Funeral services for Mrs. Sadie Laverne Vandevelde will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 27, 2026, in the Chapel of Rush Funeral Home, Pineville, with Reverend Walter Fausphoul officiating. Visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow in Alexandria Memorial Gardens, Woodworth, under the direction of Rush Funeral Home, Pineville.

Mrs. Vandevelde, 78, of Pineville, entered eternal rest on Monday, March 23, 2026, in her residence surrounded by her loving family.

She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother whose life was defined by kindness, generosity, and devotion to her family. She found great joy in the simple pleasures of life, especially gardening, fishing, and arranging beautiful flowers. Her hands were rarely still, always tending to something that would bring happiness to others.

She was a deeply giving person, always ready to lend a helping hand or offer a warm smile. Above all, she cherished the time spent with her family, creating lasting memories filled with love and laughter. Her presence will be greatly missed, but her spirit will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.

She was preceded in death by one son, Charles Edward “Chuck” Patrick; and her parents, Jimmy Bradford and Willie Lee Cotten.

Those left to mourn her loss and cherish her memory include her loving husband, Thomas F. Vandevelde of Pineville; one son, Clint Patrick (Tara) of Pineville; one daughter, Shellie Mitcham (Kyle) of Pineville; her siblings, Clifton, Connie, and Tammy; five grandsons, Austin Vidrine, Brannon Vidrine, Blaze Patrick, Maximus Gypin, and Justice Patrick; one granddaughter, Addisynn Hennigan; and three great grandchildren.

Honored to serve as pallbearers are: Clint Patrick, Kyle Mitcham, Blaze Patrick, Austin Vidrine, Justice Patrick, and Maximus Gypin.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Psalm 23 (King James Version)
Mrs. Mattie Simmons Harris, age 98, of LeCompte, Louisiana, entered her eternal rest on March 17, 2026. Mattie was Born on May 11, 1927, in Cheneyville, Louisiana. She was the cherished daughter of Virginia Cheatam Simmons and Winfield Simmons. She was raised in the Cheneyville and Lamourie communities, where she developed the strong faith and values that would guide her throughout her life. At an early age, she was baptized by the late Rev. E.C. Curtis. She joined St. John Baptist Church where she remained a faithful and devoted member.

In March of 1951, Mattie was united in marriage to Noah Harris of LeCompte. Together, they built a loving home and were blessed with six children. Mattie was a devoted wife and mother who worked tirelessly to create a life rooted in love, protection, and purpose for her family. Her strength, sacrifice, and unwavering care shaped generations.

Mattie was employed at Purkey Nursery, where she worked faithfully until her retirement at the age of 70. She developed a close relationship with her employer, Margery Poole Purkey. She was known for her warm spirit, her radiant smile, and her kind heart. She made friends wherever she went and was the type of woman who would give her last to someone in need. Her beauty was not only seen outwardly but deeply felt by all who knew her.

Her life was anchored in her faith in God. She faithfully served at Saint John Baptist Church as a choir member, Deaconess, and Trustee always demonstrating humility, grace, and devotion.

She was a proud and loving grandmother to Noah Harris Jr. IV, Tomika Harris, LaTrice Harris, Ophelia Joseph, Tyesha Joseph, and Norah Joseph, Meagan Houston, Robert Rashad Houston, Kenrick Frank, Courtney Frank, Jametra Frank, Tiffany Harris Smith, Diona Harris, Dior Harris Juarez, Jamesha Harris, Marquita James, Dionte’ Kirk and Dewun Davis.

She leaves to cherish her loving memory her daughter, Rosemary Harris Houston (Robert) of Anniston, Alabama; her sons, Noah Harris, Jr. (Patricia) of LeCompte,, and Elvis Harris of Hitchcock, Texas, her faithful son-in-law Hilton James Frank of Lake Charles; her sister, Doris Baker and a host of nieces, nephews, great – grandchildren, great- great grandchildren and extended family who will continue to carry her legacy forward.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Noah Harris; her parents, Virginia and Winfield Simmons; Three of her children, Dorothy Mae Harris Johnson, Janice Marie Harris Frank, and Marvin Wayne Harris; two of her grandchildren, Stephen John Johnson and Christopher Joseph, and siblings, Lettie Simmons Duhon, Carrie Mae Brown, Lloyd Simmons, Floyd Simmons, Winfield Simmons, and Willie Lee Simmons Tatum.

Service will be held on Saturday, March 28 at 11 am at St. John Baptist Church in Lecompte.

Mrs. Harris lived a long and meaningful life marked by faith, family, and love. Her legacy will live on in the lives she touched, the values she instilled, and the memories that will forever be cherished.

