On February 24, 1930, American astronomer Clyde Tombaugh made a groundbreaking discovery—the dwarf planet Pluto. While initially classified as the ninth planet in our solar system, Pluto was later redefined as a dwarf planet in 2006 by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), sparking debates among astronomers and space enthusiasts.
Pluto, located in the Kuiper Belt, is known for its icy surface, thin atmosphere, and heart-shaped region famously photographed by NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft in 2015. Despite its reclassification, Pluto remains a fascinating celestial body, continuing to capture the imagination of scientists and the public alike.
As space exploration advances, Pluto reminds us that there is still so much to discover beyond our solar system. Whether considered a planet or not, its discovery was a milestone in astronomical history and a testament to human curiosity and perseverance.
The Ball Zoning Committee will hear two requests for proposed residential projects at its March 3 meeting.
Changing the usage designation for 109 Tioga Road would permit construction of duplexes on the site.
The property is now zoned for business. Owner Michael Thompson is requesting a change to R-4 multi-family residential.
The site is just west of the road’s intersection with US Hwy. 165 North, the same intersection serving Paradise Road to the East.
A subdivision is the purpose of the other matter to be heard.
Variance to the R-3 residential minimum lot size requirement is sought for what is proposed as Cypress Point Subdivision on Daniels Road, which runs east of U.S. 165.
According to the town Zoning Ordinance, minimum lot size in R-3 is 10,900 square feet, a quarter-acre.
Notice of the hearing does not specify what minimum variance is being requested nor the petitioner.
The meeting is at the Town Hall, beginning at 6 p.m.
Congressman Fields speaks at the Mt. Zion town hall
Constituents from Louisiana’s Sixth Congressional District voiced their concerns to Congressman Cleo Fields at a town hall held at Mt. Zion Baptist Church. This town hall was prompted following a series of executive orders issued by President Donald Trump.
“President Trump just needs to know that in America we elect leaders, not dictators. I mean this is a democracy, not a dictatorship. He’s the president he’s not a king and he needs to know that,” Congressman Fields said to the audience.
Among Trump’s proposals are plans that gave rise to the concerns voiced at the town hall. These plans include closing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, eliminating the Department of Education, and banning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Congressman Fields said he is hopeful that Congress will be able to block these actions.
“I think the Congress of the United States will serve its powers like the Constitution gives us the opportunity to do,” Fields said.
Fields also shared his concerns regarding Elon Musk’s role in the American government. Fields stated that he felt Musk has too much access to citizens’ private information from the treasury department.
“Elon Musk has just gone too far,” Fields said.
As a result of this overreach, Fields has co-sponsored the Taxpayer Data Protection Act. This act aims to prevent bad actors from accessing citizens’ personal data.
“Elon Musk has not been confirmed by the Senate. He’s not been elected by the people, and so at the end of the day, I think all of this needs to calm down,” Fields said.
Fields addressed a wide range of issues raised by his constituents, from the ongoing insurance crisis and homelessness to food insecurity, veterans’ affairs, and concerns about potential cuts to funding for historically black colleges and universities, as well as Medicaid.
“Now I’m not going to make everybody happy every time. I’m going to try, I’ll do my best. But it’s impossible because everybody in the Sixth District doesn’t have the same views,” Fields asserted.
Fields added that he plans to take the concerns he heard Wednesday to Congress, making assurances to his constituents that more town hall meetings will be held throughout his term and that he is listening to them.
Please be informed that Rapides Training Academy will be closed tomorrow, February 21, 2025. The heat in the facility will not be fully operational tomorrow, and considering the extremely cold temperatures, we cannot safely run the school day.
We will communicate updates as we have more information. Maintenance crews are working diligently to repair this issue.
The Journal is giving our readers the opportunity to participate in an online poll for RAPIDES PARISH candidates.
In order to obtain the best results, please vote only ONCE for candidates in a race district.
The poll will run until 4 p.m. Friday, February 21 when the link will no longer be active. The purpose of this poll is to gain insight to our readers opinions regarding the candidates on a ballott.
