Louisiana Economic Development and the U.S. Small Business Administration recognized business owners and supporters who exemplify Louisiana’s entrepreneurial resilience and diversity at the 2024 Louisiana Small Business Awards ceremony on May 2 at the Louisiana Capitol Park Museum in Baton Rouge.
 
“Louisiana’s small business community continues to be a shining light driving our state’s economy forward,” LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois said. “That is why here at LED we are equally committed to growing existing Louisiana businesses of all sizes as we are to attracting new investments. Congratulations to this year’s honorees for their significant achievements in – and contributions to – our great state.”
 
The annual event hosted by LED for more than 25 years comes during National Small Business Week. For over 60 years this weeklong celebration has acknowledged the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners to the national economy.
 
The Small Business Awards recognize excellence in a broad range of categories. The 2024 honorees are:
 
2024 SBA Champion Award Recipients
 
Entrepreneurial Success Award
Cristy Cali, Cristy’s Collection, LLC, St. Rose
 
Minority Small Business Champion
Mayra E. Pineda, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana, Metairie
 
Lender of the Year
Alton L. McRee and Donald Peltier, American Bank, Covington
 
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Xavier Barreda and LaDonte Lotts, JiggAerobics, LLC, Baton Rouge
 
Veteran Small Business Champion
Jack L. Gunter, GUNCO, LLC, Sulphur
 
Women in Business Champion
Trudy R. Poret, Tarpan Construction, LLC, Cottonport
 
Small Business Development Center Excellence & Innovation Center Award
Susan Thibodeaux, LSBDC at McNeese State University, Lake Charles
 
Phoenix Small Business Recovery Award
Dirk Guidry, Terrebonne Parish Council- District 8, Chauvin
 
2024 LED Entrepreneur Awards
 
LED Small and Emerging Business of the Year
LaDarby Williams, Germ Slayers Cleaning & Maintenance Solutions, New Orleans
 
Outstanding Small and Emerging Business Development Up-and-Coming Business Awards
Anastacia Francis, Little Starr’s Center, LLC, LaPlace
 
LEDC Equity Fund of the Year
Mickal P. Adler and John K. Roberts III, Boot64 Magnolia Fund I LP, Metairie
 
LEDC Micro Lender of the Year
Jonathan Reynolds, Carter Credit Union, Shreveport
 
LEDC Most Valuable Bank of the Year
Cody Gil and Courtney Tramiel, First Guaranty Bank, Hammond
 
Louisiana APEX Accelerator Government Contractor of the Year
Christina C-Do, Quality First Marine, LLC, Covington
 
Manufacturing Extension Partnership of Louisiana Small Manufacturer’s Award
Cherrie Guidry, Guidry’s Catfish, Inc., Breaux Bridge
 
National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Champion Award
Wayne Rabalais, Rabalais Business Consulting, Lafayette
 
USDA Rural Development Lender of the Year
Stephen C. Van Sickle II, BOM Bank, Natchitoches
 
USDA Rural Development Borrower of the Year
Walker Alford, All Hours Fitness, Inc., Many
 
Small Business Person of the Year
Iam C. Tucker, Integrated Logistical Support Incorporated (ILSI), New Orleans
 
Tucker has also been recognized as the National Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. This prestigious award recognizes entrepreneurs who demonstrate exceptional leadership and create sustainable, thriving businesses in their communities.
 
The ILSI owner was in the inaugural class of LED Growth Leaders and has participated in several LED small business programs including CEO Roundtables, Strategic Research and Mentor-Protégé Recognition Program.
 
“The SBA is proud to recognize 2024 National Small Business Person of the Year Iam C. Tucker, who exemplifies the grit, ingenuity and determination that define our nation’s entrepreneurs,” said U.S. SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman. “As a second-generation owner of ILSI, Iam has overseen tremendous business growth over the last 15 years in the engineering field while demonstrating the value of hard work and resourcefulness in ensuring continued resilience. I am honored that the SBA has been a part of her successful and ongoing journey.”
 
About LED
Louisiana Economic Development is responsible for strengthening the state’s business environment and creating a more vibrant economy. In 2023, LED attracted more than $25 billion of capital investment resulting in the creation of 19,000 potential new and retained jobs. Explore how LED cultivates jobs and economic opportunity for the people of Louisiana and employers of all sizes at OpportunityLouisiana.com.
 

By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports

BATON ROUGE – It took until the last third of LSU’s SEC baseball schedule, but the defending national champions Tigers’ NCAA tourney hopes are no longer in intensive care and are now breathing on their own.

That’s not to say head coach Jay Johnson’s team is out of the woods and not susceptible to a relapse.

But after taking Johnson’s “every game is a Game 7” approach, the Tigers provided their postseason bid resume with the biggest boost of a tough season by winning a home series over No. 1 ranked Texas A&M over the weekend in an energized Alex Box Stadium.

