By JIM BUTLER

After going back to the drawing boards LSU Alexandria is again seeking offers for building its Health Services Center in downtown Alexandria.

Bids will be received until April 16 with a pre-bid conference on April 2.

The state Office of Facility Planning & Control rejected three bids in December.

Disregarding alternates to the base project, Ratcliff Construction bid $35.1 million, Pat Williams Construction $36.57 million and Rudick Company $37.5 million. 

According to specifications noted before the bids, base estimated cost was $31.34 million.

Budgeted funding is $32 million, a combination of state funds, City of Alexandria appropriation and private contributions.

Records indicate Value Engineering on the project is completed.

That is a procedure for seeking alternates to initial specifications that can reduce costs or improve performance without compromising quality or function.

Final review process by the state, critical in capital outlay projects, readies the job for bid.

The 70,000-square feet facility at Jackson & 10th Streets will house all the university’s nursing and health-related programs. 

Records indicate that renovations to the A.C. Buchanan Building, donated by Rapides Regional as part of the Center project, are underway as is design for related HVAC and electrical systems.

The Rapides Parish School Board has released the official graduation schedule for the Class of 2026 across the parish.

Ceremonies will take place at several campuses and venues throughout May as seniors celebrate the completion of their high school careers.

Graduation dates and locations are as follows:

• Rapides Training Academy — May 6 at 10 a.m., RTA Campus
• Peabody Magnet High School — May 18 at 7 p.m., Laborde Earles Coliseum
• Northwood High School — May 12 at 7 p.m., Northwood Auditorium
• Plainview High School — May 14 at 6 p.m., Plainview Gymnasium
• Glenmora High School — May 15 at 6 p.m., Glenmora Gymnasium
• Oak Hill High School — May 15 at 6 p.m., Oak Hill Auditorium
• Tioga High School — May 15 at 7:30 p.m., Tumey-Ingram Stadium
• Pineville High School — May 15 at 7 p.m., Laborde Earles Coliseum
• Buckeye High School — May 16 at 11 a.m., Laborde Earles Coliseum
• Bolton Academy — May 18 at 7 p.m., Bolton Auditorium
• Rapides High School — May 18 at 7 p.m., Rapides Auditorium
• Alexandria Senior High School — May 19 at 7 p.m., Laborde Earles Coliseum

School officials said they look forward to celebrating the accomplishments of the Class of 2026 as students prepare to take the next steps in their academic and professional journeys.

Why rural communities deserve facts and honest debate about carbon capture and storage:

I am a small-business owner in Vernon Parish trying to keep my doors open and raise a family in the community I love.

Few issues facing rural Louisiana right now carry bigger consequences for communities like ours than carbon capture and storage.

Some see it as a dangerous experiment being forced on rural parishes. Others see it as an opportunity to bring jobs, stabilize struggling industries, and reverse the population decline many rural communities have experienced for decades.

Representative Charles Owen recently wrote that there are a “litany of unanswered questions” surrounding carbon capture and storage.

On that point, he is right.

There are important questions. But the reason many remain unanswered is not because answers do not exist. It is because the geologists, engineers, and industry professionals who understand the science are often shouted down before the conversation can even begin.

Major decisions that affect the future of our communities deserve more than headlines, rumors, or social media posts. They deserve careful review of the facts and the willingness to listen to people who actually understand the science and economics involved.

And when fear becomes the loudest voice in a discussion, something unfortunate happens.

The very voices we need to hear from become silent.

Representative Owen compared carbon dioxide to weed killer and suggested it should be viewed as a poisonous or carcinogenic substance.

That comparison deserves clarification.

Carbon dioxide is not classified as a poison, and it is not classified as a carcinogen.

It is also already woven into daily life. CO₂ is used in medical manufacturing, fire suppression, agriculture, refrigeration, welding, food preservation, beverage carbonation, and water treatment. It is part of the air in every breath we take; it helps preserve many of the foods we eat, and for many people it is literally in the soda they drink.

The United States has transported carbon dioxide by pipeline for more than 50 years. Today there are over 5,000 miles of CO₂ pipelines, and during those decades there have been no recorded deaths from CO₂ pipeline transportation or injection.

