POSITION: Probation Officer
LOCATION: DeRidder, Beauregard Parish, Louisiana.
QUALIFICATIONS: Experience or education in law enforcement or criminal justice or social work preferred; P.O.S.T. certification preferred; Job description available upon request
CONTACT: 337-463-7993
SUBMISSION: Submit resumes on or before May 24, 2024, at 4 p.m. to:
P.O. Box 1148,
DeRidder, LA 70634
OR fax to 337.463.9244
EOE
By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
BATON ROUGE – Gage Jump on the bump toasted some Rebels’ rumps Thursday night in Alex Box Stadium.
LSU’s left-handed starting pitcher held Ole Miss to one run and five hits in six innings. He struck out eight, recording a strikeout or more every inning.
He threw 67 percent of his pitches for strikes. His pitch count of 83 was still relatively low.
And he was unhappy that Mother Nature showed up at the wrong time.
“I thought I could have thrown the whole game,” Gage said. “But lightning. . . I was pretty upset when there was lightning.”
Gage was in the LSU dugout with the Tigers at bat with two outs in the bottom of the sixth when the umpiring crew halted the game because lightning was detected within an 8-mile radius of the stadium.
LSU head coach Jay Johnson wasn’t happy either. For once, his team’s pinpoint, timely hitting and flawless fielding were copacetic, and the Tigers held a 4-run lead in Game 1 of the final SEC regular season series of the year.
“After spending many years in San Diego and Tucson, Arizona,” Johnson said of his previous sunny coaching stops where weather delays were a rarity, “this is a lot harder.”
After a 1-hour, 39-minute delay in which lightning led to a downpour that ended Gage’s night, LSU’s pitching continued to motor the Tigers down victory lane. Four relievers combined to blank the Rebels in the final three innings, preserving a 5-1 win that qualified the Tigers for next week’s SEC Tournament starting Tuesday in Hoover, Ala.
Most bracketologists feel LSU (34-20, 11-17) won’t have a chance of getting an NCAA Tournament at-large bid with anything less than 13 league wins (including one in the conference tournament if needed). Ole Miss (27-26, 11-17) has college baseball’s No. 1 strength of schedule and is neck and neck with the Tigers on the NCAA Tournament bubble.
It’s why nothing less than total attention to detail in every part of the game – hitting, pitching and fielding – is required this weekend for the defending national champions.
All three winning elements have rarely simultaneously shown up this year for LSU.
But all of the home team’s baseball planets aligned in Thursday’s game, from shortstop Michael Braswell’s leaping first-inning grab of an Ole Miss line drive to start an inning-ending double play, to Gage’s steady mound performance, to five Tigers combining for 8 timely hits to scratch across all of LSU’s runs in the second, third and fourth.
“All three of the phases were really good,” Johnson said. “We played very good defense tonight. We struck a lot of guys out (13), so that minimizes the plays. And we got his (Ole Miss starting pitcher Riley Maddox) pitch count up early. I looked up in the fourth and he was pretty close to 80 pitches. I was like, `Wow, for once this feels like 2023.”
Seven of LSU’s hits were singles including second baseman Steven Milam’s 2-out RBI in the second, first baseman Jared Jones’ 2-strike RBI stroke in the third, and Braswell’s full-count 2-RBI liner to left center in the fourth, followed a batter later by third baseman Tommy White delivering a 2-strike rip to left field.
The only non-single was White’s third-inning triple, which he noted was a rarity for him. The ball bounced off the base of the center field wall and caromed away from Rebels’ center fielder Ethan Groff.
“When I was almost to second base and he (Groff) was still going for the ball.” White said, “I thought I’ll take a shot (at a triple). I think the last time I had a triple I was like nine years old, but that didn’t really count because I smoked it to the wall on a small field.”
One of the most impressive performances was LSU relief pitcher Christian Little jumpstarting the Tigers after the rain delay when they rested and feasted on tacos in their clubhouse.
Little opened the parade of LSU relievers following him by striking out 3 of the 4 batters he faced in the Ole Miss seventh when play resumed. He, Nate Ackenhausen, Gavin Guidry and Griffin Herring combined to allow 1 hit while striking out 5 and walking 2 of the 12 Rebels’ batters they faced in the final three innings.
Thursday’s start time was moved from 6 p.m. to 4 p.m. in an unsuccessful effort to get ahead of the severe thunderstorms. With much the same weather expected for Game 2, the start time today has been pushed from 6:30 p.m. to 12 noon.
Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com
In just over a week, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame’s June 22 New Orleans Saints and Pelicans Junior Training Camp has been filled to capacity.
The capacity registration was not surprising, said camp coordinator Kat Marshall, but the rapid response filling the event more than a month in advance was unexpected. Logistics in operating the event require a limit on participants.
