On February 19, 1945, one of the most significant battles of World War II began as U.S. Marines launched an assault on the heavily fortified island of Iwo Jima. The battle, which lasted for 36 days, saw more than 70,000 Marines fight against 21,000 Japanese soldiers, resulting in one of the most intense conflicts of the Pacific Theater.

The famous photograph of Marines raising the American flag on Mount Suribachi, taken by Joe Rosenthal, became an enduring symbol of American resilience and sacrifice. The battle was a turning point in the war, providing the U.S. with a crucial strategic position closer to the Japanese mainland.

Today, veterans and historians continue to reflect on the bravery of those who fought, ensuring their sacrifices are never forgotten.

The LSUA Foundation is honored to announce the establishment of the Renaud L. Holcombe Endowed Scholarship, a generous gift from Dr. David Holcombe and his wife, Nicole Holcombe, in memory of their late son, Renaud L. Holcombe. The Holcombes have pledged $25,000, inclusive of corporate matching funds, over three years to fund the endowment, which will benefit students in the College of Science, Technology, and Mathematics at LSUA.

This scholarship reflects the Holcombe family’s commitment to supporting higher education and fostering opportunities for students pursuing degrees in Computer Science or Cybersecurity. Designed to assist full-time students who demonstrate financial need and academic excellence, the scholarship will help ensure that deserving students can achieve their educational goals.

Born in Brussels, Belgium, Renaud L. Holcombe moved to Alexandria, Louisiana, with his family. He attended Bolton High School and graduated from the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts. A gifted student, Renaud went on to earn a degree in Computer Science from Loyola University New Orleans. An amateur cyclist and glass-blower, and an avid reader, Renaud was a talented data architect who had a passion for life and learning. This scholarship honors his legacy by empowering others to follow in his footsteps.

Recipients of the Renaud L. Holcombe Scholarship must be full-time LSUA students majoring in Computer Science or Cybersecurity, maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5, and demonstrate financial need. The scholarship is renewable annually, provided recipients continue to meet the eligibility requirements.

The LSUA Foundation expresses profound gratitude to the Holcombe family for their meaningful gift, which will leave a lasting impact on the university and its students.

During Love the Boot Week, April 5-13, Keep Louisiana Beautiful (KLB) has partnered with Coca-Cola in spearheading the recycling of plastic bottles and aluminum cans for litter cleanup events happening in 27 parishes. This effort, facilitated by the Osprey Initiative, will lead to thousands of bottles and cans being diverted from the landfill. Love the Boot Week is Louisiana’s largest litter removal and beautification effort held during Earth Month, with events organized by businesses, non-profits, schools, governments, and families in all 64 parishes. Events in eligible parishes can sign up for recycling when registering for Love the Boot Week at LoveTheBoot.org.

“Thank you to Coca-Cola for continuing to fund recycling during Love the Boot Week,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “It takes all of us working together to keep our communities clean. If you are having a Love the Boot cleanup in one of the 27 parishes where recycling is available, I encourage you to participate in this important effort to divert cans and bottles from the landfill.”

“At Coca-Cola, our bottles and cans can live many lives, and efforts like this to collect and recycle are fundamental to that process,” said Scott Ryan, Vice President of Franchise Operations for The Coca-Cola Company. “We’re proud to sponsor and participate in Love the Boot Week again this year and commend Keep Louisiana Beautiful for their leadership in litter reduction in the state.”

With support from Coca-Cola, Osprey Initiative will facilitate recycling from litter cleanup events in the following parishes: Acadia, Ascension, Bossier, Caddo, Calcasieu, DeSoto, East Baton Rouge, Evangeline, Grant, Iberia, Jefferson, Lafayette, Livingston, Orleans, Ouachita, Plaquemines, Rapides, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Vermilion.

The recycling program will include a combination of pick-up and drop-off services, and 21 regional offices of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development will serve as recycling drop-off locations for Love the Boot events.

This is a significant expansion from the 2024 recycling effort, which was successful in collecting 13,891 aluminum cans and plastic bottles at 62 sites in 15 parishes. Last year during Love the Boot Week, 19,441 individuals volunteered a total of 100,712 hours at 760 events in all 64 parishes, leading to the removal of 347 tons of litter. In addition to litter removal, volunteers focused on community beautification, planting 921 trees and 4,408 plants, and refurbishing 366 gardens.

Recycling bags will be shipped from Osprey to those who sign up for recycling. Osprey will pick these bags up, sort the material, and deliver the recyclables to a recycling facility.

“When items are properly recycled, they don’t end up littering our environment or entering our landfills,” said Susan Russell, KLB Executive Director. “Not only does recycling reduce waste, but it also requires less energy to use recovered materials when making products in comparison to virgin materials. We are grateful to Coca-Cola for funding recycling at Love the Boot Week events, so the bottles and cans collected can be repurposed rather than ending up in a landfill.”

Everyone in every parish is invited to register for a cleanup or beautification event and/or sign up to volunteer for Love the Boot Week at LoveTheBoot.org.

A former Pineville police officer was arrested on Saturday, Feb. 15, nearly three and a half months since her last arrest.

Lacy Ann Walker – formerly known as Lacy Fields – was arrested around 4:45am on Saturday after allegedly driving at dangerously high speeds. 

Jail records indicate that Walker was subsequently charged with Reckless Operation of a Vehicle – First Offense and Impersonating a Peace Officer. Her bond was set at a total of $1,000. 

