By JIM BUTLER

Eligible system employees will learn at today’s School Board meeting how hefty their excess sales tax collection check (proposed distribution date May 22) will be.

Degreed and non-degree personnel receive an annual supplement (2:1 basis) from distribution of sales tax receipts beyond that needed to meet requirements of 1967 and 1987 tax dedications.

Last May the amounts were about $7,800 and $3,900. 

Also today three Montessori elementary schools – Brasher, Peabody and Rosenthal – may get a little over $2 million each as the District 62 bond issue proceeds distribution winds down. 

The schools were not part of either of the then-three high school feeder systems when the improvements package was created, so were not earmarked for any of the $100 million. 

The money up for consideration today is a $6.5 million bond premium. 

Money matters involving two Pineville elementary schools are also on the agenda. 

Proposed is amending the scheduled Lessie Moore project contract budget, decreasing it from $975,000 to $425,000. 

A change order of about $208,000 would increase Tudor Inc.’s contract at J.I. Barron to about $3.35 million. 

That is a result of discovery post-bid and contract letting of extensive roof and deck damage. 

According to construction documents about 46,000 square feet is involved.

By JIM BUTLER 

The Alexandria City Council agenda today includes receiving and considering the mayor’s veto message voiding an agreement with GAEDA. 

Discussion could very well turn into soapbox speaking, considering Mayor Jacques Roy’s text and tone. 

Four council members voted two weeks ago to rescind a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Greater Alexandria Economic Development Authority to renovate the old Weiss & Goldring Building. One voted no and two abstained. Five votes are needed to override. 

Roy went beyond a simple yes or no in rejecting the decision, choosing to call in question how GAEDA operates and what the Council tolerates from it. 

The basic difference of opinion is interpretation of what GAEDA is supposed to do and how. 

Its enabling state legislation says GAEDA is “to provide for the renovation, restoration and development of property in the City of Alexandria and district and to pay costs of capital improvements relating thereto, and to engage in cooperative endeavors with the state and its political subdivisions or political corporations, with the United States or its agencies, or with any public or private association, corporation or individual.” 

That has evolved into an annually refilling million-dollar fund assisting an assortment of special events and activities. 

Advocates say the events bring people and their spending to the city, a form of economic development. Skeptics say such subsidy is more suited to the Convention & Visitors Bureau. 

Coincidentally at today’s special GAEDA meeting, apparently necessary due to lack of a quorum for its April session, such a request is one item on the agenda. 

Roy listed specific projects the administration feels properly fall under GAEDA’s umbrella. None are meeting/greeting in nature. 

Also on the Council agenda is affirmation of at-large member Jim Villard’s appointment of Brad Smith to the GAEDA board. 

Each of the seven council members appoints a member, who serves at will of the council person. Smith will bring the GAEDA commissioner count to six. 

The remaining vacancy is that of District 4 member Lizzie Felter. She and Villard abstained on the W&G vote. 

Voting yes were Gary Johnson, Jules Green, Malcolm Larvadain and Cynthia Perry. 

Voting no was Chuck Fowler.

Elizabeth “Liz” Milton Beard, PhD, may be the first female to be named chancellor of LSUA, but she follows her mother as a female pioneer.

One of four children of Kent and Sonie Milton, Liz is not only the first woman to be named chancellor of LSUA in the school’s 66-year history, but she is the first woman to be named chancellor of a four-year accredited college in the LSU system. Kimberly Russell and Nancy Sorenson are past and current chancellors of LSUE, but that is a two-year college.

Liz’s mother, Sonie, was the first woman to graduate from LSU with a degree in forestry in 1969. Her husband Kent is a retired agronomist and soil scientist. With her groundbreaking forestry degree, Sonie worked two stints for the U.S. Forest Service, and she worked at the Forestry Department at LSU, but she may be best known for running a Christmas tree business with Kent in the Poland community for many years until 2007.

Although Liz was born in Baton Rouge, she went to Poland Elementary and Junior High before graduating from Rapides High School in 1992. She said she was blessed to have many great teachers there, especially English teacher Marilyn Jackson.

