By JIM BUTLER

The School Board opted for a new face in choosing an interim District F member Tuesday evening. 

A six-two vote named Marie Ashmore to the post officially vacated January 1 by an ailing Linda Burgess. 

Ashmore returned to the district after a 30-year military career and 12 years civilian work at the Pentagon. 

Other nominees were retired system educator/administrator William Higgins and state social services employee and former interim board member Linda Drew McMahon. 

She filled the post for several months in 2019 after the incumbent was declared ineligible.  Board member Willard McCall said Burgess asked that McMahon be the appointee, as did Alexandria Councilman-at-large Jules Green. 

Ashmore and Higgins led the first voting round 7-6-3, eliminating McMahon, each member voting for two nominees. 

She will serve the unexpired term of Burgess, essentially this year. All board seats are up for election in October. 

Her election was the third of the night. 

Two hours earlier members elected Mark Dryden president and Wilton Barrios vice President, both without opposition. 

Dryden, in his second four-year term, was vice president in 2025. He succeeds Steve Berry. 

His committee appointments: 

Personnel – Chair George Johnson, Barrios, McCall; Education – Chair Sandra Franklin, Wally Fall, Dryden; Finance – Chair Berry, Dr. Stephen Chapman, Ashmore; Executive – Chair Fall, Barrios, McCall.

The Rotary Club of Alexandria began 2026 with a well-attended meeting centered on economic development and regional growth in Central Louisiana.

Members and guests heard from Chris Masingill, president and CEO of Louisiana Central, who joined consultants to outline a comprehensive economic development plan for the region. The presentation also highlighted the “We Make Good Stuff” Roadshow, an initiative aimed at showcasing Central Louisiana’s strengths, business opportunities, and workforce potential.

In addition to the program, the Rotary Club recognized Carlina Rika for receiving her Paul Harris Fellow award, honoring her commitment to service and support of Rotary’s mission.

Louisiana Central representatives expressed appreciation for the opportunity to share insights on economic development and to discuss ongoing and future business growth across the region. The meeting concluded with discussion and engagement among attendees, providing what organizers described as an informative hour filled with meaningful conversation and valuable takeaways for the year ahead.

The Pineville Police Department announced the passing of retired Police Chief Jay L. Barber, remembering him for his years of service and leadership within the department and the community.

Chief Barber served the citizens of Pineville as chief of police during two separate terms, first from September 1996 to October 1997, and again from May 2003 to October 2007. During his tenure, he was known for his dedication to public service and his commitment to the officers and residents of Pineville.

Department officials said Chief Barber’s leadership left a lasting impact on the Pineville Police Department and helped shape the agency during his years in command.

The Pineville Police Department extended its deepest condolences to the Barber family, as well as to Chief Barber’s friends, former colleagues, and all those mourning his loss.

Rapides Parish residents can expect foggy mornings, increasing rain chances late in the week, and a noticeable cool-down heading into the weekend, according to the latest forecast.

Wednesday will begin with widespread dense fog, which may reduce visibility during the morning commute. Skies are expected to remain mostly cloudy early before turning mostly sunny by late morning.

Afternoon highs will reach the upper 70s, with light winds shifting from west to south. Wednesday night will be partly cloudy early, becoming mostly cloudy, with lows in the lower 60s.

Mostly cloudy conditions continue Thursday, with a 30 percent chance of showers developing during the afternoon. Highs are forecast in the upper 70s, while south winds increase to 10 to 15 mph, with gusts up to 25 mph. Rain chances rise Thursday night, with a 50 percent chance of showers after midnight and overnight lows in the mid 60s.

Friday is shaping up to be the most active weather day of the week. Showers are likely in the morning, followed by showers and a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Rain chances peak at 90 percent, with highs in the mid 70s. Cooler air will arrive Friday night as showers and possible thunderstorms continue, dropping lows into the lower 50s.

The weekend will bring much cooler temperatures. Saturday and Saturday night will remain mostly cloudy, with daytime highs in the lower 60s and overnight lows falling into the upper 30s.

From Sunday through Tuesday, mostly cloudy skies are expected to persist, with highs in the mid 50s and lows in the mid 30s, keeping conditions well below average for this time of year.

