Work is steadily moving ahead on the northern section of the parish’s north-south roadway that will eventually connect I-220 at Swan Lake Rd. with LA Hwy. 162 via Crouch Rd. Completion of the extension from Swan Lake Rd. at the Flat River bridge to Crouch Rd. is expected to take two years.
Contractors for the Bossier Parish Police Jury have taken advantage of good weather to advance the project. Workers are currently leveling what will be the base of the road.
Bossier Parish Fire District #2 Chief Ryan Foster is hoping voters say yes on Tuesday, Nov. 8 to the department’s request for a 3.5 mill tax, a millage that will go a long way toward bringing much-needed equipment up to date.
Foster leads a district covering roughly 155 square miles from Sligo Rd. south to the Bossier Parish/Red River Parish line, and he and his department are currently providing services with equipment that is older than some of his personnel.
“Some of our front-line equipment is nearly 30 years old, and with the age of our current fleet it’s harder to maintain because of the difficulty in finding parts,” he said. “We had to wait six months for engine parts on one of our trucks.”
Should voters approve the request, Foster plans to spread the purchase of new equipment over several years rather than borrow money against the anticipated $375,000 income he anticipates the millage will generate.
“We’ve always stayed within our means and we plan to continue to do that,” he said. “That’s why we’ve worked out a plan that will update our equipment over a number of years. We can gradually phase out the old and continue to provide the service our residents deserve. Spending over the long term makes more sense financially.”
Foster’s plan is to replace just over $4.7 million in equipment. The bulk of the revenue collected will be used to replace apparatus, just under $3.4 million. Equipment replacement is factored by current needs, along with age. Expenditures include:
• Replace 1995 model pumper-tanker in 2025; cost, $450,000 est.
• Replace 1994 pumper-tanker in 2026; cost, $450,000 est.
• Replace 1993 engine in 2030; cost, $725,000 est.
• Replace 1995 engine in 2034; cost, $725,000 est.
• Replace 2005 heavy rescue unit in 2038; cost, $825,000 est.
• Purchase four all-purpose vehicles for command/EMS before 2038; cost, $220,000 est.
“We’re hoping pricing on equipment remains somewhat stable, but we’re also allowing for increases,” Foster said. “We think planning over a number of years is the best way to spend prudently and stay within our budget.”
While District #2 waits for voters to decide, Foster said the department is not idle, with crews remaining busy with multiple priorities.
A large portion of the department’s time is spent meeting PIAL (Property Insurance Association of Louisiana) requirements. PIAL is the agency that rates fire departments. This rating is used, in most cases, to factor what an individual pays yearly for homeowners’ insurance.
“Training is a large portion of this rating, and our current training programs are extensive for our volunteers, full time personnel and our officers,” Foster said.
Other PIAL objectives include pump testing apparatus, hose testing, hydrant testing, and performing pre-incident planning of commercial properties, which total around 200. During these inspections, the staff is looking for hazards and identifying areas of concern in the event of an emergency.
Foster said his personnel are making regular tours of the district to perform safety checks and offer other services, such as clearing trees left from storm damage.
“Our staff performs multiple prevention activities throughout our district. Some of these include installing smoke alarms in residences and visiting our two schools: Parkway High School and Elm Grove Elementary, for fire prevention and safety programs,” he said.
“Another prevention effort that we are gearing up for is Fall Fest. Multiple organizations in our district put on some sort of event for fall. We will send an apparatus with prevention material to be handed out these events.”
Foster said the department is also part of the parish’s first response in natural disasters.
“Our district is filled with multiple waterways, and part of our department’s task is responding to flooding. We are equipped with three watercrafts to handle rescues and house one of the parishes distribution points for sandbags, located at our Station #2,” he said. “During severe weather like tornadoes, we handle 911 calls in addition to aiding damaged properties for search and rescue.”
Foster said the requested 3.5 mills will help his department keep up with the need for increased service as the area continues to grow.
“Bossier Parish is growing and we need to be able to provide the best service possible. The people in our department are well trained and it will benefit everyone if we’re also well equipped,” Foster said. “We didn’t ask voters to renew a second millage that was approved in 1990 because we were prudent in our spending. But times have changed. We need the public’s help to give the services we all expect.”
Urie Clark
March 1, 1946 — September 24, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 1:00-8:00 p.m. at Good Samaritan Funeral Home, 2200 Laurel Street, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Good Samaritan Funeral Home, 2200 Laurel Street, Shreveport.
James C. Richardson
March 22, 1929 — September 27, 2022
Visitation: Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Forest Park Funeral Home, 1201 Louisiana Avenue, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Pinecroft Baptist Church, 8002 Jewella Avenue, Shreveport.
Pamela Davis
February 4, 1957 — September 26, 2022
Viewing: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 1:00-5:00 p.m. at Winnfield Funeral Home, 3701 Hollywood Avenue, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 9:00 a.m. at Winnfield Funeral Home, 3701 Hollywood Avenue, Shreveport.
Interment: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, following service at Forest Park Cemetery West, 4000 Meriwether Road, Shreveport.
Shirley Moore
November 30, 1940 — September 25, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. at New Bethel MBC, 3300 Greenwood Road, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 10:00 a.m. at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, 4670 Lakeshore Drive, Shreveport.
Interment: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, following service at Shiloh Cemetery, Mooringsport.
Willie Harris
November 4, 1961 — September 20, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Memorial Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at St. Abraham B.C.
Latoya Kellum
August 26, 1992 — September 17, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 12:00 p.m. at New Jerusalem Christian Church.
Interment: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, following service at Lincoln Cemetery, 6917 W. 70th Street, Shreveport.
Clarence Wilson
September 3, 1966 — September 17, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Graveside Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 12:00 p.m. at Round Grove Cemetery, 2869 Round Grove Lane, Shreveport.
Jimmy Ray ‘Jim’ Kelly, Sr.
December 21, 1931 — September 21, 2022
Visitation: Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022, 4:00-6:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 1815 Marshall Street, Shreveport.
Jackie Paul Russell
September 19, 1945 — September 25, 2022
Viewing: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 12:00-1:00 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 2565 Airline Drive, Bossier.
Funeral Service: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 1:00-2:00 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 2565 Airline Drive, Bossier.
Visitation: Monday, Oct. 3, 2022, 1:00-2:00 p.m. at Scott’s Funeral Home, 2425 E. Main Street, Gatesville, Texas.
Funeral Service: Monday, Oct. 3, 2022, 2:00-3:00 p.m. at Scott’s Funeral Home, 2425 E. Main Street, Gatesville, Texas.
Interment: Monday, Oct. 3, 2022, following service at Ater Cemetery, 145 Co Rd 107, Gatesville, Texas.
Darleen Reggio
January 28, 1962 — September 25, 2022
Visitation: Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Drive, Bossier.
Rosary: Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, 7:00-8:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Drive, Bossier.
Mass: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 1:00-2:00 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 211 Atlantic Avenue, Shreveport.
Interment: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, following service at Haughton Cemetery.
Louise B. Bonnett
December 21, 1931 — September 21, 2022
Funeral Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 1:00 p.m. at Greater Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, 1500 Grigsby Street, Shreveport.
John Robert Turley
February 25, 1927 — September 21, 2022
Visitation: Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, 10:00-11:00 a.m. at Shreve City Baptist Church, 2810 Knight Street, Shreveport.
Celebration of Life: Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Shreve City Baptist Church, 2810 Knight Street, Shreveport.
Lucy Hearron
September 19, 1942 — September 23, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 3:00-4:00 p.m. at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport.
Celebration of Life: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 4:00 p.m. at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport.
David Everett Norcross
June 22, 1931 — September 24, 2022
Visitation: Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport.
Celebration of Life: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 10:00 a.m. at Shreveport Community Church, 5720 Buncombe Road, Shreveport.
George L. Jackson
March 30, 1952 — September 24, 2022
Viewing: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 1:00-5:00 p.m. at Winnfield Funeral Home, 3701 Hollywood Avenue, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Winnfield Funeral Home, 3701 Hollywood Avenue, Shreveport.
Interment: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, following service at Forbing Union Cemetery, 9700 Wallace Lake Road, Shreveport.
Christopher Lynn Rock
August 21, 1979 — September 23, 2022
Viewing: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 1:00-8:00 p.m. at Precious Memories Mortuary Chapel, 4017 Greenwood Road, Shreveport.
Celebration of Life: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at New Greenwood Baptist Church, 7480 Greenwood Springridge Road, Greenwood.
Gerald ‘Jerry’ W. Harris
July 25, 1937 — September 26, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 10:00-10:30 a.m. at Bethel Assembly of God Church, 5801 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 10:30-11:30 a.m. at Bethel Assembly of God Church, 5801 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop, Shreveport.
William Jeremiah Googe
September 5, 1942 — September 22, 2022
Visitation: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 10:00-11:00 a.m. at Broadmoor United Methodist Church, 3715 Youree Drive, Shreveport.
Celebration of Life: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at Broadmoor United Methodist Church, 3715 Youree Drive, Shreveport.
Robert A. Cole
May 6, 1944 — September 27, 2022
Visitation: Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, 10:00 a.m. at Magnolia Baptist Church, Saline.
Funeral Service: Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Magnolia Baptist Church, Saline.
Graveside Service: Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, following service at family cemetery, Saline.
Lauren Michelle Rosone Bess
April 5, 1986 — September 22, 2022
Memorial Service: Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, 2:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Drive, Shreveport.
Mildred Hildebrand Edwards
April 4, 1923 — September 21, 2022
Visitation: Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, 12:00-1:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 943 Polk Street, Mansfield.
Funeral Service: Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, 1:00-2:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 943 Polk Street, Mansfield.
Interment: Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, 2:30-3:30 p.m. at Noble Cemetery, Noble.
Mary Ethel Newsom Miller
August 25, 1930 — September 27, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 211 Murrell Street, Minden.
