The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development advises motorists that, beginning Tuesday, Aug. 18, at 6 p.m., weather permitting, there will be nightly alternating lane closures on US 165 northbound in Kingsville, near the northbound US 167 off-ramp and Lowe’s.

The northbound US 167 off-ramp to US 165 will remain open during construction; however, motorists should expect alternating lane closures while work is underway.

Closures are expected to generally occur Monday night through Friday morning, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., and are anticipated to continue through the end of September.

Motorists are encouraged to use caution, slow down and allow additional travel time when traveling through the work zone.

Motorists should watch for construction crews and equipment.

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By JIM BUTLER

Evidently no party challenged within the prescribed period the validity of GAEDA action at its June meeting, a session not posted through Monday on the site’s agenda index listings.

State law requires at least 24-hour notice on public web sites in addition to posting at the meeting place. The web posting sometimes gets lost in the shuffle. 

Any actions taken at non-noticed meetings are voidable but must be challenged within 60 days.

That deadline was Sunday though an extension is provided to Mondays when such occurs.  

Affirmation of a meeting is in minutes of the June session posted in the web site index.

If the panel met in July a notice did not appear through Monday. Minutes would not ordinarily be published until approved at a subsequent meeting.

Notice and minutes of a committee meeting in July are in the index. 

Mid-summer cancellation of sessions is not out of the ordinary for agencies when governing members’ travel schedules impact quorum needs.  

The panel’s regular monthly meeting will not be held today, according to notice on its website site. Two special meetings have been held this month.

According to the August 7 agenda, the Authority was to consider appropriating $25,000 to a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with Bonton Media for its “Season One Digital Storytelling” campaign.

The agenda, as is normal in most instances, does not elaborate on what is involved.

On August 11 the commission met to administer her oath to new member Kristen Lemoine and hold an executive session relative to potential litigation — who, what, why, when – not indicated.

Litigation is part of doing business. In GAEDA’s case, recently posted audit findings show about $157,000 in legal and professional fees in 2025.

Total income was $1.1 million; Program expenses were $970,000.

Economic development project support totaled $535,000. Payroll cost, including benefits and taxes, was $183,000.

The Authority used accumulated reserve funds to purchase a headquarters/rental space building on Murray Street.

Still on the table is about $298,000 the city claims is due it from the now eighty-sixed W&G CEA and about $55,000 District Judge Monique Rauls ruled in April is due from Executive Director Angela Varnado.

That is a result of overpayment based on action in a 2024 meeting subsequently ruled illegal.

GAEDA told auditors in June it was still waiting on the formal order before collecting.

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Stanley “Skip” Bertman may have passed from this life still owing former LSU basketball coach Dale Brown.

Lyle Mouton, when he was a sophomore on Brown’s 1988-89 basketball team led by Chris Jackson (Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf), Ricky Blanton and Wayne Sims, announced he was going to forsake a promising basketball career to play baseball under Skip Bertman. He followed in the path of Ben McDonald who, two years earlier did the same thing, with unprecedented success as a pitcher.

“We have developed an excellent farm club for Skip Bertman,” Brown quipped at the time. “So, I hope when he wins the College World Series, he will remember to send me a thank-you note.”

Mouton did go on to help LSU advance to three straight College World Series, including the national championship as a senior in 1991. The Lafayette native then played parts of seven seasons in Major League Baseball for four different teams. I don’t know if Bertman ever sent Brown a thank-you note. Don’t recall any stories about that. If he did so privately, Bertman probably did so with a smile as he lit a cigar.

Before he became LSU’s athletics director, Bertman showed signs as a potential AD as early as 1993, when Joe Dean held that post. Curley Hallman was in the middle of his third rough season as the head football coach, and Bertman came to Alexandria to speak to the student body at Alexandria Senior High to kick of the school’s “Red Ribbon” drug awareness week. After he was finished, he talked with me about the hot topic of Coach Hallman’s fate as LSU’s coach. Hallman was catching lots of heat with his team losing five of its first seven games. This was on the heels of two straight losing seasons (5-6 and 2-9) in his first two seasons as head coach.

“In my opinion,” said Bertman, speaking with authority, “they must play well against Ole Miss and Alabama and beat Tulane and Arkansas.”

He went on to elaborate how “bad football affects all of us in the athletic department,” and that the decline in football revenue meant a decline in revenue for the athletic department, meaning each team in the department would be required to take a 10 percent cut in 1994.

He said Dean was in a difficult position of possibly making another change at head coach since LSU was on its fifth head coach since Charlie McClendon left after the 1979 season. And Dean had hired Hallman after Mike Archer, his predecessor, resigned in 1990 after consecutive losing (5-6) seasons. Hallman was sitting at 2-5. 

“Curley hasn’t failed yet,” Skip said. “Give him ’til the end of the season. If you bring him back next year, he may start turning it around. It’s a tough call. It’s a call I wouldn’t want to make. I’m glad I don’t have to make it.”

Hallman, perhaps vividly imagining and ardently desiring and sincerely believing he could enthusiastically act upon an effort to turn things around, led LSU to victories over Ole Miss and at heavy favorite Alabama (“Pigs can fly!”) and Tulane before losing to Arkansas – a little better, on balance, than Bertman suggested Curley needed to accomplish. Dean let him coach again in ’94.

But Hallman was in over his head. His ’94 team posted another losing season, and Dean fired him after the Tigers lost to Southern Mississippi – the team Hallman had coached before LSU – in the next-to-last game of the season. 

