Willie Mae Palermo
March 13, 1944 – June 21, 2026
Service: Thursday, June 25, 2026, 11am at Kramer & Son Funeral Home, Alexandria.

Johnny Wayne Cole
July 4, 1963 – June 18, 2026
Service: Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 11am at Rush Funeral Home, Pineville.

Melissa “Missy” Marie Israel
June 30, 1975 – June 15, 2026
Service: Saturday, June 27, 2026, 1pm at Rush Funeral Home, Pineville.

Rose Marie Leonard Williams
September 5, 1962 – June 14, 2026
Service: Saturday, June 27, 2026, 11am at Word Christian Center, Alexandria.

Michael Gaines
March 23, 1955 — June 12, 2026
Service: Saturday, June 27, 2026, 11am at Wilton United Methodist Church, Alexandria.

Roxie Quinney
December 18, 1945 – June 12, 2026
Service: Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 11am at Mount Triumph Missionary Baptist Church, Boyce.

The Rapides Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access.

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Pineville sets budget hearing

By JIM BUTLER

Pineville officials propose a 2026-27 operating budget using about $500,000 of this fiscal year’s General Fund year-end balance.

A public hearing on the proposal will be held at 6:30 the evening of June 30.

Also at that gathering the City  Council will hear comments regarding amendments to the current budget (fiscal year ends that day) as well as any code amendments or modifications regarding officials’ salaries.

According to posted notice the city expects to begin the fiscal year with a General Fund carryover of $1.47 million and reach June 30, 2027 with a $920,000 balance.

Revenue is estimated at $23.95 million and expenses at $24.51 million.

Details of the spending plan are not included in the general hearing notice.

Special revenue fund estimates (rounded) are:

• 1981 sales tax – $6.5 million;

• Property tax – $2.1 million;

• Economic development – $$222.5 thousand; Rapides Cemetery- $3,100; Capital revenue – $4.1 million.

Each fund is expected to have a zero balance at year’s end as dollars are channeled to dedicated uses.

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Members of the Alexandria Lions Club Branch spent part of Father’s Day volunteering at Manna House Ministries in Alexandria, helping provide meals to individuals and families in need.

The volunteer effort supported Manna House as it served 314 people, including 41 children, during the day.

Club members gave their time on the holiday to assist with meal service and support the organization’s ongoing mission of caring for members of the community facing food insecurity.

The Alexandria Lions Club Branch thanked its volunteers for putting the organization’s “We Serve” motto into action through their service on Father’s Day.

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Three members of the Rotary Club of Alexandria participated in the Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI), a training program focused on developing leadership skills within Rotary organizations.

Members Judy Ginsburgh, Scott Laliberte, and Will Harp attended the session, where they were also pictured alongside incoming District Governor Charlotta Nordyke.

The training is designed to strengthen leadership capacity among Rotary members and support continued service efforts within local clubs and communities.

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At the June meeting of the Pineville City Council, city officials took time to recognize three outgoing council members for their service to the community.

Those in attendance expressed appreciation and said “thank you” to District 1 Councilman Randy O’Neal, District 3 Councilwoman Christy Fredric, and District 5 Councilman Nathan Martin as they concluded their terms on the council.

The recognition highlighted their contributions and service to the City of Pineville during their time in office.

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RoyOMartin recently held its Career Signing Day, recognizing students across Central Louisiana who are entering the workforce through its WoodWorks and Girls Can Too! programs.

Among those signing job offers were two Pineville High School students, Malakai L. and Dametris B., who were celebrated for their achievement. School officials noted the students are “career ready” and congratulated them on taking the next step into their future careers with RoyOMartin.

In total, 16 students participated in the signing day, including 14 students from across Central Louisiana and two additional students from Corrigan, Texas, who signed earlier this month.

The WoodWorks program, offered in more than 20 high schools across Central Louisiana and East Texas, provides hands-on training in applied mathematics, industrial safety, and employability skills while connecting students with mentors in safety, maintenance, and operations. Students who complete the program earn course credit, receive a certificate of completion, and are guaranteed a job interview with RoyOMartin. Since its launch in 2007, the program has helped approximately 70 graduates secure employment within the company’s operations.

Now in its fourth year, the Girls Can Too! program pairs young women with female mentors at RoyOMartin to introduce career opportunities in industry and leadership, with this year marking the first hires from the program.

Company officials say both programs are designed to strengthen the regional workforce pipeline by connecting students directly from the classroom to career opportunities in Central Louisiana’s manufacturing sector.

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Clark bars Burns from shot at U.S. Open title

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

U.S. Open heartbreak had a different feel this time for Sam Burns.

The Shreveport native, a Calvary Baptist graduate, finished runner-up, by one shot – by an inch, you could say — Sunday at the 126^th U.S. Open at Long Island’s Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. And he was choked up speaking to media about it.

A year earlier, it was a sour, bitter ending to a strong week at Oakmont Country Club near Pittsburgh, when Burns led much of the way including 36-and 54-hole advantages and a two-shot edge on the back nine Sunday. But it unraveled following a downpour, after a dubious U.S.G.A. ruling forced him to play from what seemed to be standing water in the 15^th fairway, and he went 4-over in the last four holes, settling for a seventh-place tie. He was diplomatic as possible afterward in rueing the ruling.

This time, Burns almost joined Arnold Palmer for the largest final-round comeback in the championship. Palmer trailed by seven strokes in the 1960 U.S. Open at Cherry Hills Country Club in Denver.

Twice, the 29-year-old Choudrant resident moved within a shot of Wyndham Clark’s lead, the second time after draining an 18-foot birdie putt at the par-5 16th hole. Then it got even more agonizing: a 10-footer for birdie on the par-3 17^th missed 2-3 inches right, and a birdie try from 17 feet on the final hole slid past on the right edge, fractions from falling in. Burns went to his knees and flipped his putter softly.

Playing two holes back in the final twosome, Clark, the 2023 U.S. Open champ, pulled off a minor miracle with a birdie out of a terrible lie on the par-5 16^th, draining a 24-foot putt to turn what could have been a bogey or worse into a two-shot edge. Clark gave one back with a long three-putt bogey on 17. On the tourney’s final hole, Clark needed to two-putt from 59 feet to hold off Burns, and lagged his birdie try within inches of the cup to clinch the outcome.

After his best finish in a major championship, and a close miss of his first PGA Tour win since 2023, Burns was understandably emotional. His dad, Todd, was with him after the round on the practice tee, watching to see if Clark would crack, with Sam staying loose if he did. When Clark survived, father turned to son and told him how proud he was.

Recounting that moment to the media stopped Sam, and it took a few seconds for him to sniffle and gather himself to answer.

