You can’t drive forward while looking in a rear-view mirror.
You can try and some do.
Ministers spend a great deal of time in a car driving to various places. I enjoy my automotive world. With technology, I can hear the phone ring despite playing my radio loud enough to change my heart rhythm. I play the radio so loud because I don’t hear well after all these years of playing the radio very loud in my car. The vehicle allows the phone call to interrupt my musical moment. I never miss a phone call while driving. When I am alone, the air-conditioning is on the “freeze out” setting. I want to make sure that my glasses fog up heavily when I exit the vehicle. If I can’t see at all, the air conditioning was cold enough. I also look for sermon illustrations while I am driving. Jesus is certainly watching, but I am too! When I raise the phone while driving, I’m not texting. I am photographing.
This morning driving to work, I had the radio loud and the air conditioning on “freeze out,” while I observed the world. In front of me was a black mustang convertible. There was a girl in the car. I could tell because she had her rearview mirror cocked in the “installing make up while driving” position. We sat at the light, and I watched as she applied some ointment, powder, or treatment to her face while the light was red. Because of the angle of the Mustang rear window, I could not tell if she continued applying make-up while driving. She was going “my way” and I did note she was an excellent driver and I’ll bet a super multi-tasker.
I have witnessed full facial make-overs while the person was driving the car. I have seen men put on a tie, send a text message, and read the newspaper at the same time while driving on the Interstate. But I am fascinated by the women who can put on that eye makeup stuff while driving. I have seen mascara going on while the nice lady was driving the car and making a cell phone call. I am amazed. They are doing all of this while looking backwards. The road they are traveling on is out the front window!
But really, you can’t drive forward looking in a rear-view mirror. Jesus said, “If you put your hand to the plow and look back you are not worthy of the kingdom.” Jesus was saying you need to keep your spiritual focus and your life looking forward. If you look back to regrets, mistakes, slights, hurts, sins, or even successes you will miss the beauty of this day. Today is out there, it is not back there!
BATON ROUGE – The voice came from behind me early Monday morning as I was cleaning the “gifts” left on my back patio by Skippy the Wonder Bichon and his brother Buddy II.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the Hall of Famer,” said a familiar voice.
I turned around. Skippy was standing in the doggie door, wearing his usual smirk.
“What’s the deal, Famer?” Skipper asked. “Wasn’t there a Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer pooper scooper in your swag bag? Hall of Fame czar Dougie ‘Fresh’ Ireland is one of my fans. I’m sure he could have gotten one made for me.”
“Hello, Skip,” I said. “So, you’re talking to me now? You didn’t have much to say yesterday after you and Buddy’s 3½-day stay in boarding.”
“Frankly, I was exhausted,” Skipper said. “On Thursday about an hour after you dropped us off, a lady accidently crashed her car through the front of the building.
“We heard the crash. Buddy got excited. He said, `I knew Dad was coming back to break us OUT!’ He got depressed again when I told him you and Mom were heading to Natchitoches for `RonFest.’ He immediately went into pout mode until you picked us up late yesterday afternoon.
“But I did watch the Hall of Fame ceremony streamed live on my iPhone. The best part of your induction was your introduction video that included a picture of me and Buddy. I thoroughly enjoyed the inductions of the other 9 inductees who showed up in person.
“Absent Lafayette-native mixed martial arts world champ Daniel Cormier’s pre-taped acceptance interview with Jacques Doucet of WAFB was sincerely heartfelt.”
“Yes, I thought it was great,” I said. “He’s trying to build a career as an ESPN MMA analyst. He got an unexpected call last week for a telecast assignment and chose to go instead of being inducted. He struggled with the decision.”
“Saints Super Bowl-winning QB Drew Brees didn’t show up,” Skip said. “He said in his video with Jacques, in an extremely disingenuous explanation, he couldn’t attend because he and his family were on a planned vacation in Japan. How does that happen?”
“Skipperoo, since we selected the Hall of Fame 2024 class last August, Hall of Fame Foundation CEO Ronnie Rantz and your friend Dougie Fresh tried to accommodate his availability to determine an induction date,” I said. “In November before Thanksgiving, they finally had to set the date because of the planning and logistics involved.
“Previous superstar LSHOF inductees — such as Peyton and Eli Manning, the Duck Commander Phil Robertson and Shaquille O’Neal – arrived Friday on the second day of the three-day celebration when they were inducted. They were genuinely thrilled to be part of the ceremony.
“Skip, all Drew Brees had to do was fly in on Saturday, be inducted, and fly out. I can’t believe he didn’t consider that his absence was a slap in the face to the city of Natchitoches and all the volunteers who work to make the event better each year, not to mention Saints fans who wanted to see him.
“The silver lining is the rest of this year’s Hall of Fame inductees – all either Louisiana natives or who played or coached in Louisiana high schools and colleges – were overwhelmed with gratitude. The packed house in the Natchitoches Events Center felt that love and returned it.
“As it turned out, the best way to describe Drew Brees’ absence is the lyric from a Dixie Chicks song `Goodbye Earl’ that says, `He was a missing person nobody missed at all.’”
“So, Mr. Famer, what was the best part of the weekend for you?” Skip asked.
“That’s easy,” I replied. “Having my family there and bonding with the rest of the induction class. I already knew three of them personally – fellow journalism inductee Bobby Ardoin, former Tulane basketball coach Perry Clark and former Southland Conference commissioner Tom Burnett.
