Crews for the City of Pineville repaired a main water leak at 3308 Old Marksville Hwy on Friday. The follow streets will be under a boil advisory until further notice:
Following a successful market on June 26, the Alexandria Farmers Market announced that it is growing and will be adding new vendors throughout the summer.
The first new vendor to be introduced is Sourdough by Shawn, a familiar face to many who have taken one of her sourdough how-to classes. Shawn brings a mix that will compliment the market’s current bread lineup. Come by this coming Tuesday for the July 1 market and welcome them with us at 2727 Jackson St. from 3-6pm.
Over the weekend, the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office was made aware of a new scam targeting church congregations in central Louisiana.
It seems that the scammers identify the members of the board of directors of churches and then send emails to the church office, in hopes of acquiring the entire church membership directory. For clarity, they did not hack the board member’s email account or steal their identity. Rather, they obtained the email address from open source and sent an email with the request.
The RPSO warns the public to always check the email address when information is being requested. If the person making the request is not known to the recipient or has never used the email used for the request, give them a call to make sure it is them.
In busy times, sometimes people get in the habit of answering emails without really paying attention to the email address. Most of the time the scammers invent an email address that looks very similar to the legitimate email address of the requestor. The RPSO reminds the public to always delete emails that look suspicious.
Thirteen years after an environmental debacle at Dresser Industries, and five years after the public was notified of its extent, litigation involving several hundred plaintiffs and seemingly that many lawyers is back in federal court Monday.
Claims by two plaintiffs in the stack of those in line went to trial in test last Fall, jurors finding for the defense on all claims.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are set aside for hearing evidence in a Lafayette courtroom from all parties on their versions of the Most Feasible Plan of corrective action.
Dresser, now in the Baker-Hughes family, says in its MFP that it has spent about $24 million on remediation so far and estimates another three to four to complete its plan.
An annotated timeline:
June 2012 – soil and water contamination toxic release occurs; March 2020 – residents of defined area around plant notified; June 2020 – class action suit filed in state court in Baton Rouge, DEQ subsequently ruled immune to charges; August 2020 – Dresser petition moves case to federal court; Covid disrupts;
September 2023 – Suit ruled not a proper class action, requiring individual litigation; October 2023 – Dresser seeks, gets order requiring each plaintiff claiming personal injury from exposure to TCE or PCE or on behalf of minor to provide from physician list of specific injuries, illnesses or conditions, date first suffered and treated, explanation of exposure and diagnosis with February 2024 deadline;
February 2024 – Deadline extended to May; August 2024 – Court orders both sides in cases to provide their versions of Most Feasible Plan; October 2024 – Dresser submits MFP; plaintiffs seek extension, granted; October 28-November 6, 2024 – “Bellwether” trial of damage claims of two plaintiffs, jury found for defense on all claims; such trials help both sides in such litigation assess their cases; December 2024 – Plaintiffs submit MFP;
April 2025 – Remediation hearing continued at plaintiffs’ request; plaintiffs ask to file supplemental MFP, denied; court notes length of time since cases began; hearing continued to May 19; May 2025 – Hearing re-set for June 30-July 2.
Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame 2025 inductee Herb Vincent talks with 2023 inductee Lori Lyons (center) and Courtney Luquet Thursday evening during the LSHOF Welcome Reception in the museum on Front Street in Natchitoches. (Journal photo by KEVIN SHANNAHAN)
By JONATHON ZENK, Written for the LSWA
NATCHITOCHES — During Thursday afternoon’s introductory press conference for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025, a couple sentiments were common threads — gratitude and relationships.
Memories and stories were shared by all the inductees, or those speaking on their behalf, as they reflected on the state where they built a legacy that led them to the honor they will officially receive Saturday night during the induction ceremony televised live on Louisiana Public Broadcasting.
Today the scene shifts to Alexandria’s Four Seasons Bowling Center for the Mardi Gras Bowling Bash then returns to Natchitoches where the evening offers the free Rockin’ RiverFest concert from 6-10:30 on the downtown Cane River Lake stage, including inductee introductions at 9:15 followed by a 10-minute sports-themed fireworks show.
Saturday’s activities begin with the Junior Training Camp led by the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans marketing staff from 9-11 a.m. at the Webb Wellness Center on the Northwestern State campus.