LSU (31-18, 9-15) took the series with a pair of 6-4 victories in Games 1 and 2 on Friday and Saturday nights before losing to Aggies (40-8, 16-8) 14-4 in Sunday afternoon’s Game 3.

As much as the Tigers would have loved their first conference series sweep of the season, there was little disappointment in LSU winning its third straight SEC series after losing its first five league series including four to top 6 nationally ranked teams.

The factors that plagued the Tigers in series losses to Mississippi State, then-No. 6 Florida, then-No. 1 Arkansas, then-No. 6 Vanderbilt and then-No. 4 Tennessee – shaky starting pitching and timely hitting – held up for the first 22 innings vs. A&M before imploding in the fifth inning of Sunday’s Game 3.

“We played about as good as we have all year for 22 innings and we just kind of ran out of bullets against a lineup of that caliber,” Johnson said. “I don’t think we could have pitched better for 22 innings. We laid it all out there for two nights. That’s why it’s hard to sweep a good team.”

In Friday’s series opener, LSU starting pitcher Gage Jump gave up a pair of homers and 3 runs in 5.1 innings. Even though the Aggies led 2-0 after the first two innings, he navigated out of trouble.

Trailing 3-2, the Tigers’ bats busted loose in a 4-run sixth off three A&M pitchers, starting with Josh Pearson ripping a 2-run double down the left field.

“I went into the at-bat and I had a good plan,” said Pearson, who hit new A&M reliever Kaiden Wilson’s 3-2 pitch. “I was the first batter he (Wilson) faced, so I was able to go over my approach (during Wilson’s warmup). I saw every pitch he threw.”

LSU’s 6-3 lead held up, thanks to relievers Fidel Ulloa and Griffin Herring holding the potent Aggies to 1 run in the final 3.2 innings. Herring struck out A&M’s Braden Montgomery, ranked third nationally in RBI and fourth in home runs, to end the game with runners on first and second.

The Aggies lost despite winning all four replay reviews, including an apparent solo homer by LSU’s Hayden Travinski being ruled an eighth inning-ending out because of apparent fan interference.

“I never seen four video review calls overturned in a game, let alone against one team,” Johnson said.

In Saturday’s Game 2, Holman, like Game 1 starter Jump, was slow out of the gate. He allowed 3 first-inning runs on 3 runs and 2 hits.

The Tigers tied the game with a 3-run third inning, jumpstarted by back-to-back solo homers by Tommy White and Jared Jones.

Yet that momentum almost disappeared in the A&M fourth when Holman gave up a single and two straight walks to load the bases with no outs. Normally stoic, he pounded his glove in frustration after issuing the latter walk.

“When that happens,” Johnson said noting Holman’s displeasure, “it can be very bad or very good.”

Holman’s response was spectacular. He recorded three consecutive strikeouts on nine pitches, getting the last two outs against Gavin Grahovac and Jace LaViolette, who had combined 40 homers and 115 RBI this season.

“I hate walks,” Holman said. “I was mentally not there, the first inning was terrible. I got on the horse and said, `Let’s lock in and get the job done.’ Coach (Johnson) has a lot of trust in me. I probably would have taken myself out.”

LSU broke the tie with a run in the seventh spurred by a pair of wild pitches by A&M reliever Evan Aschenbeck. But a 2-run LSU eighth powered by RBI singles from Alex Milazzo and White and 3.2 innings of almost flawless pitching from reliever Christian Little got the Tigers across the finish line.

“I was just trying to fill up the strike zone,” said Little, who allowed 2 hits and 1 run while striking out 6 and walking 1. “They’ve got a really good team. I really didn’t want to give them too much leeway.”

In Sunday’s Game 3 in a battle of remaining available pitching arms on each staff, it was LSU taking a 3-0 lead. Catcher Brady Neal hammered a 2-run second-inning homer and Pearson slapped a third-inning RBI single.

But finally, the A&M team that entered the weekend ranked fourth nationally in home runs unloaded.

The Aggies’ 9-run fifth-inning explosion off four LSU relievers featured 8 hits including Grahovac’s 3-run homer, a 2-run blast by Jackson Appel, 2 triples and 4 singles. Pinch-hitter Kaaden Kent’s grand slam homer and a LaViolette solo shot in A&M’s 5-run ninth concluded the Aggies’ 4-dinger day.

Even the sting of Sunday’s 10-run beatdown, when the Tigers were unexpectedly playing with house money, couldn’t dampen the euphoria of winning a series over a No. 1-ranked team for the first time since 2016.

“I think anybody that watched us in the fall (practice) knows we’re capable,” Neal said. “The talent on his team is unreal. And I feel like the pieces are coming together. This is what we’re capable of. That’s the best team in the country on paper, and they’re really good. We displayed good performances.”

