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Month: August 2026
Notice of Death – August 19, 2026
Annette Marie Craft
November 28, 1933 – August 18, 2026
Service: Saturday, August 22, 2026, 11am at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church, Alexandria.
Eddie Ray Johnson
November 24, 1965 – August 16, 2026
Service: Sunday, August 30, 2026, 3pm at Lecompte Park, Lecompte.
John Thomas Hammock
October 26, 1975 – August 15, 2026
Service: Thursday, August 20, 2026, 2pm at Hixson Brothers Funeral Home, Pineville.
Mary Ella Jones Smith Recard
December 5, 1932 – August 15, 2026
Service: Saturday, August 29, 2026, 10am at Mount Triumph Missionary Baptist Church, Boyce.
Patrick Battles, III
December 15, 2004 – August 13, 2026
Service: Saturday, August 29, 2026, 2pm at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Alexandria.
Eva Doris Woolfolk Powell
February 5, 1944 – August 13, 2026
Service: Saturday, August 22, 2026, 1pm at Bethel AME Church, Alexandria.
Ellner B. Guillory
November 10, 1948 – August 10, 2026
Service: Saturday, August 22, 2026, 11am at St. Juliana Catholic Church, Alexandria.
John F. Lorio
November 30, 1934 – August 5, 2026
Service: Saturday, August 22, 2026, 11am at St Frances Cabrini Church, Alexandria.
Henderius Joseph Fulton, Jr
April 26, 2025 – August 4, 2026
Service: Saturday, August 22, 2026, 11am at The Citadel Church of God in Christ, Alexandria.
Brenda Sue White
December 14, 1958 – May 27, 2026
Service: Saturday, August 22, 2026, 11am at Calvary Baptist Church, Alexandria.
The Rapides Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access.
August 19, 2026
Sides not close in proposed Dresser cleanup approach
By JIM BUTLER
$130 million.
That’s the approximate difference in costs of proposed cleanup-restoration plans offered for the 2012 Dresser Industries subsurface toxic release.
Baker Hughes, now Dresser’s parent company, in court-ordered filings this month, proposes as the Most Feasible Plan the use of intensive chemical applications and localized soil vapor extraction.
It previously noted its approach should put total cost for cleanup at about $30 million, including $24 million already spent.
Plaintiffs have until October 5 to object. Their previously proposed MFP has an estimated price tag of $165.6 million. It involves close to 50,000 chemical injection points in the path and vicinity of the underground plume of TCE and PCE.
The timetable was set in April by U.S. District Judge David C. Joseph, who expressed his resolve to reach a denouement relatively soon in the case.
LADEQ has until December 7 to review the two sides’ responses.
Joseph will then schedule hearings, to be followed by his ordering a plan and requiring deposit with the court of the estimated cost.
Court records and DEQ samplings show the primary impact zone to be Aurora Park Subdivision located northeast of the now-closed plant.
Other locales specified are properties in and spanning the US Hwy 167-LA 3225 (commonly referred to as Tioga Road) corridor and interspersed rural and residential tracts directly in the path of the plume’s migration north.
Ninth Judicial District Court judge appointed to Judiciary Commission of Louisiana
Ninth Judicial District Court Judge Loren M. Lampert has been appointed to the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana for a four-year term that commenced June 18, 2026.
Judge Lampert was selected by the Louisiana Supreme Court to serve as a district judge member, succeeding Third Judicial District Court Judge Bruce Hampton.
Judge Lampert earned his bachelor’s degree from Louisiana College in 1993 and his juris doctor degree magna cum laude from Oklahoma City University Law School in 1996. Prior to his election to the bench in 2024, he served as a felony prosecutor for 27 years and as the executive director of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association since 2019. Prior to that, he served as the Alexandria chief of police for six years.
Judge Lampert is a long-time active member and chairman of the Criminal Justice Committee for the Louisiana State Bar Association and a long-serving member of the Louisiana Law Institute’s Criminal Procedure Committee. Judge Lampert is also the chair of the legislative committee for the Louisiana District Judges’ Association and serves on their executive committee as treasurer.
Judge Lampert is additionally a 2026 inductee to the Louisiana Justice Hall of Fame.
Judge Lampert and his wife of 32 years, Lisa, are members of Longview Baptist Church and have four daughters and three grandchildren.
To learn more about the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana, visit the commission’s website.
For more information, visit lasc.org or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist Kevin Litten at klitten@lasc.org.