Two more inductees will join the festivities. LSU and NFL star Andrew Whitworth arrives today after his daughter’s dance recital last night in Los Angeles. His LSU coach, Nick Saban, has been filming AFLAC commercials in Los Angeles and will arrive Saturday for the induction ceremony. Whitworth and Saban helped lead the Tigers to the 2003 national championship.
Relationships are a major theme during every induction, so it made sense Thursday afternoon that college chums Glenn Guilbeau and Herb Vincent were at the podium early in the chain of inductees.
“I am real proud of my friendship with Herb,” Guilbeau said. “We’ve been able to get along, dating back to when we were both at LSU at the same time.
“It was great to follow Herb’s career from the New Orleans Breakers in the USFL to the SEC. He’s been a great friend to have.”
Guilbeau, a two-time Louisiana Sportswriter of the Year, will receive the LSWA’s Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism.
LSHOF Foundation President & CEO Ronnie Rantz, a Menard High standout who pitched for LSU’s first two College World Series champions in 1991 and 1993, recounted a joke played on Guilbeau, who was working at the Alexandria Daily Town Talk when hometown hero Rantz played for the Tigers.
Rantz was pitching well but Vincent exaggerated when he called Guilbeau in Alexandria claiming Rantz had a no-hitter going late in a midweek game. Guilbeau quickly hung up, called the paper’s editors and told them be ready for a big story — before Vincent called back moments later saying while Rantz had a good outing going, it was not a no-hitter.
“Glenn hung up the phone before we could tell him it was a joke,” Vincent said. “We tried to figure out how to call him back to tell him to stop and wondered how long do we let this go? Finally, we called him back and told him the truth.
“That was when we realized Glenn would believe anything if he took the bait that Ronnie was throwing a no-hitter at an LSU baseball game.”
Vincent, now in his 12th year as an associate commissioner of the SEC, will receive the Dave Dixon Louisiana Sports Leadership Award.
While those two had a relationship in the workplace, other inductees didn’t have to look so far for their big relationships.
In 1990, Rags Scheuermann was inducted into the LSHOF as a legendary Delgado Community College baseball coach.
After 35 years, Rags will be joined by his son, Joe. They become the fourth father-son combination in the Hall.
The younger Scheuermann has won a state-record 1,207 games as the Delgado CC baseball coach and has led the Dolphins to five JUCO World Series appearances.
“It is special being a father-son duo in the LSHOF,” he said. “You grow up and you have idols — my dad was my idol. I just wish he was here. You follow somebody and you try to emulate him. I remember sitting on his lap in the dugout. The fact that we’re in it together is special.”
While Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson and Napheesa Collier dominate the present-day WNBA, former Louisiana Tech star Vickie Johnson walked so the current trio could run. The Coushatta native, currently an assistant coach with the Atlanta Dream, played in the WNBA’s inaugural season.
“The WNBA started in 1997, and I was one of the original 32 players in the league and I was placed in New York with some amazing players, Teresa Weatherspoon, Rebecca Lobo …. We didn’t make a whole lot of money, but it wasn’t about that. It was about the next generation and now you see the league’s growth with Clark and Angel Reese.”
Johnson was a two-time All-American for the Lady Techsters before playing 13 seasons in the WNBA. In her 13 seasons, she averaged 10.4 points, set the WNBA record for minutes played in a career, and made a pair of WNBA All-Star teams.
In observance of Independence Day, all City of Alexandria offices including City Hall, Customer Service, the Animal Shelter, Public Works, and others will be closed on Friday, July 4.
ATRANS Bus Service will not run Friday, July 4. Regular service will resume on Saturday, July 5.
Trash collection will occur on the following schedule. There will be no pick-up on Friday, July 4.
• Thursday and Friday routes will shift. ▪ Thursday’s pickup moves to Wednesday, July 2. ▪ Friday’s pickup moves to Thursday, July 3. ▪ Monday (June 30) and Tuesday (July 1) follow the normal schedule.
The 20th annual Fireworks over Buhlow is happening in just one week, next Thursday, July 3, at Buhlow Lake. The City of Pineville is celebrating two decades of dazzling displays and family fun.
The gates swing open at 2pm, providing plenty of time to find a spot. Kicking off the good vibes at 3pm is DJ Tony Groove spinning all the best tunes to get the party started. Then, prepare for a fantastic performance as the award-winning Bag of Donuts takes the stage at 6pm.