“I think we both knew how special it could have been for Father’s Day,” Burns said.

“I would say last year at Oakmont I felt more I lost the golf tournament,” Burns said. “I certainly don’t feel that way today.

“I started the day seven shots back. That’s very difficult to overcome, especially someone who is playing as well as Wyndham has been playing. That was really the difference today.

“If I would have been a little bit closer and maybe could have got ahead of him at some point, I think there could have been a different outcome possibly, but at the end of the day, he played amazing, and it was his week. You got to tip your cap to him.”

Burns said he would probably see his final birdie try taunting his memories as he went to sleep Sunday night.

“I really thought I made that putt,” he said. “It just didn’t go in.”

Burns was brilliant Sunday, making the only serious run at Clark with a closing 67. He began the round at even par, and birdied three of his first eight holes to move past a pack into solo second place.

“To start the day seven shots back, I knew it was going to take something really special,” Burns said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better start.”

Conversely, Clark bogeyed three of his first seven holes made it close. Three-putting at No. 15 put Burns in a difficult spot that he almost escaped to force a playoff.

Burns made one last charge, and was truly edged out of a shot at the title.

This time around, he was able to say without question, “The guy who played the best won.”

Clark collected a $4.5 winners’ payday. Burns got half that, $2.43 million, for his biggest check of the year.

It was his third straight top 10 at the U.S. Open, after last year’s seventh and a ninth-place tie in 2024.

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By ROBIN FAMBROUGH, Written for the LSWA

Todd McClure vividly remembers the day he got put in his place by one of his high school coaches.

“I thought, ‘Why is he doing this,’ ” McClure recalled. “I wasn’t just mad … I was really angry. I was a tight end and a defensive lineman.

“Those guys get their names called out on the loudspeaker. The only time you hear an offensive lineman’s name is when they commit a penalty.”  

Central High offensive line coach Randy Blanchard did it anyway. Blanchard had McClure play center for the first time – presumably for one day.

The sophomore did what he was told. And it changed everything, clearing a path for McClure to become an All-America football player at LSU, a 14-year mainstay in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and now a member of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

On Saturday, June 27 in Natchitoches, the Baton Rouge native is part of a 12-person class being enshrined to culminate three days of festivities. For participation opportunities, visit LaSportsHall.com or call 318-238-4255.

All-Pro honors somehow eluded McClure, a fact one of his former head coaches with the Falcons, Mike Smith, calls a misnomer. 

“In my opinion, Todd was an All-Pro … without question,” Smith said. “People believe wide receivers and running backs are the most important players around a quarterback. But really, it’s the center and not just because of snap exchanges. 

“The blocking calls and pretty much everything goes through the center. Todd was a master of that and also the best teammate I ever coached. As a blocker, he was a technician who knew all the angles and leverage.”

The 2026 LSHOF induction is hardly McClure’s first honor. He was inducted into the Falcons’ prestigious Ring of Honor in 2022. At LSU, he was a two-time All-SEC selection and earned first-team All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association in 1998.

Awards are merely window dressing for McClure, who built a career on an old school, multi-sport upbringing. McClure was a leader and a “glue guy” for each team he played for.

That “glue guy” moniker offered multiple meanings for critics of undersized linemen. At 6-2, 290 pounds, did not fit the prototype of an NFL lineman. But McClure stuck to his craft relentlessly as he fine-tuned skills in order to adapt and excel.

How good was he? Remember that youthful observation about offensive linemen and penalties?  Consider this – McClure was called for just 22 penalties in 198 regular-season games during his NFL career.

That’s an average of 1.7 penalties per year. McClure didn’t have a single penalty called on him in the 2011 season.

And it started at practice with an order from Blanchard, best known as the Central baseball coach who won four straight Class 4A state titles with McClure as his All-State catcher. 

“There wasn’t a whole lot else Todd could do at tight end that day,” Blanchard recalled. “So, I told him to move over to center. He did not like it one bit and I knew it. But I said, ‘You never know when you might have to play there.’ Of course, he did. What a career. 

“Now I will tell you this, if Todd would have gone with baseball instead, I think he could have made to the Major Leagues as a catcher. I really do. He was that good.”

However, then-LSU football coach Gerry DiNardo was enamored with McClure after watching him play basketball for Central. After that, he still played tight end, but also took enough snaps at center so the film could be dubbed to VHS tapes that were sent to college football coaches. 

“DiNardo loved him and told him to keep playing basketball because it would help his footwork so much,” former Central basketball coach Gary Duhe said. “Todd was just an all-around athlete. I give his dad a lot of credit because he had him play point guard in Biddy Basketball even though he was a bigger kid. 

“Most people probably remember him as a 6-foot-2 guy guarding 6-9 Lester Earl (Glen Oaks star) in the (Class 4A) championship game for Central. He did that probably as well as anybody. But he also brought the ball upcourt against the press because he was our best ballhandler.”

Each all-around multi-sport skill certainly helped shape McClure’s destiny. Equally important was his upbringing and a lineage ingrained into the sports history of Central, a small town in a mostly rural area just outside Baton Rouge.

By the time he was in college, McClure’s words to teammates resonated like those of a coach for good reason. His grandfather Archie and father, Leo McClure, were coaches at Central.

During Leo McClure’s stint as an assistant coach and later head men’s basketball coach at Southeastern Louisiana University, McClure, his older brother Trey and younger brother Tanna had unfettered access.

The McClures were ball boys and sat in the SLU locker room every day, including game days.

“That’s where I saw how things were supposed to be done,” McClure said. “I saw what leadership looked like from players and coaches every day when my dad coached at Southeastern. 

“We saw things up close. That’s where I saw what being a good teammate looked like. For us, that was the only way for things to be done. That was the expectation and it shaped who I am, no question.”

The McClure way also meant being a multi-sport athlete. All three were three-sport athletes at Central.

Trey McClure played for two Skip Bertman-coached national championship baseball teams and is fourth on LSU’s career home runs list while Todd, who is 14 months younger, made a name for himself in football. Tanna McClure later played baseball at SLU.

Their mother, Brenda, was a two-sport standout at Central. Sundays were often spent helping maternal grandfather Jewel Wilson mend fences and tend to animals on a family farm. Those experiences led McClure to build his own ranch/farm in Zachary after his NFL retirement.

“I give so much credit to both sides of my family,” McClure explained. “There were lessons learned. I’m fortunate to have my grandmother (Carmel McClure) watch not only me and my brothers play, but also our children. It’s a blessing.”

Building a post-NFL life based on his family roots and competitive values made sense for McClure because he did it before – first during a transformative period for LSU football and again in the NFL.