“Liz Beard was an English teacher’s delight,” said Jackson. She loved, not just liked, but loved English, whether it was the structure of grammar, the history and voice of American and British writers, or self-expression through her own writing. 

“She was inquisitive and intuitive beyond her years when it came to understanding what good literature had to offer and relating it to life,” Jackson continued. “That same inquisitive and intuitive nature, along with the ability to write and speak effectively, continues to serve her well as a leader.”

Beard, currently the provost and vice chancellor of academic affairs at LSUA, got her bachelor’s degree in English from Springhill College in Mobile, Ala. While she was in the English honors program there, she said a Jesuit priest on the faculty took time to tell her after reading one of her papers that it was “exceptional.”

Her husband of nearly 30 years, Willard, is a family medicine physician’s assistant in Pineville, and they have two grown sons, Ben, 24, and Charles, 21. Ben is a 2024 graduate of LSU in the finance business in New Orleans, and Charles is in his second year at the U.S. Naval Academy. Both are Menard graduates.

During college, Liz was an intern for two summers at The Town Talk, and she taught a year at St. Joseph’s Academy in Baton Rouge. She has been at LSUA since 2003, where she started as an adjunct professor in English, and she got her PhD from LSU in 2009.

She was named the school’s dean of liberal arts in 2021 and has been serving the last few years in her current role. When she takes over from retiring chancellor Paul Coreil on July 1, she said in her office Sunday afternoon she wants to build on some of the programs she’s proud to have helped start at LSUA.

One is the “Command Your Career” program, a career readiness strategy that aims to help students gain skills, relationships and experience. This program provides students with the tools needed to “explore career opportunities,” she said, “and make connections with mentors in the community and industries” to ensure they’re on the right vocational path.

Beard started the school’s writing center in 2005 in a small portion of the school library, and it has since blossomed into the Tutoring Center for not just writing help but for tutoring by experienced students for nearly all subjects in the curriculum. It started with a $700/semester budget. It is now in a “beautiful place” in the library with a $20,000/year budget, Beard said.

It’s not only beneficial to the students, she said, but a “good leadership experience” for the student tutors.

Another big item on Beard’s agenda is helping to advance the state’s first three-year accelerated bachelor’s STEM degrees for science, technology, engineering or mathematics. This was recently approved for LSUA by the LSU Board of Supervisors.

“These are not shortened degrees,” Beard said when the news was first released. “They are intentionally designed, academically rigorous bachelor’s degrees that focus on the essential core and major coursework required for workforce readiness.”

The 90-hour curriculum is targeted, she said, to “highly technical, quickly evolving fields,” she said, such as data literacy, AI fluency and informational technology (IT).

Beard pointed to the need for the accelerated degree, citing a call she received from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.

“A man from the Pennington Center (a health science research center that is part of the LSU System) recently told me they needed workers, and they can’t wait for this to happen,” said Beard, who admitted she will lean on Coreil for advice as she succeeds him as chancellor. “I have the utmost respect for Paul Coreil,” she said. “He is a good person. He absolutely has a heart for his work. He builds up talent, and he’s been an excellent leader and mentor.”

Another mentor who impacted her while she was at LSUA, Beard said, was the late Mary “Boonie” Treuting, a psychology professor and dean of the College of Social Sciences. Treuting, who started working at LSUSA in 1994, died in 2024.

“When she died, LSUA lost a golden human being,” said Beard. She was an excellent mentor. Her legacy still looms large and proud. We were deans at the same time and we leaned into each other. She was a great source of wisdom and counsel.”

It seems that wisdom and counsel rubbed off, giving Beard the look of someone ready to handle the job of LSUA chancellor from Day One.

Marilyn Jackson, Beard’s high school English teacher, said she has followed Beard’s progress from English major to her current position as the designated chancellor, “and she is still the same humble, sincere young lady I loved having in English classes. As a student she worked hard to achieve excellence, and I see her doing the same as the next chancellor at LSUA.”

