The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announced that Phase 2 of the US 165/US 167 interchange repair project will begin Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 9 a.m.

Key updates for motorists:
Outside lanes on US 165 will reopen.
Inside lanes on US 165 will close for reconstruction.
All US 167 ramps at US 165 will reopen, but median crossovers will remain closed.

Phase 2 of the project is expected to be completed by January 2026, weather permitting. Drivers are advised to use caution and anticipate changes in traffic patterns in the Kingsville area.

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Louisiana Christian University Operation Christian Child Student Ministry is collecting shoeboxes for distribution to children around the world this holiday season.

This year, the goal is 300 boxes.

“Last year our campus packed and sent out over 200 shoeboxes,” said Tabitha Huffman, project leader and LCU theatre professor. “This means over 200 needy children overseas received our gifts, but also heard about Jesus through The Greatest Journey discipleship program that is delivered wherever the boxes land.”

Tuesday, Basit Hammad, a former shoebox recipient, spoke to LCU Chapel about the significance that receiving a shoebox gift at age 13 meant to him and how much of an impact it can make in the lives of children around the world. Hammad grew up in a country where 98.8% of the population is non-Christian.

LCU is one of three universities in the nation to be chosen by Samaritan’s Purse for sponsorship for the next two years. With this, the organization helps with providing materials needed to pack shoeboxes and send full-circle speakers to spread awareness of the ministry. A full-circle speaker is an individual who received a box as a child.

The Cenla area Operation Christmas Child coordinator, Rita Huffman, and her team attended Tuesday’s Chapel. The area goal this year is 20,000 boxes.

“When you pack a shoebox, you’re actually sending a gospel opportunity to a child around the world,” Hammad said. “3.2 billion people still need to hear the Gospel.”

Boxes for LCU’s shoebox drive can be packed by student organizations, community groups or individuals. Donations of items to fill boxes and monetary donations will also be accepted.

Shoeboxes can be packed for either a boy or girl and for a particular age child. Items should be new and must fit in the shoebox. Examples of items to include are small toys like jacks, toys, whistles, crayons and stickers. Hygiene and personal care items like socks, toothbrushes, hairbrushes, and headbands also make good gifts.

You may  also purchase filler items from LCU’s Operation Christmas Child Amazon shopping list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3MRIGPPCZWQLM?ref_=wl_share

Interested individuals may email tabitha.huffman@lcuniversity.edu to get boxes, which can be picked up at Martin Performing Arts Center.

There will be a Chick-fil-A fundraiser on Thursday, Oct. 30 from 3-8 p.m. Eat at the restaurant and mention Operation Christmas Child, and 15% of the proceeds go toward the shipping cost for the student boxes.

LCU will also host a packing party on Friday, Nov. 7 at 2 p.m. University and community members are invited to come to the Martin Performing Arts Center on campus and help pack shoe boxes.

Shoeboxes must be delivered to Martin Performing Arts Center by Friday, Nov. 14 at noon.

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October 29, 1929—Black Tuesday—marked the collapse of the U.S. stock market and the beginning of the Great Depression. In a single day, billions of dollars evaporated, and a wave of panic swept the nation. But beyond the financial fallout, the event carried an eerie weight, as if Wall Street itself had been cursed.

In the days leading up to the crash, brokers and bankers worked in a frenzy, trying to keep the market afloat. When prices finally plummeted, chaos erupted. Eyewitnesses described men fainting, tearing up ledgers, and screaming in despair. Some investors, ruined in minutes, walked out of buildings and never returned home.

Newspapers at the time fueled the legend of desperate brokers leaping from skyscraper windows. While the number of suicides that day was exaggerated, there were enough tragedies in the weeks that followed to cement the image of Wall Street as a haunted district.

The “ghosts of Black Tuesday” lingered long after the crash. Families who lost everything often told stories of hearing phantom voices in their former offices or seeing apparitions of men in suits wandering near the Stock Exchange. Whether real hauntings or the product of grief, these tales captured the sense of loss that haunted a generation.

The Great Depression reshaped America. Breadlines, dust storms, and shuttered banks became the grim reality of the 1930s. Even today, economists and historians study October 29 as a turning point when prosperity gave way to hardship.

In New York, legends persist that certain offices on Wall Street are cursed. Night guards whisper of cold drafts, shadowy figures, and footsteps echoing through empty hallways long after business hours. For some, Black Tuesday isn’t just history—it’s a haunting.

