GAME CANCELED: Peabody vs Franklin today

Out of an abundance of caution and in coordination with local law enforcement agencies, we have made the difficult decision to cancel tonight’s homecoming game at Peabody Magnet High School and all homecoming festivities near the stadium this weekend.


We understand this is disappointing news, especially given the excitement surrounding this special event. We will be in contact with the LHSAA to reschedule the game, and we will communicate the new date and time as soon as arrangements are finalized.

Thank you for your understanding as we prioritize the safety and well-being of our entire school community.

Rapides Parish School Board


Who you take?

Somehow the duffers’ talk shifted from the Ryder Cup to Saturday’s LSU-Ole Miss football game, eventually settling on who’s the best quarterback in each school’s history.

The LSU view was Joe Burrow, with Bert Jones in the running.

Agreement was unanimous on Ole Miss – Archie Manning. No discussion.

Spoiler that I am, couldn’t resist asking- what about Jake Gibbs?

These were by no means young men though perhaps not quite my age yet. I was, and still am, shocked by the blank looks.

Who? Never heard of him? You sure he was Ole Miss? Was he old school, nothing personal?

So I tried best my memory would allow:

Three years at helm, twice national champions; member College Football Hall of Fame; two-sport All-American (also baseball).

Chose baseball career over pro football; 10 years or so catcher with New York Yankees; then longtime baseball coach at Mississippi.

Still not a hint of recollection among my table mates. Saw little point in mentioning Charlie Conerly on Rebels’ side or Y.A. Tittle on Tigers’.

Everyone smiled at one last reference:

“Gibbs to punt; Cannon to receive.” October 31, 1959.


Louisiana Central receives 2025 Walter G. Bumphus Excellence in Leadership Award

(Photo Credit: Evelyn Jones)
Central Louisiana Technical Community College and the Louisiana Community & Technical College System Foundation were proud to honor Louisiana Central for their years of steadfast support of CLTCC on Wednesday, Sept. 24. The gala ceremony took place at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans. 
 
From their days as CLEDA the to Louisiana Central under Jim Clinton, and now with Chris Masingill leading as President & CEO, their partnership has helped shape CLTCC’s growth and success over the past 15 years.
 
On behalf of the Louisiana Central team – past and present – Lafe Jones, COO and Executive Vice President, accepted the award recognizing this incredible years-long collaboration. CLTCC is deeply grateful for their continued commitment to education, workforce, and economic growth in Central Louisiana. Their award was accomanied by the following introduction:
 
“Louisiana Central is being recognized for its transformative leadership in education and workforce development. Instrumental in elevating CLTCC into today’s comprehensive technical community college, Louisiana Central broadened access to both academic and workforce pathways for students across the region. Through partnerships with The Rapides Foundation, Cleco, and others, it helped secure millions of dollars to expand programs in allied health and advanced manufacturing, while also driving the creation of state-of-the-art facilities like the Cleco Advanced Manufacturing Center and the new Downtown Alexandria Campus. By aligning education with industry needs, Louisiana Central has built a stronger talent pipeline, fueled economic growth, and opened doors to opportunity for generations to come.
Further demonstrating their commitment, Louisiana Central’s former President and CEO, Jim Clinton, has served as chair of CLTCC’s Foundation Board! What a partner!”
 
Louisiana Central issued a special thanks to Jimmy Sawtelle, Heather Poole, and the entire leadership team at CLTCC for nominating their organization for the award. 

Woodworth Range to close today, Saturday for CENLA National Hunting & Fishing Day

The Woodworth Range will be closed on today, Sept. 26, and Saturday, Sept. 27, as everyone prepares to host CENLA National Hunting & Fishing Day.
 
The Woodworth Range invites everyone to join them on Saturday, Sept. 27, from 8am to 1:30pm, at the Woodworth Education Center for this fun, family-friendly event.
 
