August 5, 1928 – August 2, 2024

Funeral services celebrating the life of Burl Hanson (Hank) Hathorn will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, August 6, 2024, at Calvary Baptist Church Alexandria with Reverend Todd Strain officiating.

Visitation will be at Hixson Brothers Funeral Home, Alexandria on Monday, August 5, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and will resume on Tuesday, at Calvary, from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service. Burial will be at Greenwood Memorial Park under the direction of Hixson Brothers, Alexandria.

Mr. Hathorn, 95, of Alexandria passed away on August 2, 2024, at Brookdale Senior Living.

Hank Hathorn was the devoted and beloved husband of Dorothy L. Hathorn for 72 years and with her raised four children.

Living in the Poland community, Hank was raised during the depths of the Great Depression. The youngest son of seven children, his childhood consisted of fieldwork and school, usually in that order. Those early years were a strong influence in his life and from them, he learned the value of hard work, doing your best, and having a strong faith in God.

Hank attended LSU Baton Rouge by working on the campus dairy farm; a year later he enlisted in the Army, serving two years and achieving the rank of sergeant. After military service, he entered the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science where he was the valedictorian of his class.

In 1950, he married the love of his life, Dorothy, and after a second stint in the Army Reserves at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, they came back to Alexandria where he served as a mortician and funeral director at Hixson Brothers Funeral Home for 39 years. Coming from his country background, Hank became a valued member of the funeral profession as he was able to relate to people from all walks of life.

He often said: “A good funeral director does not just arrange a funeral; he should be a minister to the family and walk with them through their most trying time.” Hank Hathorn was in every sense of the word a “minister”. He gently guided and consoled hundreds of families through their darkest days becoming a spiritual counselor and friend to all he served.

Hank also had a passion for teaching. He spoke to civic and church groups about his profession and for many years served as a guest speaker on “Death and Dying” for sociology classes at Louisiana College.

Always active in church, Hank and Dot were long time members of Emmanuel Baptist and Calvary Baptist Churches. He was a deacon, served with the Levites and participated in the Home Care Program. At Calvary, Hank was a well-known church greeter who welcomed everyone with a hearty “Good Morning!”

A vital part of the community, Hank was a member and past president of the Downtown Lions Club when they sponsored the Lions Club Rodeos on MacArthur Drive. He also supported the Salvation Army, serving on its board of directors.

Hank was a sportsman who loved squirrel hunting in Latanier and duck hunting on Saline Lake. An expert duck caller, he won first place in the Rapides Wildlife Association’s annual duck-calling contest in 1966. During retirement, fishing became an even bigger part of his life as he and Dot hosted family and friends at their camp on Toledo Bend. A great storyteller, he would tell his grandsons, “Don’t worry about the fish that get away; we can make them as big as we want.” As a husband, father, and grandfather nothing was more important than family. He leaves a legacy of devotion to God and a love of family that is being passed on.

Hank Hathorn was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy L. Hathorn; his parents, James Madison Hathorn, Sr. and Sarah Williford Hathorn; brothers, James M. Hathorn, Jr., Donald J. Hathorn, Jr., Dr. Fred Hathorn, Roane E. Hathorn, and sister, Rettie Hathorn Lincecum.

Those left to cherish his memory include his children, Dr. Thomas (Mary) Hathorn of Pineville, Dr. Kathy (Scott) Barclay of Melbourne, FL; Janet (Mark) Bryant of College Station, TX; Greg (Samantha) Hathorn of Huntsville, AL; Eleven grandchildren and Fifteen great-grandchildren; sister, Vivian Chelette of Arlington, TX; numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers are Chris Hathorn, Mike Hathorn, Benjamin Wood, Jonathon Hathorn, Jeffrey Hathorn, Scott Barclay, Mark Bryant and Thomas R. Zabasky.

Honorary Pallbearers are Ed Hixson, Donald Lightfoot, Leslie Lightfoot, Julian Perry, and Bruce Robinson.

The family would like to thank the staff at Brookdale Senior Living and Compassionate Care Hospice for their loving care and support.

By JIM BUTLER

A different approach may be needed for Jamarcus Blake.

