The Pineville Lions Club held a meeting where Vice President and President-Elect Ursula Dewalt led the meeting and introduced Luis Cintron with the Family Justice Center of Central Louisiana.

Cintron informed the group about the services the organization provides for people in need.

The club also gathered toys, supplies and other goods for its District 8-I service project benefiting St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Shreveport.

The club said it is a privilege and joy to work alongside people who serve the community.

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Week 3 of the Rapides Parish Journal’s annual High School Football Pick ’Em contest is underway, giving local fans another chance to test their gridiron knowledge and win cash.

Each week, the contest features 10 selected matchups highlighting Rapides Parish high schools and marquee regional games. The second round of competition concludes Friday, Sept. 18, so make your selections before kickoff to get in the game.

Each weekly winner will take home $100 and be featured with a photo in the Journal.

Participants can submit their picks online through the RPJ platform throughout the season to see who truly reigns as the top football prognosticator in Rapides Parish.

Contest Rules & Details

• Anyone is eligible to participate for free, and each week’s winning participant will win a $100 prize. Each week, the winner will be the participant with the best record out of 10 selected high school football games. Ties will be broken by two separate tiebreakers consisting of guessing the total points scored in two designated weekly contests. The picker with the closest score, without going over, is the winner. All decisions by Management/RPJ are final. The contest can be modified and/or cancelled without notice to the public.
  
  The only persons not eligible to participate are the publisher, the publisher’s immediate family, and regular content contributors to the Journal as determined by Management/RPJ.
  
• There is no entry fee. All contest decisions by Journal management are final. Weekly winners will be notified on Mondays and must agree to have their photo published in the Journal.
  
• Every participant receives a free subscription to the Journal, delivered directly to their inbox daily at 6:55 a.m.

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JOURNAL SPORTS

Alexandria Senior High held serve in the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 5A top 10 poll for Week 3 of the high school football season.

The Trojans are still the only Rapides Parish school receiving votes again this week. After opening with a 44-20 victory at home over Bryant (Ark.), ASH hammered Union Parish in Farmerville 52-7 last Friday.

The next two weeks, at least, won’t be as easy.

This Friday, ASH hosts Lafayette Christian Academy (2-0), ranked fifth in Class AA. In two weeks, the Trojans visit former District 2-5A foe Neville, which has dropped to Class 4A and is ranked fourth in that classification.

Only 14 of the 50 ranked teams in this week’s top 10 polls are from the 318 area code. Nearby Jena jumped from fifth to third in the 3A poll after knocking off reigning state champion Sterlington in a rematch of last December’s state finals. Marksville also cracked the 3A Top 10 at No. 9 this week.

Eleven sports media members in the LSWA are polled weekly to compile the rankings.

Class 5A

School (1^st place votes), record, poll points, last week’s ranking

1.Ruston (9), 2-0, 130,1

2. Karr (2), 2-0, 123, 2

3. Alexandria Senior High, 2-0, 102, 3

4. St. Augustine, 2-0, 99, 4

5. Catholic-Baton Rouge, 1-1, 83, 5

6. John Curtis, 1-1, 78, 6

7. Archbishop Rummel, 2-0, 70, 7

8. Acadiana, 2-0, 57, 8

9. Brother Martin, 2-0,  40, 9

10. Ouachita, 2-0, 20, NR

Others receiving votes: West Monroe 19, Jesuit 9, Mandeville 9, Central 8, Barbe 4, St. Thomas More 2, Destrehan 1, Southside 1, Thibodaux 1. 

Class 4A

1. Westgate (8), 2-0, 128, 2

2. Archbishop Shaw (1), 2-0, 118, 2

3. North DeSoto (1), 2-0, 104, 3

4. Neville (1), 1-1, 104, 4

5. Lake Charles Prep, 2-0, 88, 6

6. Madison Prep, 1-1, 78, 7

7. Franklin Parish, 1-1, 54, 8

8. Cecilia, 2-0, 51, 9

9. Plaquemine, 1-1, 49, 5

10. Salmen, 1-1,  36,  Not rated

Others receiving votes:  Lafayette Renaissance 20, John F. Kennedy 15, E.D. White 6, Belle Chasse 3, Teurlings Catholic 3, Carencro 1.

Class 3A

1. St. Charles (11),2-0, 136, 1

2. St. James, 2-0, 114, T3

3. Jena, 2-0, 110, 5

4. Sterlington, 1-1, 95, 2

5. Iowa, 1-1, 70, 9

6. University, 0-2, 67, T3

7. Jewel Sumner,1-1, 63, 6

8. Loyola, 1-1, 53 , 8

9. Marksville, 2-0, 49, NR

10. Vandebilt Catholic, 1-1, 41, 7

Others receiving votes: Iota 19, Northwest 4, Erath 4, De La Salle 3, Carroll 1, Eunice 1.

Class 2A

1, Calvary Baptist (9), 2-0, 129, 2

2, Dunham (2), 1-1, 119, 1

3. Notre Dame, 2-0, 111, 4

4. Mangham, 1-1,  95, 6

5. Lafayette Christian Academy, 2-0, 81, 6

6. Oak Grove, 1-1, 79, 3

7. Amite, 2-0, 76, 7

8. Kinder, 1-1, 53, 5

9. Catholic-New Iberia, 1-1, 36

10. Mansfield, 2-0, 29, NR

Others receiving votes: Newman 25, Loreauville 19, West St. Mary 6, Covenant Christian 3, Country Day 2, Union Parish 2.

