The Pineville City Council appointed John Marcase as Interim Councilman for District 4 during its January 2026 meeting, following the retirement of longtime council member Tom Bouchie.

Marcase currently serves as the public relations and marketing coordinator for Rapides Regional Medical Center. He previously worked as an award-winning sports editor and assistant managing editor at The Town Talk, bringing decades of local media and communications experience to the role.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in management and marketing from Louisiana College. Marcase also serves as president of the Louisiana Sports Writers Association and is a board member of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation.

A lifelong Pineville resident, Marcase has deep ties to the community through its schools, churches, and local businesses. He is also a longtime coach for Pineville Junior High and Ward 9 sports programs.

Marcase will serve as interim councilman for District 4 until a permanent replacement is selected.

The Rapides Parish Police Jury has scheduled a series of regular committee meetings for Monday, Feb. 2, beginning at 3 p.m. The meetings will be held in the Meeting Room of the Police Jury Office.

Committees will meet in the following order: Finance Committee; Public Works, Watershed and Agricultural Affairs Committee; Workforce Development and Grants Committee; Tourism and Economic Planning and Development Committee; Courthouse, Coliseum and Legal Committee; Parochial Board Liaison and Municipal Liaison Committee; Personnel, Elections and Health Committee; and Insurance, Ambulance, Fire and Homeland Security Committee.

The agenda for the committee meetings will be posted at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 29, on the Meeting Room door.

In addition to the committee meetings, the Rapides Parish Police Jury will hold a regular meeting at 3 p.m. in the Meeting Room of the Police Jury Office, located at 701 Murray Street in Alexandria. The agenda for the regular meeting will be posted at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 5, on the Meeting Room door.

Both the committee meetings and the regular meeting will be streamed live through the Rapides Parish Police Jury website at rppj.com and on the Police Jury’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/@rppj-la.

By RICH DUPREE, Journal Contributor

Economic development is often discussed in terms of percentages and projections, but for the people of Rapides Parish, it is most felt in the revitalization of our neighborhoods. Whether it’s the backfilling of a long-vacant ‘big box’ store or the arrival of a brand-name restaurant locals have championed for years, these milestones represent more than just commerce—they represent community growth.

Today, we take a closer look at the latest economic activities that are making Cenla an increasingly attractive place to live, work, and do business.

Out with the old and in with the new! And for the Alexandria/Pineville area, there are a lot of new signs of new opportunities from name brands locals have longed for! 

From Olive Garden opening Monday in Alexandria, to the signs of T.J. Maxx taking shape in the old Kmart in Pineville, long awaited and much anticipated national brands have finally made their way to Cenla.

Some buildings like the old Kmart in Pineville, have been waiting to be backfilled since 2016 – and even then, it was one of the few Kmarts still open in Louisiana.

Meanwhile, the butt of many standing jokes was “maybe it’s an Olive Garden” for just about any new restaurant pad being poured. Even in the real estate world, the question of whether Alexandria would ever get an Olive Garden, always brought a chuckle. Even when Johnny Carrinos closed last March after 20 years in that location, much of Cenla was still in disbelief that Olive Garden had purchased that site, would tear it completely down, and from the ashes would rise endless salad and breadsticks – but it did!!

T.J. Maxx is still a few months away in Pineville, but the popular home décor and brand name fashion outlet, has been in the works for years and backfills one of the most recognized empty boxes in Pineville.

Thankfully, both are here! It’s a good sign for the local economy and good for real estate agents who want to get the attention of other National site selectors and point to Cenla’s progress.

Could more be on the way? Is this a “sign” of things to come? Local leaders hope so. Economic Development specialists think so. And for consumers, they are lining up to be the first to cash out at their new favorite location.

Both Olive Garden and T.J. Maxx brings a lot of credibility to a local market that struggles to get some of the big box attention our neighboring big cities have. But in the end, if the locals stop coming after the newness wears off, we will be right back where we started – wishing for something new.

The Rapides Parish Republican Women welcomed Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Jay McCallum as the featured guest at the organization’s January meeting, marking the first speaker event of its 2026 lineup.

