LSUA narrowing provost search as building projects near

By JIM BUTLER

Finalists in the search for LSU Alexandria’s next provost will be on campus later this month for the final part of the selection process.

The post will be officially vacated June 30 by Dr. Elizabeth Beard, who officially becomes chancellor on July 1.

The provost is the university’s chief academics officer and second in its chain of command.

The candidate selected will be on a campus bursting at the seams and bustling in its corridors.

The most-recent available enrollment count for the Fall semester is about 5,200, which is 20% over the same point last year, records indicate.

Three capital projects are about to get underway, two on campus and one in Alexandria proper, in addition to work in various stages of completion.

Groundbreaking is scheduled for 2 p.m. June 30 on the Downtown Health Education campus on Jackson Street.

M.D. Descant of Bunkie has the $32.995 million contract. (The Capital Outlay budget adopted by this year’s legislative session includes $6.75 million in Priority 5 for a downtown parking garage.) Rhodes Property & Development has an $896,000 contract for baseball and softball locker rooms construction and facilities.

An $855,500 bid has been accepted from Pat Williams Construction for building new tennis and pickleball courts.

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Company cites market conditions, regulatory uncertainty and financing challenges in decision to halt proposed Central Louisiana facility.

La. — SunGas Renewables announced Friday that it is ending further development of the proposed Beaver Lake Biofuels project, bringing an apparent end to what had been one of the largest economic development projects planned for Central Louisiana.

The Houston-based company said a combination of market, regulatory and financing challenges led to the decision to cease development of the project, which was planned near Alexandria on the former International Paper mill site.

According to the company, Beaver Lake was designed to convert sustainably sourced wood fiber into approximately 553,000 metric tons of low-carbon methanol annually while capturing and permanently storing approximately 1.1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide each year. The project was expected to utilize three SunGas S1000 syngas production systems and was promoted as a large-scale renewable fuels facility serving growing global demand for lower-carbon energy products.

SunGas officials said slower-than-anticipated adoption of low-carbon marine fuels, uncertainty surrounding carbon capture and storage pathways, and unresolved regulatory and financing conditions prevented the project from advancing on the required timeline.

The Beaver Lake project had been projected to represent an investment exceeding $2 billion and was expected to create hundreds of construction jobs and more than 100 permanent positions in Rapides Parish. State and local officials had frequently cited the development as a transformative economic opportunity for Central Louisiana.

In a statement, SunGas Chief Executive Officer Robert Rigdon said the company continues to believe low-carbon methanol can play an important role in reducing emissions in the maritime, aviation and chemical industries but that current market and regulatory conditions do not support moving forward with the project at this time.

The company expressed appreciation to federal, state and local officials, as well as community stakeholders, who supported the project during its development phase. SunGas said the experience demonstrated both the potential of biomass-to-methanol technology and the economic development opportunities such projects could bring to rural communities.

Although Beaver Lake will not proceed, SunGas said it will continue marketing its S1000 gasification technology to third-party developers and remains engaged in renewable fuels projects involving green methanol, renewable natural gas, hydrogen and other low-carbon energy products.

The announcement marks the latest setback for large-scale alternative energy developments seeking to balance environmental goals with evolving market demand, infrastructure requirements and financing realities.

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Ball to consider deannexation requests

By JIM BUTLER

Sometimes town life and country life mix, sometimes they don’t.

The Ball Town Council will consider adopting ordinances at its Tuesday evening session that address that.

Introduced in May, the three deal with requests for deannexation of parcels at owners’ request.

Kevin McVay, who has extensive holdings in the area, seeks to take two tracts, one on Williford Road, out of the town.

Elizabeth Moreau White wants the same for a site on Paradise Road.

Mixed activity – farming, ranching, commercial and residential – occurs in the region.

To the ear of many cattle mooing in the morning or evening or both is the sound of a way of life, to others it is an annoyance.

And advantages of being within municipal boundaries early on can become less so as development expands.

Better out than in, some decide, and ask for that as has been the case in some previous Ball boundary contractions.

A development example, though not in the neighborhood mentioned above, is a rezoning petition filed by MaMas Bakery.

Owners seek to have 5915 Hwy. 165 changed from R-3 Residential Multi-Family to B-1 Commercial, allowing additional parking and business expansion.

The Zoning Committee will hold a 6 p.m. public hearing on June 25.

A public hearing will be held tomorrow evening, June 16, at 6:30 on a proposal to amend the police pay scale to provide a vehicle stipend to the chief to use personal vehicle in lieu of the town’s leased vehicle.

Changes adopted in May to the town sewage ordinance are now in effect.

Facing what has become an increasing financial burden, officials adopted rules and regulations relative to past-due balances.

They are now considered delinquent and subject to collection processes on reaching $240.

Liens, delinquent charges, denial of permits and/or licenses, utility reconnection delay are all possible consequences until the debt is collected or payment agreement reached.

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Several Rapides Parish educators were recognized during the June meeting of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) for completing leadership and professional development fellowships.