Drivers are urged to use caution during periods of dense fog, and residents should prepare for wet weather late in the week followed by colder conditions through the weekend and into early next week.

You are invited to experience the Centenary College Choir in a free concert this Friday, January 9, 2026 at 7pm in the beautiful sanctuary of First United Methodist Church of Alexandria. This globe-trotting choir, having now sung in over 35 countries across the world, is one of the enduring legacies of Centenary College.  Their diverse travel agenda is mirrored by an eclectic repertoire, ranging from Bach to Broadway, folk to classical, spirituals to hymns and so much more.

This year’s concert program opens with a rhythmic setting of the swahili O Sifuni Mungu.  Nods to the College’s Methodist heritage follow with famous Charles Wesley hymns O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing and And Can it Be that I Should Gain, settings by Eric Nelson and Dan Forrest, respectively.  Student soloist Nina Guerrero is featured on the spiritual Ain’t Got Time to Die and the Choir offers the powerful prayer, Let There Be Peace On Earth and the always entertaining Shaker Dance.   Other portions of the program present some of the group’s historic favorites, such as O King all Glorious by Healey Willan, the pastoral Homeward Bound arrangement by Mack Wilberg, Daniel Gawthrop’s exquisite Sing Me to Heaven, and a musical theater favorite, Rhythm of Life.

Yet the climax of the program will surely be the continued premiere of the Bicentennial anthem, Labor Omnia Vincit, music composed by Centenary alumnus and current faculty member, Dr. James Eakin.  The text offered by Dr. Eakin’s oft collaborator, Charles Anthony Silvestri, is based on the colleges motto, which translates as “work conquers all.”  Full of wonderful allusions to the ideals, geography, and history of the college, the work is an exciting piece, joyful in spirit, and inspiring reflections for both past and future success. 

The annual schedule of the Choir usually finds the group offering around 35 performances in an array of tour concerts, college ceremonies, church and alumni relations programs, recruitment activities, and other Shreveport/Bossier City community events.  Fall highlights of the 2025-26 season include the aforementioned Rhapsody in View and special Christmas performances including the annual television program broadcast throughout the Ark-La-Tex. In February, the Choir will join Emmett Hook Center’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as well as participate in the College’s community Easter Sunrise service.  The Choir’s year ends with a robust tour of Central Europe, offering concerts in Poland, Hungary, and Austria.

The students of the Choir come from many areas of the nation and other countries and represent most of the academic majors offered by the College. Members of the Choir receive one of the finest college educations possible while making enduring friendships as a part of the Choir family and tradition. Members are selected by auditions held throughout the year for the following academic term. Persons wishing to audition should contact the director of the choir or Hurley School of Music to arrange an appointment. The Choir offers scholarships for all its members. For those interested in majoring in music, the College offers extensive music degrees with several optional areas of emphasis, including performance, choral music, and composition.

It’s officially official.

Tuesday, Northwestern State released its 2026 football schedule, confirming what Louisiana Christian shared last month on social media  — the Demons and Wildcats will collide for the first time since 1968 this fall.

Kicking off six games at Turpin Stadium in 2026, Northwestern announced a season-opening Thursday night, Aug. 27 contest renewing a long dormant series with Louisiana Christian.

The slate follows that historic contest with another of regional significance. Third-year coach Blaine McCorkle’s Demons will visit NSU’s oldest rival, Louisiana Tech in Week 2.

The 12-game schedule was announced on Tuesday as part of a Southland Conference-wide schedule release for the 2026 season.

“Thursday night openers are always fun because the students are here and you get a good crowd. We opened up against Alcorn on Thursday night last year and it was a great atmosphere so we are excited to do that again,” said McCorkle.

The game with the Wildcats is the first between the two programs since 1968. Then-Louisiana College dropped football a year later, and finally resumed it two decades ago. Now known as Louisiana Christian with an NAIA Division I athletics program, LCU has visited NSU’s NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision Southland colleagues McNeese and Houston Christian in season openers in the past two years.

Beginning in the Demons’ second official football season, 1908, the schools have met 59 times, with Northwestern leading the series 38-14-7.