Funeral Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 10:00-11:00 a.m. at City on a Hill-First United Pentecostal Church, 612 State Rte 531, Minden.
Interment: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, following service at Mt. Zion Cemetery, Minden.
James ‘Jimmy’ Louis Behan
April 25, 1947 — September 24, 2022
Memorial Service: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 1:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Drive, Shreveport.
Edward Allen Tesnow
April 27, 1936 — September 24, 2022
Visitation: Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Drive, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 10:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Drive, Shreveport.
Interment: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 12:00-12:30 p.m. at Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, 7970 Mike Clark Road, Keithville.
Elnora B. Davis
April 2, 1923 — September 25, 2022
Graveside Service: Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home & Park, 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport.
Lucky J. Brent
February 22, 1939 — September 26, 2022
Visitation: Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, 9:00-10:30 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 211 Murrell Street, Minden.
Graveside Service: Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at Woodland Cemetery, Taylor.
Anthony ‘Tony’ Tuminello
August 15, 1940 — September 26, 2022
Visitation: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 9:00-10:30 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 522 E. Flournoy Lucas Road, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 10:30-11:30 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 522 E. Flournoy Lucas Road, Shreveport.
Interment: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, following service at Rose-Neath Cemetery, 5185 Swan Lake Road, Bossier.
Sharon Hunter
February 2, 1959 — September 16, 2022
Wake: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 6:00 p.m. at Colquit Baptist Church, Hwy 71, Miram.
Visitation: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Avenue Baptist Church, 901 West 70th Street, Shreveport.
Interment: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, following service at Lincoln Cemetery, 6917 W. 70th Street, Shreveport.
Kenneth Heard
June 28, 1959 — September 20, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Bossier Baptist Church, 809 Hamilton Road, Bossier.
Interment: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, following service at New Hope Cemetery, Bossier.
Patricia Clark
February 24, 1960 — September 21, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Memorial Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Red River Baptist Church, 1831 Scott Street, Bossier.
Dorothy Player
March 18, 1928 — September 23, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 2:00-7:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Elizabeth B.C.
Interment: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, following service at Carolina Bluff Cemetery, Benton.
Lenora Harvey
August 30, 1928 — September 21, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 12:00 p.m. at Union Springs Church.
Interment: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, following service at Lincoln Cemetery, 6917 W. 70th Street, Shreveport.
Katie Lee Oneal
September 19, 1930 — September 24, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 1:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Interment: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, following service at Synder Cemetery.
Helen Marie Mosley
October 13, 1960 — September 25, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. at New Star B.C., Carver Cemetery.
Funeral Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 2:30 p.m. at New Star B.C., Carver Cemetery.
Interment: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, following service at Lincoln Cemetery, New Bethel.
Linette Dotie
July 21, 1971 — September 20, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Graveside Service: Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Round Grove Memorial Gardens, 2869 Round Grove Lane, Shreveport.
Jerry Wayne Sullivan, Sr.
July 6, 1943 — September 13, 2022
Memorial Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 12:00-1:00 p.m. at Trenton Pentecostal Church.
Billie Edgar Barnes
July 21, 1930 — September 23, 2022
Graveside Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Forest Park East Cemetery, 3700 St. Vincent Avenue, Shreveport.
Carol Bennett Simmons
June 12, 1959 — August 10, 2022
Visitation: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 9:00-10:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Drive, Shreveport.
Memorial Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 10:00-11:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Drive, Shreveport.
Edward Allen Tesnow
April 27, 1936 — September 24, 2022
Visitation: Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Drive, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 10:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Drive, Shreveport.
Interment: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 12:00-12:30 p.m. at Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, 7970 Mike Clark Road, Keithville.
Earle Gene Labor
March 3, 1928 — September 15, 2022
Memorial Service: Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Brown Memorial Chapel of Centenary College, 2911 Centenary Blvd., Shreveport.
Bennie L. Lee
December 1, 1939 — September 20, 2022
Funeral Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 12:00-1:00 p.m. at Russell Road Church of Christ, 1852 Russell Road, Shreveport.
D’Shundre Rodrickus Harris
November 2, 1993 — September 20, 2022
Viewing: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 1:00-5:00 p.m. at Shreveport Funeral Home & Cremation Tribute Center, 5307 Alex Lane, Shreveport.
Celebration of Life: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Bright Star Baptist Church, 3300 Meriwether Road, Shreveport.
Patsy J. Friddle
November 29, 1937 — September 19, 2022
Memorial Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 12:00 p.m. at Temple Baptist Church, 1515 South Service Road West, Ruston.
Michael Patrick Redel
January 3, 1955 — September 10, 2022
Visitation: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 2:00-3:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Drive, Bossier.
Memorial Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 3:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Drive, Bossier.
The Shreveport-Bossier Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $90. Contact your funeral provider or SBJNewsLa@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Death shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to SBJNewsLa@gmail.com)
Yo Brendan!
Word is you’re headed to church retreat to begin your high school senior year. I’ve been asked to write a letter of encouragement. You’ll get several from friends for you to read this week. Mine is a humble C+ at best, but I’m honored to be asked …
You were born the day after I coached my final Little League game. For 10-plus years I had that privilege; most fun I’ve ever had.
The day before you were born, we lost in the semifinals of the state championship, and if I’d have done just a couple things differently — like called time and talked to my pitcher Scarf one batter earlier — I feel certain we’d have been in the finals. And the team that won it all was better than we were but … they might not have been better than us two-out-of-three, not right then. Not on those days.
So the next day driving up I-49, thinking about nothing other than what I have just told you, coming home after a week in South Louisiana and wishing I could turn back the clock and wishing I’d gotten my lard butt off the bucket and gone to the mound in the top of the ninth — your dad calls.
Saw his name on the screen and knew what it was about.
You had arrived on the scene.
I felt better right then.
Even though our little team of 14-year-olds didn’t quite get it done, they did as good as they possibly could have. Still, I was sad over the ending.
And then your beginning made me happy.
Harmony of the universe and all that. God is like that sometimes.
I would have loved to have seen you more as you grew up into the wonderful young man you’ve become.
But I’ve gotten to “watch” you a lot through pictures and mostly through stories from your mom and dad. Every time they mention you, their voices are filled with joy and laughter and gratitude. Every time. It’s been fun to listen. And see.
Seems all the stories have had happy endings. We’ve been blessed.
I have a picture posted on my wall of you at age 3-ish sucking down a milkshake at a Shreveport burger joint, your eyes bulging and your cheeks working overtime. I have another picture of you running the bases with a batting helmet on, all business. I remember Brad pushing you into the pool and I remember us playing baseball outside your house.
Since then, you have learned the joy of live theatre. Learned how to do long division. Figured out how to try and not be scared on a first date. Learned a lot—but you’re just beginning. Keep your mind and heart open for all God is teaching you.
I am proud of you and love you because your mom and dad are proud of you and love you. There is never anything you could do, good or bad, that would make us love you more or less. We accept you right now as you are and are grateful for you being you.
Maybe you get the point of all this, which is that I have always been a Brendan cheerleader and that will always be the case. It has made me proud when your parents have called me with a “Little Teddy” update. You were almost named that, but it would have been a disservice to you. You are a Brendan, and a really, really good one.
A wise man once told me: Be kind. Love God and your neighbor. Don’t be too hard on yourself. That’s it. Enjoy this life you’ve been given.
Your friend always,
Uncle TA
Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu
By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports
In many sports, seven is a good thing. It’s hard to complain about seven birdies. Seven strikes in bowling will make the others in your Thursday night league jealous. You don’t just walk on the court and make seven 3-pointers in a basketball game.
But seven touchdown passes? That’s a good season for some high school quarterbacks, much less in one game. It may not be a record, but there aren’t a lot of guys walking around with that accomplishment in their back pocket.
Ever.
Airline sophomore quarterback Ben Taylor put his name on that very short list with his performance Friday against Benton in a 75-59 win. (Speaking of short lists, Taylor’s teammate Daxton Chavez is on one as well by catching five of those scoring strikes.)
Taylor threw so many touchdown passes that night, you almost have to wonder if he can remember them all.
Wonder no more, as Taylor tries to recount all seven touchdown passes — in order.
#1 – “That one was to Bob (Patterson). It was an out-and-up and he took it from there.” (35 yards)
#2 – “That was a comeback to Dax. He broke a tackle and just kept going.” (45 yards)
#3 – “Third one … was that a fade to Dax? About 20 yards?” (18 yards)
#4 – “That was probably another fade to Dax. Maybe like 10 yards out.” (31 yards)
You get the feeling Taylor is starting to wobble a little bit, but he soldiers on and picks up where he left off …
#5 – “I’m pretty sure the fifth one was a fade to Cam (Cameron Jefferson) on the left side. About 10 yards.” (12 yards)
#6 – “(long pause) Was that another fade? No, no, I threw another comeback to Dax and he broke another tackle from about 40 yards. Or maybe it was a go route. For like 70 yards. Yeah, it was a go route.” (88 yards).
#7 – “The last one was a fade to Dax along the right side for about 15 yards.” (6 yards)
That’s pretty impressive, especially considering Taylor didn’t even know he had thrown seven touchdown passes until well after the game was over and his father told him.
“I knew I had a lot,” he says. “I didn’t know I had seven.”
Taylor threw for 235 yards just on touchdown passes. For the game, he was 26 of 37 for 412 yards. Chavez had nine catches for 233 yards.
The sophomore also ran for a touchdown and he remembers that one perfectly. “I was about three yards out on a quarterback sneak,” he says.
After starting at quarterback for the Vikings as a freshman at the end of last season, the 6-foot-1, 160-pound Taylor emerged as the Vikings’ starter during summer workouts under new coach Justin Scogin.
When Taylor started against Benton last year, it did not go well. There was also a welcome-to-varsity-football hit on Taylor that he has probably not forgotten.