He was booked Wednesday on two counts of felony domestic abuse battery, criminal damage, assault, false imprisonment and violation of protective order 1st offense.

Bail was set at $50,500.

This arrest is the seventh time he has been booked on a first-offense protective order violation since July 2020.

Those arrests also included an assortment of related, violence-oriented allegations.

How the calculation stays at first offense is a judicial system math question.

According to La R.S. 14, first-offense violation of a protective order is a misdemeanor. Second is a felony.

By JIM BUTLER

A decade ago skeptics wondered about Alexandria staying in the hotel business.

Their concerns, it turns out, missed the mark.

The city’s 10-year association with a hotel management group that assumed oversight of what was then Alexander Fulton Hotel is ending with what is now Holiday inn Downtown’s sale.

According to Mayor Jacque Roy, who rolled the hotel dice in a previous term, part of the new deal is a 15-year commitment to retaining the Holiday Inn flag, among the most recognizable brands in the hospitality industry.

The hotel, opened as a Hilton in the 1980s, was renamed after Alexandria’s founder when the city took it over.

When the expiring deal was reached in 2014, the Hotel Bentley was on the cusp of reopening under a new owner.

The availability of both and the Randolph Riverfront Center sparked a revitalization of the city convention and meetings business.

By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports

BATON ROUGE – On the first day of preseason training camp opening his 35th season as a college head football coach, LSU’s Brian Kelly felt a range of emotions.

First, there was surviving a heat index of around 100 degrees as the Tigers finished their Thursday morning workout.

“I was lightheaded today out there,” Kelly admitted afterward in his post-practice press conference.

Secondly, Kelly still eagerly anticipates watching his program develop from year to year, finally getting to a point where he can teach the Xs and O’s rather than first developing a disciplined winning culture.

“It’s the development of your team, what they look like and how they handle themselves,” Kelly said. “For instance, we don’t take our helmets off (in practice) for water breaks.

“In my first season as a head coach (in 1991 at Grand Valley State), I had guys taking their helmets off and throwing them each other.”

Finally, it bolstered Kelly’s confidence when Matt Mauck, LSU’s starting quarterback on the 2003 national championship team, gave the current-day Tigers high marks after he attended Thursday’s practice.

“I was really impressed,” Kelly said, “when a guy like Matty Mauck come up to you and say `Coach, that was impressive for day one in terms of the way your guys looked.’ He’s being honest with you. He’s not going to blow smoke.”

Thursday was the first of 19 practices before LSU enters game week preparation for the Sept. 1 season opener vs. USC in Las Vegas. Kelly was reasonably happy after practice No. 1.

“The (player) leadership understanding of how important it is to compete even when you’re not in a full equipment situation really resonated for me today,” Kelly said. “I was really, really happy about the speed. I was really happy about the execution.

“I was pleased with the competitiveness, the focus of how they went through each and every drill.”

Graduate student running back John Emery Jr. and senior starting cornerback Zy Alexander, who sustained season-ending knee injuries in 2023, are slowly working back in the mix.

“John’s (medically) clear for everything,” Kelly said. “When you have a knee, you need to experience some things like getting tripped up in the hole or cutting off of it and feeling the scar tissue.

“Alexander’s got to go through planting (his foot) and cutting, so he’s full go. But he’s in the process of getting back into football activities. It takes time before you feel real comfortable.”

Kelly announced sophomore defensive back Javien Toviano has been re-joined the team after being reinstated by the university. He had been suspended July 12 on a video voyeurism charge for recording him having sex with a woman.

East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore said Toviano’s case remains under review.

“He’s back in football activities, and we’ll kind of get him going again back in the mix as he works through his legal matters,” Kelly said of Toviano.

Among the Tigers’ true freshmen class, 6-foot-7 inch, 245-pound tight end Trey’Dez Green is one Kelly said could made an immediate impact.

“He certainly looks the part, right? He controls his body really well and has a great deal of confidence. He doesn’t look out of place, in any shape or form, from a physical standpoint, but he’s picked things up very well for a guy that has not played this game very long. It’s coming to him.