“But I loved getting to know jockey Ray Sibille, who won 4,264 horse races in his 35-year career. And Frank Monica, who won three high school state football championships. And Baton Rouge native and LSU women’s basketball great Seimone Augustus. And former LSU wrestler and Olympic gold medalist Kevin Jackson. And former McNeese State quarterback and CFL star Kerry Joseph. And especially former Grambling baseball coach and athletic director Wilbert Ellis, one of the finest people I’ve ever met.
“The strangest thing was people wanting my autograph. I wanted to say “Why?’ Instead, I profusely thanked them. Well, all but the guy who asked for my signature on the drive back Sunday afternoon.”
“Who was that?” the Skipster said.
“That was an Evangeline Parish sheriff’s deputy,” I said. “He needed me to sign the speeding ticket he issued me.”
“Maybe you could have gotten out of it saying you were Drew Brees,” Skip said.
“Nah,” I replied. “The deputy would have said, `I thought you’re on a family vacation in Japan.’”
GETTING HIS KICKS: Haughton’s Coleman Pratt, standing in front of some of the Bucs’ linemen, broke into the scoring column last week at LaGrange. (Submitted photo)
EDITOR’S NOTE: This Sept. 13, 2023 story by Shreveport-Bossier Journal writer John James Marshall was selected as the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s Story of the Year in writing contest results announced Sunday. It was the first-place entry in the Prep Feature (Class I) category, then was considered for the Story of the Year honor along with 15 other first-place stories in the LSWA writing contest.
By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports
Years from now, Haughton coach Jason Brotherton will remember a decision he made in an otherwise-forgettable game against an otherwise-forgettable opponent in another part of the state.
And to be honest, he really doesn’t know why he made it. It just happened.
It might be too strong to say it changed Brotherton’s life or that it changed the life of one of his players.
“But in 30 years, I’m going to remember the day when Coleman Pratt kicked an extra point,” Brotherton says. “Because I know where he has had to overcome to get to where he is.”
Rest assured, Coleman Pratt isn’t going to forget it either. And neither will anybody else who saw it.
* * *
Brotherton has known Pratt’s parents from church, so it wasn’t a total surprise when Coleman came to see Brotherton during his freshman year. “His mom wanted him to be involved in something in high school,” Brotherton says. “So we got him out there kicking.”
By itself, that is not a very unusual story. Until you consider this: Coleman Pratt has a form of dwarfism.
It is a condition that affects about 1 in every 25,000 births and results in the limbs (arms and legs) and trunk which are not the same proportion as average-height individuals.
He could have been a manager or a statistician or videographer, but Pratt wanted to be on the team. His grandfather suggested that he try to be a holder on place kicks.
Nope. “I wanted to kick,” Pratt says.
Even so, kicking was going to be a challenge.
“It was probably three-quarters through his sophomore year before he could even get it high enough to get it over the cross bar,” Brotherton says. “But he shows up every day and he works. He’s gotten better and better every day.”
“One of my goals is to never give up,” Pratt says. “I know that people don’t see me as a kicker. I want to prove to them that I can be a kicker.”
It would be one thing if Pratt stood off to side and kicked during a few practices and just showed up for the game. Given his physical limitations, that would be completely understandable. But that’s not how Pratt goes about his job.
“He doesn’t skip out of any work,” Brotherton says. “He does all the running, all the off-season conditioning, all the stuff everyone on the team does.”
“Running in the off season has been tough,” Pratt says. “Even when they say to go 60 percent, I always go 100 percent so that I can keep up with other people.”
Once Pratt had improved enough, Brotherton figured it was time to step it up a notch. The Bucs end each practice with their kickers making an extra point. When he was a sophomore, Pratt was the third-string kicker, so it was time for him to perform in front of the entire team.
But there was one problem – Pratt refused to do it.
“About Week 7, I told him ‘I think you should give it a try because I think you can make it,’ but he still didn’t want to do it,” Brotherton says. “So the next week, I pretty much made him.”
Pratt didn’t make his end-of-practice kick on his first try. But when he did “you’d have thought we won the Super Bowl,” Brotherton says. “Kids were running all over the field just going crazy.”
“Some days I have bad days and some days I have really good days,” Pratt says. “Kicking is not all about how you kick. It’s also about how you think. If you believe in yourself, you can do it.”
You’d better hang on for this – football isn’t the only sport he plays at Haughton. He is also on the soccer and baseball teams. “This is a kid whose mom and dad probably didn’t think he could be involved in anything, “Brotherton says. “And now he plays more sports than almost any kid up here. And everybody loves him.”
As the Bucs were dominating LaGrange last week on the road in Lake Charles – on a field with impossibly high grass – Brotherton had a decision to make.
Only it really wasn’t much of a decision.
“We were ahead in the game and my man has worked hard to get to this point,” he says. “So we wanted to give him a chance.”
Pratt was more concerned about the thickness of the grass than being nervous and he missed his first attempt in the first half. But he got another shot in the second half and knocked it home.
“I loved it because it was my first varsity point,” Pratt says. “I was pretty excited and after the game I called my grandpa because he has been my biggest supporter. We talked about how he wishes he had been there.”
“There weren’t very many people there in the stands, so it didn’t get that much of a reaction,” Brotherton says. “But if that happens at home, you better look out.”
The kid who just wanted to be a part of a team in high school has done a lot more than just score a varsity point in high school football. He has topped that accomplishment by overcoming obstacles that few would have even attempted.