“It definitely meant more,” Taylor says about having his breakout performance coming against Benton. “They picked us for Homecoming, so we took that kind of personally.”
But more than that, it was a much-needed first win for the Vikings who had been off to an 0-3 start. “It was frustrating because I knew what we could do,” Taylor says of the first part of the season. “We just had to execute to get going.”
The Vikings will be back in action Friday night when they take on Natchitoches Central at home.
“A lot of people have been congratulating me, but we just have to keep getting better,” Taylor says. “Just keep doing the same thing.”
Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com
By HARRIET PROTHRO PENROD
When I started this fun adventure of going to lunch with prominent people in the community and writing about it, there were a few people who immediately came to mind that I MUST feature. Today’s guest was actually No. 1 on that list. As my junior tennis coach, Jerry Montgomery was one of the most influential people in my life. Ask anyone who knows him, and they will say he is one of the nicest people they have ever met. They’re not just saying that.
After graduating from Centenary College in 1972, Jerry Montgomery was planning to go to law school, but he put it off for one year to be the assistant pro at Pierremont Oaks Tennis Club – where he had taught lessons during the summers.
“Then I put it off for one more year, then one more year,” Montgomery says as we enjoy lunch at Logan’s Roadhouse. “But I was hooked. I fell in love with teaching tennis.”
There would be no law school, which turned out to be a blessing for many of the top junior tennis players in Shreveport.
The 1970s were the heydays of tennis, and most of the top juniors in the state were from Shreveport. And they played at POTC.
“Our junior development program had more than 100 kids at times,” says Montgomery, who went on to serve as the head pro at POTC. “There were times when all 21 of the courts were filled with young players.”
While Montgomery loved teaching tennis, his real passion was coaching the sport. “Coaching tennis motivated me,” he says. “I loved the competition.”
So, when he had the opportunity to coach the women’s tennis team at Ole Miss, he welcomed the challenge. And, naturally, he was very successful. In his 15 years leading the Lady Rebels, his teams were ranked in the Top 10 in the nation for six consecutive years (reaching No. 6), he coached two of the nation’s top-ranked players, guided the program to its first-ever SEC Tournament Championship (1999), was named SEC Coach of the Year twice (1993 and 1999), had five All-Americans, 33 NCAA qualifiers, and 16 All-SEC selections.
But his players weren’t successful just on the court. He coached four Academic All-Americans and 28 All-SEC Academic honorees. In 1998, his team had the highest GPA in the nation in Division I tennis.
Tennis-wise, being at Ole Miss was a good move for Montgomery. Personally, it was magic. Just three months after arriving in Oxford, Miss., he met – and fell in love with — Allison Pickering. During his tenure at Ole Miss, they married and had their four children (John Abraham, Mary Ivon, Robert Pickering, and Margaret Anne).
“The worst night of my life was when Allison and I told the kids we were moving,” says Montgomery.
Leaving Oxford was not easy – for the kids and, especially, for Allison.
In 2001, Montgomery retired from collegiate tennis and returned to Shreveport to take a leadership role in his family automobile business.
“The kids adjusted well and quickly,” says Montgomery. “That is because of St. Mark’s Cathedral School (where they all attended) and youth sports.
“They had a strong Mississippi connection. They were born there, and they all went to Ole Miss.”
That connection drew three of the children — Mary Ivon, Robert, and Margaret Anne – back to Mississippi as they all ended up in Jackson, while John lives in Houston.
Robert will soon be moving back to Shreveport to go into business with his dad, the CEO and executive vice president of Chevyland.
While the automobile business keeps Montgomery busy, you know where to find him during high school football season as he is a staunch supporter of both Loyola and Byrd football.
“Both my sons played football at Loyola,” he says. “Robert played baseball and John played soccer there, too (Mary Ivon also went to Loyola and played soccer).”
And the Yellow Jackets? Montgomery graduated from Byrd in 1967, Margaret Anne is an alum, Chevyland is a sponsor, and the dealership has hired a number of Byrd players for part-time work during the summer.
A torn rotator cuff has limited the time Montgomery can spend on the tennis court, where he spent so much of his life – including at Byrd (“back then we held the longest dual-match winning streak of any high school teams in the country”) and Centenary.
Back when he thought he wanted to be a lawyer. Lucky for me (and many others), he changed his mind.
Contact Harriet at sbjharriet@gmail.com
JOURNAL STAFF
Each week this fall the Shreveport-Bossier Journal will feature a question we ask all the local high school football coaches, and their answers will run each Wednesday.
This week’s question:
What are some of your favorite musical artists (list three) and what are favorite songs by each?
Austin Brown, Northwood High School
“1. Brooks and Dunn – My Maria, 2. Zach Bryan – every song is great, 3. Blake Shelton – everything.”
Justin Scogin, Airline High School
“1. Dave Matthews Band – #41, Crash, All along the Watchtower (remake), So Right, One Sweet World, What would you say, Tripping Billies.”
Jason Brotherton, Haughton High School
“1. George Strait—all the songs are good! 2. Bon Jovi – Wanted Dead or Alive. 3. Kenny Chesney – ‘The Boys of Fall’ obviously!! He also has a song that never made it to the radio called ‘Coach’ that I love because it reminds me of the coaches I had growing up. And I love ‘The Good Stuff’ because it makes you stop and think that a lot of the things that are ‘good stuff’ are things that we take for granted. Sorry, couldn’t just give you one!!”
Jesse Esters III, Southwood High School
“1. Metallica – Enter Sandman, 2. Scarface – Keep Me Down, 3. Mystical – Here I Go.”
Reynolds Moore, Benton High School
“1. Jimmy Buffett – A Pirate Looks at 40, 2. Jack Johnson – Breakdown, 3. Sovereign Grace Music – May Christ Be All.”
Chadwick Lewis, Green Oaks High School
“1. Michael Jackson – Rock with You, 2. Luther Vandross – All Songs, 3. Tupac – Dear Momma.”
It was the most anticipated game in North Louisiana’s high school football regular season — the only game played in this part of the state where you would be able to read brief accounts in both Sports Illustrated and USA Today.
And Many’s 25-17 victory of Newman last Friday night did not disappoint.
When the No. 1 recruit in the nation, Newman quarterback Arch Manning, traveled into the rolling hills of Sabine Parish to play against one of the best linebackers in the nation – Many’s Tackett Curtis — it was a battle of epic proportions.
The game was hyped as Manning vs. Curtis, but it was bigger than that. There were several players on the field who deserved mention.
Like Many’s Swazy Carheel, the junior defensive end who was presented the game ball in front of his teammates and coaches by the Many radio sideline reporter, Randy Bostian, after the game.
Another Tiger who had a big night was corner Tylen Singleton, a four-star junior who will have his name mentioned as one of the best prospects in the state next year. He harassed both the Newman receiving corps and Manning for most of the game’s 48 minutes.
The Greenies did not complete a single pass in the first quarter.
“We couldn’t block them,” former New Orleans quarterback, Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer, and Arch’s grandfather Archie Manning texted a friend after the game.
His analysis was spot on.
The elder Manning arrived with his oldest son, Arch’s dad, Cooper, and other Newman supporters at the Natchitoches Regional Airport just after 4 o’clock Friday afternoon. They landed in a private jet, a Global Express 7500, which was in Greece the day before and back in Greece the day following this Louisiana high school football clash of the titans. If private jets could talk, what stories they could tell.
Unlike his days of watching his son Peyton in Neyland Stadium, Archie was not in disguise at John W. Curtis Stadium Friday night.
Neither was Tackett’s grandfather, who the stadium is named after, who watched his grandson play in the biggest regular season game of his high school career. And watched his son, Many head coach Jess Curtis, coach in the biggest game in school history – at least when it comes to the gate.
Many’s previous record for gate receipts was a semifinal game against Sterlington, when Many collected $20,000. Friday night’s game, at $10 a ticket, beat that by $8,000.
It was the stuff high school football dreams are made of. And a fire marshal’s nightmare.
To most watching it, the game didn’t feel as close as the score indicated. And it shouldn’t have been that close as the Tigers missed some opportunities to put their paws on the Greenies’ throats.
But when the other team has the No. 1 prospect in America catching snaps from center, there is always a chance.
Just looking at young Manning, there is nothing that screams All-American — until you watch him throw a football. Arm speed? Off the charts. Decision making? It’s like he has had access to the best quarterback coaching known to man. Oh, wait …
In the body language department, Arch Manning is the most poker-faced football player I have ever seen. There are no theatrics, hand gestures, and “Omaha” calls like his Uncle Peyton loved, and no facial expressions that give it away like we have seen from his other uncle, Eli.
There was no getting in the face of his teammates to give them a rah-rah speech on the sideline.
When Many failed to the put the game away with only a couple of minutes remaining, you half-way expected Manning to guide the Greenies on a 99-yard drive to tie the game as the regulation clock expired.
But like Archie said: angry Tigers are hard to block.
One of the angry Tigers, Tackett Curtis, who played quarterback and linebacker — he barely left the playing field — reflected on what took place.
“This is what we live for down here,” Curtis said. “It was an awesome turnout. Everybody’s here. I couldn’t ask for a better game, a better atmosphere.”
Sooner rather than later, Curtis will play his last game as a Many Tiger. When he leaves Louisiana behind and moves on to Southern California, there will be things he misses about this chapter of his life.
“I’m going to miss my close friends that I’ve grown up with down here,” Curtis said. “This community, that’s what I’m going to miss the most. Everybody says there is nothing like Friday nights in your hometown. I think that’s true.”
His head coach – and his uncle – spoke to his team after the game.
“What a war,” Jess Curtis said to his players. “It lived up the billing, didn’t it?”
Yes it did, coach!
