BOM continued our support of the 7^th Annual Play it Forward Tennis Tournament benefitting the Children’s Miracle Network. Pictured left to right: BOM’s Kristina Bagwell, Matt Ritchie, and BOM’s Mandy Futrell.

National Earth’s Rotation Day invites us to pause and appreciate the phenomenon that makes life on Earth possible. Celebrated on January 8, the day commemorates French physicist Léon Foucault’s groundbreaking 1851 experiment proving Earth’s rotation. His Foucault pendulum not only demonstrated this cosmic fact but also deepened humanity’s understanding of our planet’s movements.

Earth rotates on its axis at approximately 1,000 miles per hour, completing a full spin every 24 hours. This rotation creates the cycle of day and night, governs our circadian rhythms, and influences weather patterns. Without it, life as we know it would not exist.

This constant motion is easy to overlook, but it’s integral to many aspects of daily life. The Coriolis effect, caused by Earth’s rotation, shapes wind patterns and ocean currents, affecting everything from agriculture to transportation. Additionally, the interplay between Earth’s rotation and its orbit around the sun creates seasonal variations that dictate ecosystems worldwide.

Celebrating National Earth’s Rotation Day can be as simple as marveling at a sunrise or studying the stars at night. Educational institutions often use the occasion to teach about astronomy and physics, while science centers host demonstrations of the Foucault pendulum.

By taking a moment to reflect on Earth’s rotation, we gain a greater appreciation for the intricate systems that sustain our planet. National Earth’s Rotation Day serves as a reminder of our place in the cosmos and the natural wonders we too often take for granted.

By JIM BUTLER

Jerry “Jay” Pearson’s sentencing in federal court is now scheduled for January 30.

Pearson, of Boyce, pleaded guilty in August to a count of wire fraud.

Sentencing on December 3 was postponed. The Western District Court docket posted Monday, January 6 includes Pearson’s new date before Judge Dee Drell.

It is docketed for 2 p.m. in the second-floor courtroom of the federal building on Murray Street.

Pearson is accused of defrauding investors in a Self-Directed IRA scheme of about $3.4 million.

Penalty for the crime is up to 20 years imprisonment and up to $250,000 fine. Restitution can also be ordered.

Pam Shriver tried to peer through the fog of some 40-plus years since she had played tennis with, or even communicated with, Kay McDaniel on the pro circuit.

Shriver was just learning Sunday of McDaniel’s death last Friday at age 67 after a long illness. The current tennis broadcaster, pundit and coach and winner of 21 Grand Slam doubles titles (20 with Martina Navratilova) was returning a call while in Kona, Hawaii, where she was enjoying some vacation time with her three grown children.

“Kay McDaniel,” she said, searching the memory files of her brain to place the Shreveport native who who achieved extraordinary accomplishments in in tennis at both Captain Shreve High School and at LSU before her professional tennis career. There, she competed at tennis’ grand slams for six years against legends like Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert and Steffi Graf. Not to mention Shriver.

“Blonde? Lefty? Deep southern accent?” Shriver asked. “Yes, sure. She was good, she was fun, she was a good competitor. She had a great smile, too. I can still remember her smile.

“I’m sorry,” she continued, on learning of her death, “and I’m sorry for her family.”

She asked a series of rapid-fire questions about Kay’s passing and seemed genuinely saddened. I sought out Shriver for a comment because at some point over the years Kay told me that of the elite players in that early ’80s era of professional women’s tennis, she probably felt closest to Shriver.

Shriver, McDaniel and Kathy Jordan competed together in the Maureen Connolly Brinkers Championships for the USA team that beat Great Britain in 1982.

A great admirer of Kay for many years, I got to know her through her periodic trips every year or two to Alexandria to visit her oldest brother John and his wife, Sid, with whom Janet and I have been close friends for many years.

One of Shriver’s questions about Kay was “Does she have any kids?”

I answered “No,” since Kay never married, adding, “but in another way, she had many, many kids.”

I was referring to the thousands of youngsters she had mentored at her free annual youth clinics for 31 years at Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn. Many of her instructors were initially participants in the clinics and she enjoyed working with many of them for an average of 10 years. A Christian and motivational speaker, McDaniel taught more than tennis to the youngsters. She wanted them to “learn that God’s eternal love lasts longer than a lifetime.”

Kay had a drive to succeed as a tennis player, a coach or even as a columnist for the Chattanooga Free Press. She pursued and captured nature’s beauty as a talented photographer, and with that “great smile” she often sought to help others.

Here’s a side note to her tennis career: she won her first professional tournament in Atlanta as a rookie in 1979 against Dr. Renee Richards, the man who, in the 1970s, had a sex change to compete as a woman. She won the match in a 7-5 tiebreaker in the third set.