Being called a great teammate or a leader is often dismissed as an antiquated atta-boy cliché by many people in today’s society. 

McClure provides an example of why that should not happen, a point his former LSU teammates eagerly explain.

“We played against each other in middle school and I always followed his career,” former LSU linebacker Markeith Spears said. “Todd was one of the first guys to commit to LSU early in our senior year. And I figured if it was good enough for him, it was good enough for me. 

“But I did not know Todd as a person until we got to LSU. I was so nervous before my first start our freshman year. Todd calmed me down. He walked me through it, telling me, ‘You know what to do … just play hard like you always do.’ That’s compassion and leadership.”

Former LSU star lineman Alan Faneca, a Pro Football and LSHOF member, adds, “Todd was absolutely the best guy to play next to (for three years) … somebody you love to go to battle with each day. He was always absorbing information. You just wanted to play with him.”

Former LSU quarterback Herb Tyler notes, “The amount of trust we all had in Todd was based on seeing the amount of work he put in. All of us gained trust from the upper classmen in part because of him. He was the anchor of the line and the guy who made it all go.”

McClure was drafted in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Falcons. He tore his ACL during a training camp. A tough break like that has ended many careers. But not McClure’s. 

“I remember a trainer telling me it was a torn ACL and then he left me in this area by myself,” McClure said. “I wasn’t sure what would happen next … was it (football) over for me?”

McClure learned there were two options. If the team offered an injury settlement, he would be released. If the Falcons placed him on injured reserve, McClure would get his chance.

“Pretty soon I found out I made an impression on people,” McClure said. “They had talked about me and what I had done in meetings for the offense and defense. So, they put me on IR. I got to work rehabbing, watching film … everything I could do.”

McClure honed his skills for reading sideline signals and the body language of defenders, looking for a “tell” that would give away game plans or tendencies. 

The following season, McClure became a fixture for the Falcons, starting 159 of 160 games through the bulk of his career. Again, he built bonds and trust with teammates and coaches. 

The fact that one of McClure’s first coaches in Atlanta was north Louisiana native Al Miller did not hurt, either. Miller, the Falcons’ strength coach, nicknamed McClure “Mud Duck.” The nickname stuck and so did McClure.

Michael Vick and Matt Ryan were among McClure’s Atlanta quarterbacks. He blocked for LSHOF running back and former Catholic High-Baton Rouge star Warrick Dunn. 

“Todd and I were teammates for eight years,” former Falcons lineman Tyson Clabo said. “I still consider him to be my brother, even though we haven’t played together in quite a while. That’s how special the bond is.

“As a player, he was something else. I would be standing in the huddle trying to catch my breath after a play and Todd would get in my face to tell me something he saw from the sideline or about the defensive alignment.”

Clabo laughed as he explained that the Falcons drafted other centers over the years, figuring they could replace McClure. 

Some potential replacements were cut. Others got moved to new positions.

“Management talked about wanting to be bigger and faster on the offensive line over the years when I was the coach,” Smith said. “It was a different story in our building. We knew Todd was always the guy … our guy.”

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By SHELDON MICKLES, Written for the LSWA

Compared to some of his NFL peers, Joe Horn ran a decidedly different pass route to stardom.

After all, the many twists and turns that led Horn, a multi-sport high school star, to becoming one of the league’s premier wide receivers would have probably left even a Hollywood script writer a bit dizzy.

From his hometown of Fayetteville, North Carolina, to being selected in the fifth round of the 1996 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs, Horn’s long, winding journey was unique to say the least.

It was unconventional, unimaginable and — most of all – highly unlikely.

It was also largely unfulfilling until a 28-year-old Horn, who toiled in relative anonymity in his four seasons with the Chiefs, joined the New Orleans Saints as an unrestricted free agent on Feb. 13, 2000.

Prior to signing a four-year, $9.9 million contract with the Saints, one of Horn’s top highlights came when he and Chiefs teammates Derrick Thomas and Neil Smith performed the national anthem before a Monday Night Football game in a jam-packed Arrowhead Stadium.

Many more highlights were to come within the white lines after Horn’s pro career took off with the Saints, which eventually led him to induction into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2026.

Horn is part of a 12-member Class of 2026 going into the LSHOF to conclude three days of festivities upcoming Thursday-Saturday in Natchitoches. For participation information, visit LaSportsHall.com or call 318-238-4255.

To be sure, his journey to fame was anything but easy.

For starters, the many obstacles Horn had to navigate before he could contribute and put together a productive seven-year stint with the Saints from 2000-06 would have made even the most talented players give up on the sport.

Academic difficulties in high school kept him from being recruited to a Division I program, which meant he wasn’t widely exposed to college and pro scouts. Financial considerations for his single mother and six siblings, and his wife and baby daughter also weighed heavily on the 6-foot-1, 207-pounder.

Yet, there was no stopping Horn even though he played just two seasons of high school ball, then two seasons at Itawamba (Miss.) Community College. After that, he was out of football for two years while working in a furniture factory and a Bojangles restaurant.

Then, his determination paid off in a huge way.

Years later, Horn told reporters how he was down to two or three dollars in his pocket, which he used to buy a Jerry Rice workout video from a Blockbuster store.

Studying and emulating the drills the future Pro Football Hall of Famer was doing led Horn to put together his own tape which he sent to multiple NFL and Canadian Football League teams.

“It sharpened up my mind and skills, and it helped me stay focused on my dream to play in the NFL,” Horn said of Rice’s video. “It helped me mold my career and stay on my path. It helped my life … it kept me out of the streets.”

The CFL, which expanded to the United States a year earlier, was first to spot Horn’s potential. He was with the Baltimore Stallions and Shreveport Pirates practice squads before getting a big break with the Memphis Mad Dogs in 1995.

Flashing deep speed and shiftiness all over the field, Horn piled up 71 catches for 1,415 yards with a long of 90, averaging 19.9 yards per reception on the way to earning CFL Southern All-Star honors.

But the CFL’s South of the Border experiment failed following that season because of financial woes and poor attendance, which meant players would have to head north to continue their careers.

The numbers Horn put up in Memphis and his homemade highlight tape caught the attention of NFL scouts, which got him workouts with several teams prior to the 1996 draft.

After Horn posted unimpressive 40-yard dash times of 4.5 to 4.6 seconds for a couple teams, Chiefs running backs coach Jimmy Raye was dispatched to Fayetteville to work out the unusual prospect.

Horn had been working on his speed with his high school track coach and clocked a swift 4.35 for Raye, then put down an eye-catching 4.31 – leading the Chiefs to take a fifth-round flier on Horn with the 135^th overall pick.