After playing its final non-conference game of the season vs. Northwestern State on Tuesday night at home, LSU’s final two regular-season series are at Alabama starting Friday and home vs. Ole Miss on May 16-18. The Tigers need to win both series to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive.

“We’re in the fight, and that’s all we can do right now,” Johnson said. “We have work to do. I’m really excited about the next two weeks. We’ve improved and we’ve grown up some. We’re gonna keep fighting until they tell us we can’t play anymore.”

Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com

JOURNAL SPORTS

Benton’s Tanner Webb tossed a three-hit shutout and the Tigers knocked off St. Amant 1-0 in the third and decisive game of a three-game quarterfinal series Saturday of the LHSAA Non-Select Division I state baseball playoffs.

The Tigers scored the only run of the game when Hayden Millen, who had reached base on a walk, scored on a balk. Millen reached third base after Case Jorden sacrificed him to second and Bryson Pierce lifted a fly ball to left deep enough for him to tag up and advance.

Webb didn’t walk a batter and struck out five in keeping the Gators off the board.

Benton (31-10) won the first game of the best-of-3 series 4-2 Friday as Kade Bryant limited the Gators to four hits, walked five and two unearned runs over 6 1/3 innings. Webb came on to strike out the last two batters with the bases loaded to get the save.

The Tigers made the most of their four hits with Millen going 2-for-3. Millen scored the first of three third-inning runs on a Hudson Brignac single. Jorden scored on an error and Pierce came home on a sacrifice fly by Caleb Frey.

St. Amant (27-12), the No. 5 seed, forced a third and deciding game with three runs in the seventh inning for a 4-1 win in Game 2. Pierce was 3-for-3 and scored Benton’s only run that tied the game 1-1 in the sixth.

Benton, the No. 13 seed, will play No. 1 seed Barbe Thursday, 5:30 at McMurry Park in Sulphur in a single-elimination matchup.

Northwood (29-8) was able to win Game 2 of its best-of-3 series to force a deciding Game 3 before falling 10-4 to visiting Acadiana in Select Division I.  The No. 4 seeded Falcons lost the first game 6-1 on Friday before defeating the Wrecking Rams 5-1.

Jaxon Bentzler went 6 2/3 innings, limiting the Rams to five hits and one run, as he walked five and struck out six to get the Game 2 win. He was also 3-for-4 at the plate with two of the Falcons’ four RBI in a five-run fourth inning. Hoss Little and Isaias Saucedo had run-scoring singles for Northwood.

Bentzler and Tucker McCabe were both 2-for-4 in the first game loss. Bentzler’s fifth-inning home run was the Falcons’ only tally. Senior third basemen Hutson Hearron had a fourth-inning double.

Kanyon Griffin hit two home runs for Acadiana (19-18-1) with his fifth-inning grand slam being the major blow for the Rams.

Acadiana scored five runs in the first two innings and added five more in the fifth in taking the clinching Game 3.

Christian Blackmon suffered the loss on the mound but had two of the Falcons’ five hits. Bentzler hit a home run for Northwood’s only extra-base hit.

Evangel, the No. 13 seed in Select Division II, dropped both its games at No. 5 St. Thomas More (21-15). The Eagles (16-19) lost 10-0 Friday in five innings and 7-3 Saturday in nine innings.

By JERRY BYRD, Journal Sports

BATON ROUGE — There was a little something of everything for local relay teams at the 2024 LHSAA State Track & Field Championships over the three-day day event. From the joy of winning the school’s first state championship in any sport, to the agony of defeat after being pulled off the podium for a disqualification. 

It started on Thursday with the Class 1A meet when Magnolia School of Excellence captured its first state championship, not just in track and field, but any sport. Kathryn Griffin, Khloe Wells, Lyric Williams, and Desiray Markson made history by winning the girls 4×100 with a time of 50.82.

The Magnolia sprint relays almost doubled up as the 4×200 relay (1:48.42) finished a close second to Louise McGehee (1:48.31) earlier in the day. 

On Saturday, the Northwood sprint relays walked into LSU’s Bernie Moore Stadium with the fastest qualifying times in both the 4×200 (1:28.31) and 4×100 (42.35) in Class 4A. 

In the 4×200, the Falcons had trouble moving the baton through the second exchange, opening the door for cross-town rival Evangel Christian Academy. The Eagles’ team of Joshua Isaac, Johnny Casey, Tyreek Robinson, and Roy Morris Jr. won the state championship with a 1:28.20. Northwood finished third with a 1:28.56. 

“We freaked out a little bit on that second exchange,” Northwood head coach Austin Brown said. “Of course, they were dejected when I saw them after. I told them that they didn’t have to do anything special in the 4×100. All they had to do is be themselves, and do what got us there.”

While all of the exchanges were a bit slower than Brown would have liked, the Falcons were still within striking distance after the final exchange, but Evangel was in the lead. Senior James Hollingsworth, who only came out for track and field this year, gained on the Eagles’ anchor leg and was able to lean at the tape to capture Northwood’s first state championship in the event since 2017. 