August 19, 2026: Central Louisiana Daily Briefing
Six Arrested, Two Still Wanted in Third Street Homicide. The Alexandria Police Department has made six arrests in connection with the August 13 killing of Patrick Battles III, 20, in the 3700 block of Third Street, with two suspects still at large. APD is actively seeking Aaron Freeman, 19, and Raymond Sanders, 26. Kenneth Morris, 19, who had been listed as wanted, has since been taken into custody. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Freeman or Sanders is asked to contact the Alexandria Police Department at (318) 441-6416 or Crime Stoppers of CenLa at (318) 443-7867.
Heavy Police Presence Reported Near Lee Street in Alexandria. A heavy police presence was reported just off Lee Street near Beech and Hickory streets in Alexandria, in the area near Bolton Academy, beginning at approximately 8:15 p.m. Tuesday. As of 8:50 p.m., residents reported officers remained on scene. Authorities had not released any information regarding the nature of the incident as of press time.
Alexandria Man Sentenced to Six Years on Federal Felon Gun Charge. A federal judge sentenced an Alexandria man to 72 months in federal prison after he was found in possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.
Pineville Resident Velma Mae Johnson Celebrates 102nd Birthday. Velma Mae Johnson of Pineville marked her 102nd birthday on August 18, surrounded by family and friends.
Johnny’s Pizza House Closes Alexandria Location. The Johnny’s Pizza House location in Alexandria has permanently closed, ending a 12-year presence in the Central Louisiana community. The Alexandria franchise opened in 2014. No statement has been released from the company regarding the closure.
Nightly lane closures on U.S. 165 North in Pineville
Nightly lane closures on US 165 North in Pineville begin Tuesday
Drivers should prepare for nightly lane closures on U.S. 165 North in Pineville starting Tuesday, Aug. 18, weather permitting, according to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.
Work will take place near Lowe’s and the U.S. 167 northbound off-ramp. Alternating lane closures will occur Monday nights through Friday mornings, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., with work expected to continue through the end of September.
The U.S. 167 northbound off-ramp to U.S. 165 will remain open throughout the project.
DOTD advises drivers to use caution, reduce speed, watch for construction workers and equipment, and allow for extra travel time through the work zone.
City steps in to address overgrowth at historic downtown homesite
The City of Alexandria sent a crew last week to clear the overgrowth that surrounded the historic Arna Bontemps House in downtown Alexandria.
The city owns the lot but the Arna Bontemps Foundation owns and is responsible for the house, which remains dilapidated after closing several years ago.
In a weekend story in the Baton Rouge Advocate about the forlorn former museum, Alexandria Deputy Administrative Officer Michael Caffery said the city has sought to contact the point person for the foundation since Mayor Jacques Roy’s administration took office in 2022, but attempts have been unsuccessful. The foundation’s status as a Louisiana nonprofit was revoked in 2024, according to the Louisiana secretary of state’s website.
The issue was brought to the public’s attention by a column some weeks ago in the Rapides Parish Journal by Bob Tompkins.
The house honors Arna Bontemps, who was born in Alexandria in 1902 and became a key figure in the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s. He wrote acclaimed books, poems and essays while befriending other Black luminaries likes W.E.B. Du Bois and Langston Hughes.
“We implemented an administrative hearing agency to try to hold people accountable,” said Kay Michiels, Director of Planning for the city.
“The agency is in its infancy stage. Previously we had to bring people to city court,” she added, noting that was a lengthy, mostly unsuccessful effort. Community Development inspects, cites, condemns and demos a number of properties each year.”
This has become more expensive in recent years, which makes it more difficult to deal with for a city strapped for cash, she said.
The question of what to do with the house is a “daily, ongoing matter,” said Michiels. “It is a very complex problem.”
Who is watching Louisiana’s water?
Texas has a documented long-term water problem and is aggressively planning future supplies. Louisiana has major new industrial and data-center water demands of its own. Because the two states share interconnected river systems, Louisiana should conduct and publicly release a comprehensive study of the cumulative effects before major water commitments are made.
Opinion submitted by a Journal reader
𝗧𝗲𝘅𝗮𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿. 𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗛𝗮𝘀 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘁 𝗪𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁?
Louisiana citizens ought to start asking a question before somebody else answers it for us:
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗮’𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱, 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗱, 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗱, 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗱, 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗱, 𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲?
That question matters because Louisiana citizens have watched enormous economic-development projects negotiated under NDAs, public authorities become major players in private industrial development, fights over eminent domain and permanent underground CO₂ injection, massive transmission projects, thousands of acres targeted for solar development, rapidly expanding data centers, and even discussions involving nuclear development and radioactive-waste disposal.
And then there is water.
𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿.
Researchers at the University of Texas reported in May 2026 that Texas data-center growth could eventually account for 𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝘀 𝟵% 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟰𝟬 under a high-growth scenario.
Louisiana is facing many of the same questions as enormous data-center and industrial projects move into our state.
So while everybody asks:
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘂𝘀𝗲?
