May 31, 2024
Month: May 2024
Temporary suspension of walk-in bill payments at Government Plaza through June 7
The City of Shreveport announces that walk-in bill payments will be suspended at Government Plaza from Thursday, May 30 through Friday, June 7 due to building renovations. Alternative payment methods are available to ensure minimal disruption to citizens:
1. Online Payments: Payments can be made online at our website, which is http://www.shreveportla.gov.
2. Mail-In Payments: Payments can be mailed to these addresses:
a. Water & Sewerage
Make check payable to: COS-Water & Sewerage City of Shreveport P.O. Box 30065 Shreveport, LA 71153-0065
b. Property Tax
Make check payable to: COS-TAX City of Shreveport – Revenue Division P.O. Box 30040 Shreveport, LA 71130-0040
c. Property Standards
Make check payable to: City of Shreveport – Revenue Division P.O. Box 30040 Shreveport, LA 71130-0040
d. Other Taxes and Fees (Occupational License Tax, False Alarm, Traffic Escort, Property Standards, and Other Payment Types) i. Make check payable to: City of Shreveport – Revenue Division P.O. Box 30040 Shreveport, LA 71130-0040
3. Authorized Payment Centers (for water bills only): Payments for water bills can be made at various authorized payment centers throughout the city. Click this link to find your nearest payment center: https://www.checkfreepay.com/en/payment-locator.html. Those accustomed to paying water bills in-person in Downtown Shreveport may pay at the following location from 9 am – 5 pm:
Mid South Towers AEP Building
416 Travis Street; 1st Floor Lobby
Shreveport, LA 71101
4. Night Deposit Box: Payments can be placed in the night deposit box that is located at the outside front of the building next to the ATM machine. PLEASE NOTE: Cash payments should not be placed in the night deposit box for security reasons.
For inquiries and further assistance, please contact the City of Shreveport, Department of Finance, at 318-673-5585.
Narcotics seized with around $300,000 total street value
It started nearly a year ago when Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office narcotics officers made an undercover purchase of a small amount of illegal narcotics. It ended Tuesday when agents from multiple agencies swooped in to enforce warrants on 13 federal indictments for conspiracy to distribute drugs.
During the course of the investigation, agents also seized a large quantity of illegal narcotics including 17 pounds of methamphetamine, five pounds of cocaine, 40 pounds of marijuana and several thousand fentanyl pills. Total street value of the seized narcotics reportedly is just under $300,000.
“This is an investigation that mushroomed into a drug bust of major proportions,” Sheriff Jason Parker said. “Our narcotics unit is constantly surveilling suspected dealers and we make buys when we can. We never stop there. We always try to take it up the ladder to the major sources, and that’s what happened in this case.”
Parker said as the investigation continued to expand, other agencies were asked to participate.
Eventually, eight other agencies provided assistance that ultimately led to the 13 indictments in Webster Parish stretching from Springhill to Heflin.
“We initiated the investigation and as it grew, we received critical assistance in resources and manpower from other agencies that are always ready to help,” Parker said.
Capt. Bobby Igo III, head of the WPSO narcotics unit, said many man-hours went into the year-long investigation.
“It was multiple agencies working together successfully that led to these indictments,” Igo said. “And these are federal indictments. That means the punishment for these conspiracy cases will be swift and severe.”
Igo said the list of law enforcement agencies lending support to the Sheriff’s investigators include the Minden Police Department, DEA, the Louisiana National Guard counter drug division, Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office, Bossier City Police Department and the Louisiana State Police.
All suspects named in the indictments have been placed in custody, Igo said. Names of individuals arrested have not been released.
“We have put some major players in illegal drugs out of business in Webster Parish, but this doesn’t mean we’re going to rest on our success,” Parker said. “Our drug investigations are ongoing. This is something that we’re not going to tolerate in our parish. People need to know that if you’re dealing drugs, we’re coming for you no matter how long it takes.”
Shreveport Firemen compete at physique, figure national qualifier classic championships
When people think about firefighters they think of high levels of aerobic and anaerobic fitness as well as muscular strength, endurance, explosive power and reaction time.
Shreveport Fire Engineers Freddie Duncan and Chris Henry took it to the next level and competed at the National Qualifier IFBB/NPC Optimum Classic Championships for physique and figure on May 25 to show their dedication to fitness. They proudly represented Shreveport firefighters and the occupation.
Freddie Duncan (left) – first in class, first 40 plus Masters, and first overall men’s physique.
Chris Henry (right) – first in class super heavyweight and first 40 plus masters in bodybuilding.
Caddo Parish Parks & Rec teams up with Grambling for Monday Youth Football Camp
Caddo Parish Parks and Recreation has joined forces with the Grambling State University Tigers to host the Mickey Joseph Youth Football Camp. This non-contact, skills teaching camp will be held on Monday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Lee Hedges Stadium.
This camp is for youth (boys and girls) ages 10 – 18; and is designed to give each camper a solid foundation on the basic fundamentals of football.
Camp instructors will include the GSU Tigers first-year head football coach, Mickey Joseph and his coaching staff. Registration for all campers will be walk-up only, starting at 8:30 am.