A wide array of local food vendors will be on-site, serving up delicious options for every taste. For the kids, there will be jumpers, a refreshing water slide, and a giant Jenga set for some oversized fun.
And for a little friendly rivalry, come cheer on the local heroes as the Pineville Fire Department faces off against the Pineville Police Department in an epic cornhole tournament. Who will claim victory this year?
Parking has been adjusted this year, so please be sure to watch this video for all the updated directions and information.
For the safety and enjoyment of all attendees, remember:
No pets allowed. The large crowds and loud fireworks can be overwhelming and stressful for animals.
No firearms.
No ice chests. There will be an abundance of fantastic food and beverage options from the vendors.
The City of Alexandria is gearing up for the best 4th of July celebration yet. The fun begins next Friday at 5:30pm on the steps of City Hall.
The City would like to remind the public that:
Rock the Red will be held on the steps of City Hall & the Fulton Mini Park.
Amphitheater is closed for construction. No one will be permitted on the Levee. Fireworks will be launched from the same location as last year, with a spectacular view from the mini park.
Everyone must enter event site through one of the two Event Entrances. Please see graphic.
Minors must be accompanied by an adult.
Folding chairs are allowed in the event site; however, some items may be prohibited. Please see graphic.
June 26, 2025, in a 10th Judicial District Court, Rodrick T. McIntosh was arraigned on four (4) new counts which apparently have a different fact pattern then the previous charge in regards to fraudulent practices in his real estate business.
Court: 10th Judicial District Court, Natchitoches, Louisiana Judge: Desiree Dyess
For the State: Amanda Todd & Darwin Miller from the LA Attorney General’s Office
For Rodrick T. McIntosh: Howard E. Conday *
Bond: $200,000.00 bond with special conditions
* Mr. McIntosh’s attorney for the first charge back in March 2025, Ms. Andree Jacques, filed a motion for severance stating that she did not have a contract for the four additional charges. Judge Dyess granted the motion for severance and Natchitoches attorney Howard E. Conday appeared for McIntosh for the purposes of the arraignment.
ORIGINAL
Natchitoches Parish realtor arrested following fraudulent practices investigation
A criminal investigation by the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Bureau has led to the arrest of local realtor, according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.
The investigation began after a former client reported alleged fraudulent practices conducted by Rodrick T. McIntosh, a realtor based in Natchitoches. Detectives launched an inquiry into the matter, which resulted in Rodrick T. McIntosh, 39 of Natchitoches, being arrested on March 7 and booked into the LaSalle Corrections/Natchitoches Detention Center charged with 1-count of Felony Theft.
McIntosh currently remains in the detention center awaiting bond.
Detectives executed a search warrant signed by a 10th Judicial District Judge at McIntosh’s residence near Natchitoches on Friday morning, related to the investigation.
Sheriff Wright emphasized that this investigation is separate and unrelated to a story posted by a local social media outlet earlier on Friday.
“The investigation into McIntosh’s alleged actions is ongoing, and we remain committed to gathering facts and ensuring accountability,” said Sheriff Wight. “This case is entirely independent of other reports circulating on social media.”
The investigation is still active, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
If you have any information, you would like to share with case investigators contact the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Bureau at 357-7830.
**All Persons are Presumed Innocent until Proven Guilty in Court or by Administrative Process**
The Cross Branded Cowboy Church Rodeo is coming on July 11 to the Cross Branded Cowboy Church Arena in Pineville. This youth rodeo is for the whole family with events for everyone, even without a horse.
Come out and experience the friendly atmosphere and fun. There will be Cowboy Church during the rodeo.
Youth events are for ages 18 and under. Open events are for anyone.
Admission is free. Concessions will be available. Books open at 6pm, and the rodeo begins at 7pm.
For more information, contact Marshall at 318-542-3443
The 45th Annual Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival will be held on Saturday, July 19, in air-conditioned Prather Coliseum located at 220 South Jefferson Street on the campus of Northwestern State University in Natchitoches. The festival’s curated showcase of Louisiana folk musicians, food vendors and traditional crafts persons will open at 9 a.m., with live entertainment scheduled from 9:30am until 9:30pm. The family-oriented festival is fully wheelchair accessible. Children 12 and under are admitted free. Tickets are $10 at the door for all events, or $6 for an evening pass to all events after 5pm.