The Alexandria VA Health Care System has recognized Dr. Carlos Malave, Chief of Specialty Care, as a recipient of the Good Catch Award for his dedication to Veteran care.

Dr. Malave was honored for actions that ensured a Veteran received timely and appropriate care at MD Anderson. His efforts emphasized advocacy for Veterans and maintained continuity of care.

Officials noted that his diligence contributed to protecting the well-being of the Veteran while supporting the mission of the organization.

Oil and gas activity in Natchitoches Parish remained robust through the month of April, with 80 new leases filed at the Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Court office.

While a majority of the leasing activity continues to be concentrated in the western portion of the parish—stretching from the intersection of Interstate 49 and Highway 6 to the Sabine Parish line, and extending 10 miles north toward the Spanish Lake bottoms—new developments are emerging.

A significant shift in recent activity includes the first signs of leasing on the east side of I-49. Additionally, while the primary focus remains west, energy companies are also expanding their footprint with new filings recorded south of LA Hwy 6.

Landowners who have been approached with lease offers or seismic survey requests are encouraged to consult with qualified legal counsel before signing any agreements, as these contracts can have long-term implications for mineral and surface rights.

A review of Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Court records confirms the 80 leases filed in April 2026. The NPJ obtained this information directly from the parish’s online Public Records system.

Total Leases filed in calendar year 2025: 405
Total Leases filed in calendar year 2026 203

Wilmer McLean was a retired officer of the Virginia militia who became wealthy as a wholesale grocer based in Alexandria, Virginia.  In 1850, he married Virginia Beverley Hooe.  Three years later when Virginia was expecting their first child, Wilmer searched for a quiet, peaceful place for his growing family to live.  On January 1, 1854, Wilmer’s son, John Wilmer, was born.  Wilmer had his sights set on the 1200-acre rural Yorkshire Plantation north of Manassas along Bull Run, a 31-mile-long tributary of the Occoquan River.  Shortly after baby John was born, Wilmer purchased the plantation.  Three years later, they welcomed their second child, a daughter named Lucretia “Lula” Virginia.  Theirs was a perfectly peaceful existence.  They lived in a huge two-story house, some referred to it as a mansion, on one of the many rolling hills next to the lazy stream.  It seemed as if they were living in a dream world which would last forever. 

Their peaceful, dreamlike existence ended abruptly on July 21, 1861.  Confederate Brigadier General P.G.T. Beauregard had commandeered Wilmer’s home and barn as his headquarters along the strategic Bull Run.  Whether Wilmer and his family continued to live in their home with the soldiers or moved to a nearby home is unknown, but they remained in close proximity.  On that hot July day, Union and Confederate soldiers fought an artillery duel on Wilmer’s plantation.  General Beauregard later wrote, “A comical effect of this artillery fight was the destruction of the dinner of myself and staff by a Federal shell that fell into the fire-place of my headquarters at the McLean House.”  What became known as The Battle of Bull Run was the first major campaign of the Civil War. 

Following the battle, the soldiers moved to other battlefields.  Wilmer and his family returned to the peaceful existence on Yorkshire Plantation that they had enjoyed before the war.  Soon thereafter, Virginia became pregnant with their third child.  Once again, their peace was broken when soldiers converged again near the same strategic location.  For three days in 1862, August 28-30, Confederate and Union soldiers fought the Second Battle of Bull Run.  Shortly after the battle, Wilmer and his pregnant wife and their two children abandoned Yorkshire Plantation for safer environs. 

On January 28, 1863, Virginia gave birth to a daughter named Nannie.  Shortly thereafter, Wilmer and his family purchased a large home about 140 miles to the southwest in the village of Appomattox Court House, Virginia.  For two years, Wilmer’s family lived far from the fields of battle.  On April 9, 1865, Virginia was pregnant with their fourth child when Charles Marshall, Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s aide, asked Wilmer to show him a suitable place for Lee to meet another general.  Wanting to distance his family from any connection to the war, Wilmer showed the aide a dilapidated home which he quickly rejected.  With no other contenders, Wilmer reluctantly offered the use of his family’s home.  At about 1 o’clock that afternoon at the McLean home, General Lee met with Union General Ulysses S. Grant.  The Civil War ended during that meeting when General Lee surrendered the Confederate Army to General Grant.  The Civil War began in Wilmer McLean’s front yard and ended in his front parlor. 