According to the Rapides Parish School Board, district educators were honored for their participation in programs designed to strengthen educational leadership and support student achievement.

Recognized as Novice Principal Fellows were Karen Berlin and Pam Walker. Lanie Jackson was recognized for completing the Aspiring Principal Fellowship.

In addition, Bailey Lott, Jessica Lowe, and Sharon Wilcox were honored for completing the Special Education Fellow Academy.

District officials said the recognition reflects the commitment of Rapides Parish educators to professional growth and leadership development as they continue serving students and schools throughout the parish.

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A Flag Day ceremony was held at Pineville Honor Field, bringing together community members and veterans to recognize and honor the American flag.

Organizers described the event as a “beautiful” ceremony and expressed appreciation to all who attended. Special recognition was given to participating veterans groups for their involvement in the program and for their service to the country.

The ceremony served as a community observance of Flag Day, highlighting patriotism and honoring those who have served in the United States Armed Forces.

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EUGENE, Oregon – LSU junior Alexis Guillory of Alexandria earned second-team All-America honors when she placed 10th in the javelin at the NCAA Track and Field Championships Thursday evening.

Guillory had a personal best throw of 52.73 meters (173 feet), and she did it on her third and final throw. Her first heave travelled 157 feet, 11 inches, and she landed her second throw at 169 feet.

She qualified for the national meet two weeks earlier in Lexington, Ky., at the NCAA East regional championships with a throw of 168 feet, 3 inches.

The NCAA champion was McKyla Van Der Westhuizen of Rice with a throw of 60.87 meters (199-8) in the 24-woman competition at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field in Eugene, known as “Track Town USA.”

Only one athlete from the Southeastern Conference, Valentina Barrios Birnacelli of Missouri, did better than Guillory. Her best throw was 187 feet, 6 inches, for a fourth-place finish.

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Funeral Tuesday in Leesville for LSHOF member, legendary rodeo figure T. Berry Porter

Visitation is this evening and a Tuesday morning funeral is set in his hometown of Leesville for Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame member T. Barrett “T. Berry” Porter, Louisiana’s first professional rodeo cowboy.

Porter, 99, passed away Saturday morning. He was the first rodeo figure to enter the state sports hall, joining Peyton Manning, Les Miles, five-time Olympic volleyball star Danielle Scott and Peabody High School basketball coach Charles Smith, among others, in the LSHOF’s Class of 2019. At the time of his induction, he was the oldest person ever enshrined, and he was the oldest surviving Hall of Famer when he died. He attended most Hall of Fame induction ceremonies since he was honored.

He was inducted into the Rodeo Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City in 2015.

The funeral will be Tuesday at 11 in the East Leesville Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery on Porter Road under the direction of Jeane’s Funeral Service. Visitation will be held this evening from 5-9 at East Leesville Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family said donations may be made to the Louisiana Lions Camp, 292 L Beauford Drive, Anacoco LA 71403.

At the age of 16, Porter became a member of the first professional cowboy association in the country, the Cowboy Turtle Association, which developed into the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (he held PRCA membership card No. 325). His events were tie-down calf roping and steer wrestling.

At 22, Porter won a month-long competition at Madison Square Garden to become the 1949 World Champion Calf Roper title, presented his trophy saddle by “The Singing Cowboy” Gene Autry after becoming the first world championship “rookie” to win the title. He quickly added the calf roping title at the 1949 World Rodeo in Boston in front of 6,000.

He won numerous titles at major rodeos around North America, including the famed Cheyenne Frontier Days and the Calgary Stampede and in Fort Worth, Denver and Houston, along with Shreveport, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Salinas, California.

In 1959, Porter became the first Louisiana cowboy to participate in the inaugural National Finals Rodeo. He was a member of the Wrangler Rodeo Team in the early 1950s, and his silhouette was placed on the back pocket of every pair of Wrangler jeans put on sale for years.

His career earnings were over $100,000 in 22 years.

In a May 1, 1963 columnShreveport Journal sports editor Jimmy Bullock called him “the Pelican State’s Mr. Rodeo” and said he was “famed as one of the nation’s foremost calf ropers.” In 1978, the PRCA presented him with his gold membership card and a plaque in appreciation of his promotion of the sport of rodeo at the high school, collegiate and pro levels.

As an advocate for the Louisiana high school rodeo athletes, he lobbied for funding to help them compete at the national level. He worked as a volunteer timed-event barrier judge for every high school rodeo in Louisiana from the early 1960s until 1976. During this time, he also worked as a volunteer timed-event barrier for nine National High School Rodeos —1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975. His ranch provided teaching opportunities and even temporary lodging for cowboys of all ages for decades.

A Lions Club member for over 70 years, he served on many local and state project committees and held many offices. The Lions Camp for Handicapped Children was the most dear to him. As a cattleman, he served on many committees and offices on the local, state, and national Cattleman’s Association. He has been on many Farm Bureau local and state committees. As a cattleman, he operated a 250 head cow-calf operation. He was one of the working cowboys that loaded the last load of Gray Ranch steers to leave Louisiana on railcars.