Registration fee is $40 per camper. Payments can be made on-site via Cash, Cash App or Apple Pay. Hydration drinks and lunch will be provided by Raising Canes and the Caddo Parish Commission.
For additional camp information, contact Mary Murphy at (318) 220-6284.
Enjoy sounds of New Dimensions Choral Society on June 1
The New Dimensions Choral Society will perform on Saturday, June 1 from 1-4 pm in Caddo Common Park. The group was formed to elevate and enhance the cultural level and aesthetic appreciation of its members and the community at large. The group provides a vehicle where members can use their vocal talents to their fullest capabilities. New Dimensions seeks the highest standards of excellence in its performances and provides its members professional-level training in voice and musicianship. The group performs the music of various genres, including ethnic, folk, traditional, sacred and secular styles.
Join the Shreveport Regional Arts Council in Caddo Common Park for an amazing performance paired with arts markets, food trucks, art activities for kids and more.
RAIN PLAN: If there is rain, this event will be moved to the Municipal Auditorium.
Bossier City man arrested for First Degree Rape, Possession of Child Pornography, other offenses
Zachary Dewayne Doolittle, 38 of the 2200 block of General Taylor Place in Bossier City was arrested on May 22 by Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office Investigators for Molestation of a Juvenile and 8 counts of Pornography involving juveniles.
The subsequent investigation led to additional charges of First-Degree Rape Victim Under 13 years of age, Attempted First Degree Rape Victim Under 13 years of age, and Aggravated Crimes Against Nature.
Detectives with the Bossier Sheriff’s Office continue to aggressively investigate child sexual abuse cases with the ICAC team, the Attorney General’s Office, and with the aid of the latest technology. They encourage anyone with information regarding this crime or any other crimes against children to contact the Bossier Sheriff’s Office at (318) 965-2203.
Doolittle was booked into the Bossier Max with a bond of $1,750,000.
While starring at UA, Haughton’s Stovall has learned to embrace adversity
By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports
Sometimes when he thinks about it, Peyton Stovall discovers that he doesn’t really want to think about it.
It was three years ago when he made that first drive from Haughton on his way to the University of Arkansas. He thought he knew exactly how it was all going to happen.
But it didn’t.
There have been injuries and position changes and the inevitable baseball-is-hard slumps that never seemed to happen when he was playing in high school for the Buccaneers and was considered a Top 30 MLB draft pick.
“I remember coming in and being so immature and not knowing how to deal with or handle adversity or failure,” Stovall says.
That’s not the same Peyton Stovall who will be leading the Arkansas Razorbacks into the Fayetteville Regional today as the NCAA Baseball Tournament begins.
The adversity has changed him. And he couldn’t be happier about it.
“I’m so much more mature,” he says. “The experiences I’ve gained and the opportunities that I’ve been given, I honestly can’t put a price tag on it. It’s just molded me into a better person. Not just a better player, but a better person.”
Stovall is the leading hitter (.349) on the No. 5-seeded squad in the 64-team tournament. He also leads the Razorbacks in hits, doubles and is second in home runs, total bases and RBI.
He also probably leads the team in injuries over the last 12 months.
A year ago, he had his season cut short by a shoulder injury.
“Last year right before conference my shoulder started bothering me,” he says. “Obviously as a competitor, I just wanted to play and wasn’t worried about imaging or seeing if something was actually wrong.”
But in the end, he had to shut down his sophomore season and had to watch as his teammates went on to win the SEC and advance to the NCAA Tournament.
“It was super tough,” he says. “I truly believe it made me a better player. But I knew that once I got back, I wasn’t going to regret anything and play 100 percent.”
He came back ready to go this year as a junior, but a freak accident to his foot in an early February scrimmage put him out again. “It was brutal,” Stovall says. “To have to sit and wait after having to watch last year, but I knew that when I was ready to go, I was going to be all-in and super excited.”
He missed the first 12 games of the season, but didn’t waste any time making his presence felt, getting six hits in his first four games.
“I’ve had a blast this year,” he says. “It has gone by so fast. I wish it would slow down sometimes. But I’m just glad to be back out there and healthy.”
After playing shortstop at Haughton, Stovall found his way into the Arkansas lineup as a freshman by playing first base.
“When I was a freshman, there were a lot of older guys playing there and I just wanted to do what I could to get on the field and play as much as I could,” he says. “The opportunity presented itself at first base and so I went out there and did the best I could.”
You could certainly say that. He batted .295 (fourth on the team) in his first year and helped lead the Razorbacks to the College World Series.
As a sophomore, he moved to second base. “I’ve always thought of myself as a middle infielder and probably more second base than shortstop,” he says. “The last two years at second, Coach (Dave) Van Horn has helped me a ton. I really believe he’s the best infield coach in the country. He’s made me such a better player and I’ve been blessed to be able to play the infield under him.”
Stovall is considered a Top 100 prospect for the June MLB Draft and a top five second base prospect. But that’s news to him.
“I’ve done a really good job of not paying attention to any of that,” he says. “I’ve just put my head down and played. I’ve just been worried about winning. I told my advisor and my parents that we should just worry about that when the season’s over with. We haven’t had one conversation about it. The only thing I’ve been worried about is going out there and playing. Whatever I can do to put our team in the best position to win and be successful. The rest will take care of itself.”