Nearly a century later, October 29 remains a reminder of how quickly fortune can vanish, leaving behind only ghosts of ambition and despair.

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Walk through any hospital in Louisiana and there’s a good chance you’ll meet a nurse, technologist, or healthcare leader who began their journey at Northwestern State University. From Natchitoches to Shreveport, Alexandria, and Leesville, NSU has become one of the state’s most respected names in healthcare education.

Healthcare is changing quickly, and so are the demands on those who deliver it. Hospitals need more trained professionals. Patients need more access to care. Families need people who can lead with skill and compassion. For many in Louisiana, that career path begins at NSU’s College of Nursing and School of Allied Health.

“Our students come from every corner of Louisiana and every stage of life,” said Dr. Aimee Badeaux, Dean of the College of Nursing and School of Allied Health. “Some are high school graduates looking for their first step. Others are licensed professionals seeking to grow in their careers. What unites them is a commitment to helping others, and that’s something we know how to develop.”

NSU offers one of the most comprehensive selections of healthcare programs in the region. Students can choose from associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees across nursing, radiologic sciences, and allied health.

Among the most popular options:

• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) and LPN to ASN
• Military Medic/Paramedic to ASN — the only program of its kind in Louisiana, offered in Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Alexandria, and Leesville
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), RN to BSN, LPN to BSN, and Accelerated BSN (BS to BSN)
• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with concentrations in Administration, Education, and multiple Nurse Practitioner tracks
• Doctoral-level Nurse Anesthesia, Executive Leadership, and Educational Leadership programs
• Bachelor and Master of Science in Radiologic Sciences — including the first Sonography program in North Louisiana
• Bachelor of Applied Science in Allied Health, with concentrations in Health Science & Technology and Health Sciences Leadership & Management

For working registered nurses, the RN to BSN program remains a top choice. The online format offers flexibility and affordability while maintaining a strong academic foundation.

“Many of our RN-BSN students are balancing full-time jobs and family commitments,” explained Dr. Greg Handel, Executive Vice President and Provost. “We built the program to meet them where they are. It’s affordable, accredited, and recognized nationally for quality.”

Students in NSU’s healthcare programs train in high-fidelity simulation laboratories that recreate real-world clinical settings. From emergency response to pediatric care, these labs allow students to practice critical skills in a safe environment before moving into hospitals and clinics.

Those partnerships with regional healthcare providers are another reason NSU graduates are in such high demand. Students complete clinical rotations with major hospitals, community clinics, and long-term care facilities throughout Louisiana, gaining the experience and confidence that employers look for.

“The hands-on training our students receive makes a real difference,” said Dr. Badeaux. “They graduate with practical skills and a sense of responsibility to their patients and communities.”

That preparation shows in the outcomes. NSU boasts NCLEX pass rates of 98% for ASN graduates and 96% for BSN graduates, consistently exceeding state and national averages.

The university has also earned top national recognition, including:

• #1 in Louisiana among Top Public Schools – U.S. News & World Report, 2026
• #1 Best Online Nursing Program – The Princeton Review, 2024
• #1 Best Nurse Practitioner and MSN Programs – NursePractitionerOnline.com and RegisteredNursing.org, 2025

In the past five years alone, Northwestern State has produced more registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and radiologic technologists than any other institution in the state.

Behind every successful graduate is a team of faculty who are both experienced clinicians and committed educators. With an average class size of 17, students receive the kind of personal attention that larger universities often can’t provide.

“Students succeed here because they’re known here,” said James T. Genovese, President of Northwestern State University. “We take pride in offering an environment where each student’s goals are understood, supported, and celebrated.”

As Louisiana’s population grows and healthcare needs become more complex, NSU continues to adapt. The university is expanding key programs to new sites, building stronger partnerships with hospitals, and investing in technology that enhances training and patient simulation.

Dr. Badeaux summarized it simply: “Every day, we’re educating the professionals who will care for our families tomorrow. That’s work we take seriously.”

For students and families exploring healthcare careers, Northwestern State University offers a trusted path — from the first day of class to the first day on the job. To learn more or connect with an advisor, visit www.nsula.edu/nursing.