But there wasn’t any trophy presentation at the end of this one, and that’s what the head coach reminded his players of after the game. That will not be the case December 8-10 in the Caesars Superdome at the LHSAA Prep Classic.
That’s where the Many Tigers plan to be. It’s where they have unfinished business after last year’s 17-6 state championship loss to Amite.
And while it’s great to beat the No. 1 prospect in the nation in front of a record home crowd, nothing beats holding a state championship trophy above your head at midfield of the Caesars Superdome. Ask Jess Curtis, Tackett Curtis, and the rest of the Many Tigers how they know.
Contact Jerry at sbjjerrybyrd@gmail.com
JOURNAL STAFF
Airline quarterback Ben Taylor passed for 412 yards and seven touchdowns, and Vikings’ receiver Daxton Chavez hauled in nine passes for 233 yards and five scores, against Benton last Friday to provide the obvious statistical highlights of last weekend’s games.
With his big game the sophomore signal caller moved over the 1,000-yard passing mark and inched closer to the area’s leading passer, Kam Evans of Huntington, who has thrown for 1,107 yards. Chavez continues to lead receivers with 32 catches for 561 yards and eight touchdowns.
Jayden Edwards of Captain Shreve remains the leader in rushing with 589 yards on 89 carries. Benton running back Greg Manning leads the area with 12 touchdowns and 72 points.
RUSHING
89-589, Jayden Edwards, Captain Shreve, 6 TDs
43-495, Jaylan White, Parkway, 7 TDs
100-494, Greg Manning, Benton, 9 TDs
73-432, Quintavion White, Northwood, 9 TDs
N/a-421, Aaron Reddix, Plain Dealing, 6 TDs
64-377, Lake Lambert, Byrd, 3 TDs
58-340, James Simon, Calvary, 4 TDs
96-326, Trace Wall, Loyola, 5 TDs
46-294, Tre Jackson, Airline, 3 TDs
32-277, Dixon Poirier, Byrd, 4 TDs
50-237 Tyler Rhodes, Haughton, 4 TDs
24-183, Jamarion Mims, Huntington, 2 TDs
35-174, Fabien Sanders, Northwood, 1 TD
22-166, Landon Duggan, Benton, 4 TDs
38-163, Devon Strickland, Byrd, 2 TDs
34-162, Colin Rains, Haughton, 2 TDs
na-162, Jayden Ray, Plain Dealing
17-140, Toryun Ellis, Green Oaks, 1 TD
PASSING
1,107, Kam Evans, Huntington, 64-124-2, 11 TDs
1,090, Ben Taylor, Airline, 84-149-5, 14 TDs
762, Mason Welch, Northwood, 45-79-3, 2 TDs
641, Ashton Martin, Parkway, 43-61-1, 9 TDs
640, Aiden Brock, North Caddo, 26-45-0, 7 TDs
619, Colin Rains, Haughton, 6 TDs
598, Kenyon Terrell, Captain Shreve, 43-86-1, 4 TDs
592, Gray Walters, Benton, 4 TDs
454, Tovoras Lee, Green Oaks, 33-78-6, 4 TDs
425, Jeff King, Benton, 21-36-1, 4 TDs
416, Abram Wardell, Calvary, 29-40-3, 6 TDs
404, Peyton Fulghum, Evangel, 31-58-4, 3 TDs
355, Cooper DeFatta, Loyola, 26-74-4, 1 TD
354, Lake Lambert, Byrd, 20-27-0, 3 TDs
257, Quintarion Scott, Bossier, 16-39-5, 1 TD
200, Josh Miller, Plain Dealing, 9-31-4, 3 TDs
RECEIVING
32-561, Daxton Chavez, Airline, 8 TDs
25-455, Damarion Carter, Huntington, 5 TDs
24-412, Pearce Russell, Benton, 3 TDs
18-271, Parker Fulghum, Evangel, 4 TDs
16-585, Omarion Miller, North Caddo, 7 TDs
16-260, Jarvis Davis, Huntington, 2 TDs
15-277, Aubrey Hermes, Calvary, 2 TDs
15-201, Andy Lim, Benton, 2 TDs
15-187, John Carmody, Loyola, 0 TDs
14-374, Trenton Lape, Parkway, 4 TDs
14-365, Marc Denison, Northwood, 0 TDs
13-173, Keaton Flowers, Captain Shreve, 0 TDs
12-191, Kolby Thomas, Calvary, 2 TDs
12-172, Greg Manning, Benton, 3 TDs
11-124, Cameron Jefferson, Airline, 2 TDs
11-115, Delarious Marshall, Green Oaks, 1 TD
11-105, Jamarion Montgomery, Haughton, 1 TD
10-177, Marquez Stevenson, Captain Shreve, 2 TDs
10-163, Jalen Lewis, Haughton, 1 TD
10-91, Jaylan White, Parkway, 1 TD
SCORING
72, Greg Manning, Benton, 12 TDs
68, Omarion Miller, North Caddo, 10 TDs, 4 2-pt. conversions
54, Quintavion White, Northwood, 9 TDs
48, Jaylan White, Parkway, 8 TDs
48, Daxton Chavez, Airline, 8 TDs
38, Jayden Edwards, Captain Shreve, 6 TDs, 1 2-pt. conversion
36, Aaron Reddix, Plain Dealing, 6 TDs
32, Trace Wall, Loyola, 5 TDs, 1 2-pt. conversion
32, Demarion Carter, Huntington, 5 TDs, 1 2-pt. conversion
DEFENSE
TACKLES
55, Jacob Wilson, Evangel
46, Jamal Jordan, Evangel
45, Gray Deason, Loyola
44, Dylan Holmes, Huntington
43, Gabriel Reliford, Evangel
42, Derrick Edwards, Huntington
39, Barrett Newman, Parkway
37, Derrick Edwards, Evangel
37, T’ziah Glyenn, Evangel
34, Brooks Brossette, Byrd
34, Hutch Grace, Calvary
31, Jeremiah Reed, Northwood
30, Jayce Gill, Evangel
29, Taderius Collins, Northwood
28, Chris Jones, Byrd
28, Heath Gross, Calvary
28, Landon Sylvie, Calvary
28, Mar’jayvious Moss, Northwood
25, Wallace Fox, Byrd
24, Deontrell Jackson, Huntington
23, Travis Lewis, Green Oaks
22, Phillip Hayes, Green Oaks
22, Jayce Parks, Parkway
21, Delarious Marshall, Green Oaks
21, Ray Mayweather, Parkway
21, Isaiah Ford, Byrd
21, Jaylon Buckner, Huntington
By LEE BRECHEEN, Louisiana Football Magazine
I’ve covered high school football since 1991 and have seen some talented kickers come out of Louisiana.
The talent at kicker in Shreveport-Bossier for the next couple of years is insane. I don’t remember so many talented kickers coming out of the state, let alone from these two cities.
This week, we will cover several kickers who play high school football in Shreveport-Bossier and let you get to know who they are, where they go to school and why they are so good. Also I have seen several specialists in south Louisiana that have a chance at FBS or FCS Division I football – just not all neighbors as you have in this corner of the state.
The most talented high school kicker I ever saw in Louisiana was Wade Richey of Carencro. He was 6-3, 190 pounds-plus, had a leg for 60-plus yards and kicked many over 50 yards in games in high school. He went on to have a great career for LSU and in the NFL.
I had a chance to talk to former Louisiana Tech star kicker Marty Kent (1994-1997) and ask him what he thought of the talent at kicker in the area.
“It is an exciting time to be a football fan in northwest Louisiana, especially if you like the kicking game Lee,” Kent said. “We are blessed to have a lot of local talent at the kicking position. I have been helping kids now for over 30 years and I am not sure I have ever seen the type of talent we have locally. We have two of the top kickers in the country in Aeron Burrell of Parkway and Abram Murray at Byrd, and they both are great talents. They have the potential to go to college and have tremendous careers. Burrell and Murray are as good as I have seen at their age, and I have worked with guys who played in both college and the NFL.”
“We also have Garrett Little at Calvary Baptist, Asher Murray and Kaegan Kent at Evangel Christian, Jackson Cooper at Byrd and only God knows where they might end up,” he said. “There are also a number of other kickers in town I have heard good things about but have not yet had the chance to work with. It’s an exciting time to be a kicker in northwest Louisiana.”
Today we will talk about Parkway junior kicker Aeron Burrell, a young talented player who some think is the best kicker in the United States for his class. Yes, maybe the best in the country, not just in Louisiana.
I’ve seen him kick in only one game, in 2021, but what I saw was WOW. In kickoffs alone he is putting the ball seven yards deep in the end zone like a college kicker.
Already in the young 2022 season, Burrell is 25-of-26 on touchbacks on kickoffs, and 3-of-5 on field goals.
He won a game last Friday with a 50-yard field goal in the final seconds against Haughton and has a Bossier Parish record 52-yarder against Red River. He has made a 69-yard field goal in practice.
Burrell explains what he likes so much about football.
“The game gets intense at times like a rivalry game and the atmosphere of playing for your school under the lights on a Friday night is very special,” Burrell said. “I love our fans at Parkway; they are loud and really bring the spirit. The crowd gives me adrenaline every time I go out for a kick, which helps me a lot.”
“I would like to thank Marty Kent, a guy who kicked for Louisiana Tech back in the day. He’s taught me so many things,” Burrell said. “Ever since I started kicking in eighth grade, he’s taught me certain drills, game scenarios and life. I need to be more consistent at hitting the ball in the right spot every time. I am always trying to get better.”
Notes on Aeron Burrell:
College football games already attended in 2022 include watching LSU, Southern, Houston, Rice, ULL and Southeastern.
Burrell’s favorite colleges are TCU, Houston, Florida, Alabama, and LSU.
His mom played basketball at Alabama and then transferred and finished at Alabama State.
He has a 3.8 GPA and is a midfielder on the soccer team.