Even the well-known pipeline rupture in Satartia, Mississippi — while serious and deserving investigation — resulted in no fatalities.

Two concerns often raised are that a leak would contaminate soil or drinking water.

Drinking water protection is central to the regulatory process. Class VI wells inject CO₂ thousands of feet below drinking water sources into deep rock formations sealed by thick layers of impermeable caprock — essentially a natural underground lid that fluids cannot pass through.

These same formations have naturally trapped oil and gas underground for millions of years.

CO₂ also does not contaminate soil the way chemicals do. It is part of the natural carbon cycle that plants use to grow, and soil itself releases carbon dioxide as organic material breaks down.

Representative Owen has suggested enhanced oil recovery is acceptable, but sequestration is not. But enhanced oil recovery already works by injecting CO₂ underground — and after the oil is produced, much of that carbon dioxide remains trapped in those formations permanently.

If carbon capture were truly a scam, environmental groups would not oppose it so strongly. Many oppose it precisely because it allows industries like oil, gas, and LNG to continue operating while reducing emissions.

And Louisiana sits at the center of that debate. As one of the nation’s largest energy-producing states, what happens here matters. If carbon capture works in Louisiana, it strengthens the future of American energy.

I know these things not because I read a headline, but because I set aside what I thought I knew and started asking questions of the people who work with this science every day.

Growth rarely comes from a place of comfort. But discomfort forces us to learn and search for better answers.

I am a small-business owner in Vernon Parish trying to keep my doors open. I am also a parent with children in our local schools — one of which could face closure if population trends continue.

That is the math our parish is already living with.

Without the economic impact of Ft. Polk, nearly 58% of Vernon Parish households fall into the ALICE category — families who work hard yet still come up about $5,000 short of the cost of living here.

They earn too much to qualify for assistance, but not enough to make ends meet.

Those families are not statistics. They are our neighbors.

Programs like the federal 45Q tax credit are often criticized as government spending, but they work differently. Companies only receive those credits if they are operating, employing people, and safely storing carbon dioxide.

If Louisiana chooses not to pursue these opportunities, the credit does not disappear. Our tax dollars will still fund the program — the difference is that the jobs and investment will go to states like Texas instead of communities like ours.

At the same time, our forestry economy is under tremendous pressure. When markets disappear, forests go unmanaged, disease spreads, and wildfire risk increases as timber grows overcrowded.

The proposed Class VI well would allow projects like Highland Pellet and Beaver Lake Renewables to locate in our region, supporting more than 1,000 jobs while purchasing roughly 500 additional truckloads of timber each day from Central Louisiana’s timber basket.

Without healthy markets, landowners may eventually clear forests for other development or solar projects. But when timber markets exist, forests are thinned, land remains productive, and rural jobs stay local.

The real question for rural Louisiana is simple: which future makes more sense for our communities?

When jobs disappear, families leave.

When families leave, schools lose students — and the difficult conversations about consolidation begin.

We invest years educating our children, but when opportunity disappears, those same young people often must leave to build their careers somewhere else.

Louisiana helps educate them — and other states benefit from the talent we lose.

Representative Owen and I both care deeply about the future of our communities. We may not be as far apart as it sometimes feels.

But the stakes for rural Louisiana are too high to allow fear, rumors, or division to guide the outcome.

The future of our parish — and rural Louisiana — deserves to be decided by facts, careful consideration, and the shared desire to do what is right for the people who call this place home.

Robert Haymon is a small-business owner in Vernon Parish.

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The City of Pineville Parks and Recreation, in collaboration with the Mayor’s office, is making updates to enhance accessibility at Kees Park.

Officials acknowledged that the current handicap entrance was outdated and originally designed for a different section of the park. To improve access, all park entrances will be relocated to the main entry, which is fully handicap accessible.

Future improvements will also include upgraded parking facilities and updated signage. City leaders emphasized that these changes are part of ongoing efforts to ensure that parks are welcoming and accessible to all community members and visitors.

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports 

LAKE CHARLES — Troy Jones helped Peabody’s Warhorses win two of the school’s 11 state championships, but Saturday he will try to prevent another one. 