Come out and enjoy hands-on activities, educational exhibits, and outdoor fun for all ages. It’s a great way to celebrate hunting and fishing traditions, learn something new, and spend time outdoors with friends and family.

Ball discontinues recycling surface, issues reminder about no cash payments

The Mayor of Ball issued a statement yesterday regarding the blue recycling bin located at Town Hall. Mayor Wilking announced that the Town of Ball will discontinue its recycling program. This discontinuation is a a result of repeated misuse and contamination of the recycling bins with items that cannot be recycled—such as milk jugs mixed with clear plastic bottles, and household garbage found in the bins designated for recyclables—even after the bin was clearly marked. Town employees spent many hours manually sorting and removing these unrecyclable items.

Ball also issued a reminder that, effective Oct. 1, it will no longer be accepting cash for payments. Additionally, the Town of Ball will no longer accept Water Works District #3 payments. Payments to the Town of Ball may be made via check, money order, or credit card. Auto-draft forms are available at Town Hall.


Burns, Trump expected on big stage for afternoon spectacle today at Ryder Cup

Former LSU All-America Sam Burns smiles on the practice range earlier this week while preparing for this weekend’s Ryder Cup competition. (Photo courtesy RyderCup.com)
 

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

President Trump and Sam Burns, figuratively speaking, will probably arrive at the 45th Ryder Cup competition about the same time today.

The president is expected at Bethpage Black on Long Island outside of New York City in time to watch the afternoon four-ball session between four teams from the USA and Europe.

Burns, the former LSU All-American, will not play in the opening early-morning session of foursomes (alternate shot), but most expect him to be announced late morning as part of an American duo teeing it up in the second round of the day.

The 29-year-old Shreveport native and Choudrant resident, who plays out of Squire Creek Country Club, was left off the starting lineup for morning foursome (alternate shot) action by USA captain Keegan Bradley when this morning’s four matches were unveiled Thursday afternoon. Bradley said the lineup was set a while ago and was no secret among his players, and that pairings for ensuing rounds were already established. Those might be adjusted, but Bradley said he wants to proceed “according to plan.”

Burns and the other players were not available to media after the mid-afternoon pairings announcement. But earlier Thursday, he was bursting with pride about President Trump’s visit today and a massive charitable gift he will direct back home.

“It’s a huge honor to have our president come to this event, support our team,” said Burns. “This is about representing the United States of America, and who better to represent that than our president. I think we are all excited.”

He was also excited discussing about how he will collect a half-million dollars this weekend earmarked for the folks back home. All 12 USA team members will get $500,000 to allocate as they choose to charitable causes, a stipend increased by $300,000 since the 2023 Ryder Cup.

“I’m extremely grateful the PGA of America is doing this. I live in a small town in Louisiana and that amount of money in that community for those charities is going to go a long ways,” said Burns in his media session Thursday morning. “It’s going to have a huge impact on our community and I’m just extremely grateful.

“To steward that money in our own communities at home – that’s a great thing,” he said.

But his main focus is doing what he’s done in two President’s Cup competitions as a pro, and two other international matches in his days at Shreveport’s Calvary Baptist Academy (2014 Junior Ryder Cup) and at LSU (2017 Arnold Palmer Cup). Burns is in it to win it for America.

That did not happen in his first Ryder Cup appearance in 2023 at Rome. Burns went 1-2 over the weekend in Italy. His victory, when paired with Collin Morikawa in four-ball play Saturday afternoon, rekindled American optimism. They rolled 4&3 over Viktor Hovlad and Ludvig Aberg, who had routed two other USA duos, notably the power tandem of Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka.

That sparked a 3-1 afternoon recovery but it was only a temporary surge for the Americans, who were dominated in singles play Sunday and got whipped 16 ½ – 11 ½. That outcome is on the minds of Bradley and his team, determined to prevail on home turf against a European roster that has all but one player and captain Luke Donald back from 2023.