As always, we recommend you go to the polls on March 29, 2025 and exercise your right to vote.
The official 2025 Pineville Mardi Gras posters are now available. This beautiful, limited-edition keepsake captures the excitement of the Pineville Mardi Gras Parade and is a must-have for collectors and fans alike. Check it out on the Pineville Facebook profile.
The poster can be bought for $20 each at the Utility Office on 910 Main Street, Utility Office. Limited quantities available – no restocks. First come, first served.
Get a poster ahead of the Night of Lights parade tonight. Roads will close at 6:30pm. The parade starts at the flagpole and will end at Louisiana Christian University. The parade starts at 7pm.
Have you been craving Girl Scout cookies for the past several months? Has your stash of Thin Mints finally run out? Your wait is finally over! The Girl Scouts’ of Louisiana – Pines to Gulf Council held the kickoff to this year’s Girl Scout Cookie Program with a ribbon cutting at the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce office Thursday, Feb 20.
Since 1917 when a Girl Scout Troop in Oklahoma baked and sold cookies in their high school cafeteria, generations of young women have raised funds for their Troop’s activities in what has become an iconic American tradition. Along the way, the young women learn the five goals of the Girl Scout Cookie Program: Goal Setting, Decision Making, Money Management, People Skills, and Business Ethics. Girl Scout cookies are more than a delicious snack. When you buy a box, you help young women grow and flourish.
Girl Scout Cookie season runs from Feb 20 to March 31.
Kashie Natt’s 30 points and 10 rebounds were not enough for the Generals to dodge an upset Thursday night at LSUS. (File photo by CALEB DUNLOP, LSUA Athletics)
SHREVEPORT — LSUA’s basketball teams traveled up I-49 hoping to spring one upset Thursday night.
There was a shocker in the Red River Athletic Conference doubleheader finishing the regular season, but it wasn’t the one the visitors wanted.
The LSUA men, ranked No. 1 nationally in the NAIA Top 25, were knocked off by LSU Shreveport.
The LSUA women barely missed another surprise, falling by one to the RRAC regular-season champions.
LSUS MEN 101, LSUA 96: The loss snapped a 19-game winning streak for the Generals (25-2, 22-2 RRAC) but while it will probably cost them the No. 1 ranking, it won’t affect their top seeding in the upcoming conference tournament or the automatic NAIA playoff berth they earned by rolling to the regular-season RRAC title.
Kashie Natt led LSUA with 30 points and 10 rebounds for his 14th double-double of the season, and added a team-high five assists. Jakemin Abney scored 21 points as he went 9-for-14 from the field. Jordan Decuir pitched in with 12 points.
The Pilots (18-10, 15-9) held the Generals to 29 percent shooting while building a 38-31 halftime lead
In an explosive second half, the Generals scored 65 points, but the Pilots tallied 63. LSUA knocked down 54.5 percent of its shots in the back half but the winner sank 56 percent, including 6 of 9 on 3-pointers, and drained 21 of 24 free throws.
The LSUS lead widened to 19, 71-56, with 9:42 remaining but LSUA began to chew into the deficit. Down by 11, the Generals scored 10 unanswered to move within 80-79 with just over five minutes to go.
But LSUS responded with a 9-2 run, pulling ahead 89-81. The Pilots kept the Generals out of reach, knocking down eight consecutive free throws over the next two minutes.
Tahjae Hill’s 27 points led five LSUS players in double figures on Senior Night for the Pilots at The Dock.
LSUS WOMEN 62, LSUA 61: The Generals raced to a 22-10 lead, but playing for outright ownership of the RRAC title, the Pilots rallied in the middle two quarters before the teams went toe-to-toe in the final 10 minutes.
There were four lead changes in the final period, the last with 5:55 left lifting LSUS ahead on a Paula Gonzales Herrero basket. LSUA tied the game but could not regain the lead and a partially blocked 3-point shot with five seconds left ultimately made the difference.
