A loss by No. 1 Ruston didn’t allow third-ranked Alexandria Senior High to move higher in this week’s Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 5A poll.

The Bearcats (2-1), a District 2-5A opponent for ASH on Oct. 23, dropped to second in this week’s poll. Defending Select Division I state champion Edna Karr (3-0), who was No. 2, moved up after topping Ruston 21-14 in New Orleans on Saturday.

ASH (3-0) demolished Class 2A power Lafayette Christian 45-0 last Friday. The Trojans maintained their No. 3 ranking.

Now they get tested. Friday, ASH goes to Monroe to take on Neville (2-1), which has dropped out of 2-5A and is now in Class 4A – but just pounded last year’s Non-Select Division I state champion Ouachita 49-0 last Friday night.

Neville, No. 3 in the 4A poll, has won its last two after opening with a 42-16 loss at Ruston that was much more competitive than the score indicates. The Tigers went to Shreveport in Week 2 and put down Evangel 43-27, intercepting LSU commit Pop Houston three times. 

ASH has outscored its three opponents 148-36, beating Bryant (Ark.) 44-20, then smacking Union Parish 59-16 before blowing out LCA.

The Trojans are the only Rapides Parish team getting votes in the LSWA polls.

Only 16 of the 50 ranked teams in this week’s top 10 polls are from the 318 area code, including Jena and Marksville.

Eleven sports media members in the LSWA are polled weekly to compile the rankings. 

Class 5A

School (1^st place votes), record, poll points, last week’s ranking

1. Karr (10), 3-0, 131, 2

2. Ruston, 2-1, 115,1

3. Alexandria Senior High, 3-0, 109, 3

4. St. Augustine, 3-0, 104, 4

5. John Curtis, 2-1, 782 6

6. Archbishop Rummel, 3-0, 80, 7

7. Acadiana, 3-0, 45, 8

8. Brother Martin, 3-0,  47, 9

9. Catholic-Baton Rouge, 1-2, 45, 5

10. Jesuit, 3-0, 22, Not ranked

Others receiving votes: St. Thomas More 15, Central 13, West Monroe 8, Ouachita 7, Mandeville 5, Barbe 3, Thibodaux 3.

Class 4A

1. Westgate (9), 3-0, 129, 1

2. North DeSoto (1), 3-0, 114, 3

3. Neville (1), 2-1, 104, 4

4. Archbishop Shaw, 2-1, 99, 2

5. Lake Charles Prep, 3-0, 91, 5

6. Franklin Parish, 2-1, 76, 7

7. Madison Prep, 1-2, 62, 6

8. John F. Kennedy, 2-1, 46, NR

9. Belle Chasse, 3-0, 36, NR

10. Cecilia, 2-1, 29, 8

Others receiving votes:  Plaquemine 27, Salmen 19, Lafayette Renaissance 7, Franklinton 3, Opelousas 3, Carencro 2, Teurlings Catholic 2, E.D. White 1

Class 3A

1. St. James (9), 3-0, 130, 2

2. St. Charles (2), 2-1, 118, 1

3. Sterlington, 2-1, 104, 4

4. Jena, 2-1, 96, 3

5. University, 1-2, 83, 6

6. Iowa, 1-2, 81, 5

7. Jewel Sumner, 2-1, 64, 7

8. Loyola, 2-1, 55, 8

9. Marksville, 3-0, 42, 9

10. Eunice, 3-0, 30, NR

Others receiving votes: Vandebilt Catholic 23, Carroll 13, Iota 4, Northwest 3, De La Salle 2, West Feliciana 1.

Class 2A

1, Calvary Baptist (9), 3-0, 130, 1

2, Dunham (2), 2-1, 120, 2

3. Notre Dame, 3-0, 113, 3

4. Mangham, 2-1, 96, 4

5. Amite, 3-0, 67, 7

6. Lafayette Christian Academy, 2-1, 55, 5

7. Oak Grove, 1-2, 53, 6

8. Catholic-New Iberia, 2-1, 51, 9

9. Mansfield, 3-0, 48, 10

10. Newman, 2-1, 27, NR

Others receiving votes: Kinder 25, Loreauville 19, West St. Mary 7, Covenant Christian 7, Country Day 4, Lake Arthur 2.

Class 1A

1. Ouachita Christian (6), 3-0, 127, 1

2. Riverside Academy (4), 3-0, 125, 2

3. Ascension Catholic, 3-0, 110, 3

4. Jeanerette, 3-0, 96, 4

5. Haynesville, 2-1, 84, 5

6. Logansport, 3-0, 72, 6

7. Southern Lab, 2-0, 65, 7

8. Kentwood, 3-0, 63, 8

9. Westminster-Lafayette, 3-0, 40, 9

10. Cedar Creek, 3-0, 35, NR

Others receiving votes: East Feliciana 20, South Plaquemines 13, Lincoln Prep 11, Westminster-Opelousas 3, Catholic-Pointe Coupee 1, St. Edmund 1.