No matter where that takes him, he is thankful for his time as a Razorback.
“I’ve learned how to be more of a teammate and a leader and I think that translates into how I play,” Stovall says. “Overall, I’ve gained so much more maturity and level-headedness. Staying in the middle and not getting too high or too low. I can’t even explain how fast it’s gone by. I’m just trying to soak it all in and I’m so grateful for it.”
Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com
Tommy Tanks saying thanks to LSU by leading Tigers into NCAA play
By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
CHAPEL HILL, N.C – Tommy White’s two seasons as LSU’s big bat bopper have flashed like a streaking meteoroid burning across the college baseball universe.
Just 16 months ago after he transferred from North Carolina State, White ripped the first pitch he saw in a Tiger uniform for an RBI single.
Since then, despite a labrum injury that bothered him all last year until he underwent surgery in the off-season, White, a junior, has developed into a complete third baseman projected as a top 15 pick in July’s major league baseball draft.
But as he makes his 128th start of his LSU career today when the Tigers (41-20) open NCAA tournament play vs. Wofford at 11 a.m. in the Chapel Hill Regional, White’s total focus is the here and now.
“LSU is everything to me, it’s been there from the start when they (his teammates) just accepted me,” said White, a.k.a. Tommy Tanks, who leads the Tigers with a .337 hitting average with a team-high 69 RBI, 24 homers and a mere 3 fielding errors. “I just want to play as long as possible. It’s what everybody should want to do being here.
“This is the last time I’ll wear an LSU jersey making a postseason run and I don’t want to take it off yet. I wanted to fight to get to that spot.”
In the Tigers’ last-gasp push to earn an SEC bid by winning 7 of their last eight games, White is batting .416 (15 of 36) 13 RBI and 4 homers.
His fight has proven contagious since LSU scored 43 runs in winning its first four SEC Tournament games before losing 4-3 in the finals to No. 1 and NCAA tourney top-seed Tennessee.
“I just think that the whole team wanted it just as much as I did,” White said. “It was pretty cool to see that it wasn’t one guy stepping up. It was everybody stepping up. It was like we said, `We can do this, let’s just do it.’
“You all saw where we started (a 3-12 start in SEC play) to where we’re at now. It’s completely different.”
Though most of White’s batting numbers are down from a year ago when he led the nation with 105 RBI, he also had the luxury of being situated just behind Golden Spikes winner Dylan Crews in the batting order.
Crews, the No. 2 overall pick by Washington in last July’s MLB draft, was third nationally in batting average (.426) and second in on-base percentage (.567).
Because Crews reached base in all 71 games last season, 18 of White’s 24 homers drove in multiple runs. With no Crews to set the table this season, only 10 of White’s 24 homers have scored multiple runs.
It hasn’t deterred White from doing things his way, like slamming 15 first pitches in his LSU career for home runs and leading off an inning 10 times with a homer. He’s also continued to spray the ball all over the park. Of his 48 career homers as a Tiger, 18 have been to left field, 17 to right field, 5 to center field, 5 to right centerfield and 3 to left centerfield.
White has 75 career homers, the first 27 at North Carolina State where he set the NCAA single season freshman home run record. He is No. 8 all-time in NCAA history in career home runs and is just the fourth player in NCAA history to reach the 75-homer mark in three seasons.
“I really look at a game one pitch at a time,” White said.
No. 2 seed LSU (40-21) vs. No. 3 seed WOFFORD (41-18)
WHAT, WHERE: NCAA baseball Chapel Hill (N.C.) Regional
SCHEDULE/PITCHING MATCHUP
Game 1: Today, 11 a.m. CT ESPNU
LSU –TBA
WOFFORD – TBA
LSU’s all-time NCAA tournament record: 174-72 (.707) in 35 appearances, 7 College World Series championships (1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2009, 2023 in 19 CWS appearances.
Wofford’s all-time NCAA tournament record: 0-2 (.000) in one appearance.
LSU PLAYERS TO WATCH 3B Tommy White (.337, 24 HR, 69 RBI, 3 errors in 99 chances), 2B Steven Milam (.328, 6 HR, 36 RBI, 5 errors in 211 chances), SS Michael Braswell III (.304, 3 HR, 33 RBI, 13 errors in 203 chances), DH Hayden Travinski (.278, 15 HR, 52 RBI), P Luke Holman (9-3, 2.54 ERA in 85 innings, 116 strikeouts, 32 walks), P Gage Jump (6-1, 3.42 ERA, 73.2 innings, 89 strikeouts, 20 walks), P Griffin Herring (4-1, 6 saves, 1.88 ERA in 43 innings, 57 strikeouts, 13 walks).
WOFFORD PLAYERS TO WATCH
3B Dixon Black (.368, 13 HR, 75 RBI), 1B Tyler Hare (.327, 12 homers, 62 RBI), C Daniel Jackson (.362, 12 HR, 67 RBI), CF Marshall Toole (.383, 9 HR, 64 RBI), P Zac Cowan (9-2, 3.55 ERA in 104 innings, 118 strikeouts, 18 walks), P Camden Wicker (4-3, 4.14 ERA in 16 appearances, 51 strikeouts, 43 walks), P Kenny Michaels (3-1, 2 saves, 4.20 ERA in 45 innings, 56 strikeouts, 22 walks).
Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com
Tech’s Burroughs has a better than normal scouting report on K-State
By MALCOLM BUTLER, Lincoln Parish Journal
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — At one time in his coaching career, Lane Burroughs wore the purple uniform of the Kansas State Wildcats.
Now the Louisiana Tech skipper will be facing the same Big 12 foe when the Bulldogs open the Fayetteville Regional tonight at 7 p.m. at Baum-Walker Stadium.
Tech (45-17) enters the regional as the No. 2 seed and will face the No. 3 seed Kansas State (32-24) in the second game of the day. No. 1 seed and host Arkansas (43-14) will face No. 4 seed Southeast Missouri State (34-25) at 2 p.m.
Burroughs, who spent the 2008 season in Manhattan as an assistant coach for the Wildcats, will lead Tech into its third regional in four years (Ruston 2021, Austin 2022).
He said the Wildcats will present plenty of challenges despite the fact it’s K-State’s first NCAA Regional in 11 years. He specifically talked about the arm Tech will face tonight in Owen Boerema (6-3, 4.91).
“I watched video (of him the past few days),” said Burroughs. “He is good. He has good stuff. Three pitches for strikes. He competes, and he pitches deep into ball games. He threw 132 pitches last week in the Big 12 Tournament.”
Offensively, the Wildcats are hitting .271 with just 59 home runs, but they have stolen 127 bases on the year. K-State is just 12-17 away from their home stadium this season, including a 3-3 mark in neutral site games.
“They are just a really good team,” said Burroughs. “Having lived up there and coached up there I know what that program means to those people. I’m sure they are going to show up too. It’s a really, really good ball club and we have to be ready to go.
“I think all four of the teams are good. It will be fun to get up there, reconnect with some old friends, and play some ball.”
Burroughs confirmed that Luke Nichols will get the nod on the mound in the opener for Tech. Nichols (4-3, 3.75) will make his 16th start of the season, logging a team-high 77.0 innings this year.
“We’ll see their top starting pitcher Luke Nichols. No one ever said it was going to be easy, but it’s that time of year when you’re going to have to run through some arms to go where we want to go,” said K-State head coach Pete Hughes. “They’ve got a really good coach, Lane Burroughs is one of the most respected coaches in the country, so I look forward to playing against his team – I’ve always admired his team from afar.”
Hughes had plenty of praise for the Bulldogs.
“Their top four guys each had over fifteen home runs, that’ll make you pause and think a little bit,” said Hughes. “It’s a really good program for those guys. No one-hit wonders. They have won a lot of games for some time now. They’re playing good baseball, they’re hot and they’re well coached. They are pretty physical, and they pitch it well too, the back end of their game is as good as it gets in the country.”
Every game this weekend will be streamed on ESPN+.
Contact Malcolm at lpjnewsla@gmail.com
Hand to the plow, Nichols is perfect pick to start Bulldogs’ NCAA push
By TEDDY ALLEN, Journal Sports
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The son of a wheat and corn, soybeans and rice farmer in southeast Missouri, Luke Nichols long ago learned that the rain falls on the just and the unjust, that the sun shines on the evil and the good, that with every bit of nice comes a little nip of nasty.
Law of nature.
So Louisiana Tech’s junior lefty, scheduled to start tonight at 7 against Kansas State of the Big 12 in the first round of the Fayetteville Regional, has spent zero time thinking about how his won-loss record might be a bit better if his teammates had finished off a few more of his sound starts.
“Can’t control that,” said Nichols, a sturdy 6-2, 205 southpaw with a fastball that’ll sink, another that hits the 90s, a sometimes slider and a change. He says it with a smile and a shrug, water off a duck’s back or off a corn stalk, because he really can’t control it — that “rain on the just and the unjust” thing — and because he really doesn’t know what his record is.
His coach, Lane Burroughs, asked him that very thing in Thursday’s early afternoon press conference after his team’s brief practice at Baum-Walker Stadium. He smiled and shrugged and Burroughs smiled and shrugged and … help?
It’s 4-3.
Some of those losses or no-decisions that come quickly to mind:
- Nichols pitched just 1.2 innings at FIU, but 5 of the 6 runs surrendered were unearned;
- Left the game at Arizona with a shutout over 6-and-a-third;
- Gave up 4 runs, one unearned, over 4.1 at Dallas Baptist when the Dogs didn’t score until the 8th in an 8-3 loss;
- Gave up two runs through 6 at New Mexico. Tech lost in 13 innings.
Four wins. Three losses. Nichols remembers them all, just not the game-by-game numbers. Those are often left up to the fates.
But he knows how many games his team has won: 45. And a Conference USA championship.
“That” Nichols said, “is the main thing.”
The next ‘main thing’ is tonight and the Wildcats, and he’s just as confident about winning that one alongside “the guys in my dugout” as he is about The Hay Barn Bar and Grill being hard by Missouri 91, right where he left it, when he gets back home to Bell City, population 400ish.