Justice McCallum addressed members and guests during the meeting, delivering remarks that blended legal insight with humor and personal perspective. Attendees described the discussion as engaging and approachable, setting an energetic tone for the group’s programming in the new year.

The January meeting continued the organization’s tradition of hosting elected officials and public servants to discuss issues of interest to local residents while fostering civic engagement within the community.

The Rapides Parish Republican Women meet on the second Thursday of each month from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Hotel Bentley. Meetings are open to guests, and new members are welcome to attend.

LSUA is proud to announce that Danette Cormier, a founding member of the LSUA Children’s Center, has been nominated for the 2026 Early Childhood Teacher of the Year. Cormier was nominated through the Rapides Early Childhood Network (RECN), led by Cynthia Rushing of the Rapides Parish School Board, following a competitive review of nominees submitted from centers across the parish.

The Louisiana Department of Education’s Early Childhood Teacher and Leader of the Year program honors educators who create nurturing, developmentally rich learning environments that prepare young children for long-term academic success. Nominees undergo a rigorous, multi-step process that includes submitting certifications, degrees, and CLASS scores, the state’s research-based assessment measuring the quality of teacher and child interactions. Candidates must also complete written reflections and submit a filmed lesson demonstrating intentional instructional design and meaningful engagement with children. Finalists will move forward to spring interviews, with statewide honorees celebrated during the 2026 Teacher Leader Summit and recognized at events throughout the following academic year.

Cormier’s nomination is evidence of her extraordinary dedication to early childhood education. With 25 years of service at the LSUA Children’s Center, she has impacted generations of families and children through her compassion, expertise, and creativity. She has worked with every age group in the Center and currently teaches in the Toddler 1 classroom, serving children ages 12–18 months. Cormier holds an Associate of Early Childhood Education from LSUA, serves as Assistant Director, and provides ongoing mentoring and coaching to fellow lead teachers and staff. Known for her innovative use of classroom materials and intentional focus on language development, she consistently models the type of high-quality instruction that positions children for lifelong success.

The LSUA Children’s Center remains committed to its mission of providing a safe, nurturing, and inclusive learning environment that supports children, families, and the broader community. Cormier’s nomination reflects the Center’s longstanding tradition of excellence and its deep investment in early childhood educators who change lives every day.

LSUA celebrates Danette Cormier’s outstanding achievement and looks forward to supporting her throughout the statewide selection process.

Written by Adam Lord
Photo credit – Nathan Parish

It made too much sense not to finally happen.

Louisiana College started playing football in 1908, a year after up the train tracks in Natchitoches, Louisiana Normal had kicked off the sport.

They teed it up in LC’s first year, and 58 times afterward, pausing for a couple years during World War II, until the Wildcats shut down the football program following the 1968 season.

Louisiana College, looking to bolster male enrollment figures, relaunched the sport almost three decades ago, competing in the NAIA ranks.

By then, Louisiana Normal had long since become Northwestern State University, had produced dozens of pro players including some of the NFL’s biggest stars, and was playing at the lower end of the NCAA’s Division I.

Almost 20 years ago, when Dennis Dunn was the Wildcats’ head coach, he let the right people at NSU know his team would love to head up Interstate 49 to play at Turpin Stadium. Of course, there was the matter of how much LC would be paid to make the visit – game guarantee fees are paid in non-conference games to the visiting team if the home team isn’t going to return the visit. Not really a big obstacle to making a deal with the Demons, but NSU wasn’t interested in taking on an NAIA opponent.

So Northwestern-LC football was a quaint memory. Meanwhile, there were occasional contests in every other sport the Wildcats played – nearly every one, except for a rare baseball game in Pineville, taking place in Natchitoches. That’s the way the college athletic world tilts – NCAA Division I teams host non-Division I foes.

Louisiana College rebranded as Louisiana Christian University a few years back, to the dismay of no small number of alumni, supporters and followers. That shift didn’t impact athletics other than ordering new uniforms.

The football program had flipped from the NAIA to NCAA Division III, and a few years ago, back to the NAIA again, even though the rest of LCU sports remains in D-3.