Born in Pineville March 9, 1927, Porter landed in Leesville two years later when his parents moved the family so his father could work at a Texaco gas station.

They lived in the back of the filling station. On site was a small roping pen, and it was there that T. Berry Porter would perfect his skills that would one day lead him to become a world champion.

“I don’t remember when I started roping, I just always did it,” he said in a 2019 interview with the LSWA’s Raymond Partsch III, a former Alexandria Town Talk sportswriter and editor. “There are still folks at the Lion’s Club here that call me the ‘goat roper.’ ”

That’s because, at the age of three, he won the goat-roping competition at the Vernon Parish Fair —signaling the start of a career that he honed as a youngster and throughout high school.

Of his LSHOF induction as the first rodeo figure, Porter said; “It is a very humbling honor. … Not many people can be the very first anything nowadays. I always thought that somebody else was better than me or more deserving than me.”

In 1949, he claimed his sport’s highest honor: World Champion Calf Roper.

The 22-year-old rookie drove to New York City in his 1948 Pontiac, pulling his homemade horse trailer behind him for a competition that lasted nearly an entire month. Porter would take part in 42 performances in 28 days at Madison Square Garden.

“It took a lot longer in those days,” he said. “My horses stayed underneath the Garden itself and I stayed for the month at the old Capitol Hotel on Broadway across from the Garden.”

Despite getting his picture taken with a celebrity and riding his horse down Broadway to become a national figure in his sport, Porter never got away from Vernon Parish for long. In addition to working the circuit, Porter ran the family filling station, hauled garbage, drove a school bus for three decades, ran a sporting goods/western store, moved houses, and ran his own massive ranch.

Porter also made rodeo a family affair as all four of his children — daughters Judy, Cathy, Lindy, and son David — became high school and amateur rodeo champions. That was passed down to his grandchildren as well.

“I did the best I could,” Porter said. “I was just hoping that I could win. As a rodeo cowboy, you always got to feel like you are going to win.”

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Burns backs up in final round of Canadian Open

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

Sam Burns’ streak of sub-70 rounds stopped at four on Sunday, as he slipped out of contention for the RBC Canadian Open crown with a 1-over-par 71.

Burns was tied for seventh entering the final round but dipped to a tie for 20^th amid some final day charges. Tour veteran Bud Cauley won at 17 under, shooting a 65 Sunday. He was second entering Round 4 but the next two finishers, Matt Fitzpatrick and Viktor Hovland, moved up 10 and 9 spots, respectively, on a rainy day at the TPC Toronto Osprey Valley course.

Carding 9-under for the tournament (64-67-69-71), Burns collected $96,857, raising his season’s total winnings to $3.5 million.

A year ago, the Shreveport native charged on the final day at the Canadian Open and lost in a four-hole playoff to Ryan Fox. The following week, he led the U.S. Open for much of the final two rounds before a controversial ruling forced him to play out of what appeared to be standing water and resulted in a double bogey on the 15^th hole, starting a slide from first to a final tie for 7^th – still, his best U.S. Open showing so far.

Burns, a 29-year-old Calvary Baptist graduate, is still in good form heading into this week’s Open at Shinnecock Hills and early odds list him among the top 10 contenders. He has carded scores under 70 in seven of his last 10 rounds and has eight top 26 or better finishes, and nothing worse than 38^th, since mid-March in 10 tournaments.

Now living in Choudrant and playing out of Squire Creek Country Club, Burns tied for fourth a week ago at The Memorial after leading on the final day, and tied for seventh at The Masters and was within one shot of the lead in the third round.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

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Alexandria woman draws $1.1 million bail with excessive theft charges

Arrests are accusations, not convictions.

June 14

Brandon Gage Brown, 32, Jonesville – OWI first offense, passing parked emergency vehicle, $1,100 bail;

Abigail Jeane Butler, 19, Alexandria – simple burglary, contributing to delinquency of juveniles, $500 bail;

Craig Joseph Johnson, 25, Alexandria – possession of marijuana, remaining on premises, two counts contempt of court, $28,250 bail;

Danny Caleb Paul, 22, Deville – OWI first offense, use of a wireless telecom device, failure to yield to emergency vehicle, $1,200 bail.

June 13

Robert Bearden, 39, Alexandria – three counts contempt of court, $50,500 bail;

Jason Matthew Bednorz, 37, Moreauville – OWI first offense, careless operation, driving under suspension, $1,200 bail;

Kendal Dewain Goodger, 26, Deville – domestic abuse battery, two counts simple battery, $2,000 bail;

Reginald Christopher Hill, 41, Alexandria – eight counts contempt of court, $16,000 bail;

Laiken Noel Hoffman, 30, Pineville – domestic abuse battery with child present, no bail data;

Joseph Albert Mathews, 43, Alexandria – unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, $25,000 bail;

Christopher Donald McKay, 32, Hessmer – OWI first offense, possession of marijuana, paraphernalia, brake lamp, open container, $2,200 bail;

Brian Scott Montgomery, 56, Deville – OWI first offense, possession of CDS, driving under suspension, simple obstruction of highway, four counts contempt of court, $90,600 bail;

Roderick Deon Turner, 34, Alexandria – reckless operation of a vehicle, flight from an officer, operating a vehicle while under suspension for certain prior offenses, resisting an officer, $1,500 bail;

Clayton Benard Walker, 45, Alexandria – third degree rape, $20,000 bail.