His coach feels the same.
“He’s been our most consistent starter,” said Burroughs, who chose Nichols, a Saturday starter through the season, to open the series because of all the left-handed bats in K-State’s lineup. “I give the sports information people and coaches in our league a lot of credit: they voted him first-team (All CUSA), so they know what he’s capable of. It seems sometimes when he’s had a good start, we find a way to foul up the game. That doesn’t mean we lost, but his overall record is not indicative of what he’s done out there.”
Modest W-L record aside, his other numbers are first-team worthy: 3.74 ERA, 81 strikeouts over 27 walks in 77 innings pitched, scattering 69 hits.
Burroughs has said it since the start of the season, Nichols’ first at Tech since a happenstance email to the Bulldogs’ staff started the wheels that led to Nichols rolling into Ruston from Jefferson College: “He’s a good ol’ farm boy, salt-of-the-earth-type kid — but don’t let that fool you: he’s ultra-ultra-competitive.”
Back in Bell City, if a guy’s walking out of Rampley’s General Store and Diner off Walnut, it’s one thing to smile and nod if he’s holding an ice-sweaty Fanta Orange. But two blocks south, if that same guy’s holding a baseball bat and digging in at Bell City Ball Park, corner of Rock and Dunn, well, that’s a bit of a different ballgame.
“When I get the ball,” Nichols said, “there’s never a doubt in my mind or in (Burroughs’) mind. And that’s a good feeling to have that kind of relationship with your coach, and I think it spreads throughout the team. It’s a good feeling.”
Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu
Grambling tries to make more history at College Station Regional
By T. SCOTT BOATRIGHT, Lincoln Parish Journal
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Grambling State baseball team made some school history last weekend by winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament, and earned the chance to make some more this weekend.
The Tigers begin play at noon today in the College Station Regional of the NCAA Baseball Championship, facing the host Texas A&M Aggies, the No. 3 national seed in the 64-team tournament bracket at 16 regional sites.
A couple months ago GSU’s basketball teams made history when the men’s and women’s squads both earned postseason tourney berths.
The Tigers won the SWAC regular-season hoops crown, defending their 2023 title, but then notched Grambling’s first-ever SWAC Tournament championship to advance to March Madness. There, they won an opening round game in the First Four before bowing to eventual national finalist Purdue.
The Lady Tigers missed the Big Dance but were invited to the Women’s National Invitational Tournament and won a first-round game at Tulsa.
And now, for the first time since 2010, Grambling baseball will be playing in an NCAA Regional.
GSU stands at 26-26 (18-8 in regular-season SWAC play) while Texas A&M enters the regional with a record of 44-13.
“We faced a tough (Southwestern Athletic Conference) tournament that threw everything imaginable just to get here,” said Tigers coach Davin Pierre. “But here we are making history. Players like Cameron Bufford, Trevor Hatton and Julian Murphy, who have been a big part of this program for a long time, are now part of history. And this entire team has established their own legacy in the history of Grambling athletics.
“Now it’s about going out there and trying to continue making history.”
Speaking of history, the last time the Tigers appeared in an NCAA Regional was in Fayetteville, Arkansas, in 2010, when then coach James Cooper’s GSU team fell 19-7 to Arkansas in its opener before rallying back against Kansas State in its second game, scoring four runs in the seventh inning to tighten things up only to lose 9-8.
Grambling first made NCAA hardball history in 1985 when the Tigers played in the Austin, Texas, Regional where they took the University of Texas to 12 innings before falling 4-3. Grambling fell 5-2 to Oklahoma a day later.
“I’ll never forget that Texas game —- that was historic,” said College Baseball Hall of Fame coach Wilbert Ellis, who was the Tigers’ bench boss. “Texas had a great team, including pitcher Greg Swindell. Gary Eave pitched the whole game for us.
“It was a game we lost on a controversial call, but we showed we could take a team that went on to the College World Series championship game to extra innings. I’m just praying we can see this year’s team do that (today) against Texas A&M.”
That won’t be easy. The Texas A&M pitching staff has the seventh best ERA in the nation (3.97) and ranks first in shutouts (10), first in 1-1 strike percentage (69.0), fourth in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.31), fourth in WHIP (1.24), seventh in ERA (3.97), ninth in strikeouts per nine innings (10.8), 10th in 0-0 strike percentage (62.0), 11th in hits allowed per nine (7.94) and 11th in walks allowed per nine (3.26).
And that pitching corps’ 10 shutouts are tied with the 1976 Aggies for second in program history.
Offensively, Texas A&M ranks fourth in home runs per game (2.18), fifth in homers (124), sixth in slugging percentage (.567), sixth in walks (355), 13th in runs (500), 16th in scoring (8.8) and 19th in on-base percentage (.419).
They’ll be facing a Grambling batting lineup with a .317 batting average that ranks 10th nationally.
Junior second baseman Kyle Walker leads the charge, batting .394 with 11 home runs, 10 doubles, and one triple.
GSU’s projected starting pitcher, Mason Martinez, stands 12-2 on the season with a 4.33 ERA.