Coleman Pratt is not a curiosity. Coleman Pratt is a contributing member of the Haughton Bucs football team.
“Looking back on the film and seeing everybody cheering for me,” Pratt says. “That makes me …”
READY RAIDERS: Huntington will play its 51st football season and eighth under head coach Stephen Dennis when the Raiders kick things off this fall. (Journal file photo).
By LEE HILLER, Journal Sports
Huntington, just like Evangel, makes its return to District 1-5A this football season after playing in 1-4A for the last 15 years. The Raiders played in 1-5A from 1991-2008, the first 17 seasons of the district.
It will be the Raiders’ 51st football season and eighth under head coach Stephen Dennis. The eight seasons and 41 wins by Dennis are both the second most in school history. His 41-34 record is a win percentage of .551, the only one over .500 among the 10 other head coaches in the school’s history.
Huntington starts the season at Class 5A power West Monroe. The Rebels have won all eight meetings between the schools with the last matchup coming in 2008, the last time the Raiders competed in 5A.
A home date with Captain Shreve at Independence Stadium starts the return to a 1-5A schedule. The last time these two played was in 2018. This will be the 14th meeting overall with the Gators winning the last six and eight in the series.
A trip to old 1-4A opponent Benton is next. The Raiders and Tigers have played each other 15 times with all but the first and last two games being in 1-4A. Huntington won the last meeting in 2020 to break a nine-game losing skid in the series that Benton leads 11-4.
Another former 1-4A opponent, Haughton, will come to Shreveport the fourth week of the season. The last of the 13 meetings of these schools was in 2010 and the Bucs lead the series 10-3.
Huntington makes a short drive to face Evangel in a mid-season battle. The Raiders have won two of the last three (2021-23) but the Eagles won the first nine to lead the series 10-2.
Byrd comes to Independence Stadium for the 36th meeting of the two schools. The Raiders claimed a one-point win (44-43) last season to break a six-game series losing streak. The Yellow Jackets own a 24-11 overall advantage in the series.
Huntington next travels across the river to face Parkway. The Raiders defeated the Panthers the last time they met in 2021, 38-31, to knot the series 7-7.
A home game with Calvary, the only other non-district game on the schedule, is set for Week 9. It will be the first-ever game between the two schools.
The last regular-season road trip will take the Raiders to Natchitoches Central. The schools have met on the gridiron 22 times but not since 2008. The Chiefs hold a slim 13-9 series edge with the Raiders winning the last seven.
A home game with Airline marks the end of the regular season and like its previous opponent, these two schools haven’t played each other since 2008. The Vikings lead the series 11-7.
TRIUMPHANT MOMENT: 1992 USA Olympic gold medal wrestler Kevin Jackson, a three-time All-American at LSU from 1983-85, shows his excitement Saturday night as he is introduced in the Walk of Legends during his Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Natchitoches. (Photo by BRET H. MCORMICK, courtesy LSWA)
By JASON PUGH, Written for the LSWA
NATCHITOCHES – As much as talent has to do with excelling in sports, determination is an equally crucial factor.
It certainly was in the careers of wrestler Kevin Jackson of LSU, and Sunset jockey Ray Sibille, two of the 12 people inducted Saturday night in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame during ceremonies at a sold-out Natchitoches Events Center. LPB coverage of the event can be accessed on the LPB.org and LaSportsHall.com websites.
Jackson, a 1992 Olympic gold medalist for the USA, spent the first three years of his college career at LSU before the school dropped wrestling after the 1985 season.
Undeterred, Jackson made his final season count, captaining Iowa State’s national championship team while producing an individual national runner-up season.
“We were really fortunate at Iowa State to have him transfer in after being an All-American at LSU,” Cyclones coach Jim Gibbons said. “We had an interesting group of younger wrestlers and a group of older wrestlers who had underachieved to that point. Kevin bridged the gap between those two groups, and they both had success.”
While Jackson did not collect an individual national championship, he made up for it in 1992, capturing Olympic gold in Barcelona. His medal winning performance came just hours before the closing ceremonies, which is where Jackson said he had his Olympic moment.
“The closing ceremonies are very different than the opening ceremonies,” Jackson said. “During the closing ceremonies, there are still events going on and some after. The opening ceremonies, you’re walking in the stadium in a suit and tie. At the closing ceremonies, you’re sitting in the stands with the other Olympians and athletes watching them still competing.
“What I noticed was a jumper leaping over a high bar and a javelin going through the air, and I thought, ‘This is it. This is the Olympic games of Jesse Owens, Jim Thorpe, Muhammad Ali and Mary Lou Retton, and I’m now a part of history.’
“There was an overwhelming sense of achievement, and I’m having that same feeling right now.”
When the sun finally faded on Sibille’s remarkable career that officially began on south Louisiana’s bush tracks – unofficially on the family farm – he had saddled more than 4,000 winners across the country, including a win in the 1988 Breeders’ Cup, adding to the legacy of Acadiana-bred jockeys.
“I remember them telling us, ‘You better come to school. You ain’t getting nowhere riding a horse,’” Ray’s brother Larry Sibille said. “He was going to be a jockey. Nothing was going to stop him.”
And little did – even when during a race between the Sibille brothers in their younger days ended with Ray’s horse running into a cow, leading to a restart of the race.
What started as a family affair led to Saturday night’s induction for Sibille as he followed his good friend, Eddie Delahoussaye, into the state’s shrine.