Jones, a former Peabody standout, is the first-year coach at Lafayette’s Northside High School. The Vikings are the 12th seed in the Select Division II playoff bracket, the longest shot at this week’s LHSAA Marsh Madness boys state basketball championships. 

But they stunned top-seeded Madison Prep Wednesday 65-61 in a massive semifinal upset to reach Saturday’s 2 p.m. state final at Burton Coliseum — the 17th state championship game in Peabody history. 

The second-seeded Warhorses (30-1) earned their berth a couple hours later by rallying for a 52-48 semifinal victory over third-seeded Washington-Marion, ending the game on a 10-1 run and blanking the Charging Indians for the final two-plus minutes. 

So Saturday, every Peabody alumnus but one will be rooting for coach Charles Smith to capture his 10th state title. Jones will be on the other bench trying to make history with his upstart Vikings (21-10) — and Smith could hardly be more proud. 

“He was special. He won two state championships for me. I’ve got to stop him from winning a third,” Smith said in the wake of Peabody’s semifinal victory. “But I am very proud of this guy. 

“He did a tremendous job against a great program, Madison Prep. Troy had his guys prepared. They believed in him, as a first-year coach, and he believed in them as players. That’s what it’s all about. I believe in our young men, and we’re going to continue to fight.” 

The Warhorses had to battle to prevail over Washington-Marion, which had a hometown crowd of about 3,000 cheering their favorite sons against Peabody. 

Senior Devontre Sword scored 19 points, 16 in the first half, while freshman Corey Blake contributed 13, including three pivotal 3-point baskets after halftime. The Warhorses’ other senior, Malachi Anderson, made a vital blocked shot with 50 seconds left that allowed Peabody to take possession and wind down the clock with a 49-48 before junior Connor Rosenthal drained a couple of free throws and junior Kalen Eddie added one, sandwiched around a defensive stop. 

Peabody’s Smith was enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024 and ranks fifth all-time on the national list for high school boys basketball coaching victories with nearly 1,250. 

With only two seniors and two freshman starters on an 11-man roster, this is the youngest team Smith has coached in his Peabody career that began when he took over as head coach in 1985.

LANGSTON, Okla. – The fifth-seeded Louisiana State University of Alexandria men’s basketball team enters the NAIA National Championship First and Second Round subregional tonight at 7 against 12th-seeded Eastern Oregon, hoping to move forward through the weekend to the national tournament’s Sweet 16 in Kansas City.

This weekend’s host, Langston, is the fourth seed in the 16-team regional bracket. The Lions (24-7) meet 13^th-seeded Bethel (19-12) today and the winners play Saturday night for a trip to KC’s legendary Municipal Auditorium. 
The Generals advanced to Kansas City and reached the NAIA Round of Eight last season.

This year’s LSUA team finished second in the Red River Athletic Conference after going 18-4 during conference play. The Generals are 23-8 overall and will meet a 21-8 Eastern Oregon squad tonight.

The Generals’ E.J. McQuillan earned first team All-RRAC honors after leading the RRAC with a 20.5 points per game average. He recorded a team-high 74 assists and knocked down 40 percent of his shots, including 38.6 from long range. He shot 82.9 percent on free throws.

Jordan Decuir contributes 15.1 points per game. T.J. James led the Generals in rebounding, hauling in 240 boards – averaging 8.0 per game.

LSUA and Eastern Oregon have never played each other. This is the Mountaineers’ first trip to the NAIA Championship since 2022-23.

The Langston Lions have made an appearance in the NAIA tournament for the last four seasons.

LSUA is 10-2 all-time against the Lions. Eight of those games came when Langston was a member of the RRAC. The two have not met since the 2017-18 season.

LSUA met Bethel early in the regular season when the Wildcats recorded a 90-83 win over the Generals.

NATCHITOCHES — Twenty years to the day after crafting one of March Madness’ signature moments, the “Demons of Destiny” will be in the spotlight Tuesday night.