June 12

David Clinton Brewster, 42, Deville – domestic abuse battery with child present, $5,000 bail;

Ronnie Lee Brooks, 63, Alexandria – stalking, $1,000 bail;

Reuben David Byon, 29, Pineville – possession of CDS, possession of fentanyl, five counts contempt of court, $8,000 bail;

Troy Dean Couture, 60, Alexandria – two counts simple assault, driving under suspension, $600 bail;

German Aristy De Jesus, 46, Palm Bay, Florida – illegal possession of stolen things, $10,000 bail;

Felicia Patricia Deal, 54, Cheneyville – second degree battery, simple assault, $20,500 bail;

Christopher Ladell Hicks, 24, Alexandria – 12 counts fire raising on land of another with malice, Louisiana fugitive, contempt of court, $56,000 bail;

Andrew Russell Hill, 41, Glenmora – sexual battery, no bail data;

Kimberly Sarah Ekko Juderman, 32, Pineville – two counts possession of CDS, possession of fentanyl, paraphernalia, safety belt violation, $4,600 bail;

Zachary Taylor Mckenzie, 34, Echo – domestic abuse battery with child present, domestic abuse battery strangulation, cruelty to juveniles, $300,000 bail;

Anthony James Moore, 40, Pineville – possession of firearm by convicted felon, possession of marijuana, probation violation, $25,500 bail;

Dustin Paul Oxford, 48, Woodworth – aggravated assault with a firearm, two counts aggravated assault on peace officer, simple assault, four counts contempt of court, $131,000 bail;

Jackson Nedom Sorrells, 41, Boyce – OWI second offense, running stop sign, use of wireless telecom device, driving under suspension, $1,800 bail.

June 11

Katlin Elizabeth Baden, 29, Alexandria – criminal conspiracy, illegal possession of stolen things, $2,000 bail;

Javon D. Bennett, 29, Pineville – three counts contempt of court, $20,500 bail;

Edward Barton Doughert, 70, Hineston – four counts contempt of court, $20,000 bail;

Lauren Ellen Ebert, 35, Alexandria – 21 counts of theft, Louisiana fugitive, simple escape, five counts criminal conspiracy, 12 counts contempt of court, $1.11 million bail;

Ernest Henderson Griffin, 46, Ball – OWI first offense, no head light, $1,100 bail;

Gregory B. Harris, 61, Houston – producing manufacturing distributing CDS, two counts possession of CDS, paraphernalia, speeding, obstruction of driver’s view, improper display license plate, three counts legend drug possession, $302,200 bail;

Michael Devon Dewayne Laneheart, 22, Alexandria – simple battery, contempt of court, $3,000 bail;

David Lee Litton, 65, Colfax – two counts contempt of court, $50,000 bail;

Michael Shane Metesh, 48, Pollock – theft of a motor vehicle, criminal damage to property, $15,000 bail;

Dontornious Demetrius Mims, 45, Alexandria – two counts contempt of court, $17,000 bail;

Roy Lee Osteen Jr., 27, Alexandria – producing manufacturing marijuana, criminal conspiracy, paraphernalia, transactions involving proceeds from drug offenses, $120,500 bail;

Bruno Reed, 46, Pineville – possession of CDS, eight counts contempt of court, $119,500 bail;

Jacob Cade Richard, 38, Pineville – domestic abuse battery serious injury, $50,000 bail;

Kenneth Dewayne Stroud, 48, Ball – hit and run driving, driving under suspension, canceled plate violation, fail to secure registration, three counts Louisiana fugitive, $1,200 bail;

Zachariah T. Turner, 18, Alexandria – producing manufacturing distributing marijuana, paraphernalia, criminal conspiracy, $20,500 bail;

Centerial Evon White, 36, Alexandria – violation of protective orders, $50,000 bail;

Marrison Isreal Wright, 39, Alexandria – OWI fourth offense, theft of a motor vehicle, theft, contempt of court, $221,000 bail;

Brendon Cade Young, 25, Deville – OWI first offense, improper passing on right, $1,100 bail.