“We always had horses in the pasture,” Ray Sibille said. “My brothers, we’d catch them and race them. It was part of life that we did. We all loved it. I had two brothers that rode, Ronnie and Jimmy, who got killed. They both could be right here with me if it worked out for them like it did for me.”
Sibille found more kinship during his three days in Natchitoches.
“The people I’ve met here – the athletes and the coaches – they were unbelievable,” he said. “On the way to (the Friday bowling event in) Alexandria, I sat with coach (Wilbert) Ellis and Frank Monica and Kerry Joseph. Boy, we shared some war stories.”
Riding home winners and turning boys into young men marked Monica’s five-decade career in coaching.
The decorated Monica led a trio of south Louisiana schools – Riverside, Lutcher and St. Charles Catholic – to state football championships after a college baseball career at Nicholls where Monica was part of a national runner-up Colonels’ team.
Flip-flopping between high school and college coaching jobs, Monica stayed true to one constant – Louisiana.
“I had an opportunity to leave the state,” he said. “I decided to stay in the state. I made the right decision. I believe in Louisiana athletes and Louisiana football, especially in the River Parishes. If you don’t play football there, you don’t eat. It’s a good brand of football. They gamble on every ball game, so you better win.”
And win Monica did – not just on the field. His teachings left a lasting impression on his players, his staff and even opposing coaches.
Upon hearing coaches from Lutcher and East St. John praise Monica, host Victor Howell remarked on how impressive it was for Monica to draw praise from coaches of rival programs.
Monica quickly retorted, “That’s exactly how I wrote it.”
Said Wayne Stein, the coach who followed Monica at St. Charles Catholic: “The greatest influence on my career is Uncle Frankie. It wasn’t always easy. He’s an intense guy, but it’s something when you look back, you appreciate going through the struggles. All he ever wanted was for you to be your best.”
In an effort to bolster the local healthcare industry, LSU Shreveport and Centenary announced a memorandum of understanding to build pathways for Centenary undergraduate students to enroll in LSUS’s Master of Public Health program.
The MPH program is a joint effort between LSUS and LSU Health Shreveport’s School of Allied Health Professions. Students take classes from both sets of faculty.
“I am very pleased that LSUS and Centenary will be partnering with the establishment of this pathway agreement,” said LSUS Chancellor Dr. Robert Smith. “This will facilitate Centenary students moving directly into a graduate degree program without the need to leave Shreveport.
“My hope is that this will also result in these students deciding to stay in Northwest Louisiana once they have graduated.”
The announced partnership formalizes a foundational relationship between the two institutions that included LSUS personnel frequently visiting Centenary’s classrooms to discuss the MPH program.
“Higher education needs partnerships to be at its most effective,” said Centenary President Dr. Christopher Holoman. “In an area that doesn’t have a lot of private schools, we’ve been working hard to build our dance partners in public institutions.
“We’re grateful to enter into this partnership, and we think it can be fruitful territory.”
The MPH program at LSUS prepares graduates for diverse roles in the public health field through immersive instruction and experiential learning tailored to a student’s interests.
The program includes a 150-hour practicum experience with entities such as the Martin Luther King Jr. Health Center, the LSU AG Center, and many other community-based agencies.
“A lot of our graduates will work in nonprofit settings around healthcare, and others are in hospitals in areas like infection prevention,” said Dr. Matthew Kelley, the MPH program director at LSUS. “They design public health programs around certain issues or get into epidemiology where they track diseases and collect information that can inform public health decisions.
“Both institutions want to keep students in the area, and that will benefit preventative healthcare in our community as they become public health practitioners.”
Public health specifically focuses on preventative healthcare to contribute to overall positive health outcomes for the community.
“(The Master of Public Health) is a great dual degree to have, whether you’re a physician or another healthcare provider, to not only understand your clinical role but also the incredible need in our community for public health,” said Dr. Sharon Dunn, dean of the school of allied health professions at LSU Health Shreveport. “There are a lot of underserved residents in our community, and I think there’s a big impact the public health program can make to improve overall health in our community.”
Centenary has built a reputation of producing high-quality students in the sciences and the arts, which would translate well into the rigorous and competitive MPH program.
The memorandum of understanding can assist in identifying qualified Centenary undergraduate students who might be interested in LSUS’s MPH program and create a more direct path to be advised, to apply and to be enrolled upon completion of their undergraduate degree.
Course selection for Centenary students is one facet of the agreement that can help prepare students for entry into the MPH program.
Qualified Centenary undergraduates will receive priority admission into the LSUS MPH program.
“All statistics point to the healthcare profession having the greatest need over the next decade,” said Dr. Scott Chirhart, dean of the school of health sciences at Centenary. “Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, the emphasis on public health communities is at an all-time high.
“Since public health touches every facet of life, we’re hoping this provides a pathway to impact not only today’s generation but future generations of Shreveport-Bossier.”
To learn more about the LSUS MPH program, visit the program’s website.
To learn more about Centenary’s academic offerings, visit the college’s website.
“I need to lose a few pounds,” is an expression that many of us mutter with a grumble. None of us want to go on a diet, but what if that diet was a steak diet in which we ate more steak and less vegetables? Now, that’s a diet I could sink my teeth into. That is exactly the diet Dr. James proposed.