Bertman said he didn’t want to make that decision to fire Hallman. He never had to make a tough like that as AD at LSU although his successor as the head baseball coach, Smoke Laval, resigned under pressure. Meanwhile, Skip hired four coaches who won national championships: Les Miles (football), Paul Mainieri (baseball), Chuck Winstead (men’s golf) and Dennis Shaver (track and field).

Former Menard star Ronnie Rantz, who pitched for Bertman on national championship teams in 1991 and ’93, has a ton of great stories about Bertman, including one from when the big lefty made his first start as an LSU pitcher – a night game against Louisiana College. 

“Gary Hymel was the catcher,” said Rantz, now the CEO/President of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation, “and I had trouble seeing some of his signs when he was calling pitches. We got crossed up a few times. … He came out to the mound a few times, asking what the heck I was doing shaking him off, and I told him to quit getting on my case and go back and catch. Coach Bertman finally came to the mound about the third inning and stood there with his hands on his hips silent for a few moments. Then he looked at me and said, ‘Rantz, you and Hymel are BUTCHERING the game of baseball. If you keep getting your wires crossed and keep throwing the wrong pitch, you’re coming out and you’re not going to pitch for a long time. Now pull your head out of your butt, breathe through your eyelids and play ball!’”    

ASH graduate Jeff Leaumont, who played at first base and in the outfield for Bertman in the late Nineties, said he and teammate Trey McClure one game went to sit with the pitchers near Skip as he would try to educate them on why he called for certain pitches. Maybe three times in a row he called what pitches he wanted and predicted what would happen, and it happened each time just as he called. “Then he shrugged his shoulders and put his hands up as if to say, ‘I do this all the time.’ Then he did say, ‘It’s not a science, just believe in me and we’ll be there.’”    

Pollock’s Russ Springer, who notched 313 strikeouts in three seasons at LSU (1987-89) and then had an 18-year big league career as a hard-throwing relief pitcher for 10 different teams, likes to recall how he shook off a few called pitches by Bertman early in his sophomore season. “He came out and said, ‘You probably think you can call a better game than I can.’ I said, ‘I know I can.’ He said, “All right, you got her.’ Russ said he’s the only pitcher he knew of that Skip allowed to call his own pitches.

Finally, Warren Morris of Alexandria, the 1996 College World Series hero, told a humorous vignette about Bertman that reveals how he could be honest without being brutal in dealing with a player’s deficiencies.

Morris, a middle infielder, had to redshirt in 1993 and he had little chance to play either position in 1994 with Russ Johnson at shortstop and Todd Walker at second base. Johnson finished runner-up that season in balloting for the National Player of the Year. Walker was a consensus first-team All-American. 

“I hit well enough to play, and my first chance was an early SEC game at Kentucky, so Skip decided to put me in left field,” Morris said. “I was trying a new position, and it was really windy, and during batting practice I went out there to try to gauge what it’s going to be like chasing balls left and right. I was doing some 360s out there trying to make some catches. When I came to the dugout, Coach called me over and said, ‘We’re going to use you today as the designated hitter. I caught your circus act out there trying to catch fly balls.” 

Bertman knew about circus acts. The bald guy with the bulbous nose and big ears was the emcee, the impresario, the clown and the guy who “held the rope” on the flying trapeze, all in one.

His legacy as a colossus of not only LSU baseball but college baseball “must,” as he would say, “absolutely must come to pass.”

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Rapides Parish School Board Superintendent Jeff Powell was the guest speaker at the Kiwanis Club of Alexandria’s last lunch meeting, where he provided a performance update for fall 2026.

Overall proficiency increased from 31% in 2021 to 40% in 2026. Students increased proficiency in Social Studies, Science, Math and ELA.

Rapides Parish ranks 19th statewide in overall proficiency, representing a 2% proficiency growth over the last year.

Literacy in Rapides Parish is 76% for K-3 reading at or above grade level.

Only two states are back above their 2019 Math levels, and Louisiana is one of them. Louisiana is also the only state in the U.S. that has passed its pre-pandemic benchmark.

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The City of Pineville will host an official historic marker unveiling at Hunter Street Cemetery, located directly behind Zion Hill Baptist Church, on Wednesday, August 19, at 9 a.m.

The marker recognizes and preserves the history and legacy of those who came before the community.

The public is invited to attend the event, pay their respects and celebrate local history.

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Soldiers from the 139th Regional Support Group conducted M17 pistol weapons qualification at Camp Beauregard in Pineville.

Annual weapons qualification is a requirement for Louisiana National Guard soldiers and helps ensure citizen-soldiers maintain the proficiency and readiness needed to respond when called upon.

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The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office will host a Citizens Academy from September 1 through October 6, 2026.

The one-night-per-week class will expose citizens to how the Sheriff’s Office operates, from the initial call for service to how civil paperwork is handled.

Attendees will see K-9 and RPSO SWAT demonstrations, equipment used in search and rescue operations, and an overview of what the Rapides Area Drug Enforcement Unit does to combat narcotics trafficking in Rapides Parish.

Participants must be 18 years of age or older. The class is limited to 30 participants on a first-come, first-served basis.

To register, contact the RPSO Training Division at 318-442-9229.