“Losing is never fun. It doesn’t matter what sport or what game, whatever it is you know losing sucks,” said Burns. “We want to use those memories as fuel this week. Everyone that was on that team or watched vividly remembers what that feels like. You don’t want that feeling again.”

Today’s play will be carried on USA Network. NBC picks up coverage Saturday starting at 6 a.m. CT for two more rounds of foursome and four-ball action, and Sunday’s 12 singles matches slated to begin at 11 a.m.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com


Tioga rolls to road win; unbeatens ASH, Buckeye home tonight, along with Peabody, Pineville

Northwood’s A.J. Butler takes a handoff from Carmelo Sarver as the Gators’ offensive front clears the way in last week’s homecoming victory. (Journal photo by KEVIN SHANNAHAN)

By LORI LYONS, Journal Sports

In the game of football, it’s not just all about winning. Coaches know that, sometimes, it’s about how your team reacts to winning.

Alexandria Senior High, Holy Savior Menard, Buckeye, Northwood-Lena and Tioga all are coming off big wins. For Northwood, it was the first win of the season. Alexandria had to hold off a late rally to win at Destrehan. Menard and Buckeye escaped with one-point wins. Tioga got a statement win.

But there’s no time for resting on laurels as we reach Week 4 of the 10-game regular season.

For the first time since 2014, Buckeye is 3-0 following Friday night’s come-from-behind 27-26 win over South Beauregard. Preston Willis ran for 297 yards and two touchdowns, kicking the decisive extra point following his game-tying run with 1:47 remaining in the game.

This week the Panthers will host the Avoyelles Mustangs (0-3) for their homecoming celebration. Last year Avoyelles beat Buckeye 46-0.

“Our rallying cry this week is ‘remember last year,’” Buckeye coach Aaron York said. “We were 2-1 going into it and had just lost to South Beauregard. Mentally we went there and didn’t play very well. This year our focus is on one game at a time.”

After scoring a crushing 56-14 win at Pineville last week, Tioga (3-1 traveled to Monroe on Thursday where the Indias fought for a 54-30 victory over a Richwood Rams club that would not fade away.

This week Pineville (2-1) hosts the Battle of The Villes, hosting Leesville (1-2). The Rebels were in a tight game with Tioga before giving up 42 unanswered points. Kelmarion Phillips scored on a 66-yard run and a 73-yard run for Pineville, which opened with a solid win in Week 1 at New Iberia.

After dominating victories against West Feliciana (54-7) and Union Parish (57-0), Alexandria escaped south Louisiana last week with a 27-26 victory over traditional powerhouse Destrehan, thanks to some big plays and a running game that had to step up.

Running back Kason Williams ran for 116 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries, plus he caught a touchdown pass from quarterback Karsen Sellers. Sellers was 5 of 10 for 79 yards, 50 of which came on one play.

This week the Trojans (3-0, ranked sixth in Class 5A) welcome another traditional powerhouse, Opelousas, for homecoming. The Tigers, in their first year under former Peabody coach and LSU linebacker Harry Coleman as coach, are 0-2 following a lopsided loss to Teurlings Catholic (48-12) in Week 1 and a closer game against Lake Charles College Prep (41-34) in Week 3. They did not play in Week 2.

Menard may have spent a little time polishing the Bishop’s Bowl Trophy it took from St. Mary’s for the first time after last week’s 7-6 win – but not too much. The Class 2A Eagles (2-1) travel to Class 3A Abbeville (0-3), a team they defeated by just one point last season.

Menard will rely on senior quarterback Jake Vaughan, who passed for 122 yards last week and connected with senior receiver Matthew Hicks for the lone touchdown of the game. Hicks also made an interception in the second half. The Eagles rushed for only 86 yards in what turned out to be a defensive battle that coach David Perkins said was old school.

“It was almost like from my era in the ‘70s,” he said.