“I can see LC bringing a lot of people up and they’re a good football team,” said McCorkle. “I give Coach (Ben) McLaughlin a lot of credit. They’ve won their conference two of the last three years, and they do a lot of good things. There’s no doubt their players will be excited to come in here and play.”

Northwestern renews another regional rivalry the following week when it travels to Louisiana Tech on Sept. 5. The first meeting with the Bulldogs since 2023 begins a stretch of three straight September road games for the second straight season. 

Sandwiched between the trip to Ruston and a program-first trip to Utah to close a home-and-home agreement with Weber State (Sept. 19), the Demons travel to East Texas A&M (Sept. 12) for the first of nine SLC games on the schedule.

After four straight seasons with multiple FBS opponents on their non-conference schedule, the Demons face just one in 2026.

“Excited about the regional rivalry with Tech. We have a history of playing a lot over the years,” McCorkle said. “I know our kids will be really excited to go up there and play against people that they know. There’s a lot of crossover on our rosters with high school teammates or guys you played against when you’re that close in proximity. 

“Then after a week of conference play against East Texas A&M, back on the road to Weber State, who came in here two years ago and handled us pretty good. They have been a perennial FCS power. So, three non-conference games this year and we definitely have our work cut out for us. They should set us up pretty good going into conference play to know where we are.”

With two Louisiana-based teams in the non-conference, the Demons face five total in-state opponents on the year, including the first home conference game against Southeastern on Sept. 26. It signals a stretch of three of four and five of seven games inside Turpin Stadium. 

McNeese (Oct. 17) and Nicholls (Oct. 24) also visit Natchitoches in 2026, marking the first time since 1978 the Demons host the Colonels, Cowboys and Lions in the same season and the first time with all being Southland Conference opponents.

The last time NSU played five games against in-state teams in the same season was 2017. 

After consecutive home games in mid-October, the Demons close their home slate with consecutive home games in early November, hosting UTRGV (Nov. 7) in the first football meeting between the two schools in history, and HCU (Nov. 14).

“Six home games is a big deal,” McCorkle said. “It’s been a while since we’ve had six home games. And then Louisiana Tech is right up the road. So really, you have within proximity, seven right here in our backyard where all our fans all be able to see us play. 

It is the first time since 2013 the Demons have six home games during a season.

NSU closes the season with a Thursday night rivalry game against Stephen F. Austin, this time in Nacogdoches.

Kickoff times and the homecoming date will be set later, officials said.

*indicates Southland Conference games

The Ruby-Kolin Fire Department marked a busy year in 2025, responding to hundreds of calls while continuing to serve the community with a combination of full-time, part-time, and volunteer personnel.

According to department officials, Ruby-Kolin Fire Department personnel answered a total of 384 calls for service throughout the year, accounting for more than 822 hours dedicated to emergency response and public service across the district and surrounding areas.

Medical emergencies made up the majority of calls, with firefighters responding to 235 incidents. The department also handled 22 motor vehicle accidents and 19 good intent or public service calls. Wildland fires accounted for 16 responses, while false or fire alarms resulted in 11 calls.

Additional incidents included six hazardous materials responses, six power line incidents, six dispatched and canceled calls, and 55 mutual aid responses to assist neighboring departments. Fire-related calls included two car fires, two structure fires, two trash fires, one camper fire, and one lightning strike incident.

Department officials credited the year’s efforts to the dedication and professionalism of their personnel, noting that firefighters answered the call whenever help was needed, regardless of the situation.

The department also expressed appreciation for surrounding fire departments that provided mutual aid and support throughout the year, emphasizing the importance of cooperation in emergency response.

Fire officials thanked the Ruby-Kolin community for its continued trust and support, stating that community backing plays a vital role in the department’s mission to serve and protect. The Ruby-Kolin Fire Department said it looks forward to continuing that mission in the year ahead.

A burn ban may stop brush fires, but it doesn’t slow fear, outrage, or misinformation. Some fires don’t require permits.