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Rachel lived on the island of Saint Croix in the Caribbean.  She married Johann Lavien and they had a son named Peter, but Johann was such an abusive husband that Rachel left for her own safety.  In retaliation, Johann had her imprisoned for adultery.  Upon her release, Rachel sailed from Saint Croix to another island in the Caribbean called Saint Kitts.  There, she met a Scottish trader named James.  Shortly thereafter, Rachel’s father died and left her a seaside lot on the nearby island of Nevis.  She and James moved there together but could not marry because she was still technically married to Johann.  Rachel had two sons with James, James Jr. and Alex.  After a little over ten years together, James abandoned Rachel and his children.  Some historians argue that James left to protect Rachel and their illegitimate children from legal action brought on by Johann.  Whatever the reason, Rachel and her two sons sailed back to Saint Croix.  Three years after James left, Rachel and Alex contracted yellow fever.  Alex made a full recovery, but Rachel did not.  She died at the young age of 39.  

Things went from bad to worse.  James Jr. and Alex became orphans.  Because she was still married to Johann at the time of his death, he had control of her estate.  Johann sold all of Rachel, James Jr., and Alex’s possessions in an auction.  For a few months, James Jr. and Alex lived with their cousin, Peter Lytton, until he died by suicide.  James Jr. became an apprentice to a carpenter and Alex became a clerk at an import/export company on the island.  Alex was not yet a teenager.  

On one hot August day, a powerful hurricane devastated Saint Croix and changed the course of Alex’s life.  Well, not the hurricane itself, but a letter Alex wrote which described the hurricane.  Alex wrote the letter to his father.  Alex’s mentor, a minister and newspaper editor, was impressed with the letter and published in the local newspaper.  “Honoured Sir,” Alex Wrote, “I take up my pen just to give you an imperfect account of one of the most dreadful Hurricanes that memory or any records whatever can trace, which happened here on the 31^st ultimo at night.”  Ultimo was short for “in the previous month.”  As he neared the end of his letter, Alex wrote, “I am afraid, Sir, you will think this description more the effort of imagination, than a true picture of realities.  But I can affirm with the greatest truth, that there is not a single circumstance touched upon, which I have not absolutely been an eyewitness to.”  When the people of Saint Croix read the article, they were also impressed.  Those who knew Alex knew he was illegitimate and uneducated, but they knew how hard he worked.  They paid for Alex to come to North America for a proper education and to give him a chance at a better life.  Alex did not squander the opportunity.  While in college, war broke out and Alex joined the military.  Within a short time, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel because of leadership abilities and became the chief staff aid to the general in charge of the whole war.  After the war, Alex became a delegate to Congress, practiced law, and founded a bank.  When the general he served under became President of the United States, he chose Alex as his Secretary of the Treasury.  Because of this position, those of us who still carry cash can see him on our $10 bills.  Alex, that illegitimate orphan who achieved the American dream, who was a signer of the U.S. Constitution, was Alexander Hamilton.  And it all started because of a letter to his father. 

Sources:

1.     Susan B. Barnes, “Walk in the Footsteps of Alexander Hamilton on This Tiny Caribbean Island,” Smithsonian Magazine, August 23, 2017, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/alexander-hamilton-nevis-caribbean-island-180964047/.

2.     “Alexander Hamilton to the Royal Danish American Gazette, 6 September 1772,” National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Hamilton/01-01-02-0042.

3.     The Royal Danish American Gazette, October 3, 1772.

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Funeral services for Mr. Thomas Edward “Tom” Henigan will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, August 21, 2026, at Big Creek Baptist Church, Pollock, with Reverends Clay Hutto and David Guillot officiating. Visitation will begin at 8:00 a.m. Interment will follow in Big Creek Cemetery, Pollock, under the direction of Rush Funeral Home, Pineville.

Mr. Henigan, 86, of Bentley, Louisiana, passed away peacefully on August 14, 2026, in Alexandria, Louisiana.

Tom was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, veteran, firefighter, craftsman, outdoorsman, and friend. But above all else, he was a family man who loved his people deeply and quietly showed that love in a thousand different ways.

Tom married his high school sweetheart, Bonnie Henigan, on August 16, 1958. They shared a lifetime of love, adventure, hard work, and friendship until Bonnie’s passing on May 15, 2020. Together, they built a life full of memories and spent countless days traveling, working, exploring the outdoors, and simply enjoying each other’s company.

Tom was a proud veteran who answered the call to serve his country at a young age. He enlisted in the National Guard in 1955, and was honorably discharged before enlisting in the United States Army in 1957, as an active-duty soldier. During his military service, he served as a lineman and earned recognition as a marksman, along with a Good Conduct Medal. He proudly served as a Korean War Veteran and carried the values of his military service throughout the rest of his life.

After his military service, Tom dedicated his career to the Baton Rouge Fire Department. He began his career as a firefighter and worked his way through the ranks, eventually becoming a District Chief. He dedicated himself to the people he served and took great pride in his work and the many people he worked alongside throughout his career.

Tom was also an exceptionally talented carpenter. He worked with his hands his entire life and could build, repair, or create just about anything. Even after retirement, carpentry remained a big part of his life. Bonnie was often right beside him-his unofficial assistant, although everyone who knew them knew she was really the boss. Together, they spent countless hours taking on carpentry jobs and projects.

When Tom wasn’t working, you could often find him outdoors. He loved fishing, hunting, gardening, wildlife, mountains, traveling, and just about anything that allowed him to be outside. He and Bonnie loved traveling and made friends everywhere they went. Some of Tom’s favorite adventures were the simple ones-packing sandwiches with Bonnie and taking the boat out for the day. His good friends, Roger Anders and Quinton Randall, were his partners in crime and sidekicks through many of those adventures.