Nursing a 58-57 edge, LSUS got a pair of Helena Galunic baskets to open its biggest advantage of the game, 62-57 with 1:41 left. LSUA’s Benedetta Peracchi got an assist from Amani Gray with 1:14 left on a layup to make it a one-possession contest, but two potential tying treys in the final 33 seconds didn’t connect. The last one was deflected out of bounds with five seconds left on a block by LSUS’ Selma Markisic, but LSUA retained possession.
The Generals were unable to get off another 3-pointer, and Peracchi was fouled with one second left. She drained both free throws despite an LSUS timeout in between, but clinging to the one-point edge, the Pilots successfully inbounded and time ran out on the upset bid.
LSUS (24-3, 23-1) benefitted from a 26-10 advantage in points off turnovers, although the actual turnover count was deceptively close with the visitors giving it up 19 times to 15 for the Pilots.
Jewel Jones led the Generals (21-7, 17-6) with 16 points and Alexis Dyer finished with 15. Gray recorded a team-high 10 rebounds. Peracchi dished out six assists and recorded three steals.
When the RRAC Tournament begins next Friday at the Rapides Parish Coliseum, the LSUA women will be the No. 3 seed in the eight-team, three-day event.
The Louisiana Christian men’s basketball team weathered a big rally by Texas College Thursday night at H.O. West Fieldhouse but finished the game on a 22-12 run and posted a 13-point Red River Athletic Conference victory on Senior Night.
The LCU women absorbed an overtime loss. Making up a postponed visit to Texas College in January, the teams will rematch Saturday afternoon in Tyler to finish the regular season.
LCU MEN 85, TEXAS COLLEGE 73: The Wildcats built a commanding 19-point lead (54-35), watched the Steers nearly charge all the way back using a 28-6 run to make it a three-point game with 6:50 left (63-60).
LCU (14-13, 13-10 RRAC) got a season-best 28 points from junior Bryce Weinmunson, who hit 5-of-7 on treys and added four steals against Texas College (7-18, 6-17).
The Wildcats went 7-3 in games played at H.O. West Fieldhouse this year, the first winning record at home since going 8-6 in 2021-22.
With their 13th RRAC victory, the Cats secured a winning record in league play for the first time in three years, notching their most victories during conference action since snagging 14 in venerable retired coach Gene Rushing’s final season back in 2014-15.
Devin Carter matched his season average scoring output of 19 points, doing so by going a perfect 7-for-7 at the charity stripe on top of a personal-high in rebounds at eight. Drew Tebbe scored 14, going 4-of-6 on 3-pointers.
TEXAS COLLEGE 83, LCU WOMEN 78 (OT): A four-game winning streak was snapped in a foul-fest, with a combined 59 whistles and LCU sinking a season-high 32 free throws.
Louisiana Christian (10-15, 10-13) got 22 points from sensational junior Princis Goff, who cracked the career 1,000 point mark 52 games into her days playing in Pineville. She added 10 rebounds for her 10th double-double this season and 17th of her career.
The Wildcats got another double-double performance, her first, by McKayla Price with a career-best 11 rebounds and 12 points, eight at the line. Deja Tanks played her last home game for LCU and posted 10 points and eight rebounds against Texas College (9-17, 8-15).
Dakota Howard brought back the Wildcats with a 3-pointer at the 1:04 mark of regulation and two free throws to knot the game at 65 with 32 seconds left. Neither team managed to get off a shot in the last half-minute.
Texas College never trailed in OT and hit 5-of-8 shots from the floor and went 6-of-8 at the line, while LCU was 2-for-6 from the floor but stayed in range sinking 8-of-9 free throws.
Following a report of a robbery on Cotton Street on Wednesday Pineville Police have arrested two teenagers.
Pineville Police officers responded to the call of a robbery of a local business in the 200 block of Cotton Street on Feb. 19 around 7:48pm. Police obtained a search warrant for a residence on Wood St. following an investigation, during which Pineville SWAT assisted.
Upon police arrival at the residence, two individuals fled on foot. Police deployed a drone with thermal imaging technology to track the suspects. Shortly thereafter, the suspects were taken into custody.