Maybe Louisiana should also be asking:
𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺?
𝗧𝗘𝗫𝗔𝗦 𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪𝗦 𝗜𝗧 𝗛𝗔𝗦 𝗔 𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗕𝗟𝗘𝗠.
The Texas Water Development Board adopted its 2027 State Water Plan on July 23, 2026.
Texas estimates that implementing more than 3,000 recommended water-management projects through 2080 will require nearly $174 billion in capital investment.
Even if Texas builds all of those projects, its plan still projects approximately 𝟭.𝟲 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗲-𝗳𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘂𝗻𝗺𝗲𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟴𝟬.
Texas also warns that without the recommended strategies, roughly one out of every four Texans in 2080 could have less than half of the municipal water supply needed during a drought of record.
Call it pressure, need, shortage, or desperation.
𝗧𝗲𝘅𝗮𝘀 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗲𝘅𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘁.
𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗘𝗫𝗔𝗦 𝗜𝗦 𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗧.
North Texas already takes water from 𝗟𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝘅𝗼𝗺𝗮 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿, and additional Texoma conveyance infrastructure is being developed.
Texas planning also identifies additional supplies involving 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝗸𝗲 and the proposed 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗿 on the Sulphur River; 𝗟𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗢’ 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀, which feeds Big Cypress Bayou toward Caddo Lake; and 𝗧𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗼 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗱 on the Sabine River.
These are not all one project. Some are operating, some proposed, and some are long-range strategies.
But Louisiana should not look at each one in isolation and ignore the cumulative question.
The Sulphur River belongs to the larger Red River drainage system.
Lake O’ the Pines controls flows into Big Cypress Bayou toward 𝗖𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗼 𝗟𝗮𝗸𝗲, a Texas-Louisiana water system. The Corps of Engineers has documented that reservoir operations altered the natural downstream flow regime enough that special releases have been used to restore portions of that flow.
Texas planning identifies approximately 𝟳𝟱,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗲-𝗳𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 from Lake O’ the Pines as a potential North Texas supply strategy and approximately 𝟭𝟮𝟮,𝟮𝟬𝟬 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗲-𝗳𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 associated with Wright Patman.
𝗧𝗢𝗟𝗘𝗗𝗢 𝗕𝗘𝗡𝗗 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗟𝗗 𝗕𝗘 𝗔 𝗪𝗔𝗞𝗘-𝗨𝗣 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟.
For decades, many Louisiana citizens probably would have laughed if somebody suggested Louisiana might someday discuss selling Toledo Bend water to Texas.
Then it became a real public-policy discussion.
Residents pushed back. Public meetings were held. Controversy followed.
Louisiana law expressly gives the Sabine River Authority power to enter contracts involving the sale, distribution, or consumption of water within or outside Louisiana, subject to required approvals.
So when somebody says:
“Oh, they would never sell our water.”
Louisiana citizens have every reason to ask:
𝗜𝗳 𝗧𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗼 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘀?
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗥𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥?
Nobody has shown us a document saying Texas is going to reroute the Red River.
We are not claiming one exists.
But Texas already takes water from the Red River system and is planning or studying additional supplies from tributaries connected to that regional drainage.
So what happens when you add all of those withdrawals together?
What happens at Shreveport?
What happens at Alexandria?
What happens during drought?
And what happens underground?
The 𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘂𝘃𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗳𝗲𝗿 is hydraulically connected to the river in significant areas. When the river rises, water can move into surrounding alluvial sediments and contribute to groundwater recharge and bank storage.
If major upstream withdrawals materially alter river levels, flow duration, or high-water periods, Louisiana needs to know whether recharge could decline, groundwater levels could fall, hydraulic gradients could change, or poorer-quality groundwater could move differently.
Those are not accusations.
𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝘆𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗲𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗲.
𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗖𝗢𝗧?
USGS mapping shows that the 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘂𝘃𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝘆𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗲𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸.
That does not mean the Red River simply pours directly into the Chicot.
It does mean Louisiana’s groundwater systems are not isolated underground tanks.
USGS data show that approximately 𝟱𝟭% 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘄𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗮 comes from the Chicot aquifer system.
And even if Texas water transfers never directly lower Chicot water levels, another concern remains:
𝗜𝗳 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀, 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘁.
Cities, agriculture, industry, data centers, and power plants all still need water.
One substitute is more groundwater pumping.
More groundwater pumping means more pressure on the Chicot.
𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗳𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲. 𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁.
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗔𝗕𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗧𝗢𝗢.
Toledo Bend sits on the Sabine River.
If significant quantities of water are transferred from Toledo Bend or elsewhere in the Sabine system, the concern does not stop at the reservoir shoreline.
The Sabine continues south toward Sabine Lake and the Gulf. Freshwater flow affects salinity, wetlands, fisheries, ecosystems, municipalities, and industry.