“It was great!,” Brown said when asked about the celebration afterwards. “I met them at the gate where they check in. There was relief. We looked at the times early on in the season and felt like we would have a chance to be in that position. It’s been two months of working and trusting our marks.”

Northwood’s state championship 4×100 foursome — Desmond Harris, Justin Thomas, Jeremiah Johnson, and Hollingsworth — ran a 42.29. Evangel was right behind at 42.35.

On Friday, Calvary’s 4×400 relay of Kolby Thomas, Tsehaye Knight, Landon Sylvie, and Jackson Burney won a state championship with a Class 2A meet record time of 3:25.50. 

The Huntington girls 4×400 team of Jaila Marshall, T’La Dewitt, Nyla Ware, and Haliey Evans sat on the podium waiting on their moment to stand up and receive their gold medals after battling back in the race on the last lap. That moment never came as a red flag went up in the far turn on the anchor leg for impeding the runner. 

Huntington head coach LeRonn Burris protested the call to no avail. 

Earlier in the day, the Lady Raiders’ 4×200 (Aniyah Jackson, Janayah Dotson, Ware, and Dewitt) and 4×100 (Marshall, Dewitt, Ware, and Evans) finished second to Warren Easton in both relays. 

But the goal for the Lady Raiders was not relay gold medals, it was defending their state championship from a year ago. Huntington fell short finishing third in the Class 4A girls standing with 51 points. Warren Easton won with 72 points. 

Huntington’s Demetria Harris had a sensational conclusion to her phenomenal career as a Lady Raider. Harris won the 100 meter hurdles (14.20) and triple jump (40-8.25). In the latter event, which she picked up just this year, Harris was a quarter of an inch away from tying Danielle Brown’s composite state meet record set in 1997. 

Airline’s Jeremiah Boudreaux closed out his storybook senior season with a 5A state championship in the boys 300 hurdles. After breaking his leg on October 20, Boudreaux battled back and has led the state all spring in the event. 

In his final race as an Airline Viking, Boudreaux ran away from the field and won with a time of 36.76, breaking the Class 5A record set by Craig Rock (37.02) in 2014. It’s also No. 2 all-time behind Kashie Crockett’s 36.42 in 2021. 

Boudreaux also finished third in the 110 hurdles with a personal record time of 13.95. 

Other area athletes to win state championships included Loyola’s Tripp Roemer, who doubled in the Class 2A boys 1600 (4:24.52)  and 3200 (9:35.38), Calvary’s Burney in the Class 2A boys 800 (1:53.23), Miller Malley of Benton in the 5A boys pole vault (14-11.5), Woodlawn’s SheLunda Brooks in the 4A girls shot put (35-4.75), and Evangel’s Morris (23-9.5) in the 4A boys long jump. 

C.E. Byrd’s Jenna Key and Spencer Frierson, the two best distance runners in school history, closed their high school careers together running in the 5A girls 3200. Key got on the podium in third (11:15.57) and Frierson finished sixth (11:42.04_. 

Parkway’s Gabe Falting wrapped up a record-breaking career as a Panther. Falting finished fifth in the 5A boys’ 800 (1:55.97) and ran a leg on Parkway’s fifth-place 4×800 relay (8:03.92) and sixth-place 4×400 relay (3:22.10). 

Contact Jerry at sbjjerrybyrd@gmail.com

JOURNAL SPORTS

CLASS 5A

BOYS

Airline

Jeremiah Boudreaux, 1st 300-hurdles, 36.76; 3rd 110-hurdles, 13.95

1600-Relay – 4th 3:18.7 (J. Boudreaux, Lathan Woodland, Phillip Hughes, Gabe Laval)

Malik Word, 4th discus, 153-4 ½

Benton

Miller Malley, 1st pole vault, 14-11 ½

Jeff King, 3rd javelin, 192-3

Marc Perry, 3rd triple jump, 46-7 ½

Parkway

Brennan Robin, 2nd 1600, 4:14.76

Will Achee, 2nd 400, 47.19

Gabriel Falting, 5th 800 1:55.97

3200-Relay 5th 8:03.92 (Jesus Cordova, Alex Gomez, Gary Smith, G. Falting)

Devon Oliver, 2nd discus, 172-8; 5th shot put, 50-5 ½

GIRLS

Airline

400-relay 3rd  (Rikiyah Taylor, Jaycie Wallace, Janiyah Boudreaux, Kezyriah Sykes)

Shelby Ladet, 2nd high jump, 5-5 ¾

Benton

Addyson Hulett, 4th 400, 56.86

Sadie Hamby, 3rd Javelin, 124-10

Byrd

Jenna Key, 3rd 3200, 11:15.57

Captain Shreve

Leah Bryant, 2nd 100-hurdles, 15.26

Parkway

Chloe Larry, 1st javelin, 142-2

Jayla James, 4th shot put, 35-10 ¼

Haughton

Aniya Hill, 2nd discus, 134-0

CLASS 4A

BOYS

Huntington

Landon Gibbs, 2nd high jump, 6-6

Preston Summage, 4th 200, 48.8

Evangel

Roy Morris Jr., 1st long jump, 23-9 ½;

Tyreek Robinson, 4th 200, 21.93

800-relay 1st (Joshua Isaac, Johnny Casey, Tyreek Robinson, Roy Morris Jr.)