Paid Content

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A Celebration of Life honoring Mr. Tracey L. Parker will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 2, 2025, in the Chapel of Rush Funeral Home, Pineville, with his son, Chris Parker, presiding. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, and will resume in the Chapel of Rush Funeral Home, Pineville, on Monday, November 3, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. until time of departure to the cemetery. Inurnment will be held at 11:00 a.m. at Holloway Baptist Church Cemetery, Deville, under the direction of Rush Funeral Home, Pineville.

Mr. Parker, 52, of Smithfield, Utah, and formerly of Deville, Louisiana, entered eternal rest on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at University of Utah Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Tracey was a native of Deville, Louisiana, where he was a graduate of Buckeye High School. He was a proud United States Army Veteran and served in Company C 5th Battalion, 10th Infantry 3rd Brigade.

After the Army, Tracey graduated from the Police Academy and served with the Pineville Police Department and the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office. He was a certified truck driver and formerly employed with NexAir in Alexandria, Louisiana, and later transferred to Linde Welding Gas and Equipment in Logan, Utah. Tracey was a skilled musician, satellite, map and land navigator, computer programmer/technician, plumber, electrician, carpenter, and mechanic. He loved all outdoor activities including hunting, fishing, hiking, and camping. He was a devoted husband, daddy, papa, son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, and friend and he loved them all dearly. Tracey had a love for life even in the end.

His wishes were honored through organ donation to three recipients, whom are all doing well. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Tracey was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Ellis (Jack) and Myrtis Parker; and maternal grandparents, Thomas and Yvonne Stockman.

Those left to mourn his loss and cherish his memory include his wife of twenty-six years, Dawn Parker of Smithfield, Utah; two children, Courtnie Michiels (Chris Cheaney) of Deville, and Chris Parker (Stephanie) of Shreveport; nine grandchildren, Zachary Michiels, Ayla Michiels, Hunter Michiels, Caylee Parker, Kyleigh Parker, Rebecca Parker, Skylar Parker, Violet Parker, and Arowyn Parker; his parents, Jackie and Sue Parker; his siblings, Jacob Parker (Talita) of Baton Rouge, and Lucy Parker of Deville; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

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January 14, 1986 – October 23, 2025

Funeral services celebrating the life of Megan Elizabeth Boyer will be held at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at Philadelphia Baptist Church, Deville, with the Rev. Philip Robertson officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

The visitation and celebration of life will be on Tuesday from 5-8 PM and on Wednesday after 9:00AM until time of services, all in the church.

Megan (Olson) Boyer, age 39 of Pineville, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, October 23, 2025 in her residence.

Born on January 14, 1986, Megan lived a life marked by deep love, forgiveness and strength. She loved big, forgave often and always believed in second chances, both for herself and others.

With strength, Megan was a true testimony of courage and resilience. She overcame challenges most will never face, meeting each day with quiet faith and a determination to build a better life for herself and her children. She was proud of her recovery and often shared her testimony with others who also struggled with addiction.

Her greatest joy was her family; her children, Dylan, Kennedi, Addison and her husband Kenneth, who were the center of her world. She loved her family deeply and was happiest when surrounded by the people she cherished.

Those who knew her will remember her laughter, her soft heart and her ability to make anyone feel loved and seen. She loved God in her own genuine way and trusted in his mercy and redemption.

Megan is preceded in death by her grandfather, George Bazey, father, Robyn Olson and granddaughter, Pasley Ann Tucker.

She is survived by her parents, Doug and Betty Clark, Sisters, Crystal Rodgers (Mark), Patrice Spera (Jarred), Brother, Duane Clark (Allison), nieces, Avery Rodgers, Delia Durner (Cristian), Evelina Durner, Nephews, Cole Spera, Cooper Spera, Zachary Rodgers, Nathan Boyer and Logan Boyer. Along with mother in law, Bonnie Boyer, best friends, Sandi Swanson (Joe), Riva Conley (Mike), Madison Ates and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Pallbearers honored to serve will be; Kenneth Boyer, Dylan Tucker, Mark Rodgers, Jarred Spera, Joe Swanson and Cole Spera.

Megan would want the world to be left with her favorite Bible verses:

Love is Patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always perseveres.

Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Arrangements have been placed in the care of Fall Creek Funeral Home, Pineville, Robbie Dauzat, Director.

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By the North Louisiana Business Journal Staff

A Century of Louisiana Timber Leadership

For more than a century, RoyOMartin has been synonymous with Louisiana’s timber industry. Headquartered in Alexandria, the company manages nearly 600,000 acres of working forestland, making it the largest private holder of timber acreage in the state and one of the most significant in the South.