Despite her many physical setbacks through the years, especially battling lupus and Addison’s disease, she showed how God’s love helped her overcome adversity. In the past year she talked of how her body was “breaking down” with such things as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and major spine surgery.

Her brother, John, said she wrote in a recent journal how God gradually took away all her physical abilities which she was so blessed with during her lifetime.

“And,” he said, “look who’s hand she reached for at the end … before He took her up to Him.”    

Attention Louisiana high school seniors and college students: The Linda and Wayne Zaunbrecher Scholarship is now open for applications for the 2025-2026 academic year. This scholarship awards up to $3,000 to students pursuing degrees in agriculture and related fields.

To be eligible for the scholarship, students must be pursuing an agriculture major and the applicants or their parents must be Louisiana Farm Bureau members.

The deadline to apply is Monday, Feb. 3. The award itself enables the recipient to receive up to $3,000 to support their academic journey in agriculture for the 2025-26 school year.

This is a fantastic opportunity to invest in the future and contribute to the agriculture industry. For application details, visit Louisiana Farm Bureau’s website or contact your local Farm Bureau office. https://lafarmbureau.org/foundation

The City of Pineville has opened registration for its Night of Lights Mardi Gras Parade, to be held Friday, Feb. 21., at 7pm. To register a krewe and/or float, use this link. 

Bobbleheads, with their oversized heads and whimsical movements, have been captivating collectors and enthusiasts for decades. On National Bobblehead Day, we celebrate these unique figurines, which have grown from novelty items into treasured keepsakes representing everything from sports legends to pop culture icons.

The history of bobbleheads dates back to the 18th century, where similar figurines were crafted in Asia and Europe. However, their modern resurgence began in the 1960s when Major League Baseball introduced bobbleheads featuring players like Willie Mays. These early models were made of papier-mâché, and their quirky charm quickly won fans’ hearts. Over time, materials and manufacturing techniques improved, leading to the detailed plastic bobbleheads we know today.

Bobbleheads hold a special place in pop culture. They often serve as promotional items at sports events, giving fans a tangible connection to their favorite teams and players. Beyond sports, they’ve immortalized figures from politics, entertainment, and history. Iconic examples include Dwight Schrute from The Office and U.S. Presidents like Abraham Lincoln.

Collectors prize these figurines not only for their fun appeal but also for their value. Rare bobbleheads, like a 1961 New York Yankees set, can fetch thousands of dollars at auctions. Yet, the allure of bobbleheads transcends monetary worth—they evoke nostalgia and serve as miniature pieces of art.

As we mark this day, enthusiasts can visit the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, or simply display their favorite figurines. Whether you’re a serious collector or a casual admirer, National Bobblehead Day invites everyone to nod along to the enduring charm of these delightful figurines.

Sam Spurgeon in a sense is correct. He and others who choose to walk in the public light are treated differently by the media.

His run-in with the law last week would have been just another entry on the police blotter were he plain Joe Citizen.

Spurgeon’s aggressive advertising (is there anyone around here who hasn’t played off “in a jam?”) and England Authority chairmanship put him in a different category than most.

Fair? Not really. Reality? Yes.

How much media attention an alleged offense gets sometimes depends on the charge, sometimes on the accused’s public standing.

Often the revelation comes through a source, anonymously or otherwise. By its nature public life generates friends, and enemies.

Such alerts have become more common as the number of news-gathering enterprises diminishes and their manner of operation changes.

In many jurisdictions communicators no longer visit police stations and courthouses daily, learning from the public record what has transpired.

They rely instead on releases from authorities who decide what is worth reporting, and on tips.

Once tipped, the respective media outlets have to decide whether it’s news. And ordinarily when one frog jumps in, they all do.

The initial decision is sometimes, but not always, easy. The Spurgeon example is — the accusation is a felony.

Now the media task is to keep up with the case and its eventual outcome. 

Arrest during the recent holidays of a public figure on an OWI charge was apparently judged non-news, if noticed at all.

OWI arrests, once a focal point of media attention, have become secondary information. Barring extraordinary circumstances, an arrest is just an entry on the list.

The media’s challenge is treating all public figures the same if or when such events occur.

We have our friends and favorites among the public figures we deal with. How we handle any alleged offenses by them defines how well we meet our obligations.

Jim Butler, a Bolton High School alumnus, was an acclaimed writer and editor at the Alexandria Town Talk for 36 years, the last 23 (1977-2003) as editor-in-chief. He led Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of Hurricane Katrina for the Gulfport (Miss.) Sun-Herald in 2005. Butler returned home to Cenla several years ago, and shares his talents and insight with Rapides Parish Journal readers.