But Northwestern was still not open to reviving its football series with the Wildcats. Not even as their peers, first in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-AA) and more recently around the Demons’ Southland Conference neighborhood, began scheduling home games with NAIA and D-3 football teams.

Southland schools like Stephen F. Austin, Lamar and Houston Christian were playing guarantee games against teams that played LCU – North American and East Texas Baptist come to mind.

Two years ago, the Wildcats traveled to play at Houston Christian. Last fall, it was a shorter trip to Lake Charles for a game at McNeese.

LCU picked up a nice paycheck each time, and got to play in bigger stadiums with brighter lights. But there was still not interest from Northwestern – until recently.

The news popped out in December when LCU used social media platforms to trumpet a season-opening 2026 visit to Natchitoches. It became official a week ago when NSU announced its schedule.

Credit third-year Demons’ coach Blaine McCorkle – who rebuilt the program at a longtime LCU sports foe, Belhaven in Jackson, Miss., and is doing the same for Northwestern – for advocating games against LCU and other area small colleges. He knows the value from LCU’s perspective, and it goes beyond the $40,000 or so that NSU will pay. It’s about the experience, and exposure, that comes as part of the package.

He also knows the football game is much like the Demons’ 2027 visit to LSU – a game whose outcome is as predictable as humidity in August.

Doesn’t matter. It’s a win-win. Like the Demons and their fans will enjoy so much of their visit to Tiger Stadium, as they did going against Joe Burrow and company in 2019, and the Honey Badger and Les Miles a few years earlier – the Wildcats and everybody present will embrace the experience on Aug. 27, in Turpin Stadium.

And all who are there that Thursday evening will be home before midnight. Can’t say that about any other football game that Northwestern or LCU can play.

That makes it an occasion worth repeating frequently for years to come.

Maybe one time, LCU might even travel by train. Now THAT would be cool.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

The Red River Athletic Conference basketball schedule swings in favor of the local college basketball teams and their fans this week and next.

LSU Alexandria and Louisiana Christian will host four RRAC doubleheaders, this Thursday night and Saturday afternoon, and next week as well.

LSUA’s teams are extra busy this week. They played Tuesday night in New Orleans at Xavier, with the men winning while the women came up short.

The Generals are back at The Fort on Thursday playing University of the Southwest (N.M.) in a 5:30/7:30 doubleheader.

LCU is home Thursday night against North Texas-Dallas with the women tipping at 5:30 and the men following at 7:30. The Wildcats are 3-12 overall, 2-7 in the RRAC, and the LCU women are 1-14, 0-9.

UNT-Dallas visits LSUA Saturday while LCU will host Southwest.

Generals get 10^th win:  EJ McQuillan and Jordan Decuir E.J. McQuillan scored 27 and Jordan Decuir 24 in Tuesday night’s 69-63 win in New Orleans over Xavier.
 
McQuillan went 7-for-16 from the field, including a 3-for-7 mark from deep and knocking down 10 free throws. Decuir also went 7-for-16 and knocked down five of his seven attempts from beyond the arc, as well as five free throws. The Generals (10-6, 7-3 RRAC) sank half of their shots from three-point land and were 15-for-18 at the free throw line in the second half.

Bentravin Phillips recorded 27 points for the Gold Rush (9-5, 6-3 RRAC) who shot just 36 percent in the second half after knocking down 48 percent of their chances in the first.

The Generals reached a 16-point lead, their largest of the game,56-40. A 17-5 run from Xavier over the next five-and-a-half minutes narrowed the gap to four with 5:40 left.

McQuillan converted six free throws down the stretch to secure the victory for LSUA.

LSUA women bow, 69-58: A late comeback effort Tuesday night was stymied by Xavier, which kept the Generals scoreless over the final 4:07 after LSUA drew within 59-58.

“I thought we fought hard tonight,” LSUA coach Billy Perkins said. “But we just couldn’t get it done.”

Sydney Person recorded a team-high 19 points for the Generals (6-9, 5-5 RRAC), while McKAyla Price recorded 13, and Blair Smith added 10. Smith finished with a double-double, hauling in 14 rebounds.

Laila Sigure led the Gold Nuggets (7-7, 4-5 RRAC) with 18 points.