Class 1A

1. Ouachita Christian (8),2-0, 129, 1

2. Riverside Academy (3), 2-0, 123, 2

3. Ascension Catholic, 2-0, 109, 3

4. Jeanerette, 2-0, 96, 4

5. Haynesville,  1-1, 83, 5

6. Logansport, 2-0, 69, 6

7. Southern Lab, 2-0, 66, 7

8. Kentwood, 2-0, 59, 8

9. Westminster-Lafayette, 2-0, 45, 9

10. South Plaquemines, 1-1, 25, NR

Others receiving votes: Cedar Creek 21, East Feliciana 12, Lincoln Prep 11, St. Edmund 6, Westminster-Opelousas 5.

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Arrests are accusations, not convictions.

Sept. 16

Michael Monty Craig-Olano, 22, Pineville – aggravated assault domestic abuse, two counts violation of protective orders, domestic abuse battery strangulation, no bail data.

Sept. 15

Calvin Alston, 39, Alexandria – three counts possession of CDS, possession of marijuana, improper lane usage, $8,600 bail;

Alexis Jonae Carter, 28, Alexandria – theft, simple burglary, criminal damage to property, probation violation, $10,000 bail;

Jordan Curtis George, 17, Alexandria – second degree battery, $10,000 bail;

Misti M. Hudgens, 51, Pineville – domestic abuse battery, aggravated assault domestic abuse, disturbing the peace, $500 bail;

Michael Shane Tarver, 46, Elizabeth – aggravated second degree battery, $10,000 bail;

Roderick Deon Turner, 34, Alexandria – illegal carry firearm with drugs, two counts possession of firearm by convicted felon, carrying a firearm on school property, six counts producing manufacturing distributing CDS, paraphernalia, two counts resisting an officer, resisting a police officer with force or violence, possession of CDS in a school zone, $241,500 bail.

Sept. 14

Christopher Reid Carlton, 42, Colfax – possession of CDS, improper turn, $1,600 bail;

Jason C.Delhommer, 40, Jonesville – Louisiana fugitive, contempt of court, $2,500 bail;

Sam Karl Gibson, 36, Alexandria – three counts contempt of court, $51,500 bail;

James Damon Henry, 46, Alexandria – possession of fentanyl, producing manufacturing distributing CDS, possession of drug paraphernalia, headlamps required on motor vehicles, obstruction of justice, parole violations, $8,100 bail;

Jamoine Akeem Jefferson, 39, Pineville – possession of marijuana, paraphernalia, remaining on premises, parole violations, two counts contempt of court, $6,250 bail;

Aaron John Kissee, 34, Pineville – domestic abuse battery strangulation, $25,000 bail;

Jonas Torez Smith, 30, Alexandria – theft, three counts contempt of court, $65,000 bail;

Colby Daniel Vance II, 35, Ball – three counts contempt of court, $300,000 bail.

Sept. 13

Lisa Marie Fisher, 55, Alexandria – theft, false communication to cause emergency response, $2,000 bail;

Peter Bryant Lewis, 19, Alexandria – OWI underage, tail lamps red light, improper window tint, $1.200 bail;

Aaron Kade Poche, 21, Robeline – hit and run driving, domestic abuse battery, careless operation of a vehicle, $2,100 bail;

Ohaji Walls, 23, Boyce – domestic abuse battery strangulation, $5,000 bail;

Ashley Nicole Young, 43, Pineville – Louisiana fugitive, probation violation, simple escape, contempt of court, $10,000 bail.

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Cynthia Ann Tullos, 66, a beloved mother, sister, grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully on September 14, 2026, in Alexandria, surrounded by her loving family. Born on January 27, 1960, in Fort Worth, Texas, Cynthia was the cherished daughter of Joseph and Mildred Martin Tullos, who preceded her in death. She was also predeceased by her beloved daughter, Bridget Book, and her sister, Peggy Tullos.

Cynthia was one of those rare people whose warmth could be felt almost immediately. She was funny, affectionate, thoughtful, extraordinarily generous, and deeply caring. She never had much materially, but somehow always found something to give. If someone needed help, she wanted to help them-sometimes so generously that her daughters had to intervene and remind her that she couldn’t give everything away. That was simply who she was. She had a wonderful wit and an unmistakable laugh. She loved people fiercely and showed it freely. She hugged, she laughed, she fed you, and she made you feel loved. She was also wonderfully stubborn-perhaps one of the most stubborn people her family ever knew-and those who loved her wouldn’t have had her any other way.

Cynthia had a wild, adventurous, almost childlike spirit. She was happiest outdoors, with her hands in the dirt or exploring somewhere new. She gardened, wandered through the woods, picked up snakes, caught lizards and frogs, fished and crabbed, and was never particularly interested in staying clean or indoors. She could stick anything in the ground, and it was going to grow. She would stop in the middle of the road to help a turtle cross. There was always an adventure to be found. Her family still laughs about the those days.