With the cold weather looming, Rapides Parish 911/OEP has released some simple tips meant to help the public heat their homes safely. 

Place space heaters 3 to 5 feet away from bedding.

Plug space heaters directly into wall outlets rather than using extension cords. 

Never leave space heaters or candles unattended.

Ensure smoke alarms and CO2 detectors are in working order. 

NATCHITOCHES — An electrical fire Sunday morning in a data base station on the south wall of the first floor of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum at 800 Front Street in Natchitoches was contained with minor damage, officials said Sunday afternoon.

An alarm shortly after 10 a.m. signaled a fire, and the museum’s sprinkler system was triggered and functioned perfectly, said fire officials. The Natchitoches Fire Department responded immediately, entered the building and completely extinguished a small blaze in the Hall of Fame gallery, the room that visitors see to the left as they enter the front door.

It contains three data base stations with biographic information on Hall of Fame inductees, along with four display cases, a display of artwork done by previous LSHOF artists Clif and Carolyn Thorn, and a recently relocated set of four displays of “Showtime!” LSU’s Spectacular Pistol Pete” photographic exhibit.

A portion of the Hall of Fame’s Wall of Honor, displaying names of the 492 people inducted since 1958, was destroyed, and the entire display suffered smoke damage. Some water damage to the “Showtime” exhibit’s nearest display occurred. Permanent exhibits in the Hall of Fame gallery are all enclosed in glass cases and initial indications, said museum branch manager Jennae Biddiscombe, were that only the nearest case, directly across from the exhibit, might have any significant impact from water and smoke.

State museum staff will be on site today to fully assess the impact and begin to address any necessary rehabilitation of items on display. Among the items in the case adjacent to the fire location are football jerseys of Archie (Saints), Peyton (Pro Bowl) and Eli Manning (Ole Miss), Bert Jones (Colts), Gary Reasons (Northwestern), baseball jerseys of Atley Donald (New York Yankees) and Mel Parnell (Boston Red Sox), along with a cap worn by Coach Eddie Robinson (Grambling), a New York Knicks warmup top from Willis Reed (Grambling) and an LSU football helmet autographed by Billy Cannon, along with baseballs that belonged to Baseball Hall of Fame member Mel Ott of Gretna and were autographed by MLB greats including Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Rogers Hornsby and Tris Speaker. There was no damage apparent Sunday.

The Cane River Creole Heritage Disaspora exhibit in the nearby Atmos Energy Gallery did not appear impacted with only some water on the floor at the entrance.

The museum will be unable to open for an indefinite period of time, however, said Biddiscombe. Advisories on upcoming events at the museum and reopening information will be provided this week, she said.

By BOB TOMPKINS

Kay McDaniel, who carried her childhood dream of playing tennis to stardom in the sport at the collegiate and professional levels and then led a free youth summer tennis clinic for 31 years, died Friday at age 67 after a long illness.

Funeral arrangements are pending, but a funeral service will be in Cleveland, Tenn., and the burial will be in her hometown of Shreveport. Her older brother John and his wife are Alexandria residents who often hosted McDaniel in visits to Cenla, where she developed friendships inside and outside the tennis circuit.

A three-time All-American at LSU, and LSU’s first tennis All-American, McDaniel was once ranked No. 1 in the nation as an amateur. She played the No. 1 singles position for LSU before going on to realize her ultimate dream of competing at tennis’ Grand Slams for six years against legendary players such as Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, and Steffi Graf. McDaniel rose to the top 30 in the world in singles and held a top 20 world ranking in doubles.

She competed six times in the U.S. Open, four times at Wimbledon and three times in the French Open. She advanced three rounds at Wimbledon in her first appearance.

At LSU, she was an NCAA singles semifinalist, ranked No. 2 in doubles nationally and made the Junior Federation Cup Team for three years. She never lost a set in high school, at Captain Shreve, winning state Class 4A singles and doubles titles there for three straight years. In 1986 she got the Concord British Airways Award for having the “Fastest Serve in Women’s Tennis.”

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Kay and her family,” said LSU tennis coach Taylor Fogleman in an LSU news release. “She was one of the most outstanding players in this program’s history. She will be dearly missed.”

McDaniel was for 26 years a professor at Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn., in the health, exercise science and secondary education department. She retired from Lee in 2023. For her last five years, she advised Lee students by helping them find their strengths and gifts and matched them with their majors and potential career paths. She also coached students on how to successfully overcome obstacles. She wrote her first of two books in 2002, “Serving the Master,” in which she shared  how God gave her the strength to live with two serious diseases.

McDaniel suffered from a variety of health problems for much of her adult life, most notably lupus and Addison’s disease.