Change the amount and timing of freshwater long enough, and downstream systems can change with it.
The Calcasieu is a separate basin, but southwest Louisiana’s water resources do not exist in isolation. If one source becomes less dependable, demand can shift elsewhere.
𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀.
𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗦 𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗕𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗦 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬.
Louisiana officials may not like citizens asking these questions.
But they created the atmosphere that makes us ask them.
When citizens repeatedly watch public business conducted under NDAs, they stop assuming silence means nothing is happening.
When enormous projects are negotiated before communities understand them, citizens stop accepting:
“Don’t worry about it.”
Louisiana citizens have watched eminent-domain battles, permanent underground CO₂ injection, huge transmission projects, enormous solar developments, data centers beside rural communities, nuclear and radioactive-waste discussions, and actual discussions about sending Toledo Bend water to Texas.
𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗮’𝘀 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲.
That does not mean every rumor is true.
It means:
𝗪𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀.
𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗜𝗦 𝗟𝗢𝗨𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗔’𝗦 𝗖𝗨𝗠𝗨𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗬?
Texas is identifying reservoirs, pipelines, interbasin transfers, drought strategies, and future supplies while planning for population growth, industrial expansion, and data-center demand.
𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗮’𝘀 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝘅𝗮𝘀’𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝘀?
Where is the cumulative analysis combining Lake Texoma, the Red River, Wright Patman, Marvin Nichols, Lake O’ the Pines, Caddo Lake, Toledo Bend, the Sabine, the Red River alluvial aquifer, the Chicot, industrial growth, data-center demand, and drought?
Maybe such a study exists.
𝗜𝗳 𝗶𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀, 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰.
If it does not exist, why not?
𝗪𝗘 𝗗𝗢𝗡’𝗧 𝗡𝗘𝗘𝗗 𝗔 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗢𝗥𝗬. 𝗪𝗘 𝗡𝗘𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗡𝗦𝗪𝗘𝗥𝗦.
Maybe every one of these projects is independent.
Maybe Texas can develop all of these supplies without materially harming Louisiana.
Fine.
𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁.
Model it.
Put the numbers on the table.
Show us what happens to the Red River at Shreveport and Alexandria, Caddo Lake, Toledo Bend, the Sabine, the Red River alluvial aquifer, and the Chicot.
Show us what happens under drought conditions.
And model it while accounting for the unprecedented growth in AI data centers, power generation, and industrial development across both states.
Because Louisiana citizens should have learned one lesson by now:
𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗲𝘁.
Texas is planning for Texas.
Texas is protecting Texas.
Texas is searching for water.
𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗮.
Our water feeds our rivers, aquifers, farms, industries, wetlands, wildlife, fisheries, and communities.
It is not simply another commodity.
It belongs in Louisiana’s future.
𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗻𝗼𝘄—𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗱, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗶𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁, 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲.
𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗠𝘆 𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗮, 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗼𝘅
𝗦𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗖𝗘𝗦 & 𝗥𝗘𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗦
Gulf States Newsroom / WWNO — Louisiana NDAs and major economic-development projects:
Louisiana Illuminator — Louisiana nuclear-energy campus and radioactive-waste discussion:
https://lailluminator.com/2026/07/29/louisiana-nuclear-campus
University of Texas — Texas data-center growth and projected water demand:
Laredo Morning Times — Laredo water concerns involving data centers:
https://www.lmtonline.com/local/article/trevino-laredo-data-center-opposition-neeb-city-22385565.php
Gulf States Newsroom / WWNO — Independent air and water monitoring around Meta’s Louisiana data center:
KALB — Applied Digital Delta Forge water-related documents and Rapides Parish concerns:
Texas Water Development Board — 2027 Texas State Water Plan:
https://www.twdb.texas.gov/
Texas Water Development Board — 2027 State Water Plan, projected projects, costs and unmet water needs:
https://www.twdb.texas.gov/
Region C Water Planning Group — North Texas water-management strategies, including Lake Texoma, Lake O’ the Pines, Wright Patman, Marvin Nichols, Toledo Bend, Red River off-channel storage, and other potential supplies:
https://regioncwater.org/wp-
North Texas Municipal Water District — Texoma Two-Step program; additional pipelines designed to add approximately 90 million gallons per day of Lake Texoma conveyance capacity:
https://www.ntmwd.com/m/newsflash/Home/Detail/126