A free reception and program will feature former Northwestern State head coach Mike McConathy and members of the 2005-06 Demon basketball team during the “Cinderella Wears Purple” 20th anniversary celebration at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum from 6-7:30 p.m. on March 17. The museum is located at 800 Front Street in downtown Natchitoches.

The 20-year celebration occurs on the anniversary of the St. Patrick’s Day 2006 Demons’ 64-63 NCAA Tournament victory against third-seeded Iowa on Jermaine Wallace’s last-second 3-pointer. The event is free and open to the public. There will be a reception followed by the program, which will be moderated by longtime Northwestern sports information director and current special assistant to the president Doug Ireland.

Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with the panelists and ask questions during the panel.

Wallace’s corner jumper over the outstretched arm of Iowa’s Adam Haluska with 0.05 left and capped a remarkable Northwestern rally from 17 points down with 8:29 remaining in the game.

Clifton Lee tallied 16 points in a 20-6 Demon run to cut the Hawkeyes’ lead to 60-57 with less than two minutes to play, helping set up what many analysts still consider one of the most memorable moments in NCAA Tournament history.

Fittingly for a team who embodied its coach’s mantra of “the MVP of our team is our team,” Northwestern’s final sequence came off of an offensive rebound as Wallace grabbed the carom off a missed Kerwin Forges jumper, retreated to the left corner and buried the biggest shot in program history. It was voted the greatest moment in the first 50 years of Southland Conference history a few years later.

Tagged by then-Demon Sports Network radio announcer and current ESPN+ play-by-play voice Patrick Netherton as the “Demons of Destiny,” Northwestern’s improbable victory ignited a storm of national media attention for the program and the university that maintains today. Wallace’s shot is a staple of NCAA Tournament highlight reels and was voted the 2006 Pontiac Game Changing Performance award for the tournament. Fan voting resulted in a $105,000 general scholarship donation by General Motors/Pontiac to the university.

The ending was included in a Buffalo Wild Wings commercial and even referenced on a CBS soap opera.

Phonetic: /be·queath/

Part of Speech: Verb

Definition

eave (a personal estate or one’s body) to a person or other beneficiary by a will.
“he bequeathed his art collection to the town”

Similar: leave, leave in one’s will. make over. pass on

pass (something) on or leave (something) to someone else.
“he is ditching the unpopular policies bequeathed to him”

Similar: hand down, hand on

The U.S. Forest Service – Kisatchie National Forest has announced temporary closures of the Loran Campground and Claiborne Multiple-Use Trail on the Calcasieu Ranger District due to excessive rainfall in central Louisiana.

Both sites will be closed to motorized use until further notice. Visitors are advised to avoid these areas and plan alternative routes or activities.

For more information, the Calcasieu Ranger District can be reached at (318) 793-9427.

By JIM BUTLER

Time was the Weiss & Goldring building in downtown Alexandria was abuzz this time of year, as Easter attire drew shoppers by the dozens. Now it attracts an occasional homeless person, feral cats, and city dollars.

At-large councilman Jules Green said at Tuesday’s City Council meeting he thinks it time to toss in the towel and take the entire place down.

That came at start of discussion regarding taking bids to raze and clear the parking garage.

Mayor Jacques Roy said that portion is a threat to public safety and not salvageable, but remains confident the remaining property can be attractive to private investment.

The city acquired the building, built in 1907 and vacated in the early 1990s,  through a donation in 2017.

The mayor posed three possible scenarios: sell it, co-develop it, exchange it for other property.

None, he said, are realistic with the garage liability front and center.

Years ago the city faced a similar juncture with what is now Holiday Inn Downtown, the mayor reminded, noting how that has worked out.

Councilman Ed Larvadain asked if there is any current private sector interest. Roy said yes, but the risk is one potential investors are unwilling to take considering the garage condition.

Lizzie Felter said the city without question must take the garage down but needs to keep the property viable in some fashion.

Roy agreed to take a building walk-through with council members.

The resolution to advertise for demolition bids was accepted.

The Rapides Parish Registrar of Voters Office has returned to its longtime location inside the Rapides Parish Courthouse after operating from a temporary office for more than a year.