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Louisiana Christian University will kick off its fifth annual fall fitness challenge on Oct. 1, thanks to a $30,000 grant from The Rapides Foundation.

“Walking through October” is a local Step Up CENLA program designed to help residents become more physically active. It runs through Oct. 31.

The program offers fitness challenges and educational workshops on physical activity. The goal is to make physical activity the norm in Central Louisiana.

The program is virtual, and participants will track their steps each day and submit them online weekly.

This year’s challenge features three categories:

• Individual: Winners will be determined by the highest step count within each age group.
• Student-Athlete: A separate division will recognize the efforts of student-athletes.
• Team: Participate as a team with your family, friends, or colleagues! Results will be calculated using the average step count (total steps divided by the number of members). You may have up to five members per team. (If you are part of a team, you may not also participate in the individual category).

The top participants in each age group, the student-athlete category and the team division will receive an award. Weekly drawings for gift cards will also be held for individuals who submit their steps for the prior week.

To sign up, visit https://forms.gle/D76DEQNyo8XpBVWC8 

The registration deadline is Oct. 1.

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As many of you know, I was adopted by my aunt and uncle, Laverne & Loyd Graf Jr., when I was 10 years old. They quickly became mom and dad for me. My biological mom, Alta Mae, was not capable of raising two young boys. After starting and struggling through the first grade in Rosenburg, Texas, I was failing school and they rescued me from Houston, Texas, and brought me to Mt. Pleasant just after Christmas. 

I was enrolled in Vivian Fowler School at that time and did extra work into the summer as I got caught up enough to be passed on to the second grade. It was also at this time that I started my youth baseball career in 1968 while spending the entire summer with Mom and Dad.

One place that holds a special place in my heart, as I spent many a day there, was my Dad’s ranch. Graf Brothers Ranch was a partnership between my Dad and his brother William Ed Graf (Uncle Bill). Uncle Bill was the proud owner of a trucking company in Ft. Worth and was basically a financial partner of the ranch more than anything else. 

He had two sons who would come to the ranch once every few months. One of these cousins, Matt, and I became close, as we both loved to hunt and fish. With our ranch having three different stock ponds loaded with bass, Matt and I basically taught ourselves how to bass fish. 

We both subscribed to Bassmaster Magazine and would read each one cover to cover while learning about new baits and techniques. Then when he would come to the ranch, we would go and apply what we learned. 

Those stock ponds were a great training ground for learning how to fish and understanding bass behavior. Matt and I shared some great times for years until we got into our teens. Then I got more involved in sports and those fishing get-togethers became few and far between. 

I still cherish those early childhood memories with Matt even though those trips dwindled over time as he also made fewer trips to the ranch. We’ve lost touch with each other over the years, but I’m sure he has fond memories like me.

One thing ranch life taught me was good work ethic. A ranch does not run itself as it takes a lot of man hours to keep things running smoothly. We weren’t what many would call a big ranch, but we did run anywhere from 100-150 head of cattle depending on the time of year. 

A ranch is a constant work in progress with doctoring cattle, building fences, working on barns, and cutting and hauling hay to make sure cattle were fed even when weather was bad. There are no days off when you own a cattle ranch. Cattle need attention and must be checked on daily, especially when cows were getting ready to calf. 

There was one job I absolutely hated! It’s what my Dad called “piling chunks.” On our ranch we owned both sides of the main road with one side all pastureland while the other side was half-timber and pasture. But over time Dad cleared some of the timber to create more pasture. 

We owned a large D9 bulldozer that Dad used to clear the timber. As he dropped trees on the ground, smaller limbs that fell off the trees had to be picked up. We would then pile them up in small burn piles. This is what dad referred to as “piling chunks!” This process was hard work and took many hours over several weeks to get the job done.

There are many things that shaped me as a person, but the lessons I learned from growing up on a ranch were invaluable. My Dad was a man of few words and was not touchy-feely. He never really shared his personal feelings, but he did believe in hard work and taught me the value of this concept and how it builds character. 

The ranch for me was a training ground on not just hard work, but on developing my skills as an angler and a hunter. It gave me the freedom to learn how to hunt deer and squirrels and how to catch a bass.  

The number of hours I spent on my own in the woods and around our stock ponds starting at the age of 10 was endless. Most kids today don’t know how to be by themselves all day, making one cast after another and learning how to catch a bass. 

Kids today don’t grow up sitting on a single 2×6 board nailed between two limbs in a tree for deer hunting. They’ve never built a duck blind on the bank of a stock pond and enjoyed a good hunt, and when you shot a duck over the water, you had to wait until the wind blew the duck to the bank so you could retrieve it. 

Kids today would consider the work I did as kid a form of child abuse. Again, my parents did not sugar coat anything. Love, while not openly expressed much in our family, was understood. They had goals and expectations for both me and my brother whether it was a job to be done or school. 

We never did without anything that was essential. My Mom and Dad provided for us as a family and made sure my brother and I had everything we needed to not only enjoy life, but to be successful.

I literally would not trade anything for the time I had growing up on Graf Brothers Ranch, as it taught me everything I needed to succeed in whatever path I chose for the rest of my life.   