It was vindication for Horn, who took a call from Chiefs coach Marty Schottenheimer that officially welcomed him to the NFL.

“I thought about everybody who ever doubted me, everybody who talked (expletive) about me, everybody who laughed at me,” Horn said, “everybody who didn’t give me an opportunity and a chance to make it.”

Because he lacked bigtime experience, Horn still had to wait and study the position while performing mostly on special teams his first three seasons.

“He struggled some with the learning curve, but he was a core special teams player,” Raye said. “He had the prerequisites to be a good position player, but we kept him (on teams) early on.”

Nicknamed “Hollywood” for his flashy threads in the locker room and swagger on the field, Horn was willing to do anything to stay in the league. So, in his third season in 1998, he switched to defensive back.

When a Chiefs wideout went down with an injury in a preseason game, however, Horn went in at wide receiver.

A catch on a go-route prompted Schottenheimer to give his receivers coach a directive: “‘Put Joe Horn at wide receiver, and don’t you change him,’” Horn recalled his head coach saying. “That’s when I knew I wasn’t going to be cut.”

A year later, Horn responded with 35 receptions, 586 yards and six TDs. But as an impending free agent, his bid for a big payday from the Chiefs never materialized.

Horn wound up in New Orleans as the second UFA signed by the new Saints regime led by general manager Randy Mueller and head coach Jim Haslett after they picked up veteran quarterback Jeff Blake.

It didn’t hurt that new offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy was the Chiefs quarterbacks coach during Horn’s first three years in Kansas City and knew the potential of the fiery wide receiver.

So did Mueller, who was the Seattle Seahawks vice president of football operations when his team faced Horn and the Chiefs twice a year.

Horn didn’t do much in his first three seasons against the Seahawks. But late in the 1999 season, he had a 76-yard TD – the longest gain of his 12-year NFL career — and had 92 yards on just three receptions with Mueller watching from the press box.

“Obviously, I knew him well from our past history,” Mueller said recently. “Joe was the Chiefs’ fourth or fifth receiver and didn’t play a ton. But every time our guys lined up against him, I would see our cornerbacks shuffle back a couple steps pre-snap.

“You don’t see that in the NFL very much, so our guys knew he could run. They were worried about him running by them.”

Mueller said the Saints needed the skills Horn possessed to rebuild a franchise that had suffered six consecutive losing seasons — capped by a 3-13 mark in 1999.

“We needed speed and playmaking, and the fact our (Seahawks) cornerbacks respected him that much as a backup receiver made me dive into the film even more,” Mueller said. “He just lacked opportunity. Once he got them, he was able to come through and be very productive.”

Haslett, an aggressive linebacker as a player with the Buffalo Bills, watched intently as a fearless Horn put his toughness on display early in his first Saints training camp.

“He’s got great speed and he doesn’t mind blocking,” Haslett said then. “He’s not afraid to go deep and he can catch the ball over the middle. But he likes to block and hit those safeties.”

When Horn’s career blossomed with 94 receptions for 1,340 yards and eight TDs, the Saints won 10 games and the NFC West title and shocked the reigning Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams for the franchise’s first playoff victory.

Horn was just getting started. He continued to rack up big numbers, catching 80 or more passes and piling up at least 1,250 yards in four of his first five seasons in New Orleans — earning Pro Bowl berths in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2004.

In that five-year span, he set numerous club records while averaging 87 catches, 1,257 yards and nine TDs in playing 79 of a possible 80 games.

Known for his crowd-pleasing touchdown celebrations, Horn had a memorable one when he pulled in the second of a career-high four scores in a 45-7 rout of the New York Giants on Dec. 14, 2003.

Upon reaching the end zone, Horn reached under the goalpost’s padding and retrieved a cell phone to keep a promise to his children.

“Since it was a Sunday night game, my kids couldn’t go,” Horn, who was fined $30,000 by the NFL for the stunt, said. “When I was leaving the house, they were yelling and crying, so I said, ‘I’ll call you.’ I had to say something because I had to go.”

Even though he was the 17^th wideout chosen in a 1996 draft that produced future Hall of Famers Marvin Harrison and Terrell Owens and No. 1 overall pick Keyshawn Johnson, Horn turned out to be one of the most productive and dependable receivers of that year and his era.

By the time nagging injuries took a toll on Horn in his final two seasons with the Saints, he had a club-record 27 100-yard receiving games and was second in receptions (523), receiving yards (7,622) and TDs (50).

Given the numbers and what he meant to his team, Mueller could only chuckle when thinking how the Saints hitched their wagon to and gave millions of dollars to someone who had 53 catches in his first four NFL seasons.

“Well, it worked out,” Mueller said with a laugh. “I just think the traits he showed in the times he played against us in Seattle were what sold me on him. His background was unique and he was hungry.”

Horn’s four Pro Bowl bids, the most for a wide receiver in club history, endeared him to the fans as a physical competitor who played with an edge on every play. As a result, he’s revered as one of the three best UFAs in franchise history along with Drew Brees and Demario Davis.

“I tried to bring a swagger every day, every practice, every game,” Horn said of his NFL career. “I always wanted to bring an attitude and bring a swagger so when gameday came, I wanted to have fun.”

Yes, he did.

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Alexandria man faces $2 million bail on murder charges

Arrests are accusations, not convictions.

June 21

Aijhae T. Boyd, 28, Alexandria – nine counts contempt of court, $39,000 bail;

Savanah Mestas, 22, Pineville – possession of CDS, possession of marijuana, two counts paraphernalia, $1,500 bail;

Felicia Lanique Walters, 53, Alexandria – OWI first offense, driving under suspension, open container, two counts contempt of court, disturbing the peace, $4,450 bail.

June 20

Terry John Boyer, 36, Pineville – violation of protective orders (second/subsequent), no bail data;

Tempi Jean Louella Carter, 20, Alexandria – OWI first offense, careless operation, $1,100 bail;

Terra E. Lavalais, 34, Pineville – OWI with child endangerment, improper lane usage, driver’s license not in possession, $1,200 bail;

Tyler Wayne Oblanc, 32, Pineville – theft, criminal trespass, $1,000 bail;

Jacquelyn Nicole Sigler, 45, Alexandria – criminal trespass, three counts contempt of court, $15,500 bail;

Joseph Martin Smith Jr., 47, Alexandria – aggravated second degree battery, two counts contempt of court, $2,000 bail;

Marcus Christopher Wilson Sr., 48, Pineville – five counts contempt of court, $31,000 bail.