“I’m hoping the momentum that came from the way we won the SWAC Tournament carries over and gives us a spark against Texas A&M,” Pierre said. “Baseball is a crazy game and sometimes the underdogs do shock the world.
“That’s what we’re going to try to do. Represent Grambling and shock the world.”
The other two teams in the regional, Texas and Louisiana-Lafayette, will play in today’s evening contest. Winners collide Saturday after an elimination game between today’s losers.
Contact Scott at tscottboatright@gmail.com
Golf development in East Texas could have major impact
It didn’t get much notice because the news originated from 2,000 miles away, but there just was an announcement that could have quite an impact for the Shreveport golf community.
Bandon Dunes is one of the great golf locations in the world. It’s a development in southwest Oregon that has, if you believe Golf Digest’s ranking of “Courses you can play,” five of the Top 16 courses in the United States.
But the Kaiser family, the founders of Bandon Dunes, have recently begun to expand their golf empire under the name of Dream Golf. There is Sand Valley in Wisconsin, which has four courses.
There is Rodeo Dunes, which will have 36 holes when completed and is located about an hour away from Denver.
And the latest expansion for Dream Golf? About 70 miles away from Shreveport.
Wild Spring Dunes will be a 36-hole facility located in East Texas. It will be in an area bordered by the geographic triangle formed by Henderson to the northwest, Carthage to the northeast and Nacogdoches to the south.
Zoom in a little tighter at the development’s website and it shows the location to be very close to Mount Enterprise. That’s actually closer to Shreveport than Squire Creek, which is widely considered to be Louisiana’s top course and is located in Choudrant.
Golf.com published the announcement earlier this week.
“This land surprised me,” said Michael Keiser, who is the oldest son of the family’s patriarch. “I would never have imagined this kind of property in Texas. The pine forests. The steep ravines. The big hills surrounding it. You walk the site, and it’s always changing, and you can see golf holes on every part of it. Founders are going to be surprised and excited by Wild Spring Dunes the same way I was.”
Word has spread through the local golf community pretty quickly.
“This is a big deal,” said a local golf insider. “When you look at the circle of where they think their market will come from, it’s not just Dallas and Houston, but Little Rock and New Orleans.”
They might want to check their geography when claiming on the website that the location is “an easy day drive from a wide variety of neighboring cities and states” and then list Birmingham and Memphis.
It should also be a benefit to Shreveport Regional Airport, though East Texas Regional in Longview is a few miles closer.
“They are looking for groups that will fly in on Thursday, play Friday and Saturday and leave out on Sunday,” said the local golf analyst.
The routing has already been completed on one course (No. 1 is a dogleg right) and is being done by Tom Doak. The second course is being designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore.
The facility will be modeled after the other Bandon Dunes/Dream Golf entities (sans Pacific Ocean): full service, publicly accessible golf resort with luxury on-side accommodations. They also expect to add a “short course” to the facility.
There will be Founders Memberships, which will give a buyer early access to the property, preferred real estate locations and exclusive golf privileges. If you’ve got $65,000 stuffed in your mattress, you’re in!
Just a guess here, but the daily golf fee would probably be in the $200-$250 range.
The bigger question is when this will all happen and that answer is not as clear. No announcement has been made on that, probably because Dream Golf is trying to get Rodeo Dunes up and running within the next year.
Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com
Burns sizzles early in first round of Canadian Open
JOURNAL SPORTS
HAMILTON, Ontario – Sam Burns turned good vibes into a great round early Thursday on the first day of the RBC Canadian Open at the par-70 Hamilton Golf and Country Club.
The Shreveport native and Calvary Baptist grad, a two-time LSU All-American before turning pro in 2017, shot a 7-under 63 in the early morning wave of competitors and finished the day one shot back of Englishman David Skinns and tied with 2011 Canadian Open champ Sean O’Hair.
Burns, 27, now a Choudrant resident who plays out of Squire Creek Country Club in Lincoln Parish, had a fourth-place finish in this event in 2022. He is a spokesman for the tournament sponsor, RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) Wealth Management, and can been seen in its TV commercials.
Earlier this month, Sam and his wife Caroline, also a Shreveport native, became parents to infant son Bear Burns. Dad is relishing his new role, and said after Thursday’s round that he suddenly is eager to leave the golf course and get home on a regular basis. Caroline and Bear will soon join him for a three-week trip on the PGA Tour that will include next month’s U.S. Open at Pinehurst in North Carolina.
All that, and Thursday was the birthday of Burns’ caddy, Travis Perkins.
So Burns, who while missing the cut in three of his last five starts has been home practicing on a soft Squire Creek course that has absorbed plenty of rain recently, had good vibes and familiar conditions Thursday. He recorded two eagles and a birdie across a six-hole stretch to rocket up the leaderboard.
“I think with all the rain we had (in Hamilton) early in the week the greens are still pretty receptive,” Burns said. “It makes a big difference on par 5s when you have a long iron or a wood coming in there to be able to stop the ball pretty quick. That makes a huge difference. So I think that was really the difference in my round today. Making two eagles. Kind of kick started me and it was overall a solid round.”