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — Big Cypress Bayou / Caddo Lake Sustainable Rivers Program; documents the downstream connection between Lake O’ the Pines, Big Cypress Bayou, and Caddo Lake:
https://www.hec.usace.army.mil/sustainablerivers/sites/bigcypress
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — Lake O’ the Pines environmental pulse releases designed to reproduce portions of the natural flow regime downstream:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — Lake O’ the Pines / Ferrells Bridge Dam Water Control Manual and environmental-flow information for Big Cypress Bayou and Caddo Lake:
U.S. Geological Survey — Hydrogeologic framework of the Red River alluvial aquifer and Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer in northwestern Louisiana:
U.S. Geological Survey — Detailed hydrogeologic framework and conceptual model of the Red River alluvial aquifer and Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer system:
https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/sir20255054/full
U.S. Geological Survey — Relation of water levels in the Red River alluvial aquifer to the Red River, documenting river/aquifer hydraulic relationships:
https://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/
U.S. Geological Survey — Water Use in Louisiana, 2020; approximately 51% of Louisiana groundwater withdrawals came from the Chicot aquifer system:
https://www.usgs.gov/publications/water-use-louisiana-2020
U.S. Geological Survey — Louisiana groundwater withdrawals dataset; approximately 960 million gallons per day, or about 51% of Louisiana groundwater withdrawals, came from the Chicot aquifer system:
https://www.usgs.gov/data/water-withdrawals-louisiana-2020
U.S. Geological Survey — Coastal Lowlands Aquifer System; background on the Chicot aquifer in southwestern Louisiana:
https://pubs.usgs.gov/ha/ha730/ch_f/F-text3.html
KALB — Public opposition and discussions involving possible Toledo Bend water sales to Texas:
https://www.kalb.com/2025/07/25/residents-push-back-possible-toledo-bend-water-sale-texas
Louisiana Legislature — Sabine River Authority powers involving water sales, distribution and consumption:
https://www.legis.la.gov/
E&E News — Texas water planning and rapidly growing data-center demand:
https://www.eenews.net/articles/texas-water-plan-ignores-data-center-surge-2
Reuters — Meta expansion in Richland Parish:
Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
Pineville student among NSU CIS students bringing DEF CON 34 lessons back to campus
A Pineville student was among three Northwestern State University Computer Information Systems students who, along with a CIS professor, participated in one of the largest hacking conferences in the world earlier this month.
Brady Benoit of Pineville attended DEF CON 34 in Las Vegas with Dr. Jason Powell, Seth Thurman of Homer and recent graduate Justin Dysarz of Sugarland, Texas. The group attended talks and took part in Capture the Flag competitions alongside thousands of security researchers and hobbyists from around the globe.
“DEF CON is organized around dozens of specialized ‘villages,’ each built around a different corner of the security world, from the AI Village and Car Hacking Village to the Cloud Village and Hardware Hacking and Soldering Skills Village,” Powell said.
The group’s favorite stop was the OS Community, a village dedicated to operating system research, low-level hacking and open-source projects.
“The sessions there gave the students a deeper understanding of how operating systems are built, knowledge they plan to use directly this coming academic year as they begin building their own Linux distribution,” Powell said.
The group also spent time at the Packet Hacking Village, home to the Wall of Sheep. There, they practiced packet analysis, learning to intercept and decode network traffic and seeing firsthand why unencrypted connections leave passwords and other sensitive data exposed.
“Across every village, the group came away with the same broader lesson: real strength in cybersecurity comes from understanding both software and hardware, no matter which side of a competition a person is playing,” Powell said. “The sharpest competitors were the ones comfortable moving between code and circuitry.”
Powell said the group hopes their experience encourages more CIS classmates to explore both application development and cybersecurity coursework, rather than treating the two as separate tracks. They argue the areas reinforce each other in exactly the way DEF CON’s villages are built to demonstrate.
The group did not return with photos of their experience. Powell said DEF CON maintains a strict, consent-based photography and filming policy that limits when attendees can be photographed, particularly around the Capture the Flag areas.
“With CTF competitions in mind and a Linux distribution project ahead, Powell said students are already talking about returning to DEF CON next year.
Information on Northwestern State University’s Computer Information Systems program is available through the university.
Food drive entry earns $3,000 donation for Food Bank of Central Louisiana
Rapides Regional Medical Center’s entry in this year’s Healthy Food for Healthier Tomorrows food drive finished in a tie for third place in its division, earning the Food Bank of Central Louisiana a $3,000 cash donation.
The entry, “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit to End Hunger,” featured a Lady Liberty sculpture.
In all, 3,517 pounds of food and cereal were donated to the food bank to help fight hunger in the area.
Last year’s entry, “Hunger is No Day at the Beach,” placed first in the division and second overall in the company.