June 19

Tristian Lane Blankenship, 26, Pineville – theft of a motor vehicle, possession of drug paraphernalia, $1,500 bail;

Gregory Keith Brown, 60, Alexandria – OWI third offense, required turning at intersections, contempt of court, $100,100 bail;

Chelsie Layne Dauzat, 27, Boyce – two counts contempt of court, $100,000 bail;

James Brewster Guinn, 59, Cheneyville – possession of CDS, paraphernalia, $2,000 bail;

Patrick Bobby Harris, 36, Alexandria – simple burglary, possession of drug paraphernalia, contempt of court, $10,500 bail;

Dominic Davon Knight, 38, Pineville – possession of CDS, contempt of court, $6,500 bail;

Joseph Raymand Larochelle, 28, Pineville – domestic abuse battery with child present, $5,000 bail;

J’lon Damon Quinney, 21, Alexandria – producing manufacturing distributing CDS, illegal carry firearm with drugs, $50,000 bail;

Albin Louis Rabalais, 79, Alexandria – aggravated assault, terrorizing, $51,000 bail;

Mason Wayne Taylor, 21, Hineston – carnal knowledge of a juvenile, $100,000 bail.

June 18

Laken Nicole Afeman, 40, Hineston – three counts contempt of court, $36,000 bail;

Mark Dayne Bailey, 29, Lecompte – taking contraband to and from penal institutions, $25,000 bail;

Daniel Lee Burns, 42, Lecompte – two counts simple burglary, four counts contempt of court, parole violations, $42,000 bail;

Landon Blake Byer, 20, Boyce – criminal damage to property, battery of a dating partner, $5,500 bail;

Deddrick Markice Clark, 30, Pineville – illegal possession of stolen firearm, illegal use of weapons, concealed negligent carry, possession of marijuana, possession of firearm by convicted felon, intentional littering, safety belt, resisting an officer, probation violation, contempt of court, $27,600 bail;

Michael Wayne Collins Jr., 23, Alexandria – two counts second degree murder, second degree battery, five counts second degree aggravated battery, two counts second degree battery, two counts simple battery, $2.25 million bail;

Demarcus Maurice Davis, 35, Alexandria – possession of firearm by convicted felon, resisting an officer, riding bicycles not astride, failure to appear, parole violations, $21,600 bail;

Christopher Lewis Griffis, 57, Pineville – possession of CDS, probation violation, three counts contempt of court, $9,000 bail;

Tyrese Deon Hagan, 21, Alexandria – home invasion, two counts simple battery, domestic abuse aggravated assault with child endangerment, parole violations, $126,000 bail;

Jacorius Kijuan Issac, 25, Alexandria – two counts second degree murder, two counts second degree battery, attempted aggravated battery, possession of firearm by convicted felon, obstruction of justice, $620,500 bail;

Terrance Anthony Jynes, 43, Alexandria – simple burglary, $5,000 bail;

Emma G. Mathews, 21, Boyce – Louisiana fugitive, two counts contempt of court, $10,000 bail;

Terrick Gwayne Sewell, 37, Alexandria – criminal conspiracy, transactions involving proceeds from drugs, parole violations, $50,000 bail;

James Deane Shelfo, 25, Boyce – cruelty to juveniles 8 and under, $10,000 bail.

June 17

Kari Elaine Beard, 43, Pineville – possession of CDS, parole violations, contempt of court, $3,500 bail;

Brandon Deangelo Bryant, 38, Alexandria – producing manufacturing distributing CDS, four counts contempt of court, $125,000 bail;

Alexis Jonae Carter, 28, Alexandria – improper headlights, two counts contempt of court, probation violation, $10,100 bail;

Kimberly Maine Coutee, 41, Boyce – illegal possession of stolen things, criminal conspiracy, simple burglary, obstruction of justice, three counts contempt of court, $47,500 bail;

Jamie Lea Hicks, 39, Alexandria – unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, Louisiana fugitive, $25,000 bail;

Michael Devon Dewayne Laneheart, 22, Alexandria – simple battery, contempt of court, $3,000 bail;

Devacheay Tray Martin, 25, Pineville – attempted second degree murder, simple battery, possession of marijuana, possession of fentanyl, simple escape, possession of firearm by convicted felon, three counts taking contraband to and from penal institutions, $606,000 bail;

Marissa Elizabeth Martin, 39, Alexandria – possession of CDS, drug paraphernalia, $2,000 bail;

Eric Smith, 17, Alexandria – domestic abuse battery, possession of marijuana, $2,500 bail;

Henry Nelson III, 25, Alexandria – three counts attempted second degree murder, $1.5 million bail;

Robert S. Paul, 42, Deville – theft, criminal damage to property, criminal trespass, $6,000 bail;

Tiffani Sharae Smith, 29, Alexandria – reckless operation of a vehicle, flight from an officer, $500 bail;

Tyreke Travese Taylor, 25, Alexandria – improper headlights, no driver’s license, contempt of court, $3,200 bail;

Tammie Janene Whitsine, 50, Alexandria – burglary of inhabited dwelling, contempt of court, $7,500 bail.

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A funeral mass celebrating the life of Mrs. Michelle Hays will be held at 4:00PM on Thursday, June 25, 2026 at Sts. Francis and Anne Catholic Church, Kolin, LA with Father Bino officiating. A reception and time of reflecting for friends and family will follow from 5:00 – 7:00PM in the church hall.

Michelle McTire Hayes, age 64, of Pineville, passed away peacefully on June 17, 2026 surrounded by her loving family and friends.

Born on October 15, 1961, in Alexandria, LA., Michelle was the beloved daughter of Charles McTire and Margaret Callahan. She spent much of her childhood and early adult life at the family business, Pineville Beauty School, where she developed a passion for the beauty industry and for serving others. After graduating from Pineville High School in 1979 and completing beauty school, she became an instructor and later purchased Pineville Beauty School in July 2005. She also opened Meshelz Hair Salon on Main Street in Pineville, where she built not only a successful business but also a second family.

For more than 45 years, she dedicated her life to her hair salon. Her clients, students, coworkers, and fellow stylists were never simply customers or employees; they were family. Her guidance and love (albeit sometimes tough love) helped shape generations of hair stylists.

Michelle was known for being straight forward, fiercely honest, hardworking, and selfless. She successfully ran multiple businesses like a true boss. She had a gift for recognizing potential in people and invested her time, energy, and encouragement into helping others grow and succeed. Her faith, generosity, and willingness to give of herself left a lasting impact on everyone fortunate enough to know her.

Michelle loved traveling, especially trips to the beach and weekends in New Orleans. She loved sitting on the porch and making memories with those she loved most.