Registrar of Voters Sandra Bonnette announced that the office resumed operations at the courthouse on March 11, 2026, following the completion of renovations.

The registrar’s office had relocated in February 2025 to temporary offices in the Kinetix Building on Fourth Street in Alexandria while improvements were made to its courthouse space.

With the work now complete, voter services have returned to the courthouse at 701 Murray Street, where residents can handle routine election matters.

Services available at the office include:

• Voter registration

• Address and name changes

• Party affiliation updates

• Absentee voting information

• Election assistance for parish residents

The return restores the registrar’s office to the central courthouse complex, where it has historically operated alongside other parish government services.

Source: ROV Media Alert/Social Media

Louisiana Christian University School of Social Work hosted a Trust-Based Relational Intervention® workshop March 9-10 at Granberry Conference Center welcoming social workers, law enforcement, judges, probation officers and teachers who work with children and families.

Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®) is an attachment-based, trauma-informed approach designed to meet the complex needs of children and families who have experienced adversity, trauma or disrupted attachment. Developed at Texas Christian University by the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development, TBRI® is built on decades of research in neuroscience, attachment theory, and child development.

Katherine Jennings, Families in Need of Services (FINS) director for the Ninth Judicial District Court, served as the workshop coordinator. Speakers addressed understanding how trauma affects the developing brain and behavior and the importance of connection before correction in building lasting change. They also offered practical strategies that professionals can implement immediately in schools, court systems, foster care and community programs. 

“Children and families involved in child welfare, education, juvenile justice, and community services often have histories of trauma that impact behavior, learning, and relationships,” Jennings said. “Traditional discipline models frequently fail to address the root causes of those behaviors.”

 A workshop like this is needed, she said, because it equips professionals with practical, research-based tools to respond to trauma in ways that promote healing rather than escalation. It shifts the mindset from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?”—which is essential in today’s social service, judicial and educational systems.

“Our School of Social Work is pleased to partner with the 9^th JDC to facilitate professionals widening their knowledge base and to have so many wonderful individuals on our beautiful campus,” said Dean of the LCU School of Social Work Dr. Juanita Moorman. “The School of Social Work hopes to host future events focused on evidence-based models and is grateful for the support of the other departments on campus that have been beyond instrumental in this endeavor.”

LCU President Dr. Mark Johnson said the university was honored to welcome so many dedicated professionals to our campus for this important Trust-Based Relational Intervention workshop. 

“When social workers, educators, law enforcement, judges and community leaders gather with a shared purpose, it reflects something powerful, the collective commitment of a community that refuses to give up on its children and families,” he said. “We believe in the dignity and value of every person. Many of the children and families served by those attending this workshop have experienced deep adversity, but they also carry tremendous potential.

“When professionals are equipped with evidence-based tools and a heart for restoration, real change becomes possible. Louisiana Christian University is proud to be a place where these kinds of conversations, partnerships and solutions can take root. Together, we are helping build stronger families, healthier communities, and a more hopeful future.”

Louisiana State University of Alexandria (LSUA) has unveiled a new public art installation on campus, adding a vibrant symbol of creativity and collaboration to the heart of the university. The Community Heart Project, now prominently displayed on the LSUA Plaza, reflects a student-driven design process that moved from classroom concept to a meticulously hand-painted campus landmark.

The installation is part of a broader beautification initiative led by the Alexandria/Pineville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, which envisions heart sculptures placed throughout the region as dynamic expressions of art, culture, and civic pride. By participating in this initiative, LSUA joins a regional effort to transform public spaces into creative landmarks while contributing to a lasting legacy of artistic expression in central Louisiana.

At LSUA, the project began not as a finished design, but as an academic challenge. In a Basic Design course taught by Associate Professor of Fine Arts WangLing Chou, M.F.A., students were tasked with brainstorming, discussing, and presenting concepts for the heart installation. The assignment provided hands-on experience in the real-world creative process, requiring students to think strategically, collaborate effectively, and present their ideas within the parameters of a public art commission.

Following the class presentations, LSUA Marketing Coordinator Chase Dyess, MBA, synthesized the students’ collective ideas into a cohesive visual concept. Dyess developed detailed illustrations and provided comprehensive guides to help translate the digital design into a physical work of art. With the blueprint finalized, students then undertook the careful, time-intensive process of painting the design directly onto the heart structure.