Mourning Sportsman’s Paradise
By Dustin Granger / Reader-submitted opinion
Louisiana has a long history of officials cutting deals with private interests at the public’s expense. During the oil and gas boom, the state left severance tax revenue on the table while enforcement gaps let industry pollute our air, water, and land for decades. Governor Jeff Landry has accelerated that pattern faster than any of his predecessors. He installed an unqualified Secretary of Environmental Quality, then reorganized the Department of Natural Resources into something even statehouse reporters can’t fully explain. This year the legislature signed off on tax breaks and NDAs for AI data centers, keeping voters in the dark about what those companies are getting and what they’re using.
Now it’s SpaceX’s turn, and it’s the biggest giveaway yet.
The Landry administration is negotiating to hand over roughly 130,000 acres on Pecan Island, in Vermilion Parish, for a rocket blast pad, not a research facility, the kind Boca Chica, Texas is still fighting over. That land is reportedly tied to Exxon’s punishment, part of a coastal damages settlement for decades of polluting our marshes, though the settlement itself is sealed by court order. If that reporting holds up, instead of restoring the land, the state is routing it straight to Elon Musk.
Pecan Island is about the worst possible place for this. The coast there has been sinking and washing away for decades, and hurricanes are speeding it up. The site borders two wildlife refuges and some of the best hunting and fishing water left in this state, the kind “Sportsman’s Paradise” was supposed to protect. If this goes through, we can stop pretending coastal restoration is a real priority in Louisiana.
The legislature already greased the wheels this session, passing tax breaks and liability shields for unnamed “aerospace” companies and exempting them from public records requests. So, when something goes wrong, and something eventually will, Louisianans may not have the right to sue, and may not even have the right to know. Now Trump’s FAA wants to waive thirteen federal environmental and health laws, including the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act, so Musk doesn’t have to deal with “regulatory burden.”
We don’t even know the full extent of what Musk stands to gain. We know the eligibility thresholds in the tax break bills, not the actual value of what’s being handed over. Given how this Republican-controlled legislature has handled every other corporate giveaway this year, there’s little reason to think this deal is any different.
Local officials keep telling us we must accept this to “compete.” I don’t buy it. A state that can only land these deals by throwing out the rule of law and hiding negotiations behind NDAs is giving Louisiana away, one 130,000-acre parcel at a time.
Most Louisianans haven’t been told what this deal actually involves. That’s worth being angry about. Ask your legislators what they voted for this spring, and whether they’ll say so publicly.
Do we really need another team trail?
As an angler who has fished it all: BFL’s, Toyota Series, ABA Solo 150’s, ABA Pro League, Bassmaster Opens, Fisher’s of Men, Media Bass, Angler’s Choice and too many others I just can’t remember, I can say that some of these were great tournament trails and some were just OK.
Now don’t get me wrong, there’s never been a circuit that I didn’t enjoy, but there’s an issue I would like to address. Major League Fishing (MLF) is taking the BFL’s from a pro/am draw format and making it a team/solo trail, hoping they can get their numbers up.
Do we really need another team trail? I think I speak for a lot of anglers who still like to fish solo/individual trails and the last thing anglers need is another team trail as we have too many already! Since the demise of ABA dropping the Solo 150 and the Pro Leagues, the only remaining individual trails are the Bassmaster Opens and the Toyota Series.
Both of these are very expensive with the Toyota’s costing an angler on the pro side $1,700 per event while the B.A.S.S Opens will cost you $2,000. The BFL was considered an entry level circuit designed for the working man but will now cost you $500 per event as a team/solo entry.
Years ago, the BFL’s would draw a full field of 200 boaters (which used to be the case) due to the low entry fee, but their payback was the worst of any circuit out there as they took part of BFL’s money to help support its upper-level circuits, therefore shorting the anglers supporting the BFL’s.
Another issue has been that ever since the “Live Scope” controversy started, BLF participation has gone down dramatically as so many anglers refuse to participate in events where this technology is allowed. Boaters and co-anglers walked away faster than a hook set.
So, after a few years of low turnouts for the BFL’s, Major League Fishing (MLF) will be taking this circuit in a totally different direction. I hope they thought this through as it has just eliminated the last remaining pro/am circuit for the lower level of tournament bass fishing.
As an angler who loves fishing a solo/individual circuit, I really wish MLF would have put the same amount of guaranteed first place money of $10,000 and kept the original format of a pro/am circuit. Anglers would have flocked for this kind of guarantee!
The next issue is the fact that there will be no limit on using forward-facing sonar (FFS) for 2027 when fishing the BFL Team Trail. This will bring out many of the younger anglers who have grown up using FFS. But one thing I wish MLF would adopt for 2027 is only allowing the use of FFS every other tournament like Bassmaster does with their schedule.
This would help to level the playing field especially with the older generation of anglers particularly on lakes where local anglers tend to dominate. As far as what to do with forward-facing sonar in the long run, we may not have a choice as some states, starting with Florida, are looking to ban FFS altogether.