Tom also loved music and playing his guitar with good friends. He had a way of making friendships that lasted, and he treasured the people who shared his love of music, the outdoors, traveling, and life.

Tom was one of a kind. He was incredibly sweet, calm, and respectful to everyone he met. He was also stubborn and hardheaded enough to make sure nobody ever forgot who they were dealing with. He secretly loved the gossip but would never admit it, and somehow managed to listen to everything while letting you believe he wasn’t listening at all.

Tom leaves behind a family who will deeply miss his quiet presence, stories, humor, stubbornness, wisdom, and the countless ways he showed his love. He served his country and community, cherished his family, built things that lasted with his own two hands, and lived a life full of adventure, friendship, music, and the outdoors. His legacy lives on through the memories he created, the people he loved, and the lasting impact he made on those around him. He will be deeply missed, forever loved, and never forgotten.

Tom was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Bonnie Henigan; his son, Joseph Henigan, who passed away in February 2026; his parents, Joseph and Hazel Henigan; and his siblings, Pat Rowzee, Alice Faye Polk, Christine McKay, Patsy Jo Rowzee, James “Herb” Henigan, and Leslie “Puck” Henigan.

Tom is survived by his beloved daughter, Jenny Dupree, and her husband, Micheal Dupree; his grandchildren, Jessica Mizell and her partner, Janelle Mizell-Santoyo and her husband, Victor, Justin Ferguson and his wife, Amber, and Jacob Ferguson and his wife, Makala; his grandchildren through his late son, Joseph Henigan: Joshua Henigan, Janessa Henigan and her husband, Robbie Gomez, and Jesse Henigan and his wife, Desirae; one sister, Carol Ann Robertson; as well as numerous great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandsons, who will carry his memory and the stories of his life forward for generations to come.

Pallbearers: Joshua Henigan, Jesse Henigan, Bob McManemin, Jimmy Hicks, Victor Santoyo, and Ben Whatley.

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Ronald “Ronnie” Garey Vollm was born on July 21, 1949, in Bude, Mississippi. He peacefully passed, while being surrounded by his loving family, from this life on Sunday, August 16, 2026, into the presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, leaving behind a legacy of faith, service, hard work, and unconditional love for his family.

As a young boy, Ronnie moved with his family to Colfax, Louisiana, where they established a logging business. He learned early the value of hard work and spent much of his younger years working alongside family in the logging industry. Those lessons of determination, perseverance, and integrity became hallmarks of his character throughout his life.

Ronnie faithfully served his country for 32 years in the Louisiana Army National Guard, retiring and serving with the rank of First Sergeant with the 256th Brigade and the 199th Brigade Support Battalion at Camp Beauregard in Pineville, Louisiana. His distinguished military career included service during the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. While in the military service, he worked as a skilled diesel mechanic in the maintenance and overhaul shop at Camp Beauregard.

He was a proud American soldier who answered the call of duty whenever needed. Throughout his military service, Ronnie received numerous honors and decorations, including the Bronze Star of Valor Medal and the Purple Heart Medal, recognizing his courage, sacrifice, and commitment to serving his nation.

While Ronnie was respected as a soldier, those who knew him best knew that he was a cowboy at heart. He loved spending days riding trails on horseback, feeling most at home beneath wide-open skies. His horses were among his greatest companions, especially Z-Bar, his beloved last and best horse.

Ronnie found joy in life’s simple pleasures. He loved reading books, caring for his animals, and sitting in the barn with a fan nearby and a good book in hand. He took great pride in keeping his yard neatly maintained and enjoyed woodworking and building projects of every kind. Whether constructing a clubhouse for children, building sheds, barns, porches, or helping someone else with a project, Ronnie was always creating something with his hands. He firmly believed that no spare part should ever go to waste because it might be exactly what was needed for the next project.

Above all, Ronnie treasured his family. Some of his happiest moments were spent with his grandchildren, teaching them how to ride horses, care for animals, and appreciate the outdoors. The lessons he passed on extended far beyond horseback riding; he taught them about responsibility, perseverance, kindness, and faith.

More important than anything else in Ronnie’s life was his love for the Lord Jesus Christ. He was a faithful member of Fountain of Life United Pentecostal Church in Natchitoches, Louisiana. His faith was not merely something he professed but something he lived every day. Even in the final days of his life, Ronnie continued to lift his hands and praise Jesus. His family finds comfort in knowing that he has heard the words every faithful believer longs to hear: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

Ronnie loved his beloved wife, Beverly Sue Vollm, with whom he shared 28 wonderful years. He loved to joke, tease, and laugh with her, while faithfully providing for and caring for her throughout their marriage.

Ronnie is survived by his devoted wife of 28 years, Beverly Sue Vollm; his children, Issac Vollm, Joshua Vollm (Aimee), Jacob Vollm (Hannah), and Ashley Vollm; his stepchildren, Kelli Rachal (Lucas), and Billy Rachal Jr, and his beloved pup Sophia. He is also survived by his siblings, Jimmy Dale Vollm (Carlyn) of Colfax, Louisiana, Sandra Vollm of Longview, Texas, Margaret Vollm of Colfax, Louisiana, and Kenneth Robin Vollm (Brenda) of Cartersville, Georgia; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members, church family, and friends.

