For a few million dollars, Louisiana Tech is finally where it ought to be.

For the lack of several million, LIV Golf’s foray into Louisiana has predictably all but fizzled out, with good riddance.

A good idea gets done. A bad one gets sunk.

It made no sense for the Bulldogs to keep trotting around Conference USA next season, and everyone on both sides knew it. CUSA had the ‘Dogs by the short hairs, though, because of these tricky little documents called bylaws. They spelled out to some degree the requirements to depart the conference, and to a lesser extent, the pricetag of doing it.

What was that number? Maybe not the $8 million some outlets floated in the last couple of weeks, but it wasn’t a sale price, either. Cost more than a mass visit to your favorite escape room, and was much more complicated.

The powers that be in Ruston knew that. But they also were weary of teams dealing with the grind of CUSA travel – not only to big cities like Miami and Atlanta, which are not exactly down the road a few hours, but to outposts like Lynchburg, Dover, Kennessaw, Murfreesboro, and Westchester (Fla.).

It was unpleasant enough making those trips, but fans from those institutions didn’t make their way to Ruston when their teams did. Nor did fans follow the Bulldogs to CUSA destinations.

The Sun Belt will be a 180. Travel won’t be as taxing, and considering gas prices, that’s even more important now than it was when Tech and the SBC got engaged last summer. Visiting fans will get noticed at Tech home games instead of being dressed as empty seats.

Conference matchups with ULM and UL Lafayette are prime attractions, and short drives for teams and fans. Not too far away are Arkansas State and Southern Miss. Even Troy and South Alabama are possible day trips for the most enthusiastic.

No doubt the football, baseball, softball, and track standards are much better in the SBC. It’s still a one-bid league for basketball, but more relevant with programs than have made some NCAA Tournament runs – something that is a far-too-distant memory in Ruston.

It took some court filings and extended staredowns, but inevitably, a spoiled relationship is ending. Divorce has its pains but is not necessarily a bad outcome.

The settlement was announced in very general terms this week, with CUSA and then Tech releasing brief statements without any specifics on Monday.

Tech officials said that the financial terms of the agreement are confidential. Last Thursday, the ULS System board of supervisors went into executive session to discuss Tech’s plan to make the separation payment, and approved it.

Down in New Orleans, finances are helping crater an idea without merit from the start.

LIV Golf stinks. Call it what it is – Saudi Arabia’s bazillion-dollar sports washing of a miserable human rights record that includes the execution of an American journalist and some apparent culpability in the 9-11 attacks. But they have oil.

Dozens of pro golfers swallowed the money and ignored the stench when they joined LIV. Some made lifetime fortunes. Nearly all soiled their reputations as golfers, and humans.

LIV backers sold some top brass in Louisiana on staging a tournament in New Orleans. In late June. That was testament to the stupidity.

Unfortunately, the effort suckered in state officials to the point that more investment ($7 million) was made in this venture than the longstanding PGA Tour stop in New Orleans, the Zurich Classic, which has been a tremendous benefit to the Crescent City for decades.

Good news: LIV will repay the $1.2 million the state has already handed over. Another $2 million has gone to renovating Bayou Oaks, which will have some residual economic benefits beyond giving golfers another top-flight option down dere.

Reports say the state and LIV are bouncing around potential to host a fall tournament at Bayou Oaks. Louisiana’s money would be much better spent investing in the Zurich Classic or a thousand other sports ventures – the LHSAA comes to mind.

Like Tech to the Sun Belt, THAT makes sense.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

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The Woodworth Shooting Range will be closed all day Saturday (May 2) and from 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on May 9, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) announced. These closures are necessary to facilitate LDWF’s Families Understanding Nature (FUN) Camp and Rifle 101 events.

The Woodworth Shooting Range is located at 661 Robinson Bridge Road in Woodworth. See the LDWF Shooting Ranges webpage for more information on the Woodworth Shooting Range.

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For some reason, ever since someone came up with the concept of competition, man has always looked for a way to gain a competitive edge — even if it means cheating!  

In any contest, there are rules and just like records, some feel that rules are made to be broken. Today, we are going to look at some of the worst bass tournament cheaters to ever wet a hook, and how these incidents should be handled.