If this happens, other state organizations will follow suit and implement the same rule. Then FFS will no longer be an issue for tournament organizations to deal with.
I’m so tired of talking about it and yet no matter what decisions are made from ANY organization, everyone has their own opinion if this technology is good or bad, as the division continues nationwide on this topic.
It appears this year’s three-hour FFS rule for the BFL’s and the Toyota Series has been the most popular and if that’s the direction they want to go, so be it … I DON’T CARE! Even if they choose to take it away completely… I DON’T CARE! Just make a decision, stick with it and move on!
I know this article will draw some comments and I welcome everyone’s opinion. We have enough team trails nationwide and need more solo or individual circuits to help balance things outs and give anglers another option.
Good luck, good fishing, stay cool and be safe out there if you’re going to brave the heat to wet a hook.
Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com
Before the Wright brothers took flight, Orville Wright was born on Aug. 19
More than a century before commercial air travel became routine, Orville Wright was born Aug. 19, 1871, in Dayton, Ohio.
Orville Wright would go on to become one of aviation’s most important pioneers alongside his brother, Wilbur. The Wright brothers developed and flew the first successful powered airplane in 1903, changing transportation and opening a new chapter in human history.
Their achievement did not come easily. The brothers spent years studying flight, building gliders and conducting experiments before successfully controlling a powered aircraft.
Orville’s Aug. 19 birthday is also shared by another name associated with groundbreaking technology: Gene Roddenberry, creator of “Star Trek,” was born on the same date in 1921. Former President Bill Clinton was also born Aug. 19, 1946.
Aug. 19 has been the date of several other notable moments in history, including the 1812 battle in which the USS Constitution defeated the British ship HMS Guerrière and earned the nickname “Old Ironsides.” In 1960, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 5, carrying two dogs that became the first animals to survive an orbital flight and return safely to Earth.
But for aviation, Aug. 19 carries a particularly fitting connection: it marks the birth of the man who, with his brother, helped turn the dream of human flight into reality.
BOM Bank is proud to support the Glenmora High School
BOM Bank is proud to support the Glenmora High School Model United Nations Club! Our sponsorship will help these outstanding students travel to Washington, D.C., where they will compete in the Model United Nations Conference alongside students from across the country. The Model United Nations program provides academically advanced students with real-world enrichment opportunities that demonstrate how their education applies beyond the classroom. Through collaboration, leadership, and problem-solving, students gain valuable experiences that help prepare them for future success. We are honored to invest in programs that empower the next generation of leaders and make a lasting impact on our communities. Pictured left to right: BOM’s Holly Cloessner, Savannah Niette, Damien Alejandre, and Lara Mathews.
Fifth Sunday Celebration potluck, Ministry Fair at FUMCA
Fifth Sundays are an opportunity to gather as one church family, and on Sunday, August 30, First United Methodist Church of Alexandria will celebrate with a special Fifth Sunday Celebration.
Instead of the regular worship schedule, the congregation will come together for one combined worship service at 10 a.m. The morning will bring the church together across worship traditions for a shared time of worship, fellowship, and celebration.
Following the service, everyone is invited to stay for a combined potluck. It will be a chance to enjoy a meal together and spend time with friends, neighbors, and members of the congregation. Whether you regularly attend FUMCA or are simply looking for a welcoming place to connect, the Fifth Sunday Celebration offers an opportunity to experience the church gathered as one community.
The celebration will also include a Ministry Fair, offering an opportunity to discover the many ways people can connect, serve, create, learn, and grow through the life of the church. Representatives from FUMCA ministries will be available to share information, answer questions, and talk about opportunities to get involved.
The Ministry Fair is especially designed for anyone who has wondered, “What is there for me?” Whether your interests are in the arts, fellowship, service, education, outreach, worship, or simply finding a way to connect with others, the fair is a chance to explore the possibilities. You do not have to know where you fit before you come—just come, ask questions, and see what interests you.
The Fifth Sunday Celebration is more than a change to the Sunday schedule. It is an invitation to experience FUMCA as a whole community: worshiping together, sharing a meal, meeting the people who make ministries happen, and discovering new opportunities to participate.
Join FUMCA on Sunday, August 30, at 10 a.m. for the combined worship service, followed by the potluck and Ministry Fair. Come for worship, stay for lunch, and take some time to discover what is happening throughout the church. Visit www.fumca.org for more about the church, our ministries, and our mission.
Remembering Raymond Blake Peters
Graveside services honoring Raymond Blake Peters, 54, of Oakdale, will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Roselawn Cemetery in Glenmora. Rev. Neal Tremme will officiate.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Ardoin/Allen Parish Funeral Home of Oakdale.