“I don’t want to stand here today on Day 1 and say he’s gonna play in the first year. But my experience has told me that guys that transition quickly with his kind of physical attributes tend to show real quick.”

Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com

Arrests are accusations not convictions.

July 31

Jamarcus Blake, 31, Pineville — felony domestic abuse 2 counts, violation protective order 1st, criminal damage, assault, false imprisonment, $50,500 bail;

Kayden Downey, 17, Walker — felony criminal conspiracy, criminal trespass, criminal damage, criminal mischief, $7,000 bail;

Donald Jones Jr., 68, Cheneyville — vehicular homicide/DWI, $100,000;

Austin Trapp, 24, Pineville — battery on dating partner/pregnant, aggravated assault/ burglary, aggravated assault with firearm, criminal conspiracy, home invasion, $100,000 bail.

This date: 9 arrests, 5 including one or more contempt counts.

By JIM BUTLER

Kendrick Anderson Jr. appears to have made a career choice when he reached 18, perhaps sooner.

Anderson, 23, of Alexandria was jailed Tuesday on four counts of possession of drugs with intent to distribute.

Along with traffic charges in the 9 a.m. incident that include flight from officers, that pushed his bail to $78,900.

He posted bond Wednesday afternoon.

As an 18-year-old Anderson was arrested on two possession/intent counts as well as having a firearm while allegedly possessing drugs.

Exactly seven months later he was again booked on possession charges and of having a firearm at the same time.

By LEE BRECHEEN, Louisiana Football Magazine

You don’t have to watch very long at a Peabody Magnet football game to find one of the best athletes in Rapides Parish.

Check the Warhorses offense. He’s there at wideout, liable to go the distance at any time.

Watch the Peabody defense. He’s there in the secondary, making plays and worrying quarterbacks.

Don’t skip special teams. He’s as dangerous a return specialist as there is for many, many miles around.

Class of 2025 Athlete TJ Hullaby is a game-breaking performer who seems to have a magnetic pull into the end zone.

On offense, he caught 15 touchdown passes last year.

Defensively, Hullaby turned in a couple of pick-sixes.

He housed three kick returns.

That’s 20 TDs for a guy who does NOT touch the ball nearly every play like a stud running back or a quarterback does.

Offensively, Hullaby led all Rapides Parish receivers with 58 catches, 989 yards and 15 TDs. He was an easy pick – the toughest thing was to figure out what position to choose for him — on the Rapides Parish Journal All-Parish Team at receiver.  He was first-team All-District 2-4A. He was honorable mention All-State Class 4A.

Colleges have taken note, and the Class of 2025 talent already has several offers. He could play on either side of the ball at the next level, and figures to be involved in the return game.

Hullaby is also an all-district basketball player for the state champion Warhorses, whose great coach, Charles Smith, is headed to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in October.

TJ has legit 4.45 speed in the 40-yard dash and in track, ran a 22.9 in the 200 meter dash last spring.

He is 6-0, 165, so he’s not going to run between the tackles. But he can run away from almost anybody.

I asked TJ about the colleges who have offered him a scholarship and this is what he had to say about each one:

Northwestern State – “I haven’t really been in contact with them since they offered me but I like the vibe there.”

ULM – “I love the energy and atmosphere they show me there and the coaching staff is amazing.”

Texas Southern – “I would like to say thank you to (assistant head coach and receivers coach) coach (Jerwin) Wilson. He’s been there for me since Texas Southern offered me.”

Central Arkansas – “I love the coaching staff there and I’d like to say thank you to (receivers) coach (Jamar) Johnson for pushing me and having those talks with me throughout the summer.”

Graceland – “I want to thank coach Fuse (passing game coordinator and receivers coach Donald Fusilier) for giving me an opportunity with his 7×7 team and offering me from his school.”

Hullaby’s hobbies are gaming and shopping. Asked about a major for college, “I’m leaning to electrical engineering,” he said.

That’s fitting for one of the more electric players not only in Cenla, but all of Class 4A statewide this fall.