June 10

Daniel Lee Burns, 42, Lecompte – two counts simple burglary, four counts contempt of court, parole violations, $42,000 bail;

Donald Thomas Holden, 38, Ville Platte – theft, two counts contempt of court, $10,500 bail;

Jonathan Leslie Jackson, 40, Deville – illegal possession of stolen things, parole violations, $1,500 bail;

Alyssa Marie Jacobs, 35, Pineville – theft, contempt of court, $5,500 bail;

Lorenzo Jewitt, 36, Alexandria – simple burglary, criminal trespass, false imprisonment, violation of protective orders, home invasion, parole violations, three counts contempt of court, $78,500 bail;

Brad Alden Marler, 42, Woodworth – five counts possession of CDS, illegal possession of stolen firearms, illegal carry firearm with drugs, $8,000 bail;

Trey Michael McLean, 50, Pineville – Louisiana fugitive, simple burglary, resisting an officer, $50,500 bail;

Ezekiel Patterson, 21, Alexandria – domestic abuse battery, contempt of court, $3,500 bail;

Regina Victoria Thurston, 25, Deville – theft, $3,000 bail;

Gerald Ray White, 55, Pineville – create distribute possess with intent, parole violations, social networking website, $15,000 bail.

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Oakdale-Celebration of Life services honoring Donald Lee Guillory, 75, will be held on Monday morning, June 15, 2026, at 10 o’clock a.m. at Ardoin/Allen Parish Funeral Home of Oakdale. Rev. Hardy Eestes will officiate. Donald will be laid to rest at Palestine Cemetery in Grant, LA. immediately following his services.

Donald’s family will receive friends and visitors at Ardoin/Allen Parish Funeral Home of Oakdale on Sunday evening, June 14, 2026, from 4-9 o’clock p.m. Donald’s visitation will resume at Ardoin/Allen Parish Funeral Home of Oakdale on Monday, morning June 15, 2026, from 8 o’clock a.m. until time of service. All of Donald’s arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Ardoin/Allen Parish Funeral home of Oakdale.

Donald Lee Guillory was born in Bunkie, La on Tuesday, March 20, 1951, to the union of Killiam and Josephine Francois Guillory. As a boy he traveled with his mother in Germany, France, Belgium. Prior to moving to Forest Hill, LA in 1962, Donald lived in Arizona, Texas, South Carolina, and New York. Donald graduated from Glenmora High School in 1970 while working for Richard’s Nursery. He had many professions throughout his life, he worked and played basketball for International paper, worked for Francois Interior, where he would receive a degree as a flooring mechanic, from Armstrong Flooring, he then worked in the construction industry for J.B. Falley and Gilchrist Construction. After construction, he went to work for Dowell/Schlumberger for 11 years as an equipment operator and would become Plant Manager, and received a Cement Engineer diploma from Oklahoma State University. Later he changed to plant construction. He has worked in oil and gas, powerplants, paper mills, wood plants, chemical plants, and tank cars. He also finished hazmat training at Greco College. He eventually retired from Dresser Industry. Donald had a life full of success, adventure, good times, and leaves behind a legacy of hard work and love. He will be forever missed and unconditionally loved by those who knew him.

Those left to cherish Donald’s memory include his wife of 55 years, JoAnn Guillory of Oakdale, LA.; one son, Michael Guillory, and wife Meredith of Oakdale, LA, two daughters, Lisa Michelle Marquez, and Cheryl Guillory both of Oakdale, LA; one brother, Robert Guillory of Forest Hill, LA, one sister, Mary Guillory Willis of Pitkin, LA.; his aunt, Jacqueline Francois of Petal, MS; ten grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.

Donald is preceded in death by his parents, Killiam and Josephine Francois Guillory; one brother, Gilbert Guillory; and his son-in-law, John Marquez.

Condolences and expressions of sympathy may be shared with Donald’s family at http://www.ardoinfuneralhome.com or on Facebook-Ardoin/Allen Parish Funeral Homes.

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John Thomas Griffin, 66 of Pineville, entered eternal rest on Sunday, June 7, 2026.

He loved spending time outdoors, especially fishing, and treasured every moment with his family. Whether on the water or gathered with loved ones, he found his greatest joy in creating memories with those he cared about most. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel and Nettie Viola Griffin; and two brothers, Samuel Griffin and Bobby Griffin.

Those left to mourn his loss and cherish his memory include one brother, James Griffin (Starr); two sisters, Rebecca Devore and Jennifer Beaudin (Richard); and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Kellie’s Sitting Service and Compassionate Care Hospice for the exceptional care, kindness, and support they provided. Their dedication and compassion brought comfort to both him and his loved ones during a difficult time and will always be deeply appreciated.

All funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Rush Funeral Home, Pineville, LA.

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Phonetic: /mel·​lif·​lu·​ous/

Part of Speech: Adjective

Definition

having a smooth rich flow
a mellifluous voice

filled with something (such as honey) that sweetens
mellifluous confections

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Clink census

By JIM BUTLER

Jail notes:

Clandarius Means went from the shallow water to the deep, judicially speaking, in a short time.

Means, 20, was jailed May 6 on allegations of battery on a dating partner and criminal damage.

He bonded out on the misdemeanors for $1,750.

Wednesday he was booked on new charges — aggravated battery and aggravated assault with a firearm, charges carrying up to 5 and 10-year sentencing options.