Years ago, an angler got caught cheating on Lake of the Pines in a bass tournament called the “KYKX Big Bass Splash.” In one tournament when the polygraph examiner questioned if the catch was legit, he was unsure on whether to pass or fail the guy. So, the tournament director decided to award him the victory despite questions surrounding his catch. 

The following year, the same angler was in position to win again but this time the polygraph examiner failed him. Then a man came forward and told the tournament director how and where this angler was getting his fish.   

He was pulling his bass out of a basket under a dock just before weigh-in. Convicted of fraud, this guy paid a price with a prison sentence and a heavy fine. 

Then there is the story of Elro McNeil who, in 1983, tried to weigh-in a bass that he purchased from Florida. It was rejected, but the bass was then frozen and thawed at his Louisiana home before being turned over to another angler for weigh-in at a Tyler, Texas tournament. 

The saddest part of this story was that one of the anglers involved in this elaborate scheme was found shot dead at his favorite fishing hole. At first it was considered a murder, but it was later ruled a suicide. 

What may be the best cheating scheme ever was orchestrated by Japanese angler, Yuming Gao, a few weeks ago during a Bassmaster Open. This dude took cheating to another level as he was placing air tags inside other angler’s bass boats so he could track them and learn where they were catching their fish. 

The one thing I’ve learned over my many years of seeing guys that cheat in bass tournaments is, most of the time, it wasn’t about the money they could win, but more about their ego and wanting to be recognized as one of the best bass fishermen in their region.

As an angler, the only thing you have is your name. Once you cheat and get caught, not only is your fishing career over, but you’ve now lost the reputation you had as a person. 

All anglers want to be recognized as one of the best, especially on whatever tournament trail they are fishing. But for some, the need to cheat can be so strong that no matter what the consequences are they just can’t stand winning the right way. I guess they think they won’t get caught… until they do. 

Here’s the deal; if you’re an angler looking to bend the rules in order to gain a competitive advantage, you’re already a loser! You have no place in tournament bass fishing, and I hope the next time you decide to cheat, the hands of justice come down on you with both prison time and a hefty fine, along with a lifetime ban from all fishing tournaments. 

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It’s 2026, and they’ve put AI inside everything from your toaster to your toothbrush. Now, a local genius claims to have optimized the highway driving experience. Our advice? If the app gives you the option to ‘Cancel,’ hit it before it hits your windshield.

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April 29 has served as the backdrop for events ranging from historic weddings to moments of unrest, each leaving a lasting imprint on society.

One of the most widely recognized events tied to this date occurred in 2011, when Prince William married Catherine Middleton in a ceremony watched by millions around the world. The royal wedding was seen as a modernizing moment for the British monarchy, blending tradition with contemporary appeal and capturing global attention.

April 29 is also remembered for the 1992 Los Angeles riots, which erupted following the acquittal of police officers involved in the beating of Rodney King. The unrest lasted several days, resulting in widespread damage, injuries, and loss of life. The riots highlighted deep racial and economic tensions in the United States and prompted ongoing discussions about policing and justice.

In wartime history, April 29, 1945, marked the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp by Allied forces during World War II. The discovery of the camp’s conditions exposed the full extent of atrocities committed during the Holocaust and became a pivotal moment in documenting those crimes.

The date also carries significance in technological progress. In 2004, the final Oldsmobile rolled off the assembly line, marking the end of one of America’s oldest automobile brands and symbolizing shifts within the auto industry.

From celebration to conflict and remembrance, April 29 reflects the wide spectrum of human experience, illustrating how a single date can hold moments of joy, tragedy, and transformation.

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“When a mother realizes her child is watching history unfold in real time—and feeling afraid—she faces a question no parent is ever quite prepared to answer: how do you explain a frightening world without making it feel even more dangerous?”

 See what Ida says 

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A Mass of Christian Burial for Oliver Leicht McMickens will be held at 10:30 am on Friday, May 1, 2026, at St. Rita Catholic Church, with Rev. Anthony Dharmaraj officiating. Interment will follow at Alexandria Memorial Gardens under the direction of John Kramer & Son Funeral Home.