Founded in 1923 by the late Roy O. Martin Sr., the business began as a regional sawmill and has grown into a vertically integrated enterprise spanning timber management, manufacturing, and wood-product innovation. The Martin family’s continued ownership has allowed the company to evolve without losing its Louisiana identity — blending modern operations with the long-term view of a multigenerational enterprise.

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From Forests to Finished Products

Each acre of RoyOMartin-managed land contributes to a sustainable supply chain that supports the company’s manufacturing operations in Oakdale, Chopin, and Corrigan, Texas. These plants produce plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), and other engineered materials distributed nationwide.

The company’s forestlands are maintained under independent sustainability certifications, ensuring that harvesting practices protect water quality, promote regeneration, and preserve wildlife habitats. This framework positions RoyOMartin as both an economic driver and an environmental stakeholder — a balance that defines much of Louisiana’s modern forestry sector.

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Generational Continuity and Local Impact

RoyOMartin’s success has long rested on stability at the top. Remaining privately held has allowed the company to reinvest profits directly into equipment modernization, land acquisition, and employee development rather than satisfying short-term market demands.

Across central and northern Louisiana, the firm’s presence is felt through employment, property-tax contributions, infrastructure partnerships, and educational collaborations. Programs such as the annual Women in Manufacturing initiative underscore its ongoing efforts to encourage diversity and career pathways for Louisiana students — particularly in technical and industrial fields that drive regional growth.

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Why It Matters

RoyOMartin’s footprint extends well beyond the boundaries of its timber tracts. Its decisions influence regional economies, forest-product markets, and environmental policy discussions statewide. The company’s emphasis on sustainable forestry aligns Louisiana with a national trend: using working forests as tools for both economic development and carbon sequestration.

As industries and governments place increasing value on renewable resources, the management of hundreds of thousands of acres under private stewardship makes RoyOMartin a bellwether for how Louisiana can balance natural-resource utilization with long-term conservation goals.

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What Comes Next

RoyOMartin is entering a new chapter of leadership transition and operational expansion. With recent executive appointments and planned retirements, the company is positioning itself to maintain its leadership in both manufacturing and timberland management. Future investments are expected to focus on reforestation, efficiency technologies, and rural workforce development, ensuring that its legacy continues to grow as sustainably as the forests it manages.

As Louisiana’s largest private landholder, RoyOMartin remains a defining presence in the state’s economy — one where heritage and innovation continue to grow side by side.

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RoyOMartin at a Glance

Headquarters: Alexandria, Louisiana
Founded: 1923 by Roy O. Martin Sr.
Ownership: Privately held, third-generation family leadership
Land Holdings: Estimated 550,000–582,000 acres of timberland across central and northern Louisiana
Industry: Timber, wood products manufacturing, and sustainable forest management
Certifications: Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) and related third-party environmental standards
Major Facilities:

• Oakdale, LA – Plywood Manufacturing

• Chopin, LA – Oriented Strand Board (OSB) Production

• Corrigan, TX – Engineered Wood Products

Employees: Approximately 1,200+ across Louisiana and Texas
Community Programs: “Women in Manufacturing” annual event, workforce partnerships with local schools, and technical training initiatives
Recent Developments:

• Executive leadership transitions announced August 2025

• Ongoing modernization and reforestation investments

• Recognized as Louisiana’s largest private landowner

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Acclaimed author Ann Bausum of Wisconsin visited this deep South city last week and spoke at a couple of events about her newest book, “White Lies: How the South Lost the Civil War Then Rewrote the History.”

That’s like a guy from Massachusetts coming south to Baton Rouge to coach LSU football and telling white lies about how the team would win the national championship and then shaking down the university after being fired for a payout more than $50 million.

Well, maybe it’s not exactly like that, but it was courageous of her to come into “hostile” territory for such a talk, and it was bold of retired attorney Michael Tudor, her second cousin once removed, to invite her.

I listened to her talk at last week’s Alexandria Rotary Club luncheon, and she showed a bit of the Southern charm she experienced while growing up in Lexington, Va., as the daughter of a history professor at Virginia Military Institute.