The festival features three stages of music. Music headliners include Cajun band Amis du Teche, zydeco band Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, blues artist D.K. Harrell, western swing artist the Kristyn Harris Band, roots band Smithfield Fair, gospel group the Amazing! Rhythm Disciples and swamp pop dance band the Has Beans. The festival also includes numerous food vendors offering traditional Louisiana cuisine. Outdoor activities feature demonstrations of traditional blacksmithing, Dutch oven cooking and a child-friendly hands-on demonstration of a 19th century wash day.
In honor of this year’s theme, “Crafting Louisiana,” more than 80 crafts vendors have been invited to display and discuss their traditional work with those attending the festival. Craftspeople are expected to display beadwork, baskets, cowhide chair covers, alligator jewelry, Pysanky eggs, Native American crafts and pottery. Other expected craftspeople will display needlework, wood carvings, handmade toys and dolls, paintings, sculpture, homemade soap, spinning & weaving, handcrafted knives, handmade brooms, walking sticks, folk art quilts and more.
The Festival will include a Red Beans and Rice Cookoff, in which professionals and hobbyists alike can compete in one of multiple categories and demonstrate their cooking skills. Registration and the cooks’ meeting will take place at 8am. Tasting and judging will begin at 12:30pm with winners to be announced at 3:30pm. There is no fee to compete in the Cookoff. Red beans & rice must be cooked on-site outside of Prather Coliseum, but beans may be pre-soaked.
The Annual Louisiana State Fiddle Championship will be held at 1pm in Magale Recital Hall. There will be a non-championship class and a championship class. A twin fiddle category will also be held. Registration is at noon in the first-floor foyer outside Magale Recital Hall. The Fiddle Championship winner will perform on the main stage in Prather Coliseum at 5pm.
The festival includes several opportunities for patrons to engage directly with Louisiana folk culture. Free dance lessons include line dancing taught by the Classy Steppers, Celtic dance taught by the Thistle Dancers and Pipers and Cajun and zydeco dancing taught by the Cajun French Music Association Dance Troupe. Interactive activities include a yodeling demonstration by Kristyn Harris, dancing with the Louisiana Czech Heritage Dancers, a son jarocho fandango dance by the Armadillos Tejano and a musical spoons workshop taught by folk musician Clancey Stewart, with 50 free musical spoons given to workshop attendees.
“The festival bridges the distance between artists and the festival patrons, thus breaking the artificial barriers between artists and audience,” said Dr. Shane Rasmussen, director of the festival and NSU’s Louisiana Folklife Center. “Rather than watching from the sidelines, everyone who takes part in these activities will share and engage in Louisiana’s rich culture.”
KidFest will be available from 9am to 4pm. Kidfest is an area dedicated to child-friendly activities and is a fun way for children to examine their own cultural and family traditions as well as those from around the state.
Narrative sessions will be held in the festival N-Club Room from 10am to 6pm and feature presentations on traditional dolls and dollmaking, Creole architecture, Mexican fiddle styles and folk artist Clementine Hunter, with music informances on the blues with D.K. Harrell and roots music with Smithfield Fair. ASL interpretation, assistive listening devices and audio description for these cultural discussions will be made available upon prior request.
This year also features several pre-Festival events which are free and open to the general public. Fiddlin’ with the Finest will be held at the Many Depot Museum on June 14 and will include several Louisiana State Fiddle Champions discussing and performing traditional fiddling. Attendees are invited to bring their own acoustic instruments for a folk music jam session. A second free pre-festival event, A Life of Zydeco, a Musical Informance with Chubby Carrier, will be held on June 21 at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum in Natchitoches with Grammy winner Carrier discussing the cultural significance of zydeco to Louisiana with Rasmussen. A third pre-festival event will be an interactive crafts workshop, with Creole and Native American tradition bearers sharing their cultural knowledge. It will be held at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum on July 12. Free crafting materials will be provided for attendees.
For a full schedule of events, as well as registration forms to participate in the Louisiana State Fiddle Championship and the Red Beans & Rice Cookoff contact the Louisiana Folklife Center at 318-357-4332 or email folklife@nsula.edu or go to louisianafolklife.nsula.edu.