“We appreciate the great response,” said Hall of Fame chairman Doug Ireland. “We wish we could involve even more kids in this free camp but it’s just not possible considering the facilities and the time frame with four events going on that day.”
Camp Day on Saturday, June 22 begins with check-in at 8:30 a.m. at the WRAC with introductions of Hall of Famers at 9, and activities starting by 9:15. It wraps up at 11 after all campers get football and speed instruction at Northwestern’s Turpin Stadium and receive basketball and agility instruction inside the Webb Wellness and Recreation Center (WRAC) at 322 Sam Sibley Drive.
Campers will receive free T-shirts, a meal coupon, and more. Northwestern State coaches and athletes help Saints and Pelicans personnel, and the 2024 Hall of Fame inductees, working with the kids.
The 2024 Hall of Fame Induction Class includes Saints quarterback Drew Brees, Basketball Hall of Fame 2024 inductee Seimone Augustus, recently enshrined in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, MMA legend Daniel Cormier, NFL quarterbacks coach Kerry Joseph of the Chicago Bears, former Tulane basketball coach Perry Clark, longtime Grambling baseball coach Wilbert Ellis, USA wrestling gold medalist Kevin Jackson, legendary high school football and baseball coach Frank Monica and one of America’s greatest jockeys, Ray Sibille.
Complete information on all Induction Celebration events June 20-22 in Natchitoches is available at the LaSportsHall.com website or by calling 318-238-4255.
Arrests are accusations, not convictions.
May 14
Charles Floyd, 38, Jonesville — OWI 1st, possession 2 counts, 4:37 am, $2,500 bail.
May 15
Jerry Chester, 57, Alexandria — OWI 3rd, open container, driving suspension prior offense, failure to yield to emergency vehicle, 2:41 am, $30,600 bail;
Stephen Davies, 52, Pineville — OWI 1st, open container, failure to change driver’s license address, careless operation, obstruction of court orders, 11:48 pm, $1,900 bail;
Ryan Dornier, 34, Hessmer — OWI 1st, failure to yield to emergency vehicle, 11:22 pm, $1,100 bail.
Arrests are accusations, not convections.
May 15
Weapons charges
Markell McNeal, 22, Pineville — firearm with drugs, possession 2 counts, smoking in vehicle, paraphernalia 2 counts, failure to appear, $13,100 bail;
Other
Anyl Pascal, 36, Birmingham — possession stolen vehicle, speeding, $1,100 bail.
This date: 16 arrests, 4 with at least one contempt charge.
By JIM BUTLER
Chandler Alan Johnson, 23, of Alexandria was booked Tuesday, accused of producing, manufacturing and distributing marijuana and synthetic cannabinoids or counterfeit substances.
Johnson has been out of the public eye since February 2019, when he was charged with first-degree rape.
He had turned himself in then after learning he was sought for alleged involvement with a person under 13.
After that, his case left the public’s attention.
According to records, he posted $250,000 bail the same day and was released.
Johnson was rearrested on May 1, 2019, charged with pornography involving juvenile under 13 and offender over 17.
That was apparently an amended charge to the earlier rape accusation. In October 2019 Johnson was again charged, posting total bail of $50,000.
Penalty for conviction on the latter charge is 5 to 40 years imprisonment, with court’s discretion to double the term.
Information regarding the 2019 case status is not available through booking records.
By JIM BUTLER
Two Marrero residents charged with drugs violation forgot Mule School Rule 1 – obey all traffic rules and regulations, avoiding attention.
They were arrested in Rapides Parish in the wee hours Tuesday morning.
Melanie Vo, 32, was booked with production, manufacture and distribution, as was Tu Nguyen, also 32.
The case apparently began with a traffic stop – alleged improper lane use by Vo, who was also charged with texting while driving.
By noon both suspects had posted $20,000 bail and were on the road again, lesson learned or not.
By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
BATON ROUGE – Jay Johnson is nearing the end of his 12th season as a college head baseball coach, the last three guiding LSU.
And while every year brings a unique set of expected and unexpected challenges, the 47-year-old Johnson figured he’d experienced most of them.
That is, until now for he and the defending national champions.
“I really pride myself on us winning close games,” Johnson said. “We’ve had some that we just have not finished out where you’re a pitch away from winning the Florida series, a pitch away from winning the Alabama series, and a pitch away from winning the Vanderbilt series.
“I don’t know that I’ve ever had all of those at one time before.”
LSU, 4-9 in SEC games this season in games decided by 2 runs or fewer, was one out away from beating Florida in Game 2 and Alabama in Game 1 but lost both. It led Vandy in Game 2 through seven innings and lost.