Among familiar names booked this week:

Alfred Rue IV,  27 -accused of 2023 murder of De’Asia Mullins. Trial began last year, but in October paused until this year;

Marckeeyse Dorsey, 25 – booked for pre-trial proceedings. DOC custody. Current charges parole violation, distribution, battery second degree. 

Known by some on street at time as Yay-O Head Hunter, booked February 2021 on murder, attempted murder, illegal weapons, distribution, armed robbery in Detroit Street incident. 

Pleaded guilty to robbery, sentenced to five years;

Kam’Ryn Parker, 22 – DOC, first booked June 2022 distribution, firearms, assault with firearm, battery;

October 2022, murder second degree, illegal carry, resisting; January 2024 battery second degree; August 2024 criminal conspiracy, contraband, distribution.

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The Rapides Parish School Board has appointed Dr. Alysia Tolbert-Nelson as the new principal of Horseshoe Drive Elementary.

Dr. Nelson returns to the school where she began her career in Rapides Parish as a lead teacher in 2019. She brings 15 years of experience in education to the position, including nine years of service within the Rapides Parish School District.

Throughout her career, Dr. Nelson has served in several leadership roles, including Transformation Zone Math and Science Curriculum Specialist, assistant principal at L.S. Rugg Elementary, and most recently as the district’s Science Instructional Supervisor.

In announcing her appointment, district officials highlighted her commitment to student achievement and instructional excellence.

Dr. Nelson said her goal is to foster a collaborative culture focused on academic success and student growth.

She will assume leadership of Horseshoe Drive Elementary as the school prepares for the upcoming academic year. School officials expressed confidence in her ability to lead the campus and continue supporting students, faculty, and staff.

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Mayor Joe Bishop recognized three members of the Pineville City Council with the Pineville Proud Award during a recent City Council meeting, honoring their service and contributions to the community.

The awards were presented to Councilman Randy O’Neal, Councilwoman Christy Frederic, and Councilman Nathan Martin for their dedication and leadership in serving the City of Pineville.

O’Neal was recognized for his service during the past year and a half after stepping in to fill a mid-term vacancy on the council. City officials said his willingness to complete the unexpired term provided stability and continuity for the city.

Frederic was honored for 12 years of service on the council. During her tenure, she has worked on behalf of residents and supported numerous initiatives aimed at improving the community.

Martin received recognition for 22 years of continuous service to the city. Officials noted his long-standing role in helping guide Pineville through years of growth and development.

Mayor Bishop said the three council members exemplify the spirit of public service and commitment that the Pineville Proud Award is intended to recognize.

The city thanked O’Neal, Frederic, and Martin for their leadership and contributions to the community.

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By BOB TOMPKINS, Written for the LSWA

Kathy Stewart Holloway’s life has been marked by unprecedented achievement as a woman in high school sports once ruled by men. 

Yet, she points with love to two men who, behind the scenes, helped her along the way.

Her father, Jack Stewart, a car salesman, put up her first basketball goal on the side of a building on the family property in Lecompte when she was a tyke. It  was a target, set then at a lower achievable height, but she always aimed high at whatever goal she pursued. That attitude was motivated by her father’s constant encouragement to “do your best.”

Her husband, Charles, who was the director of business affairs and comptroller at LSUA for 35 years before his death 19 years ago, was the other most influential man in her life. She turned to him for advice before any big decision in an extraordinary career as a coach and administrator. 

A string of prestigious honors stands as testimony to her many local, statewide and national accomplishments, the latest of which is being among 12 elected to the 2026 class to be inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in Natchitoches. 

Holloway is going into the LSHOF among a 12-person Class of 2026 celebrated during three days of festivities Thursday, June 25-Saturday, June 27, with seven events (six in Natchitoches, bowling in Alexandria). For participation information, visit LaSportsHall.com or call 318-238-4255.

She is the 25^th recipient of the Dave Dixon Louisiana Sports Leadership Award and will be enshrined in the Hall as the fourth female Dixon winner.

She joins Pineville native Sue Donohoe (2017), an NCAA basketball administrator; Alexandria native Marie Gagnard (2019), a pioneer as a women’s pro tennis official; and Opelousas native Joan Cronan (2020), the women’s athletic director during the Pat Summitt era at Tennessee, in the subset of women who have been honored.

The Dixon Award is presented annually by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s 35-member Hall of Fame selection committee to an individual who has played a decisive role as a sports leader or administrator benefiting Louisiana and/or bringing credit to Louisiana on the national and international level.

The classic story of Holloway’s disciplined but quiet push into a male-dominated hierarchy at the Louisiana High School Coaches Association came during an All-Star weekend in Baton Rouge in 1982 when, as she said, “football coaches controlled everything.” 

Yet, some of the iconic coaches of the day like Charlie Brown of Neville and Red Franklin of Haynesville (both since elected to the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame) asked her when she was going to run for president (of the LHSCA).