400-relay 2nd (J. Isaac, J. Casey, T. Robinson, R. Morris Jr.)

Northwood

James Hollingsworth, 3^rd 300-hurdles, 39.59

400-relay 1st (Desmond Harris, James Hollingsworth, Justin Thomas, Jeremiah Johnson)

800-relay 3rd (Jalil Wainwright, J. Hollingsworth, J. Johnson, J. Thomas)

Duntravious Young, 5th long jump, 21-7 ½

GIRLS

Caddo Magnet

Jahzi Strickland, 5th discus, 102-9 ¾

Huntington

Demetria Harris 1st 100-hurdles, 14.2; 2nd long jump 19-1 ½; 1st triple jump 40-8 ½

Janayah Dotson, 4th 400, 58.63

Aniyah Jackson, 5th 400, 58.7

400-relay 2nd (Jaila Marshall, T’La Dewitt, Nyla Ware, Haliey Evans)

800-relay 2nd (Aniyah Jackson, Janayah Dotson, N. Ware, T. Dewitt)

Woodlawn

ShaLunda Brooks, 1st shot put, 35-4 ¾

CLASS 2A

BOYS

Calvary

Jackson Burney 1st 800, 1:53

Kolby Thomas, 4th 100, 11.38

1600-relay 1st (K. Thomas, Ty Knight, Landon Sylvie, J. Burney)

Loyola

3200-relay 2nd 8:21.07 (Mark Henry Carter Ward Mathis Stanberry Reese Jacobs)

Tripp Roemer 1st 1600, 4:24.52; 1st 3,200, 9:35.38

Green Oaks

Cortaveus Dorsey 2nd triple jump, 44-4 ¼

GIRLS

Loyola

Emily Anderson, 4th 800, 2:23.34

400-Relay 4th, 50.63 (Ella Poole Ainsley Matlock Ammya Tran Saniyah Paglialunga-Simo)

CLASS 1A

BOYS

Magnolia Charter

Deon Elder, 5th discus, 135-9 ½

GIRLS

Magnolia Charter

400-Relay – 1st 50.82 (Kathryn Griffin Khloe Wells Lyric Williams Desiray Markson)

800-Relay – 2nd 1:48.82 (Aniyelle Kelly K. Griffin K. Wells D. Markson

Desiray Markson, 3rd 200, 26.4

Plain Dealing

Brianna Newton, 2nd shot put, 11.05m

JOURNAL SPORTS

CLEBURNE, Texas – Centenary and Texas Lutheran will square off at noon today to decide the 2024 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament championship and a berth in the Division III NCAA Tournament.

The teams have split meetings over the weekend in the conference tournament. Centenary pushed Texas Lutheran to a decisive winner-take-all game after Sunday’s 10-8, extra-inning victory at La Moderna Field.

Centenary improved to 22-18 while Texas Lutheran slipped to 25-16. The Diamond Gents eliminated No. 1 seed Trinity 7-6 earlier in the day. 

The Gents opened the conference tournament Friday with a 6-4 victory over Southwestern, then dropped a 5-2 decision Saturday to Texas Lutheran. The elimination-round contest with Trinity began Saturday but was halted by rain and finished Sunday when Centenary scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth on a throwing error.

Monday’s game will be live streamed through the league’s partnership with Sportsgram and is available through the SCACSports.com website.

The Health Occupational Program (HOP) is a collaboration between Willis Knighton Health and Caddo Parish Public Schools to provide real world experience and education for careers in healthcare. Fourteen seniors from Booker T. Washington and Huntington High Schools received scholarships from Willis Knighton to assist them in their future healthcare focused education.

By TONY TAGLAVORE, Journal Services

Curtis Jackson has added his 50 cents to last week’s Shreveport-Bossier Journal story, regarding promises the rapper turned television and film producer has made to transform Shreveport—in particular, downtown.

Friday, Jackson, better known to his fans as “50 Cent”, posted to Instagram, where he has more than 32 million followers.

“Not only am I gonna do what I said Tony, but the title wave of interest is gonna send people to invest.”