By JIM BUTLER

Arriving home earlier than expected Monday afternoon cost legendary lawman William Earl Hilton his life. Investigators say the long-time Rapides sheriff, 80, got to his Hineston residence as an alleged burglar was coming out of it.

Ladonna Briggs Delrie, 53, they assert, ran him over in her vehicle when he tried to bar her escape, and fled toward east, eventually captured on Coliseum Boulevard in Alexandria.

Initially booked into the Rapides jail Monday night,  she was transferred to another facility, held under $5.3 million bond.

That transfer is normal under such circumstances. The obvious conflicts also pose potential problems for prosecutors and judges.

Services for Hilton will be at noon Friday at Calvary Baptist Church. Visitation will be at the church on Thursday from 4-8 p.m. and on Friday from 9 a.m. until services. 

What Delrie took in the alleged burglary, if anything, or was recovered hasn’t been indicated by authorities.

The Monday events followed a weekend interaction with the Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Steven McCain said Delrie contacted his office Sunday with questions about the federal prison near her residence. A deputy went to her residence to discuss the matter.

Monday, McCain said, Delrie’s brother called to say she had damaged his residence.

Moments later, the sheriff learned of Hilton’s encounter and that the fleeing vehicle was registered to Delrie.

Hilton’s life of public service is widely known and has been thoroughly recounted since Monday.

Far less is documented regarding the suspect.

A resident of the Grant Parish area between Creola and Simms, she has over time pursued several career paths, according to public records.

Prior to Monday her only apparent run-in with the justice system was a January 2023 theft charge, later reduced to criminal mischief, to which she pleaded guilty.

Whether Delrie has retained counsel or will have a court-appointed attorney is not known.

BOYCE — A large white construction tent now visible from Interstate 49 near Boyce signals that site work is actively underway on a 672-acre parcel that could become one of the most significant economic development projects in Rapides Parish history.

The tent, along with graded earth and mobile construction offices on the property, marks the earliest visible stages of development on land purchased by Applied Digital Corporation in December 2025 for $26.9 million.

(Rapides Parish Journal Staff Photo — Construction activity is visible from Interstate 49 near Boyce, including a large white tent and graded acreage on the Applied Digital site.)

The facility, known internally as Project Lightning, is planned for approximately 672 acres and is intended to serve high-performance computing and artificial intelligence industries. The project anticipates creating 1,500 construction-related jobs and 200 new employees in its first year of operation, with an average annual wage of $65,000.

The property sits along I-49 just down from the Cleco facilities, a short distance from Boyce. Applied Digital, a Dallas-based firm listed on Nasdaq under the ticker APLD, designs, develops and operates digital infrastructure, cloud services and artificial intelligence facilities across North America. The developer often leases its completed facilities to major tech companies that operate massive computing networks, known as hyperscalers. No hyperscaler tenant has been publicly identified for the Boyce site.

ENGLAND AUTHORITY CREATES SPECIAL SUBDISTRICT

In December 2025, Applied Digital purchased the 672-acre parcel near Boyce, west of Alexandria. In February, the England Authority — the Rapides Parish economic development district — approved the creation of England District Subdistrict No. 4, an overlay district that encompasses the property.

Louisiana Central, the regional economic development organization, has been coordinating with Applied Digital and state officials on the prospect and has begun discussions with parish taxing authorities about creating special incentives to attract tenants to the site. Amazon, Hut 8 and Meta have each struck payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreements for their own Louisiana data center projects.

Louisiana Central CEO Chris Masingill addressed the authority board ahead of the February vote, describing the potential scope of the project as among the most consequential in the parish’s modern history — potentially surpassing major industrial investments dating to the 1950s and 1960s in terms of capital investment and job creation. He was explicit, however, that no agreement is in place and that the site remains an active prospect, not a confirmed project.

POWER AND WATER

Masingill acknowledged Cleco’s role in the planning process, noting the utility’s cooperation as critical to the parish’s ability to compete for the project. The Louisiana Public Service Commission would maintain regulatory authority over any electricity generation required to support operations.

England Airpark Executive Director Ralph Hennessy said Applied Digital has been engaged in discussions with Cleco and that power arrangements are progressing, though whether new generation facilities would need to be built remains unclear.

On water demand, Hennessy said the impact would be modest. Applied Digital’s data centers use a closed-loop cooling system that recirculates coolant continuously, eliminating the need for constant water replenishment — a standard feature in modern data center design.

Residents raised concerns about utility costs and water usage at the February authority meeting.