He would like to major in sports medicine in college. His dream if sports don’t work out past college is to be an athletic trainer.
Among his hobbies, he likes to cook and cut hair and work on his kicking.
HOT OFF THE PRESS, QUICKLY ON YOUR SCREEN: For previews of every Louisiana high school and college football team, info on the state’s top senior prospects, and more, you can order the 2022 Louisiana Football Magazine at LaFootballMagazine.com – offering North Louisiana and South Louisiana editions, printed or digital. Magazines are ready for shipping now.
Contact Lee at lbrecheen@aol.com
By JASON PUGH, Special to the Journal
NATCHITOCHES – Down 10 points to Lamar early in the second quarter of last Saturday’s game, the Northwestern State football team was in a precarious situation, with the Cardinals first-and-goal at the Demons’ 7.
NSU had yet to threaten to score, or sustain any offense. Lamar had just returned an interception to the 7, on the verge of opening a 17-0 advantage over a 0-3 team whose confidence and capabilities were in doubt to most anyone outside the program.
But after a five-yard run on first down, Lamar didn’t convert. The Demons denied four plays – including recovering from an offside flag on the initial fourth-and-1 – in an impressive and inspiring goalline stand.
Instead of falling behind 17-0, less than 3 minutes of game time later, the Demons had driven 98 yards and produced the first of three straight touchdowns. That unanswered burst turned a double-digit deficit into an 11-point lead.
Northwestern State continued to control play in the third quarter, opening a 35-13 bulge entering the final period and containing the Cardinals afterward to record a 35-27 win in NSU’s Southland Conference opener.
“I think we’re going to look back at that five-minute stretch as this year goes forward and see how important that was,” said fifth-year head coach Brad Laird, whose Demons host Nicholls (0-4, 0-1) at 3:30 p.m. (ESPN+) Saturday at Turpin Stadium in the Demons’ annual #ForkCancer game.
The foundation for the pivotal goalline stand — punctuated by Isaiah Longino’s tackle for loss on Lamar’s second fourth-and-goal opportunity — was laid in Montana, Shreveport and Mississippi.
That’s where the Demons played during a season-opening, three-game stretch of games away from Turpin Stadium. While the results were alarming – outscored by a 158-31 margin – NSU made the most of opportunities to learn, and to bond as a team, which paid off in those challenging times before halftime last Saturday.
“We’re more like brothers than a team,” said junior cornerback Cedric Anderson, who collected his third career interception against Lamar. “When brothers get after each other, there’s a little back and forth. Then you settle down and think, ‘Oh, he was right. I need to pick my stuff up.’
“Through the first three weeks, we didn’t hold each other accountable enough. We realized that, and we turned it around.”
Accountability was a key word for Longino following the victory, but controlling emotions was a common theme he shared with Laird, whose steely determination throughout the season’s struggling start impressed his players.
“(Laird) preached for us to stay level,” Longino said. “Be in the game like a boxer. Boxers go into their rounds and they may get punched in the face, or they may get some big hits. They may knock their opponent down or get knocked down. Then they go to their corner, and they’re calm and collected regardless of how things are. That’s what we decided to do.”
The Demons also checked off a couple of items on Laird’s to-do list – overcoming adversity and managing emotions.
“We’ve talked about it throughout the first three weeks,” Laird said. “Early on against Grambling, we got so emotionally high. We’re throwing into the end zone to go up 14-0 on our second possession. Then adversity hit (an interception, sparking six straight scoring drives by the Tigers), and we crashed. Since then, whether it’s good or bad, we’ve talked about handling emotions.”
While handling adversity and remaining calm seemingly go hand in hand, so did the momentum shift following NSU’s goalline stand.
Those moments led not only to the Demons’ first win of the 2022 season, but produced a rediscovered dose of confidence and sense of identity.
“This (past) week, we got to show our true colors on who we are,” nose tackle Maurice Campbell II said postgame. “The first three weeks didn’t define us. We talked about it as a team. None of that defined us.
“We got things rolling early (against Lamar). I still feel like we have things to overcome the rest of the season, but this win was long overdue.”
Contact Jason at pughj@nsula.edu
By ROY LANG III, Journal Sports
Four weeks of football. Four weeks of profit. The pigskin picks were the stars last week. The TD scorers were nice and a 3-0 mark on Sunday’s NFL action was the perfect way to end the week. We have more golf and a couple of TD picks for Thursday’s NFL game. Good luck!
Notes
All bets are measured in units. For instance, if your normal bet on a game is $100, that is one unit. If the bet is listed as .2 units, it’s a $20 bet.
Best line (as of Tuesday) is listed in parenthesis. Find the best price, one key to being a successful sports bettor! Shop around!
Remember this is a VALUE-based system, so don’t settle for a price significantly less than the one listed. And jump on better prices!
Sportsbook legend
CAE: Caesar’s
FD: Fan Duel
MGM: Bet MGM
DK: DraftKings
BS: Barstool
LANG’S LOCKS
Last week recap: +1.7 units
Season total: +42.3 units
THIS WEEK’S SELECTIONS
NFL
Thursday
To score a touchdown (both .5-unit plays)
Raheem Mostert, Dolphins, +285 (DK)
Tyreek Hill, Dolphins, +140 (CAE)
GOLF
PGA TOUR
Sanderson Farms Championship
Win bets
Taylor Montgomery, .1 units, +3050 (DK)
Luke List, .1 units, +8200 (DK)
Wyndham Clark, .1 units. +4900 (MGM)
Dean Burmester, .1 units, +6500 (FD)
Yechun Yuan, .1 units, +9900 (DK)
Top 20 bets
Wyndham Clark, 1 unit, +275 (DK)
Patrick Rodgers, .8 units, +400 (DK)
Luke List, .8 units, +330 (DK)
Taylor Montgomery, .7 units, +180 (DK)
Yechun Yuan, .6 units, +400 (CAE)
Dean Burmester, .6 units, +290 (FD)
DP WORLD TOUR
Dunhill Links
Win bet
Ryan Fox, .1 unit, +7050 (MGM)
Top 20 bets
Callum Shinkwin, .7 units, +300 (DK)
Branden Grace, .5 units, +230 (FD)
Ryan Fox, .4 units, +225 (DK)
Trent Phillips, .4 units, +1200 (CAE)
Hurly Long, .4 units, +600 (DK)
Steve Lewton, .3 units, +1400 (DK)
Wilco Nienaber, .3 units, +550 (CAE)
Contact Roy at roylangiii@yahoo.com
By TONY TAGLAVORE, Journal Sports
Shane Wilson won the trainer’s title, and Carlos Lozada won the jockey title, at the Louisiana Downs thoroughbred meet which ended Tuesday.
For Wilson — a Haughton native who was featured in the Aug. 23 edition of the Shreveport-Bossier Journal — this is his second straight title. Wilson finished the meet with 50 wins in 217 starts. That’s 12 more wins (177 starts) than Joey Foster, who finished second.
“We came in with lots of horses ready to run,” Wilson told the Journal. “We had horses for nearly any condition they could write.
“My clients claimed several good horses this winter that really fit well here. We picked up a couple of new clients that brought us quality horses to run. Several talented two-year-olds we were able to run here at the end. So we started with a strong barn and the horses really ran hard all summer for us.”
The race for the jockey title was much closer. Lozada won 85 races (378 starts). That’s five wins more than Jose Andres Guerrero (402 starts).
“First and foremost, I want to thank the Lord Jesus,” Lozada told the Journal, through his agent, Ronald Ardoin. “Second, I want to thank all the owners, trainers, groomers, exercise boys, and anyone who had anything to do with my success this summer.”
The 2023 Quarter Horse meet starts Jan. 5. The 2023 Thoroughbred meet begins May 6.
Contact Tony at SBJTonyT@gmail.com
It’s Official! TappedTober is back for 2022 presented by the Cane River Waterway Commission! Clear your calendars for Saturday Oct. 15 as we once again rock the Natchitoches Riverfront Stage. This annual event is known for its family-friendly environment, top-notch entertainment, and ever-expanding beer and wine tasting selections, without missing a second of everyone’s favorite fall activity, football, on the gigantic riverfront screen. Headlining this year’s musical lineup is country legend Tracy Lawrence, brought to you by Cunningham Insurance and Ameriprise! Visit our website at www.thetappedtober.com or find us on Facebook @Tappedtober for the latest information.
Proceeds from this event will support the Natchitoches Regional Medical Center Foundation & the NRMC Cancer Center in their efforts to improve access to healthcare in our community!
The ticket link is below.
BOM is excited to sponsor the Dress for Success Shreveport-Bossier Red Hanger Event on Sept. 29 at the Sci-Port Discovery Center! Pictured left to right: BOM’s Nancy Simpson, Erica McCain with Dress for Success, and BOM’s Henry Burns.
Louise B. Bonnett
December 21, 1931 — September 21, 2022
Funeral Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 1:00 p.m. at Greater Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, 1500 Grigsby Street, Shreveport.
John Robert Turley
February 25, 1927 — September 21, 2022
Visitation: Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, 10:00-11:00 a.m. at Shreve City Baptist Church, 2810 Knight Street, Shreveport.
Celebration of Life: Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Shreve City Baptist Church, 2810 Knight Street, Shreveport.
Lucy Hearron
September 19, 1942 — September 23, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 3:00-4:00 p.m. at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport.
Celebration of Life: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 4:00 p.m. at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport.
David Everett Norcross
June 22, 1931 — September 24, 2022
Visitation: Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport.
Celebration of Life: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 10:00 a.m. at Shreveport Community Church, 5720 Buncombe Road, Shreveport.
George L. Jackson
March 30, 1952 — September 24, 2022
Viewing: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 1:00-5:00 p.m. at Winnfield Funeral Home, 3701 Hollywood Avenue, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Winnfield Funeral Home, 3701 Hollywood Avenue, Shreveport.