Jackson has signed a 30-year lease with the city for the former Millennium Studios, which is now G-Unit Film & Television Studios. The Queens, New York native, is also in the process leasing Stageworks of Louisiana, a former entertainment production facility which was being converted to host sporting events. Jackson is also in the process of buying several buildings and pieces of property, and is looking for a home to buy.

The Journal story referenced that, according to Mayor Tom Arceneaux, the City has not offered, and Jackson has not asked for, any money.

“I’m not looking for capital, just support,” Jackson’s post read. “The plan is to create a community that thrives through creativity and innovation.”

Along a similar path, actor Tyler Perry has a production studio in Atlanta, Georgia.

“I talk to Tyler,” Jackson’s post continued. “Technology is changing film and television production fast, so we have to change faster to stay ahead of the curve.”

Within a few hours, Jackson’s post had close to 6,000 reactions and more than 200 comments.

Contact Tony at SBJTonyT@gmail.com

The Shreveport Police Department announced the arrest of 27-year-old Gloria White in connection to a violent incident that occurred on April 29th in the 4300 block of Illinois Street.

White has been charged with one count of simple robbery, domestic abuse battery, and criminal mischief stemming from the altercation.

Shreveport Police officers responded to a call regarding a domestic dispute on the aforementioned date. Upon arrival, they found evidence of an altercation involving White and another individual.

While no serious injuries were reported at the scene, the incident resulted in charges being filed against White.

The Shreveport Police Department takes incidents of domestic violence very seriously. The Shreveport Police Department encourages anyone who may be a victim of domestic violence or knows someone who is, to seek assistance from local authorities or support organizations.

Suspects are innocent until proven guilty.

Centenary Athletics will hold a ribbon-cutting event to celebrate the completion of its new fieldhouse and football practice field on Thursday, May 9, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The celebration includes a reception and student-athlete-led tours of the new facilities. It is free and open to the public.

Centenary president Dr. Christopher L. Holoman, athletic director David Orr, and head football coach Byron Dawson will speak at the event inaugurating the new 4,700 square foot fieldhouse that houses locker rooms for Centenary’s football team along with its women’s soccer and softball teams. The facility, which also includes coaches’ offices, looks out over the new 76,500 square foot turf practice field. Adjacent to the Gold Dome and to Mayo Field, home of Centenary’s football, lacrosse, and soccer teams, the field house and practice field are the latest addition to Centenary’s revitalized athletic complex located on Kings Highway.

“The expansion of new sports and increased enrollment of student-athletes have provided the opportunity to expand and revitalize Centenary’s athletic facilities,” said Athletic Director David Orr. “Centenary Athletics has outgrown its current facilities, especially related to coach and student-athlete spaces. With the addition of the fieldhouse, which hosts coaches’ offices and locker room for the newly added football program, we also took advantage of the opportunity to add coaches’ offices and locker rooms for two current and longstanding women’s sports, soccer and softball.”

Orr explained that the new football practice field will also be multi-purpose, able to accommodate other sports as well as student activities, athletic camps, and community events.

“The opportunity to bring football back to Centenary after almost an 80-year hiatus has given Centenary and the Athletic Department opportunities beyond just football to improve our facilities,” said Orr. “We have expanded access all across the board and added new ways to  welcome and serve our community.”

The ribbon-cutting event will also serve as the official re-launch of Centenary’s “C Club,” Centenary’s athletic booster club. C Club supporters can choose to allocate funds to specific athletic teams or to the athletic department as a whole, and can choose from a variety of individual and corporate affiliation levels. For more information or to donate, visit gocentenary.com/gocentenary/C_Club.

“I’m very proud that we are bringing the C Club back to the Athletics Division,” said Collin Taylor, Centenary’s development officer for athletics. “This booster club is only going to add to the excitement at Centenary. By giving to the C Club, alumni and donors will support the teams and programs they so dearly love and also receive some limited-edition Centenary swag. You can immediately make an impact by giving today.”

Brian Crawford described himself as a hyperactive child that struggled in school to the point where high school graduation wasn’t a given.

Crawford did find that educational focus when he attended college for the first time at age 32, earning four college degrees along with a number of certifications.

Now a senior vice president at Willis Knighton, he’s challenged himself in a number of careers that included being a paramedic, the Shreveport Fire Department Chief, and the Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Shreveport in addition to a variety of volunteer service opportunities.

Crawford will share nuggets of his journey as part of the commencement message at LSUS’s graduation on May 10 at Brookshire Grocery Arena.

“I learned through college that you didn’t have to be the smartest person to begin and later excel at higher education – you just needed to be determined, self-disciplined and to make learning a priority,” said Crawford, an LSUS alumnus. “Each degree and work experience (good and bad), like investments, compounds over time and becomes a greater and greater asset of knowledge from which to draw, regardless of what job you’re performing.”

Crawford excelled in his emergency medical service roles with his “perfectionist personality,” but then Shreveport Fire EMS Chief Richard Lazurus encouraged Crawford to pursue a college degree.