South Louisiana held a particularly special place in her heart. She loved the food, the people and the culture. She was an incredible Cajun cook who rarely needed a recipe. She loved stopping along the road for an ice chest full of fresh shrimp, going fishing on the bayou, to the old plantations and seeing the beautiful oak trees. She loved bringing everyone together around food. She also gave her daughters, Elizabeth and Bridget, a lifelong love of New Orleans. She took them to the zoo and aquarium, wandered through shops and restaurants with them, brought them to museums and galleries, and took them to see the Christmas lights in City Park. She didn’t simply take her girls places-she taught them to notice things. Art, food, beautiful spaces, interesting people, different cultures and the joy of discovering somewhere new. She encouraged both of her daughters to pursue their creativity and supported them as they went on to study the arts.

Her sense of adventure eventually took her much farther from home. When Elizabeth graduated from high school, Cynthia and Elizabeth moved to Malaysia with Elizabeth’s father. Mother and daughter suddenly found themselves driving on the opposite side of the road without speaking a word of Malay-and Cynthia embraced it. They explored markets, caves and rainforests, took road trips to tea plantations and pottery shops, and collected the kinds of stories that would be retold for the rest of their lives. Cynthia loved that chapter of her life and carried her love of travel with her, later spending time with family in China, Hong Kong, California, Seattle and wherever else life took her. She loved remembering where she came from, too. She talked about playing basketball when she was young, the Mustang she adored, old friends and stories from growing up. She loved her siblings deeply and could happily spend hours reminiscing about the people and adventures that shaped her.

But there was no greater joy in Cynthia’s life than her grandson, Owen. To Owen, she was Grammie-and Grammie and Owen were best friends. They could video chat for hours. When they were together, she became every bit as much a child as he was. They played all day, laughed at their own jokes, and created a little world that belonged to the two of them. During the four months she recently spent living with Elizabeth’s family, Cynthia looked forward every morning to hearing the pitter-patter of Owen’s feet. And one of Owen’s first questions of the day was inevitably, “Can I go wake Grammie up?” When they were apart, Cynthia watched his videos and looked through his pictures over and over again. Anyone who spoke with her recently knew about Owen, because sooner or later-usually sooner-Grammie was going to tell you about him. The love between them was extraordinary, completely uncomplicated, and pure joy. Her family will make sure Owen grows up knowing just how completely his Grammie adored him.

Cynthia’s later years were not easy. After suffering a traumatic brain injury in a serious automobile accident in 2005, she faced years of difficult health problems. She could be terribly hard on herself, but she was also incredibly tough. Again and again, she worked to get better. She endured more than most people knew and fought extraordinarily hard. Only a few months before Cynthia’s death, the family suffered the devastating loss of her daughter, Bridget-her beloved “BB.” It was a grief beyond words. Cynthia missed her desperately. There is comfort now in imagining that after such a long fight, Mama is finally at peace with her girl. For those who loved her, however, there will always be an empty place where her laughter should be.

Cynthia leaves behind so much more than can ever fit into an obituary: gardens and recipes that were never written down, ridiculous stories and great adventures, meals shared around a table, New Orleans charm, road trips through Malaysia, muddy hands, old friends, laughter, photographs, and a little boy who knew without question that his Grammie thought he hung the moon. She was precious. She was funny. She was generous beyond reason. She was stubborn and adventurous and affectionate and completely herself. She was Mama, Sister, Cyn Cyn.. She was Grammie. And she was so very loved.

She is survived by her loving daughter, Elizabeth McKim, and her husband, Daniel, as well as her cherished grandson, Owen McKim, who brought immense joy to her life. Cynthia’s memory will also be cherished by her brother, Randy Tullos and his wife Janne, her sisters, Cathy Tullos, and Kim Swarts and her husband Scott. She leaves behind a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives who will forever hold her in their hearts.

A celebration of Cynthia’s life will take place on Friday, September 18, 2026, at 10:00 AM at New Life Pentecostal Church in Manifest with Rev. David Poole and Alison Parker officiating. Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 17, 2026 from 6:00 PM until 9:00 PM at New Life Pentecostal Church in Manifest. Burial will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to gather and honor the remarkable life of a woman who meant so much to so many.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Adam Book, Gerald Tullos, Scott Swarts, Scottie Swarts, Little Joe Tullos, and Timbo Patten.

Cynthia Ann Tullos will be dearly missed, yet her spirit will live on in the hearts of all who were touched by her love and grace. May she rest in peace, reunited with her beloved family in eternal serenity.

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Charles “Rick” Guimaraes, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and distinguished veteran, passed away peacefully on September 11, 2026, in the cherished company of loved ones, leaving a remarkable legacy of dedication to family, country, and community. He was 80 years of age at the time of his passing.

Born on August 24, 1946, in San Antonio, Texas, Rick was the son of Dorman Norris and Mary Lambert Pries. His early years were marked by a strong sense of duty and commitment, qualities that would define his entire life. Rick pursued his education with determination, earning a bachelor’s degree from Pepperdine University followed by a master’s degree from McNeese State University.

Rick served his country with honor and valor as a member of the United States Navy for 18 years. He held the rank of Operations Specialist First Class (OS1) and served during the Vietnam War aboard the USS Hoel and USS Cochrane. His dedication to his fellow service members continued beyond active duty, as he became a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and played an influential role in AmVets. Rick served as Past National Commander of AmVets, as well as Past Local Commander of Post 7 and Post 1776 in Alexandria.