Senior Jacob Jeanise had seven tackles and two assists; junior Wyatt Heyward had five tackles and four assists and junior Jack Simpson had two tackles and seven assists.

Northwood notched its first win of the season last week, knocking off Pickering 14-6 for homecoming. This week the Gators will travel north to Sibley and visit Lakeside (2-1), whose running back, Kentravion Miller, averages 9.9 yards per carry.

Peabody had a rough road trip to Fontainebleau last week, leaving with a 30-6 loss after giving up 438 rushing yards. This week the Warhorses host Franklin (1-2), which is coming off a big 56-22 win over Berwick.

After forfeiting its Week 3 game, Bolton Academy returned to the field Thursday night, traveling to LaGrange, which handed the Bears a 60-0 loss.

Contact Lori at sportslyons@gmail.com


Wildcats dive into conference schedule with visit to Oklahoma

GOODWELL, Okla. – Louisiana Christian knows how Oklahoma Panhandle State feels, and vice versa.

Saturday evening, one team will get some relief when they collide in a Sooner Athletic Conference football game that kicks off at 6 at Anchor D Stadium.

The Wildcats (2-2 overall, 2-0 in the SAC) and the Aggies (1-2, 0-1 SAC) both absorbed big defeats at the hands of ranked opponents last weekend.

LCU was blasted 52-17 by the NAIA’s No. 8 team, Hardin-Simmons, in Abilene, Texas. OPSU was drubbed 56-10 by No. 18 Ottawa (Arizona) in a conference game.

The Wildcats will count on a couple of former ASH Trojans offensively. Datlan Cunningham is the leading ground gainer for LCU with 341 yards and three touchdowns. EJ Scott tops the pass catchers with 23 receptions for 367 yards.

Quarterback Bryce Perkins has thrown for 899 yards and four scores, three to Omarius Davis, who has 17 receptions for 292 yards.

Top defenders for LCU are Kylon Allen (31 tackles, 2 interceptions, 3 pass breakups) and Brandon Johnson (22 tackles, 1 interception, 3 pass breakups).

Levi Hilborn has made six of seven field goal tries for the Wildcats.


‘Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror’ tonight at St. James Church

Opening the 2025-2026 St. James Episcopal Church Concert Series, organ virtuoso Dorothy Papadakos returns to bring musical life to a screening of the very first vampire movie, the 1922 German silent film, Nosferatu, tonight at 7pm. 

Improvising the soundtrack in real time with the film, Dorothy will make full use of the St. James pipe organ.


City of Alex: Peabody Homecoming tailgating public safety notices, map

The City of Alexandria shared several notices regarding tailgating for Peabody Homecoming this weekend.
 
Jones Avenue, from Broadway Avenue to University Street, will be closed to ALL VEHICLE TRAFFIC on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, from 10am to 5pm to facilitate pedestrian movement during homecoming.
 
There will be no street parking on: 
 
• Jones Avenue between Broadway Avenue and University Street
• University Street between Jones Avenue and the Sandy Bayou Bridge
 
The Tailgating Parking area is accessible from University Street behind W. O. Hall Elementary. Vehicle parking is not permitted in designated tailgating areas.
 
There are several designated tailgating locations: 
 
• Cheatham Baseball Field parking lot
• Cheatham Basketball Court parking lot
• The grassy area between the basketball courts
• Pavilion parking area
• Cheatham Park Playground parking lot and grassy area

Notice of Death – September 25, 2025

Bradley Joseph Bonnette
November 17, 1957 – September 23, 2025
Service: Saturday, September 27, 2025, 2pm at Hixson Brothers Funeral Home, Alexandria.

Tina Croom
November 1, 1961 – September 23, 2025
Service: Saturday, September 27, 2025, 4pm at Wilda Baptist Church, Boyce.

Mack Davis, Jr.
December 4, 1962 – September 23, 2025
Service: Saturday, October 4, 2025, 1pm at Greater New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, Alexandria. 