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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[jsllc_giveaway_form slug=”dollyparton2026″]

The Parish Journals of Louisiana are giving one statewide reader the opportunity to enjoy a special weekend in Natchitoches Parish during the Dolly Parton Celebration.

One qualifying reader will receive a $600 travel package to help make the trip possible.

The prize package includes:

• $300 Food Card
• $200 Travel Cash
• $100 Gas Card

The winner will be selected from the statewide pool of eligible qualifiers on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.

The getaway is intended for the winner to visit Natchitoches Parish during the Dolly Parton Celebration weekend, Friday, Oct. 9 through Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026.

Events being planned for the weekend include Dolly Bingo at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, Dolly Karaoke, downtown dining and drink specials, the Melrose Arts and Crafts Festival, the Creole Festival at St. Augustine Church, Butterflies and Books at the Natchitoches Farmers Market, Steel Magnolias-themed activities, shopping and entertainment along Front Street, Truvy’s Big Hair Affair on the riverbank and a Blush & Bashful Brunch.

Some celebration events remain tentative and individual schedules, locations and activities may change.

Each participating Journal will have its own signup link, but all eligible qualifiers will be combined into one statewide pool from which the winner will be selected.

There is no cost to participate.

Every eligible qualifier who completes the registration process will also receive a Lifetime Free Subscription to the Journal through which the reader qualified, delivered directly to the email address provided during registration.


Contest Rules

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On Sept. 23, 2016, an unusual item went up for auction in Los Angeles: the cremated remains of famed author Truman Capote.

Capote, best known for “In Cold Blood” and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” died in 1984 at the age of 59. His ashes had been kept by Joanne Carson, a close friend of Capote and former wife of “Tonight Show” host Johnny Carson.

The ashes were housed in a carved Japanese wooden box and were offered as part of Julien’s Auctions’ “Icons & Idols: Hollywood” sale. The auction house estimated the remains at $4,000 to $6,000.

When the auction concluded the following day, Capote’s ashes sold for $43,750 to an anonymous buyer. The sale attracted interest from potential buyers in the United States as well as Russia, Germany, China and South America.

The ashes were not the only unusual Capote memorabilia offered at the auction. His clothing, prescription bottles and other personal belongings were also sold.

According to the auction house, Capote had told Carson that he did not want his ashes to simply sit on a shelf, making the unusual auction an especially fitting final chapter to the author’s colorful public life.

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First United Methodist Church of Alexandria was filled with gospel music, great food, fellowship, and plenty of energy on Saturday, September 19, as more than 100 people gathered for FUMCA’s inaugural Gospel Brunch. The free event sold out weeks in advance, bringing together a full house for a celebration of music, worship, food, and fellowship. From the opening song to the final performance, the morning was marked by a great crowd, outstanding food, and an atmosphere full of joy.

The musical performance was led by FUMCA Worship and Music Director Elizabeth Nix, with local up-and-coming guitarist Taylor Gardner, Grammy Award-winning bassist Lincoln Landry, FUMCA Senior Pastor Rev. Kennon Pickett on keyboard and vocals, and Derrick Washington on drums. Taylor and vocalist Coreen Lee are also members of FUMCA’s “Grace Life Band”, which leads the church’s 8:30AM contemporary worship with Elizabeth each Sunday. The vocal lineup included Corliss Smith, Carly Bratcher, Jacob Braud, Janet Cargle, Megan Falcone, Claire Heatherwick, and Coreen Lee, who shared their talents throughout the morning.

The musical program included gospel favorites and beloved hymns such as “This Little Light of Mine,” “Every Praise,” “That’s My King,” “Jesus Will,” “I Need Your Glory,” “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms,” “The Old Rugged Cross,” “Precious Lord, Take My Hand,” “Shall Not Want,” “Blessed Assurance,” “Let Down Your Net,” “Praise Is the Breakthrough,” and “Goodness of God.”

A special part of the morning was the appearance of Healing Voices of Alexandria, a community choir of women formed in 2025. The group regularly visits assisted living and nursing facilities throughout the area, sharing joyful songs that bring encouragement, comfort, and smiles to residents. Their performance of “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” was a highlight of the program.

Praises and positive feedback made it clear that there is an appetite for more events like this at FUMCA. Based on the success of the inaugural Gospel Brunch and the enthusiastic feedback from those who attended, FUMCA plans to offer the event at least once a year in the future.

First United Methodist Church of Alexandria extends its thanks to all of the singers, musicians, volunteers, kitchen team members, sound crew, and everyone else who helped make the event possible. Their time, talent, and service made the first Gospel Brunch a memorable morning for everyone in attendance. Reverend Kennon stated that it was a great feeling to look out and see the diversity of our community represented at a morning of food, fellowship, and worship in the Garden District, and he looks forward to making it a recurring part of the church’s future community offerings.

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Norma Gayle Graham Lewis, age 65, of Ball, entered eternal rest on September 19, 2026, surrounded by her family. Memorial Services will be held at Gallagher Funeral Home on Friday, September 25, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Friends are invited to come to visit starting at 12:00 p.m.