Support for the festival is provided by grants from the Cane River National Heritage Area, Inc., the City of Natchitoches, the Louisiana Division of the Arts Decentralized Arts Fund Program, the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, the Louisiana Office of Tourism, the Natchitoches Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, the Shreveport Regional Arts Council, and the State of Louisiana. The festival is sponsored by C&H Precision Machining, City Bank, Cleco, Evans Family, LLC, Exchange Bank, the Family Doctors of Natchitoches, the Harrington Law Firm, Natchitoches Wood Preserving Company and Young Estate, LLC.
We would like to invite all of our friends and neighbors to a special informational meeting focused on carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) and Eminent Domain—topics that are growing in importance across our region.
This educational gathering is not intended to persuade one way or another, but rather to allow you to become educated on an important topic that engages our families. We have invited qualified professionals to explain what CCS is, how it works, and what implications it and Eminent Domain may have for our communities. It will be an open forum where questions are welcomed and honest discussion encouraged.
July 1st, 2025 • 6pm • Pine Ridge Baptist Church
We must become better educated on the complex issues that have the potential to seriously affect our lives and the lives of our future generation to come. By understanding the facts, we can speak with wisdom, compassion, and truth when questions arise.
I sincerely hope you will make every effort to attend and join us in this thoughtful and respectful dialogue.
Let us remember the words of Hosea 4:6 – “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
Thank you for your time,
Pine Ridge Baptist Church 6026 LA-112 Melder, LA 71433
An architectural firm has been chosen for design of the 56-bed regional juvenile detention facility at Renaissance.
The board of the eight-parish detention district has formalized the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the state Office of Facility Planning and Control for the $38 million project and this month settled on a design group.
Grace Hebert Curtis, which has offices in five Louisiana cities as well as 16 locations in Texas and Florida, was selected, assuming no state objections. Design experience with detention facilities is listed as a key factor.
The Renaissance district was chosen earlier this year for funding in the initial competitive round for detention facilities expansion funds, particularly for housing 17-year-olds either awaiting case disposition or convicted.
Rapides, Grant, Avoyelles, LaSalle, Vernon, Winn, Catahoula and Concordia Parishes comprise the district.
Rapides, through an existing property tax, will provide about $2.2 million of the $2.67 million in initial estimated operating costs from the parishes.
The Office of Juvenile Justice will provide $1.55 million in guaranteed daily bed rate compensation for holding 17 of the 56 beds in reserve for state-assigned offenders.
The facility will be at the current Renaissance property, Vandenburg Drive & Bayou Rapides Road.
Alexandria Police Chief Chad Gremillion issued a statement on Tuesday regarding a news story shared by KALB on Monday, June 23. The following is Chief Gremillion’s statement on the story.
“Yesterday, Colin Vedros of KALB aired a story regarding the Alexandria Police Department and a traffic fatality that occurred last Wednesday. In the segment, Mr. Vedros claimed to have reached out to the Alexandria Police Department (APD) for comment. To date, I am not aware of any such request made directly to APD. While a request may have been made to a mayoral assistant, such a request is not a request to the police department concerning a law enforcement matter.
I have personally reviewed the body camera footage of the officer’s interaction with the individual featured in KALB’s story. The officer acted with professionalism, compassion, and in full accordance with the law. He properly advised the individual of her Miranda rights, as required by law. Failure to do so would have constituted a violation of her constitutional rights. What I witnessed in my review of the body camera footage was a textbook example of appropriate, lawful police conduct. The officer treated this driver with professionalism, concern, and compassion while trying to calm her and put her at ease during the tragic event.
I stand firmly behind the actions of our officer and the values we uphold: accountability, professionalism, and duty. These values guide our actions every day, and I believe they were clearly demonstrated during this terrible incident.
What concerns me is the apparent lack of these same values in KALB’s reporting. Mr. Vedros’ portrayal of the situation was misleading and inflammatory. His approach was driven by his desire to create a story rather than by a genuine pursuit of truth or journalistic integrity. The term “fake news” has often been used in recent years—I now understand firsthand what that can mean when reporting prioritizes sensationalism and clicks over facts. This story was NEVER fact checked by Mr. Vedros.
Perhaps what is most troubling is that there is a family that was revictimized by this non-newsworthy story. This event happened last Wednesday and was covered not only statewide, but was picked up by the “national” news wire. Now, five days later, a mother and father are about to bury their 6-year-old child while they continue to have their seriously injured 12-year-old cared for in a hospital, and support their other family members who are dealing with a seriously injured child as well. All for a click on social media.