“He also said I needed to have a combination of different work-related knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as an advanced education if I ever wanted to become the fire chief,” Crawford said. “I didn’t understand it at the time, but (Lazarus), and later fire chief Kelvin Cochran and Tom Dark (current Shreveport Chief Administrative Officer) would change my life over the next 10 years.

“They guided and pushed me into other city roles, taught me about municipal finance, budgets and strategic planning. My personality also needed to soften and integrate more compassion and empathy in my leadership style and decision making.”

Crawford also took Lazarus’ advice of diverse work experience to heart, becoming Shreveport’s Fire Chief before moving into general city administration.

But his professional roots were in patient care from his days as a ground and flight paramedic, so when the opportunity surfaced to serve in the Willis Knighton administration, Crawford didn’t hesitate in 2018.

“I had partnered with Willis Knighton throughout my time as (fire chief and chief administration officer) to improve emergency and patient care initiatives in the community,” said Crawford, who uses his community relationships in Strategic Partnerships, External Affairs and Community Engagement duties. “That, coupled with my work there as a flight medic, allowed me to become familiar with senior leadership.

“Believing in this mission and getting to work with an incredibly talented and dedicated group of individuals throughout the organization seemed like a perfect fit when I left public service.

Already carrying three college degrees when he began with Willis Knighton, Crawford needed more formal education to overcome a learning curve in a new administrative career. He pursued his Master of Health Administration at LSUS.

The 2021 graduate said it’s been a keen investment of time and energy.

“From the time I enrolled at LSUS in 2019 through today, there has honestly not been a day that I haven’t used my MHA degree to help me better serve our patients, residents, employees, partners and community,” said Crawford, who also has an organizational management degree from Wiley University and an industrial psychology masters degree from Louisiana Tech University. “The knowledge I gained from the LSUS MHA program has been a game-changing difference maker in my ability to navigate the sometimes complex healthcare industry.”

It’s not just through his formal roles that Crawford has cared for, and about, his community. He’s a board member for the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, the Providence House, Volunteers for Youth Justice, and the Independence Bowl Foundation.

He also serves on the national Department of Commerce NTIA’s First Responder Network Authority Board of Directors and is a past vice chair of the Louisiana State Police Commission.

The son of a Barksdale Air Force airman, Crawford relocated back to Shreveport-Bossier after living in California, Japan, Delaware, and Virginia.

“Regardless of where we lived, there was one place we always called home – Shreveport-Bossier,” Crawford said. “We moved home and ever since believed it is the best place to live and raise a family.

“There are beautiful, caring and incredibly unselfish people throughout this region, and they are in every neighborhood where they work, raise families, worship, play, give, and live their best lives. That’s why Willis Knighton continues to work every day to improve the health, lives, and welfare of the people in this community.”

“We no longer need Orion to know you’re near.”

That’s the message on Trey Gibson’s plaque to recognize his induction into the International Public Debate Association Hall of Fame.

It’s a saying that Gibson said to his son Alex when Alex would ask when his dad was coming home.

Gibson was often coaching his teams at debate tournaments in seasons that run from September to April, and phone calls would end with, “When you look up and see Orion’s Belt, know that I’m near.”

Alex called the trophy company to have the message inscribed on his father’s hall of fame plaque, except the company put that message on all four inductees’ plaques.

Three of those inductees this year have LSUS ties as Gibson coached A.J. Edwards and Keith Milstead before the latter pair made names for themselves as coaches and IPDA governing officials.

Gibson was inducted as a coach with Edwards and Milstead inducted as debaters.

“I can honestly say this organization might not be what it is today without the input and impact of these three dynamic members,” said Mary Jarzabek, a national champion LSUS Debate coach, an early adopter of the IPDA format, and a 2023 hall of fame inductee. “They have taken the time and energy to help students, coaches, and the leaders of IPDA to grow, while remaining true to the founding principles of education and professionalism that were part of the IPDA legacy.

“I have seen all three give their time, energy and spirit to the IPDA. They give with their hearts and always have.”

The induction ceremony took place at the IPDA National Championships at Mississippi State University, where the LSUS squad finished fourth in the tournament and third in the final season standings.

Edwards coached that LSUS bunch to the fifth top-five finish in his tenure as this year’s Pilots traversed a field with nearly 50 teams and more than 300 debaters.

Debate paved his professional and collegiate path.

“(Jarzabek) recruited me out of (Southwood High), and the only reason I even came to college was because I was told I could debate,” said Edwards, who earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree from LSUS. “Debate completely changed the trajectory of my life.

“I would have been working menial labor somewhere and hating my job. But (Jarzabek) showed up, said I could debate in college, and I asked if I could start the next day.”

Edwards touts six national championships as an LSUS debater – three tournament titles, one first-place speaker title and two season-long national championships. He was a team captain on LSUS’s first national championship tournament team in 2002 and then on the season-long national title squad in 2017-18.