What began as sketches and presentations in a classroom evolved into hours of focused craftsmanship. Students worked collaboratively, applying precision and patience to transform the blank sculpture into a vibrant, polished installation. Among those contributing to the final stages of the project, student Tristan S. devoted significant time and meticulous care to the detailed hand-painting that brought the design to completion.

The finished heart now stands on the LSUA Plaza directly across from the newly opened Martin Family Student Success Center, positioned at the university’s official front entrance and the starting point of every student’s journey. The installation offers visitors an immediate reflection of LSUA’s creative, collaborative, and student-centered culture.

The university extends its appreciation to Chou and Dyess for guiding the project from concept to completion. LSUA is grateful for the creativity and dedication of the participating design students: Adrianne A., Ralyn B., Ryan B., Savannah C., Hailey F., Emma G., Ian I., John S., Katherine S., Trayce S., Shiloh U., and Tristan S.

Written by Mira Alvarado

Photo credit – Mira Alvarado

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

LAKE CHARLES – Peabody started strong and finished tough – and smart.

The Warhorses survived a mid-game rally by the home team, Washington-Marion, which brought most of a crowd estimated near 3,000 fans into Burton Coliseum Wednesday night for a Select Division II state semifinal boys basketball game. Technically, the state tournament is a neutral site event, but the Charging Indians fans gave their team energy to take second-seeded Peabody to the final seconds.

But by blanking third-seeded Washington-Marion in the last two-plus minutes and scoring the game’s last five points, the Warhorses rallied for a 52-48 victory to reach the state finals for the 17^th time in school history.

Saturday at 2, they will play 12^th-seeded Northside of Lafayette – coached by two-time Peabody state champion player Troy Jones – trying to win the 10^th state crown under coach Charles Smith. Northside shocked top-ranked Madison Prep 65-61 Wednesday afternoon.

Peabody prevailed on a gutsy effort by a team that has blown out most of its opponents and won its quarterfinal playoff game by 40 points last Friday.

“I’m glad we survived,” said Smith. “We were in survival mode all night and I’m just proud of these young guys, how they stepped up and met the challenge. These guys are tough. We’ve worked hard all year and they’ve gotten better. They came together tonight as a family.”

Peabody (30-1) got 19 points, 16 by halftime, from senior Devontre Sword, and 13, most after halftime including three pivotal 3-pointers, by freshman Corey Blake. The Warhorses overcame a rough shooting performance, making only 29 percent, compensating with a 41-31 rebounding advantage and a plus-5 (14 to 19) turnover margin.

They ran out to a 22-11 lead in the first quarter before Washington-Marion (20-8) recovered and took a 30-28 halftime advantage. The Charging Indians scored the first five points of the third period but Peabody got a pair of 3-pointers from Blake to rally into a 40-39 edge starting the final eight minutes.

Again, Washington-Marion came out of the break strongly, opening the quarter with an 8-2 burst into a 47-42 advantage before Blake knocked down another 3-pointer. That began a stretch when Peabody finished the game on a 10-1 run over the final four minutes.

Nursing a 49-48 lead in the last 1:49, the Warhorses repelled a couple of Washington-Marion chances, the last one on a blocked shot by senior Malachi Anderson with about 50 seconds to go. Peabody burned away most of the clock by spreading the floor and frustrating the Charging Indians’ attempts to steal the ball.

The lead was padded with 22.7 seconds left when junior Connor Rosenthal sank a pair of high-pressure free throws. He had not scored or attempted a free throw until that point, but pushed Peabody ahead 51-48.

After a defensive stop and rebound by junior Kalen Eddie with 10.2 to go, he sank the second of a two-shot free throw trip to push the lead to a two-possession margin and W-M was unable to score before the final buzzer.

It was the second straight season Peabody eliminated Washington-Marion, which had nine seniors to only Anderson and Sword graduating on the Warhorses’ 11-man roster.