I’ve always wondered what makes one athlete better than another. Why do some excel more than others? Is there a secret pill or an exercise regimen that makes them better? Well today we’ll ask the same questions about bass tournament anglers.

I’ve heard for years that no angler has learned anything without another angler telling them. While this might be true in a few cases, I’m not sure that’s the case with everyone.

So many of today’s anglers have learned so much through the internet and on YouTube. You can literally learn any technique and know when to use it simply by watching a YouTube channel.

Want to learn how to use your electronics? Watch YouTube! Want to learn about a drop-shot, Carolina Rig, or how to flip a jig? Watch YouTube! Want to understand how to fix an issue with your boat? Watch YouTube! It’s an endless resource of information.

But the older generation of anglers, like me, has learned through trial and error. We’ve learned from other anglers who came before us how to get better or how to fix an issue we’re having with our boats. We didn’t always have the internet as a resource. But there was one resource that came by mail once a month: Bassmaster Magazine!

This was my generation’s internet. Every issue in the mailbox addressed everything from different ways to catch bass, to how to replace a water pump or change the oil in the lower unit of the motor. Today, I’m still a subscriber to not only Bassmaster Magazine, but another publication called B.A.S.S. Times.

But just like great athletes, there’s something different about anglers who win more than others. The first thing I have noticed is their confidence level is usually high. They believe in what they are doing to catch bass and they understand bass behavior.

Another trait I’ve noticed is how the top anglers tend to think outside of the box. They don’t follow common trends or thought patterns other anglers do. Most of these winning anglers tend to do things a little differently.

I believe that the great anglers like Kevin Van Dam, Dustin Connell, Jacob Wheeler and the late Aaron Martens, each possess a sixth sense. They tend to think a little differently than the average bear. They don’t always follow traditional thinking when it comes to how they should be catching bass.

A phrase commonly used by these exceptional anglers is that “they let the fish tell them what and how they want the bait.”  Saying this to the average angler means nothing, but to the great anglers, it explains a lot.

They don’t try to force a technique onto the bass. Every angler always has a game plan going into the tournament based on what and how they caught bass in practice. But on tournament day, the great anglers are not afraid to abandon that game plan and change their approach in the middle of the day.

I’ve also found that great anglers are really good at reading the water. To those who don’t bass fish, this is something that’s a gift that not all anglers have. They can literally walk up to the edge of the lake and tell you how they will catch them on that day just by looking at the water.

The great anglers have abilities just like great athletes. They have intangibles that make them special that some call the ‘it” factor. You can’t coach “it,” you’re born with “it.”

While all anglers can get better by spending time on the water, reading magazines or watching You Tube videos, there will always be those anglers who possess something that cannot be measured…God-given talent!

The Latest Question & Answer

Memorial services for Mrs. Mary Ann Craig Redfern will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Kingdom Hall in Ball, LA.

Mrs. Redfern, 72, of Pineville, entered eternal rest on Monday, January 5, 2026, at Hilltop Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Pineville, LA.

She was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. In her younger years, she enjoyed traveling and flying, embracing new experiences and adventures. As she grew older, she found peace in solitude and took great pleasure in reading. She cherished the time she spent with her children and grandchildren, holding those moments close to her heart. Above all, she loved her God, Jehovah and His Son, Jesus Christ. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jesse F. Craig, Jr. and Mary Morace Craig; and one sister, Sharon Craig Bryant.

Those left to mourn her loss and cherish her memory include three daughters, Carrie Gill (Shelly), Laura Redfern Lott, and Molly Redfern Garcia (John); two brothers, Jesse Shelton Craig (Marie), and Oscar M. Craig (Vicki); one sister, Brenda Craig Dunn; three grandchildren, Kylah Roy, Lucas Garcia, and Emersyn Garcia; her best friend, Lavon Lucas; and her two fur babies, Boog and Bitsy.

All funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Rush Funeral Home in Pineville.

Funeral services for Stacy Fowler, 49, will be held 2 pm Friday January 16, 2026, in the chapel of Dennard First National Funeral Home with Rev. Scott Fletcher officiating. Interment will follow in Ogden Cemetery. Visitation will be 5 – 7 pm Thursday January 15, 2026, at the funeral home.