To illustrate the premise of her book, she quoted from elementary and junior high school books in Virginia in 1957 that talked about how the planters “did not know how to free their slaves and keep their plantations open,” as if there were no other alternatives as to how they could do so.

She also quoted from a seventh-grade history textbook that claimed there were “strong ties” between slaves and masters that made their mutual lives “happy and prosperous.”

A preposterous notion.

But I do have a bone to pick with Bausum about such things as statues — and presumably honorariums – relating to the Confederacy having no place in the public square. She said statues honoring the Confederacy, in general, or its soldiers and leaders, are “coded messages” reinforcing the old Jim Crow segregationist laws and saying the Civil War is not over.

One of my favorite history professors at LSU, where I majored in history, was William Cooper, who taught there for nearly five decades and specialized in the history of the American South and the Civil War era. He is considered a leading expert on the life of Confederate President Jefferson Davis.

He was interviewed on “60 Minutes” several years ago, when Confederate statues were being taken down or removed across the South, including General Robert E. Lee in New Orleans.

“One of the things that bothers me most as a historian,” he said, “is what I call ‘presentism,’ judging the past by the present, figuring that we are the only moral people.” He contended that those monuments were put up by real people who had real beliefs and even if today most Americans don’t like those beliefs the monuments remain a part of history and should stay.

I’ll take it a step further, considering how some family members have been victimized by the erasure of honors for anyone associated in any way with the Confederacy.

In December of 2020, a Board of Visitors at Virginia Commonwealth University unanimously approved a resolution to remove 16 names, plaques and other symbols related to the Confederacy. The Tompkins-McCaw Library at the Medical School was renamed and a more generic title chosen: the Health Sciences Library.

In 1950 the library got its name, inspired by five physicians from the Tompkins and McCaw families. Most notable among that crew were Captain Sally Louisa Tompkins, the first commissioned officer of the Confederacy, and Dr. James Brown McCaw, who was the wartime administrator for Richmond’s Chimborazo Hospital.

At an early age, Sally, my paternal grandfather’s great aunt, began nursing the sick, both slave and free, in the local community. She became a nurse and started managing the private Robertson Hospital in August 1861, shortly after the First Battle of Bull Run. By her being officially commissioned as a captain in the Confederate Army on September 9, 1861, President Davis could keep her hospital running as a military facility. 

Numerous ladies from the Saint James Episcopal Church helped run what became one of the South’s biggest wartime hospitals. During the war, Robertson Hospital treated 1,334 wounded with only 73 deaths, the lowest mortality rate of any military hospital during the Civil War. Her care and treatment of the patients earned her the nickname “Angel of the Confederacy.”

Mary Chestnut, an author and Civil War diarist and frequent visitor to the hospital, called Captain Sally “our Florence Nightingale.”

Sally refused payment for her service, writing on her commission that she accepted the commission when it was offered, but “I would not allow my name to be placed upon the (payroll) of the army.”

Is this the kind of villain whose name should be eradicated from legacy or is best left for a tombstone? Thankfully, her image in a stained-glass window at Richmond’s St. James Episcopal Church has not been removed. Such an honor is not rewriting history.

For that matter, Dr. McCaw, my third great-grandfather, is far from some hateful, demonic type whose memory should be eradicated. He was featured in a Nov. 22, 2011 retrospective in the New York Times for running the Chimborazo Hospital during the Civil War in Richmond, not far from Robertson Hospital. Dr. Samuel P. Moore, the Surgeon General of the Confederacy, appointed McCaw, one of the South’s leading young physicians then, to run the facility. Lois Leveen, who penned the NYT story, said McCaw “embodied the emergence of the modern, professional doctor.”

McCaw used his organizational skills in the way he laid out the hospital complex into five divisions, each with its own surgeon-in-chief. When the number of the wounded exceeded the capacity of the 90 wards, McCaw had 100 Sibley tents pitched nearby, accommodating up to 10 patients each.

About 75,000 patients passed through Chimborazo – which was not a field hospital but a convalescent hospital – during its  3 ½ years of existence.

People have always liked to honor those who transcend themselves, especially in the darkest of times, by elevating others. Their legacies should not be buried or exiled.

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The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) advises motorists that Phase 2 of the ongoing $6.2 million project to repair US 165 at the US 167 interchange in Pineville, Rapides Parish will begin on Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 9 AM.

During this phase, the outside lanes of US 165 northbound and southbound will reopen to traffic, while the inside lanes in both directions will be closed to allow for reconstruction of the roadway. All work will be performed weather permitting.