“At a Friday night barbecue before a Saturday All-Star football game, I was standing by myself and this guy said, ‘Are you going to vote for me tomorrow (for president)?’ I said, ‘Yeah, if you vote for me when I run.’ 

“He said, ‘There ain’t ever going to be a woman president of this association.’”

One year later, at the suggestion of then LHSAA commissioner Frank Spruiell, Holloway ran for second vice-president (which virtually assures automatic succession to first vice president then president). No one ran against her. So, she was the first female to ever to hold each office, being the first LHSCA female president in 1986.  

In 1992, she made history becoming the first female president of the National High School Athletic Coaches Association. In 1998, she was elected to the Louisiana High School Sports Hall of Fame and in 2012 was inducted into the NHSACA Hall of Fame. 

In 2021 Holloway was honored by the NHSACA, becoming the first winner of an award named in her honor, the “Kathy Holloway Women of Inspiration Award” given annually to females promoting high school athletics. 

Her road to prestigious positions and honors started at her home in her youth.  

The oldest of three children of Jack and Edith Harrison Holloway, Kathy started shooting and dribbling a basketball as soon as she could walk, and from the start, her father, set the bar high.

“For him,” said Holloway, “everything we did, it was ‘do your best.’”

Young Kathy took that message to heart and has lived by it to the present day. 

She enjoyed a stellar playing career at Poland High School, leading her team to the Class C state championship in 1965 and being named the most valuable offensive player of the tournament. She coached girls’ basketball at Tioga for 23 years (1969-92), mentoring four high school All-Americans, 13 all-state players, 5 LHSCA all-stars and achieving 10 playoff appearances, two Sweet 16 appearances and two state runner-up finishes. Fifteen of her players got college athletic scholarships.

In the 1990s, when Ocean Spray launched a sponsorship and scholarship initiative for the NHSACA, Holloway was on the initial selection committee with the two previous NHSACA presidents and Ocean Spray representatives to pick the national winners. 

One of the team managers during Holloway’s time as Tioga’s girls’ basketball coach is Dr. Joan Brunson, a family medicine physician who is the president of the medical staff at Rapides Regional.

“It doesn’t surprise me that she went on to accomplish the things she did,” Brunson said of Holloway.

“Kathy is a person that would never give up,” Brunson said. “She would think of ways to do things more efficiently. She was good at restoring confidence in her players when they were having a difficult time.” 

The 78-year-old Holloway, who was a math major at LSU, wasn’t only skilled in basketball. In the same year she led Poland to the state title, she became the district president of the Future Homemakers Association of America, which, undoubtedly made her mother proud. Her mother, who lived to age 96, was a homemaker who made all the clothes for her children, cooked all the meals and did the gardening around the house.

“Mom would call me to supper,” Holloway recalled, “and I had to make 10 in a row before coming in. I don’t think I ever coached anybody that practiced shooting as much as I did.”

That includes four All-Americans: Jan Nugent (1969-72), Kay Ford (1972-75), Julie Wilkerson (1976-79) and Tara Curtis (1984-88). Ford and Wilkerson played for Louisiana Tech and Curtis played for LSU.

For the first nine years of the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters basketball program, at least one player from Tioga was on the team, be it Marilyn Robinson, Ford or Wilkerson.

Wilkerson, a local attorney, remembers Holloway’s innovation as a coach.

“She started a ‘jump’ layup,” said Wilkerson, “getting us to do a jump shot as our layup. She didn’t need to holler; she just looked at you with the kind of look that you knew you were not doing what you needed to be doing. And it was never about individual honors with her. She stressed team.”

Tara Curtis, her only player to play for LSU, said Holloway was “literally an angel, God-sent from heaven” in her life.

“I come from humble beginnings,” said the 56-year-old Curtis, who manages records and classifications for the women’s state prison in St. Gabriel. Despite being a talented player, she said she didn’t have confidence. “She always told me I was going to be somebody and do great things.”

That was a message she wasn’t getting at home with a single mother, she said, noting Holloway was “somewhat of a mother figure” who made sacrifices for her. “She’d pick me up, drive me to practice, brought me to games. She enhanced the skills I had to enable me to get a scholarship to go to college. She and her husband both took an interest in me, as would parents.”

Holloway had her own support group as a youth. In addition to her parents, her best friend while playing for Poland was a defensive player, Carolyn Beauregard, who was tougher guarding her than any opponent. One of the ways she gave her moral support when she was upset was  to snap, “Don’t start crying!” 

And, now, her son, Stewart Holloway, the pastor of First Baptist Church of Pineville, is supporting her as she is the director of his church’s “Upwards Basketball” K-6 program. It’s part of Upward Sports, founded in 1995, and  the world’s largest Christian youth sports provider. It lists its mission as “promoting the discovery of Jesus through sports.” 

Kathy is in her 15^th year as the program director, and the participation has mushroomed from around 90 players to 300. 

Holloway thinks back to her first job as a math teacher at Brame Junior High, when then Tioga principal Philip White hired her as a physical education teacher. He asked her to be a hostess for the Sweet 16 tournament in 1969-70, and she did. Impressed with her work there along with her basketball credentials, White  hired her the next year as basketball coach.