Stacy was born July 7, 1976, to the union of the late John William Fowler and the late Patsy Virginia Rushing Fowler and passed from this life on January 10, 2026, in Alexandria, LA.

Stacy was a member of Souled Out Ministries in Winnsboro. He enjoyed spending his time playing his guitar and spending time with his family and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of 4 years, Dewana Smith Fowler; brother Jay Fowler and wife Jyme Faye; fur baby, Dorthy; nieces and nephews: Jacob Fowler, Jacie Fowler, Weston Moffit, Lilly Moffit, and Logan Moffit; special cousins: Scott Williamson and Greg Williamson; a host of other relatives and friends.

Pallbearers will be Cole Acree, Jacob Fowler, Hunter Gregory, Logan Moffitt, Weston Moffitt, and Samuel Parks.

Digital news network’s no-paywall model drives advertising reach in underserved markets

By Frank Johnson
Special Report

The Parish Journals of Louisiana generated 17.6 million articles read in 2025 across 17 parishes in northwest and central Louisiana, according to site analytics data, establishing the digital network as a significant advertising platform in markets traditional media increasingly abandons.  While many social media platforms get their “counts” by you simply scrolling across their article or post, the 17.6 million Parish Journals analytics are specifically from articles opened and read – a huge difference for those who understand the value of that! 

The network, operated by Journal Services LLC, maintains individual publications serving Avoyelles, Bienville, Claiborne, DeSoto, Grant, Jackson, LaSalle, Lincoln, Natchitoches, Rapides, Red River, Sabine, Vernon, Webster and Winn parishes, plus the Shreveport-Bossier Journal covering Caddo and Bossier parishes.

Unlike legacy newspapers implementing paywalls while reducing rural coverage, Parish Journals publications remain entirely FREE to readers — a model creating distinct advantages for advertisers seeking reach beyond metropolitan markets.

Geographic footprint addresses news deserts

The network spans Louisiana’s northern border through central parishes, delivering hyperlocal coverage to both population centers and agricultural communities where traditional news operations have contracted or closed entirely.

Each publication focuses on municipal government proceedings, school board operations, high school athletics and regional business developments — content that generates sustained reader engagement and repeat traffic.

Site analytics show consistent readership across rural parishes that major media outlets typically serve only through regional editions or wire service content, if at all.

Paywall-free access multiplies advertising reach

The network’s most significant competitive advantage centers on unrestricted content access and its impact on advertising distribution.

When readers share Parish Journals articles through social media, email or messaging platforms, recipients access full content immediately without subscription barriers. Advertisements within shared articles reach expanded audiences at no additional cost to advertisers.

Paywalled competitors face structural limitations: subscribers may share content, but non-subscribers cannot access articles or view advertisements without subscriptions. This restricts organic distribution and caps advertising reach at existing subscriber counts regardless of content popularity.

Parish Journals articles continue generating traffic and advertising impressions weeks or months after publication as readers discover and share content without access restrictions. High school sports coverage particularly demonstrates this sustained engagement as families share game stories and season recaps long after initial publication.

Learn more about advertising opportunities with the Parish Journals network.

Digital infrastructure enables targeting flexibility

The network’s digital-first operations provide capabilities traditional print cannot match: real-time campaign deployment, performance analytics, geographic targeting across multiple parish markets, and mobile accessibility.

Advertisers can execute both broad regional campaigns and parish-specific initiatives through a single media partner while maintaining unlimited organic reach through social sharing.

Contact Journal Services LLC to discuss your advertising strategy.

Market positioning amid industry consolidation

As consolidation reshapes Louisiana media markets and legacy publications reduce rural coverage while implementing subscription barriers, Parish Journals has systematically expanded into underserved communities.

The result: comprehensive regional reach combined with genuine local focus across individual parish markets, without subscription barriers limiting advertising effectiveness.

The network’s 2025 performance — 17.6 million articles read across 17 parishes — demonstrates sustained audience engagement in markets where traditional news operations struggle to maintain profitability.