September 26, 1942 – December 30, 2025

Rosie Lee Hollingsworth Bobb, a cherished mother, grandmother, aunt, and faithful servant, passed away on December 30, 2025, at the age of 83. Her life was a bright testament to faith, family, and the joy of giving. Powder blue was her favorite color, a small but steadfast detail that reflected the soft grace she shared with everyone she met. Rosie loved to cook, sew, and garden, and she delighted in using these gifts to nurture others and beautify the world around her.

A longtime and beloved member of the church community, Rosie’s faith and service were at the heart of her days. She sang in the church choir, served proudly as a deaconess, and was recently appointed Mother of the Church at Raven Camp Baptist Church. She was deeply committed to the church’s Mission, and her passion for spiritual growth and outreach inspired many. Rosie was also an active participant in the Joy group-“Just Older Youth”-a community of friends who shared laughter, fellowship, and a lifelong love of learning.

Public viewing and visitation will be held at True Vine Baptist Church, 831 Broadway Avenue, Alexandria, Louisiana 71302, on Saturday, January 10, 2026, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Funeral Service will follow at 11:00 a.m. at the same location. Interment will take place at Garden of Memories, 2733 Eddie Williams Avenue, Alexandria, Louisiana 71302, after the service.

Rosie will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Her warmth, generosity, and steadfast faith left an enduring imprint on her family, her church, and her many friends. The family invites all who were touched by Rosie’s life to share memories and condolences as they celebrate a life well lived.

June 9, 1947 — January 5, 2026

Barbara Jean White, a native of Denver, Colorado, longtime resident of Boyce, Louisiana and currently of Denham Springs, Louisiana, passed away peacefully January 5, 2026 at the age of 78. She was born on June 9, 1947 and was married to Walter Allen White of Boyce for 30 +years until his passing.

Barbara was preceded by her father Virgil Barely, mother Barbara Bower, husband Walter White, sister Kathy Johnson and Grandson Cody Dean Johnson

She is survived by her children, Steve Swolley and wife Janie, Sue Swolley, Dean White, and Jeanne Denise White Nash and husband Richard. Also survived by seven grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild.

She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, great great grandmother and will be dearly missed by her family and friends

She spent 20 + years at Walmart and opened a daycare because of her love for children. After moving to Denham Springs, she loved going to the Council on Aging daily where she met many good people. The family would like to thank the Council on Aging for all of love, support, and friendship they extended to our mom for the years she attended. Also the family would like to show appreciation to St. Joseph Carpenter House for her final care and compassion for our mother.

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Beginnings are tricky, but here we are—fresh page, blinking cursor, and a head full of questions. I’m Ida B. Torn, a lifelong Southerner from Kenner, Louisiana, who’s spent years working in newsrooms, design studios, and public service. I’ve seen my share of life’s chaos and comedy—and learned that sometimes, folks just need straight answers and a little laughter along the way.

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By JIM BUTLER

Woodworth has its wild flowers and wild horses (thanks Lainey Wilson). 

If the flowers become a problem, landowners control them as a matter of course. 

Wild horses are a different matter. 

As 2025 drifted into 2026 a stampede of outcry occurred as apparently wild horses were moved from a tract of private property. 

The response was such that Mayor David Butler’s office clarified that the town isn’t rounding up horses and no taxpayer money is currently used for any such action. 

The statement doesn’t rule out official action in the future though it reiterates that anything that might be done will be only after due deliberation. 

Some area residents say the horses are among relatives of those roaming Kisatchie Forest acreage in Vernon Parish. 

Others say they are steeds abandoned by owners unable or unwilling to any longer care for them. 

Advocacy groups keep tabs of the Vernon herd, most of which roams Kisatchie land that is part of Fort Polk. 

The Army considers the animals trespass horses and works to remove them and the hazards they pose. 

“We recognize and respect the community’s appreciation and concern for wildlife, including the feral horses in and around the area, and we understand the importance of addressing this matter with care and accuracy.

“The Town also firmly believes that property rights are paramount. While there is currently no active action being taken, the Town acknowledges that future complaints from property owners regarding feral horses may require thoughtful consideration. 

“Should such complaints be received, the Town will work toward developing a responsible plan of action that carefully balances the best interests of the residents, property owners, and the horses.

“The Town will continue to act in a manner that protects community values and the environment. Any future steps will be approached with due consideration, in compliance with applicable regulations, and with an emphasis on humane and practical solutions,” the Woodworth statement says.