After a 7:18 a.m. tee time Thursday, Burns, former U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland and Canadian Adam Svensson start today’s round at 12:33 EDT (11:33 CDT). Golf Channel will have coverage beginning at 2 p.m. CDT.
Woodland said after Thursday’s round that he didn’t think the golf course was easy until he watched Burns take it apart.
Calvary’s Walker top player on LSWA 2A All-State softball team
JOURNAL SPORTS
Calvary shortstop and Arkansas signee Ramsey Walker was named the Most Outstanding Player on the LSWA Class 2A All-State softball team and was one of three Lady Cavs selected to the first team announced Thursday.
Walker was a key player in the Lady Cavaliers’ run to a fourth consecutive state title, hitting .583 that included 22 home runs and 65 RBI. It was the second state most outstanding player award for Walker in the last three years, having won the honor on the 1A All-State team in 2022. It’s her fourth time to be named all-state, tying a school record.
Teammate DJ Lynch, who was also named to an all-state team for the fourth straight year, was last year’s top award winner in 2A. Lynch, a Northwestern State signee, hit .617 with 13 home runs and 52 RBI. Lady Cav pitcher Kynzee Anderson is a second-time selection to the team as a sophomore after finishing the season with a 23-2 record and a 1.48 ERA.
Walker and Lynch join Sarah Chamberlain (2014-2017) as the only Lady Cavs to be named all-state four times.
Calvary had three named honorable mention — Baylor Bockhaus, Carlie Guile and Loren Sivils.
Loyola’s Larkin Krieg and Presley Walker were also listed among the honorable mentions.
The Cavaliers landed two on the LSWA Class 2A All-State baseball team. Louisiana Tech signee pitcher Landon Fontenot and centerfielder Hutch Grace were named to the first team.
Fontenot finished with a 6-4 record and a 1.50 ERA. Grace, an Ouachita Baptist football signee, hit .441 with five home runs and 40 RBI.
St. Charles’ Brady St. Pierre earned the baseball All-State Most Outstanding Player award and Oak Grove coach Ty Rollinson was the Coach of the Year.
Calvary softball players named to LSWA All-State teams
2024 – 2A
Kynzee Anderson, Pitcher
DJ Lynch, Infield
Ramsey Walker, Infield, Outstanding Player
2023 – 2A
Kynzee Anderson, Pitcher
DJ Lynch, infield, Outstanding Player
Ramsey Walker, Infield
Tavia Leadon, Utility
2022 – 1A
Ramsey Walker, Infield, Outstanding Player
DJ Lynch, Outfield
2021 – 1A
Riley Walker, Pitcher
Ramsey Walker, Infield
Jamie Fielder, Outfield
DJ Lynch, Utility
Tiffany Wood, Coach of the Year
2018 – 2A
Bree Newman, Outfield
2017 – 2A
Sarah Chamberlain, Pitcher, Most Valuable Player
2016 – 2A
Sarah Chamberlain, Pitcher
Jordan Fielder, Outfield
Kenzie Glover, Utility
Tiffany Frazier, Coach of the Year
2015 – 2A
Sarah Chamberlain, Pitcher
2014 – 2A
Sarah Chamberlain, Pitcher
Marissa Reed, Utility
Calvary baseball players named to LSWA all-state teams
2023 – 2A
Jackson Legg, Utility
2022 – 1A
Caden Flowers, Infielder
Aubrey Hermes, Outfield
Jason Legg, Coach of the Year
2021 – 1A
Jackson Legg, Utility
2019 – 2A
Cade Hart, Pitcher, Outstanding Player
Fox Locke, Infielder
Carson Barnette, Outfield
Shannon Cunningham, Coach of the Year
2012 – 2A
Ryan Leone, Pitcher
Weston Steelhammer, Catcher
Garrett Williams, Utility
2011 – 2A
Jared Lupo, Utility
2008 – 2A
Randy Zeigler, Pitcher, Outstanding Player
Khiry Cooper, Outfield
2007 – 1A
Randy Zeigler, Pitcher, Outstanding Player
Gip Hendrix, Utility
2006 – 1A
Randy Zeigler, Pitcher
Rod Traweek, Coach of the Year
Employees recognized for 10 years of service
The Parish of Caddo and Employee Council recently rolled out the red carpet at the annual Employee Service Awards. It was a great celebration as the parish recognized employees for reaching milestone years of service.
The following employees were recognized for reaching 10 years of service: Jhatarra Williams, Carlos Stafford, Paul Herbert, Kimberly Lindsay, Jerome Darby, Amanda Lester, Tina Mims, Henry Bernstein, Denise Tolber, Gabrielle Davis, Cleveland Robertson, Frank Sambrano, Detroit Harris III, LaRunda Reason-Smith.
Bossier Parish Police Jury: Office Support Spotlight
The Bossier Parish Police Jury recently spotlighted its Police Jury Office Support Staff.
The office support staff does more than answer the phone. It plays a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation and efficiency of the organization as a whole. Staff provides a broad range of support functions that facilitate the work of other employees and contribute to the overall efficiency and productivity of the workplace.
They are the ones who ensure public works are efficiently managed, contributing to the betterment of the community.