For businesses seeking connections with audiences across northwest and central Louisiana’s diverse communities, the platform provides documented reach and engagement with the structural advantage of unrestricted content access multiplying advertising distribution.

Contact Journal Services LLC regarding advertising rates and partnership opportunities.

By JIM BUTLER

The proposed amended City of Alexandria Utility Fund budget for the current fiscal year eliminates a $3.2 million allocation to the General Fund as well as using $9.65 million in prior years’ revenues to balance the spending plan.

The amendment will be reviewed at today’s City Council Finance Committee meeting, then by the full council at 5 p.m.

Last August a consultants’ report concluded the city could not continue to operate the system as a General Fund subsidy without substantive rate changes.

The amendment forecasts total revenues in the year ending April 30 at $109.17 million, about $100 million without prior earnings use. Expenses are set at $109.17 million. 

Electricity sales are expected to be $12.5 million on the residential side and $14 million on the commercial side. Charges for fuel costs drop $6 million from the initial budget.

Total electricity income is put at $71.3 million. Costs are $36.7 million for production and $7.7 million for distribution.

Other costs for department operation total $34 million, in basic terms leaving the cash cow dry.

The water, gas and wastewater systems spend as much as they take in, $7.65 million, $10.54 million and $6.57 million respectively.

The transit system gets a $2.83 million infusion from the Utility Fund to supplement other income.

By JIM BUTLER

The Pineville City Council will take up a resolution at its meeting this evening for an interim appointment to the District 4 seat.

It became vacant December 31 with the resignation of six-term holder Tom Bouchie.

The council has 20 days to appoint a successor, otherwise the governor does it.

The term will last through the city election later this year.

An unusual set of circumstances has led to two interim council members and a mayor filling an unexpired term.

The officials will also recognize retiring Fire Chief Casey Cummings.

A city firefighter more than 20 years, he has been chief since early 2024. He was a parish firefighter before joining the city department.

They’re going to be talking about Jonesville native Frank Schneider at McKneely Funeral Home in Hammond Saturday at a memorial gathering from 1-3 p.m.

Frank Wes Schneider III died at age 77 on December 22, and with his passing we lost someone who embraced coaching basketball, even as a player for Block High School and Louisiana Christian University, then known as Louisiana College. By his dedication, hustle, knowledge of basketball and a sheer will to win, he was a coach on the court before coaching by the bench.

He led Block to the Class A state championship in 1966,  and during his playing career at LCU (1967-71) the Wildcats never had a losing record and qualified for the NAIA national tournament in 1971 after setting a school record for victories in a season.

He coached at four different high schools, including LaSalle and Bunkie, before landing his first collegiate job, coaching women’s basketball at LC. Over six seasons there (1979-85), he coached the Lady Wildcats to three 20-win seasons, one AIAW Final Four and three quarterfinal appearances. During his final season there, 1984-85, the Lady Wildcats won 27 games, then a school record, and beat the top-ranked team in the nation, Carson-Newman.

Southeastern Louisiana lured him to Hamond, where he coached for the next 17 seasons and won 229 games, including a 24-5 record in 1993-94.

During his college coaching career, he coached 9 All-Americans, 11 All-Louisiana honorees and one conference (Gulf States Conference) Player of the Year – Janice Joseph Richard, who later coached as his assistant at SLU before launching her own highly successful head coaching career. With Richard the player leading the way, Schneider coached the 1984-85 Lady Wildcats to the NAIA national championship tournament in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and he was selected as an American Women’s Sports Federation All-American coach for the second straight year. The Lady Wildcats were 47-12 over that two-year span.

In 2002, he left SLU to accept a job offer from Greg Williams, a good friend in the coaching ranks. Williams had been hired as the first head coach of the Detroit Shock of the WNBA and he wanted Schneider to be his assistant. In a 2006 interview Schneider told me he had gotten “worn out” at Southeastern, where he worked for 10 different athletics directors, and was ready for a change. That stint with the Shock was short-lived, however but he was involved with a WNBA championship team.

It wasn’t his first foray into the WNBA. While he was coaching at SLU, he served as a consultant for the WNBA’s first championship team, the Houston Comets, in 1997.