TAX STATUS CHANGES

Tax records reflect the scale of what is being contemplated. The land carried annual parish taxes of roughly $3,900 when classified as Agricultural Vacant prior to 2026. Following Applied Digital’s purchase, the parcel was reclassified as Industrial Vacant, with its assessed value adjusted from $257,350 to $25,287,000. Estimated annual parish property taxes on the undeveloped land now stand at approximately $300,000.

LOUISIANA’S DATA CENTER BOOM

The Boyce site is one of several major data center projects now in motion across Louisiana. Meta is constructing a $10 billion AI campus in Richland Parish in northeast Louisiana. Amazon announced a $12 billion multi-campus project in Caddo and Bossier parishes in February. And Hut 8 is developing a $10 billion facility in West Feliciana Parish.

England Airpark’s Hennessy said his hope is that the Applied Digital project, should it materialize, will provide a significant economic boost for Rapides Parish, similar to what Hut 8’s currently under-construction data center is expected to deliver for West Feliciana Parish.

No timeline for a formal project announcement has been made public. Applied Digital did not respond to a request for comment prior to publication.

— Rapides Parish Journal

England negotiating with digital infrastructure firm

A stretch of warm, dry weather is expected across Rapides Parish through the upcoming week, with mostly sunny skies and mild overnight temperatures.

Wednesday brings sunny skies and highs in the mid-80s, with light south winds around 5 mph. Conditions remain mostly clear Wednesday night, with lows again in the upper 50s.

Sunny weather continues Thursday, with highs in the mid-80s and south winds increasing slightly to 5 to 10 mph. Thursday night will start clear before becoming partly cloudy, with lows around 60.

Friday will be the warmest day of the stretch, with highs climbing into the upper 80s under mostly clear skies. Overnight lows will drop into the mid-50s.

A noticeable cooldown arrives Saturday, with highs in the lower 70s and mostly clear conditions. Saturday night will be cooler, with lows in the lower 50s.

By Sunday, temperatures rebound under sunny skies, with highs in the lower 80s. Partly cloudy conditions will develop Sunday night through Monday night, with lows around 60 and highs holding in the lower 80s.

By Tuesday, skies turn partly sunny, with temperatures warming back into the mid-80s.

Overall, the forecast remains dry and seasonable, with a mix of warm afternoons and comfortably cool nights.

Summer Steiner, Director of Finance and Human Resources at England Airpark/Alexandria International Airport, has earned the Airport Certified Employee (ACE) – Airport Finance certification from the American Association of Airport Executives.

The certification program covers topics including budgetary policies and airport operations and is designed for professionals managing financial operations at commercial service and general aviation airports. Steiner successfully completed the curriculum and certification exam last week.

The ACE designation recognizes airport professionals who demonstrate advanced knowledge and expertise in airport finance and operations.

The Rapides Parish School Board is encouraging feedback that will help shape student programs funded through federal Title IV dollars.

School officials say the funding supports a wide range of opportunities, including robotics, archery, band, choir, theater, and extended learning programs across the district.

Take a brief survey to share input on how funds should be prioritized for the upcoming school year. District leaders say community feedback plays a key role in determining which programs are expanded or introduced.

Survey Link: https://rpsb.la/titleIV2627

First United Methodist Church of Alexandria will host a special Palm Sunday celebration on Sunday, March 29, beginning with one blended worship service at 10 a.m., followed by a churchwide potluck and Easter egg hunt on the grounds.

The Palm Sunday service will bring together traditional and contemporary elements in a unified time of worship for the congregation and community. A highlight of the morning will be a special musical performance from preschoolers from First United Methodist Preschool, who will perform a song they have been joyfully preparing. Following worship, the celebration will continue with a Family Fun Day designed for all ages. Activities will include face painting, balloon animals, live bunnies, inflatables, and an Easter egg hunt, creating a welcoming and festive space for families to gather, connect, and celebrate the season together.

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, commemorating Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, inviting worshippers into a deeper journey through the final days of Christ’s life. FUMCA’s observation of Holy Week will continue with two distinct and immersive worship experiences later in the week. On Maundy Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the church fellowship hall, attendees are invited to experience worship in a new way through an intimate, church-in-the-round setting. The service will feature candlelight, Holy Communion, and a live praise band, creating a reflective and participatory atmosphere. As part of the Lenten sermon series The Prayers That Changed Everything, the message, The Prayer that Serves, based on John 13:1–17, will invite worshippers to reflect on humility, service, love, and surrender.