Contact Lee at lbrecheen@aol.com

Lee Brecheen has been covering high school football and recruiting in Louisiana since the early ‘90s. He is owner of Louisiana Football Magazine and can be followed on Twitter @LeeBrecheen. He hosts a YouTube show, The Sports Scouting Report with Lee Brecheen. Previews of all state high schools are available on lafootballmagazine.com.

By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports

NEW ORLEANS — April Hagadone never imagined she’d be perched in front of her television set viewing one of her former players play Olympic volleyball matches with the Eiffel Tower as a scenic backdrop.

But must-see TV this week for Hagadone, now athletic director for Mount Carmel Academy in New Orleans after 16 years as head volleyball coach for the private all-girls Catholic school, is watching Kristen Nuss introduce herself to the world as the best pound-for-pound female beach volleyball player on the planet.

Nuss and Taryn Kloth, who went 36-0 in 2021 as seniors when they led the LSU Sandy Tigs beach volleyball team to the NCAA Final Four, are repeating in Paris as U.S. Olympians what they’ve done since turning professional just weeks after concluding their college careers.

Nuss and Kloth, the No. 2 rated beach duo in the world known to their growing fan base as “TKN” and winners of eight pro tournaments, are 2-0 after a pair of straight-set wins over Canada and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics silver medal-winning duo from Australia.

“You can see the world falling in love with these two,” said Hagadone, now the Mt. Carmel athletic director. “They’re like sisters.”

The 6-4 Kloth, a South Dakota native who transferred to LSU in 2020 after playing two seasons for Creighton, quickly discovered two things becoming Nuss’ partner.

The New Orleans native, the winningest beach player in NCAA history with 139 career victories, rarely loses and always improves her partner’s game.

And she’s built a career in the most non-traditional ways, measuring a stumpy 5 feet, 6 inches and insisting on training in Louisiana instead of California beaches where almost everyone is tall, tan and blonde like Kloth.

“I like my 5-6,” said Nuss, inspired by the determination of her late grandfather Ralph “Putsy” Caballero who debuted in 1944 at age 16 as the youngest player in Philadelphia Phillies’ history.

“When I’m walking with Taryn, people look at Taryn and say `You must play volleyball.’ People don’t expect me to play beach volleyball. That’s why I’ll forever play with a chip on my shoulder.”

Nuss’ game is as physical (because of her acrobatic diving digs of opponents’ kill shots) as it is cerebral (dissecting in mid-air at the net where she can find an open space to tap a touch return over taller players for a point).

“She can see the court so beautifully,” Hagadone said. “She’s always been capable of making something out of nothing when you thought maybe a play was over.”

LSU head coach Russell Brock used to repeatedly replay video of some of Nuss’ most impossible plays, attempting to understand how she got it done.

“Kristen was created to play beach volleyball,” said Brock, who started LSU’s beach program in 2014.

He didn’t know she existed until Pete Nuss, one of Kristen’s three older brothers, sent a text to his occasional beach volleyball partner Brock that suggested “You should take a look at my little sister.”

Brock didn’t have to do much investigative work to discover he stumbled onto a hidden gem.

“Kristen played in seven state championship games in three sports in high school and won five of them,” Hagadone said. “She won three in volleyball and two in basketball.

“She was just a competitor who wanted to win all the time. She was the kid you always wanted to shoot the game-winning free throw. She had that something you can’t teach.”

Because Nuss was always in-season playing one of three sports for Mt. Carmel – soccer was the other – she never got a chance to play in club volleyball tournaments that would have exposed her to college recruiters.

So, Nuss and Megan Davenport, a friend, began playing beach volleyball as high school sophomores. They entered a local doubles tournament and were badly beaten.

“But I fell in love with beach from the first time I played it because you have to do everything,” Nuss said. “You have to be able to pass, set, hit, serve play defense. If I had played indoor (volleyball) for a Division 1 school, I would have strictly been a defender.”

Nuss credits LSU volunteer assistant coach Drew Hamilton for “teaching me everything I know about beach volleyball,” she said.

Kloth learned her sand volleyball education from Hamilton and Nuss, who initially made Kloth nervous when they became playing partners in 2020 after COVID shut down the college season.

“I was just starting to learn beach and I freaked out because Kristen was playing on a whole other level,” Kloth said. “I relaxed when I realized she makes everything simple.”