She is preceded in death by her daughter, Leslie Bishop; her father, Charles McTire; her mother, Margaret Callahan; her mother-in-law, Troyce Brunson; and her sister, Amber Callahan.

Those left to cherish her memory are her loving husband of 31 years, Gary Hays; her daughters, Hannah Hays, Addison Hays, Brittany Love; her brothers, Les McTire, Joey McTire; her sisters, Tish Stanford, Holly Dubroc, Margaret Windham, Natalie Montgomery, Selina Gray; her stepmother, Shirley McTire; her cherished grandchildren, Jaxon Bishop, Raegan Thibodeaux, Keighan Thibodeaux, Jude Love, Hudson Love, and Beckham Love.

Michelle also leaves behind a work family that meant the world to her. She shared years of friendship, mentorship, and partnership with JoAnne Nelson, Brandi Perego, Jessica Norman, Jodie McKenzie, and Rebecca Causey. Michelle saw potential in each of these women, invested in their success and loved them as family. Michelle’s legacy of hard work, kindness, mentorship, and love will continue to inspire all who knew her. Her legacy, her influence, and her spirit will continue to live on through them and through the doors of 1008 Main Street.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Michelle’s caregivers, medical team, friends, and extended family for the compassion, support, and love shown throughout her journey.

Though she will be deeply missed, her spirit will forever remain in the hearts of her family, friends, and the countless lives she touched.

Arrangements have been placed in the care of Fall Creek Funeral Home, Robbie Dauzat, Director.

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Funeral services for Mr. Johnny Wayne Cole will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in the Chapel of Rush Funeral Home, Pineville. Interment will follow in Woodworth Cemetery, under the direction of Rush Funeral Home, Pineville.

Mr. Cole, 62, of Woodworth, entered eternal rest on Thursday, June 18, 2026, in his residence surrounded by his loving family.

Johnny was a loving father and grandfather who cherished his family above all else. He loved fishing, hunting, and woodworking, and took great pride in being a member of the Four Winds Tribe Cherokee. Johnny enjoyed traveling, whether it was for work or simply because he liked to “make a block” and see where the road would take him. He will be remembered for his adventurous spirit, strong work ethic, and the love he shared with family and friends. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Loretta Cole; his father, Johnny Oscar Cole; and his stepmother, Patsy Cole.

Those left to mourn his loss and cherish his memory include one son, Kenneth Cole (Monica) of Alexandria; one daughter, Kelly Cole of Woodworth; three grandsons, Miles Walters, Branson Walters, and Riley Cole; two granddaughters, Abigail Walters and Mallory Cole; his mother, Beulah Faye Rivera; two brothers, Roger Cole and Charles Cole; and three sisters, Becky Cole, Maridia Cole, and Vanessa Cole.

A time of visitation will be held at Rush Funeral Home, Pineville, on Monday, June 22, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Visitation will resume in the Chapel of Rush Funeral Home, Pineville, on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. until time of service.

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Clayton Carrol Cole
March 1, 1947 – June 18, 2026
Service: Monday, June 22, 2026, 1pm at Hixson Brothers Funeral Home, Pineville.

Johnny Wayne Cole
July 4, 1963 – June 18, 2026
Service: Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 11am at Rush Funeral Home, Pineville.

Linda Laree Gunter
December 18, 1975 – June 17, 2026
Service: Monday, June 22, 2026, 2pm at Glenmora United Pentecostal Church, Glenmora.

Roxie Quinney
December 18, 1945 – June 12, 2026
Service: Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 11am at Mount Triumph Missionary Baptist Church, Boyce.

The Rapides Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access.

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By JIM BUTLER

Red reaches six-months high, then drops

Monday’s deluge pushed Red River to its highest stage at Alexandria-Pineville this year.

The river rose 2.47 feet overnight, reaching 23.47 feet on Tuesday. Flood stage is 34 feet.

According to the Corps of Engineers, previous high-water mark this year was 21.49 feet on Jan. 14. The low was reached a month later, 19.6 feet.

By Thursday afternoon this week’s surge had receded leaving the river at 20.89 feet.

Meanwhile tropical Arthur poured cats and dogs to the south Thursday with Avoyelles overwhelmed by upwards of 30 inches – let’s write that again, 30 inches – of downpour. Perspective: Alexandria’s annual average is 60 inches. 

Cats and dogs is figurative, unlike instances in the mid-20th Century when it literally rained fish and frogs in Marksville.

The piscatorial event occurred in 1947 on Main and Monroe streets. A state biologist breakfasting there witnessed the finny event and collected several examples to preserve for museums around the state. He noted fish were falling about one per square yard for several blocks.

A decade later, The Town Talk reported frogs from the sky during turbulent weather the day before. Evidently any legs collected were not preserved.

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City Judges disclosure

Alexandria City Judge Richard Starling Jr. and Pineville City Judge Gary K. Hayes have filed financial disclosure statements that raise no conflict of interest issues.

The reports are required by the Louisiana Supreme Court.

As of June 17 Starling’s most-recent posted report was in September. 

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Pineville personnel change

James Rachal has been appointed Pineville’s Public Works director, succeeding James Robertson.

The City Council approved Major Joe Bishop’s recommendation at its June meeting. Minutes reflect there was no discussion.

Bishop had not responded through Thursday evening to a query regarding the change.

Rachal had been serving as Parks and Recreation Director.

Under Robertson the city won the 2024 Cleanest City title in its category.

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Timber talk

State Sen. Heather Cloud, whose district includes parts of Rapides, has asked Gov. Jeff Landry to expand the geographic base of Louisiana Forestry Commission members. 

She notes the heavy presence of the forestry and timber industry in Central and North Louisiana as obvious reasons to have some of the commissioners from those areas. 

The state forester post is vacant and there are available commissioner appointments, any or all providing opportunities for such appointments, she wrote.  

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Members of the Rotary Club of Pineville welcomed local healthcare provider Mandy Haggart as a guest speaker during a recent meeting.

Haggart, a family nurse practitioner and owner of Haggart Medical Clinic, shared her journey from her early beginnings in healthcare to fulfilling her goal of opening her own medical practice in April 2025.

During her presentation, Haggart discussed her years of experience in the medical field and her commitment to providing compassionate care to patients while meeting them where they are in their healthcare journeys.

She also highlighted the importance of faith, family and community involvement, speaking about efforts to give back through local sponsorships and support for those in need.

Rotary Club members thanked Haggart for sharing her experiences and recognized her dedication to service, leadership and healthcare within the community. The club wished her continued success as she grows her practice and continues serving residents in Central Louisiana.