On Good Friday at 6:30 p.m., the congregation will gather in the traditional sanctuary for an immersive observance of the Passion of Christ. Designed to engage the senses within the sacred space of the church’s historic sanctuary, the service offers a solemn and meaningful time of reflection. Continuing the sermon series, The Prayer That Offers All, drawn from Luke 23:46, will guide participants in contemplating total surrender, sacrifice, and the hope that endures even beyond death.

Easter Sunday will be celebrated on April 5 with two morning services: Grace Life contemporary worship at 8:30 a.m. and Traditional worship at 11 a.m. Both services will include Holy Communion and the celebration of confirmations, marking a joyful culmination of the Lenten season and the proclamation of the resurrection.

First United Methodist Church of Alexandria is located at 2727 Jackson Street in Alexandria and invites the entire community to take part in these services and celebrations, offering a meaningful pathway through Holy Week and into the joy of Easter. For more information on FUMCA, visit fumca.org.

Continue your article here…

NATCHITOCHES — Northwestern State, Central Louisiana and friends and colleagues from around the country will have a final chance to say thank you and goodbye to legendary Demon football coach Sam Goodwin in a most fitting place.

Goodwin, who passed away at home March 20 at age 82, will be honored with a memorial celebration at Turpin Stadium at 10 a.m. April 25. Along with his legendary tenure as head coach at Northwestern, Goodwin was a Pineville native who helped the Rebels win the 1960 state football championship and later revived  (2014-15) a struggling program at Alexandria Senior High, where he had current Trojans coach Thomas Bachman as his offensive coordinator.

The celebration of Goodwin’s life will lead into the annual Joe Delaney Bowl spring game that caps Northwestern’s spring practice, which began Tuesday. Goodwin launched the Delaney Bowl tradition and also inaugurated the Joe Delaney Memorial Leadership Awards for permanent team captains after Delaney’s heroic drowning death in 1983.

In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will take place in A.A. Fredericks Auditorium on campus.

Goodwin won a school-record 102 games in 17 seasons at the helm of the Demon program, turning it into a perennial Southland Conference championship contender while setting the Southland Conference wins record.

Goodwin led the Demons to four conference championships – the 1984 Gulf Star crown and the 1988, 1997 and 1998 Southland titles. He twice was named Southland Conference Coach of the Year.

His 1998 Demon team reached the FCS semifinals where it fell to eventual national champion UMass. That 1998 team equaled the school single-season record of 11 wins and featured four of the 22 All-Americans Goodwin coached at Northwestern.

His 1988 squad advanced to the FCS quarterfinals and is the only Northwestern team to go unbeaten in Southland play. That season, Goodwin’s “Road Warriors” picked up five straight conference or playoff wins away from Turpin Stadium, including a regular-season-ending 20-17 victory at Stephen F. Austin, which had previously been ranked No. 1 in the nation. Two weeks ahead of the win at SFA, the Demons took down another top-ranked team, North Texas, on the road.

In addition to the 20 on-field All-Americans he produced, Goodwin also coached two Academic All-Americans, a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athletes, 42 first-team All-Southland Conference selections and 38 players who reached the NFL – several whose only Division I scholarship offer was from Goodwin.

Goodwin earned induction into the N-Club Hall of Fame – the highest honor the university awards to student-athletes and athletic staff members – in 1999. He was inducted into the Southland Conference’s Hall of Honor in 2007.

His granddaughter Jaycee Goodwin designed the graphic announcing the memorial event.

It’s barely spring, and it already feels like summer showed up early. Around here, people aren’t just noticing—it’s becoming the main topic of conversation.

Even the jokes are writing themselves. Crawfish might as well be saying they’re “boiling before the pot now.”

All humor aside, the early heat has folks doing double takes at the calendar and wondering what the rest of the season has in store.

With over 30 years of bass tournament experience, I know that every bass angler that wets a hook has one goal in mind when they enter a tournament — win! While we all strive to bring winning sacks to the scales, the stars do not always align and allow that to happen. 

My background as an athlete has proven to be beneficial when it comes to the mental side of tournament bass fishing. The “never give up” mentality is so important as a tournament angler. 

Playing on a Texas state championship high school baseball team was one of my greatest accomplishments as an athlete. Twice during that special run in 1978, our backs were to the wall, but we never gave up and persevered on our way to winning it all. 

We never panicked no matter what the situation was. We stayed strong and committed to each other, making sure things went our way. Tournament bass fishing is no different. There will be days when things just don’t go the way you thought they would.  

But the guys who have a strong mindset, and the “never give up” attitude, seem to always find a way to put fish in the boat. Even if they don’t catch the winning fish, they still make a good showing. 