Flip those three series in favor of the Tigers and it means they’ve won 6 of 9 SEC series and are likely in line to host an NCAA tourney regional and possibly a Super Regional.
Instead, LSU (33-20, 10-17) has lost 6 of 9 SEC series heading into tonight’s 6 p.m. opener here in Alex Box Stadium vs. almost equally desperate Ole Miss (27-25, 11-16) in a regular season-ending league series that could be nicknamed the NCAA Tourney Bubble Invitational.
The Tigers, winners of their last 3 of 4 SEC series despite last weekend’s disaster at Alabama where they suffered 1-run losses in Game 1 and Game 3, is ranked No. 35 in the latest NCAA RPI. Ole Miss, winners of its last two SEC series (with 4 of 9 series wins for the year), is No. 24 in RPI.
As of Wednesday, Baseball America projected nine SEC teams, including Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Arkansas and Georgia serving as regional hosts, will receive NCAA tourney bids. There are 34 at-large invitations like LSU covets, but since most of the teams earning the 30 automatic berths as conference tournament champions won’t be among the top teams in RPI, teams like LSU with losing conference records have cloudy outlooks.
Baseball America listed LSU among the first four teams just missing being in the 64-team field and Ole Miss among the next four teams out after the first four teams out.
LSU needs a series sweep over Ole Miss or 2 of 3 wins over the Rebels and at least one win in next week’s SEC tourney starting Tuesday to have a fighting chance for an NCAA at-large invite when the brackets are announced May 27 at 11 a.m.
“We still have a chance because we didn’t lose very much outside the league (a 23-3 non-conference record), the third most non-conference wins (nationally),” Johnson said. “We have 13 wins against teams projected to be in the (NCAA tourney) field. We won a premier tournament (the Houston Astros Foundation Classic).”
LSU’s turnaround in the second half of SEC play can be somewhat attributed to an easier schedule than the first half.
But Tigers’ junior shortstop Michael Braswell III said he and his teammates have played with more belief after dropping its first five SEC series to Mississippi State, Florida, Arkansas, Vanderbilt and Tennessee.
“When we played in Houston (in March) and we closed out some close games, we had the mindset at the end of games we were playing to win,” said Braswell III, a South Carolina transfer batting .293. “We got into SEC play and things started to go a bit sideways. We started playing not to lose rather than trying to win. But now, we go out there and we believe we’re the better team.”
LSU (33-20, 10-17 SEC) vs. Ole Miss (27-25, 11-16 SEC), Alex Box Stadium, Baton Rouge
SCHEDULE/PITCHING MATCHUP
Game 1: Tonight, 6 p.m. CT, SEC Network)
LSU –LSU – So. LH Gage Jump (4-1, 3.86 ERA, 60.2 IP, 17 BB, 74 SO)
OM –Jr. RH Riley Maddox (3-6, 5.68 ERA, 58.2 IP, 22 BB, 42 SO)
Game 2: Friday, 6:30 p.m. CT (SEC Network+)
LSU –Jr. RH Luke Holman (7-3, 2.74 ERA, 72.1 IP, 30 BB, 100 SO)
OM –So. LH Liam Doyle (3-2, 5.29 ERA, 49.1 IP, 20 BB, 77 SO)
Game 3: Saturday, 1 p.m. CT (SEC Network+)
LSU –TBA
OM –Jr. RH Mason Nichols (4-1, 3.50 ERA, 36.0 IP, 18 BB, 41 SO)
LSU-OLE MISS SERIES: LSU leads Ole Miss, 182-159, in a series that began in 1906. . .The Tigers won 8 of the past 12 regular-season series with Ole Miss. The Rebels lost 19 consecutive SEC series in Baton Rouge from 1983-2017. But he Rebels have won their last two series in Alex Box Stadium – a 2-1 series victory in 2019 and a three-game sweep in 2022.
A LOOK AT LSU: LSU is No. 5 in the SEC in team ERA (4.45), and the Tigers have recorded the second-highest total of strikeouts in the league with 583 Ks in 458.2 innings pitched. . .LSU is No. 8 in the league in team batting average (.282), and the Tigers’ total of 91 home runs is fifth best in the conference.
A LOOK AT OLE MISS: Ole Miss is No. 13 in the SEC in team batting average (.261), and the Rebels have collected 82 doubles, six triples, 73 homers and 50 steals in 58 attempts. . .The Ole Miss pitching staff is No. 13 in the SEC with a 5.91 ERA, and the Rebels have posted 509 strikeouts in 447.2 innings.
Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com
By BRET H. MCCORMICK, Journal Sports
Some of Louisiana’s best high school track and field competitors this spring were Rapides Parish standouts.