JoAnn O. Henderson
September 27, 1933 – September 22, 2025
Service: Friday, September 26, 2025, 10am at Owens Cemetery, Boyce.

Elaine Ann Moran
June 17, 1949 – September 22, 2025
Service: Friday, September 26, 2025, 10am at Hixson Brothers Funeral Home, Alexandria.

Mary Elizabeth “Pud” Linzay Paulk
May 16, 1937 – September 22, 2025
Service: Friday, September 26, 2025, 2pm at Hixson Brothers Funeral Home, Alexandria.

Josephine Reed Green
September 9, 1942 – September 20, 2025
Service: Sunday, September 28, 2025, 3pm at St. Matthew Baptist Church, Boyce.

Bobby Dale Paul
March 21, 1953 – September 20, 2025
Service: Friday, September 26, 2025, 11am at St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery, Deville. 

Linda Kay Denny
August 19, 1943 – September 19, 2025
Service: Wednesday, October 1, 2025, 10am at Jackson Street Church of Christ, Alexandria. 

April Lashon Thomas
December 16, 1983 – September 19, 2025
Service: Saturday, October 4, 2025, 11am at God’s House of Prayer Ministry, Alexandria. 

Loyd Ray Wade
July 19, 1936 – September 19, 2025
Service: Friday, September 26, 2025, 12pm at Abundant Grace Church, Deville. 

Sylvia R Gremillion
April 19, 1947 – September 18, 2025
Service: Friday, September 26, 2025, 10am at Kramer & Son Funeral Home, Alexandria. 

Mary “Fran” Peel
September 25, 1951 – September 16, 2025
Service: Saturday, September 27, 2025, 11am at Rush Funeral Home, Pineville.

Catherine Ann Burgess
July 22, 1943 – September 15, 2025
Service: Saturday, September 27, 2025, 10am at Second Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, Alexandria. 

Alison Brooke “Alley” Dasko
February 27, 1981 – September 14, 2025
Service: Saturday, September 27, 2025, 11am at Hixson Brothers Funeral Home, Alexandria.

Superintendent James R. Roland
December 22, 1950 – September 14, 2025
Service: Saturday, September 27, 2025, 11am at raise Trinity Christian Ministries Church of God in Christ, Alexandria. 

The Rapides Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $95. Contact your funeral provider or RPJNewsla@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Death shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to RPJNewsla@gmail.com)

Get the Rapides Parish Journal each Weekday morning at 6:55am to your inbox – It’s FREE!


The Entertainer

Celebration of the first 75 years of Pineville’s Martin Library brings to mind one of my newspaper life’s biggest surprises.

The library began with an endowment by her children to honor Mildred Martin, as in Roy O Martin.

Mildred “Virginia” Martin Howard was one of the children and the surprise in this look back.

When the receptionist rang to say Mrs. Martin was at The Town Talk front desk to see me it meant one of three things.

She thought we were guilty, again, of butchering some part of the King’s English, a music project needed deserved recognition, or something new was happening at the library and deserved our attention.

Mrs. Howard was culture personified, manners ingrained and as persuasive as a Philadelphia lawyer. (And it didn’t hurt she had the, in these parts, legendary family name.)

Yet her causes carried their own weight, though we often disagreed on her grammar challenges.

She felt libraries held the nation’s future, challenging young minds to read and learn life beyond their neighborhoods, and worried reading was taking a backseat in kids’ lives.

Actually she was persuasive enough to get me involved with a gang of 5th graders in the Reading Is Fundamental program in Rapides schools. (Gosh, those kids are now in their 60s).

But Mrs. Howard was most widely known for her music skills, as a teacher, at the keys, or directing choirs.

Compositions on the classical and religious scores were her normal fare.

And so we come to a night in the 1970’s, an after-party celebrating the final rehearsal of that year’s Press Club Gridiron Show. The annual sold-out event spoofing all manner of public figures and fiascos raised scholarship funds for area students planning to study journalism and communications.

