football coach Eddie G. Robinson, and basketball coaching legend Fred Hobdy.

“I could go on and on,” Ellis continued. “And I met so many people in my community — people that cared about young people and wanted to give people chances and talk about rights and wrongs. That motivated me. … They made me want to be the best and I worked hard at that. …. I could call out a lot of names tonight, but I don’t want to get into any trouble, either, by forgetting someone.”

Ellis then proved how much support he has had over the years, saying that the small army of supporters appearing to be at 175 if not 200 had made him shed tears with their show of love. People traveled from coast-to-coast to attend and share Ellis’ official entry into the state sports legend status.

He then asked that small army to stand, receiving another standing ovation in the process.

“That right there could be my speech tonight,” Ellis said. “I know that you didn’t have to come, but you showed that somewhere down the line we’ve touched lives together. I love all of you and wish I could call out all your names. But let’s move on.”

As his speech again turned to his desire of teaching life skills to youth, Ellis told the crowd he did not want to take it too far, but felt it is an important subject and that the key is ending the obvious divide our nation is currently undergoing.

“We all need to be involved (in helping youth in America),” Ellis said. “We’re in serious trouble. And it’s not serious about one person, it’s serious about the whole United States of America. We’re going to have to come together. I know I didn’t come to preach, but we’re going to have to come together and do some things to make a difference in the lives of our young people.

“You know, they want to be helped, and it’s our duty and responsibility to help them.”

And as Ellis’ time on stage ended, Rollins asked one favor — that Ellis keep preaching.

“Well thank you for that, but I think that everybody here tonight has had some responsibility with young people, even in your own home with your own children. I know all of you have done that in the community,” Ellis said.

“Don’t turn your head (away from youth) — they want to be helped. They want to be nourished. They need some direction. And don’t be afraid to sit down and talk with them about direction. Tell them about right and wrong, going to church and doing great things in life so that when you see them again, they’re doing great things. They can be lawyers. They can be doctors. But we must work with them in such a way to help make our communities and nation a better place.”

 A full video, produced by LPB, of Saturday’s LSHOF ceremony can be found online at Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame – 2024 Celebration (youtube.com).  Louisiana Public Broadcasting will air a two-hour recap show on July 11.

Contact Scott at tscottboatright@gmail.com

By Doug De Graffenried

You can’t drive forward while looking in a rear-view mirror.

You can try and some do.

Ministers spend a great deal of time in a car driving to various places. I enjoy my automotive world. With technology, I can hear the phone ring despite playing my radio loud enough to change my heart rhythm. I play the radio so loud because I don’t hear well after all these years of playing the radio very loud in my car. The vehicle allows the phone call to interrupt my musical moment. I never miss a phone call while driving. When I am alone, the air-conditioning is on the “freeze out” setting. I want to make sure that my glasses fog up heavily when I exit the vehicle. If I can’t see at all, the air conditioning was cold enough. I also look for sermon illustrations while I am driving. Jesus is certainly watching, but I am too! When I raise the phone while driving, I’m not texting. I am photographing.

This morning driving to work, I had the radio loud and the air conditioning on “freeze out,” while I observed the world. In front of me was a black mustang convertible. There was a girl in the car. I could tell because she had her rearview mirror cocked in the “installing make up while driving” position. We sat at the light, and I watched as she applied some ointment, powder, or treatment to her face while the light was red. Because of the angle of the Mustang rear window, I could not tell if she continued applying make-up while driving. She was going “my way” and I did note she was an excellent driver and I’ll bet a super multi-tasker.

I have witnessed full facial make-overs while the person was driving the car. I have seen men put on a tie, send a text message, and read the newspaper at the same time while driving on the Interstate. But I am fascinated by the women who can put on that eye makeup stuff while driving. I have seen mascara going on while the nice lady was driving the car and making a cell phone call. I am amazed. They are doing all of this while looking backwards. The road they are traveling on is out the front window!