One of my recent trips to Lake of the Pines brought me so much joy — eventually! It began when the fish I found in practice just did not pan out. Oh, I had lots of excuses as to why they did not bite, but to sum it up, I just did not catch them. 

At 10:30 that tournament morning, I did not have a fish in the boat. I had caught a few, but none that would reach the 14-inch minimum. But I did not panic as I felt the fish would bite a little better in the afternoon due to the full moon we were fishing under. 

I finally put three fish in the boat between 10:30 and noon and then decided to move out of the area where I had found quality fish during practice. There was so much fishing pressure on the lake, I was sure that a lot of the fish I had found the day before had been caught. 

So, I pulled up on a point and made a long cast, and low and behold I caught a solid 3-pounder! I’m thinking, “hmmm, this is a good sign and maybe there’s a good school of bass on this point.” Sure enough, it was loaded with good keeper-size fish including a 5-pounder that threw my bait back to me on one particular cast. 

I anchored down on this spot and for three hours I began to catch over 35 bass off this one point. It was a day you don’t have all the time as an angler and even though I did not catch the winning bag, I had an awesome day on the water and enjoyed a trip I will never forget!

I’m wondering if age has anything to do with how I think now as an angler. At 65 years old, winning tournaments is just not as high on my priority list as it used to be. Oh, I’m still competitive and want to beat the pants off all these young bucks, but then there’s reality.  

But one thing I can say for myself, no matter how much longer I continue to fish bass tournaments, my desire to compete and win will never wane. I just have to remember; it’s not always about winning.

“Are you a homeowner who feels stuck because you don’t have enough equity to sell, but still need to bring your monthly housing costs down?”

 See what Ida says 

The Pineville Fire Department has begun annual fire hydrant flushing and testing across the city, with work expected to continue through May 1.

Officials say the process is essential to maintaining operational readiness, allowing crews to verify water flow and ensure hydrants are functioning properly to support fire protection efforts.

Residents may notice temporary discoloration in their household water as a result of the flushing process, which can stir up sediment within water lines. The department advises that running faucets for a short time should clear up any discoloration.

Fire officials said the routine maintenance helps ensure the highest level of service for both residents and visitors.

Funeral services for Mr. Paul Edward Huffman will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Chapel of Rush Funeral Home, Pineville, with Reverend Robbie Strong officiating. Interment will follow in Richey Cemetery, Effie, under the direction of Rush Funeral Home, Pineville.

Doris Huffman-Turnage, born in Missouri, had Paul Edward Huffman in Vicksburg, Mississippi, on November 17, 1951. He was her pride and joy. Growing up poor meant Paul had to start working from a young age.

Shortly after his birth, Doris married Bud Turnage and moved to Louisiana, where she had three sons: Robert, Billy, and Marvin Turnage. Paul took his role as “big brother” very seriously. He loved and cherished his brothers with all his heart and sought to take care of them and keep them safe.

At the age of twenty-three, he met and fell in love with Debra Sue Terrell, and two short years later, they married.

Paul went to college in Bethany, Oklahoma, and graduated with a B.S. in Computer Science. From a young age, Paul wanted to be a forest ranger, but when he was asked why he never pursued that dream, he replied, “Because when a man came into my high school and showed us computers and what they were going to be in twenty years, I just knew that’s what I was supposed to do.”

Shortly after he graduated, he came home to make Debra his bride, and they married in the heat of August on August 21, 1976, at First Nazarene Church in Pineville, Louisiana. From this marriage came two daughters, Brittany Amanda Huffman and Courtney Denise Huffman, as well as Brittany’s husband, Josh Burton, of Oklahoma. He poured every ounce of his love into his three girls and son-in-law, while remaining fiercely protective until the very end of his life.

Paul lived a full life, filled with love, kindness, and joy in the Lord. The only thing that mattered more to him than his family was his relationship with God, which he instilled in his two girls from a young age. From bedtime prayers to reading the Bible in a year, Paul devoted his life to Christ and tried his best to be Christ-like.

He gave of himself freely, loved his neighbor as himself, offered help when he could, protected his family, and trusted God. His death is not a sad time; it is a time for celebration, with the joy of knowing that his true journey has only just begun.

A time of visitation will be held at Rush Funeral Home, Pineville, on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Visitation will resume in the Chapel of Rush Funeral Home, Pineville, on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. until time of service.

Honored to serve as pallbearers are: K.W. Terrell, Trouble D. Allen, Dereck White, Billy Turnage, Joshua Burton, and Matthew Deville. Honorary pallbearers will be Eric Harrison and Collin Harrison.

Friends may post online messages of condolences for the Huffman family by visiting http://www.rushfh.com