They’re all on the Rapides Parish Journal All-Parish Track and Field teams for boys and girls.
The teams were selected using the top marks from district, regional and state meets – not from regular-season competition.
Unlike regular meets, where athletes can compete in up to four events, the All-Parish teams limited athletes to being selected in two events. To qualify for a relay team, an athlete must have run either in that relay event or the open event equivalent to the relay (100 meters, 200 meters, etc.). If an athlete made the All-Parish team in an open event, he or she was ineligible to make the relay team.
Below are the boys and girls All-Parish Track and Field teams as compiled using results available on the Louisiana MileSplit website.
BOYS ALL-PARISH TEAM
Running Events
100 Meters: Dartavin Depass, Sr., Peabody (10.85) and Jordyn Johnson, Jr., ASH (10.91)
110 Hurdles: Maximus Kadrmas, Sr., Tioga (15.12) and Wyatt Smith, Sr., Tioga (15.27)
200 Meters: JT Lindsey, Jr., ASH (22.35) and Jordan Berymon, Sr., Pineville (22.44)
300 Hurdles: Maximus Kadrmas, Sr., Tioga (38.37) and Wyatt Smith, Sr., Tioga (39.73)
400 Meters: Elijah Thomas, Sr., Pineville (50.17) and Jordan Ceasar, Jr., ASH (50.96)
800 Meters: Justin Descant, Sr., Pineville (1:56.70) and Omar Isa, So., ASH (1:56.75)
1,600 Meters: Austin Siebeneicher, So., Menard (4:43.62) and Clark Wright, So., ASH (4:46.24)
3,200 Meters: Tyler Newland, So., Tioga (10:06.02) and Clark Wright, So., ASH (10:28.51)
400-Meter Relay: A.J. Butler, So., Northwood-Lena; Travis Adams, Jr., Tioga; Jaylin Johnson, Sr., ASH; JT Lindsey, Jr., ASH
800-Meter Relay: A.J. Butler, So., Northwood-Lena; Jaden Lewis, Jr., ASH; Jaylin Johnson, Sr., ASH; Jordyn Johnson, Jr., ASH
1,600-Meter Relay: Maddox Troquille, So., Pineville; Justin Descant, Sr., Pineville; Omar Isa, So., ASH; Bradley Riccardi, Sr., Tioga
3,200-Meter Relay: Austin Siebeneicher, So., Menard; Caleb Woolery, Sr., Tioga; Tyler Newland, So., Tioga; Nicholas Scott, Sr., ASH
Field Events
High Jump: Kirkland Bates, Jr., ASH (6-4) and Alex Strange, Jr., Pineville (6-0)
Long Jump: Marquis Butler, Jr., ASH (21-8.75) and Michael Hayes, Jr., Tioga (21-4)
Triple Jump: Marquis Butler, Jr., ASH (47-7) and Ja’Corian Norris, Sr., Tioga (45-3)
Pole Vault: Wyatt Baumhartt, So., Pineville (12-6) and Caleb Woolery, Sr., Tioga (12-5.25)
Discus: Hunter Rivet, Sr., ASH (179-0) and Justin White, Fr., Tioga (138-5)
Javelin: Tucker McCoy, Sr., Grace Christian (179-2) and Gunner Delaney, Sr., Tioga (171-2.5)
Shot Put: Jeremiah Jeffers-Wright, Sr., ASH (50-8.5) and Hunter Rivet, Sr., ASH (47-11)
Honorable Mention
Sprints: Kendary Brown, So., Peabody; Mikey Derosa, Sr., Menard; Ken’Tyreon Eddie, Sr., Northwood-Lena; Ashton Hawthorne, Jr. Buckeye; Josh Loyd, Sr., Tioga
Distance: Cayden Gorham, So., Menard; Jack Iles, Jr., ASH; Andrew Neely, Sr., Pineville; Zahre Quinney, Sr., Peabody; Brandt Rachel, Jr., Grace Christian
Jumps: Christian Goudeau, Sr., Menard; Matthew Hicks, So., Menard; Kervin Johnson, So., Tioga; Colton Ryland, Jr., Buckeye; Angelo Shelton, Fr., Tioga
Throws: Cameron Calderon, Sr., ASH; Jayden Hagger, Jr., Tioga; Preston Ivey, Sr., Tioga; Cooper Scott, Sr., Menard; Jake Vaughn, So., Menard
GIRLS ALL-PARISH TEAM
Running Events
100 Meters: Jakyra Edwards, Sr., ASH (11.97) and Reana Dupar, Jr., ASH (13.10)
100 Hurdles: Cami Harrison, Jr., Menard (15.26) and Laila Williams, So., Pineville (15.51)
200 Meters: Jakyra Edwards, Sr., ASH (25.24) and Amari Dupar, So., ASH (25.84)
300 Hurdles: Sanyla Atkins, Sr., ASH (44.47) and Terra Johnson, Jr., Peabody (51.82)