But really, you can’t drive forward looking in a rear-view mirror. Jesus said, “If you put your hand to the plow and look back you are not worthy of the kingdom.” Jesus was saying you need to keep your spiritual focus and your life looking forward. If you look back to regrets, mistakes, slights, hurts, sins, or even successes you will miss the beauty of this day. Today is out there, it is not back there!

You didn’t know your car was spiritual, did you?

Doug de Graffenried is the Senior Pastor of Trinity Methodist Church in Ruston, Louisiana. You can reach Doug at his email:  DougDeGraffenried

Acclaimed sportswriter Scott Rabalais joins Billy West Live to talk about his upcoming book “100 Years in Valley” about LSU’s Tiger Stadium

Arrests are accusations, not felonies. 

June 25

Bryan Johnson, 53, Forest Hill — murder 2nd degree, $300,000 bail;

Destiny Strother, 32, Deville  — fraud in obtaining public assistance, $1,000 bail;

Tarneshia Thompson, 34, Alexandria — fraud refund of access device application, theft, $1,000 bail. 

This date: 15 arrests, 6 including one or more contempt counts.

Arrests are accusations, not convictions. 

June 24

Marilyn Destin, 44, Cheneyville — possession 2 counts, CDS in presence of person under 17, no child restraint system, $1,100 bail. 

By JIM BUTLER

There’s good news and there’s better in the City of Alexandria Employees Retirement System audit report.

The system’s net position for pensions grew $23 million to $217 million in the year ending December 31, 2023, almost entirely from growth in investments value.

That’s the good news.

The better, from the city perspective, is the employer contribution rate of 23.72% of payroll this fiscal year will drop to 20.03% in the next, based on actuarial recommendation. The rate in the audit period was 22.65% on a $23.1 million payroll.

City contributions in the audit period totaled $5.2 million and employees contributed $2.1 million.

Auditors noted the system has no unfunded actuarial liability.

The system CEO, the legendary Richard G. Moriarty, was paid $57,225, auditors noted.

By JIM BUTLER

Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital is seeking bids for creating a private water system.

Offers will be opened July 16.

Envisioned for the system are a well, six storage tanks and booster pumps station. Notice of the bid solicitation doesn’t specify where the well site is anticipated.

A hospital without water faces extreme issues and a stable alternative potable supply is a key addition to emergency management inventories.

The necessity of potable water is obvious; that of non-potable necessary in a host of functions perhaps not so. 

U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow was successful in having $775,000 allocated toward the project in the FY 23 Community Services appropriations. 

She noted:

“Multiple times in the past few years, natural disasters have hit Alexandria, Louisiana which have caused the hospital to lose access to necessary water supply. This project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because having access to a stable water supply is essential to maintain medical operations during natural disasters.

“Additionally, located in the state’s central evacuation area during hurricane season, it is important the hospital is fully functional and able to serve supplementary patients routed to the area. This project will ensure that the hospital will be able to continue providing life-saving medical care to patients without interruption.”

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Drew Brees came to the rescue for the New Orleans Saints and, by extension, the city of New Orleans and even the state of Louisiana.

But in the aftermath of his disappointing absence from the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremonies Saturday night in Natchitoches, Seimone Augustus, Wilbert Ellis, Kerry Joseph and the rest of the honorees came to the rescue to make it one of the Hall’s more memorable induction ceremonies ever.

The best line of the night? Let’s give it to Tom Burnett, winner of the Dave Dixon Sports Leadership Award, who was the honoree that followed Brees. In a taped Q and A video for the ceremony, Brees said he couldn’t attend because he was on vacation in Japan for two weeks with his family. That served as a cue for a punch line from Burnett, a West Monroe High and Louisiana Tech graduate who capped a career in sports administration by chairing the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee for the 2021-22 season.

“On behalf of Drew Brees,” Burnett said before his Q and A session, “it’s good to be here tonight. Our Japan trip is next week.”