Two decades ago, Schneider, at age 57, quit his job as the boys basketball coach at Ponchatoula during the Christmas break in just his second season there. In an interview a month later, he told me, during a break from teaching a world geography class, of his frustrations.

“I was hired to come in and clean up this mess,” he said. “The players were running the program, and the program was out of control. Players came to practice when they wanted to come to practice. They’d fight, and their parents would fight in the stands. There was very little discipline.

“I knew that going in,” he continued, “but I didn’t realize the magnitude of the problem.” He endured an 8-18 season in his first year there and the team was 2-9 when he resigned. PHS struggled for several years after that until coach Thomas Taylor took over, and he has guided Ponchatoula to winning seasons the last seven years.

As a husband, father, grandfather, teacher and coach, Frank Schneider will no doubt be fondly remembered at Saturday’s gathering as someone who instilled discipline and hustle and attention to detail in all that he did.

By the way …   

Former Alexandria Aces pitcher James Frisbie has been hired, again, as the field manager for the Lincoln (Nebraska) Saltdogs. He was the team’s manager in 2020 and ’21 and has had extensive professional baseball experience as a coach or manager for the last wo decades.

The past five seasons, Frisbie has coached at the Major League level. He served as a utility coach with the Detroit Tigers in 2021 and 2022 and spent the last three years with the Washington Nationals under Dave Martinez as a utility coach, working with young hitters such as CJ Abrams.

Frisbie pitched professionally for four seasons in the Texas-Louisiana League, spending three seasons with the Alexandria Aces (’98, ’00-01) and one season with the Lafayette Bayou Bullfrogs and the Greenville Bluesmen.

Northwestern State University has announced the names of students from Rapides Parish who earned a place on the Fall 2025 President’s List, recognizing students who achieved a perfect 4.0 grade point average while enrolled full time.

The President’s List is one of the university’s highest academic honors and reflects outstanding classroom performance during the semester.

Students from Rapides Parish earning the distinction include:

From Alexandria: Valerie Alanis, Lexie Alberes, Shakiya Allen, Alexis Briggs, Emmalee Brinkman, Jadyn Brunk, Brooke Collins, Penny Davis, Jarvis Fountaine, Joseph Jordan, Marina Moorehead, Sierra Nelson, Jackson Olson, Devon Powell, Roye’l Roberts, Loida Sarmiento, Kelsey Stuckey, Alex Sukerek, Ava Waring, Benjamin Wells

From Ball: Ashley McCall, Melissa Morningstar

From Bentley: Jada Warren

From Boyce: Brooke Chelette, Samantha Clifton, Victoria Fatula, Hailey Rachal, Makinley Rachal

From Bunkie: Amari Hamilton

From Colfax: Destiny Broadway, Bella Daniels, Emily Swinney, D’asia Williams

From Deville: Shannon Boone, Erica Bradas

From Forest Hill: Vanessa Galvan, Aubree Martin

From Glenmora: Katie Dupre, Atziary Perez, Natalie Yancey

From Hineston: Maria Juarez-Rubio

From Lecompte: Curry King

From Lena: Emily Waits

From Marksville: Koby Brevelle, Amy Henderson, Anna Laborde, Makenzie Scroggs

From Montgomery: Bella Brumley, Tamia Colbert, Garrett DuBois, Bradley Smith

From Moreauville: Rylee Adams

From Pineville: Alyssa Austin, Brady Benoit, Madison Bolin, Faith Bryant, Nicholas Doine, Madelyn Glaze, Hannah Gore, Kaylee Green, Kiersten Huff, Laila Jackson, Toni Johnson, Rebekah King, Olivia Melder, Jessica Nugent, Kirstyn Smith, Katarina Transier-VanGossen, Landon Vallee

From Pollock: Josie Fowler, Mia Gary, Melissa Nugent, Serenity White

From Woodworth: Natalie Hyde

Northwestern State University has announced the names of students from Rapides Parish who earned placement on the Honor List for the Fall 2025 semester.

To qualify for the Honor List, students must be enrolled full-time at Northwestern State University and earn a grade point average between 3.0 and 3.49 for the semester.