Jessie Hunter, 18, and Ethan Johnson, 17, were arrested and charged with first-degree robbery, criminal conspiracy, obstruction of justice (evidence tampering), resisting an officer and possession of marijuana. Each received a bond of $1,000.
Both teens remain in the Rapides Parish Detention Center at this time, pending further investigation and legal proceedings.
Deputies assigned to the Rapides Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) Unit, while conducting routine patrol in the Wardville area, observed a blue Nissan Sentra traveling in the area on Feb. 18 at approximately 5:45pm. Deputies had been advised to “be on the lookout” of a stolen blue Nissan Sentra out of Bossier City. Deputies conducted a computer check and received confirmation from that the Nissan they were behind was indeed reported stolen.
Deputies initiated a traffic stop and the driver of the blue Nissan immediately accelerated, refusing to stop, leading deputies on a lengthy pursuit which ended in Alexandria where the vehicle’s transmission failed causing the car to come to a stop.
The driver, later identified as Destin James, and the front seat passenger, later identified as Terrance Swafford, exited the car and fled on foot. Swafford was observed dropping a handgun as he fled. Deputies, along with RPSO canines, gave chase and both suspects were quickly apprehended.
The rear passenger, later identified as Demetrius Tucker, was detained after a brief struggle.
A search of the vehicle revealed a plastic baggie in the driver’s floor board that contained a small amount of powder Cocaine and two additional handguns were located in the trunk. The handgun dropped by Swafford was reported stolen through the Alexandria Police Department.
Officers with APD and troopers with LSP assisted in the pursuit. Also, the RPSO-ATF TaskForce Officer also responded to assist in the firearms portion of this investigation.
James was transported a local hospital, treated and released for a K-9 bite sustained in the apprehension. James was later transported to the Rapides Parish Detention Center and booked for Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Flight from an Officer, Possession of CDS II (Powder Cocaine), Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Illegal Carrying of a Firearm with Drugs. James is being held on a $76,500.00 bond.
Swafford was transported to the Rapides Parish Detention Center and booked for Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Flight from an Officer, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Illegal Possession of a Stolen Firearm, and an outstanding arrest warrant through Alexandria Police Department for Aggravated Assault with a Firearm. Swafford is being held on a $225,000.00 bond.
Tucker was also transported to the Rapides Parish Detention Center and booked for Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Flight from an Officer, and Resisting an Officer. Tucker is being held on an $11,000.00 bond.
All three suspects remain in jail at the time of this article.
From the swamps to the streets, the Alexandria Zoological Park will be bringing the party animals together at the Mardi Gras Party on Saturday, March 1, 1-3pm.
The party will feature live music by The LaCour Trio, king cake from Atwood’s Bakery, and family fun.
Regular Zoo admission; FOTAZ Members free with card and photo ID.
Languages are the foundation of culture, identity, and heritage, and February 21 marks International Mother Language Day, a UNESCO-recognized celebration of linguistic diversity. Established in 1999, this day honors the importance of preserving and promoting native languages worldwide.
With thousands of languages spoken globally, many are at risk of extinction due to globalization, cultural assimilation, and declining native speakers. According to UNESCO, nearly 43% of the world’s 7,000 languages are endangered.
From initiatives to revitalize indigenous languages to educational programs promoting bilingualism, today serves as a reminder of the richness that linguistic diversity brings to humanity. By encouraging people to speak, write, and share their mother tongues, we ensure that the world’s cultural heritage remains vibrant for generations to come.
Some attending this year’s Nursery Festival on Forest Hill will find getting about easier.
The Village Council at its February meeting voted to allow use of golf carts and side by sides on streets during the event.
The vehicles will facilitate access as well as assist in transport of items purchased at vendor booths.
One of the state’s premier festivals, the event annually hails Spring’s debut with the village awash in colors of countless plants and abuzz with amusement rides’ activity and an assortment of vendors.