Norma was preceded in death by her father, Gayle Graham; her mother, Rachel Graham; her sister, Sandie Graham McGlothlin; and her beloved dog, Drake.

She is survived by her sisters; Anna Bordelon (Edwin) of Pineville and Edna Sanders (Michael) of Slagle; her brother, Jeremy Graham (DeAnna) of Ball; her son, Richard Lewis (Cass) of Acworth, GA; and her niece who was more like a daughter, Shaisi Vercher (Mark) of Alexandria; 3 grandchildren, Emily, Brittany and Daniel; 2 great grandchildren, Nash and Leia; and a host of nieces and nephews, extended family, and good friends who loved her dearly. She also leaves behind her much loved dog and cherished companion, Peaches.

Norma was the office manager of EE Consultants, Inc., an Alexandria electrical engineering firm, a position she held with dedication for 28 years. Following the firm’s acquisition by ADG Engineering in June 2022, she remained a valued member of the ADG team for nearly 4½ years. She loved people and had a heart of gold. She loved music, especially the Blues. She was adventurous. She loved concerts, road trips, the beach, NASCAR, fishing and so much more. She was known as the fun Aunt. Norma loved the Lord and held tightly to her faith in Jesus, where she found her strength and comfort. She leaves behind a lifetime of memories that her family and friends will carry with them always.

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Mr. Paul Manuel Deville, age 63, of Deville, Louisiana, passed away on Monday, September 21, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of love, faith, and family.

Paul was, above all else, a loving and devoted family man. His heart belonged to his wife of 40 years, Geneva, and the beautiful family they built together. While he cherished every moment spent with his loved ones, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren held an incredibly special place in his soul. He found his greatest joy in watching them grow, playing a hand in their lives, and creating a lifetime of treasured memories.

An avid outdoorsman, Paul found true peace and contentment in nature. Whether he was hunting, fishing, or pursuing his lifelong passion for collecting firearms, he was happiest when connected to the outdoors. His deep compassion also extended to animals, for whom he always held a soft and caring heart.

For more than 25 years, Paul was a familiar, dependable, and valued presence in the Buckeye community, proudly working across various local schools. His dedication to his work and his genuine kindness left a lasting impact on countless students and colleagues over the decades.

A man of quiet strength, Paul’s life was anchored by his profound Catholic faith. As a devoted member of his church parish, his faith provided him with steady guidance and comfort throughout his journey.

He is reunited in heaven with his parents, Maurice Deville, Sr. and Aletha Morace Deville; his beloved daughter, Allie Deville; his son, Derrick Paul Deville; and his brother-in-law, Fred Cole.

Those left to cherish his memory and carry on his legacy are his wife, Geneva Schlotterbeck Deville; his children, Dusty Lee Deville (Sarah) and Kaylee Rice; and his siblings, Maurice Deville, Jr. (Debra), Linda Cole (Nicholas, Jr.), Rena Cole, and Veronica Hale. He also leaves behind his adored grandchildren, James Brannon, Carter Deville, Noah Scallan, Carson Deville, and Emily Deville; and his two cherished great-grandchildren.

Paul will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and the entire community. His warmth, his love for his grandchildren, and his steadfast faith will remain an enduring light in the hearts of all who knew him.

Visitation for Paul will be held on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the chapel of Gallagher Funeral Home in Ball, Louisiana. A recitation of the Holy Rosary will begin at 6:00 pm during the visitation hours. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place the following day, Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 1:00 pm at St. John the Baptist Church in Deville, Louisiana, with Father Albi Mulloth officiating. Burial will immediately follow the service at St. John the Baptist Church Cemetery.

Honored to serve as pallbearers will be Dusty Deville, Jamie Cole, Bo Cole, Troy Morace, Dennis Paul, and Darrell Paul. Honorary pallbearers will be James Brannon, Carter Deville, Noah Scallan, and Carson Deville.

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Phonetic: /pal·​in·​drome/

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition

a word, verse, or sentence (such as “Able was I ere I saw Elba”) or a number (such as 1881) that reads the same backward or forward

Ernest Theophe Babineaux
April 7, 1939 – September 20, 2026
Service: Wednesday, September 23, 2026, 1pm at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Tioga.

Sue Ellen Gray
October 7, 1942 – September 20, 2026
Service: Saturday, September 26, 2026, 11am at Greenwood Memorial Park, Pineville.

Kathleen Mary Babey Cole
September 24, 1953 – September 17, 2026
Service: Friday, September 25, 2026, 10am at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, Pineville.

Marika Creel Loveless
August 20, 1955 – September 17, 2026
Service: Thursday, September 24, 2026, 5:30pm at Junior League, Alexandria.

Thomas Roger Gibbs, Jr.
February 26, 1970 – September 10, 2026
Service: Saturday, September 26, 2026, 2pm at Mt. Triumph Baptist Church, Alexandria.