Visitation will be held at John Kramer & Son Funeral Home on Thursday, April 30, 2026, from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm, with a recitation of the Holy Rosary beginning at 6:30 pm. Visitation will resume on Friday, May 1, 2026, from 9:00 am until 10:00 am at the funeral home.

Oliver Leicht McMickens was born in California in 1932 but was raised on dirt floors in Rockhill, LA. As a young boy, times were tough, and his family was poor like many others at that time. He graduated from Colfax High School in the 11th grade at the age of 16 and his biggest desire was to attend college. His father denied him any financial assistance, so he could not afford to attend. This denial fueled his passion to achieve a level of success that would enable him to financially assist his sons in fulfilling their dreams.

Oliver married Beverly McCauley on June 1, 1957. She lovingly referred to him as Ollie Mac. They had four sons: Ricky, Neal, Mark and Scott. He worked as a pharmaceutical sales rep until he partnered with his brother, Charlie McMickens, to start their car dealership, M&M Dodge. He eventually took over the business himself and moved it to the “trading corner of Sterkx and MacArthur” where later it became known as M&M Hyundai. This style of business suited him well, as he was handsome, charming, and always wore a smile or cracked a joke. “Chief” was incredibly hardworking yet humbly attributed his business success to Beverly’s educational background. Together, they built a remarkably profitable business that they could share with their sons.

Oliver’s favorite pastime was hunting and fishing with his boys. The part he enjoyed most was bringing home the kill for Beverly to cook. The provider in him was made proud when he physically put food on the table. He also eagerly attended all of his sons’ sporting events and even got kicked out of a game or two for defending his son’s honor. Ollie Mac and Beverly loved LSU! They were avid fans and attended many games over the years with their friends.

Oliver wasn’t a man of many words. But when he did speak, he was sure to make you laugh or smile. His love language was gift giving. He was either pouring you a Coke, peeling you an apple, or pulling out his wallet to give you money for your Birthday (which he never forgot). And of course, his proudest gift was providing his sons with their college education.

When terminal illness overcame Beverly, Oliver cared for her, all by himself. He bathed, dressed and fed her until the very end. He never complained or asked any of us for help. He was a true testament to “in sickness and in health, to death do us part”. After her passing, the lonely widower passed the time playing cards at the casino. His favorite saying was “I don’t go to win money; I go to have a good time”. Henceforth, he wore out the road between Alexandria and Kinder.

Oliver was a devout Catholic, and attended mass religiously, often assisting in picking up the gifts. He also volunteered with the local Civitan and Kiwanis Clubs. Outside of his impressive character resume as a hardworking, successful, humble child of God, one of his most impressive qualities was his infectious positive attitude. He was a rare gem indeed, as you would never hear him complain about anything. He would always say the food you prepared him “couldn’t be any better,” and when asked how he was feeling his response was “I feel great,” and “even better now that you are here.”

Throughout his life, he never let his business success change him. It was never about the money for him to live lavishly. Towards the end, as dementia overtook him, he remained true to his character traits. He attended mass for as long as he could and never complained, despite battling this life-altering disease. You could still bring a smile to his humble face with a simple Moon Pie and Coca Cola. Two days before his death, as he lay in the hospital with a broken hip, he was asked how he was feeling. The answer was “I feel great,” followed by “even better now that you are here,” and he flashed that handsome smile. Ollie Mac was a diamond in the rough, and the hope is that he is now rejoining Beverly and making her smile. Dad, you will forever be our hero. Thank you for teaching us through your actions, which were 100 times more powerful than words alone.

Luke 15:31 “….you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.”

Oliver is preceded in death by his wife, Beverly Anne McCauley McMickens; parents James Thomas McMickens and Esther Marie Helen Leicht McMickens; his brothers, Calvin McMickens and Charles McMickens.

He is survived by his sister, Chris Anne McMickens Torry; his sons Ricky McMickens, Neal McMickens and wife Cari, Mark McMickens and wife Heidi, and Scott McMickens and wife Stacey; his grandchildren, Marissa McMickens Hurm and husband Nick, Seth McMickens, Miranda McMickens, Andrew McMickens (Drew), Quinton McMickens, Cameron McMickens, Morgan McMickens, Landon McMickens, Jacob Harrison and wife Misty, and Sarah Harrison; and his great grandchild, Jamie Oliver Hurm.