Interment: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, following service at Forbing Union Cemetery, 9700 Wallace Lake Road, Shreveport.
Pricilla Annette Folarin
July 28, 1965 — September 14, 2022
Family Hour: Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022, 6:00-7:00 p.m. at Precious Memories Mortuary Chapel, 4017 Greenwood Road, Shreveport.
Christopher Lynn Rock
August 21, 1979 — September 23, 2022
Viewing: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 1:00-8:00 p.m. at Precious Memories Mortuary Chapel, 4017 Greenwood Road, Shreveport.
Celebration of Life: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at New Greenwood Baptist Church, 7480 Greenwood Springridge Road, Greenwood.
Gerald ‘Jerry’ W. Harris
July 25, 1937 — September 26, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 10:00-10:30 a.m. at Bethel Assembly of God Church, 5801 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 10:30-11:30 a.m. at Bethel Assembly of God Church, 5801 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop, Shreveport.
William Jeremiah Googe
September 5, 1942 — September 22, 2022
Visitation: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 10:00-11:00 a.m. at Broadmoor United Methodist Church, 3715 Youree Drive, Shreveport.
Celebration of Life: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at Broadmoor United Methodist Church, 3715 Youree Drive, Shreveport.
Robert A. Cole
May 6, 1944 — September 27, 2022
Visitation: Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, 10:00 a.m. at Magnolia Baptist Church, Saline.
Funeral Service: Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Magnolia Baptist Church, Saline.
Graveside Service: Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, following service at family cemetery, Saline.
Lauren Michelle Rosone Bess
April 5, 1986 — September 22, 2022
Memorial Service: Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, 2:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Drive, Shreveport.
Mildred Hildebrand Edwards
April 4, 1923 — September 21, 2022
Visitation: Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, 12:00-1:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 943 Polk Street, Mansfield.
Funeral Service: Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, 1:00-2:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 943 Polk Street, Mansfield.
Interment: Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, 2:30-3:30 p.m. at Noble Cemetery, Noble.
Mary Ethel Newsom Miller
August 25, 1930 — September 27, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 211 Murrell Street, Minden.
Funeral Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 10:00-11:00 a.m. at City on a Hill-First United Pentecostal Church, 612 State Rte 531, Minden.
Interment: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, following service at Mt. Zion Cemetery, Minden.
James ‘Jimmy’ Louis Behan
April 25, 1947 — September 24, 2022
Memorial Service: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 1:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Drive, Shreveport.
Edward Allen Tesnow
April 27, 1936 — September 24, 2022
Visitation: Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Drive, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 10:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Drive, Shreveport.
Interment: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 12:00-12:30 p.m. at Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, 7970 Mike Clark Road, Keithville.
Elnora B. Davis
April 2, 1923 — September 25, 2022
Graveside Service: Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home & Park, 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport.
Lucky J. Brent
February 22, 1939 — September 26, 2022
Visitation: Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, 9:00-10:30 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 211 Murrell Street, Minden.
Graveside Service: Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at Woodland Cemetery, Taylor.
Anthony ‘Tony’ Tuminello
August 15, 1940 — September 26, 2022
Visitation: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 9:00-10:30 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 522 E. Flournoy Lucas Road, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 10:30-11:30 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 522 E. Flournoy Lucas Road, Shreveport.
Interment: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, following service at Rose-Neath Cemetery, 5185 Swan Lake Road, Bossier.
Dennis Bryant
November 12, 1964 — September 11, 2022
Graveside Service: Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022, 10:00 a.m. at Lincoln Cemetery, 6917 W. 70th Street, Shreveport.
Sharon Hunter
February 2, 1959 — September 16, 2022
Wake: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 6:00 p.m. at Colquit Baptist Church, Hwy 71, Miram.
Visitation: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Avenue Baptist Church, 901 West 70th Street, Shreveport.
Interment: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, following service at Lincoln Cemetery, 6917 W. 70th Street, Shreveport.
Kenneth Heard
June 28, 1959 — September 20, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Bossier Baptist Church, 809 Hamilton Road, Bossier.
Interment: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, following service at New Hope Cemetery, Bossier.
Patricia Clark
February 24, 1960 — September 21, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Memorial Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Red River Baptist Church, 1831 Scott Street, Bossier.
Dorothy Player
March 18, 1928 — September 23, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 2:00-7:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Elizabeth B.C.
Interment: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, following service at Carolina Bluff Cemetery, Benton.
Lenora Harvey
August 30, 1928 — September 21, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 12:00 p.m. at Union Springs Church.
Interment: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, following service at Lincoln Cemetery, 6917 W. 70th Street, Shreveport.
Katie Lee Oneal
September 19, 1930 — September 24, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 1:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Interment: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, following service at Synder Cemetery.
Helen Marie Mosley
October 13, 1960 — September 25, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. at New Star B.C., Carver Cemetery.
Funeral Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 2:30 p.m. at New Star B.C., Carver Cemetery.
Interment: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, following service at Lincoln Cemetery, New Bethel.
Linette Dotie
July 21, 1971 — September 20, 2022
Visitation: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. at Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell Street, Shreveport.
Graveside Service: Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Round Grove Memorial Gardens, 2869 Round Grove Lane, Shreveport.
Jerry Wayne Sullivan, Sr.
July 6, 1943 — September 13, 2022
Memorial Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 12:00-1:00 p.m. at Trenton Pentecostal Church.
Billie Edgar Barnes
July 21, 1930 — September 23, 2022
Graveside Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Forest Park East Cemetery, 3700 St. Vincent Avenue, Shreveport.
Carol Bennett Simmons
June 12, 1959 — August 10, 2022
Visitation: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 9:00-10:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Drive, Shreveport.
Memorial Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 10:00-11:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Drive, Shreveport.
Edward Allen Tesnow
April 27, 1936 — September 24, 2022
Visitation: Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Drive, Shreveport.
Funeral Service: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 10:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Drive, Shreveport.
Interment: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 12:00-12:30 p.m. at Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, 7970 Mike Clark Road, Keithville.
Judy Santos
June 25, 1952 — September 14, 2022
Graveside Service: Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022, 2:00 p.m. at St. Ann’s Cemetery, 2264 US Hwy 171, Stonewall.
Earle Gene Labor
March 3, 1928 — September 15, 2022
Memorial Service: Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Brown Memorial Chapel of Centenary College, 2911 Centenary Blvd., Shreveport.
Carroll Richard Michaud
January 22, 1933 — September 22, 2022
Graveside Service: Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022, 10:00 a.m. at Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, 7970 Mike Clark Road, Keithville.
Mary (Hensley) Willis
July 31, 1951 — September 18, 2022
Visitation: Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022, 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Forest Park Funeral Home, 1201 Louisiana Avenue, Shreveport.
Memorial Service: Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022, 8:00 p.m. at Forest Park Funeral Home, 1201 Louisiana Avenue, Shreveport.
Bennie L. Lee
December 1, 1939 — September 20, 2022
Funeral Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 12:00-1:00 p.m. at Russell Road Church of Christ, 1852 Russell Road, Shreveport.
D’Shundre Rodrickus Harris
November 2, 1993 — September 20, 2022
Viewing: Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 1:00-5:00 p.m. at Shreveport Funeral Home & Cremation Tribute Center, 5307 Alex Lane, Shreveport.
Celebration of Life: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Bright Star Baptist Church, 3300 Meriwether Road, Shreveport.
Patsy J. Friddle
November 29, 1937 — September 19, 2022
Memorial Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 12:00 p.m. at Temple Baptist Church, 1515 South Service Road West, Ruston.
Michael Patrick Redel
January 3, 1955 — September 10, 2022
Visitation: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 2:00-3:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Drive, Bossier.
Memorial Service: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 3:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Drive, Bossier.
The Shreveport-Bossier Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $90. Contact your funeral provider or SBJNewsLa@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Death shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to SBJNewsLa@gmail.com)
By HARRIET PROTHRO PENROD, Journal Sports
(NOTE – Each Tuesday this season, the Shreveport-Bossier Journal spotlights the staff’s selection as the local “Team of the Week.”)
After the first three weeks of the season, the Airline Vikings kept hearing what a good 0-3 team they were.
In Week 1, the Vikings were defeated 46-21 by North DeSoto, followed by a 26-22 defeat to Union Parish, and then a 35-28 loss to Northwood when the Airline offense started to show a spark in the second half.
Coming off of a 1-9 season, it wasn’t the start the Vikings wanted. Too many turnovers, too many missed tackles.
They were getting tired of hearing all the talk.
“We’re 0-3, but the good thing is they understand what they’re doing wrong,” Airline head coach Justin Scogin said before last week’s District 1-5A opener at Benton. “They’ve stayed true to who I thought they were. They’ve continued to compete. It’s never fun to lose, but the process of the whole thing – learning how to win – is fun.”
The Vikings had fun against Benton.
After setting a school record for points scored in their 75-59 victory over the Tigers (1-3, 0-1) last Friday night, Airline (1-3, 1-0 in district) has been named “Team of the Week” by the Shreveport-Bossier Journal.
The district-opening victory was against a Benton team coming off a wild 54-52 loss to Arch Manning and Newman.
“After all the talk that we were a really good 0-3 team, it was time to start winning,” said Scogin. “We’ve been working toward this. It’s not like we haven’t been trying. We preached a lot about us getting better as a team and taking what people give us. Things finally clicked for us.”
You could say that.
The offensive onslaught included:
There were also touchdown receptions by Bob Patterson and Cameron Johnson, an 85-yard kickoff return for a TD by JoJo Johnson, and Taylor added a rushing TD to his seven passing.
“Our O-line, every single kid on the field stepped up,” said Scogin. “It’s all a process. Anytime you have change – and we’ve had change in our staff – there’s a learning curve. We’re going to continue to focus on getting better.”
The Vikings will play host to Natchitoches Central (2-2, 1-0) in 1-5A action Friday night.