Rosa Lee Johnson Winn
February 23, 1940 – September 10, 2026
Service: Thursday, September 24, 2026, 11am at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses–Landmark, Alexandria.

Anna Jones
April 13, 1948 – September 1, 2026
Service: Saturday, September 26, 2026, 10am at Mt. Hermon Baptist Church, Lena.

The Rapides Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access.

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By Journal Staff

Louisiana Economic Development finalized more than $4.5 million in FastSites funding today for two regional ports, delivering an immediate infrastructure boost designed to expand manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics capacity across Central Louisiana.

The major funding package directs $1.95 million will go to the Central Louisiana Regional Port in Alexandria to build a 10-acre heavy-load hardstand, supporting the ongoing expansion of DisTran Packaged Substations. An additional $2.55 million to the Natchitoches Parish Port in Campti to expand warehouse facilities for manufacturing, storage, and logistics operations.

“Louisiana’s ports have always been a powerful part of how our state grows, connecting businesses, communities and industries to opportunity,” LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois said. “As companies expand and supply chains evolve, the ability to move quickly and add capacity becomes increasingly important. These investments strengthen the infrastructure that keeps our businesses growing while giving Louisiana more of what it needs to compete for the next generation of industrial investment.”

The finalized port upgrades arrive as the state’s Site Investment and Infrastructure Improvement Fund reaches $200 million, boosted by a recent $50 million legislative appropriation.

“We’re proud to build on the success of the first round of FastSites as we prepare to open the next round of applications next week,” said state Rep. Daryl Deshotel. “From the beginning, this program has been focused on moving quickly, from investment to construction, to meet the demands of business. The progress we are seeing now is a strong example of that vision becoming reality.”

The next application round for FastSites opens Oct. 1, allowing communities across the state to apply for development grants. Under the program’s revolving model, both port partners will fully repay the state’s $4.5 million investment, returning the capital to fund future industrial site readiness across Louisiana.

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By JIM BUTLER

The draft agenda for Thursday’s England Authority monthly meeting indicates discussion regarding a family deportation staging center may not be over. Two items specifically relate to the center and a third might. 

Details regarding the center have been part of the continuing public controversy regarding it as well as apparent friction between some Authority commissioners and some commissioners and staff. 

One draft item as of Monday afternoon is discussion of the Intergovernmental Service Agreement regarding the center and/or Cooperative Endeavor Agreements regarding it. 

Also on the table: 

A discussion of whom the operators and subcontractors of the center are and/or will be, who will be handling day-to-day operations, receiving a presentation from any of those, and any action related to these items.

Another agenda posting is a motion to compel Executive Director Ralph Hennessy to release the ISA between Department of Homeland Security, Immigration Customs Enforcement and England providing the center. 

Preceding these items is an executive session “to discuss prospective litigation involving public records requests.”

The nature of those or whether any written demands involving litigation have been made is not 

specified. 

Such correspondence itself has been ruled public record in Louisiana.

It has previously been asserted that requests for some documents related to the center have been denied, citing agreements with DHS and/or ICE. 

The state’s public records law includes specific exceptions. Any record, document, correspondence, etc. not specifically exempted by statute is considered public in Louisiana. 

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When the Gospel Music Association announces its Dove Awards in a couple of weeks, Pineville High School graduate Jacob Sooter might hear his name called as a winner, since he has been nominated for 12 Dove Awards.

Sooter, 44,  is a husband, father and songwriter/producer who already owns five Dove Awards. He co-wrote three different songs that are nominated for Song of the Year. One of them, “Mighty Name of Jesus” (Hope Darst – artist), also nominated for Worship Recorded Song of the Year, has a verse that pierces my heart: 

I will not fear, I will not fear

When the enemy comes near

On the door frame of my life

Is the blood of Jesus Christ

Oh, I will not fear, I will not fear

There’s an army of angels here

I’m protected on all sides

By the blood of Jesus Christ

“That’s one of my favorite songs,” said Sooter in a phone call over the weekend. “There’s a bit of a call back to the Old Testament and Passover, when God told the Israelites on their final night of captivity in Egypt that he would save them if they put blood on their doorposts.” That Old Testament story, he went on, foretells the New Testament story of the saving power of the blood of Jesus Christ in his crucifixion.

“Any time I can write a worship hymn that can touch people with its meaning or even provoke people to wonder about its meaning and go read about it in the Bible,” said Sooter, “I love that. I love making impressions on people’s hearts.”

Jacob is the son of Alexandria attorney Vic Sooter and his wife, Molly, a concert pianist. He and his sister, Katelyn Parks, learned how to pay the piano at an early age. He focused more of his time to tennis while at Pineville High School, where he graduated in 2001.

One of the premier Christian songwriters around is Matt Maher, and Sooter said he met him by happenstance when he was 17.

“I was this Baptist boy asked to help with the (Catholic) Steubenville Youth Conference at the Coliseum,” he said, because he was the only young musician in the area who had a particular piece of equipment they needed, “and I was thrown onto the stage with Matt Maher, which was awesome. He couldn’t have been nicer, and he was my neighbor for 11 years in Nashville.”