Pallbearers will be Jacob Harrison, Seth McMickens, Andrew McMickens, Quinton McMickens, Cameron McMickens, and Landon McMickens. Honorary Pallbearer will be Earl McCauley.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Oliver’s name can be made to St. Rita Catholic Church, 4401 Bayou Rapides Rd., Alexandria, Louisiana 71303.

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By JIM BUTLER

Whatever profit is involved in the sale of Cleco it is safe to say it’s big bucks.

Macquarie Asset Management and others bought the Pineville-based utility in 2016 and took it private, expressing intent to hold it for a decade.

Sale price then was about $3.4 billion, the purchasing power equivalent of about $4.2 billion today. Sale price in the deal announced Monday: $5.8-$6 billion.

Stonepeak and Bernhard Capital Partners are buying a package much different than the one of a decade ago, a result of changing market conditions, infrastructure upgrades and Nature-driven overhauls (remember Laura and her siblings?).

Stonepeak’s chairman once worked for Macquarie; Bernhardt Capital, quartered in Baton Rouge, is led by Jeff Jenkins, its co-founder with the late and legendary Jim Barnhard.

Purchasers pledge to keep the firm in Pineville and retain employees.

The sale requires PSC approval, but no stockholders vote as was necessary a decade ago.

At that time holders of about 60.5 million shares of common stock received $55.37 per share and the equity group took the utility private.

A class action over the merger process, initiated by three of those stockholders on behalf of the class eventually certified in 2019, was resolved in late 2023 with a mediated settlement of $37 million allocated to the class members.

Cleco to be acquired by Stonepeak and Bernhard Capital Partners

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By JIM BUTLER

Mayor Jacques Roy’s veto of the City Council’s ordinance effectively canceling a cooperative agreement with GAEDA includes a stinging expression of his point of view.

A council majority passed the measure last Tuesday. Roy said no on Friday. The council must, by city law, override or sustain with a two-thirds vote at its next meeting, currently scheduled for a week from today.

Roy’s message also includes an extensive recap of policy, procedure and plans.

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As late as August of 1988, Wally Smith was in the news as an engineer and spokesman for a local firm that was a highway consultant for the City of Alexandria, but he changed jobs a month later.

He gave up a lucrative job as an engineer to be a coach and teacher at Menard, a Catholic high school that offered him a pittance of what he was making at his engineering job. He accepted, and 38 years later he knows without a doubt he made the right decision.

When he was among 10 people honored with induction into the Louisiana High School Sports Hall of Fame last Monday night in Baton Rouge, Smith said his life-changing decision came after reading “Armchair Retreat,” a book by Father David Knight, that spring during Lent.

“I came out of that Lent, after reading that book, knowing I was in the wrong job,” he said. “Come that September, I was at Menard. At age 45, I was a rookie teacher and a rookie coach. But what a great adventure it was. I never regretted a day.”

Having been a volunteer cross-country head coach since 1985, when his youngest son, Doug, was Menard’s best distance runner, helped him change his mind.

“I fell in love with the environment, everything about coaching,” he said. By the time he gave up the job in 2020, Smith coached Menard teams to 11 girls’ state championships and the boys to two state championships in cross country, and he coached the girls to a state championship in track and field. He has since received a lifetime achievement award from the Louisiana Track and Field Coaches Association as well as the prestigious Tom Nolan Distinguished Coach Award.

Four years after he started as a full-time coach at Menard, his 16-year-old daughter, Jenny, died in a car accident in which she was hit by a drunk driver, and thereafter it was as if he adopted all the girls’ runners he coached. He said he was touched when one of them accidentally called out to him as “Dad.”

It wasn’t too surprising since he became a father-figure to many of those he coached, some of whom, he said, didn’t have much of a family life.

“When you’re doing God’s will,” he said, “everything is a blessing, and dealing with those kids, all types of kids, every day is a great adventure.”

Among the other nine who were inducted with Smith, the honoree who had the largest and loudest group at the event was 91-year-old Gladys Edwards from Waterproof High School in a small, rural town in northeast Louisiana’s Tensas Parish. She coached girls’ basketball teams to six state championships in 33 years.