Like Nuss choosing for her and Kloth to live and train in the off-season in Baton Rouge rather than the California beach volleyball mecca.

It made sense and cents to Nuss to train where their coach lives, where the cost of living is considerably cheaper and where they can give back to the community.

Every December through the Kenner Community Center, Nuss and Kloth organize a beach volleyball tournament called “Santa in the Sand” at the Coconut Beach complex in Kenner to raise funds to pay for Christmas gifts for needy families. Last December, Nuss and Kloth raised $20,575.

“Kristen has never changed as a person,” said Hagadone, who’ll be tuned in Thursday for Team TKN’s next Olympic match vs. China at 3 p.m. CT. “She’s so humble and has always been a giving teammate. I’m so proud of her, watching her grow and seeing how much fun she’s having out there.”

Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com

For the past few years, it was looking like Louisiana’s turkey hunters would have to reluctantly put away their shotguns and turkey calls and go back to doing what we were doing a couple of decades ago. It seemed the only outdoors springtime activity would be fishing.

All the statistics pointed to a steady decline in turkey populations, back like it was when only a handful of diehards, like Blue Parkman, Pete Brister and L.W. Hamner went out morning after morning hoping they might find a turkey track or actually hear a gobble.

Then something happened. According to a press release by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Louisiana’s turkey hunters enjoyed the best year by far from a harvest standpoint in 2024. They reported taking 3,695 birds during the recently completed hunting season.

This year, for the first time since the harvest reporting was mandated in 2009, turkey hunters reported taking more than 3,000 birds. In fact, the past three seasons were the best ever reported since harvest data was compiled. Last year, an astounding 2,833 birds were taken but for the 2024 season, the take was 30.4 percent higher than that.

What happened? Why did the harvest data take a jump in the right direction over the past three years? In 2018, the LDWF staff recommended that the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission push back the opening date for turkey season to give gobblers and hens more time to take care of the business of breeding and putting more baby turkeys on the ground.

Cody Cedatol is Turkey Program Manager for LDWF and he believes that giving turkeys more time to do what they naturally do in spring before hunters take to the woods played a big role in the improvement of the number of gobblers being taken.

“This clearly indicates increasing turkey populations in many areas of the state and provides additional evidence that the season change is working,” said Cedatol. “Many hunters indicated increased encounters with jakes (juvenile turkeys), which is an indicator of good reproduction. Similar reports were noted in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.”

Jason Lupardis, a native Kentuckian, has been named CEO of an up and coming organization, Turkeys for Tomorrow, that has the goal of trying to pinpoint problems nationwide having to do with the overall decline in wild turkey populations around the country.

We visited with Lupardis recently to ask about Turkeys for Tomorrow and get his take on what he sees as some of the main problems and why he believes Louisiana has beat the odds, in a manner of speaking, by having such good results over the past 2-3 years while other states continue to struggle.

“Reports from brood surveys of Louisiana turkeys have shown a higher poult-to-hen ratio which means that there has been good production of young turkeys. That is partly due,” said Lupardis, “to the pushing back opening day to allow gobblers and hens to breed.”

To find out how Turkeys for Tomorrow works, visit turkeysfortomorrow.org.

He also noted a new regulation Louisiana will implement beginning the 2025 season that will protect young gobblers. “The new regulation means only youth hunters may take one jake per season. For remaining hunters, only mature gobblers may be taken and jakes will be off limits. A mature gobbler is described as an adult with tail feathers the same length, beard longer than 6 inches and spurs at least ½ inch long,” he said.

It is troubling to realize that in so many areas, Louisiana is at or near the bottom in rank. However, when it comes to wild turkeys, our state because of more restrictive regulations, is setting standards that hopefully will see our wild turkey population continue to thrive. 

Contact Glynn at glynnharris37@gmail.com

Arrests are accusations not convictions. 