The only job Lance Brasher wanted after graduating from UL-Monroe in 2008 was to coach, and there was only one job available around here that August – as an assistant basketball coach at Grant High School.

He applied for the job, got hired and held the job for three weeks. That’s when his boss quit for a better-paying job up north (for his wife), and Lance William Brasher, in his rookie year in coaching, was suddenly promoted to head coach.

No problem. The former star guard for Peabody and ULM guided the Grant Cougars to 23 victories, ending with a last-second loss to No. 7 seed DeRidder in the second round of the playoffs.

Now in his 18^th year of coaching, at his third different job, the 40-year-old Brasher is the hottest prep basketball coach in town and among the best in the state. His Class 5A Trojans from Alexandria Senior High have won 14 of 15 games, including an impressive 74-56 victory over Class 4A power and cross-town rival Peabody in their most recent outing before a packed gym at ASH last Friday night.  

Notably, he won the coaching chess match Friday against his former high school mentor, 76-year-old Naismith Hall of Fame coach Charles Smith. The Trojans were trailing by three after the first quarter but by the time they were finished three quarters they held a 20-point lead. 

“I told our guys before the game I think we’ve got the better team,” said Brasher, “but it’s going to come down to who manages the distractions better, and how we react to the runs Peabody is going to go on. And against Peabody, you cannot turn the ball over since they get most of their points off turnovers and rebounds off the glass.”

ASH kept its turnovers to a minimum until it built a 24-point lead and it won the rebounding battle against a Peabody team that Brasher thinks is “the best defensive and offensive rebounding team in the state.”

I wondered if the big victory by the student over his teacher might’ve been a “passing of the torch” scenario, but Brasher put the brakes on such talk.

“Let’s not go there,” he said. “Coach (Smith) is like family. Not only did I play for him, he came to my wedding and danced at my wedding with his wife. My grandfather (Bubba Brasher) asked him to be a pallbearer at his funeral. He’s always been in my life, and Ked (Smith, Charles’ son), too, who was coaching at ULM when I played there.”

Plus, coaching has been part of Brasher’s family for years. His parents, David and Debbie, are former basketball coaches. His sister, Kelli, who played for Peabody, Nicholls State and LCU, after a break of a few years, is back coaching at Minden High School. She had coached previously at Grant, Winnfield and Ruston.

A husband and father, Brasher’s athletic DNA extends to each of his and Brittany’s four children, ages 10-5 – the oldest three playing two sports.

Lance played three years at Peabody, including the 2004 season, when he and John Ford led Coach Smith’s Warhorses to a perfect 41-0 season, a state championship and a No. 5 national ranking. He was the salutatorian of his senior class that year. At ULM he was a 40-percent shooter from the field and hit 70 percent from the line, averaging close to 9 points and 2 assists per game over three seasons.

Coaching his first year or two at Grant against his former prep coach stirred some odd feelings, being in the opposite huddle, said Brasher, but in the years since, at Tioga and ASH, there has been some mutual familiarity with game strategies that make for intriguing matches between the two coaches.

“I try to implement some of the things Coach Smith does with my coaching,” Lance said. “I’d be a fool not to, considering he’s not just any Hall of Fame coach but the Naismith Hall of Fame. On the other hand, I’ve got to be me. I can’t be Charles Smith, nor will I try.

“When I first started coaching, I wore a coat and tie to games like he does,” Lance continued, “but I can’t do that. It’s not me.”

The common ground between them is their competitive zeal. Brasher was quick to see that in Smith while playing for him.

“Every single day of practice, every single drill, every summer league game, he intended to win and win by a substantial amount,” he said. “I was like that, too. Our mentalities are the same. We don’t like losing possessions, quarters, let alone games. That’s when I realized I had met somebody just as competitive if not more competitive than me.”

Think about when Brasher took over the job at ASH, which was never known as a basketball school and, even during some sparkling seasons had the misfortune of being in the same league with – and thus overshadowed by — Peabody.

“When I took the job,” said Brasher, “I told the media that my goal was to win a district championship and a state championship, and they laughed at me and told me it was impossible.”