I urge the media to approach these matters with the seriousness and responsibility they deserve. The public deserves accurate information not non-factual narratives crafted for attention at the expense of truth.”
Louisiana State Police Troop E responded to a two-vehicle crash on Louisiana Highway 121 near Bob Stark Road on June 24 at approximately 6:55am. This crash claimed the life of 52-year-old Shellie Slocum of Boyce.
The initial investigation revealed that a 2009 Nissan Altima, driven by Slocum, was southbound on Louisiana Highway 121. For reasons still under investigation, Slocum’s vehicle crossed the centerlines into the northbound travel lane and collided head-on with a 2021 Nissan Rogue.
Slocum, who was unrestrained, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on the scene. The driver of the Nissan Rogue, who was restrained, sustained minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Routine toxicology samples were obtained and submitted for analysis.
While the cause of this crash remains under investigation, distracted and inattentive driving continues to be a leading cause of crashes in the state. Louisiana State Police urges all motorists to stay alert while driving. A lapse in one’s awareness can have deadly consequences.
(Portrait by CHRIS BROWN, Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame)
By HARRISON VALENTINE, Written for the LSWA
Before there was Haleigh Bryant, Sarah Finnegan or Ashleigh Gnat, there was a 14-time All-American at LSU. An NCAA beam champion, and an SEC Gymnast of the Year, who was setting the foundation and helping vault LSU gymnastics into a perennial power.
That was April Burkholder, a native of Houston, but an LSU Tiger through and through. Just ask her legendary coach D-D Breaux, who experienced it all in her 43 years as leader of the LSU program.
Breaux coached 250 All-Americans and 89 All-SEC selections during her illustrious tenure that in 2017 landed her in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. Burkholder was as driven as any of them, she said, high praise coming from one of the sport’s greatest pioneers.
“She was intense,” Breaux said. “She had that Eye of the Tiger. Nothing was going to stop her. Nothing was going to stand in her way. She wanted to win championships. She wanted to do anything she could possibly do to put an exclamation point on her gymnastics.”
Now Burkholder will join her coach in the state’s sports shrine during the 2025 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration this weekend in Natchitoches. Festivities start this evening with a free Welcome Reception at the LSHOF Museum (800 Front Street, Natchitoches) from 5-7.
Friday, the BOM Mardi Gras Bowling Bash fills lunchtime with fun at Four Seasons Bowling Center in Alexandria. Check LaSportsHall.com for event information.
Not only did Burkholder’s greatness pay dividends for LSU on the mat, but it also translated into fan interest never previously seen in an LSU program that once competed in the Carl Maddox Field House or before sparse crowds in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
In 2025, the Tigers finished with four consecutive sellouts for the first time in school history. A total of 13,476 people attended the final meet against Georgia. Those numbers, historic in nature, were sparked by gymnasts like Burkholder and coaches like Breaux, who generated excitement that Tiger fans feel today.
“She was the beginning of us being able to market and promote and really put people in the seats,” Breaux said. “The fact that, when she left, we were selling season tickets and putting 6,000 people in the stands, that was the beginning of what we see now.”
When you boast a resume like Burkholder’s – whose list of accolades spill off the page – it’s almost impossible to pick one moment that stands out. For Breaux, it was the final event of her senior year, capturing the 2006 NCAA championship on balance beam. All that hard work culminating in the ultimate prize on the ultimate stage. How fitting.
“Everything she did was just awesome,” Breaux said. “She never won a national championship until her senior year. Numerous All-American honors and numerous SEC honors. But that coveted national title had evaded her. In my career, I’ve had three or four beam national championships, and every one are special people because the event requires so much focus and repetition of training.”
Burkholder got an early start in the sport, inspired by her big sister and encouraged by her parents.
“My sister was four years older than me and had been in gymnastics a year before I started,” she said. “I was 3 and I was jumping all over the place. I broke five bones before I was 5 years old, I cracked my skull open when I was 2, so I think part of my introduction to gymnastics was my parents wanting me to learn how to fall.”
She was a quick study, and gymnastics had a magnetic pull that became the dominant influence as she grew up. Although she thrived competitively, it came at a cost.