July 30

Weapons

Levi Drumgoole, 65, Alexandria — aggravated assault with firearm, felony fugitive, failure to appear, contempt 2 counts, $6,500 bail;

Tito Wilson Jr., 19, Alexandria — illegal possession stolen firearm, resisting, illegal possession stolen things, $10,500 bail;

Other

Shelby Ducote, 28, Deville — theft, $10,000 bail;

Tracy Fowler, 49, Boyce — theft, obstruction evidence tampering, $40,000 bail;

Tokyrie Griffin Jr., 39, Alexandria — domestic abuse battery strangulation, $2,000 bail;

Kenny Henry, 44, Alexandria — theft, criminal damage, criminal trespass, contempt, $2,000 bail;

Neely Williams, 19, Alexandria — battery on officer, resisting with force or violence 2 counts, battery on infirm, $2,000 bail. 

This date: 28 arrests, 13 including one or more contempt counts. 

Arrests are accusations not convictions. 

July 30

Kendrick Anderson Jr., 22, Alexandria — possession with intent 4 counts, speeding 2 counts, improper lane use, running stop sign 2 counts, seat belt violation, no driver’s license, reckless operation, felony flight, $78,900 bail;

Kaylen Johnson, 28, Alexandria — possession with intent, flight, no driver’s license, tint violation, $1,200 bail;

Angela Rabalais, 47, Pineville — possession 3 counts, paraphernalia 2 counts, $5,500 bail;

David Smith Jr., 30, Pineville — possession, contempt, $2,500 bail;

Sunni Tomlin, 48, Alexandria — possession, paraphernalia, unlawful sale of model glue to minor, theft, criminal trespass, contempt 2 counts, $9,500 bail. 

By JIM BUTLER

It’s highly unlikely Kearrious McCoy will have a chance to run again.

McCoy, 24, of Vicksburg, MS when booked July 25 on a fugitive warrant and facing seven attempted murder charges and other felony allegations, is in Rapides lockup under $4 million bail.

His woes began with an alleged multi-parish rampage in May. After allegedly stealing a car in Evangeline Parish he and the car were spotted about 10 p.m. on a parking lot at La 112 and I49.

Before officers arrived McCoy allegedly approached another vehicle and, waving a gun, demanded its driver get out.

The driver told police later that McCoy pointed the weapon at him but it did not fire. They then struggled and the victim was shot in the arm.

Police said McCoy then shot at three others on the parking lot as well as at the original vehicle. A dog in that vehicle was killed.

One of the trio fired back and McCoy fled east on La 112 toward Forest Hill in that person’s vehicle.

At 112 and US 165 in Forest Hill he ignored a roadblock and attempted to ram several responding police cruisers.

The chase was on – through McNary, Glenmora and Oakdale – with McCoy’s stolen vehicle disabled in Kinder.

He fled on foot and evaded capture until about 9 the next morning when the armed suspect was captured after a struggle close to a nearby rail track.

He was booked in Rapides with detainers from Allen, St. Landry and Evangeline Parishes.

Available online records do not reflect when or how he became a fugitive.

NATCHITOCHES – Funeral arrangements are set for legendary Northwestern State coach and administrator Tynes Hildebrand, who passed away last weekend at the age of 93.

Visitation with the family will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at First Baptist Church of Natchitoches. The funeral service will follow at 3:30 p.m.

Hildebrand, a native of Florien in Sabine Parish, died last Sunday in the Dallas area after a brief illness. He and wife Julia, also a Sabine Parish native, lived in Natchitoches until moving to Shreveport in 2016, and they relocated to Texas a couple of years ago to be close to family members. She is among his survivors.

A member of the N-Club Hall of Fame, the Southland Conference Hall of Honor, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwestern State’s Long Purple Line, Hildebrand was a two-sport letterman (basketball, track and field) as an undergraduate and a two-time graduate of Northwestern.

He spent 16 seasons as Northwestern’s basketball coach, winning 191 games – the third-highest total in school history – while guiding NSU into its Division I era. He transitioned into administration, serving 13 years as the school’s director of athletics.

He instituted a forward-thinking internship program that strengthened the department and was a pivotal part of the Demons landing in the Southland Conference in 1987.

In addition to serving on the then-Division I-AA football selection panel and additional NCAA committees, Hildebrand served as a mentor for current Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey and former NSU athletic director Greg Burke. As the top administrator in NSU’s athletic department, Hildebrand was instrumental in guiding Northwestern State into the Southland Conference in 1987.