Through it all, Wilmer wanted a safe and peaceful existence for himself and his family.  In June 1870, Wilmer dedicated himself to ensuring that the citizens of Manassas township in Virginia had the same safe and peaceful existence that he had wanted to provide for his family.  In June 1870, Wilmer McLean, whose homes bookended the Civil War, became a Justice of the Peace.

Sources:

1.     Jim Rogers, “Crumbling bar is all that’s left of Yorkshire Plantation,” Potomac News, July 23, 1990, accessed April 26, 2026, https://eservice.pwcgov.org/library/digitallibrary/hsdw/M_Folder/McLean76-274/pdfs/McLean76-274NewsArtA.pdf.

2.     Alexandria Gazette (Alexandria, Virginia), July 7, 1870, p.2.

3.     Kristi Finefield, “A Tale of Two Houses and the U.S. Civil War,” Library of Congress, April 9, 2015, accessed April 26, 2026, https://blogs.loc.gov/picturethis/2015/04/a-tale-of-two-houses-and-the-u-s-civil-war/.

4.     Hparkins, “The Peculiar Story of Wilmer McLean,” National Archives, November 10, 2010, accessed April 26, 2026, https://prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2010/11/10/the-peculiar-story-of-wilmer-mclean/.

5.     “The McLean House – Site of the Surrender Meeting,” National Park Service, Accessed April 26, 2026, https://www.nps.gov/apco/mclean-house.htm.

6.     “Wilmer McLean,” Findagrave.com, accessed April 26, 2026, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5824/wilmer-mclean.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2:30 PM on Friday, May 8, 2026, at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral with Msgr. James Ferguson officiating.

Visitation will be held at the church from 1:30 PM until the time of service on Friday, May 8, 2026.

A private family burial will be held at Rougeou Cemetery in Elmer at a later date.

Emily Ann Sterkx Swift was born in Alexandria, LA on August 20, 1928, and passed away on Saturday, May 2, 2026, following a long and healthy life at the age of 97.

She attended Providence High School and graduated from Northwestern State University with a degree in Social Work. She married John Benjamin (Ben) Swift in 1950 and together they lovingly raised 6 children. She was an accomplished seamstress and a wonderful cook.

She worked as the Director of Social Services at Cabrini Hospital for years and much later enjoyed a sales position in “The Boutique” at Stein Mart. The friendships formed there with the other ladies led to a long-standing tradition of meeting for lunch at various spots around town.

She is preceded in death by her father and mother, Walter Wynne Sterkx, Sr. and Rita Mestayer Sterkx, brothers Walter Wynne Sterkx, Jr., Joseph Adolf Sterkx and Charles Douglas Sterkx; sisters Rita Sterkx Lawrence and Mamie Hanna Sterkx, sister-in law Joe Betty Sterkx, brother-in-law Robert Lee Lawrence, and son -in-law Field Gremillion. She is survived by her brother, Richard Anthony Sterkx and sister-in-law Joann Hickman Sterkx.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Walter Braxton Swift, Emily Swift Crews (Hal), Mary Swift Gremillion, John Benjamin Swift, Jr., Thomas Clayton Swift, and Jane Ann Swift (Jenni Peters).

As a child, her father called her “Annie Rooney” and she was lovingly known as “Rooney” to her 5 grandchildren, Josey Swift (Nicole), Jake Swift (Sarah), Braxton Swift (Amanda), Meg Gremillion Milliner (Jarred) and Laura Gremillion, along with 9 great grandchildren.

Honored to serve as pallbearers are Josey Swift, Braxton Swift, Jake Swift and Jarred Milliner. Honorary pallbearer is Patrick Dunn.