Her teaching career later came full circle when, after she left Tioga, Bolton principal Ron Akins hired her as a PE teacher. The summer before what was to be her last year, Bolton girls’ basketball coach Danny Dotherow asked her to be his assistant. 

“He had won district and wanted to win the next year,” she said. “I had to ask Charles. He said OK.” 

And Holloway helped Dotherow guide a talented group to not only another district title but four straight district championships and playoff appearances, including the state semifinals in 2002-03.   

“Looking back, sometimes I think, ‘How did this happen?’” Holloway said. “I think of Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken. I took the road to Tioga. God just takes care of you and opens doors. If I hadn’t been here, it wouldn’t have gone this way, I guess. I’m thankful for being available to do the things I love to do. I like people. I like getting everybody to work together.”

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By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

Sam Burns is on his game.

He shares the first-round lead at the RBC Canadian Open after an opening 6-under-par 64, after battling for the win into the final hole last week at The Memorial, finishing in fourth.

The 29-year-old Shreveport native, a Calvary Baptist graduate, was firing at the flags all afternoon at TPC Toronto and needed just 27 feet of putts, while his ball striking was almost flawless. He found 12 of 14 fairways and hit 14 of 18 greens in regulation.

Thursday’s afternoon tee time gets swapped for an early start today: at 6:44 a.m. CT with Wyndham Clark and Kristoffer Reitan — who have wins on Tour over the last six weeks.

“The morning has different challenges. I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily easier or harder,” Burns said. “Typically, in the morning there’s moisture on the golf ball, which is a different challenge in itself. The golf course plays a little bit longer. The rough is thicker usually just with the moisture. Sometimes it can play easier, sometimes more difficult.”

A morning rain Thursday made the course demanding more from the short game, which plays into Burns’ strength. The PGA Tour’s putting leader last season, Burns ranks fourth this season. 

“There’s always a few kind of key putts you have throughout a round, whether it’s to keep the momentum going or save a shot here or there,” he said in a media session afterward.

He is atop the leader board with Brooks Koepka, Eric Cole, Sahith Theegala, and Emiliano Grillo beginning today’s second round, which will be covered on Golf Channel in the afternoon. Burns’ round today will be available at ESPN+. Weekend TV coverage is split between Golf Channel (noon-2 p.m.) followed by CBS.

Burns nearly won on this course last year, falling in a four-hole playoff to Ryan Fox. A week later, he held the U.S. Open lead through most of the final two rounds and into the back nine on a rain-soaked Sunday.

He began Thursday’s round with three birdies on the first six holes. He carded five birdies on the back nine, overcoming one bogey on each side.

The Choudrant resident, about to turn 30 and welcome he and wife Caroline’s second child next month, downplayed an affinity for the course based on his play a year ago and Thursday.

“At the end of the day, regardless of where you’re playing, I think you just have to go execute,” Burns said. “It’s nice to have some good memories maybe before the tournament starts, but you know, when you tee it up, you have to be able to execute and hit the shots that the golf course requires.”

The former two-time LSU All-American, who plays out of Squire Creek Country Club in Choudrant, said his playoff loss to Fox wasn’t on his mind.

“Honestly for me, there wasn’t really any negative,” Burns said. “I started the day pretty far back and played a really good round of golf and was able to sneak into a playoff. I had a chance to hole that putt (a 5-footer to win) and didn’t, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. So I really just kind of took the positives. I feel like my game was in a good spot, and try to do the same again this year.”

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The Rapides Parish Police Jury has announced that several committee meetings will be held Monday, July 6, beginning at 3 p.m. in the meeting room of the Police Jury Office.

Committees scheduled to meet include the Finance Committee; Public Works, Watershed and Agricultural Affairs Committee; Workforce Development and Grants Committee; and the Tourism and Economic Planning and Development Committee.

Officials said the agenda for the committee meetings will be posted at 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 2, on the meeting room door.

The Police Jury also announced that its regular meeting will be held Monday, July 13, at 3 p.m. at the Rapides Parish Courthouse in Alexandria. The agenda for that meeting is scheduled to be posted at 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 9.

Both the committee meetings and the regular meeting will be streamed live online.

Additional information is available through Rapides Parish Police Jury and RPPJ YouTube Channel.

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A Pineville man was arrested June 9 following an investigation by the Pineville Police Department and has been charged with molestation of a juvenile and indecent behavior with juveniles.

According to police, officers were dispatched to the 100 block of Hudson Street in reference to an investigation. As a result of that investigation, Michael Haftmann was arrested and booked on one count of molestation of a juvenile and one count of indecent behavior with juveniles.

Police later announced that Haftmann’s bond was set at $200,000.

The investigation remains active and ongoing. Investigators said they continue to gather evidence, and additional charges could be filed as the case develops.

The Pineville Police Department stated that if further evidence results in additional charges, updated information will be released.

All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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