400 Meters: Kelise Kelly, Jr., ASH (59.96) and Grace Brown, Jr., ASH (1:00.07)
800 Meters: Raegan Monroe, Sr., ASH (2:24.92) and Wesley Gassiott, Jr., ASH (2:30.44)
1,600 Meters: Raegan Monroe, Sr., ASH (5:08.73) and Abbi Poche, So., Buckeye (5:54.00)
3,200 Meters: Kaylee Siebeneicher, 7th, Menard (13:41.16) and Caroline Crooks, Fr., ASH (13:56.96)
400-Meter Relay: Adrianna Jackson, Jr., Bolton; Ambrielle White, Fr., Northwood-Lena; Makaylah Brothers, Jr., Tioga; Amari Dupar, So., ASH
800-Meter Relay: Makaylah Brothers, Jr., Tioga; Shalee Foster, So., Buckeye; Kaylee Bowen, Sr., Buckeye; Reana Dupar, Jr., ASH
1,600-Meter Relay: Wesley Gassiott, Jr., ASH; Miya Winns, Fr., Pineville; Miyah Jackson, So., Pineville; Allie West, Fr., Buckeye
3,200-Meter Relay: Caroline Crooks, Fr., ASH; Chesney Matthews, Sr., Menard; Skyler Nargo, Fr., Menard; Abbi Poche, So., Buckeye
Field Events
High Jump: Thamerin Balthazar, Jr., ASH (5-0) and Chaselyn Guillory, So., ASH (5-0)
Long Jump: A’shyria Burns, Jr., Menard (18-7) and Noelle Williams, So., ASH (17-6)
Triple Jump: A’shyria Burns, Jr., Menard (38-2) and Kennedy Johnson, Jr., Tioga (35-7.25)
Pole Vault: Cami Harrison, Jr., Menard (11-0) and Olivia Marcantel, So., Menard (9-11.25)
Discus: Carly Meynard, So., Menard (116-7) and Tesema Perkins, So., Rapides (93-9)
Javelin: Brielle Texada, So., ASH (135-0) and Bella Boone, Fr., Buckeye (107-6)
Shot Put: Brea Woods, Sr., ASH (36-6) and Laylah Branch-King, Jr., ASH (35-6.5)
Honorable Mention
Sprints: Naomi Dishmon, Fr., Tioga; Amara Hardin, Jr., Grace Christian; Jada Stinson, Sr., Peabody; Audrey Tarver, So., Grace Christian; Jy’Quia Whittaker, So., Pineville
Distance: Jillian Beran, So., Buckeye; Madilyn Cross, Fr., Buckeye; Olivia Hebert, Fr., Pineville; Ava Miguez, So., Menard; Trinity Morris, Fr., Pineville
Jumps: Jodie Jowers, Jr., Oak Hill; Madisyn Juckett, Sr., Buckeye; Nyasia Moran, Sr., Northwood-Lena; Sadie St. Pé, Fr., Buckeye; Devan Williams, So., ASH
Throws: Allison Ford, So., Tioga; Ava Guillot, Sr., Grace Christian; Tamiyah Howard, So., Tioga; Salai Wallace, Jr., Bolton; Raygan Welch, So., Northwood-Lena.
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Louisiana Christian Wildcats baseball team knocked off the NAIA’s No. 4 team, LSU Shreveport, twice on the way to recently winning the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament title and earning a trip to the NAIA Tournament.
The Wildcats found there is obviously a huge gap between No. 2 and No. 4 in the Top 25. For the second time in four games in the NAIA Opening Round Lawrenceville Bracket, LCU encountered the home team, and the No. 2-ranked Georgia Gwinnett Grizzlies applied the same level of mauling as they did in the first meeting Monday.
Georgia Gwinnett (49-7) rolled to a 20-1 victory Tuesday, followed that up with a 16-1 rout of previous regional unbeaten Faulkner (Ala.), and are a win away from claiming a Super Regional berth next weekend.
The Wildcats (34-21) could muster only four singles Wednesday while the Grizzlies clubbed 20, including 10 for extra bases, five home runs.
Unlike a 26-2 hammering Monday, this time LCU hung in early. After GGC scored three in the top of the first, the Wildcats got on the board in the second inning.
Nick Brunet drew a leadoff walk and eventually scored on a wild pitch. LCU had two runners in scoring position with one out, but couldn’t cash in and tie the game.
GGC scored two in the fourth, four an inning later for a 9-1 advantage and put it away with an eight-run sixth inning.