Ronnie was preceded in death by his parents, Marion Larry Vollm and Myriam Aileen Vollm; and by his siblings, Larry Vollm Jr., Mavis Oswalt, William Rayford Vollm, Issac Farrell Vollm, Wesley Vollm, and Timothy Vollm.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Gallagher Funeral Home of Ball, Louisiana. Services will be held at12:00 p.m. on Friday, August 21, 2026, at Fountain of Life United Pentecostal Church in Natchitoches, Louisiana. The Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. and continue until the time of service. Interment will follow at Mars Hill Cemetery in Verda, Louisiana.

Serving as pallbearers will be Garland McCracken, Kevin Ponthieux, Kenny Fogleman, Greg Coleman, Ja Juanna Ogborn, Gene Coleman, and Grady Atwell.

Honorary pallbearers will be Micheal Wilkins, Carey Boykin, Willie Black, Kenny Case, Russ Keys, Kaiden Vollm, Dawson Vollm, and Eli Vollm.

Though Ronnie’s earthly journey has ended, his influence remains in the lives he touched, the family he cherished, the faith he lived, and the example he left behind. His life was a testimony to service, courage, faithfulness, and love. We rejoice in the promise that because of Jesus Christ, this goodbye is not forever, and one day we will meet again.

The family would like to recognize and thank the Patriotic Guard Riders, the Military Honor Guard, and the team of Hospice of Natchitoches for their service, especially Lacey!

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” – 2 Timothy 4:7

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By JIM BUTLER

Managing the message is among things changing at LSU Alexandria as the booming campus prepares for the Fall semester:

Faculty convocation today, student move-in Thursday, last orientation Friday, classes next Monday and reminders that an external communication policy is now on the books.

Such is not new to campuses, or businesses and government for that matter, across the land.

According to policy adopted earlier this month, the university Division of Strategic Communication will administer it in its role of coordinating news coverage and being responsible for overseeing official communications with the media.

Gagging is not the objective of formalizing the process for handling media requests and inquiries.

According to the document, the goal is protecting the school’s image while providing faculty full opportunity to engage in area of expertise.

Another way to say that is that responses to media inquiries must make it clear that such do not represent the university.

The policy “does not restrict faculty and staff from expressing opinions or providing information in area of expertise. It does apply to questions of policy, academic programs, personnel, students, public or private events that should be referred to the proper administrator or designated spokesman.”

When media types are on campus, the policy notes, they should be accompanied, when appropriate, by university representatives.

If personnel are contacted directly, it is suggested Strategic Communications be contacted before responding.

Issues from silly to serious can become campus news in these days of social media interactions.

A silly, to some, for instance – do athletes retain right to uniform number usage?

A serious, to most, for instance – how is change in duration of status for student visa holders affecting school?

The policy would apply to inquiries and responses in either instance should a reporter ask.

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Emily McGruder, president and CEO of the Central Louisiana Community Foundation (CLCF), spoke to the Rotary Club of Pineville on Thursday.

CLCF accepts charitable funds established through gifts and bequests from individuals, families, businesses and other nonprofit organizations.

The foundation brings together the region’s citizens, financial advisors and nonprofit agencies to stimulate charitable giving and improve the quality of life in Central Louisiana. CLCF invests these funds to increase philanthropic capacity across the region.

Donor-advised funds allow CLCF donors to support causes and organizations they care about. Local nonprofits can establish Agency Funds to create an income stream by receiving returns on cash reserves for future or current needs. Field-of-Interest Funds are established to support a particular cause or philanthropy.

Businesses and families can establish Scholarship Funds to support regional education needs.

McGruder’s office can be reached at 318-445-7702.

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The Corner Drug & Wellness Pharmacy is coming soon to Alexandria, owned and operated by Austin Peavy, PharmD.

The pharmacy will be located at 4116 Jackson Street and will serve Alexandria and the surrounding community with personalized pharmacy care, wellness support and a community-first experience.

Opening details and service updates will be announced.

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By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

MEMPHIS – After a sensational 62 Saturday lifted him into a final group pairing with his pal Scottie Scheffler, Sam Burns’ final round at the FedEx St. Jude Championship Sunday quickly went awry.

The former two-time LSU All-American began Sunday tied for second, two shots behind Scheffler’s 13-under par. A water-ball double bogey on the par-5 third hole, Burns’ second in three days there, started a skid that produced a 3-over 73 over the final 18, and dipped him to a third-place tie at 8-under (67-70-62-73 – 272).

Scheffler also started slowly but found his groove and carded a finishing 66 when the average score was over par (70.56, nearly a stroke higher than any of the first three rounds). The 66 was the second-lowest total Sunday as he claimed his second win of the season and 21^st career, making him the third-youngest golfer ever (behind Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus) to reach that milestone.

After doubling the par-5 third, Burns added a bogey two holes later. He birdied the par-3 seventh, but bogeys at 10 and 13 killed any chance, although he steadied with birdies at 14 and the par-5 16^th. He finished with a bogey on 18, his third in four days on the closing hole.

It was in stark contrast to Saturday’s 8-under card, which included six birdies on the front side — and a par on 18. 

“Honestly, I don’t think it would have mattered even if I played well,” Burns said. “(Scheffler)  was going to be really hard to beat today, and unfortunately, I played not very good. He played exactly how I expected him to.“

Scheffler finished 17 under, eight shots clear of second-place Si Woo Kim. Only five pros in history have recorded two or more wins by at least eight shots (Woods had 10, three others before Sunday had a pair). It was the second in the Texan’s career. 