She said her philosophy was to be “firm, strong and fair with all” of her players. “I may not have been the very best, but I gave them the very best of everything I had.” Inspired by her mother who washed dishes for $3 a day, she repeatedly emphasized, “Hard work will pay off.” 

At times, she tried to bring out the best in her players with praise.

“I told them they could beat the (NBA’s Los Angeles) Lakers,” she said, “and some were crazy enough to believe it.”

More awards

This last week was a big week for award banquets as six men were inducted into the Bolton High School Hall of Fame, including my longtime friend and journalistic colleague, broadcaster Elwood Lindsay “Lyn” Rollins Jr. (Class of ’68). The others were William G. “Bill” Bowdon III (’66), Jeffrey “Jeff” Carbo (’78), Richard R. “Dick” Clayton (’59), Edward G. “Ned” Randolph Jr. (’60) and Robert Beall “Buddy” Tudor, Jr. (’53).

Rollins, a member of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, is a veteran broadcaster of many sports at different competitive levels, but he is most comfortable calling baseball games, and he seemingly delivers some of his best lines in that venue.

“He’s hotter than a Rolex in a pawn shop.”

“He could throw a tater tot through an onion ring.”

“Pucker up and kiss that baby goodbye!”

Regarding his time at Bolton, he said he remembers the “expectations of excellence” there and the “genuine esprit de corps” among the student body.

Maj. Gen. Bowdon, while pacing the stage and standing erect, may have asked the most thought-provoking question of the night: “Is there a more important position in our society than a high school teacher?”

Patriotic night at the Riverfront

Can’t say enough good about the Rapides Symphony Orchestra’s “Pops on the River” Saturday night at the Alexandria Riverfront Amphitheater. Not only did it feature the always impressive orchestra musicians, but Alexandria native and Houston TV reporter Sherman Desselle did a nice job narrating quotes from our 16^th president Abraham Lincoln during Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait.” And the Victory Belles trio from the New Orleans World War II Museum were spot on in evoking music from the 1940s, not to mention their frivolity and dancing with some men in the audience.

This was also the first RSO performance under the new Bandshell, which had its groundbreaking almost five years ago, and the pleasant spring weather couldn’t have been better. Another welcome addition was the new wide access stairway – festooned with red, white and blue bunting.

The whole thing felt like a live Norman Rockwell painting. The finish –  Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture (ending) with incredible fireworks over the Red River and Mayor Jacques Roy punching the button of a gadget on cue to provide the sound effects for cannon fire – couldn’t have been more rousing.

The event theme was “Courage.” At a time in our state and country when the sound of fireworks at a public event has too often presaged something evil, this was an event without incident that unified us all — an audience of all ages — in the cause of courage and courtesy and patriotism.

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The City of Pineville is celebrating a weekend of community involvement following a series of events focused on beautification and family activities.

As part of Love the Boot Week, volunteers gathered Friday at Kees Park, where members of the Alexandria Garden Club and the Youth Challenge Program worked to improve and refresh the space for residents.

Cleanup efforts continued Saturday at the Kingsville shopping centers, where community members participated in a Love the Boot cleanup project aimed at maintaining the city’s appearance.

The weekend concluded with Pineville’s inaugural Spring Fling at the Riverfront. The event, held in partnership with Pineville native and NFL player Cody Ford and his foundation, Ford’s Pancake House, provided a day of activities for local families and children.

City officials expressed appreciation to the volunteers, organizations and residents who contributed to the weekend’s success.

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Cleco Group LLC, a Pineville-based electric utility serving nearly 300,000 customers across Louisiana, is set to be acquired by infrastructure investment firm Stonepeak and Bernhard Capital Partners under a newly announced agreement.

The transaction will transfer ownership from a consortium that includes Macquarie Asset Management, British Columbia Investment Management Corporation and Manulife Investment Management. Upon completion, Stonepeak will hold the majority interest in the company.

Cleco, which employs approximately 1,200 workers, will remain headquartered in Pineville and continue operating as a regulated utility under the Louisiana Public Service Commission. Company officials said there are no planned changes to staffing levels, compensation or benefits, and operations will continue across its existing 24-parish service area.