Our family would like to give special gratitude to the staff at Compassionate Care Hospice and Dr. Greg Brian.

Vernon Derrell Burroughs, 90 years of age, went to sleep in death on April 26, 2026, exactly as he wished, peacefully in his own bed at home. Vernon was born July 12, 1935, in Independence, Missouri to Freeman Burroughs and Helen Willoughby Burroughs. He was the second youngest of six children. He is survived by two of his siblings, his older sister Barbara Huckabee and his younger brother Larry Burroughs (Lynette).

Vernon Darrell Burroughs met Peggy Normand in Brouillette, Louisiana which resulted in a life-long marriage since October 22, 1955. Vernon was in the Air Force at the time, and they were stationed in several locations before settling in Alexandria, Louisiana, where Vernon eventually retired. He was known for his hospitality and never failed to offer coffee and a snack to those who came to visit. He was famously industrious and loved spending his days on the golf course until he transitioned into his most important role, caring for Peggy.

Vernon and Peggy had six children together Derrell Glen Burroughs (deceased), Kerry Louise Jones (John), Katherine Moreau, Angela Sue Evans (Cedric), Vernon Derrell Burroughs II (deceased), and Sheila Michelle Trevino (deceased). They also had 15 grandchildren Brian Jones, Allisha Jones Bordelon (Shay), Andrea Moreau Brovetto, Michael Scott Moreau, Ryan Moreau (deceased), Richard Moreau, Bonny Williams McCarney (Stuart), Rebekah Evans, Joshua Evans, James Daniel Burroughs (Heather), Shalista Burroughs Elaz (deceased), Tamara Burroughs (deceased), Christopher Arceneaux (Sara), Jennifer Arceneaux Murphy (Jeff), Cody Weishuhn (Camille) and numerous great-grandchildren.

Vernon was also known for his high moral standards of honesty, generosity, kindness and just being there for family and ones in need. Saying he will be missed dearly by many is truly an understatement. While the void he leaves is vast, his family looks forward to the possibility of reuniting with him in the near future. (Psalm 37:11, Isaiah 35:6)

Phonetic: /jux·​ta·​pose/

Part of Speech: Verb

Definition

• To juxtapose things is to place them together in order to create an interesting effect or to show how they are the same or different.
  The local museum’s new exhibit juxtaposes modern art with classical art.
  
  
• to place (different things) side by side (as to compare them or contrast them or to create an interesting effect)

The Rapides Parish School Board announced that the Pineville High School Lady Rebels have secured the state championship, marking a major achievement for the program and the parish.

Pineville defeated John Curtis Patriots softball team in a dominant performance to capture the title. The win marks the Lady Rebels’ eighth state championship and their first since 1998.

School officials also recognized the efforts of the team’s coaches, administrators, teachers and families, crediting their support as a key part of the program’s success.

By JIM BUTLER

Chancellor-designate Dr. Elizabeth Beard best hang on to her hard hat as she changes offices at LSU Alexandria. 

Several construction projects will be getting under way about the time she officially succeeds Dr. Paul Coreil on July 1. 

Bids for the first of them are scheduled Tuesday, when offers for construction of a baseball/softball field house (locker rooms, etc.) for the Generals will be received. Estimated cost: $900,000. 

The top-ranked distaff Generals are competing today at LCU, Pineville, for their conference championship.

On May 19 the university plans bid receipt on construction of tennis courts and pickleball courts. Estimated cost: $900,000. 

The school last June closed its golf course, making way for much-needed student housing. 

On May 28 bids will be accepted for renovations to historic Oakland Hall, with $500,000 earmarked. 

Its claim to fame is two-fold: 

Oakland was the first new permanent building constructed on the campus. Classes began in September 1960, Oakland’s construction in February 1961. 

The structure was also the first building in Louisiana using the lift slab post tension method. 

Floors and a roof of concrete were poured and cured at ground level, then lifted into place. 