In his first season at ASH, 2019-20, Brasher guided the Trojans to a 32-7 record and the school’s first state basketball championship. The impossible became not only possible but achievable. The Trojans have made the playoffs in five of the last six years. With 6-foot-8 senior center Tyshawn Duncan, the state’s No. 1 basketball prospect for the Class of 2026 (bound for UL-Lafayette) and 6-3 senior power forward Jarvel Bordelon (NAIA’s Texarkana) leading the way, a deep playoff run looks possible.

Considering what Brasher can make of “impossible” scenarios, no telling what he might do with the possible.

By JASON PUGH, Northwestern State Athletic Communications Director

Military service as World War II ended interrupted Jim Willis’ two-sport Northwestern State athletic career, but nothing could sever the deep-seated admiration he had for his alma mater.

Willis, Northwestern’s first Major League Baseball player, passed away Saturday at 98 near his longtime home of Boyce. Visitation is set for 5-8 p.m. Friday with services at 11 a.m. Saturday at John Kramer & Son Funeral Home in Alexandria.

A baseball and basketball player whose collegiate careers were altered by his service, Willis began his Northwestern career in 1944 before serving his country in Germany toward the end of the war.

He returned to play both basketball and baseball for the Demons, experiencing success on both fronts before becoming the first Demon to reach Major League Baseball, spending two seasons with the Chicago Cubs from 1953-54.

Following his athletic career, Willis transitioned into twin family businesses – teaching and farming – both of which were natural fits for the Doyline native.

“He came from a family of teachers,” said Aza Willis Walker, one of Willis’ and his late wife, Dixie’s, four children. “We wrote in his obituary it was a natural transition when he finished baseball. His mother was a teacher. His great-grandfather built a school. His great uncle, James W. Nicholson, was president of LSU. He always enjoyed teaching people about something and always wanted people to learn.”

Perhaps portending his future on the diamond, Willis took part in the European Theater League during his time in Germany, playing at military bases in Germany and France. One of his teammates in Europe, Bob Rush, eventually became his teammate with the Cubs.

Willis’ two-season stint with the Cubs saw him toss two complete games in three starts during the 1953 season, going 2-1 with a 3.12 ERA. His Chicago tenure saw him appear in 27 games with four starts, showcasing his versatility on the mound.

Those 27 games nearly never happened as Roy Johnson, the Cubs third base coach, had to travel to Boyce to convince Willis to return to baseball. Coincidentally, the first pitch of Willis’ major league career came against another Louisiana native, Joe Adcock of Coushatta.

That meeting led to a fun exchange decades later when the two ran into each other at a horse-racing track near Lafayette with the two arguing over the outcome of the at-bat. Adcock swore it was a home run while Willis retorted it was a grounder back to the pitcher.

A 1976 N-Club Hall of Fame inductee whose No. 28 Demon baseball jersey was retired in 2009, Willis was not one for bragging about his big-league career.

“When we were little, he didn’t talk about it much,” said Walker, whose thoughts were echoed by her sister. “Daddy never wanted to be one of those old athletes who talked about what they used to do. It’s funny, I met my now-husband at 15. He found out about daddy’s baseball card, and he started asking him a lot of questions. That’s when I found out most of it.”

Following his service in World War II, Willis returned to Natchitoches and was part of the resumption of the Demon baseball program, helping Northwestern post a 12-9 mark in 1949.

He was equally as productive on the basketball court at Northwestern. As a guard, Willis helped coach H. Lee Prather’s 1948-49 Demon squad post a 23-5 record, win the Gulf States Conference championship and reach the NAIA Tournament semifinals – a run that included a quarterfinal victory against BYU.

Willis’ time on the hardcourt was shared with John McConathy, himself an NBA first-round draft pick and father of eventual Demon head basketball coach Mike McConathy.

The younger McConathy recalled seeing Willis during several Demon basketball reunions the coach held during his tenure with the two forging a friendship.

“My dad had a tremendous amount of respect for his ability as a player but also as a man,” Mike McConathy said. “Being around him and seeing him from time to time at different alumni functions, you could tell he was very well respected, and that was pretty special. You learn a lot by the number of people, when they come back, how they are received by other team members. There was always a lot of respect for him.”