As it turned out, Burns would have needed a final-round 64 to force a playoff, but with poor driving (hitting only 5 of 14 fairways Sunday), and a tougher course, that was out of reach.

“I just looked at my stats for the week. I think I finished — I lost like 2 1/2 strokes off the tee. It’s not a golf course you want to do that on,“ he said.

“I just played out of position a lot today. It’s a really, really difficult golf course from the rough, and unfortunately, I was in the rough a lot.

“Honestly, the last three weeks at home I didn’t do a ton of golf. We have a newborn (back home in Choudrant). It was nice to come here and see where my game is. Obviously I have some work to do to get ready for next week with some longer clubs. I hit the ball really nicely with my irons. I putted it good. 

“Overall I feel really good going into the next two weeks,” he said. “It was nice to come here, have a good week and jumpstart the playoffs.”

The top 50 in the FedEx Cup standings advanced to the second playoff event, the BMW Championship up the Mississippi River in St. Louis beginning Thursday at Bellerive Country Club. The top 30 in the standings after next Sunday reach the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta

Burns, a 30-year-old native of Shreveport, edged up two spots, from eighth to sixth, in the FedEx Cup race and will play in Atlanta for the sixth straight year. 

He collected $1.16 million for third at Memphis, raising his season’s earnings to a career-best $8.7 million including four top five finishes in 18 starts.

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After 25 years of service to the Alexandria Police Department and the Alexandria community, Lt. Josh Peppers is beginning his next chapter.

Friends and colleagues recently gathered to celebrate Peppers and recognize his years of service alongside the men and women of the Alexandria Police Department.

The department recognized Peppers’ experience, leadership and commitment and thanked him for 25 years of service.

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Arrests are accusations, not convictions.

Aug. 16

Jermaine Bronson Augustine, 39, Marksville – OWI second offense, running a yellow light, $1,600 bail;

Ashley Nicole Difulco, 40, Pineville – OWI, running a stop sign, $1,300 bail;

Dawson Cade Jones, 25, Urania – OWI second offense, careless operation of a vehicle, open container, $1,700 bail;

Kiearra L. Senegal, 25, Eunice – OWI first offense, $1,000 bail;

Ladayshea T. Senegal, 26, Eunice – OWI first offense, speeding, $1,100 bail.

Aug. 15

Cleondra Marshawn Bernard, 25, Lafayette – criminal conspiracy, simple escape, no bail data;

Jamira Shacole Bush, 28, Alexandria – improper display vehicle license, four counts contempt of court, $9,100 bail;

Kayla Renee Jackson, 27, Lafayette – criminal conspiracy, assisting escape, accessory after the fact, no bail data;

Chad Anthony Peavy, 35, Pineville – two counts possession of CDS, paraphernalia, driving under suspension, safety belt, parole violations, modified exhaust, $1,300 bail;

Hunter Bradford Smith, 24, Pineville – careless operation of a vehicle, operating without insurance, driving under suspension, failure to report accident, improper window tint, running a stop sign, $600 bail;

Adrian Lamond Swafford, 41, Pineville – aggravated assault, disturbing the peace, $1,000 bail;

Xavier Terrell Timothy Jr., 32, Lecompte – speeding, possession of CDS, $1,600 bail;

Kasbey Cortez Williams, 47, Alexandria – possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, improper window tint, no insurance, improper display vehicle license plate, $300 bail;

Joseph Marshall Winborne, 46, Pineville – possession of CDS, paraphernalia, $2,000 bail.

Aug. 14

Hollie Ann Brooks, 32, Pineville – simple escape, three counts possession of CDS, paraphernalia, $77,500 bail;

Jeremy Coutee, 18, Alexandria – aggravated criminal damage, possession of handgun by a juvenile, obstruction of justice, no bail data;

Crystal Lynn Crawford, 27, Alexandria – theft, contempt of court, $3,000 bail;

Bryant Desselle, 31, Pineville – 10 counts forgery, 10 counts theft, exploitation of the infirmed, $500 bail;

Johnathan Willis Drerup, 41, Boyce – 13 counts allowing dogs to run free, $6,500 bail;

Hardy Dewayne Dunn Jr., 47, Boyce – criminal conspiracy, parole violations, safety belt, possession of CDS, no driver’s license, improper lane usage, three counts contempt of court, $2,300 bail;

Devonna Antionette Hampton, 34, Alexandria – possession of CDS, criminal trespass, $5,500 bail;

Dwight Edwin Poole, 70, Crowley – possession of CDS, two counts criminal trespass, possession of drug paraphernalia, $3,000 bail;

Corey Ray Ryland, 43, Shreveport – aggravated battery, false imprisonment, $500 bail;

Jeffery Lenard Smith, 51, Alexandria – domestic abuse battery strangulation, no bail data;

Christopher Sykes, 47, Alexandria – OWI first offense, $1,000 bail;

Tradale Andrew Williams, 35, Pineville – aggravated assault with a firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, illegal carry firearm with drugs, two counts possession of CDS, failure to comply with provisions of a supervised release, parole violations, $15,000 bail;

Tyler D. Winchester, 20, Alexandria – illegal use of weapons, concealed negligent carry handgun, no bail data.