On June 2, according to posted notice, the university will open bids for installation of a campus-wide direct digital HVAC control system. Estimated cost: $850,000. 

Two days later offers for renovations to the A.C. Buchanan Building, a key piece of the university’s allied health center on Jackson Street in downtown Alexandria, are due. The overall project will cost more than $30 million.

The City of Pineville announced that its water system has received an upgraded grade of A from the Louisiana Department of Health for 2025, improving from a C rating in 2024.

City officials said the top rating reflects continued efforts to enhance water quality, infrastructure and overall system operations.

The city credited its Water Department for the improvement and noted that ongoing investments and community support have played a role in achieving the higher grade.

Officials say the upgrade highlights Pineville’s commitment to maintaining safe and reliable water services for residents.

A bass boat traveling without a driver was spotted moving down a roadway in Pineville on May 1, according to the Pineville Police Department.

An officer encountered the unusual scene while on patrol, observing the boat “cruising” along the road by itself. Authorities shared the incident in a lighthearted social media post.

While no additional details were released about how the boat became detached or whether any damage occurred, officials used the moment to remind residents to remain cautious during wet weather conditions.

Pineville’s picturesque Lake Buhlow was the scene of intense nautical competition as 22 teams from area businesses, hospitals, colleges, high schools and churches spent May 2 vying for bragging rights at the Annual Dragon Boat races sponsored by the Alexandria Museum of Art. This popular event, first held in 2010, has rapidly become an area-wide favorite, growing each year.

Dragon Boat Races are a competition in which teams of paddlers, often in themed costumes, race their boats to the beat of a drummer. Each boat has a dragon head at the prow. On the morning of the race, each team paints the eyes of their boat’s dragon in order to awaken it.

The Dragon Boat Races are a true community effort. The Museum’s staff was assisted by a contingent of community volunteers, including a group of 12 sharp cadets from the Louisiana Army National Guard’s Youth Challenge. This year also marked another first, as the “Rowing Rebels” of Pineville High School joined Alexandria Senior High’s Marine Corps JROTC and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. 

While the Dragon Boat Races are quite a bit of fun, the event has a serious purpose. It is the signature fundraiser for the Alexandria Museum of Art. This year’s race is expected to bring in over $25,000.00 to help fund the museum’s operations. The Alexandria Museum of Art is an integral part of Central Louisiana’s cultural and educational scene and one of the many things that make our city special.

Downtown Alexandria’s Riverfete was the place to be for family fun April 30 – May 2. The popular free admission event, an eagerly awaited local tradition since 2013, drew tens of thousands of visitors to Alexandria’s welcoming downtown.

The festival featured an eclectic blend of vendors, food trucks, and bands divided into several areas. Bands entertained festival goers on Friday and Saturday with something for every taste. The festivities began with Thursday’s “Dinner on the Bricks” featuring local restaurants serving tastings of their best fare.

The quirky Indie Village welcomed one and all with everything from gourmet coffee to art and music. “Que’in on the Red,” a BBQ competition in its 3^rd year as part of Riverfete, filled the area with mouthwatering aromas as 35 chefs from as far away as Alabama competed for top honors. Classic car aficionados could enjoy the many beautiful cars on display in the “Classic Car Fete.” The younger set had their own area, “Kid’s Fete,” where they could play to their heart’s content. This year’s event brought back a crowd favorite, a huge Ferris wheel, the top of which offered riders a spectacular view of the riverfront. Our local Humane Society returned for the second year with its Adopt-a- Pet Fête, uniting dogs with their forever homes.

Riverfete is terrific fun and a superb example of what can happen when a community comes together to do something special. The annual Riverfete is one of the many things that make life in Louisiana wonderfully flavorful and unique.

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

The Pineville softball team left no doubts. The Lady Rebels dominated the LHSAA state tournament in Sulphur Saturday and Sunday like few, if any, teams ever have and brought home the Select Division I state championship in resounding fashion.