At age 11, McDaniel purchased her first tennis racquet with Green Stamps after collecting 5,000 stamps to obtain it. Her mother sewed all her tennis clothes until age 15 when her achievements earned her tennis’ top sponsorships (Fila, Tail, and Nike) that lasted throughout her career.  

McDaniel wrote a children’s book, “Be a Dream Chaser,” in 2022, and it sold out, and she published a second edition in 2023. She described it as “a whimsical, colorful hardback book that contains some of my most popular stories.”

During her clinics, McDaniel, who gave Christian and motivational speeches around the country, shared her inspiring stories of how she overcame difficult obstacles in sports and in life.

She described her annual summer tennis camp as “an intimate, family-strong community,” noting she knew most of her instructors for an average of 10 years, starting as participants.

“We are connected by a fierce passion to present the love of God through tennis,” she said. “We love the kids who attend and each other. Every year, about half of the attendees will be first timers to my clinics. Not only do these participants learn to play a sport that can last a lifetime, but they learn that God’s eternal love lasts longer than a lifetime.”

McDaniel was a member of the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame, the Tennessee Tennis Association Hall of Fame, the Ark-La-Tex Sports Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Tennis Hall of Fame.

Two highlights of her esteemed years on the tour include playing on national TV at the U.S. Open and splitting sets with Yvonne Goolagong and reaching the singles round of 32 at Wimbledon. 

McDaniel achieved All-American acclaim at LSU from 1976-78, reaching the semifinals two consecutive years and being named to the USTA Jr. Federation Cup team, which at the time was made up of the top eight amateur women in the nation. Playing the national 21 and under circuit, she was listed No. 1 nationally in the 1978 USTA 21 and under rankings.

Starting her tennis career in the Louisiana Tennis Association, McDaniel was ranked No. 1 in the state in Girls’ 14s, 16s, and 18s for six consecutive years. In addition, she won the prestigious Southern Junior Closed Championship in Girls’ 14s, 16s and 18s and was ranked No. 1 in the South in each of those age divisions.

Highlights of her tennis career include teaming with Pam Shriver and Kathy Jordan in the Maureen Connolly Brinker Championships on the USA team which defeated Great Britain in 1982. McDaniel turned pro in 1979 and shortly afterward, played in Wimbledon for the first time where she reached round of 32 in singles, falling to Betty Stove, who reached the finals that year.

In 1983, McDaniel played in the USTA National Mother-Daughter Doubles Championship with her mother, Frances McDaniel, and they reached the finals. As a result, they each received a coveted USTA silver ball, emblematic of reaching the finals of a USTA national championship tournament. 

McDaniel has two USTA gold balls for winning national championship events and two USTA silver balls.

She called the silver ball she won for the Mother-Daughter tournament one of her most prized possessions.

The No. 5 LSUA men’s basketball team opened the new year with a 109-75 victory Saturday over LSU Shreveport in Red River Athletic Conference play.

Kashie Natt led the Generals (14-1, 11-1 RRAC) with 16 points. Jakemin Abney and EJ McQuillan both recorded 14 points. Jordan Decuir (13), Keyo Giroir (12), Jason Perry II (11), and Brayden Thompson (10) all were in double digits as the bench scored 68 points.

LSUS (9-7, 6-6 RRAC) tallied the game’s first bucket, but LSUA went on a 13-2 run over the next three-and-a-half minutes, staking out a 13-4 lead. The Pilots battled back, tying the game at 18-18.

Over the next eight minutes, LSUA opened up a 46-35 lead, the first double-digit lead of the game for the Generals. After a 51-41 halftime lead, LSUA ran off 14 unanswered to  blow it open, going up 72-48 with 12:54 left. LSUA reached a 30-point lead with 4:10 on the clock, 96-66, on the first of three free throws from Natt.

The Generals are back in action on Tuesday as they host Texas A&M-Texarkana at 7:30 in The Fort.

LSUS WOMEN 76, LSUA 60: A turnover-plagued second half was the difference as the Lady Pilots pulled away from a halftime tie in Saturday’s first game.

Amani Gray and Jewel Jones led the Generals (11-5, 8-4 RRAC) with 13 points each. All four of Jones’ baskets came from beyond the arc. Dannah Martin-Hartwick recorded 12 points and also led LSUA with eight rebounds and six assists.

LSUA scored 20 points in the paint, 21 points off turnovers, and tallied 11 second chance points.
The Generals struggled in the second half, turning the ball over 14 times in the third and fourth quarters.

The Pilots managed an 11-point swing, ending the third period ahead 57-46.

LSUA plays again Tuesday night at 5:30, hosting Texas A&M-Texarkana.