James Henry was born in Scott, New York in 1823. In his twenties, he studied his way through the collegiate hierarchy and by the time he was 30, became a doctor and a well-respected chemist. We might never have heard of Dr. James had it not been for America’s bloodiest and most divisive conflict, the Civil War. During the Civil War, Dr. James served as a physician for the Union army. There was little he could do to help soldiers wounded in battle other than try to repair their damaged and broken bodies. Dr. James recognized that he was treating more soldiers for diseases than from battle wounds. According to the National Park Service, more than twice as many Union soldiers died from diseases than from battle. Most of the soldiers Dr. James treated were suffering from severe diarrhea, which led to dehydration, and often proved fatal. Now that was a problem that Dr. James thought he could solve by using his background in chemistry.
Dr. James began studying the soldiers’ diet. At the start of the war, soldiers on both sides were allotted a small ration of pork, bacon, or salt beef, hardtack (hard bread), beans, peas, potatoes, rice, corn, and other available vegetables. Dr. James concluded that vegetables and starchy foods produced poisons in the digestive system. He blamed vegetables for a host of illnesses such as heart disease, tuberculosis, mental illness, tumors, and, of course, diarrhea. Had my younger self known of Dr. James’s conclusions, I certainly would have used them in an attempt to avoid eating my broccoli. Dr. James believed that the troops suffering from diarrhea could be treated with a diet of coffee and lean chopped beefsteak. Dr. James claimed that healthy soldiers could avoid getting diarrhea if they utilized the same diet. Dr. James had a hard time getting military leaders to adopt his diet because of limitations in supplies of meat.
Following the Civil War, Dr. James continued to encourage people to adopt his diet of coffee and steak. Contrary to what we might expect in a capitalistic society, Dr. James was not seeking profit. He shared his recipes openly with anyone who would listen. His recipes often appeared in newspapers. His most popular recipe was for his steak, which he suggested should be eaten three times a day. In 1888, newspapers throughout the country declared that Dr. James’s steak “appears to be giving remarkably good results as a diet for people troubled with weak or disordered digestion, but who require the supporting power of animal food.” The article shared the manner for preparing the steak as described by a Dr. Hepburn in the Philadelphia Medical and Surgical Reporter. “The surface of a round steak is chopped with a dull knife, the object being not to cut but to pound the meat. As the meat pulp comes to the top, it is scraped off, while the tough and fibrous portion gradually reaches the bottom of the trough. The pulp is then made into cakes and lightly and quickly broiled so as to leave it almost raw inside.”
Today, Dr. James’s dietary work has been largely forgotten with the exception of his steak. Many of us still eat his steak as his recipe suggested — flavored with onion and other seasonings, then broiled, and covered with thick gravy or brown sauce – though not three times a day as he would have liked. Perhaps we cancel out the healthy properties of his steak as we consume it with hearty helpings of vegetables. We still know the steak by his last name, which upon hearing may subconsciously cause your mouth to water. Now you know how and why Dr. James Henry Salisbury invented the Salisbury Steak.
Sources:
1. Manitoba Weekly Free Press, February 19, 1885, p.10.
Lucy Rance Cooper August 2, 1951 — June 21, 2024 Service: Tuesday, June 25, 2024, 9am at Rose Neath Funeral Home, Bossier City
Stanley N. Snead October 12, 1951 – June 21, 2024 Service: Tuesday, June 25, 2024, 5pm at Osborn Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Berta Lott March 28, 1937 – June 17, 2024 Service: Thursday, June 27, 2024, 11am at Heavenly Gates, Shreveport.
Ruby Oliver February 26, 1947 – June 18, 2024 Service: Thursday, June 27, 2024, 11am at Veteran’s Cemetery, Shreveport.
Sue D Crow November 15, 1943 – June 18, 2024 Service: Thursday, June 27, 2024, 10:30am at Forest Park Cemetery, Shreveport.
Lucille P. Anderson March 11, 1942 — June 23, 2024 Service: Saturday, June 29, 2024, 11am at Forest Park West Cemetery, 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)
The City of Shreveport’s Department of Water and Sewerage continues to address recent water quality concerns caused by changes in the water from Cross Lake. We acknowledge that some of our customers are still experiencing off-color water from their taps. While it can cause water to appear yellow or light brown, there is no need to boil water. Despite the yellow appearance, the water is not dirty and is safe to drink.
The cause of the discoloration is historically high levels of Manganese in Cross Lake. Manganese is a relatively common and naturally occurring mineral. However, the high level of manganese in our lake water is a highly unusual occurrence. There are multiple possibilities for the increase: naturally occurring lake temperature inversion due to hotter than normal summertime temperatures, rainwater washing in dirt from construction sites, and the recent heavy rains could have washed dirt containing manganese into the lake.
Our scientists and engineers have been working on the treatment for the last week and a half to combat its impact on our water system. Our treatment process is effective, and the manganese levels in our water have been steadily decreasing. We continue to monitor and adjust the treatment as needed, but it’s taking longer to get clear water through our system than we hoped. Many customers should already be seeing a noticeable improvement. However, we know not everyone’s water is back to normal. We are flushing our pipes and continuing to treat the water. We understand the inconvenience this is causing and appreciate the community’s patience and understanding as we work to resolve this issue as quickly as possible.
For any questions or concerns, customers are encouraged to contact our 24-hour customer service hotline at 318-673-7600 or visit our website at http://www.shreveportlawater.gov/ for updates.
The Parish of Caddo recently welcomed the new leadership of the Amazon facility located in North Caddo Parish at a reception and press conference. Amazon’s new robotic facility will have the capacity to process hundreds of thousands packages a day with great benefits for employees. Amazon also announced that a new grouping of jobs for hire will be available their website.