Notice of Death – May 30, 2024
William Jefferson Cole
May 29, 1939 – May 26, 2024
Service: Friday, May 31, 2024, 10am at Broadmoor Presbyterian Church, Shreveport.
Patricia “Patsy” Ann Hemmings
September 25, 1940 — May 27, 2024
Service: Friday, May 31, 2024, 11am at Rose Neath Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Morgan Patrick O’Brien
July 22, 1954 – May 29, 2024
Service: Friday, May 31, 2024, 3pm at St. Martin’s Episcopal, Houston, TX.
Gary D. Salter
April 5, 1944 — May 27, 2024
Service: Friday, May 31, 2024, 11am at Rose Neath Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Iris Maria Chambless
March 4, 1942 — May 26, 2024
Service: Friday, May 31, 2024, Rose Neath Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Robert Wayne Wilcox
July 1, 1955 — March 23, 2024
Service: Saturday, June 22, 2024, 2pm at Rose Neath Funeral Home, Shreveport.
The Shreveport-Bossier Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $95. 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)
May 30, 2024
Meet Caddo and Bossier Parishes’ newest deputy, marshal and officer!
Twelve-year-old Devarjaye “DJ” Daniel of Houston is a young man on a mission. Diagnosed with stage III brain cancer at age six, he has not let his situation interfere with his dreams. His goal, for as long as he can remember, was to become a police officer. At first, Devarjaye wanted to be sworn in by 100 Law Enforcement Agencies. He quickly crushed that goal and is presently a sworn member of over 800 departments. His new goal is to become sworn in to 1,000 agencies.
He is now 14 law enforcement agencies closer to his goal. In a ceremony held Wednesday at the Bossier Sheriff’s Viking Drive substation, Devarjaye Daniel, in a Bossier Parish deputy’s uniform complete with duty belt, was administered the oath of office by Bossier Parish Sheriff Julian C. Whittington. Twelve other area law enforcement agencies then, in turn, presented Daniel with patches, badges, challenge coins and other items. Before the ceremony, Devarjaye spent the day with the Bossier Sheriff’s Marine Unit on Cypress Lake.
Devarjaye Daniel is now a member of the Louisiana State Police, Bossier, Caddo, Webster, and Bienville Sheriff’s offices, the Shreveport, Bossier City, Benton, Greenwood, Haughton, Plain Dealing and Mansfield Police Departments as well as the Shreveport and Bossier City Marshal’s Offices.
Well done Deputy/Officer/Trooper and Marshal Daniel!
Bossier Sheriff’s Office sobriety checkpoint results
Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted a sobriety checkpoint on May 25 in the 4700 block of Palmetto Road in Benton. A total of 568 vehicles were screened during the operation. 27 drivers were administered field sobriety tests and none of them were deemed to be impaired. Sheriff Whittington is proud to report that there were zero arrests made for DWI and no citations were issued by deputies.
“These sobriety checkpoints help raise public awareness of impaired driving which helps reduce the number of alcohol related/impaired crashes every year. These checkpoints are meticulously planned and coordinated to remove impaired drivers from the highways and roads which makes it safer for everyone,” said Sheriff Whittington. “Out of the all the people contacted by deputies during the checkpoint, no one was arrested for being impaired. This is proof positive that the public understands the dangers of impaired driving and that these checkpoints help keep the roads in Bossier Parish safe.”
This checkpoint was conducted as part of a grant awarded to the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office by the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission. The public is encouraged to report suspected impaired drivers 24 hours a day by either dialing 911 or calling the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office directly at (318) 965-2203.
Caddo Parish DA summer interns learn about judicial system
The Caddo Parish District Attorney’s first group of interns from the Caddo Parish summer internship program arrived on May 29. Students will work throughout the DA’s Office in various departments starting Tuesday, May 28 to Friday August 2 to learn the inner workings of the judicial system.
Pictured: Melanie Green (Grambling, Southwood); Makayla Monroe (LSU, Captain Shreve); Special Assistant DA Wilbert Pryor; Starsky Murrell (Vanderbilt, Parkway); Jaleia Latson (Spellman, Captain Shreve); and Ellise Bryant (Byrd).
Employees recognized for years of service
The Parish of Caddo and Employee Council recently rolled out the red carpet at the annual Employee Service Awards. It was a great celebration as the parish recognized employees for reaching milestone years of service.
Congratulations to Travis Clark, Tabitha Elsie, Kimberly Freeman, LaShyia Walker, and DeLecia Washington and other employees not pictured for reaching 5 years of service.
Bossier PD promotes five officers
The Bossier City Police Department recently held a ceremony to promote five deserving officers. Police Chief Daniel Haugen said that he was proud and it gave him great pleasure to recognize and promote these members. Bossier City Mayor Thomas Chandler was present at the promotion ceremony and offered his appreciation and congratulations to the officers. The members promoted during the ceremony were:
Lieutenant Joe Thomerson was promoted to Captain
Sgt. Doug Fuller promoted to Lieutenant
Corporal Carl Liddell promoted to Sgt.
Corp. George Fanning promoted to Sgt.
Corp. Steven Wood promoted to Sgt.
The ceremony was well attended by family, co-workers and well wishers.