In addition, all of the US 167 entrance and exit ramps at US 165 will reopen. The median crossovers will remain closed. As a reminder, the US 167 southbound ramp from US 165 northbound was reopened to traffic on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.

Work on Phase 2 is anticipated to be completed in January 2026, with progress dependent on weather conditions and other factors that can impact construction timelines. Upon completion of Phase 2, any remaining closures will be reopened.

Permit/Detour section
A 12-foot width restriction will be in place on US 165 northbound and southbound between US 165 Business (Military Hwy) and US 71.

US 165 Northbound to US 167 Northbound
Traffic traveling north on US 165 will detour onto north US 71 toward the VA Hospital. Continue on US 71 to the US 167 interchange. From there, traffic may exit left to access US 167 northbound.

US 165 Southbound to US 167 Southbound
Traffic traveling south on US 165 will detour right onto LA 623. Continue on LA 623 to LA 3225(Shreveport Hwy), then turn left onto LA 3225 southbound. Continue to the US 167 interchange. From there, traffic may exit left to access US 167 southbound.

US 167 Northbound to US 165 Southbound
Continue north on US 167 to the US 71 (Tioga) exit. Exit and turn left onto US 71 southbound. Continue straight on US 71 toward the VA Hospital, merging onto the US 165/US 71 corridor to access US 165 southbound.

US 167 Southbound to US 165 Northbound
Exit US 167 southbound at the US 71 (Tioga) exit. Turn left onto LA 3225 northbound (Shreveport Hwy), then turn right onto LA 623 toward US 165. Turn left to access US 165 northbound.

Safety Reminder
All construction activity is weather-dependent and may be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. DOTD appreciates the motoring public’s patience and reminds drivers to please exercise caution when traveling through work zone areas and be on the lookout for work crews and their equipment.

Additional information
Call 511, visit http://www.511la.org, or download the Louisiana 511 mobile app for additional travel information. Out-of-state travelers may call 1-888-ROAD-511 (1-888-762-3511). 

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Alexandria Senior High scored one of the most impressive wins in the state this season last Friday, going to Ruston and toppling the Bearcats 45-28.

ASH was sixth-ranked in last week’s Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 5A poll. Ruston was No. 2.

The Trojans trailed 21-3 but rallied for a 24-21 halftime lead. Behind a powerful running attack that put up 257 yards, and a defense that held the Bearcats to 179 on the ground, ASH beat Ruston at its own game. The visitors scored the game’s final 11 points to pull away in the fourth quarter.

The outcome lifted the Trojans one spot, and dropped the Bearcats right behind their District 2-5A nemesis.

In Class 4A voting, Tioga stayed put in the “also receiving votes” category with a pivotal district championship game against Franklin Parish looming in Week 10.

                            

Class 5A

School (1^st place votes), poll points, last week’s rank

1. Karr (11), 8-0, 132, 1

2. John Curtis, 7-0,112, 3

3. West Monroe, 7-1, 105, 4

4. St. Augustine, 6-1, 93, 5

5. Alexandria Senior High, 7-1, 90, 6

6. Ruston, 6-2, 80, 2

7. Catholic-Baton Rouge, 6-2, 68, 7

8. Evangel Christian, 7-1, 45, 8

9. Zachary, 6-1, 37, 9

10. Destrehan, 6-2, 25, 10

Others receiving votes: Central 17, Parkway 16, Archbishop Rummel 8, Neville 7, Terrebonne 3, Carencro 3, Thibodaux 2, Ouachita 1, Hahnville 1, St. Paul’s 1.

 

Class 4A

1. North DeSoto (9), 8-0, 127, 1

2. Teurlings Catholic (2), 8-0, 122, 2

3. St. Thomas More, 6-2, 108, 3

4. Plaquemine, 7-1, 86, 4

5. Iowa, 8-0, 80, 5

6. Franklin Parish, 6-2, 71, 6

7. St. Charles, 7-1, 66, 7

8. Archbishop Shaw, 6-2, 62, 8

9. Lakeshore, 7-1, 50, 9

10. Vandebilt Catholic, 8-0, 40,10

Others receiving votes: Franklinton 12, Loyola 9, Tioga 9, Belle Chasse 6, Westgate 5, E.D. White 2, Brusly 2, Cecilia 1.