Aug. 13

Cody Daniel Bates, 28, Deville – domestic abuse battery with child present, $5,000 bail;

Delrick Beard, 24, Natchitoches – four counts aggravated assault with a firearm, concealed negligent carry of handgun, resisting an officer, two counts Louisiana fugitive, $101,000 bail;

Luther Durwood Birch, 37, Alexandria – criminal trespass, resisting arrest, contempt of court, $3,000 bail;

Theresa A. Bordelon, 52, Boyce – violation of protective orders (second/subsequent conviction), $10,000 bail;

Denzel Rakeem Calhoun, 35, Alexandria – criminal conspiracy, criminal damage to property, simple burglary, contempt of court, $50,000 bail;

Terry Cooper, 62, Zwolle – two counts contempt of court, $200,000 bail;

Marcy Thomas Couteter, 50, Pineville – two counts aggravated assault, simple burglary, two counts resisting an officer, $7,000 bail;

Jacob Laighton Durant, 42, Pineville – three counts contempt of court, $7,000 bail;

Christopher Morrisell Farris, 33, Alexandria – manslaughter, two counts contempt of court, $600,000 bail;

Crystal Mae Gordon, 37, Boyce – two counts aggravated assault, disturbing the peace, violation of protective orders, $200,500 bail;

Jerry Lee Gray, 49, Alexandria – three counts contempt of court, extradition proceedings, $12,000 bail;

Michael Loren Reeder, 46, Alexandria – violation of protective orders, failure to appear, $10,500 bail;

Benjamin Chadrick Stinson, 40, Pineville – four counts contempt of court, $210,000 bail;

Tonnie Wells Jr., 33, Marksville – three counts possession of CDS, no license plate light, failure to appear, two counts contempt of court, $3,800 bail.

Aug. 12

Ashton Balise Basco, 27, Pineville – stalking, aggravated public intimidation and retaliation, criminal trespass, $60,500 bail;

Ethan Cotton, 19, Deville – simple escape, simple battery of a police officer, disturbing the peace violent and tumultuous manner, $2,500 bail;

Ricky Joseph Dauzat II, 31, Lena – OWI second offense, lamp or flag on projecting load, no license plate light, open container, $1,800 bail;

Leigha N. Deville, 36, Woodworth – burglary of an inhabited dwelling, contempt of court, $6,000 bail;

German G. Elvir, 48, Ball – cruelty to juveniles, flight from an officer, resisting an officer, contempt of court, $29,000 bail;

Ayden Lane Henagan, 17, Ball – first degree rape, $1 million bail;

Michael Lynn Owens, 55, Pineville – OWI first offense, improper lane usage, improper turn, $2,200 bail;

Coby J. Quinney, 21, Pineville – possession of CDS, illegal carrying a weapon, $2,000 bail;

Javon Sanders, 22, Alexandria – stalking, unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling, two counts contempt of court, $75,000 bail;

Shanowa Dawn Simon, 40, Pineville – theft (second/subsequent conviction), criminal trespass, two counts contempt of court, Louisiana fugitive, $4,000 bail;

Sunny Mariah Stanford, 46, Pineville – theft, two counts contempt of court, $5,000 bail.

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It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Johnny Monroe Cryer, who left us on Friday, August 14, 2026. Johnny, born February 20, 1953, was a beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend, and devoted husband. He will be remembered for his love of music, his incredible talent as a piano player, and the warmth he brought to the people around him.

Graveside services for Johnny will be held at 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, August 18, 2026 in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Ball with Reverend Benji Rhame officiating under the direction of Hixson Brothers Alexandria.

Johnny dedicated much of his career to serving as a corrections officer. Outside of work, music was one of his greatest passions. An amazing piano player, he had a special gift for bringing music to life and sharing it with others. He loved listening to live bands, spending time with friends, and enjoying the simple moments that made life meaningful.

Above all, Johnny loved his family. He was a proud father to his two daughters and cherished his role as a grandfather and great-grandfather.

He is survived by his daughters, Chelsea Null and her husband, Dustin Null, and Cassie Cryer; his grandchildren, Alexis Null and Mason Null; and his great-grandson, Colstyn Null.

Johnny was preceded in death by his beloved wife of more than 25 years, Sandra Cryer, as well as his mother, Emily Cryer, and his father, Monroe Cryer.

Johnny’s memory will live on through his family, his music, the friendships he treasured, and the many lives he touched along the way. Though he will be deeply missed, the love, laughter, and music he shared will remain with those who knew and loved him.

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Eva Doris Woolfolk Powell was born on February 5, 1944, in Alexandria, Louisiana, to the late Austin Williams Woolfolk and Leona Valley Woolfolk. On Thursday, August 13, 2026, she peacefully transitioned from this earthly life at CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital in Alexandria, Louisiana, at the age of 82.

Eva was a woman whose life was marked by love, education, family, faith, and a genuine appreciation for the beauty of life. She valued education and pursued her studies through the graduate level, earning a Master’s Degree. Her passion for learning ultimately became a passion for teaching others. She devoted her professional career to public education as a teacher with the Rapides Parish School Board. Teaching was more than simply an occupation for Eva; it was something she truly enjoyed and a meaningful part of the legacy she leaves behind.

Her faith was also an important foundation in her life. Eva was a faithful member of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, where she shared in the fellowship and spiritual life of her church family.