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After guiding the Alexandria Senior High Lady Trojans to a dominant Class 5A LHSAA track and field team title, Sedarrin Freeman was a convincing pick as the all-classes Coach of the Year on the LSWA’s All-State Outdoor Track and Field Team for 2026.

Trojans’ sensational sophomore thrower Carter Rivet also won top billing as the boys Outstanding Field Event Athlete.

Athletes and relay teams with the top three performances in each event throughout the spring season were recognized on the All-State squad compiled by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. Individual awards were chosen by an LSWA panel.

Freeman’s Lady Trojans posted a 20-point victory, 85-65 over Zachary, to capture the Class 5A girls team trophy May 9 on a rainy day in Baton Rouge. It was the school’s first state track and field championship in 19 years with four event champions and eight more top four finishes at LSU’s Bernie Moore Stadium.

Rivet had the state’s best marks this spring in the shot put (62 feet, 9 inches) and discus (203-7, 15 ½ feet past the second-ranked throw). He won the discus state 5A crown and was a close second in the shot put.

The ASH girls put three individual competitors and two relay teams – both with the same four sprinters — on the All-State roster.

Nyla Stewart had the state’s best discus mark,148-2. Noelle Williams’s 40-3 leap was Louisiana’s third-ranked triple jump this season.

Ja’Nya Gray ran the state’s second-fastest 200 meter dash, 24.18. She also ran on both of the Lady Trojans’ top-ranked relay teams – the 4×100 (47.16) and the 4×200 (1:36.47, nearly three seconds better than the second-fastest time).

Gray’s All-State relay teammates in both events were Jamaria Byrd, Amari Dupar and Devan Williams.

No other Rapides Parish competitors made the All-State lists.

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By RAYMOND PARTSCH III, Special to the LSWA

If not for a determined crop-dusting principal, Dewain Strother would have likely spent decades working in lumber mills, instead of becoming one of the winningest girls high school basketball coaches in United States history.

Despite being an all-district guard at Plainview High School for Louisiana High School Athletic Association Hall of Famer O.D. West and helping the Hornets claim the state championship in 1965, Strother had no intentions of going to college.

Raised in the Rapides Parish woods west of Glenmora, Strother firmly believed he was done with schooling upon graduation. Thankfully, Plainview principal Mike Irving had other plans.

“I had been in school for 12 years. That was long enough,” recalled Strother.

During his senior year, Strother wanted to take shop class, but the school had him in English 4. So Irving made him a deal. He could take shop class, but if he messed up, then back to English he would go.

“I left school without permission one day,” Strother said. “I think they were watching me under a magnifying glass. I was put back in that English class. (Irving) then helped register me for Northwestern State, flew me up there in his little four-seat Cessna plane to take a test, and that is how I got up there.”

That would set into motion a storied career, as Strother would lead Florien High School to six state championships, five runner-up finishes, and 21 semifinal appearances. His 1,235 victories are the most by any girls basketball coach in state history, and the second most in the nation.

“It ain’t about me,” Strother said. “It’s about those girls on the floor. They put the work in. They bought into what they needed to do. All the players who have gone through my program are successful. Nurses, police officers, teachers. I am amazed. I am just amazed. They are successful in society.”

Many will be in the audience watching Strother in the spotlight Saturday evening, June 27, culminating three days of activities celebrating him and the rest of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame’s 12-person Class of 2026. For participation opportunities and more information, visit LaSportsHall.com or call 318-238-4255.

“It is well deserved,” said former longtime NSU women’s coach James Smith. “I have been hollering for a long time. It is really hard to believe. He can go back to the first game he coached. He still has a scorebook. He still has every book. That’s amazing to me. He is a special coach and a good guy. He gave himself to Florien and girls basketball for a long time.”

Like many young boys in rural Rapides Parish during the 1950s and 60s, Strother fell in love with basketball.

“I always loved the game of basketball,” Strother said. “At home, when we finished our chores, I would go outside and play basketball until mama hollered about supper.”

That love would carry over as he would go to play for West at Plainview, first as a bench player and then as the starting point guard. The lessons that he would utilize in his own coaching career are rooted in the time spent in the small gymnasium at Plainview.

“He basically made sure that we were well-behaved kids, and made the grades, and in the gym, he made sure we were fundamentally sound,” said Strother.

Those lessons were also done in a condensed amount of time, due to the school’s rural location.

“We didn’t practice after school,” Strother said. “We had 30 minutes during gym to work on fundamentals. We didn’t have any way to get home if we practiced after school.”

His on-court career came to a close upon graduation in 1968, but thanks to his principal, he would return to the hardwood in a different capacity, but not before one more detour.

In 1970, Strother married and stepped away from his studies at NSU to provide for his family. It didn’t take long to realize the plywood mill wasn’t for him after all.

“I realized that I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life in the mill,” Strother said. “My late wife, Charlotte, got a job at Ft. Polk, and her pay took care of everything. She said, ‘Go back and finish school.’ With her support, I went back.”

After graduating with his bachelor’s degree in 1974, Strother would be hired as an elementary physical ed teacher at Florien, located roughly 40 miles southwest of Natchitoches. He would keep books for the boys team before being asked to begin the girls basketball program in the early 1980s.

It didn’t take long for Strother to mold the Black Cats into one of the state’s best programs. In his second season, the team won the district championship, and then in 1986, they advanced to the semifinals, losing to Starks. Then came a state runner-up finish in 1987 to Starks.

The girls at Florien had bought into his style of “90-foot basketball.”

“The girls saw what we were doing,” Strother said. “It was exciting. The goal for the next year was to get back to state. We went back and made it to the finals. That started everything for us.”

“He was very intense at the time,” said Florien coach Angela Anthony, who played for Strother. “Kids nowadays could not have played for him. We had a good time, but we took care of business. All the girls were 100 percent bought in, and our parents were bought in.”

The seeds had been planted for one of the greatest runs in girls’ basketball history in Louisiana.

Florien claimed its first state championship under Strother in 1989 by rolling Chatham, but the next year lost the title game to Sabine Parish rival Zwolle, 47-35. That championship loss would be the last one for more than a calendar year.

In 1990-91, Florien went 48-0, defeated Holden for the state crown, and was ranked No. 13 in the nation — the perfect season.

Florien would repeat in 1992 by beating Pitkin for the state title, then win the title again in 1993 over Zwolle, and defeat Doyle for the crown in 1994.

In six years, Florien went to six consecutive title games, hoisting the title trophy five times.

“It was amazing,” said Strother’s daughter, Jessica Caroline, who played for her dad. “Florien, it was on the map. Everybody knew about Florien. Everybody knew Dad. Everybody still knows Dad. They will say, ‘he is so amazing, and I wish we had a coach like him.'”