Willis’ Demon baseball legacy opened the door for six more Northwestern alums to reach baseball’s pinnacle, but his post-playing career – one that saw him become a beloved educator – drew him the same reaction as it did from his fellow Demon athletic alumni.

That included the ability to befriend nearly anyone from an eventual university president to his students.

“Bobby Alost was a good friend of his,” said Sally Willis Barden, the third of Willis’ four children. “I was working a summer student job in the admissions office with Walter Ledet. One day, Bobby Alost saw my nametag and asked if I was related to Jim Willis. I said, ‘That’s my dad.’ He said, ‘I saw your daddy and (brother) Frank, and I asked Frank how fast your dad could throw a baseball?’ He said, ‘As fast as a .22 bullet.’

“I was coming home on the weekends, and I told Daddy about it. He said, ‘Next time you see Bobby Alost, tell him I need someone to come haul pulp wood.’ Bobby almost fell down laughing. They always had a lot of fun. (Willis) always said, ‘If you can’t have fun, don’t do it.’ For his birthday party, he’d say, ‘No gifts. Just come happy. If you’re not happy, don’t come.’”

Both Barden and Walker earned degrees from Northwestern, lengthening the family legacy.

That connection continued when Barden’s daughter, Susan Culley Barden, attended the Louisiana Scholars College and was part of the Spirit of Northwestern marching band.

Susan Barden found a perfect way to honor her grandfather several years ago, printing a Willis No. 28 Chicago Cubs jersey and posing for a picture in front of the famous Wrigley Field marquee.

The roots of this branch of the Willis family began at then-Louisiana Normal College when Jim met Dixie James, who was the Homecoming queen. The pair later married and settled in Boyce.

With Willis’ family maintaining property in Webster Parish, trips to and through Natchitoches were commonplace, which allowed Willis to remain connected to his alma mater.

“(Northwestern) meant a great, great deal to him,” Walker said. “Northwestern always honored him. (Former assistant athletic director and current special assistant to the president) Doug Ireland was incredible. It was such a huge part of him. He had a cabin in north Louisiana, and every time we would travel up there, we’d go by NSU. We did it a million times. I was there when his number was retired. We went and took pictures of him by the retired number. They invited him to throw out the first pitch at a baseball game in his later years. He still had it, and it meant the world to him.

“He loved coach Prather. He loved everything about Natchitoches. Northwestern meant so, so much to him.”

Residents of Pineville can celebrate the return of Lou & Laura’s! The popular local eatery is back in the neighborhood, serving up their signature flavors from a food trailer while their new brick-and-mortar location is being prepared.

As of Jan. 5, Lou & Laura’s will be open for lunch, giving locals a chance to enjoy the dishes they’ve been missing. City officials and community members are encouraging everyone to support the restaurant during its first week back in Pineville.

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When Joe was born in July of 1915, his grandfather announced, “This child is the future president of the nation.” At the time, Joe’s grandfather was the mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, and Joe’s father was the president of the Columbia Trust Bank in Boston. From a young age, Joe’s father groomed him for a career in politics with the presidency as his ultimate goal for his son. Joe’s eight siblings were all held to high standards, but Joe was the favorite child. If Joe had his own goals in life, he never acted on them.

In 1933, Joe graduated from the prestigious Choate School in Wallingford, Connecticut, and won the Harvard trophy, one of the most coveted of athletic prizes which was awarded annually to the member of the football team who best combined scholarship and sportsmanship. Although Joe was not the first person to win the trophy, his was the first name engraved upon it. Rather than going straight into college, Joe was one of 20 youths selected from over 900 applicants “for a year’s trip around the world on a four-masted schooner.” Joe and his group visited every continent and almost every European country on their tour. While in Germany, Joe praised Adolph Hitler and his forced sterilization program in a letter to his father. He said Hitler’s program was doing “away with many of the disgusting specimens of men which inhabit this earth.”