The company will maintain its focus on reliability and infrastructure improvements, supported by new investment partners with access to capital and experience in energy and infrastructure sectors. Over the past decade, Cleco has invested about $3 billion in system upgrades and resiliency projects, including a major grid hardening initiative approved by regulators in 2025.

Officials said the acquisition is expected to strengthen Cleco’s role as a key energy provider and economic driver in Louisiana, while supporting continued modernization and future growth.

The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals before it can be finalized.

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The Pineville softball team is heading into the state semifinals Friday in Sulphur on a roll after smashing parish rival Tioga Friday night in the state quarterfinals.

The Lady Rebels are the only Rapides Parish team in the LHSAA state tournament.

ASH made a valiant run, with a one-run loss to top-seeded Mount Carmel in a quarterfinal road game.

Plainview also took it down to the wire – and then some — in its state quarterfinal at No. 2 seeded Claiborne Christian, falling by one in extra innings.

Buckeye and Menard were also stopped short of Sulphur with quarterfinal losses on the road.

Softball quarterfinal scores, semifinal matchup

Select Division I

Pineville 14, Tioga 0 (5 innings); Pineville vs. Archbishop Chapelle, Friday, 2:30 in Sulphur

Mt. Carmel 3, ASH 2

Select Division II

Archbishop Hannan 9, Buckeye 1

Select Division IV

Glenbrook 6, Menard 0

Class C

Claiborne Christian 8, Plainview 7 (9 innings)

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The Alexandria Senior High Trojans were the only local survivor among the larger-school classifications in regional round LHSAA baseball playoff series over the weekend.

The Trojans took a pair of shutout victories in a tightly-contested homefield series with Captain Shreve. They advance to meet top-seeded Brother Martin on the road. The Crusaders eliminated Pineville in the regional round.

Buckeye lost two extra-inning games in its three-game series with visiting St. Michael, sandwiched around a shutout victory in Game 2.

Menard and Tioga bowed out with a pair of losses in their series on the road.

Class B and C teams play late this week in regional round single games.

Baseball regional round series outcomes, quarterfinal pairings

Select Division I

Pineville at Brother Martin  – Game 1, Brother Martin 12-0; Game 2, Brother Martin 11-1. Brother Martin advances.

Captain Shreve at ASH – Game 1, ASH 2-0; Game 2, ASH 1-0. ASH wins series 2-0, advances to quarterfinals at Brother Martin Thursday, Friday, Saturday.

Tioga at Jesuit – Game 1, Jesuit 5-1; Game 2, Jesuit 15-3. Jesuit advances.

Select Division II

St. Michael at Buckeye – Game 1, St. Michael 7-5 (8 innings); Game 2, Buckeye 3-0; Game 3, St. Michael 6-5 (9 innings). St. Michael advances.

Select Division III

Menard at Catholic-New Iberia – Game 1, C-NI 4-3; Game 2, C-NI 10-4. Catholic-NI advances.

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The Rapides Parish Police Jury has scheduled a special meeting for Tuesday, April 28 at 11:30 a.m. at the Police Jury Room in the parish courthouse in Alexandria.

The meeting has been called to consider a motion to approve, adopt and implement a recommendation made April 22 by the Parish Ambulance Advisory Committee regarding the parish’s contract with Pafford EMS. The recommendation supports Pafford EMS serving as the sole provider for ambulance services in the parish.

The agenda item will be presented by the chairman of ambulance services.

No other items are listed for consideration at the special meeting.

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The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about an ongoing scam involving callers claiming they can secure the release of an inmate in exchange for payment.

According to officials, scammers are contacting family members and falsely offering to arrange an inmate’s release by placing them on an ankle monitor. Victims are then instructed to purchase Walmart gift cards or Green Dot cards and send the barcode information through text or an app.

Authorities emphasized that the sheriff’s office does not operate an ankle monitor program and will never contact family members to request money in exchange for an inmate’s release.

After initial phone contact, scammers may continue communication through text messages, claiming the process is handled electronically and that the inmate will be released once payment is completed.