 

Class 3A

1. Jewel Sumner (9), 8-0, 127, 1

2. Madison Prep (1), 7-1, 120, 2

3. St. James, 6-2, 102, 4

(tie) University (1), 6-2, 102, 5

5. Sterlington, 6-2, 89, 6

6. Jena, 7-1, 75, 8

7. Erath, 8-0, 68, 7

8. Bunkie, 7-1, 60, 3

9. Lake Charles Prep, 6-2, 37, 9

10. Marksville, 7-1, 28, 10

Others receiving votes: Church Point 18, Amite 17, Jennings 15, John F. Kennedy 10, De La Salle 1.

 

Class 2A

1. Ouachita Christian (7), 8-0, 124, 1

2. Lafayette Christian Academy (3), 7-1, 121, 2

3. Dunham (1), 7-1, 111, 3

4. Calvary Baptist, 7-1, 103, 4

5. South Plaquemines, 6-1, 78, 6

6. Notre Dame, 6-2, 77, 7

7. Lafayette Renaissance Charter, 7-1, 55, 9

8. Kinder, 8-0, 47, 10

9. Catholic-New Iberia, 6-2, 41, 5

10. Oak Grove,  6-2, 28, NR

Others receiving votes: Mangham 26, Newman 20, Loreauville 14, Northlake Christian 6, Ferriday 3, Union Parish 3.

 

Class A

1. Haynesville (11), 8-0, 132, 1

2. Hamilton Christian, 7-0, 112, 3

3. Riverside Academy, 7-1, 110, 4

4. Covenant Christian, 6-2, 90, 6

5. Westminster-Opelousas, 8-0, 81, 5

(tie) Jeanerette,  7-1, 81, 2

7. Ascension Episcopal, 7-0, 69, 8

8. Southern Lab, 4-4, 50, NR

9. Ascension Catholic,  6-2,  39, NR

10. St. Edmund, 7-1, 22, NR

Others receiving votes: North Iberville 18, Kentwood 18, Logansport 15, Sacred Heart-Ville Platte 10, Vermilion Catholic 6, Catholic-Pointe Coupee 4, Opelousas Catholic 1.

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The Pineville Downtown Development District will host a public meeting to discuss redevelopment opportunities for two parcels of property located on the former Central Louisiana State Hospital grounds. The meeting will take place at Pineville City Hall on Monday, Nov. 3 at 12 p.m.

The discussion will focus on two parcels available through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process established by state legislation:
Shell Road (Parcel M)
Rainbow Ridge (Parcel Q1)

These parcels present significant opportunities for developers and community members to contribute to Pineville’s future growth and revitalization.

The meeting is open to the public, and no RSVP is required. A map showing the parcel locations (M and Q1) will be available for review.

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Rapides Regional Medical Center’s recent Crush the Crisis event was an overwhelming success as volunteers collected 502.3 pounds of expired or unused medications.

The initiative is part of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, which encourages the safe disposal of unneeded prescription drugs.

This year’s total more than doubled the amount collected in 2024, reflecting strong community participation and continued commitment to promoting safe medication practices.

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Mrs. Mary Ammons Vollm Aleshire, a loving wife, devoted mother, and cherished friend to so many, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. She was 69 years old.

Born on February 29, 1956, in Alexandria, Louisiana, Mary lived a life full of compassion, creativity, and faith. She had a heart that overflowed with love and a spirit that touched everyone she met. Always putting others before herself, she was the kind of person who would go out of her way to help anyone in need-never expecting anything in return.

Her faith in Jesus was the foundation of her life. She loved her Lord fiercely and lived each day as a reflection of His grace, kindness, and love. Whether she was offering a helping hand, sharing a warm meal, or simply listening with her full heart, she embodied the true meaning of Christian love. Mary had a creative soul and loved to design and create beautiful things. Her hands were rarely still-whether she was crafting, planting flowers, or tending to her garden, she found joy and peace in bringing beauty to the world around her. She loved nature deeply and often said she thought she could fix the world if she just had enough time and love to give.

A wonderful cook, she filled countless bellies and hearts with her delicious meals-and no gathering was complete without her famous dishes and her ever-present can of Coke.

Throughout her life, Mary worked hard and faithfully. She served as a bus driver for Grant Parish, caring deeply for the children she transported each day, and as a waitress at several local restaurants, where her smile and kindness made everyone feel welcome. She was also a loving caretaker to her husband, tending to him with unwavering devotion and gentle strength.