In the fall of 1934, Joe entered Harvard College and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree four years later. Joe then enrolled at Harvard Law School, the next logical step on his way to the presidency. With World War II looming on the horizon for Americans, Joe was among a group of Harvard students who formed the Harvard Committee Against Military Intervention in Europe and proclaimed, “Since, contrary to the assertions of the Committee for Militant Aid to Britain, there is every reason to believe that America is not now at war, it is incumbent upon us to consider the possibility of remaining at peace.”

War often brings opportunity. Despite his initial opposition to the war, Joe put his law studies on hold and enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve in June of 1944. Becoming a war hero would certainly help his political ambitions. The United States officially entered the war on December 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. As a pilot, Joe flew more than enough combat missions to allow him to return home. Fellow pilot Louis Papas said, “There was never an occasion for a mission that meant extra hazard that Joe did not volunteer. He had everybody’s unlimited admiration and respect for his courage, zeal, and willingness to undertake the most dangerous missions.” In August 1944, Joe volunteered to take part in Operation Aphrodite in which war-weary bombers were converted into radio-controlled missiles. The plan was that Joe and his co-pilot Wilford Willy would fly the “drone” bomber with over 21,000 pounds of explosives to an altitude of 2,000 feet at which point another airplane would gain complete radio control.

Joe and Wilford would then arm the explosives and parachute out of the airplane over England. The crew in the second airplane would fly the radio-controlled bomber to its target. At 6:18 p.m. on August 12, Joe radioed, “Spade Flush,” the code phrase for the second airplane to take radio control of the drone. At 6:20, while Joe and Wilford awaited the signal to bail out, the bombs detonated prematurely.

Joe’s father’s dreams of his son becoming president ended with Joe’s death. Well, only for a short time.

You see, had Joe not been killed during World War II, it is unlikely that his brother would have become president of the United States. Joe, Joseph Kennedy Jr., was the older brother of John F. Kennedy.

Sources:
Meriden Record, May 30, 1933, p.8.
Meriden Record, June 23, 1933, p.8.
The Boston Globe, July 20, 1934, p.3.
The Atlanta Constitution, December 18, 1940, p.28.
The Kansas City Times, August 15, 1944, p.3.
Meilan Solly, “The Top-Secret World War II Mission That Killed Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., the Heir Apparent to the Political Dynasty,” Smithsonian Magazine, August 12, 2024, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-top-secret-world-war-ii-mission-that-killed-joseph-pkennedy-heir-apparent-political-dynasty-180984857/#:~:text=Joe%20Jr.’s%20time%20in,Kennedy%2C%20who%20had%20intellectual%20disabilities.

“Titan”, a retired 11 year old Belgian Malanois, passed away last Tuesday after a lengthy illness. He retired from RPSO in 2018 after less than 2 years service due to a very rare disease, Canine Dysbiosis.

Canine Dysbiosis is a rare gastrointestinal disease that can be brought on by stress. The nutrients from the food cannot be absorbed by the intestine resulting in several other medical issues.

Due to “Titans” mission for RPSO, he was retired to his handler Cpl. John Deville until his passing last week. He lived very comfortably for the last 7 years as a “retiree”.

When “Titan” was retired, the company replaced him at no charge with another narcotics detection K-9.
“Titan” assisted in numerous illegal narcotics operations resulting in seizures and apprehension of dangerous suspects. While only serving a short amount of time, he was an asset to RPSO and surrounding communities.

Canines are more than just work dogs in the law enforcement world. They are their handlers partner and become part of the handlers family.

Early Monday morning, Jan. 5, the Alexandria Fire Department (AFD) responded to a fatal residential fire at the intersection of Laurel Street and Virginia Avenue. The call came in around 5:45 a.m., and fire crews arrived on scene within three minutes.

Upon arrival, firefighters found a mobile home with heavy flames coming from one end of the structure.

During a search of the home, an unresponsive individual was discovered inside. Emergency medical services quickly extricated the person and transported them to a local hospital. Tragically, the individual later died from injuries sustained in the fire.

Firefighters worked swiftly to contain the blaze, bringing it under control within eleven minutes of arrival. Following a preliminary investigation, fire officials have determined the cause of the fire was related to an electrical issue.

The identity of the deceased has not been released pending notification of next of kin.

Authorities are reminding residents to exercise caution with electrical devices and outlets to help prevent similar incidents.