Jail records show Walker was charged with reckless operation of a vehicle – first offense, and impersonating a peace officer. Bond was set at a combined $1,000.

Walker was arrested back in October 2024 for domestic abuse battery and aggravated assault with a firearm while serving as a Pineville police officer. 

Sources:

1.      “Franklin D. Roosevelt,” The White House Historical Association, accessed February 16, 2025, https://www.whitehousehistory.org/bios/franklin-roosevelt.

2.      “Dwight D. Eisenhower,” The White House Historical Association, accessed February 16, 2025, https://www.whitehousehistory.org/bios/dwight-eisenhower.

3.      “Ronald Reagan,” The White House Historical Association, accessed February 16, 2025, https://www.whitehousehistory.org/bios/ronald-reagan.

5.      “A New Deal,” Thirteen PBS, accessed February 16, 2025, https://www.thirteen.org/wnet/historyofus/web12/segment3.html.

As the world continues its shift toward renewable energy and portable technology, National Battery Day, celebrated annually on February 18, reminds us of the indispensable role batteries play in our everyday lives.

From the first voltaic pile invented by Alessandro Volta in 1800 to modern lithium-ion batteries powering everything from electric vehicles to smartphones, battery technology has been at the forefront of innovation. Today, researchers are working to develop more efficient, longer-lasting, and environmentally friendly batteries to support the growing demand for sustainable energy storage.

As industries push for cleaner solutions, advancements in battery storage will be crucial in the fight against climate change. Whether in a simple AA battery or a cutting-edge Tesla Powerwall, today is a day to appreciate the science behind keeping the world charged.

Craig Smith was sworn in on Friday, Feb. 14, as the 2025-2026 President of the Police Jury Association of Louisiana. Sean McGlothlin was sworn in as Region 8 Member of the Police Jury Association of Louisiana Executive Board.

The Rapides Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) Unit said complaints started in early February regarding a Boyce man engaged in drug activity in the Cotile Lake Community.

Justin Glenn Bennett, 32, was named as the suspect. RADE said agents were already familiar with Bennett because of prior drug arrests. In the course of their investigation, RADE agents learned that Bennett had active outstanding warrants for his arrest for contempt of court related to prior narcotics-related arrests.

Bennett was arrested without incident on Feb. 12 and transported to the Rapides Parish Detention Center. He was charged with Contempt of Court – Possession of CDS II, Contempt of Court – Felony Theft, and Contempt of Court – Criminal Conspiracy. His bond was set at $350,000.

Presidents’ Day, observed on the third Monday of February, falls on February 17 in 2025. Originally established to honor George Washington’s birthday (February 22), the holiday has since evolved into a day to recognize all U.S. presidents.

The History of Presidents’ Day

First celebrated as Washington’s Birthday, the holiday was later expanded to honor Abraham Lincoln and all U.S. presidents. Washington, the first U.S. president, played a key role in shaping the young nation, while Lincoln led the country through the Civil War and helped end slavery.

Today, Presidents’ Day serves as a time to reflect on the leadership and contributions of past presidents. It is also marked by historical reenactments, educational programs, and patriotic ceremonies.

Presidents’ Day in Modern Times

Many Americans observe the holiday by visiting presidential landmarks, reading about history, or participating in community events. It is also a popular shopping holiday, with many businesses offering special discounts and sales.

Beyond the commercial aspects, Presidents’ Day serves as a reminder of the responsibilities of leadership and the impact that presidents have had on American history and governance.

Among the many events that the Kent House of Alexandria is hosting multiple events to celebrate and remember local Black stories during Black History Month, a very special one is a showcase of the art of Mary Vinson, whose work is inspired by Clementine Hunter.

“I learned how to do it as a child at age five,” said Vinson. “I started drawing with a stick in the sand. And then everybody went to look at it and they said, ‘Well, this child is drawing really good.’ So, later on in my life, I started drawing on paper, when I could afford it. And then, everybody was saying, ‘This art is really good.’ So, then I decided to put my art into books.”

Kent House’s showcase of Vinson’s work will be the first of its kind. It will be held Saturday, Feb. 15, starting at 1pm. The event is free, and visitors have a chance to meet the artist herself. 

Vinson said she wants to encourage other artists to put their work out there.

“I want to encourage the people who come to see me that all they gotta do is just start putting theirs on exhibit,” she said. “If they see I do it, they’ll do it too.”

Vinson said she is excited to see everyone and encourages all artists to “just show up!”

The Pineville Police Department did not have a Wanted Wednesday this week, but they are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Arneka Nicole Tate. Tate is wanted for stealing alcohol from a local convenience store and then fleeing in a station wagon. 

Valentine’s Day, observed annually on February 14, is a celebration of love and affection. Rooted in ancient history, the holiday has evolved from religious origins to a global expression of romance.

The Origins of Valentine’s Day

The holiday is named after St. Valentine, a priest in ancient Rome who was martyred in the 3rd century. According to legend, he performed secret marriages for soldiers who were forbidden to wed under Emperor Claudius II. Over time, his feast day became associated with love and romance.

By the 19th century, Valentine’s Day had grown into a widely celebrated occasion, with the exchange of cards, flowers, and gifts becoming common traditions. Today, the holiday is observed in many cultures, with people expressing love for their partners, family, and friends.

The Modern Valentine’s Day Industry

Valentine’s Day is also a major commercial event. Millions of dollars are spent annually on chocolates, jewelry, and romantic dinners. However, beyond the commercial aspect, the holiday serves as a reminder to appreciate loved ones and foster meaningful relationships.