Peabody lost in last year’s semifinals after winning the 2024 state title.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

LAKE CHARLES – The second-seeded ASH Trojans exploded out of the blocks Wednesday afternoon, looking like they were ready to smash No. 11 Edna Karr in a Select Division I semifinal boys basketball playoff game.

But Karr came to life and took advantage of miserable shooting by ASH to score a 44-39 upset, ending the Trojans’ season.

ASH (31-4) made just 27 percent of its shots from the floor, just 3 of 18 on 3-pointers. Karr (28-9) made a solid 42 percent overall and stayed with the Trojans on the boards, holding a 31-30 edge in rebounding.

The Cougars trailed 17-9 after the first quarter, but closed to within 22-19 at halftime and had the edge in the second half, outscoring the Trojans by eight. Karr snagged a 31-29 edge just before the third quarter expired to start a string of eight unanswered points, including the first six of the final period.

That was the foundation of an extended 12-3 burst that gave Karr control. The Trojans battled to get a nine-point deficit cut to four in the final 10 seconds, but ran out of time.

Kory Wright sank a trio of 3-pointers and led ASH with 12 points, the only double-digit scorer for the Trojans. Tyshawn Duncan scored eight and led ASH with eight rebounds. Trey Dorty scored seven and issued six assists.

Arrests are accusations, not convictions.

March 11

Kullun Briley, 28, Church Point – two counts possession of CDS, paraphernalia, obstruction of justice, intentional littering, driving under suspension, improper lane usage, $4,200 bail;

Van Brown, 27, Robeline – violation of protective orders (violent, second/subsequent), possession of marijuana, safety belt violation, $600 bail;

Tisha Renee Hawthorne, 39, Alexandria – fraud (access device), no bail data;

Michael J. Lacoste, 71, Boyce – five counts contempt of court, five counts failure to appear, $15,000 bail;

Kendrick Dewayne Logan, 39, Alexandria – two counts simple burglary, unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling, $8,500 bail;

Sean Tyler White, 30, Pineville – violation of protective orders non-violent), two counts contempt of court, $200,000 bail.

March 10

Perry Maurice Banks, 48, Baton Rouge – production or manufacturing of amphetamine, two counts taking contraband to and from penal institutions, producing manufacturing distributing marijuana, $107,500 bail;

Austin Earl Davion, 25, Alexandria – driving under suspension, hit and run, no insurance, failure to yield, $535 bail;

Myron Alin Houston, 28, Plainview – simple burglary, five counts theft, two counts theft of a motor vehicle, three counts criminal trespass, two counts criminal conspiracy, simple burglary, $37,500 bail;

Danny Gene Lachney, 47, Marksville – simple burglary, $5,000 bail;

Thomas Rany Newman, 39, Pineville – attempted second degree murder, $75,000 bail;

Terry Reeves Jr., 47, Ragley – producing manufacturing distributing synthetic cannabinoids, criminal conspiracy, taking contraband to and from penal institutions, $30,000 bail;

Raymond Terrall Schewe, 38, Pineville – aggravated assault, simple assault, disturbing the peace, resisting an officer, two counts contempt of court, $56,500 bail;

Zachary Jason Seals Sr., 40, Dry Prong – criminal conspiracy, simple burglary, unauthorized entry into inhabited dwelling, criminal damage to property, intentional littering, obstruction of justice, possession of CDS, Louisiana fugitive, $32,000 bail;

Kalissa Shanice Taylor, 33, Colfax – eight counts contempt of court, $23,500 bail.

March 9

Kevin Neil Ceasar, 44, Pineville – OWI first offense, careless operation, safety belt violation, no driver’s license, contempt of court, $1,800 bail;

Shacob Kel’vonni Collins, 19, Glenmora – illegal possession of a stolen firearm, $5,000 bail;

Eric Ryan Eden, 42, Woodworth – possession of CDS, driving under suspension/revocation, running a stop sign, domestic abuse battery strangulation, five counts contempt of court, $15,200 bail;

Lasane Harris, 22, Boyce – illegal possession of stolen firearms, brake lamp required, $50,100 bail;

Kedrick Dewayne Howard, 37, Alexandria – possession of CDS, three counts contempt of court, safety belt violation, resisting an officer, $11,000 bail;

Daryl Duane Layfield, 50, Alexandria – possession of CDS, no head light, expired driver’s license, two counts contempt of court, $8,700 bail;

Tyaisha Madden, 24, Alexandria – domestic abuse battery serious injury, $1,000 bail;

Thomas Fernand Sanchez Jr., 37, Alexandria – domestic abuse battery strangulation, simple assault, $10,500 bail;

Allen Smith, 55, Lumberton, Texas – OWI first offense, open container, $1,100 bail.