Each week, the Shreveport-Bossier Journal’s always-hungry reporter visits a different restaurant and tells you about the experience.
By ANON E. MUSS, Journal Services
When it comes to the Mount Rushmore of Shreveport-Bossier restaurants, Murrell’s, and George’s Grill, have to be included.
If you ate at either, you still remember their food and atmosphere. I’m not sure the phrase “Comfort Food” does each justice. I am not sure the word “Casual” is casual enough to describe each diner’s surroundings.
Both have been gone a long time. Murrell’s closed in 2009, and George’s closed in 2017 (the building caught fire years later.) But on a recent Tuesday, I found a place that sure seemed to be trying to duplicate Murrell’s and George’s food, while adding a little class to the dining experience.
The Glass Hat Cafe (423 Crockett St.) in downtown Shreveport has been open a year. The restaurant – which serves breakfast and lunch Tuesday through Saturday – originated as a cocktail lounge in 1937. While most downtown buildings look their age, The Glass Hat underwent almost a total remodel. There was a “Wow!” factor when my friend and I opened the door. We were greeted by a bright and airy look, including lots of tables, ceiling fans, and 30 (I counted) hanging lights. The floor was a pleasing white and grey. The only sign that this was an old building was one wall, which has the building’s original brick.
At 12:30, we grabbed the last available table. As you might expect, most of the diners looked as if they were working downtown, and probably walked to the restaurant. However, there’s good news if you drive to The Glass Hat. In the lot at the corner of Marshall and Crockett streets, spaces 40-52 are available for free parking.
If you’re looking for a place with big, fancy menus, keep looking. Our server brought each of us paper menus, which had more wrinkles than me – and that’s a lot of wrinkles. On one side were breakfast choices offered all day. While there is a Belgian Waffle, French Toast, and Biscuits and Gravy, everything else was egg heavy.
I was tempted to have breakfast as lunch, but didn’t want to throw my body clock out of whack. So, I turned the menu over to the lunch items. The Glass Hat offers daily specials, but just my luck, Tuesday’s specials (Liver & Onions, and Chicken & Dumplings) were not something I care for. I would have known that, if The Glass Hat had a website, or if it posted daily updates to its Facebook page. Looking at the restaurant’s other offerings, there were several entrees labeled as Southern Classics, a few sandwiches, and three salads.
I can’t tell you the last time I had a chicken fried steak, but there’s a good chance I had it at Murrell’s. Hoping to go back in time, I ordered The Glass Hat’s Chicken Fried Steak ($14.50), which, as all Southern Classics do, came with my choice of two sides, and cornbread, roll, or biscuit.
My friend used to love her mother’s chicken & dumplings. Now, we know that no one cooks like momma, but my friend decided to give The Glass Hat a shot. Likewise, the Chicken & Dumplings ($14.50) came with the same choices I had, as well as a side salad.
Frankly, when the salad arrived, it looked pitiful. The bowl had what resembled bagged lettuce, three pieces of sliced tomato, and a few croutons. I hoped, for my friend’s sake, the rest of her meal would at least look better.
And it did. Her Chicken & Dumplings, which we were told were homemade, filled a large, high bowl. I could see smoke coming from the top, so I knew they would be hot. While there was a lot of shredded chicken and a lot of dumplings, there was also a lot of salt. Well, let me take that back. As my friend pointed out, there was too much salt for our liking, but someone else may find the amount just right.
My friend’s other sides were turnip greens and friend okra, and she chose cornbread. All looked good, and she said they all tasted good.
When my chicken fried steak arrived, I was disappointed. I was expecting a huge piece of meat which hung over the plate’s edge, like I used to get at Murrell’s. However, this chicken friend steak was much, much smaller. I will let you look at the picture below and decide if you think the size was right for the price. My friend pointed out that it was a lunch portion, and she is usually right. At noon time, I should not have expected anything much larger.
The good news is that big things sometimes come in small packages. The chicken friend steak was delicious! It was warm, and the “fried” part wasn’t too thick and wasn’t too thin. Also, the steak was very tender, and had a really good taste.
For my sides, I chose black-eyed peas, and broccoli, to go along with a piece of cornbread. None of the three were noteworthy. They were what they were.
I did not see any desserts on The Glass Hat’s menu, so I was surprised when our server asked if we wanted a piece of Apple Pie ($4). I countered with a question: “Do you have vanilla ice cream?” I was told, “No.” How can you offer apple pie without vanilla ice cream? Still, my friend and I decided to try a piece. It was a nice-sized slice but was neither hot nor cold – it was somewhere in the middle. Boy, a scoop of vanilla ice cream would have made the pie so much better.
Now, let’s talk about The Glass Hat’s pricing. The amounts shown on our itemized receipt were different than the menu’s prices. It appears we were charged an additional 4% per item because we paid with a card instead of cash. I don’t have a problem with this practice, as it has now become common. However, a restaurant should make its diners aware, by putting a disclaimer on the menu. It looks like you’re trying to get one past the customer.
The cost of our meal, before taxes and tip, was $34.32. If you go to The Glass Hat, know that the suggested tipping amounts are based on the total cost, and not the subtotal. As we all know, you should never leave a tip based on the taxable amount of your meal.