“They always had great players,” James Smith said. “Dewain’s kids were well coached. You weren’t getting kids who were raw and had to teach them everything. They were disciplined and fundamentally sound. They had so many games and practices, and it showed. They just wanted to win. No one intimidated them.”

The key to Strother’s coaching success was humility, as the coach never stopped trying to learn and improve.

“After my first year as head coach, I thought I knew basketball, but I didn’t,” Strother recalled. “You have to find out who the five best players are playing together, not the five best overall. That summer, I went to Bobby Knight’s coaching clinic. I wrote in pad after pad of notes.”

Strother added, “Anytime I got a chance, I went to clinics. Jody Conradt, Dean Smith, Jim Calhoun, and Geno Auriemma. I have seen all of them and listened to them. I educated myself on the game and never looked back.”

“He was always wanting to learn something new,” daughter Caroline said. “The coaches these days are not like they used to be. Even through all of his fussing or screaming on the floor, he was still teaching us something. You don’t get that nowadays.”

Strother retired after the 2022-23 season following a storied career filled with a gym full of accomplishments and even more memories. The legendary coach imagined spending his days playing golf, but that first year, he didn’t play at all due to knee replacement surgery. It didn’t take long for him to have the coaching itch.

This past year, Strother returned to Florien to help his former player, turned assistant coach and then head coach. The Black Cats won 18 games and earned a playoff berth.

“He came back with a vengeance,” Anthony said. “He had rested up for two years, and he was raring to go. They (our girls) got something they weren’t expecting to get.”

“I truly enjoyed it,” Strother said. “My whole demeanor had changed because I felt useful again. It is great to be back.”

Strother is back where he was destined to be — on the hardwood of a small high school gymnasium.

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By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

Former LSU All-American golfer Sam Burns entered Thursday’s opening round of the U.S. Open as one of the players expected to contend, and he quickly showed why.

Burns birdied two of his first four holes to jump into the lead among the morning tee times. But he slipped back with three bogeys, carding a 1-over 71 at Shinnecock Hills to stand in a tie for 29^th in the 155-man field.

His threesome tees off in the afternoon today, at 12:51 CDT. Seven of the top eight players on the leaderboard played in the afternoon round Thursday, including five who were still on the course when play halted at dusk – led by Wyndham Clark, four shots clear of the rest of the field with a 6-under card and two holes left.

A two-hour fog delay Thursday kept Round 1 from being completed.

A look at his scorecard indicates Burns, the 29-year-old Shreveport native, had a lot going right and ran into trouble on three of the four toughest holes on the course.

He ranked second in the field by hitting 13 of 14 fairways. He found 12 of 18 greens in regulation, 27^th overall. Burns stood fifth in strokes gained off the tee with his driving accuracy.

But he was 101^st in shots gained on approaches, and 103^rd on shots gained in the short game. Burns ranks fourth in putting this season on the PGA Tour, but Shinnecock’s notoriously challenging turtlebacked greens mitigated his strength Thursday. His 31 putts were 97^th in the field.

Playing the back nine first, Burns laced his tee shot on the 155-yard 11^th hole to six feet and drained the putt to get under par. On the 367^th-yard 13^th, he sank a 7-footer to get to 2-under.

His first bogey came on the 620-yard 16^th, where he had his only three-putt, from 32 feet on a hole that was fourth-toughest to play Thursday.

Burns slipped to even par on the 474-yard fourth hole – the toughest for the field Thursday —  after his only missed fairway of the round. He didn’t recover onto the green out of a fairway bunker and two-putted from 18 feet.

The last bogey came on No. 7, a 180-yard par 3 that was third-hardest Thursday, when his tee shot sailed over the green and he two putted from 21 feet.

Defending champion and tournament favorite Scottie Scheffler finished at 2-over 72 Thursday.

Burns, who lives in Choudrant and plays out of Squire Creek Country Club there, is aiming for his third straight top 10 finish at the U.S. Open. He was ninth in 2024, then held the lead in the final round last year before winding up seventh.

Today’s TV coverage is on Peacock throughout the day beginning at 6:30 a.m., with NBC picking up coverage at 1:30.

USA Network will have morning coverage on the weekend rounds with NBC and Peacock taking over at noon each day.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

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Funeral services for Melodie Fitzwater Jeansonne will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, June 20, 2026, in the Chapel of Hixson Brothers, Pineville, with Reverend Jerry Crise officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

Pallbearers will be Brad Jeansonne, Christopher Jeansonne, Eric Jeansonne, Scott Jeansonne, Randy Jeansonne, and Austen Fitzwater. Honorary pallbearer will be Matt Davis.

The family requests that visitation be held on Friday, June 19, 2026, at Hixson Brothers, Pineville, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Mrs. Jeansonne, 58, passed from this life on Sunday, June 14, 2026, at CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital.

During her working life, she was a Registered Nurse. The many joys in her life included her grandchildren, dogs, movies, football (especially the Pittsburgh Steelers), and Rock and Roll.

How do you see the spark of life? Take one look at Melodie, and you know you have seen it. She came into the world in Okinawa, Japan, on March 14, 1968. Born with a heart murmur, she knew from the youngest age that life would not be easy and that she would face challenges, and she was not afraid. That fearlessness would be her armor against whatever she would face. Her family and friends knew this well and often saw it whether they wanted to or not. Telling them to put their big girl/boy pants on and take on what was happening like she did every day. She never wanted the easy life, and she was not afraid. If you were her friend, she would defend you against any and all who would judge you, and she was not afraid. When choosing her path in the medical field, she first chose emergency medicine and later heart medicine. Not because it was easy. She chose it because it was challenging and she was not afraid. When she was diagnosed with Lupus and was told that having a child was not advised, she faced it because it was what she wanted, and she was unafraid. Extended exposure to sunlight is not the best place for someone with Lupus. Melodie chose the beach for vacations with her family because she was unafraid.

When she faced her final challenge, the one she could not beat, she told her husband and her daughter that she would be OK because she did not want them to be afraid. Melodie Fitzwater Jeansone took the world as she wanted it. Faced its challenges, took its obstacles, bent its will to her own because of her fierce loyalty, devotion to her family and her friends, with the spark of life because she was not afraid.

Mrs. Jeansonne was preceded in death by her parents, Donque W. and Ellen June Fitzwater.

She is survived by her husband, Brian Jeansonne; daughters, Madelyn French (Michael), Amanda Jeansonne; sons, Christopher Jeansonne (Carol), Brad Jeansonne; brother, Mark Fitzwater (Karen); seven grandchildren; and a host of other family members and friends.

Donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

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