Officials are urging the public to remain cautious and to share the warning with friends and family, noting that similar scams are reported frequently.

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Funeral services celebrating the life of Rhonda Karol Edwards Mercer will be held on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel of Gallagher Funeral Home in Ball, Louisiana, with Rev. Gary Wagoner, Garrett Wagoner, and Timmy Norris officiating. Burial will follow at Big Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Pollock, Louisiana.

Rhonda, age 66, of Pollock, Louisiana, passed away on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria, Louisiana. She was preceded in death by her father, Billy Joe Edwards; her stepfather, Lionel Roberie; her paternal grandparents, Jesse Lee and Susan Henigan Edwards; and her maternal grandparents, Clyde and Lillian Brewer Baum.

Rhonda will be remembered most for her deep love and devotion to her family. She shared 47 wonderful years of marriage with her husband, Larry L. Mercer, who stood by her side through every season of life. Together, they built a family that was the center of her world.

Those left to cherish her memory include her loving husband, Larry; her son, Coulton Mercer (Machel); her daughter, Shellie Taylor (Michael); and her mother, Carlene Baum Edwards; her brothers, Warren Edwards (Kay), and Gregory Edwards. She was a proud and devoted grandmother to Torri Hicks (Jason), Peyton Mercer, Hayden Taylor, Lillie Taylor, and Ella Taylor; great grandson, Jase Hicks, along with her back porch companion, Me Me.

Rhonda’s life was marked by kindness, strength, and a quiet grace that touched everyone who knew her. She will be deeply missed but lovingly remembered in the hearts of her family and friends.

Serving as pallbearers will be Justin Wells, Coulton Mercer, Hayden Taylor, Michael Taylor, Gabe Wagoner, Caden Edwards, and Peyton Mercer.

The family will receive friends for visitation on Thursday, April 30, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home.

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Judy Jones, age 83, passed away Wednesday, April 22, 2026. She was born in Delhi, Louisiana April 5, 1943 to Theron Otis Harper and Myrtle Marie Ross. She was a 1961 graduate of Bolton High School in Alexandria, Louisiana. She married Jimmy Spurlock Jones on September 13, 1963 in Alexandria, Louisiana and together they had four children: Kimberly Marie, born July 17, 1964 and Michelle Kaprice born August 19, 1966. They adopted James Lester Jones on December 26, 1966 at just two days old and Kyle Wesley Jones on June 4, 1969 at three days old. The two of them had also fostered many more children throughout their life together. Judy and Jimmy were married for 59 years. 

Judy had her own cleaning service for many years and was a part of the Houston Chronicle as one of the first women distributors. After she left the Houston Chronicle they needed to divide up her distribution section to 6 people. One of her last jobs included working at the Waffle House where her gift of gab helped her make lifelong friends. 

Her passion, though, was Little League Baseball and watching her kids, grandkids and great grandkids play sports. Her family’s second home was the Galveston Little League Field, volunteering and organizing events and groups. She also was a big part of the Galveston Treasure Ball. Judy loved working on big projects and bringing fun experiences together for everyone to enjoy. 

She loved her flower garden, working on a good puzzle and going antiquing. She was fierce and outspoken but loved her family and people she considered family more than anything. 

Judy had eight grandkids: Ross Jones and his wife Blake of Abilene, Texas TC Galvan of Crosby, Texas, Krystal Jones and her wife Brianna of Abilene, Texas, Tiphani Galvan of League City, Texas, Shelby Jones and his wife Branda of Stephenville, Texas, Katelyn Jones of Beaumont, Texas, Clayton Jones and his wife Shanna of Stephenville, Texas, and Tal Jones of Stephenville, Texas. 

She had 12 great grandkids: Lane, Shelton, Oakleigh, Elena, Colton, Kohen, Romeo, Kaiden, Luciana, Brexton, and Corbin. 

Judy is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Jimmy, and her children, Michelle and Lester. She will be missed very much. 

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at 6:00 P.M. at J. Levy & Termini Funeral Home, with Deacon Robert Standridge officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the service beginning at 5:00 P.M. Graveside services will be held on Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 12 Noon at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, 4000 Monroe Highway, Ball, Louisiana 71405.

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