Following his time as AD at Northwestern, Hildebrand remained tied to basketball as a respected NCAA Division I official evaluator for 17 years, beginning in 1997. In 2006, he was chosen as one of the NCAA’s inaugural four regional officiating supervisors, helping select officials for the NCAA Tournament through to the national championship game. He retired in 2014.

Hildebrand is survived by his wife, his sons, Tynes Jr. and wife Trish, and Bruce and wife, Nancy and grandchildren, John and his wife, Alice, Jackson and his wife, Curri, Joseph and his wife, Emily, Brent and his wife, Allison, and Cara Grace Gray and her husband Andrew, as well as his great grandchildren, Hannah, Hayden, Hudson, Ellie, Hazel, Charlotte, Hattie, Adelyn and Sam.

By Doug De Graffenried

I was looking at my hands while driving to Shreveport. I noticed this spot on one of them. Now with all the worries about skin cancer and since I hung out on the beach and roasted myself as an adolescent, I was concerned about the spot on my hand. It looked funny through my sunglasses, and I made a note to check the spot when I finished driving. 

I arrived at the appointed hospital for the visit and remembered my hand. I made the visit, had prayer, was encouraged by the person’s faith and hope, and went to the lobby. There I examined my hand. I looked carefully at the spot on the top of my hand. I did what is in vogue in our world, I consulted Dr. Google.

So, I know you are curious about the spot. It is a symptom of a terminal condition. The hand is marking the first symptom of the incurable malady. I know you will pray for me through this malady, and I will receive good medical care.

Oh, the spot, it is an age spot! I think I grew the age spot for my last birthday. It is on the top of my right hand, and I have noticed that the left hand is growing matching spots.

I want you to live a good, long, and healthy life. I want you to do everything you need to do to avoid all the things that the latest study has revealed that shorten our lives. I want you to believe the media about living longer. Go ahead and buy all that stuff at Walmart that will bring your vitality and hide your age spots.

Did you know that a person who ate meat, drank dairy, ate vegetables, was exposed to sunlight, had minimal medical care, and was born in 1850 has a 100% chance of being dead today? Well, you caught my sarcasm!

Here is the deal, none of us get out of this life alive! You will not be the first. My words of advice, enjoy the journey!

Jesus promised us abundant life. Part of that abundant life is living this day fully trusting that God’s grace will see us through. Jesus also promised that after we are finished living that “He was the way, the truth, and the life” and that through Him we could come to the Father.

Whether you soul is spotted with the scars of sin, or your hands are showing the spots of age, we have hope.

Jesus, the carpenter promised that He has made a home for us in heaven, that promise is our only hope in the face of our spots.

Doug de Graffenried is Pastor of Trinity Methodist Church in Ruston.  You can contact Doug at dougsponderings@gmail.com

BATON ROUGE, La. – Keep Louisiana Beautiful (KLB) is now accepting Everyday Hero Award nominations for individuals, non-profits, and businesses working to keep Louisiana litter-free and beautiful. Selected recipients will be honored at the Everyday Hero Awards luncheon on Thursday, October 24, at the Crowne Plaza Executive Center in Baton Rouge, held in conjunction with the annual KLB State Conference.

“There are many people and organizations doing exceptional work in their communities, making strides toward a cleaner Louisiana for all of us,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “The Everyday Hero Award is a great way to recognize these people for their dedication to clean up our Sportsman’s Paradise and for going that extra mile to keep our communities litter free and beautiful.”

Those eligible for nomination include non-profits, KLB Affiliate organizations, businesses, professional groups, governmental agencies, civic and community organizations, schools, churches, and individual citizens.

Anyone may submit a nomination and multiple nominations may be submitted by the same individual. An online nomination form — available at KeepLouisianaBeautiful.org — is required for each entry submitted. The deadline to submit a nomination is August 29, 2024.  