In his professional life, Rick was a successful entrepreneur, founding Norstar Computer Company in Alexandria. His hard work and innovative spirit made a significant impact on the local business community.

Rick’s life was richly blessed by his 26-year marriage to Mary Guimaraes, who remained by his side through life’s many adventures and challenges. Together, they built a loving family, and Charles found immense joy in the company of his children: his surviving son, Scott Guimaraes and his wife Denise. His grandchildren-Brittney, Travis, Breanna, William, Chase, and Sierra Guimaraes-were a constant source of pride and happiness, as were his great-grandchildren, Ben Andrews, Rose Guimaraes, Eli Riggs, and Andy Riggs.

A devoted family man, Rick loved spending time outdoors, tending to his goats, horses, and cows, and sharing his passion for fishing and hunting with those he loved. His patriotism was unwavering, and he instilled in his family a deep respect for their heritage and country.

Rick was a cherished member of the Gorum Baptist Church, where his faith and fellowship touched many lives. He was predeceased by his parents, his sons Sam and Steven Guimaraes, his grandson Sam Guimaraes, and his brothers Ben and Lucky Norris, whose memories he carried with him always.

Rick’s life was a testament to the power of love, service, and community. His legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched and the enduring memories of his generous spirit. May he rest in eternal peace.

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Philip W. Beard
April 8, 1941 – September 15, 2026
Service: Thursday, September 17, 2026, 11am at Kramer & Son Funeral Home, Alexandria.

Mamie Doris Ryland Falk
January 26, 1954 – September 13, 2026
Service: Friday, September 18, 2026, 10am at Belle Grande Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Alexandria.

Lee Gregory Jeansonne
June 6, 1936 – September 13, 2026
Service: Thursday, September 17, 2026, 11:30am at St. Rita Catholic Church, Alexandria.

Brenda Lincecum Simmons
August 23, 1949 – September 12, 2026
Service: Friday, September 18, 2026, 1pm at Gallagher Funeral Home, Ball.

Alfonso Perez-Mendez
September 18, 1945 – September 11, 2026
Service: Saturday, September 19, 2026, 1pm at St. Louis Catholic Church, Glenmora.

Thomas Roger Gibbs, Jr.
February 26, 1970 – September 10, 2026
Service: Saturday, September 26, 2026, 2pm at Mt. Triumph Baptist Church, Alexandria.

Shirlene Goodlow
February 29, 1968 – September 10, 2026
Service: Saturday, September 19, 2026, 3pm at Citadel Church of God in Christ, Alexandria.

Rosa Lee Johnson Winn
February 23, 1940 – September 10, 2026
Service: Thursday, September 24, 2026, 11am at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses–Landmark, Alexandria.

Jimmy Ray “Coach” Robinson
December 28, 1953 – September 9, 2026
Service: Saturday, September 19, 2026, 3pm at Second Evergreen Baptist Church, Alexandria.

Joseph Welch, Sr.
April 15, 1943 – September 8, 2026
Service: Friday, September 18, 2026, 11am at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Alexandria.

Rede “Reida” Mae Russell Casey
October 6, 1947 – September 6, 2026
Service: Saturday, September 19, 2026, 11am at The Pentecostals, Alexandria.

Edward Mendel
September 29, 1930 – September 6, 2026
Service: Saturday, September 19, 2026, 1pm at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Ball.

Barbara Jean Driessen
August 20, 1941 – September 3, 2026
Service: Thursday, September 17, 2026, 10am at Pineville First United Methodist Church, Pineville.

Anna Jones
April 13, 1948 – September 1, 2026
Service: Saturday, September 26, 2026, 10am at Mt. Hermon Baptist Church, Lena.

Ronnie George Shinhoster
August 21, 1960 – August 31, 2026
Service: Saturday, September 19, 2026, 11am at Refuge Church-Apostolic Faith, Alexandria.

Virginia Alice “Ginger” Jones
April 14, 1963 – August 24, 2026
Service: Saturday, September 19, 2026, 11am at Philadelphia Baptist Church, Alexandria.

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

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By JIM BUTLER

Malcolm Larvadain, perhaps recognizing an election issue when it arises, wants to change Alexandria City Council rules for public comment.

His plan comes on the heels of recent complaints from citizens wanting to speak about things not on the council’s posted agenda.

Larvadain, District 1 councilman running for mayor, proposes letting some get matters off their chests at each meeting.

Currently, interested parties can signup for three minutes addressing an agenda item, and nothing else, though keeping some who relish the sound of their voice on subject has become like herding cats.

Larvadain would add a minimum half hour at the end of each every-other-week meeting for citizen firing at-will in three-minute bursts. Barring extended time, that would allow up to 10 speakers.

In correspondence to Council President Cynthia Perry, copied to all council members, Larvadain asks the proposed change be added to next Tuesday’s agenda.

Issues raised during the open comment period would be “logged, referred and answered in writing” within 30 days.

Presumably the referral would be to the particular area involved via Mayor Jacques Roy’s office, that being where the rubber hits the road, and where Larvadain hopes to sit come December.

Larvadain says his proposal provides a regular opportunity for residents to address matters of public interest.

State law requires an opportunity for public speaking at agency meetings.