Students from Rapides Parish earning Honor List recognition include:

Alexandria: Jayla Allen, Breiania Aplerku, Aletheca Ayala, Jayne Bruno, Joseph Cain, Jacobi Coe, Mallory Coker, Kellie Crain, Bianca Dixon, Janae Gradney, Kory Ham, Ruben Kho, Dexteria King, Jorina King, Megan Knight, Jaykendel Lair, Shonquel Linscomb, Faith Martin, Arial Metoyer, Jakayla Moore, Nyasia Moran, Trakayle Oneal, Kenyata Osborne, Jordan Ray, Desiree Scott, Lailynne St. Romain, Arminie Tanner, Zoe Tanner, Amya Williams

Ball: Dana Atwood, Kassandra Delgadillo, Miguel Flores, JulieAnn Prince, Taylor Varholdt

Boyce: Jace Aslin, Cadence Rachal, Mikayla Shepherd, Trenton Steele, Kaitlin Westbrook

Cheneyville: Dorcia Gillam

Deville: Kamryn Basco, Emily Branch, Jalyn Coody, Hannah Morace, Audrey Wiggins, Hailey Wiggins

Effie: Peyton Johnson

Forest Hill: Anahi Rubio

Glenmora: Lauren Adkins, Kaci Westbrook

Lecompte: Macy Butler, Lanai Miller

Pineville: Michael Bergeron, Rose Chelette, Daneisha Curry, Noah Faircloth, Olivia Gallineau, Hailey Griffith, Landon Grimes, Khloe Hardy, Rilee Hebert, Dalton Johns, Kenyetta Jordan, Olivia Lucius, Raegan Prestridge, Korbin Richard, Tytianna Robinson, Corbin Smith, Dylan Smith, Kaniya Strong, Andrew Thiels, Hailee Vines, Jason Wilmer

Woodworth: Caroline Blanchard

Northwestern State University has announced the names of students from Rapides Parish who were named to the Dean’s List for the Fall 2025 semester.

Dean’s List students must be enrolled full time and earn a grade point average between 3.5 and 3.99.

Students from Rapides Parish recognized for the Fall 2025 semester include:

Alexandria: Shelby Ardoin, Brayleigh Briggs, Ashton Brodnax, Ayla Cox, Maggie Creamer, Nyla Durant, Chloe Evans, Leila Ford, Elizabeth Hackney, Lilea Hawkins-Fisher, Allie Jones, David Jordan, Lawson Kirsch, Chesney Mathews, Trinity Patrick, Kailyn Price, Latajah Quinney, Caitlyn Sadler, Rubin Seastrunk, Alexander Seymore, Faith Williams

Ball: Kayla DuBois, Preston Fuller, Harry Hoben, Miles Thompson

Boyce: Chloe Cloessner, Lindsay Harris

Bunkie: Ariel Edwards, Peyton Longlois

Deville: Marissa Bianchini, Hope Foster, Paige Ratcliff, Annalee Stevens

Forest Hill: Kari Polakovich

Glenmora: Hunter Dauzat, Marshall Dauzat, Ruth Stokes, Kadence Tolbert, Gage Ware
Hineston: Shyla Clark, Abigail Morrison, Kathryn Rabalais, Tinley Steedman, Melissa Tadlock

Lecompte: Jerome Batiste, Nathan Boone, Isabelle Dunn, Aaron Fletcher, Natalie Mathews, Emily Roberie
Moreauville: Heidi Gauthier

Pineville: David Abbott, Payton Bareswill, Madison Book, Whitney Brevelle, Nathaniel Capezza, Jaya Chenevert-Jones, Jenyah Cla, Kaylee Cotton, Katie Farris, Gabriel Gautier, Evyn Goree, Jillian Gresham, Brooklynn King, Madeline Litton, Ashleigh Moses, Kylee Mott, Joshua Nordby, Sterling Player, Ada Shoup, Kara Speir, Karly Stansell, Irene Tyler, Candon Wall, Brittany Welch

Pollock: Gabriel Beeson, Ryile Flores, Jackson Hedrick, Andrew Morrison, Carley Pasche, Avery Pritchard

Woodworth: Dustin Guillory, Lluvia Guillot