The championship game was a 12-1 romp over fourth-seeded John Curtis, who had upset No. 1-ranked Mount Carmel 2-1 in the semifinals. Pineville’s semifinal win Saturday was 13-1 over third-seeded Archbishop Chapelle.

Add in the Lady Rebels’ other two playoff victories and Pineville (29-9) outscored its postseason opponents 52-5, run-ruling all four, scoring at least 12 runs each game. The Lady Rebels finished on a 12-game winning streak.

“It was about midseason when I realized we could really make a run with this team,” said coach Allison Frye, a former Pineville player 20 years ago. “We have a lot of young players. Our seniors are very passionate about it and worked very hard to get everyone to buy in, and it took a little while. I’ve been telling them, I don’t know how many times this season, ‘we’re right where we need to be,’ and today, if not a little bit before today, they believe me.”

“Going into today, we were confident,” said tournament Most Outstanding Player Ava Moore. “We were very confident. We knew that every person on this team, we all have each other’s backs, that if we make a mistake, the other 21 are there to back us up.”

On state softball’s biggest high school stage at North Frasch Softball Complex in Sulphur, in the final two games of the championship season, Pineville roared out of the gate.

Saturday, it was a 5-0 lead after two innings with an eight-run fourth inning putting the hammer down on Archbishop Chapelle – who had eliminated last year’s top-seeded Lady Rebels in a bitter quarterfinal loss in Pineville. This time, the Lady Rebs rapped 15 hits including two home runs each by Jadin Basco and Aniyah Jackson.

Sunday, Pineville also opened a 5-0 lead, after three innings, going up 2-0 in the first on a two-run double by Moore. Basco went deep with a three-run missile in the third inning.

The Sunday drubbing continued as the spread continued to grow, to 8-0, thanks in no small part to Briley Byrnes, whose sizzling-hot bat ignited outbursts both days. She went 7-for-7 with four doubles, scoring seven times, in the semis and finals.

Moore’s bat set off the championship celebration in the sixth inning. With the bases loaded, she drilled a shot to centerfield that was just too far for the Curtis outfielder to hold as it dropped over the fence to end the game on the run rule.

Almost overlooked due to the offensive fireworks by the Lady Rebs was the pitching of Chelsie Simpson and superior defense in both wins.

“I played for Pineville in the early 2000s and I never got this feeling. There’s so many girls that paved the way. They (this year’s players) don’t realize (yet) how big a deal this is to our community, to past players, who everyone who has bought into this program for a long time,” said Frye.

The triumph gave the Lady Rebels their eighth state crown. It was the first Pineville softball state title since capturing a third in a row in 1998, and Sunday marked the program’s first state championship game appearance since 2008.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

Top-seeded Brother Martin blanked Alexandria Senior High twice to capture a Select Division I quarterfinal baseball playoff series in New Orleans, but three rural Rapides Parish teams moved forward into the quarterfinals in their classifications by winning Saturday.

Baseball playoff results, schedule

Select Division I quarterfinal series

Brother Martin 10, ASH 0 (Game 1)

Brother Martin 7, ASH 0 (Game 2), Brother Martin advances

Class B (regional round, single-elimination)

Glenmora 12, Fairview 0

Grace Christian 7, Lacassine 1

Class C (regional round, single-elimination)

Plainview 12, Calvin 5

This week’s state quarterfinal games

Family Community (6) at Grace Christian (3), Friday, 6:30

Stanley (10) at Glenmora (2), TBA

Plainview (7) at Family Christian (2), Friday, 4:00

As of: May 4, 2026; 3:00am

The Pineville Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying an individual involved in a series of incidents reported in the Smithville/College Park area.

According to authorities, the individual has repeatedly trespassed on private property over the past week and engaged in unlawful behavior. The property owner had placed a sign requesting the person stay off the premises.

Police say the situation escalated when the individual returned, defecated on the property again and then set the sign on fire.

Officials say they are actively working to identify the person involved and are asking anyone with information to contact the department or submit a tip through a private message.

Authorities also thanked the community for its continued support in helping maintain neighborhood safety.