The Wildcats, the fifth seed in the five-team field, opened the regional Monday morning with a 6-4 win over fourth-seeded Bushnell (Oregon) and whipped No. 3 seed Ottawa (Arizona) 9-4 on Tuesday.
CHICKASHA, Okla. — The LSUA softball team moved one step away from the NAIA Tournament Chickasha Bracket championship finals Wednesday but was knocked out of the elimination round by the same team that put the Generals there.
LSUA opened Wednesday with a 7-1 victory over Baker (Kansas), racing to a 5-0 lead after two innings. But in the Generals’ second game, the elimination round final, they fell 5-2 to Midland (Nebraska). Midland topped LSUA 2-0 Monday in the opening game of the tourney behind a no-hit pitching performance.
The Generals stayed alive by rapping 11 hits against Baker. Haley Fontenot, Bailey Layton and Madi Baker – the top three hitters in the LSUA lineup – each delivered two hits, with Fontenot driving in two runs while Layton and Baker each plated one.
Kilee Moody also drove in a pair for LSUA.
Baker made three errors and those resulted in all of the winners’ runs being unearned. Baker got on the board in the fifth inning, but LSUA answered right away with two more runs and cruised in as Taylor Spencer went the distance and scattered seven hits to get the decision in the circle.
Midland (44-11) scored three in its third inning and added two in the fifth to open a big lead. But LSUA battled back, scoring two in the sixth inning on a two-out double by Haylee Ladner.
After Aliyah Rincon (28-7) held LSU hitless Monday, she gave up seven hits Wednesday – two apiece by Baker, Amber Giddens and Destiney Jones.
On April 22, Lincoln Parish lost a man to death at age 88 who was a visionary in the truest sense. Fredric Lee Hoogland was the founder of one of the most popular attractions, not only for Lincoln Parish but for the surrounding area and regions far removed from the hills of north Louisiana. It was Hoogland who located and promoted and worked for the parish to purchase the area and that would become Lincoln Parish Park.
I had the privilege of visiting with Hoogland some 20 years ago after the park was up and running and attracting visitors from everywhere. I wrote a story about our visit that appeared in Lincoln Parish Park Notes newsletter and in honor of his memory, following are excerpts of that article.
“When I stepped up on a bluff that spring day in the late 1970s and saw what lay before me, I’m sure if somebody had heard me, they’d have thought I was an evangelist praising the Lord. I’ve never had an experience quite like that and I was overcome with emotion, realizing that my prayers had been answered. After walking thousands of acres around Ruston for the better part of three years, I realized that God had led me to the right spot and it was just about more than I could handle,” Hoogland recalled.
“That’s not all; the further I walked into the woods, the better it got. There was no doubt in my mind that here was the site that would ultimately become the park I’d dreamed about since high school.”
Once the property was located, there were hurdles that had to be crossed. First of all, the property, no matter how perfect it was as a park site, was privately owned and not for sale.
It took a lengthy period of negotiation and persuasion and, according to Hoogland, another Divine miracle or two, the owners finally agreed to sell. Hoogland was an elected member of the Lincoln Parish Police Jury and the jury formed a Parks, Recreation and Tourism Committee. The obvious choice to chair this committee was Fredric Hoogland.
The jury had the amount of money in the bank needed for the purchase, took a vote and five members voted for it; unfortunately seven voted against it. Not about to give up, Hoogland lobbied the seven no-voters and three weeks later, votes were cast again and the final count was seven for; five against. The property was purchased in February 1982.
After all the legal requirements were met, the park was opened on a limited basis in 1989 and for the seven years following the purchase, it took a plethora of planning and work to turn this rugged hunk of Lincoln Parish property into the jewel it is today.
You can just imagine what was involved into turning the rough piece of land into something visitors could utilize. Concession stand, restrooms, shelters, nature trails and bike trails all had to be planned and constructed. The park became fully operational in March 1990 and by 1995 was averaging approximately 70,000 visitors a year.
Current park director James Ramsaur saw the potential to adding to the park bike trails and today, Lincoln Parish Park is home to one of the most popular mountain bike trails in the United States with the most recent addition being a Flow Trail Hub.
The park is also home to a 3-D archery range, a lake for swimming and fishing and camping sites from tents to recreational RVs.
“Looking back now,” Hoogland told me, “I know that it was the Good Lord who made this place beautiful. We just massaged what He had already made.”
Contact Glynn at glynnharris37@gmail.com
Arrests are accusations, not convictions.