Above all, Mary was a wonderful mother whose love knew no limits. Her children were her greatest joy, and she poured every bit of her heart into guiding, supporting, and loving them.

She leaves behind a legacy of love, faith, and compassion that will live on in all who were blessed to know her.

Mary is survived by her children, Isaac “Ike” Vollm, Joshua Vollm (Aimee), Jacob Vollm (Hannah), and Ashley Vollm; grandchildren, Tristan Murdock, Allie Hennisen, Landry Hennison, Laiken Vollm, Kaiden Vollm, Dawson Vollm, Eli Vollm, Bella Vollm, Gracie Kerry, Camron Kerry, Isaiah Kerry, Emma Grace Vollm, and Lexy Vollm; siblings, James Ammons, Paul Ammons, Russell Ammons, Betty Simmons, and Myrtie Leatherman; and a host of great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Darren Aleshire; her parents, R.D. and Lou Veina Ammons; siblings, Reatha Davis, Eddie Mae Hines, Louise Cosby, and Earl K. Ammons; and a grandchild, Colby Silmon.

Visitation for Mary will be Wednesday, October 29, 2025, from 10:00-12:00 pm at Gallagher Funeral Home. Services honoring the life of Mary will be at 12:00 pm at the funeral home with Pastor Jacob Vollm officiating. Interment will follow the services and be at Coleman Cemetery.

Pallbearers honored to serve are Dawson Vollm, Eli Vollm, Kaiden Vollm, Jonivon Ammons, Zac O’Neal, and Landry Hennisen.

Though she may be gone from our sight, her love, laughter, and light will remain forever in our hearts.

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Ijuana Joan Clayton Young, affectionately known as Joan, age 82, of Dry Prong, Louisiana, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 25, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.

Born on September 29, 1943, in Etowah, Arkansas, Joan lived a life filled with creativity, curiosity, and care. She was a talented seamstress who poured love into every stitch, making clothes for her children when they were young and creating countless handmade treasures over the years.

Joan graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in Baton Rouge in 1976 at the age of 33. She was very proud of this accomplishment because she had quit school to have her children and then went back to finish it.

A lifelong lover of music, Joan found joy in listening to her favorite songs and having ones looked up for her-always eager to discover a melody that matched her mood. Her days were often spent tending to her plants, nurturing them with the same gentle patience she gave to the people in her life.

She also enjoyed the peaceful company of hummingbirds, watching and listening to their soft hum outside her window. In quieter moments, she loved adding to her beautiful stamp collection-each one a small window into a wider world.

Joan is preceded in death by her mother, Elsie Mae Applebee Stone; step-father, William Roy Stone; father, Ferris Davis Clayton; husband, Ray Young; siblings, Sonny Clayton and Jane Sandifer; and son, David Young.

Joan will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and all who knew her gentle spirit and warm heart. She leaves behind her children, Waco Young (Renee), Kathy Young (Jefferson Bostick), and Gayle Wiggins (Gary); grandchildren, Adrienne, Bryan, Cole, Taylor, Dalton, Alayna, and Hunter; fifteen great grandchildren; sisters, Jeanie Stroud (Ray) and Jennifer Ahrlett (Albert); and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family and friends, who will forever cherish her memory.

A celebration of Joan’s life will be held on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at 11:00 am at Bethel Baptist Church in Colfax, Louisiana, with Brother Bob Boyt officiating. Visitation Will take place from 10:00-11:00 am at the church. Burial will take place at Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery after the service under the direction of Gallagher Funeral Home.

Pallbearers honored to serve are Cole Young, Bryan Wiggins, Hunter Wiggins, Matthew Carter, Connor Lemoine, and Josh Campbell.

Her love, laughter, and music will continue to echo in the hearts of all who knew her.

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The Rapides Parish Police Jury has lifted the parish-wide burn ban effective 11:30 a.m. on October 27, following recent rainfall across the area and additional precipitation expected in the coming days.

Officials are urging residents to continue exercising caution when burning outdoors. Fires should never be left unattended, and a water source should always be kept nearby to help contain and control the fire.
Parish officials extended their appreciation to residents for adhering to the burn ban during the recent period of dry weather.

For more information, contact the Rapides Parish Police Jury at (318) 473-6660.

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