While people were doing a lot of talking about Airline prior to the Benton game, perhaps they should have been listening.
“I’ve been telling everyone that Daxton Chavez is the best receiver in the state,” said Scogin. “This should be a wake-up call to every football college in the state. Our phone should be ringing off the hook now.”
Honorable Mention: Woodlawn’s first win of the season came last Friday night during its homecoming game in the District 1-4A opener at Independence Stadium. After the defense gave Woodlawn the early lead – following De’Shawnee Snow’s recovery of the ball in the endzone and a 2-point conversion – the Knights held on for a 38-8 victory over Booker T. Washington.
“It feels good,” Woodlawn head coach Thedrick Harris said after the game. “I felt like we should have had a couple more before now. I am happy for those kids. They kept working. They kept the faith. They really worked hard all this time. It’s good for them for that hard work to pay off.”
Woodlawn (1-3, 1-0) will meet Evangel (2-2, 1-0) in a District 1-4A matchup Friday night at Lee Hedges Stadium.
Contact Harriet at sbjharriet@gmail.com
Shreveport native Merrilee Streun Leatherman is an acclaimed journalist and community leader who has won numerous national and regional writing, editing and design awards – including United Press International first place and National Federation of Press Women first place.
Leatherman is listed in Marquis International Who’s Who of Women and the International Who’s Who of Professional Women. She was recognized as IBC International Woman of the Year in 1991 and 1992 and an Outstanding Young Woman in America in 1978.
She worked at the Shreveport Journal as an associate women’s editor, assistant state editor, op-ed page editor, city and wire desks, news reporter, and medical features writer. She was also the Medical Publications Coordinator at Schumpert Medical Center and editor of a peer-reviewed scientific medical journal for 12 years.
Leatherman co-founded the first desktop publishing service bureau in Shreveport. From 1990-2016, she worked in freelance communications, ghostwriting professional papers and projects for clients throughout the U.S.
Leatherman (class of 1960) is one of six individuals – five alumni and one faculty member — who will be inducted into the C.E. Byrd 2022 Hall of Fame. The other inductees include Jericho Brown (class of 1994), a Pulitzer Prize winner in poetry; Stephen D. Porter (class of 1973), a decorated artist and educator; William Peatross (class of 1961), a successful attorney and community leader; Cynthia Peterson (class of 1975), a published biochemist and LSU professor; and former faculty member Roy Thomas.
Every two years, the C.E. Byrd Alumni Association honors former students and faculty members who illustrate great success in their careers, communities, and made an impact during their time at C.E. Byrd High School. This year’s Hall of Fame Banquet will be held Thursday, Oct. 6th, 2022, with the cocktail hour starting at 6:00 p.m. and the ceremony beginning at 6:30 p.m. at East Ridge Country Club.
There were some incredible writers and editors at the Shreveport Journal. Who and what do you remember the most from those days?
Two of my favorite writers at the Shreveport Journal were Marge Fischer and Sally Reese. Marge was Shreveport’s Irma Bombeck and so much more! She was a super flexible writer. Sally was both a good writer and editor. Neither of these writers had to “pad” a story . . . they were trustworthy writers and caring reporters. Back then, we worked to provide truthful, in-depth factual coverage about important topics. It’s hard to describe the feeling you had when you learned that one of your stories had made a difference in someone’s life. We weren’t looking for accolades in our writing . . . just knowing that you had done a good job made all the difference in the world.
Working at the newspaper was so much fun in the 60s and 70s . . . we were a family to the extent that the staff set up a nursery in the newsroom when I adopted my son . . . diaper service, formula, the works! Whenever I went out on a story someone in the newsroom took care of Todd. We didn’t have maternity leave in those days but what the Journal provided for me was even better!
After the Journal closed, both Marge and Sally came to work for me at Schumpert Medical Center and transitioned into being excellent medical editors.
The Internet has changed the way we get our information today. What is the biggest effect it has had on journalism?
People pop on the Internet today thinking they are getting factual information about what is happening in this world. You CAN find good information on the Internet, but it’s sad that most people think the Internet information is trustworthy and accurate. It isn’t and we all suffer because of that. The Internet is a blessing and a curse. I just pray that people will come to understand that and start to research and question more than they do now.
How did Byrd High School help prepare you for your journalistic success?
Betty Harrel was an excellent journalism teacher, and she was good at focusing on talents she spotted in her students. I was the news editor for the High Life and we had an amazing staff . . . many became lifelong friends and so many would have fit right in at the Journal! The High Life came first when it came to deadlines and we understood that. I can remember a police car being on standby to rush those of us in pep squad or drum corps to Monroe so that we could put the High Life to bed before performing at an out-of-town football game!
What are some of your fondest memories from Byrd?
So many lifelong friendships began at Byrd and it’s amazing to sift through these memories after so many decades. My teachers tried hard to focus on each student and our needs. The hardest teacher I ever had was Mlle. LeBlanc! She was tough but she said we’d be ready for college after her class — and we were. I was one of the lucky ones . . . she taught both French and English my senior year and I got her for both classes.
How did you feel when you were told of your induction into the Hall of Fame?
This is such an honor, but I will have to admit that my first thought was that I knew a hundred people who deserved this more than I do! Anything I’ve accomplished at Byrd is because I’ve always had a Byrd family and team I could ask to help, and they do. I couldn’t do any of this just by myself. I’ve been blessed by loving my career and being recognized for those achievements. I’ve also been recognized for many things I’ve done with our community nonprofits, and I hope being inducted into the Hall of Fame will highlight the need for volunteers for nonprofits in our community.
If you and your son wrote a book together, what would the title be?
My son, Todd, has published five Sci-Fi/ fantasy books, a book of puns and has three more books scheduled to come out this fall. I asked him what he would say. “All Dressed Up, and Nowhere to Glow. A Move in the Light Direction.” I’d probably say something like, “We Made it!”
What do you like to do to relax?
I like to read but sometimes it’s also just nice to sit back, relax, and review your past. That can take you on some real “journeys of the mind.”
For more information, visit byrdhighalumni.org/hall-of-fame or the C.E. Byrd Alumni Association’s Facebook page. Tickets are available to the public and can be purchased via the website or by calling the school directly.
Contact Harriet at sbjharriet@gmail.com
JOURNAL STAFF
The top four spots in the Shreveport-Bossier Journal Top 10 football poll remained unchanged, with Captain Shreve treading water despite losing the District 1-5A showdown with Byrd, but Airline broke through and went from not receiving a vote to No. 5 after its wild 75-59 defeat of then No. 5 Benton.
Huntington replaced Northwood at No. 6 after its come-from-behind win over the Falcons. The Raiders had been ranked No. 9. Northwood and Evangel tied for ninth with 15 votes.
Below this week’s SBJ Top 10 are Lang’s Lines, set by Roy Lang III to provoke some fun discussion around every game involving a local prep team.
| SBJ Top 10 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| School (1st) | W-L | Pts. | Prev. |
| 1. Byrd (6) | 4-0 | 69 | 1 |
| 2. Parkway (1) | 4-0 | 63 | 2 |
| 3. Captain Shreve | 3-1 | 56 | 3 |
| 4. Calvary | 2-2 | 46 | 4 |
| 5. Airline | 1-3 | 33 | NR |
| 6. Huntington | 2-2 | 29 | 9 |
| 7. Haughton | 2-2 | 24 | 8 |
| 8. Benton | 1-3 | 22 | 5 |
| 9. Evangel | 2-2 | 15 | 10 |
| Tie, Northwood | 2-2 | 15 | 6 |
| Receiving votes: North Caddo (3-1) 13. | |||
Lang’s Lines
There are no longer any teams undefeated vs. the spread. Huntington and North Caddo are among a quartet atop the standings at 3-1. Huntington and Airline pulled off victories as big underdogs in Week 4. This week’s lines are … huge! Shreve-Parkway the best game by far, according to our numbers.
WEEK 5
Northwood -29.5 at Bossier
Airline -18.5 vs. Natchitoches Central
Byrd -23.5 at Benton
Parkway -1.5 vs. Captain Shreve
Haughton -29.5 vs. Southwood
North DeSoto -33.5 vs. BTW
Evangel -25.5 vs. Woodlawn
Huntington -29.5 vs. Minden
Haynesville -46.5 at Plain Dealing
Alexandria -51.5 vs. Green Oaks
North Caddo -4.5 at West Ouachita
Calvary -32.5 vs. Mansfield
Westgate -52.5 vs. Magnolia
By the numbers
Favorites: 11-2 straight up in Week 4 (51-7 on season); 4-9 vs. spread in Week 4 (26-32 on season)
Local standings vs. SBJ spread
Benton 3-1, Huntington 3-1, Magnolia Charter 3-1, North Caddo 3-1, Airline 2-2, Calvary 2-2, Captain Shreve 2-2, Evangel 2-2, Green Oaks 2-2, Parkway 2-2, Woodlawn 2-2, Bossier 1-3, Byrd 1-3, Haughton 1-3, Loyola 1-3, Northwood 1-3, Southwood 1-3, BTW 0-4, Plain Dealing 0-4
Contact Roy at roylangiii@yahoo.com or via twitter @Roylangiii.
JOURNAL SPORTS
Byrd replaced Captain Shreve as the No. 7 team in the new Louisiana Sports Writers Class 5A poll released Monday. The Yellow Jackets defeated the arch rival Gators 25-20 to replace them after being ranked ninth in last week’s poll.
Northwood, ranked No. 6 in the 4A poll, dropped out after losing to Huntington 28-20, but stayed solidly in front of the Raiders in the “others receiving votes” category.
Neville of Monroe moved up a couple places in the Class 4A poll to No. 2 after its 50-24 win over 2A’s fifth-ranked North Caddo team. The Titans only dropped one spot with the loss.