Outside of her professional and church commitments, Eva embraced life with warmth and enthusiasm. She enjoyed traveling and had a special fondness for bright colors, which beautifully reflected her vibrant personality. Above all, she loved her family deeply. Her children and grandchildren held a particularly treasured place in her heart, and the time she spent with those she loved brought her tremendous joy.

Eva shared her life in marriage with her beloved husband, James Powell, Jr. Together, they built a family and a lifetime of cherished memories.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Austin Williams Woolfolk and Leona Valley Woolfolk; one brother, Zera Hill; and three sisters, Ophelia Woolfolk Hobbs, Emma Woolfolk Marve, and Audrey Woolfolk King.

Eva leaves to cherish her precious memory her loving husband, James Powell, Jr.; two sons, James Terrance Powell and Christopher Byron Powell, both of Alexandria, Louisiana; two grandchildren, Christine Ciera Powell of Los Angeles, California, and Jameson Blake Powell of Ruston; two brothers, Austin Woolfolk (Willa) of Lexington, Kentucky, and Fred Woolfolk (Beverly) of Alexandria, Louisiana; two sisters, Dorothy Woolfolk Devall of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Juanita Woolfolk Johnson of Kenner, Louisiana; two special nieces, Lynn Martin Brown and Kathy Marve; along with a host of other nieces, nephews, relatives, friends, former students, colleagues, and all whose lives were touched by her kindness and dedication.

Though her earthly journey has ended, Eva’s influence will continue through the generations she taught, the family she loved, the faith she demonstrated, and the countless memories she leaves behind.

Celebration of Life

Public Viewing and Visitation will be held on Saturday, August 22, 2026, from 12:00 noon until 1:00 p.m. at Bethel A.M.E. Church, 3500 Jones Avenue, Alexandria, Louisiana 71302.

The Funeral Service will begin at 1:00 p.m. at Bethel A.M.E. Church.

Following the service, Mrs. Powell will be laid to rest in the Garden of Memories Cemetery, 2733 Eddie Williams Avenue, Alexandria, Louisiana 71302.

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By JIM BUTLER

Notes from recently posted Legislative Auditor reports:

Following up

Central Louisiana State Hospital and Pinecrest Supports and Serviced Center are correcting practices faulted in audit procedural reports. 

Such reports are follow-ups by the Legislative Auditor Office to check on status of previously noted issues. 

Auditors determined  Central lacked still adequate contols to ensure patient billing in a timely and correct manner with Medicare. 

In the review period about $110,000 was not billed and $308,000 not billed in the required time, resulting in non-payment. 

CEO Nancy Brown faulted several years of staff turnover as well as inadequate controls, which she said are now in place. 

At Pinecrest auditors found inadequate controls over resident accounts, which Brown noted in response are now operational. 

Keep them coming

The Alexandria Convention and Visitors Bureau had a governmental fund balance of $2.2 million at audit year’s end. 

That is an increase of $104,000 compared to a year earlier. 

Revenues, paced by a hotel-motel tax yielding $909,000, were $1.25 million. 

Expenses totaled $1.15 million, including $351,000 promotional costs, $309,000 salaries/benefits and $231,000 advertising. 

The fiduciary account (Randolph Riverfront Center) had revenues of $1 million, including $600,000 in taxes for other entities and $400,000 rental income. 

Expenses were $1.2 million, about evenly divided between salaries/benefits and operations/maintenance.

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After 29 years of service, Rapides Regional Medical Center celebrated the retirement of Wayne Sibley, director of Pastoral Care. Chaplain Sibley served as a source of comfort, compassion and prayer for patients, families, physicians and colleagues.

Sibley also provided leadership to the hospital’s Auxiliary program and volunteers.

Rapides Regional Medical Center thanked Sibley for his dedication, leadership and commitment to serving others and wished him well in retirement.

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Mayor Butler and Councilwoman Aymond presented a proclamation to the Woodworth Community Health Center in recognition of National Health Care Week in August.

The Town of Woodworth thanked the health center team for providing compassionate, quality care and putting the community first.

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On August 4, 2026, United States District Judge Jerry Edwards, Jr., sentenced Dequavious Wagner, 32 of Alexandria, to 270 months in federal prison after he pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking. He also received five years of supervised release after his sentence is served. 

According to court records, in early May 2025, the Rapids Parish Sheriff’s Office (RPSO) was investigating Wagner for illegal drug trafficking. As part of that investigation, RPSO identified a white Ram 2500 as a vehicle being used by Wagner. On May 6, 2025, RPSO deputies conducted a traffic stop of Wagner in the Ram 2500. The stop led to a search of the vehicle, resulting in the discovery of an aftermarket compartment welded to the undercarriage of the truck. Inside the compartment were more than 100 pounds of methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl pills, and marijuana.

RPSO deputies later executed a search warrant at Wagner’s residence in Alexandria. Inside his bedroom, deputies located approximately four pounds of fentanyl, one and one-half pounds of methamphetamine, and a loaded pistol. Laboratory testing confirmed the substances as fentanyl and methamphetamine. Wagner admitted he possessed the drugs with intent to distribute, and that he possessed the loaded firearm as part of his drug-trafficking activities.

U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and RPSO investigated this case. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Cassidy with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Emily Favrot.

This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Take Back America (TBA), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s agencies, and coordinates efforts with state and local law enforcement and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTF), ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. Learn more about PSN at justice.gov/psn.

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at justice.gov/usao-wdla.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at http://www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer, under Case Number 26-00165.

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