His opportunistic situation at the Steubenville Youth Conference was followed by another such situation a few years after he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music from Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss., in 2005.

He stepped in as a fill-in keyboard player for Jeremy Camp, the contemporary Christian artist who, at that time, had already had 32 number-one hits.

He excelled in the role and ended up staying on as a formal member of Camp’s touring team for two years (2007-08). This major milestone professionally also was huge personally. While on the road with Camp, he met his future wife, CCM artist Meredith Andrews, (also a multiple Dove Award winner) whom he married in 2008.

Not wanting to continue the on-the-road lifestyle of a single man after his marriage, Sooter in ’09 become a full-time music director and worship leader at Harvest Bible Chapel in Chicago, launching his career as a songwriter and producer.

“Meredith is a worship leader, a writer, a speaker, she’s written a book,” he said. “There’s never been any competition with me about writing. She’s been waving my flag.”

Meanwhile, he and Meredith have had three children: Maverick, 16; Remy 13; and Frankie, 11.

“Raising my kids, in this wild and crazy world we’re in, where there’s a lot of fear,” said Sooter, “I want to do right by them in teaching the truth. ‘Do not fear’ is a message that’s in the Bible 365 times – one for each day of the year. I’ve had lyrics pop in my head, such as those to “House of Miracles.” 

Jacob co-wrote and produced that song with worship artist Brandon Lake, who released it in 2020. Sooter played the piano, an acoustic guitar and synthesizers during the recording. 

“I wanted that to be like our family ‘Coat of Arms’ – what we stood for,” he said. “If you had to have a musical Sooter ‘Coat of Arms,’ it would be what we stand for as a family. The ‘House of Miracles’ song is essentially a prayer for every home and heart to become an atmosphere where God is present and healing happens.

Sooter also thinks of his many co-workers as family.

“My peers, my co-workers, co-producers – everybody is pulling for everybody,” Sooter said. “It’s like (team) sports; it requires everyone to work together. I think of it as a brotherhood and sisterhood. And there are times when you wait and wonder about what to do next, and all of a sudden, God is like, ‘OK, now you are going to do it.’”

Part of that fraternity he said he was privileged to encounter early in his songwriting sessions included Jason Ingram, Paul Baloche and Tom Douglas. Ingram has written a slew of hits, including “You Say” and “Look Up Child” for Louisiana’s soulful singer and songwriter Lauren Daigle of Grammy Award fame. Baloche has written perhaps the most songs that have been performed in worship services across the country, and Douglas is a country music songwriter whose hits include “Grown Men Don’t Cry” by Tim McGraw and “I Run to You” by Lady Antebellum.

“After working with those three, God was like, ‘OK, now you’re a songwriter.’”

He is nominated for Songwriter of the Year (non-artist) and Producer of the Year. He has the second most Dove nominations, and one of the three songs nominated for Song of the Year, “I Know a Name” (Brandon Lake – artist), was nominated for a 2026 Grammy. Joining that and “Mighty Name of Jesus” among those nominated for Song of the Year is “Can’t Steal My Joy” (Brandon Lake – artist).     

And the hits just keep right on coming.

(Other Dove nominations: Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year – Sevens (Brandon Lake); Worship Album of the Year – So Be It (Live) – Elevation Worship; Pop Contemporary Album of Year – King of Hearts (Brandon Lake), Mount Zion (Josiah Queen); Walk Through Fire (Ben Fuller); Spanish Language Album of the Year – Asi Sere (Elevation Espanol).

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Louisiana Christian to Hold Fall Revival — September 22–24
Louisiana Christian University

Louisiana Christian University will hold its annual fall revival Sept. 22–24 at 11 a.m. in Guinn Auditorium. The Rev. Jordy McKaskle, executive pastor at North Monroe Baptist Church in Monroe, will serve as the speaker. McKaskle holds degrees from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The revival is open to the public.

Rapides Parish Police Jury District H: Residents Asked to Refrain from Outdoor Burning
Rapides Parish Police Jury

Police Juror Parrish W. Giles is asking residents in District H of Rapides Parish to refrain from any outdoor burning until further notice due to extremely dry conditions. Residents with questions may contact the Rapides Parish Police Jury at (318) 473-6660.

Ball Elementary to Hold Ribbon Cutting for New Multipurpose Building — September 24
Rapides Parish School Board

Ball Elementary School will hold a ribbon cutting Thursday, Sept. 24, at 1:30 p.m. for its new multipurpose building at 89 Camp Livingston Road in Ball. The building includes classrooms and additional spaces funded by a bond approved by District 11 voters in 2023.

Caroline Dormon Junior High to Host Ribbon Cutting and Dedications — September 29
Rapides Parish School Board

Caroline Dormon Junior High will hold a ribbon cutting Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 9:30 a.m. for a new classroom wing at 8906 U.S. 165 in Woodworth. During the ceremony, the wing will be dedicated to Mayor David Butler and his wife, Linda Butler, and the school library will be dedicated to Dr. Gary Jones and his wife, Sarah Jones, in recognition of their lasting impact on Rapides Parish schools.