I left feeling that The Glass Hat Cafe is really trying hard to duplicate the food of Murrell’s and George’s, while offering a more upscale environment in which to eat. So, I give the downtown restaurant Three Forks. I would return, but not go out of my way. But I would go out of my way to eat at Murrell’s or George’s – if only I could go back in time.
1 Fork: Would rather eat a box of dirt 2 Forks: Will return, but only if someone else is buying 3 Forks: Will return and look forward to it 4 Forks: Will return and go out of my way to do so
The Parish of Caddo was delighted to reintroduce and host the Intergovernmental Consortium Meeting for local parish governments. This meeting is designed to bring together city and parish governing bodies as well as local law enforcement and criminal justice agencies to discuss parish wide issues. Meetings are held once a quarter.
LSU Shreveport is in the planning stages of implementing a grant that aims to reduce and prevent sexual violence on campus.
LSUS received $400,000 over a three-year period from the Office of Violence Against Women, which is an arm of the Department of Justice.
The grant will provide funding for additional educational and prevention programming and increase available victim services.
The university was awarded the grant in late 2023 and is nearing the end of the first year of the grant.
“This grant encourages a coordinated campus and community approach that focuses on reducing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking,” said Dr. Paula Atkins, associate vice chancellor for student development and dean of students at LSUS. “The first year of the grant focuses on developing a plan and attending specific training institutes.
“The next two years is the implementation of that plan.”
LSUS is one of 40 campuses and technical assistance providers that were awarded grants in 2023.
People ages 18-24 are the most likely to be victims of sexual violence, and sexual violence is typically the most prevalent crime on college campuses, according to statistics from RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network).
While LSUS experiences much less crime in general than typical college campuses, Cindy Maggio wants that number to be zero.
“One report is one too many, and we want to prevent any instances,” said Maggio, the Title IX, ADA Coordinator and Equity Officer at LSUS. “Statistics show that sexual violence is often underreported, so we want to do everything we can to protect students, faculty and staff on campus.”
The grant creates a Coordinated Community Response Team, which consists of relevant staff, campus police, students and community providers.
Prevention is the ultimate goal with knowledge and awareness cultivated through consistent messaging and training.
“This age group, whether they are in college or not, is at a higher risk of sexual violence,” Atkins said. “While there are many theories as to why, part of it is moving out of their households for the first time and developing the beginnings of relationships.
“One educational component is raising awareness about how to protect ourselves and how to develop positive, healthy relationships. Campuses encourage a lot of social gatherings and the development of social relationships, especially early in one’s college days, and the risk increases during those times. We have the duty to teach skills that will lead to safe and healthy environments.”
Aside from educational and prevention programming in addition to what LSUS students, faculty and staff already receive under Board of Regents provisions, one key programming piece of the grant will be bystander intervention.
Bystander intervention is training that focuses on what witnesses or other third parties can do to seek help or directly step in to stop instances of sexual violence. This type of training creates a campus culture in which all students, faculty and staff take ownership in providing a healthy campus environment.
“Bystander intervention training teaches how to intervene in the most appropriate manner that’s both safe for the bystander and helpful to the situation,” said Halle Gripka, the grant project director. “We want to teach skills to recognize when a friend or perhaps a student themselves are in an unhealthy relationship.
“We’re also connecting students to resources here on campus as well as resources in the community.”
Campus resources include LSUS police, LSUS Counseling Services, and the Title IX and Equity office.
One specific community partner for LSUS is Project Celebration Inc., a nonprofit organization in Northwest Louisiana that provides direct services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Part of the grant’s first-year training includes staff and campus police learning about “trauma-informed” responses and best practices for treating victims of sexual violence with sensitivity and respect.
“We have a duty to create a safe, positive environment for students that are learning to become an adult,” Atkins said. “We are actively engaging our students so they learn the skills to take care of themselves and others.”
“This grant provides an excellent opportunity to build upon the foundational training we already provide so that our campus community is in a better position to prevent these incidents from happening and strengthening our services to victims.”
LINING IT UP: Louisiana Women’s Amateur champion Abigail McWilliams eyes a line with her father, Robby McWilliams, who was her caddy in the three-day championship won by the Benton High golfer Sunday in Lake Charles. (Photo courtesy Louisiana Golf Association)
JOURNAL SPORTS
LAKE CHARLES – Benton High School’s Abigail McWilliams again prevailed in a playoff to collect a state golf championship Sunday, capturing the 96th Louisiana Women’s Amateur Championship at Lake Charles Country Club.
McWilliams, 16, won on the second playoff hole by saving par out of a bunker to top Maci Williams of Brusly. It was the 38th hole of the day for McWilliams, who won the LHSAA girls Division I team championship for Benton on the first playoff hole May 1 in Lafayette.
Entering her senior year in August, McWilliams is the second local teenager to win the title in three years. Sydney Moss, who had just graduated from Byrd High, captured the 2022 title and will begin her sophomore season this fall at the University of Memphis. She was the consolation champion Sunday, 4 & 3 over Kay Daniel of Covington.
McWilliams’ father, Robby McWilliams, served as her caddy in the championship, which was a three-day event. Her dad is a multiple-time Louisiana Mid-Amateur and Senior Amateur champion. Her brother Noah McWilliams currently plays for LSU.
She shot a 3-over-par 76 on Friday in stroke play qualifying and entered the 16-player match play bracket as the No. 5 seed. Saturday morning in her opening match in the round of 16, McWilliams eliminated Jessica Varner of Baton Rouge 4 & 2. In the quarterfinals Saturday afternoon, she topped Evelynn Artieta of Denham Springs 1 up.