“I loved performing. Floor was always my favorite event because of that. Dance was a big part also for me,” said Burkholder. “It was all I knew, really. I was training 10 hours a day by the time I was 10 years old. I honestly didn’t even really have time for school. My education took a back seat and suffered a little bit, so I had to overcome a lot of obstacles.
“I had a scholarship waiting for me that I couldn’t take because I wasn’t academically eligible. I had to wait a year after I graduated high school to fix some things before I could come to LSU. D-D was very helpful in helping me get eligible, and she was pretty adamant about getting me to LSU.”
By then, she was a highly-coveted recruit.
“I pretty much had any choice I wanted, and LSU was my first trip. It wasn’t that far away from home, one state over, and it was my first choice, especially after I took my visit. It felt like home, all the way around,” said Burkholder.
Burkholder took her academics more seriously although she didn’t have the laser focus on her post-competitive career. She changed her major several times ad ultimately graduated in general studies with minors in sociology, communication studies and dance.
“That allowed me to take classes that I felt would be very useful in life, not knowing yet what I wanted to do for a career,” she said, noting that it proved to be an ideal foundation for what has become a career in alcoholic beverage sales for world-renowned Disaronno, which notably produces the world’s favorite Italian liqueur. She oversees the company’s accounts in south Texas and all of Louisiana.
That vocation introduced her to a Houston-area restaurant manager, Andrew Coulter, who has since entered the construction business. They married July 13, 2020 and last year April gave birth to 13-month-old daughter Adelyn Dawn, who shares her mom’s middle name and already, a love for dancing.
While national championships, record-breaking crowds, and billions of social media engagements have become the “new norm” for the Tiger program, it wasn’t always like that. Far from it, actually. Burkholder, along with Breaux, were key to building LSU gymnastics into what it is today – one of the hottest tickets in town.
Burkholder stepped onto LSU’s campus in 2002 as a rising star and left as the most decorated gymnast in school history four years later. Today, even after the program’s first NCAA championship in 2024 and numerous great teams and great gymnasts, Burkholder’s accomplishments still rank among the very best in LSU history.
When she left LSU, Burkholder had won a total of 108 individual event titles, setting a program record. Her eight perfect 10s (four on floor exercise, two on vault and two on beam) are still tied for the fourth-most in LSU history. And her 39.875 all-around score in 2003 in a meet with Centenary and Texas Woman’s University stood as the program’s best mark for 21 years until a 39.925 by Bryant in 2024.
During her time as a Tiger, Burkholder compiled 14 All-American honors (seventh-most ever at LSU), and was two-time SEC and NCAA Central Region Gymnast of the Year in addition to being a four-time All-SEC selection. As the program continued to grow, so did she.
“She’s an example of what it means to work hard and achieve more,” Breaux said. “Every year she got better, achieved more – and she was great when she arrived.”
Burkholder is deeply appreciative of her impending enshrinement in the state sports shrine – as only the fourth gymnast, following 1984 Olympic gold medalist Kathy Johnson along with Breaux and another Tiger great, 2019 inductee Susan Jackson.
“After dedicating my life to this sport, and having to overcome a lot of obstacles, a lot of challenges, this puts it all together and makes it that much more meaningful,” said Burkholder, who turns 42 on July 2. “Hearing about the process and seeing everyone who’s been inducted and those who are in this class, it’s really special to reach this point. It solidifies things and makes it all worth it.”
The Town of Boyce has announced that its next Council Meeting will take place on Wednesday, July 2, at 6pm at the Town Hall. The council meeting will be preceded by a public hearing at 5:45pm.
The Pineville Police Department currently holds multiple arrest warrants for this week’s “Wanted Wednesday,” Trae Barron.
One of those warrants stems from a botched traffic stop where Barron thought it was a bright idea to give officers a family member’s name and information to avoid a citation. Needless to say, that family member didn’t exactly appreciate waking up one day to discover an active warrant in their name thanks to Barron’s actions.
Fast forward a bit to the next time PPD officers encountered Barron. During that interaction, it was confirmed that he had an active warrant for his arrest.
As always, the Pineville Police Department appreciates the public’s assistance, and all tips will remain anonymous. The department can be reached by phone at 318-442-6603 Ext. 1 or 318-449-5652.
As always, all persons are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law and all tips will remain anonymous.