One gentleman who showed up under difficult circumstances for the “Walk of Legends” of past inductees was rodeo legend T.B. “Teaberry” Porter of Leesville. He didn’t walk across the stage, but it didn’t matter. At age 97, sporting an eye patch and hobbled enough that he walks with a cane, he got a rousing ovation. Just showing up is the first victory in any competition, and it’s triumphant when you’ve given your all.

If you love Louisiana, the saying goes, Louisiana will love you back, and that was the case with Porter. It was also the case with Lafayette native and wrestling and MMA legend Daniel Cormier, who was not able to attend because he was working as a commentator for a UFC telecast in Saudi Arabia.

The much-decorated Cormier said being inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame was “as big an honor as I’ve had in my entire life.”

Perry Clark, a native of Washington D.C., had unprecedented and amazingly quick success resurrecting Tulane basketball’s fortunes after the New Orleans university’s four-year self-imposed shutdown in the wake of a point-shaving scandal. Again, like so many others, he spoke of his love for New Orleans and Louisiana. 

“This is the most wonderful group of people in the country,” he gushed. “You love with your heart. You give with dedication and care. We had to live up to your energy, your desires and the things you hold very, very special – loyalty and caring. If I ever get accused of being too loyal, I hope they find enough evidence to find me guilty.”

There was a genuine, endearing quality to the 10 inductees who were present. Repeated themes, and timeless ones, were the value of faith in God, hard work, and good mentoring by parents or coaches or others, to achieving success.

Baseball coach and ambassador Wilbert Ellis, the last of the three titans of Grambling’s fabled sports history, along with the late Eddie Robinson (football) and Fred Hobdy (basketball), had a little more than 180 fans and admirers at the banquet, which had its second largest crowd ever (800-plus), according to LSHOF chairman Doug Ireland.

Ellis stressed his passion in coaching was to “make a difference in the lives” of the young people.

He encouraged other coaches and parents and grandparents to tell young people – in these times when “we are in serious trouble” — about right and wrong.

Former LSU women’s basketball star Seimone Augustus, the greatest woman’s basketball player in Louisiana history, recently took a job as assistant coach under LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey, and she confided to Mulkey of some worries of how she might best communicate as a coach with the players.

“She told me. ‘Be yourself,’” Seimone said. Which isn’t a problem for her. Never has been. She defied the trend of fellow coveted recruits who were signing with either Tennessee or Connecticut, by signing with LSU in 2002.

“I’ve never considered myself a trend follower but a trend setter,” said Seimone, a Baton Rouge native.

Any of those honored Saturday could have said the same. Folks in the Bayou State love it most when the trend setting is woven, with love and loyalty, into the fabric of Louisiana.

By Brad Dison

BATON ROUGE – The voice came from behind me early Monday morning as I was cleaning the “gifts” left on my back patio by Skippy the Wonder Bichon and his brother Buddy II.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the Hall of Famer,” said a familiar voice.

I turned around. Skippy was standing in the doggie door, wearing his usual smirk.

“What’s the deal, Famer?” Skipper asked. “Wasn’t there a Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer pooper scooper in your swag bag? Hall of Fame czar Dougie ‘Fresh’ Ireland is one of my fans. I’m sure he could have gotten one made for me.”

“Hello, Skip,” I said. “So, you’re talking to me now? You didn’t have much to say yesterday after you and Buddy’s 3½-day stay in boarding.”

“Frankly, I was exhausted,” Skipper said. “On Thursday about an hour after you dropped us off, a lady accidently crashed her car through the front of the building.

“We heard the crash. Buddy got excited. He said, `I knew Dad was coming back to break us OUT!’ He got depressed again when I told him you and Mom were heading to Natchitoches for `RonFest.’ He immediately went into pout mode until you picked us up late yesterday afternoon.

“But I did watch the Hall of Fame ceremony streamed live on my iPhone. The best part of your induction was your introduction video that included a picture of me and Buddy. I thoroughly enjoyed the inductions of the other 9 inductees who showed up in person.