Some limit that to matters on the agenda, some to only matters on the agenda that are to be voted on, some only to a prescribed time limit, some no restrictions.

The Council’s current rules have been in place since mayhem-driven changes were adopted in mid-2024.

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By JIM BUTLER

Notes from recently posted Legislative Audit reports:

Sewerage District 1

Revenue for the audit year was $1.25 million, all in service charges to 1,724 customers.

Expenses totaled $449,000, with utilities cost at $226,000, contract labor $128,000 and payroll $12,500.

Net position grew to $4.4 million, about $95,000 restricted.

Sewerage District 2

Enterprise Fund revenues were $3.76 million, about $2.98 million of that from a grant. Operating revenue from 1,047 customers was $781,000.

Expenses totaled $666,000. Operating costs included $154,000 contract labor and $192,000 repairs and maintenance. Payroll expense was $17,400.

Net position increased to $5.65 million, about $457,000 unrestricted.

Drainage District 1

Revenues totaled $449,000 with property tax contributing $378,000.

Expenses were $119,000 with repairs and maintenance requiring $48,000 and professional and contract services $35,000. Personnel expense was $22,000.

Net position rose to $1.86 million, all unrestricted.

Drainage District 2

Revenue was $1.26 million, 80 percent of that from property tax.

Expenses totaled $881,000, almost half in capital spending. Personnel cost was $192,000.

Net position increased to $3.1 million, $2.3 million of that unrestricted.

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Noah Does It LLC Heating & Cooling Grand Opening — Today
Central Louisiana Regional Chamber of Commerce

Noah Does It LLC Heating & Cooling holds its grand opening ribbon cutting today, Wednesday, September 16, at 10 a.m. at 1118 Third St. in Alexandria. The event is hosted by the Central Louisiana Regional Chamber of Commerce and is open to the public.

Leglue Nissan Grand Re-Opening Ribbon Cutting — Tomorrow
Central Louisiana Regional Chamber of Commerce

Leglue Nissan celebrates its grand re-opening with a ribbon cutting on Thursday, September 17, at 9 a.m. at 6400 Coliseum Blvd. in Alexandria. The event is hosted by the Central Louisiana Regional Chamber of Commerce and is open to the public.

LSUA Lecture: The Folklore of Sports — September 25
Louisiana State University of Alexandria

LSUA will host a free public lecture on Friday, September 25, from 12:15 to 1 p.m. titled “The Lore Behind the Score: Exploring the Folklore of Sports.” Dr. Emily Bryant, director of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum, will explore how folklore appears in sports — from game-day traditions and superstitions to fan memorabilia and team legends. Bryant holds a Ph.D. in folklore from Indiana University. Visitors are welcome to bring their lunch.

National Hunting and Fishing Day at LDWF Woodworth — September 26
Rapides Regional Medical Center, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

Rapides Regional Medical Center is again co-sponsoring Louisiana’s National Hunting and Fishing Day on Friday, September 26, from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the LDWF Outdoor Education Center in Woodworth on Robinson Bridge Road. RRMC personnel will teach ATV safety and Stop the Bleed training. Admission is free. For more information, visit wlf.la.gov/page/nhfd.

Hot and mostly clear conditions are expected across Rapides Parish through the weekend, with highs in the mid 90s and lows generally in the upper 60s to lower 70s.

Wednesday will be sunny, with highs in the mid 90s and east winds of 5 to 10 mph. Wednesday night will be partly cloudy in the evening before becoming mostly clear, with lows in the lower 70s. Southeast winds around 5 mph in the evening will become light and variable.

Thursday will be sunny, with highs in the mid 90s and east winds of 5 to 10 mph. Thursday night through Friday night will be clear, with lows in the upper 60s and highs in the mid 90s.

Saturday through Sunday will be mostly clear, with highs in the mid 90s and lows in the lower 70s. Sunday night will be partly cloudy, with lows in the lower 70s.

Monday will be mostly sunny with a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs will be in the mid 90s, with a 40 percent chance of rain.

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LSUA has enrolled 8,600 students for Fall 2026, the largest enrollment in university history and an 11.9% increase over Fall 2025. Enrollment has grown 128.1% in just five years and 162.5% over the last decade, transforming a regional university serving central Louisiana into one of the nation’s most compelling examples of sustained public university growth.

Growth this fall extends across nearly every way students access the university. On-campus enrollment reached 3,476, up 14.2% from 3,035 last fall, while online enrollment grew 10.3% to 5,133. Dual enrollment experienced particularly strong demand, increasing 45.5% to 1,168 students. LSUA now enrolls students from all 64 Louisiana parishes, all 50 states, and 49 countries.

The numbers are especially notable within the national higher education landscape. Final Fall 2025 data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center showed undergraduate enrollment increasing just 1.4% at public four-year institutions nationwide. LSUA’s 11.9% year-over-year increase is more than eight times that rate.

“LSUA is the university of choice for 8,600 students because they see the quality of what is happening here,” said LSUA Chancellor Elizabeth Beard, Ph.D. “They see that access, affordability, and excellence can belong together. They are choosing faculty who know their students and bring passion and purpose into the classroom. They are choosing academic programs that prepare them for meaningful careers and meet the needs of our region and state. Our growth is a reflection of that quality, and as we continue to grow, protecting and strengthening the LSUA experience will remain one of my highest priorities.”