Alexandria Senior High to Dedicate Butch Crenshaw Fieldhouse — October 1
Rapides Parish School Board

Alexandria Senior High School will hold a ribbon cutting Thursday, Oct. 1, at noon to open and dedicate its new fieldhouse, named in honor of Butch Crenshaw, ASH’s first athletic director and football coach. The fieldhouse features new locker rooms, training areas, and meeting spaces. Tours will follow the ceremony. The event will be held at the ASH Fieldhouse, 800 Ola St.; attendees should enter from James Street and park behind the fieldhouse.

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Jimmy Savoy was the winner by tiebreaker of $100 in the Rapides Parish Journal High School Football Pick ‘Em Contest, hundreds of participants have had lots of fun.

There’s another $100 prize on the line.  You have until Friday afternoon at 6 to enter this week’s contest. Anyone has the chance to win the $100 prize as the week’s top predictor of High School football games.

Participation is very simple. Just click on this link:

Participants can submit their picks online through the RPJ platform throughout the season to see who truly reigns as the top football prognosticator in Rapides Parish.

Contest Rules & Details

• Anyone is eligible to participate for free, and each week’s winning participant will win a $100 prize. Each week, the winner will be the participant with the best record out of 10 selected high school football games. Ties will be broken by two separate tiebreakers consisting of guessing the total points scored in two designated weekly contests. The picker with the closest score, without going over, is the winner. All decisions by Management/RPJ are final. The contest can be modified and/or cancelled without notice to the public.
  
  The only persons not eligible to participate are the publisher, the publisher’s immediate family, and regular content contributors to the Journal as determined by Management/RPJ.
  
• There is no entry fee. All contest decisions by Journal management are final. Weekly winners will be notified on Mondays and must agree to have their photo published in the Journal.
  
• Every participant receives a free subscription to the Journal, delivered directly to their inbox daily at 6:55 a.m.

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Week 4 of the Rapides Parish Journal’s annual High School Football Pick ’Em contest is underway, giving local fans another chance to test their gridiron knowledge and win cash.

Each week, the contest features 10 selected matchups highlighting Rapides Parish high schools and marquee regional games. The second round of competition concludes Friday, Sept. 25, so make your selections before kickoff to get in the game.

Each weekly winner will take home $100 and be featured with a photo in the Journal.

Participants can submit their picks online through the RPJ platform throughout the season to see who truly reigns as the top football prognosticator in Rapides Parish.

Contest Rules & Details

• Anyone is eligible to participate for free, and each week’s winning participant will win a $100 prize. Each week, the winner will be the participant with the best record out of 10 selected high school football games. Ties will be broken by two separate tiebreakers consisting of guessing the total points scored in two designated weekly contests. The picker with the closest score, without going over, is the winner. All decisions by Management/RPJ are final. The contest can be modified and/or cancelled without notice to the public.
  
  The only persons not eligible to participate are the publisher, the publisher’s immediate family, and regular content contributors to the Journal as determined by Management/RPJ.
  
• There is no entry fee. All contest decisions by Journal management are final. Weekly winners will be notified on Mondays and must agree to have their photo published in the Journal.
  
• Every participant receives a free subscription to the Journal, delivered directly to their inbox daily at 6:55 a.m.

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Despite losing Saturday night, albeit while playing up against an NCAA Division I FCS program at Southern University,  the Louisiana Christian University football team hung tough in the latest round of NAIA Top 25 polls on Monday, coming in the top 20 of both.

Louisiana Christian (3-1, 2-0 Sooner Athletic Conference) remained at 17^th in the Victory Sports Network NAIA Top 25 Football Media Poll. The Wildcats slipped one spot to No. 20 in the NAIA Coaches Top 25.

The Wildcats are coming off a 50-31 loss at Southern on Saturday night in a game that was 37-24 with 10 minutes remaining.  In two games this season against NCAA D1 programs, LCU has a 1-1 record and averaged 36.5 points per game.

Defending SAC co-champion LCU begins a three-game homestand this Saturday as Oklahoma Panhandle State comes to Pineville. Kickoff of Saturday’s contest against the Aggies (2-2, 0-1 SAC) is set for 6 p.m. at Wildcat Field. The contest will be live streamed on 446Sports and through the Urban Edge Network.

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The Kiwanis Club of Alexandria heard from Fred Hagaman with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries about how the state manages its natural resources, particularly timber and state-owned lands.

Hagaman’s educational background is in Forestry and Biology. He discussed responsibilities including marking trees and inventorying forest plots, managing timber treatments, overseeing timber sales, and planning tree restoration and replanting.

Hagaman explained that rather than clear-cutting, the focus is primarily on thinning forests to promote healthy growth. Trees can take approximately 35-40 years to mature before they are ready for harvesting.

He also discussed replanting and restoration, noting that the department likes to plant Sawtooth Oak because of its relatively fast growth. Other trees commonly planted on open land include Sweetgum, Hackberry, Red Oak and White Oak.