This year’s event opens the afternoon-evening of Thursday, March 20 with rides and food booths The main event runs March 21-23, with the celebratory parade at 10 a.m. Saturday.
At the February 11 meeting the Council also authorized increasing police hours during the event.
The Rapides Parish School Board shared progress reports for the projects happening at Caroline Dormon Junior High and Carter C. Raymond Junior High.
The steel framing for the first phase of the new classroom wing is going up for Caroline Dormon Junior High. Once completed, all portable buildings will be removed from the campus, making way for the other half of the new classroom wing to begin construction.
At Carter C. Raymond Junior High, the Special Projects Team, led by Mr. Dotherow, has begun demolishing four buildings to create new green spaces for students to enjoy. Their hard work has saved the bond project around $250,000 by completing the demolition in-house and recycling the steel to maximize cost savings. Finally, CCRJR has a front vestibule to a secure entrance and limit access to the building.
Louisiana Central attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Amazon’s newly opened Last Mile Facility in Boyce, alongside other regional and state leaders, on Thursday, Jan. 30. This invitation-only event included a tour of the facility led by Jessica Breaux, Senior Manager of Economic Development for Amazon, and Site Manager Jose Flores who provided insight into its operations.
The 65,000-square-foot facility will fulfill a crucial role in Amazon’s last-mile delivery network, ensuring packages are received, sorted, and dispatched efficiently. The facility has resulted in approximately 200 jobs, offering entry-level positions starting at $18.40 per hour. These roles include package handling, dispatch operations, and delivery services.
Amazon representatives emphasized strong collaboration with local officials that helped complete the project in under a year. The facility is expected to support peak holiday demand and will continue to drive economic growth by expanding workforce opportunities.
Those interested in employment at the Boyce facility can visit amazon.com/jobs to search for openings.
Louisiana Central and regional leaders commend Amazon’s investment in Boyce, recognizing the facility’s role in boosting economic development and enhancing delivery operations in Louisiana.
Over 12 million trees have been taken down in Louisiana as a result of the wildfires and the drought of 2023. 7,000 of those trees were in Rapides Parish.
The trees were removed because they were malnourished, according to State Representative and House Speaker Pro Tempore Mike Johnson (R), who along with local, state and federal partners, has championed the idea of removing the trees to make way for the healthy trees.
“Being from Pineville, you’re going to have pine trees. So, I’m pleased with the progress, but we still have a long way to go,” Johnson said.
Johnson reported that in Rapides Parish, the malnourished trees removed include 3,500 taken down by Cleco, 554 by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, and about 3,000 taken down by the Rapides Parish Police Jury.
Johnson has been a key voice in the legislature in highlighting and addressing the pine beetle outbreak in Louisiana. He is the chairman of the Pine Beetle Subcommittee in the legislature, which just concluded its meetings after listening to different concerns from local and state entities.
Among those who testified was Town of Ball Alderman Marc Mercer who expressed concerns about dead trees in his town.
“We’re talking about 200 or 300 trees between both roads. So, we knocked a home run in Ball. I don’t know about anybody else,” he said. “Camp Livingston Road, for example, Ball Elementary is on Camp Livingston Road. We had school buses driving on it. I mean, it was just a terrible thing. But thankfully, we were able to get it taken care of.”
Johnson stated that following the meetings, “One of the benefits of that is that we’ve developed a foundation that would be in a position to receive funds and also is being funded and will be able to tap into some federal funds.”
He added, “I’m hoping to be able to put some state dollars to create grants primarily to help offset some of the private cost of having to remove a tree, which is an incredible amount of money for an average person.”
Johnson has also spoken with Congressman Cleo Fields and members of the Louisiana Delegation in Congress to bring more awareness.
“Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is aware of it, and we plan to double back on that and try to seek some funding for that,” Fields said. “Rapides is unique, and we have people that work together, whether it’s the city, whether it’s the parish, whether it’s the other state legislators. Then federally, we just work together well. We have done everything we can, statewide and in Central Louisiana, to try to remove the danger hazard out of it.”