As Louisiana’s most affordable four-year public university, LSUA combines longstanding programs in nursing, accounting, education, and criminal justice with newer programs in computer science, professional aviation, and digital storytelling developed around Louisiana’s changing workforce needs. Robust offerings in the humanities and arts complement those degrees, preserving the breadth of a university education.

At the center of that education are faculty whose primary mission is teaching, mentoring students, and connecting classroom learning to research, professional experiences, graduate study, and careers. Professional staff across the university reinforce that work, supporting students from their first interaction with LSUA through graduation.

“Record-breaking enrollment is exciting, but what matters most is knowing that more students and families are seeing the value of an LSUA education and choosing to become part of our community,” said Abbey Bain, Ph.D., LSUA Vice Chancellor for Enrollment & Student Engagement. “There is something truly special about the environment we have created here where students are known, supported, challenged, and given opportunities to thrive. We are proud of this momentum and even more excited about what it means for the future of LSUA and our Central Louisiana community.”

LSUA’s growth has drawn national attention both for its pace and for the students and communities the university serves.

Central Louisiana includes large rural communities, lower rates of bachelor’s degree attainment, and populations historically underserved by higher education. Rather than treating those realities solely as barriers to enrollment, LSUA has built a strategy around them, making a university education more accessible in the places and formats students need it. That approach earned national attention in the December 2025 issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education, where Dan Berrett’s cover story, “A Complicated Relationship,” featured LSUA as a case study in how rural-serving institutions can reverse enrollment trends by responding directly to the needs of students and employers.

Nearly half of LSUA students are adult learners, and the university serves significant populations of first-generation students, working professionals, rural residents, and military-connected students. Military students can study on base at Fort Polk, online, or on campus, while partnerships with communities including the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe extend access to populations historically underserved by higher education.

LSUA’s growth ultimately represents something more important than enrollment. It represents the trust students, families, employers, and the people of Louisiana place in a public university to use its resources well and make the time students spend here matter. As a steward of that trust, LSUA must return the investment through excellent teaching, meaningful support, and degrees that create opportunity. That is the measure of growth that matters most: not simply how many students LSUA serves, but how effectively the university turns that growth into stronger lives, communities, and a stronger Louisiana.

Written by Adam Lord

Image credit: Chase Dyess | LSUA Strategic Communications

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Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office Patrol deputies responded on Sept. 13 around 2 am to a business in the 5900 block of Skye Street in reference to burglary in progress.

Upon arrival, deputies located a side window at the drive through and the front glass to the business broken out. Patrol Deputy’s held the perimeter until the key holder arrived as well as a K-9 unit with the Alexandria Police Department. 

Deputies, along with the APD K9, entered and cleared the business Video surveillance recovered at the scene show the suspect leaving through the back door of the business as deputies arrived. 

Sheriff’s Detectives and Crime Scene Unit responded to conduct their investigation. 

From their investigation , detectives determined the suspect had on a dark hoodie, gloves and a mask. Money, alcohol, smoking devices, lottery tickets and a firearm was taken in this burglary. 

If anyone has any information on this crime, they are asked to contact RPSO Main Office at 318-473-6700 or Crime Stoppers at 318-443-7867.

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Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) Enforcement agents have arrested a Vernon Parish man following an investigation into an alleged timber theft in Rapides Parish.

On August 19, LDAF Enforcement agents responded to a timber theft complaint after a landowner reported that a logger had failed to pay for all timber harvested from the property.

As the investigation progressed, agents reviewed logging records and financial documentation. The investigation determined that more than $12,000 in timber proceeds had not been paid to the landowner. Additionally, agents identified more than $10,000 worth of timber that was allegedly harvested but not reported to the landowner.

On September 10, agents obtained an arrest warrant for James R. Friedieu of Vernon Parish. Friedieu was subsequently arrested in Vernon Parish and transported to the Rapides Parish Jail, where he was booked on one count of timber theft under $25,000. His bond was set at $5,000.

LDAF Commissioner Mike Strain, DVM, reminds landowners and timber producers to carefully monitor timber sales and keep accurate records. “Timber is a valuable resource for Louisiana landowners, and we take allegations of timber theft seriously. Our enforcement agents will continue to investigate these complaints and work to protect landowners and Louisiana’s forest resources.”

The investigation remains active and subject to the judicial process.

LDAF Enforcement agents investigate timber theft and other violations involving Louisiana’s forest resources. Agents work with landowners and industry professionals to investigate complaints and protect property rights.

Note: All persons accused of any crime are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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How is artificial intelligence changing the learning process, and is it “good” or bad”? This was the focus of the third installment of Louisiana Christian University’s Guinn Conversations on AI, held Sept. 10.

Moderated by LCU President Dr. Mark Johnson, student leaders shared firsthand accounts of how AI has affected their collegiate educational experiences. Panelists included: Andrew Burnaman, a junior secondary biology education major; Nathan Mudd, a senior business administration major; Dylan Wells, a senior Christian studies major; Isabella McClendon, a senior social work major; and Pedro Deon, a senior computer science international student from Brazil. The students were joined by Dan Condell, the founder of DGC Strategy, an AI strategy and consulting company based in Pineville, and LCU Vice President for Institutional Advancement Dr. Beth Palmer. 