The party was at Dooley and Tiz Nunnally’s Cherokee Village place. Tiz was the Gridiron pianist so many years that she was eventually named an honorary Press Club member.

After a periodic of finger food and banter back and forth someone of course urged Tiz to hit the 88 so we all could get more much-needed singing practice.

She approached the piano and from another room came Virginia Howard, a substitution beyond expectation.
In her perfectly tailored outfit she sat and we prepared for a downer.

Then she brought forth Scott Joplin, whose ragtime was enjoying new popularity thanks to a fairly recent Newman-Redford movie “The Sting.” (If you don’t know the music, go to YouTube; too bad the Gridiron productions didn’t end up there.)

Flabbergasted describes her audience. Then out came Ham and Hambone, more widely known as Bill Carter, Town Talk sports editor, and Bill Lynch, KALB TV executive and Gridiron director, with a soft shoe routine.

The prearranged activity closed with Mrs. Howard reminding us that music and a good laugh benefit everyone.

Perhaps as true today as then.

A footnote: The Virginia M. Howard Foundation since 2013 has awarded grants totaling about $500,000 annually to programs in Central Louisiana, including the Alexandria Museum of Art and Hope House, and other areas.


A legacy of giving: RoyOMartin continues to strengthen LSUA and the local community

Louisiana State University at Alexandria (LSUA) has secured initial funding for the development of a state-of-the-art health education center in downtown Alexandria, Louisiana. This project is made possible by collaborations with local partners and the state legislature, like Martin Sustainable Resources, LLC (dba RoyOMartin), contributing $750,000 to the LSUA Foundation in support of LSUA’s Health Education Campus.
 
This gift follows three previous ones made by the Martins to support projects across the LSU system, including $2 million for LSUA’s Martin Family Student Success Center, which is slated to open next month, $1 million for the LSU Interdisciplinary Science Building in Baton Rouge, and $500,000 for LSU Health Shreveport’s Center for Medical Education.
 
In downtown Alexandria, the planned 70,000-square-foot facility is designed to address the region’s growing demand for healthcare professionals by providing students with access to advanced technology and modern training environments across multiple healthcare disciplines.
 
“Our company employs and depends on nurses to keep our team members safe and in good health at each facility. Nurses have provided elderly care to my family in Cenla for decades,” states Chairman and CEO Roy O. Martin, III. “We owe this profession a great deal, and our family is committed to advancing the education of those in our communities. This state-of-the-art center will provide much-needed opportunities for those in our area, and we are honored to play a role in its development.”
 
Like many states, Louisiana faces a shortage of nurses and allied health professionals. There are currently over 550 vacancies for registered nurses and 170 for allied health positions within area hospitals, clinics, and physicians’ offices.
 
In partnership with regional stakeholders, LSUA seeks to respond to local workforce needs by enhancing existing programs and utilizing the new facility to increase its annual number of nursing graduates to approximately 250. The Health Education Campus will offer interdisciplinary learning opportunities and advanced technological resources, equipping graduates to meet the increasing demand for skilled healthcare professionals while strengthening ties with the broader community.
 
“It is with heartfelt appreciation that we thank the entire RoyOMartin Family for their multi-generational support of LSUA and the growing number of students being served and entering the workforce in central Louisiana,” said LSUA Chancellor Paul Coreil. “The generosity and inspirational leadership provided by the entire Martin Family continues to drive higher education excellence that effectively addresses critical health-related workforce shortages in nursing and allied health professions across Louisiana.”

Strategically located in downtown Alexandria near major hospitals and healthcare providers, the LSUA Health Education Campus will expand capacity for all health education programs.

Individuals interested in supporting LSUA may contribute to the LSUA Foundation. Further information is available at www.lsuafoundation.org.