May 14
Weapons
Kentavyon Gradney, 20, Alexandria — firearm possession by convicted felon, possession, burglary, criminal damage, no signals, no driver’s license, parole violations, $31,200 bail;
Other
Melanie Buller, 34, Deville — domestic abuse battery aggravated assault child endangerment, theft, $1,500 bail;
Makari Cotton, 19, Alexandria — criminal conspiracy, possession, $21,000 bail;
William Melbert, 42, Alexandria — domestic abuse battery strangulation, assault, $25,500 bail;
Abel Pacheco, 54, Alexandria — violation protective order first offense, $50,000 bail (charged same previously).
This date: 18 arrests, 7 that include at least one contempt count.
Arrests are accusations, not convictions.
May 14
Queneshia Barton, 23, Alexandria — production, manufacture, distribution, $10,000 bail;
Travis Campbell, 29, Alexandria — production, manufacture, distribution, failure to appear, contempt 5 counts, $8,750 bail;
Charles Floyd, 38, Jonesville — possession 2 counts, OWI 2nd, 4:37 pm, $2,500 bail;
Chandler Johnson, 23, Alexandria — production, manufacture, distribution, $25,000 bail;
Tu Nguyen, 32, Marrero — production, manufacture, distribution, $20,000 bail;
Melanie Vo, 33, Marrero — production, manufacture, distribution, improper lane usage, texting while driving, $20,200 bail.
May 30, 1959 – May 11, 2024
A mass service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 18, 2024 at St. Frances Cabrini Church with Father Chad Partain officiating, under the direction of Hixson Brothers Funeral Home.
A celebration of life for Debbie Ann Waller Good will follow the service, to be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 18, 2024 at St. Frances Cabrini Church meeting hall.
Debbie, 64, of Alexandria, LA passed peacefully from this life, Saturday May 11, 2024 at her residence, surrounded by her family. She spent her life doing what she loved, caring for those around her, from her family to her patients and colleagues. Debbie was as selfless as they come, spreading compassion, encouragement and joy to every person she came into contact with. She was an exceptional wife, mother and grandmother. Debbie is now at peace in paradise and her memory will live on through us all.
Those left to cherish her memory include her husband, Stephen Harold Good; daughters, Charlie Celestine Good and Stevie Good Fowlkes; brother, Gary Waller; sisters, Janice Powell, Jeanette LeBlanc, Judy Sambrano, Evelyn Haack and her twin sister, Donna Waller; grandchildren, Benjamin Good, Dannie Good, Henderson Fowlkes and Corbin Fowlkes; and a host of other family members and friends.
Ashes will be put to rest at services to be held in July of 2024, at the family plot in Pine Grove Cemetery, Waterville, ME.
By JIM BUTLER
On March 30 Northwood School District’s maintenance fund balance was $4.4 million. The Kolin-Ruby Wise balance was $19,000.
School Board member Sandra Franklin wonders if the system can correct what she considers a disparity demonstrated by those numbers.
Franklin is a Ward 1 member. The District 62 fund (Wards 1, 8 and portion of 2) had a $4 million balance at March’s end, according to board records.
Maintenance funds are generated by property taxes approved by voters in respective districts.
Those districts with commercial and industrial development generate more dollars per mill of tax than those without.
An example – Northwood’s 14.29 mills provides about $2.6 million; Plainview’s 19.05 mills yields $186,000.
But changing from district funds to parishwide is a touchy, and difficult, prospect.
Franklin is asking the board’s staff and counsel to at least provide basic information on how, if at all, it could be done.
There is one parishwide maintenance fund. It provides about $3 million annually, with 40+ schools provided for.
But the districts themselves basically carry their own water and the loads vary.
At the top end of the 15 funds are Northwood, District 62, Big Island (Buckeye), Rigolette (Ward 10) and Pineville districts.
The other extreme: Kolin-Ruby Wise, Forest Hill and Plainview.
Beginning balances (7/1/23), current-year revenue and budgeted 6/30/24 balances for the funds:
Rigolette technology: $583,000, $525,000, $160,000; Rigolette main.: $2.5 million, $3.2 million, $710,000; Forest Hill: $119,000, $165,000, $87,000;
Northwood: $3.2 million, $2.6 million, $2.9 million;
Glenmora: $290,000, $279,000, $241,000;
Buckeye: $2.2 million, $1.5 million, $2.2 million; Oak Hill: $679,000, $432,000, $80,000;
Pineville main: $2 million, $2.2 million, $1.6 million; Pineville technology: $381,000, $355,000, $119,000;
Poland: $66,000, $217,000, 59,000;
Kolin-Ruby Wise: $140,000, $180,000, 0;
Lecompte/Lamourie: $457,000, $421,000, $268,000;
Plainview: $293,000, $186,000, $87,000;
Rapides High: $1.8 million, $539,000, $824,000; District 62: $2.9 million, $7.2 million, $1.4 million.