Most of the students remarked that the positives outweigh the negatives they see with using AI, but McClendon was the lone voice of serious concern for the new technology, especially as it relates to mental health.

“I’ve already seen what social media has done to our generation, and how we just kind of recycle thoughts of what’s popular on social media,” she said. “I think we’re already trained to recycle thoughts. That’s why I think AI is so dangerous, and why I’m really hesitant to be pro-AI.” 

McClendon said she fears that reliance on AI will exacerbate problems with forming relationships that have already happened with digital technology. 

She spoke of her experience spending the summer in Asia, where she did not have access to her phone or social media.

“I realized how reliant I was on my phone when I didn’t have that to cope or deal with problems,” McClendon said. “When I had to sit alone with myself and couldn’t give them to my phone or another person on the other end, I grew so much. That was really impactful. That’s why it’s so concerning for mental health. We use it as a numbing agent.”

If you can simply ask AI for resources on dealing with any kind of issue, you lose the human and relational elements of processing and working through things. 

Burnaman agreed that AI will never have empathy or emotions.

“It can’t sit with you and look you in the eye and empathize,” he said. 

However, the students and Condell did see many positives for the use of AI both in and out of the classroom.

Condell said that for someone like him, who has dyslexia, the benefits are great. AI can help put difficult concepts into a form that is much easier to process for students with different types of learning abilities. 

Burnaman said he is using AI to make practice questions for him from transcribed lectures he has recorded. It can also act as a personal tutor for material he repeatedly misses questions on. AI can also act as a research assistant when assigned a paper.

“It can find where something is in a text” when you want to cite something you read in a paper or book,” he said. AI can also grade a student’s paper with the rubric provided.

Still, McClendon said she fears students relying on AI instead of original thought in completing assignments. While it can be used to break down difficult text and ideas, she said “we miss something when we’re just summarizing and then asking AI what it thinks is most important. I might go through and find something completely different that AI missed. 

“If we’re always taking in something that’s easy, we’re going to put out stuff that’s equally as easy to comprehend without much critical thought.”

Burnaman agreed, saying AI cuts corners on topics. He studies biblical Greek, which he said AI gets wrong all the time because of its complexity.

“We have to question if AI is right,” he said. “And we won’t know if we haven’t read the work.”

Condell said the critical thinking skills are what employers are looking for.

“They want to know you can think critically and can question the machine,” he said.

So, it’s essential that educators put guardrails in place during the learning process.

Currently, students said professors are all over the place with their acceptance of AI or the lack thereof. Some are embracing it but monitoring its usage, while others don’t want students to touch it.

Wells said professors need to educate students on how to use AI in ways that will benefit them in their learning. 

While concerns about academic integrity with the use of AI are legitimate, Mudd said that students who cheat are going to just continue to cheat using AI, but he believes most students will use it ethically. 

Outside of the classroom, students discussed the ways—both serious and entertaining—that they have used AI.

Deon said he was able to create an app to manage issues in his dorm, and McClendon said she has enjoyed some of the features AI can add to photographs to place you in a different place or with different objects. 

As someone who has worked in higher education for 40 years, Palmer shared a different perspective on how she uses AI for processing educational data. She said she is amazed by the efficiency of it all. 

“We have to train it by asking good questions,” she said. “It’s exciting.”

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On Sept. 16, 1992, “Seinfeld” introduced one of the most memorable concepts in television history when Jerry Seinfeld and George Costanza pitched NBC on a sitcom that was, essentially, about nothing.

The idea appeared in an episode titled “The Pitch,” which aired as part of the show’s fourth season. In the episode, Jerry and George are invited to pitch a television series to NBC. George comes up with the idea of creating a show about their everyday lives — with no traditional plot or premise.

The fictional pitch became one of the defining jokes of “Seinfeld,” a show that would go on to become one of television’s most recognizable sitcoms.

The episode aired on Sept. 16, 1992, making the date an especially fitting one for fans of the show — and for anyone who has ever wondered how a show about nothing could become such a big deal.

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Week 3 of the Rapides Parish Journal’s annual High School Football Pick ’Em contest is underway, giving local fans another chance to test their gridiron knowledge and win cash.

Each week, the contest features 10 selected matchups highlighting Rapides Parish high schools and marquee regional games. The second round of competition concludes Friday, Sept. 18, so make your selections before kickoff to get in the game.

Each weekly winner will take home $100 and be featured with a photo in the Journal.

Participants can submit their picks online through the RPJ platform throughout the season to see who truly reigns as the top football prognosticator in Rapides Parish.

Contest Rules & Details

• Anyone is eligible to participate for free, and each week’s winning participant will win a $100 prize. Each week, the winner will be the participant with the best record out of 10 selected high school football games. Ties will be broken by two separate tiebreakers consisting of guessing the total points scored in two designated weekly contests. The picker with the closest score, without going over, is the winner. All decisions by Management/RPJ are final. The contest can be modified and/or cancelled without notice to the public.
  
  The only persons not eligible to participate are the publisher, the publisher’s immediate family, and regular content contributors to the Journal as determined by Management/RPJ.
  
• There is no entry fee. All contest decisions by Journal management are final. Weekly winners will be notified on Mondays and must agree to have their photo published in the Journal.
  