Edwards and Milstead started at LSUS together and were key figures for the program in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Milstead, the head coach at Southern Methodist University and current IPDA president, won three-season-long national championships, two national tournament titles and was part of the 2002 national title squad with Edwards.

Gibson coached both in their first year in 1997-98.

“I knew they were brilliant and had so much potential from the very beginning,” Gibson said. “Watching them grow from being 18-year-old freshmen and then seeing how they’ve navigated the world, I couldn’t be more proud of who they’ve become.”

Gibson added it’s debaters like Edwards who provided the most joy from his coaching days, which ended in 2019.

“You have your uber-talented kids who are going to be successful, but sometimes they don’t always put in the work that they could,” Gibson said. “Then you have those kids that maybe didn’t come from the best place or have the best teachers and resources growing up, but sometimes those kids are the hardest workers.

“When you see them succeed, that’s the greatest feeling as a coach. It’s like you gave them a Ferrari, and they accelerated their capabilities in life and their future potential.”

With LSUS Debate largely recruiting students already on campus, the program has made a name for itself by cultivating students they find in communication classes.

It’s the basis for Gibson’s success and Edwards’ continued success.

Gibson led LSUS to six overall season-long national championships and three tournament championships in 12 seasons after winning three season-long and three tournament national championships at Louisiana Tech University.

But he almost never found debate in the first place.

A golfer at Northwestern State University before the team was disbanded, Gibson came back to Shreveport as an LSUS golfer and was convinced by Jarzabek to try debate after he took one of her classes.

The three LSUS inductees this year – Gibson, Edwards and Milstead – join Jarzabek as four of the eight members of the IPDA Hall of Fame.

“LSUS was enchanted with this form of debate when it was being formed … and Trey and I were there at one of the founders’ meetings,” Jarzabek said of the more audience-friendly debate style. “When Trey took over the LSUS program after I stepped down, he continued to promote and develop this format.

“And since A.J. and Keith were the star debaters, it’s a testament to the commitment of all of us to promote and continue our engagement with the IPDA. We all agree that this is the most educational, inclusive and professional format of debate in the U.S., and we all want to see it flourish.”

Added Edwards, “To know that all of our names are in the organization’s history book together, it can’t be any more fitting for me. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

By Jeanni Ritchie 

Fresh off the unexpected massive success of the independently produced Karen Kingsbury film Someone Like You comes another hugely successful faith-based film. Unsung Hero climbed to #2 at the box office in its opening weekend. 

America is craving hope and the changing media landscape shows that we are grabbing it with both hands. Faith-based films shoot to the top of charts. Secular magazines like First for Women have increased stories and sections on faith and inspiration. Television shows like The Chosen are must-see tv. It is God’s own Reclaim the Land tour. 

Based on the real life story of the Smallbone family, Unsung Hero tells the origin story of Christian solo artist Rebecca St. James and her brothers Luke and Joel of the Christian band for King & Country. While they are the onstage faces we’ve grown to know and love, the movie introduces us to the rest of the family as well. The behind-the-scenes family members (dad David, brothers Daniel, Ben, Josh, and baby sister Libby) are as much a part of this musical success as Rebecca, Joel, and Luke. 

I’d venture to say the actual hero in the movie though is Helen Smallbone, the embodiment of a Proverbs 31 woman. The Smallbone matriarch exemplifies the power of a praying woman and shows a dedication and commitment to her family far beyond most. I will forever be inspired by this mother’s unwavering love for her family and the Lord. 

One of my favorite parts of the movie was seeing the family’s PLEASE and THANK YOU wall. Rooted in Scripture, the family would write their needs on index cards under the “please” column. We are told to make our requests known to the Lord in Philippians 4:6. 

As the prayers were answered the family members would move the requests to the “thank you” column. Growing up in the South it was instilled in me to acknowledge every gift. Yet so often we tend to forget the One who blesses us the most. The Smallbone family never lost sight of the importance mentioned in many thankfulness verses, including Psalm 100:4. I immediately came home and created my own PLEASE and THANK YOU wall. 

The story of the Smallbone family, their challenges and victories, is no different than most. David Smallbone faced the adversity many of us do as well. Uncertainty, success, fear, faith, depression, humiliation, forgiveness, sorrow, redemption…life is a journey of mountains and valleys for everyone. It is not what happens in life that defines us but how we handle it. Even when you fail, and we all fall short at times, it’s important to remember that there’s always hope in Christ. 

As Joel and Luke sing in for King and Country’s It’s Not Over Yet, hope is rising..

never give in, never give up, it’s not over

yet…

As a nation, we are in our redemption season. Walk in the victory that has been so freely given. 

Check out the inspirational movie Unsung Hero in theaters near you! 

Jeanni Ritchie is a faith and mental health positivity journalist from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.