Although four of the top five teams lost, they lost to strong competition in the 2A poll, and Calvary remained at No. 8.
Here are the statewide LSWA football polls for each classification.
| LSWA Prep Football Polls | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Class 5A | W-L | Pts. | Prev. |
| 1. Destrehan (4) | 4-0 | 113 | 2 |
| 2. Catholic-BR | 3-1 | 99 | 3 |
| 3. Karr (6) | 1-3 | 98 | 1 |
| 4. Zachary | 2-1 | 89 | 4 |
| 5. Ruston | 3-1 | 78 | 6 |
| 6. Acadiana | 3-1 | 74 | 5 |
| 7. Byrd | 4-0 | 62 | 9 |
| 8. Brother Martin | 3-1 | 50 | 10 |
| 9. Rummel | 4-0 | 30 | NR |
| 10. John Curtis | 3-1 | 25 | NR |
| Others receiving votes: St. Augustine 20, Captain Shreve 17, Parkway 16, West Monroe 5, Southside 5, Carencro 1. | |||
| Class 4A | W-L | Pts. | Prev. |
| 1. Westgate (10) | 4-0 | 120 | 1 |
| 2. Neville | 3-1 | 100 | 4 |
| 3. Lafayette Chr. | 3-1 | 95 | 2 |
| 4. St. Thomas More | 3-1 | 89 | 3 |
| 5. Warren Easton | 3-1 | 83 | 5 |
| 6. De La Salle | 4-0 | 69 | 7 |
| 7. Lutcher | 3-1 | 61 | 8 |
| 8. Leesville | 4-0 | 43 | 9 |
| 9. North DeSoto | 4-0 | 29 | T10 |
| 10. Belle Chasse | 4-0 | 26 | T10 |
| Others receiving votes: Teurlings Catholic 23, Northwood-Shreveport 20, West Feliciana 13, Huntington 4, Cecilia 2, Plaquemine2. | |||
| Class 3A | W-L | Pts. | Prev. |
| 1. Union Parish (6) | 4-0 | 113 | 2 |
| 2. E. D. White (1) | 3-1 | 103 | 1 |
| 3. University (2) | 2-2 | 97 | 3 |
| 4. Church Point (1) | 4-0 | 92 | 4 |
| 5. Amite | 3-1 | 77 | 6 |
| 6. Madison Prep | 2-2 | 61 | 7 |
| 7. Abbeville | 3-1 | 52 | 8 |
| 8. St. James | 3-1 | 50 | 9 |
| 9. Lake Charles Prep | 2-2 | 28 | 10 |
| 10. Iowa | 3-1 | 26 | NR |
| Others receiving votes: Sterlington 25, John F. Kennedy 17, Parkview Baptist 12, Bogalusa 11, Carroll 7, St. Martinville 6, Westlake 3. | |||
| Class 2A | W-L | Pts. | Prev. |
| 1. Many (12) | 4-0 | 120 | 1 |
| 2. Newman | 3-1 | 109 | 2 |
| 3. Oak Grove | 3-1 | 82 | 6 |
| 4. Notre Dame | 3-1 | 78 | 3 |
| 5. St. Charles Cath. | 2-2 | 77 | 4 |
| 6. North Caddo | 3-1 | 63 | 5 |
| 7. Dunham | 3-1 | 54 | 7 |
| 8. Calvary | 2-2 | 53 | 8 |
| 9. Mangham | 3-1 | 51 | 9 |
| 10. Avoyelles | 3-1 | 39 | 10 |
| Others receiving votes: Episcopal-Baton Rouge 29, Rosepine 10, Grand Lake 9, Welsh 4, General Trass 1. | |||
| Class 1A | W-L | Pts. | Prev. |
| 1. Ouachita Chr. (9) | 4-0 | 119 | 1 |
| 2. Homer (1) | 3-1 | 109 | 2 |
| 3. Southern Lab | 2-1 | 98 | 3 |
| 4. Kentwood | 4-0 | 91 | 4 |
| 5. Logansport | 3-1 | 79 | 5 |
| 6. Vermilion Cath. | 4-0 | 77 | 6 |
| 7. St. Frederick | 3-1 | 47 | 9 |
| 8. Riverside | 3-1 | 41 | 10 |
| 9. Glenbrook | 4-0 | 39 | NR |
| 10. Ascension Cath. | 3-1 | 36 | 8 |
| Others receiving votes: Haynesville 24, Catholic-Pointe Coupee 18, Central Catholic-Morgan City 5, St. Martin’s 3, Arcadia 1, Sacred Heart-Ville Platte 1. | |||
By RYNE BERTHELOT, Journal Sports
BATON ROUGE – There’s a hurricane brewing in the Gulf of Mexico, the first of what’s been a quiet summer storm watch for folks in the southern states.
No, Louisiana residents need not be worried about Hurricane Ian or its trajectory, by all reports.
Those watching over LSU football team travel, however, will have to keep a close eye on things before the Tigers travel to Auburn, in southeast Alabama, for Saturday’s Southeastern Conference matchup.
“I’ve been in two remnants of hurricanes,” LSU head coach Brian Kelly said. “One at North Carolina State, which was abysmal, and I think the other one was at Clemson. [Hurricanes] affect the game conditions, and so you have to plan accordingly in terms of your passing game, running game. The kicking game is affected dramatically. You just have to wrap your head around it prior to, and prepare for it.”
Auburn’s game plan may be affected by other factors as well, namely a quarterback room that’s failing to put many points on the board. Auburn’s QB situation has been messy at the best of times this season, disastrous at its worst. Head coach Bryan Harsin has divided playing time between former LSU quarterback TJ Finley and Oregon transfer Robby Ashford, both of whom have struggled to make Auburn’s offense productive.
Who to play at QB cleared up last week against Missouri, when Finley sat out with a shoulder injury. Ashford made it through the majority of the game, but missed a handful of series due to an undisclosed injury. Harsin said he’ll likely be back for the LSU game, but Finley’s status is up in the air.
“I think you always have to keep an eye on whether or not Finley plays,” Kelly said. “Certainly he gives you the throwing end of things, so we’ll have to prepare for both. We don’t have any first-hand information that one’s playing over the other, but we’ll be prepared for either one.”
Ashford, Finley, or fourth-string freshman Holden Geriner will have their work cut out for them against a secondary that’s answered many questions posed against them before the season.
It’s also a secondary that’s about to add a veteran presence in Arkansas transfer Joe Foucha, who missed the first four weeks of the season due to an academic suspension. He’ll aim to replace Major Burns, who’s set to miss three-to-six weeks with a neck issue. Jay Ward is also slated to return this week after missing the New Mexico game with an injury.
In a unit built almost entirely of transfers, Kelly’s seen resiliency from his defensive backs but is still hoping to find the continuity that’s escaped them over the first month of the season.
“You’d like a little bit more continuity. I think [defensive coordinator] Matt [House] and [safeties coach] Kerry [Cooks] have done a really good job of communicating what we need to do back there,” Kelly said about the secondary. “I think it’s going to be a little bit easier with a Joe Foucha in terms of — he’s an experienced player. It was a little more difficult when we had to move Jarrick [Bernard-Converse] back there because you didn’t have an experienced safety.”
Kelly’s need for consistency and continuity have paid off in dividends, as LSU has won three straight games after a rough start in the 24-23 loss to Florida State in Week 1.
Still, Kelly will call it what it is.
“We’ve been able to make the progress necessary to have a modest winning streak,” Kelly said. “This is modest. We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us. This month will tell us a lot. We’ve got an SEC slate in front of us over the next four weeks, which will challenge us to a new level.”
Contact Ryne at rgberthelot@gmail.com
JOURNAL SPORTS
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Some things you can count on. The Dallas Cowboys beating the New York Giants is on that list.
For the 10th time in 11 meetings, Dallas walked away winners Monday night, 23-16, over the Football Giants.
But some things might surprise you.
A Mike McCarthy gamble paid off.
The stretch run was dominated by the Cowboys, not the Giants, who had surged late while opening their season unexpectedly 2-0.
After Saquon Barkley danced 36 yards to break a dreary 6-6 tie with 5:31 left in the third quarter at Met Life Stadium, the Cowboys kicked into boot-scootin’ boogie mode.
Drives of 75 and 89 yards produced touchdowns, with the go-ahead points coming on a one-handed snag by CeeDee Lamb with 8:30 left. Dallas added Brett Maher’s third field goal (26, 28 and 44 yards) as padding with 5:58 to go for a 23-13 advantage.
New York (2-1) managed a 51-yard field goal, but Dallas (2-1) drained the clock and collected a game-clinching interception deep in Giants’ territory in the final minute.
In the go-ahead drive, Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush connected with Lamb on four of the 11 plays.
“He’s CeeDee Lamb. Guy’s open a lot,” said Rush. “Makes big-time catches. That fade catch was unbelievable.”
It came after Lamb couldn’t handle an easy one, a second-quarter gaffe that could have been a 52-yard touchdown.
“It was a situation I had to deal with on my own, obviously I’m the one that dropped the ball for the guys,” Lamb said. “So knowing that I had to make this up in the back end of the game, I just wanted to step up.”
For the second straight game, a gamble by the often-embattled Cowboys coach worked well.
On the go-ahead drive, Dallas faced a fourth-and-4 with 10:37 to go at the Giants 41 with the score tied at 13. Instead of punting, hoping to pin New York near its goalline, McCarthy left the offense on the field.
Rush found Lamb for just enough to extend the possession on the next play and picked up the pace from there, moving in to take the lead as he delivered a 26-yard connection with Lamb before the circus catch TD.
More good vibes for the ‘Boys in blue: Haughton’s Dak Prescott told ESPN’s Lisa Salters his surgically-repaired right thumb is healing fast and the Dallas QB hopes to play as soon as next week against Washington.