Award Categories:

Community Improvement Award – The Community Improvement Award recognizes a project, program, campaign, or initiative in alignment with the mission and work of Keep Louisiana Beautiful. The effort should demonstrate innovation, collaboration, and measurable community improvement. Eligible are for-profit and non-profit organizations, Keep Louisiana Beautiful Affiliates, schools, and civic groups. Associated with this award is a cash prize.

Let Louisiana Shine Volunteer Award – The Let Louisiana Shine Award, named in celebration of Keep Louisiana Beautiful’s statewide litter prevention campaign, is presented to a passionate volunteer who has dedicated their time and energy to community enhancement efforts. They may contribute by collaborating with community organizations and stakeholders to clean up litter, beautify spaces, and contribute to an improved quality of life for their fellow residents. Associated with this award is a cash prize.

Leaders Against Litter Award – The Leaders Against Litter Award recognizes individuals in public service who go above and beyond the call of duty to support Keep Louisiana Beautiful’s mission to clean up and beautify our Sportsman’s Paradise. The recipient of this award inspires and empowers others to follow their lead and work towards achieving a cleaner, greener Louisiana. To be eligible, an individual must work in public service: police officer, firefighter, educator, librarian, government employee, elected official, etc.

Rocksey’s Young Leadership Award (Grades K-12) – Named for Keep Louisiana Beautiful’s beloved mascot, Rocksey the Raccoon, this award is presented to a student or student group in grades K-12 exemplifying environmental stewardship. They are passionate about keeping their community clean and beautiful and they recognize it is every citizen’s responsibility to protect the environment. Their leadership in and outside of the classroom encourages their peers to reduce waste, recycle, and pick up litter when they see it.  Associated with this award is a cash prize.

Collegiate Environmental Steward Award – The Collegiate Environmental Steward Award is presented to a college student or student group going above and beyond to make their campus community clean, sustainable, and beautiful. Their campus involvement and leadership have led to measurable change and inspired others to volunteer. The recipient embodies vision, leadership, determination, and collaboration. Associated with this award is a cash prize.

Outstanding Community Affiliate Award – The Outstanding Community Affiliate Award is presented to a Keep Louisiana Beautiful Community Affiliate that has made significant strides in the past year in making their community a cleaner, greener place to live. The recipient organization demonstrates strength in leadership by engaging key stakeholders and volunteers in collaborative initiatives with a measurable impact. The community served by the Affiliate is a better place to live thanks to the ongoing efforts of the organization. Associated with this award is a cash prize.

Outstanding University Affiliate Award – The Outstanding University Affiliate Award is presented to a Keep Louisiana Beautiful University Affiliate demonstrating strong leadership and a growing presence in their campus community. Not only have the efforts of the Affiliate resulted in visible and measurable changes, but they’ve also led to a cultural shift, with more students, faculty, and staff committed to reducing waste, preventing litter, and improving the appearance of their campus. Associated with this award is a cash prize.

Clean Biz Leadership Award (less than 50 employees) – The Clean Biz Leadership Award is granted to an organization demonstrating dedication to Keep Louisiana Beautiful’s mission and adopting operational practices to support a cleaner, greener community. The organization may have implemented policies and procedures for recycling, waste reduction, and litter prevention. The business may also support community improvement through sponsorship, volunteerism, programming, and other relevant initiatives. Eligible are for-profit and non-profit organizations with less than 50 employees. Clean Biz Partnership participation is encouraged but not required for consideration.

Clean Biz Leadership Award (more than 50 employees) – The Clean Biz Leadership Award is granted to an organization demonstrating dedication to Keep Louisiana Beautiful’s mission and adopting operational practices to support a cleaner, greener community. The organization may have implemented policies and procedures for recycling, waste reduction, and litter prevention. The organization may also support community improvement through sponsorship, volunteerism, programming, and other relevant initiatives. Eligible are for-profit and non-profit organizations with more than 50 employees. Clean Biz Partnership participation is encouraged but not required for consideration.

Litter Enforcement Award – The Litter Enforcement Award recognizes law enforcement officers actively working to stop littering in their community. They go above and beyond to educate the public about the negative impacts of litter, and work to bring justice to those who break the law by littering or dumping illegally. Eligible for this award are police officers, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents, justices of the peace, constables, judges, and code enforcement officers.