• Every participant receives a free subscription to the Journal, delivered directly to their inbox daily at 6:55 a.m.

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Louisiana hunters will have an early opportunity to return to the marsh this weekend as the state’s September teal season opens Saturday, Sept. 19.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced the statewide season will run Sept. 19-27.

During the special September season, hunters may harvest only blue-winged, green-winged and cinnamon teal. LDWF reminded hunters that black-bellied whistling ducks and all other waterfowl species are not legal to harvest during the September teal season. Teal may also be taken during Louisiana’s regular duck season, which begins in November.

Hunters are encouraged to make sure they have the required licenses, permits and certifications before heading into the field.

Waterfowl hunters age 16 and older are required to have a Federal Duck Stamp. Hunters age 18 and older must also possess a basic hunting license, waterfowl license and Harvest Information Program, or HIP, certification. Youth age 17 and younger are not required to have a hunting license.

Several LDWF Wildlife Management Areas provide teal hunting opportunities, including Pass-a-Loutre, Atchafalaya Delta, Pointe-aux-Chenes, Sherburne, Dewey Wills and Russell Sage WMAs. Visitors age 18 and older using WMAs must have the appropriate WMA access permit or a qualifying license.

LDWF is also reminding hunters to positively identify their target before shooting, particularly during the early teal season when other waterfowl species may be present.

The nine-day season concludes Sunday, Sept. 27. Hunters should review current LDWF regulations, licensing requirements and WMA-specific rules before hunting.

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There are two times during the year that are awesome for bass fishing, spring and fall. During the spring, bass are moving up into the shallows to spawn and make more little bass. So, it’s a great time to catch that fish of a lifetime as the big females are full of eggs. In the fall, the bass are going through a feeding frenzy and fattening up for the winter which also makes for exciting fishing.

Of these two times of the year, fall is probably my favorite. If you want to catch fish in the fall, tie on any lure you want as long as it looks like a shad. 

Shad colored spinnerbaits or crankbaits are deadly during the fall. Bass will slowly migrate out of their deep summer haunts and will move up shallow and into the back of the creeks. 

They will literally go into ambush mode and destroy a school of baitfish. If whatever you’re throwing looks like shad, they will eat it! Here are few tips on what to throw if you’re not sure what you need to tie on. 

I love to catch them on a shad pattern spinnerbait this time of year. You can throw either a white or any type of shad color and catch fish. Your hook up ratio with a spinnerbait seems to be really good. But a good shad colored crankbait like a Bandit 100 or 200 series in a pearl color with a black back or a white splatter back will also put fish in the boat. 

It’s also a great time to throw a buzz bait or any kind of topwater bait. Bass love a walking style bait like Heddon Zara Spook in either chrome or white. 

But there’s also another bait that is pretty much a guarantee for catching fish in the fall, a rattling shad bait like a Bill Lewis Rattle Trap or a SPRO Aruku Shad. Both baits truly mimic the bait fish bass are gorging themselves on this time of year. 

Fall can also be an excellent time to go out on the lake and find new places you might want to fish next season. And if the lake is low, it’s really great to try to locate and mark those hard spots bass love to get on in the winter and early spring. 

Too many anglers miss out on some of the best bass fishing of year as they park their bass boats and load up four-wheelers and head to the woods. Many start to focus on getting deer stands cleaned out or building and dressing their duck blinds. 

So, take advantage of uncrowded boat ramps that the fall brings. Head out to your favorite lake and enjoy some of the best bass fishing of the year. You never know, you just might catch your personal best.   

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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A benefit concert for Boston Pace will be held on Saturday, Oct. 3 from 3- 9 pm at the Lagniappe Event Center in Alexandria featuring country and Southern music performers from Louisiana, Texas and Nashville. Tickets for the benefit concert are $25 for general admission. Doors open at 2 p.m., with the concert scheduled from 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Lagniappe Event Center, 7521 Coliseum Blvd. in Alexandria.

Tickets will be available online and at the door. Online tickets are available through Eventbrite at Eventbrite.

Boston Pace, 7, became ill with strep throat in March 2026 along with his two brothers. While his brothers recovered, Boston’s symptoms worsened, including vomiting and severe headaches. After initially testing negative for strep, doctors attributed his symptoms to a virus and later to heat-related illness. Despite efforts to keep him hydrated and indoors, his symptoms continued.

On June 14, Pace took Boston to the emergency room, where a CT scan revealed a mass on his brain. Doctors suspected diffuse midline glioma (DMG), an aggressive brain tumor. The family was referred to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where doctors placed a shunt to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid and performed a biopsy that confirmed the diagnosis.

The event is presented by Buckshot Records LLC and Artist Development.

The lineup includes Jake Whyatt of Nashville, Tennessee; Heads or Tails Band of Alexandria, Louisiana; Thomas Tibbs of Jena, Louisiana; Pat Waters of Longview, Texas; and Big Green Tractor, Nashville’s tribute to Jason Aldean.

Organizers said the event will bring artists, businesses and community members together to show their support for Boston Pace and his family.

Jake Whyatt will travel from Nashville to join the benefit, along with Heads or Tails Band, Thomas Tibbs and Pat Waters. Big Green Tractor will close out the lineup.

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