“Absent Lafayette-native mixed martial arts world champ Daniel Cormier’s pre-taped acceptance interview with Jacques Doucet of WAFB was sincerely heartfelt.”

“Yes, I thought it was great,” I said. “He’s trying to build a career as an ESPN MMA analyst. He got an unexpected call last week for a telecast assignment and chose to go instead of being inducted. He struggled with the decision.”

“Saints Super Bowl-winning QB Drew Brees didn’t show up,” Skip said. “He said in his video with Jacques, in an extremely disingenuous explanation, he couldn’t attend because he and his family were on a planned vacation in Japan. How does that happen?”

“Skipperoo, since we selected the Hall of Fame 2024 class last August, Hall of Fame Foundation CEO Ronnie Rantz and your friend Dougie Fresh tried to accommodate his availability to determine an induction date,” I said. “In November before Thanksgiving, they finally had to set the date because of the planning and logistics involved.

“Previous superstar LSHOF inductees — such as Peyton and Eli Manning, the Duck Commander Phil Robertson and Shaquille O’Neal – arrived Friday on the second day of the three-day celebration when they were inducted. They were genuinely thrilled to be part of the ceremony.

“Skip, all Drew Brees had to do was fly in on Saturday, be inducted, and fly out. I can’t believe he didn’t consider that his absence was a slap in the face to the city of Natchitoches and all the volunteers who work to make the event better each year, not to mention Saints fans who wanted to see him.

“The silver lining is the rest of this year’s Hall of Fame inductees – all either Louisiana natives or who played or coached in Louisiana high schools and colleges – were overwhelmed with gratitude. The packed house in the Natchitoches Events Center felt that love and returned it.

“As it turned out, the best way to describe Drew Brees’ absence is the lyric from a Dixie Chicks song `Goodbye Earl’ that says, `He was a missing person nobody missed at all.’”

“So, Mr. Famer, what was the best part of the weekend for you?” Skip asked.

“That’s easy,” I replied. “Having my family there and bonding with the rest of the induction class. I already knew three of them personally – fellow journalism inductee Bobby Ardoin, former Tulane basketball coach Perry Clark and former Southland Conference commissioner Tom Burnett.

“But I loved getting to know jockey Ray Sibille, who won 4,264 horse races in his 35-year career. And Frank Monica, who won three high school state football championships. And Baton Rouge native and LSU women’s basketball great Seimone Augustus. And former LSU wrestler and Olympic gold medalist Kevin Jackson. And former McNeese State quarterback and CFL star Kerry Joseph. And especially former Grambling baseball coach and athletic director Wilbert Ellis, one of the finest people I’ve ever met.

“The strangest thing was people wanting my autograph. I wanted to say “Why?’ Instead, I profusely thanked them. Well, all but the guy who asked for my signature on the drive back Sunday afternoon.”

“Who was that?” the Skipster said.

“That was an Evangeline Parish sheriff’s deputy,” I said. “He needed me to sign the speeding ticket he issued me.”

“Maybe you could have gotten out of it saying you were Drew Brees,” Skip said.

“Nah,” I replied. “The deputy would have said, `I thought you’re on a family vacation in Japan.’”

Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com

Arrests are accusations, not convictions. 

June 23

John Jowers, 36, Boyce — domestic abuse battery strangulation, $10,000 bail;

Santana Mullins, 29, Alexandria — unauthorized entry inhabited dwelling, contempt 8 counts, $62,500 bail;

Jerry Sydnor Jr., 39, Pineville — violating protective order, $10,000 bail;

Askia Waheed Jr., 39, Alexandria — unauthorized entry inhabited dwelling, resisting, parole violation, $5,500 bail. 

This date: 20 arrests, 9 one or more contempt counts. 

Arrests are accusations, not convictions. 

June 23

Nicholas Isaac, 26, Alexandria — possession with intent, no bail set.