March 8

William Patrick Bynog Jr., 41, Boyce – three counts contempt of court, $300,000 bail;

Joseph Albert Mathews, 43, Alexandria – domestic abuse battery, two counts contempt of court, $11,500 bail;

Chadaevious Pickens, 23, Lecompte – domestic abuse battery, contempt of court, $4,500 bail.

A regional employment and resource event aimed at expanding workforce opportunities will take place this spring in Central Louisiana.

United Way of Central Louisiana, through the Louisiana Prisoner Reentry Initiative (LaPRI) – Alexandria, is partnering with the Louisiana Department of Corrections and the City of Alexandria to host the 2026 Second Chance Job & Resource Fair on Wednesday, April 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The event will be held at the Bolton Community Center and is free and open to the public.

Organizers say the event is designed to connect returning citizens and other second-chance candidates with employment opportunities and community resources. Employers participating in the fair will also be hiring for positions open to the broader community.

Attendees are encouraged to bring copies of their résumé and be prepared to speak directly with employers and representatives from community organizations offering support services.

Organizers are also recruiting additional employers and service providers to participate in the event in order to expand available job opportunities and on-site resources.

Employers and community organizations interested in participating can register by emailing Anthony Thomas at TONY@uwcl.org. There is no registration fee or cost to participate.

Job seekers do not need to register in advance and may attend by bringing their résumé and meeting with employers and resource partners during the event.

According to organizers, the Louisiana Prisoner Reentry Initiative works to connect returning citizens with employment pathways and other support services aimed at helping individuals successfully transition back into their communities.

More information about the program is available through United Way of Central Louisiana at uwcl.org/lapri.

Funeral services for Mrs. Bobbye Jean Hunter will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 13, 2026, in the Chapel of Rush Funeral Home, Pineville, with Brother Waylon Dubroc officiating. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow in Restland Memorial Gardens, Pollock, under the direction of Rush Funeral Home, Pineville.

Mrs. Hunter, 68, of Pineville, entered eternal rest on Monday, March 9, 2026, in her residence surrounded by her loving family.

She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, and grandmother whose greatest joy in life was caring for her family. Known for her warm heart and welcoming spirit, she took pride in bringing loved ones together, often through her excellent cooking and the comfort of a home filled with laughter.

Bobbye had a deep love for music and dancing, especially enjoying the songs of Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. In her younger years, she also enjoyed riding motorcycles, embracing adventure and freedom with the same enthusiasm she brought to all parts of her life.

Those who knew her remember her as a great joy to be around; someone whose presence brightened every room and whose kindness touched many lives. Bobbye was deeply proud of her Native American heritage and was a devoted member of the Adai Caddo Indian Tribe. Her love, strength, and spirit will be cherished always by her family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph Dubroc and Alma Jean Featzka; two brothers, Jimmy Featzka and Kevin Featzka; one grandson, Sage Elijah Delcour; and one son-in-law, TimmyJohn Hunter.

Those left to mourn her loss and cherish her memory include her loving husband of twenty-seven years, Timothy “Timmy” Hunter of Pineville; three sons, Jimmy Dale Dubroc of Pineville, Kyle Delcour (Megan) of Pineville, and Waylon Dubroc (Sandy) of Tioga; one daughter, Kerry Sonnier of Pineville; one step-daughter, Tracie Murrell of Dry Prong; two brothers, Cheetah Dubroc of Alexandria, and David Dubroc of Boyce; and three sisters, Patsy Vandevelde of Lena, Joann Monk of Pineville, and Vickie Harrison of Boyce.