Hagaman also discussed land management practices, including land acquisitions and the limited use of prescribed burns.

He explained that the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries receives funding from several sources, including state revenue, mineral rights, oil and gas revenues, federal funding and ammunition-related revenues.

Kerry Rogers is the monthly chair.

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The Junior League of Alexandria donated $700 to support Mr. William “Bill” Foley’s proposal to bring Science Olympiad back to Scott M. Brame Middle School.

The donation will help create opportunities for students to explore, question, create and grow through hands-on science.

Brame Middle School expressed appreciation for the community partnership and support of its students.

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“Birds of the Air, Flowers of the Field” is the theme of the works of Barbara Blackwell Clover for the Third Annual Alumni Art Showcase at Louisiana Christian University.

The opening reception will be Oct. 2 from 5-6:30 p.m. in the Weathersby Fine Arts Building. 

Clover is a 1989 art graduate of Louisiana College. She taught art classes at Holy Savior Menard Central High School in Alexandria from 1994 until her retirement. 

“We are very excited to have Barbara return to show her work,” said Assistant Professor of Art Michael Williams. “Since graduating from LC in 1989, Barbara has really made a name for herself in both the education space and the art world. We are proud to call her an alum.”

As an art teacher, Clover challenged her students to reach farther than they ever thought possible and to open their eyes and hearts to the fun and beauty of art. She now challenges herself to do those very things as she continues her appreciation and love of art.

Her personal medium choices include art journals, pen and ink, calligraphy, watercolor, collage, and mixed media. Her work could best be described as painterly, and she considers herself a colorist.

Clover has traveled across the United States, as well as to Jamaica, Spain, France, China, and Australia. She formerly served on the Louisiana Art Education Association Board and was a member of the National Art Education Association. She served as LAEA President from 2009–2011 and is the recipient of the 2010 NAEA National Secondary Art Educator, 2012 NAEA National Distinguished Service Within the Profession, and 2016 NAEA National Art Educator awards.

Williams created the alumni art showcase as part of Homecoming week so alumni could return to campus, share what they are creating now, and reconnect with the art department.

‘I think it’s important for our alumni to know that they’re still a part of this community,” Williams said. “Their work and their experiences are an important part of the history of our program, and I want our current students to see that they’re part of something that extends beyond their years at LCU. For me, the Alumni Art Showcase is about welcoming those former students back home and letting them know that there will always be a place for them in our art community.”

The showcase will be open through Oct. 30. Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Friday, 9 to noon.

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Marika Creel Loveless, 71, of Alexandria, Louisiana, passed away on Thursday, September 17, 2026, surrounded by her family and loved ones.

Born on August 20, 1955, Marika was the daughter of Charles and Gladys Creel. She lived a life defined by compassion, strength, intelligence, and a sincere desire to care for others.

Marika devoted much of her life to nursing and the care of people facing cancer. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Louisiana College and later earned a Master of Health Administration. A registered nurse and Oncology Certified Nurse, Marika built a distinguished career as both a clinical nurse and healthcare leader.

Throughout her career, she served patients and families through organizations including Aptium Oncology, Mission Health, and CHRISTUS Health. Among her leadership roles, she served as Executive Director of the Mission Cancer Program at Mission Health in Asheville, North Carolina. Marika had a particular gift for guiding cancer programs through periods of challenge and change. She helped strengthen their operations, renew their sense of purpose, and position them to provide better care for the communities they served-all while keeping the needs, dignity, and personal stories of patients at the center of every decision.

Although Marika accomplished much professionally, her titles and credentials tell only part of her story. She genuinely loved caring for her patients and for the people around her. Her compassion extended far beyond her work, and she was always willing to help those in need. Even in the final days of her own life, Marika continued caring for others, spending much of her time helping and supporting a dear friend who was battling cancer. It was a final reflection of the selfless and compassionate way she lived her entire life. Outside of caring for others, Marika enjoyed cooking, searching for special finds at estate sales, and proudly cheering on her grandsons at their sporting events.

To those who loved her most, Marika was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, family member, and friend. She will be remembered for her compassionate heart, generous spirit, strength, and lifelong dedication to helping others.

Marika is survived by her husband, Richard Loveless; her only son, Jason Hawk, and his wife, Rebecca; and her beloved grandsons, Colby Hawk and Bryce Hawk.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Gladys Creel; her sister, Rita Cooley; and her brother, Charles Michael “Mike” Creel.

Marika’s life made a difference far beyond what can be expressed in words. Through her nursing, leadership, and compassion, she brought knowledge, comfort, and hope to people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Her greatest legacy, however, will remain in the family she loved and in the many lives made better because she was part of them.

A visitation in remembrance of Marika will be held on Thursday, September 24, 2026, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Junior League of Alexandria, 1005 Bayou Place, Alexandria, Louisiana 71303.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Marika’s memory to MD Anderson’s Volunteer Endowment for Patient Support. Donation information is available at mdanderson.org by searching “Volunteer Endowment for Patient Support.”

Her life was one of service, compassion, and love, and her influence will continue through everyone whose life she touched.

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