Senator W. Jay Luneau announces a new partnership between SunGas Renewables and C2X. The new partnership should create about 1,150 construction jobs and more than 100 local operational jobs for the $2 billion Beaver Lake Renewable Energy green methanol facility.
Construction on the facility is on the former International Paper site and expected to start in 2026. Once the facility is constructed, the project should generate 400,000 metric tons of green methanol each year for marine fuel and chemical feedstock use.
Green methanol is becoming a fuel of choice for decarbonizing the global shipping industry,
By JIM SMILIE
Having earned national championships in gymnastics and baseball in the past year and football in 2019, LSU President William F. Tate, IV, recognizes Louisiana State University is well known nationally for its athletic teams.
“We have incredible teams at LSU,” Tate told members of the Alexandria Rotary Club Tuesday afternoon in Convention Hall in Alexandria. “They are not just in sports. We have academic teams, staff teams, and more.”
Tate, who is starting his fourth year as president of the LSU System, said he is focused on centralizing LSU’s Scholarship First agenda. That includes increasing enrollment and funding for research while ensuring students have the tools and support they need to be successful.
“We’re in the opportunity business,” Tate said, noting one of his goals is to ensure people have the opportunity to improve their lives through education. “I believe it is better to go to school and flunk out than never go at all,” he said. “In America, you can be born poor and have the opportunity to go to school and improve your situation to get on the positive side.”
Tate said he is constantly looking into communities for people who can be helped and working to find ways to give them the opportunity to improve the quality of their life as well as the community they live in.
So far, that approach is working in terms of enrollment as every school in the LSU system saw record enrollment this fall, with more than 55,000 students enrolled system-wide.
Tate specifically recognized Louisiana State University of Alexandria for its record enrollment growth and for achieving its goal of 5,000 students two years ahead of schedule. “Most schools set enrollment records in the fall,” Tate said. “LSUA broke its enrollment record in the spring – nobody does that. That’s taking an opportunity and being serious about it.” This year, LSUA posted a 35.5 percent increase over last year with more than 5,400 students, making it the fastest growing public university in the state.
As part of the Scholarship First agenda, Tate said the university is focusing on five key topic areas, which he referred to as “the pentagon.” Those fields are agriculture, biomedical, coast, defense and energy. “People often ask me, where does English, or science or math fit into that,” Tate said. “Those are all a part of each of those areas.” For example, he said, history or math majors may be working in fields concerning coastal erosion while English majors may be in the military or working in the energy sector.
Tate considers each of those areas to be vital to Louisiana and he believes investing in those areas will benefit students and the state. “People ask me, ‘is education worth it?’ We’re pulling people out of poverty. We’re changing lives.”
As further proof of the benefit of higher education, Tate noted LSUA grads, for example, earn an average salary of roughly $67,000 per year compared to the state average of roughly $51,000 per year. He also noted 81 percent of LSUA graduates stay in Louisiana to live and work. “The taxpayers are getting a good bang for their buck when students go to LSUA,” he said. Across the LSU system, roughly 70 percent of graduates stay in the state, he said, reinvesting in the community.
In addition to focusing on the five key study areas in the pentagon, Tate said he wants to see greater emphasis on research to drive innovation.
A tool Tate uses to measure innovation is patent registrations. He showed the audience a chart highlighting the parts of the country with the highest number of patent registrations. The bulk were in California, the New England area and the upper Midwest.
“There is not a lot in Louisiana,” Tate said, noting minimal activity in the Gulf coast region. “We’re relying on other people to solve our problems.” That’s a problem, Tate said, because the leading patent-producing areas don’t face the challenges Louisiana faces, including hurricanes and coastal erosion. “You don’t have hurricanes in Big 10 country,” he said.
Tate recalled that when he arrived at LSU, one of his first observations was that research dollars were stagnant. He set a goal of increasing research funding by 10 percent each year and to get LSU into the ranks of the top 50 research institutions.
Last year, LSU set a record with $488 million in research funding, an increase of 14 percent over the previous year. Still, Tate notes they still have a long way to go as he estimates it will take $700-800 million in research funding to get into the top 50.
Research funding received a huge boost earlier this year when LSU was awarded the largest grant ever awarded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, providing up to $160 million to support Louisiana’s energy industry, create jobs and develop the energy workforce.
Louisiana’s team, called Future Use of Energy in Louisiana, or FUEL, includes private energy companies, universities, community and technical colleges, and state agencies that will work together to drive technology and workforce development in support of Louisiana’s energy industry.
Tate noted energy is one of the five “pentagon” programs of emphasis and that the program is driving innovation locally. “We need to encourage Louisiana-centric solutions to the challenges we face,” he said.