Pineville breaks ground for Huffman Creek Pump Station

It’s official – on Tuesday, the City of Pineville broke ground on its Huffman Creek Pump Station. 

There was a fantastic turnout for the groundbreaking ceremony. Pineville thanked all of the community members, elected officials, and project partners who came out to celebrate this pivotal moment with them.

The groundbreaking marks the official start of this $11.8 million investment in the future of Pineville. This is a major step forward in protecting homes and businesses in Pineville, and the City couldn’t have kicked it off in a better way. Stay tuned for updates as they bring this project to life.


Early voting starts Saturday, lasts through Oct. 4

The Parish Registrar of Voters announced that early voting starts this Saturday, Sept., 27, and lasts through Saturday, Oct. 04 (not on Sunday. Voting starts at 8:30am and lasts until 6pm.
 
Voting will be conducted at the main office only (900 4th Street, Alexandria). The satellite office located at Hwy. 28E, Pineville, will not be open for this election.

It’s almost time for National Night Out 2025

It’s almost time for National Night Out. Join the Alexandria Police Department at the Alexandria Zoo on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 5–8pm for an evening of fun, food, and community connection.
 
Come out, meet the neighbors, and spend time with APD officers as everyone celebrates the partnerships that make the city stronger. 

Safari Smash Pickleball Tournament sign-up deadline is Friday

The deadline to sign up teams for the Safari Smash Pickleball Tournament is Friday, Sept. 26.
 
Get a crew together and get ready to serve up some wild fun on the court. The Alexandria Zoo can’t wait for the fun to start. 
 
Hosted by Friends of the Alexandria Zoo and City of Alexandria.

Louisiana Central kicks off regional planning effort to shape Cenla’s economic future

Chris Masingill, President & CEO of Louisiana Central, earlier this month announced that Louisiana Central has launched a regional initiative to create a strategic plan aimed at driving investment and supporting long-term economic growth across the ten parishes it serves: Allen, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Vernon, and Winn. This regional effort builds on Louisiana Economic Development’s (LED) March 2025 release of Positioning Louisiana To Win (https://www.opportunitylouisiana.gov/strategic-plan), a comprehensive statewide plan focused on strengthening the state’s economic competitiveness.
 
“Our state is entering a new chapter for economic growth, and Central Louisiana is ready to capitalize on this momentum,” said Masingill. “Now is the time for action and investment in our region and our people as we work together to elevate our regional economy. Over the next 100 days, our team will travel across our 10-parish region to ensure that every voice is heard and that this plan reflects the true spirit, scale, and opportunity of Central Louisiana.”
 
As a major component to the strategic planning process, Louisiana Central’s team will kick off a “We Make Good Stuff” 10-Parish Economic Development Roadshow, traveling across the region to meet in-person with business and community leaders, engage local stakeholders, and gather feedback and perspectives from across the region’s communities. The Louisiana Central team will also host regional and parish-level listening sessions to discuss current economic and workforce conditions and opportunities for growth.
 
“Part of our call to action for our community and business leaders is to share with us your unique perspectives on our region’s key strengths, needs, opportunities, and areas for improvement to help inform this strategic plan, which will be our roadmap over the next three years to creating jobs and attracting new investment in our regional footprint,” said Masingill. “The ‘We Make Good Stuff’ 10-Parish Economic Development Roadshow is an opportunity for us to hear directly from leaders who have their finger on the pulse of these local communities as well as reintroduce our team and reinforce that we are here to be an accessible advocate, resource, and partner to them.”
 
As an additional part of this commitment to broad engagement, Louisiana Central is conducting a survey to gather input on the region’s economic opportunities and strategies that can support positive economic outcomes. The survey is available here – see QR code in graphic.
 
Over the coming months, Louisiana Central will review data, research, trends, and community input gathered through the survey, parish-level conversations, and other outreach efforts to guide the creation of a new five-year strategic plan. The plan is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2025 and launched in early 2026.