Peters was described as a loving son, brother, uncle and friend. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was also a skilled knife maker, loved cooking and sharing meals with his family, and cherished time spent with his loved ones, especially his dog, Rosie.
He was known as a giver who would help anyone in need and leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter and kindness.
Those left to cherish his memory include his parents, Willie Raymond and Linda Strother Peters; twin sisters, Lana Peters and Lisa Peters Brady and husband Slade; niece, Marina Sumpter and husband Nathanael; nephews, Brett and Shay Atkinson; three great-nieces, Abigail, Sophia and Lily; and a host of extended family members and friends.
Peters was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Willie L. and Inez Peters, and maternal grandparents, Cecil and Hazel Strother.
Services will begin at 10 a.m. Friday at Roselawn Cemetery, located at 1334 Turkey Creek Road in Glenmora.
Remembering Eddie Ray Johnson
Eddie Ray Johnson, 60, of Lecompte, died Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026.
Johnson was born Nov. 24, 1965, in Pineville to the late Lorena Davis Johnson and his late father. He was raised in the Lecompte area and attended Rapides High School, where he graduated in the early 1980s. During his high school years, he was known for his athletic ability and was a talented track athlete.
Johnson was a hardworking man who worked as a landscaper. He especially enjoyed spending time in Chicamaw, where he could often be found working with and caring for horses. He also had a special affection for dogs.
Johnson was family-oriented and enjoyed being surrounded by those closest to him. He was outspoken, never hesitating to say what was on his mind, and was known for his playful personality and sense of humor.
He was a member of Beulah Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Terry Kirk.
Born into a family of 11 children, Johnson was the last surviving sibling. He was preceded in death by his parents and all 10 of his brothers and sisters.
He is survived by nieces and nephews, other relatives, extended family members, church family and friends.
A memorial service will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, at Lecompte Park in Lecompte.
Your Daily Crossword/Daily Sudoku
Notice of Death – August 18, 2026
Eddie Ray Johnson
November 24, 1965 – August 16, 2026
Service: Sunday, August 30, 2026, 3pm at Lecompte Park, Lecompte.
John Thomas Hammock
October 26, 1975 – August 15, 2026
Service: Thursday, August 20, 2026, 2pm at Hixson Brothers Funeral Home, Pineville.
Patrick Battles, III
December 15, 2004 – August 13, 2026
Service: Saturday, August 29, 2026, 2pm at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Alexandria.
Eva Doris Woolfolk Powell
February 5, 1944 – August 13, 2026
Service: Saturday, August 22, 2026, 1pm at Bethel AME Church, Alexandria.
Ellner B. Guillory
November 10, 1948 – August 10, 2026
Service: Saturday, August 22, 2026, 11am at St. Juliana Catholic Church, Alexandria.
John F. Lorio
November 30, 1934 – August 5, 2026
Service: Saturday, August 22, 2026, 11am at St Frances Cabrini Church, Alexandria.
Henderius Joseph Fulton, Jr
April 26, 2025 – August 4, 2026
Service: Saturday, August 22, 2026, 11am at The Citadel Church of God in Christ, Alexandria.
Brenda Sue White
December 14, 1958 – May 27, 2026
Service: Saturday, August 22, 2026, 11am at Calvary Baptist Church, Alexandria.
The Rapides Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access.
August 18, 2026
Multiple arrests made in 3rd Street homicide, three suspects sought
The Alexandria Police Department has arrested five individuals and is searching for three others in connection with the August 13, 2026, homicide of 20-year-old Patrick Battles III.
On Thursday, August 13, at approximately 10:50 p.m., officers responded to a local hospital regarding a gunshot victim. Battles succumbed to his injuries, and investigators later determined the shooting occurred in the 3700 block of 3rd Street.
Arrests Made
- Tyler Winchester, 20 — Arrested Friday, August 14, and charged with illegal use of a weapon and negligent carrying of a weapon.
- Tijah Foster, 21 — Arrested Monday, August 17, and charged with second-degree murder.
- Xavier Walker, 21 — Arrested Monday, August 17, and charged with illegal use of a weapon and negligent carrying of a weapon.
- Jamarion Williams, 22 — Arrested Monday, August 17, and charged with illegal use of a weapon and negligent carrying of a weapon.
- Jaylynn Wayford, 22 — Arrested Monday, August 17, and charged with illegal use of a weapon and negligent carrying of a weapon.
Suspects Sought
The Alexandria Police Department is actively seeking the following individuals:
- Aaron Freeman, 19
- Kenneth Morris, 19
- Raymond Sanders, 26
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Freeman, Morris, or Sanders, or details concerning the homicide, is asked to contact the Alexandria Police Department.
This remains an active and ongoing investigation. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.
See the attached suspect photographs.