Girls basketball teams from Tioga, Buckeye and Peabody tip off the LHSAA playoffs at home tonight while high seeds ASH and Oak Hill enjoy first-round byes and will host second-round games Monday night.
All parish schools are in the Select category of state postseason competition.
Wednesday night, 10th seeded Menard cruised past 23rd-seeded Rapides in a Division III opening round game, and Northwood-Lena’s season ended with a 48-44 Division IV defeat at Ascension Catholic. Menard will go to No. 7 Newman in New Orleans on Monday.
In tonight’s local games, all tipping at 6 o’clock, Tioga, seeded 15th in Division I, hosts 18th seeded Liberty. Buckeye, the ninth seed, welcomes No. 24 St. Charles Catholic while 11th-seeded Peabody entertains No. 22 Lake Charles College Prep in a pair of Division II contests.
Glenmora, seeded 17th in Class B, goes to No. 16 Castor tonight in a first-rounder.
ASH is seeded eighth in Division I and will host No. 9 Riverdale, a 61-33 victor over Kenner Discovery, in a Monday night second-round game.
Oak Hill is the No. 3 seed in Class B and will be at home Monday against either 14th-seeded Hicks or No. 19 Family Community.
When I was growing up and getting my introduction to the outdoors, there were two seasons of the year – hunting season, and fishing season. From early spring until October when cool weather hit, we fished. Once squirrel season opened, we hunted until spring came and it was time to fish again.
We never mixed the two, probably because we mistakenly thought that fish migrated like ducks and geese once the weather became cold. How wrong we were. Some of the year’s best bites take place at the same time you run the risk of encountering another bite – “frost bite.”
Recently, I ran across some excellent advice and tips from a couple of pro bass fishermen to help you catch more bass when the weather is cold and nasty. Some professional anglers actually like it when the weather and water turn cold and the bass turn off. Like the top tier of professionals in any competition, they are practitioners of the philosophy expressed by the old saying, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” But that’s not the only thing that separates winners from losers.
Winners know that in decent weather anybody could get lucky and win. But in nasty weather, especially the bitter, cold kind, most competitors lose focus and, losing focus, they lose tournaments. This process of self-elimination narrows the field of competitors and tilts the odds toward the diehards.
“When someone tells you the bass won’t bite because the water’s too cold, just ignore them,” said Woo Daves, the Spring Grove, Va.-based winner of the 2000 BASS Masters Classic. A bundled-up Daves won that Classic by facing down a very cold, rough and windy Lake Michigan during a three-day northeaster. Daves and other cream-of-the-crop anglers, can testify to this
from their trophies, cash, prizes and experience that bass do bite in cold water. They all agree; you just need to apply a little finesse.
Daves volunteers these cold water bass tips: “On rivers, fish backwaters and reverse currents where the water is warmer and the bass don’t have to fight the current. In deeper water, run to long flat points or channel bends. Cruise around and watch your depth finder for signs of baitfish.
“Find the bait; find the bass,” said Daves, who has two favorite presentations. One is a ¾-ounce spoon, jigged vertically. The other is a dropshot rig, a ½-ounce weight on the bottom and a dropper hook about 12 to 18 inches up the line. Daves dresses it with a short, plastic worm and fishes it slowly.
Mark Raveling, a pro angler out of Spring Park, Minn., preaches slow fishing, slow to the point of no rod movement at all. Dead sticking, it’s called. His favorite pattern is a steep drop-off close to a feeding area. He’ll fish a plastic worm with a jig head or, he’ll switch to either a Rapala jerk bait or to a Shad Rap or a Storm Wiggle Wart.
“These baits crank down to a certain depth and remain at that depth until the angler winds them back to the rod. Here’s the drill: Crank it down. Wait. Wait some more. If you get a fish, stay put. There are more fish where that one came from and they’re suspended at the same depth,” said Raveling.
The advice of these and other bass fishing professionals can be summed up in two basic concepts for fishing cold weather bass. Downsize your lure, and slow down your retrieve. Give these techniques a try this winter for what could bring you some HOT cold weather bassin’.