Sunday morning, McWilliams defeated Daozeng Liu of New Orleans 2 up to secure her spot in the championship match.
McWilliams never trailed in the final. She played brilliantly on the front nine and was 3 up at the turn before Williams fought back to tie the match on the 15th hole.
With the match tied after 18 holes, it extended in a sudden death playoff and the two junior golfers returned to the par 5 18th hole to continue the match.
After pars on the first playoff hole, Williams was first to play a par-3 and hit her tee shot left of the green onto a mound leaving herself a difficult chip, but McWilliams was left in no better position when her tee shot found the right greenside bunker. McWilliams was first to play and hit the shot of the day from out of the bunker to 8 feet from the hole. McWilliams was first to putt and absolutely drained the putt for par, an incredible up and down. Williams was unable to answer and missed her par putt.
SENIOR CITY CHAMP: Todd Mayhall captured the Senior Division crown Sunday in the Shreveport City Senior Medal Play Championship at Huntington Park. (Submitted photo)
JOURNAL SPORTS
Todd Mayhall won the Senior Division, Forrest Fegert was the Super Senior winner and Harold Turner took the Legends Division crown Sunday in the Shreveport City Senior Medal Play Golf Championship at Huntington Park Golf Couse.
Mayhall carded a 36-hole score of 151, matched by Turner. Fegert shot 159.
John Noles won the Senior Division Net championship with a net 149. Jamie Longino was the Super Senior net champ after carding a 164. In the Legends Division net competition, Larry Hill and Bill Smith tied with net scores of 158.
COMING THROUGH: Haughton enters the 2024 football season under first-year head coach Matthew Sewell against Homer. (Journal file photo)
By LEE HILLER, Journal Sports
With a new, young, homegrown head coach, Haughton begins and ends its 2024 football season with non-district opponents, leaving an eight-game stretch in between to play all its District 1-5A games.
The Bucs, under first-year head coach and alumnus Matthew Sewell, open the season at home against Homer and finish the season at home against St. Louis Catholic.
Sewell, 27, took over in mid-May from veteran coach Jason Brotherton, who moved into a vice principal’s position at Haughton.
Haughton last faced Homer in a varsity football game in 1969. The Pelicans won the four games the two schools played from 1966-69 in District 1-A and Homer finished in either first or second all four years.
The 1-5A stretch of games begins with a trip to Shreveport to play Byrd at Lee Hedges Stadium. The varsity teams have played each other 17 times since a first-time meeting in 1973 with the Jackets winning 10 of those.
Parkway comes to Harold Harlan Stadium to play Haughton for the 53rd time. The Panthers won the last two years after the Bucs had won four straight.
The Bucs then travel back to Shreveport to play Huntington. It will be the 14th meeting of the two schools with Haughton winning 10 of those. The last time they played was in 2010, a year after they split regular season and playoff games.
Natchitoches Central comes to Haughton to play for the sixth consecutive year. The Bucs have won all five previous games.
Haughton goes to Benton for the sixth game of the season looking to win for the 20th time in the series against 11 losses.
The Bucs then host Airline. It will be the 42nd game between the schools, the second most to any of the 2024 opponents. The Vikings have won 28 of the previous 41 matchups.
Another trip to Shreveport results in a game at Evangel. The Eagles won the four previous meetings, the last four seasons the Bucs played in 1-4A from 2015-18.
Captain Shreve comes to Haughton for the first of the last two regular-season home games. The Bucs own a 16-13 series edge with the Gators winning the last three.
A first-ever meeting with St. Louis Catholic ends the regular season at home for Haughton. The Saints finished second in 3-3A last season and 8-3 overall last season.
2024 Haughton football schedule
Sep. 6 Homer
Sep. 13 at Byrd (LH)
Sep. 20 Parkway
Sep. 27 at Huntington
Oct. 4 Natchitoches Central
Oct. 10 at Benton
Oct. 18 Airline
Oct. 25 at Evangel
Nov. 1 Captain Shreve
Nov. 8 St. Louis Catholic
Note – LH indicates game will be played at Lee Hedges Stadium
SHINING BRIGHTLY: Members of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024 stood together at the end of the opening Walk of Legends Saturday night in Natchitoches during the 65th LSHOF induction ceremony. Shown (l-r) are Kerry Joseph, Kevin Jackson, Ray Sibille, Ron Higgins, Frank Monica, Wilbert Ellis, Bobby Ardoin, Perry Clark, Tom Burnett and Seimone Augustus. (Photo by BRET H. MCCORMICK, for the LSWA)
By JASON PUGH, Written for the LSWA
NATCHITOCHES – The 12 members of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2024 brought worldwide acclaim to their home state – adopted or natural.
Fittingly, two of the newest Hall of Famers brought the world to Natchitoches.
Although New Orleans Saints Super Bowl-winning quarterback Drew Brees and former UFC champion Daniel Cormier joined the proceedings via video from Japan and Saudi Arabia, respectively, the stories of the 12 inductees started much closer to home – specifically within their homes.
“I had the greatest parents,” Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism honoree Bobby Ardoin said in tears, “because they didn’t have to adopt me, and they did. They let me do just about anything I wanted. I wasn’t always a summer’s breeze, but they’re the reason I’m here today.”
That reasoning resonated throughout the eight competitive-ballot inductees and the four award winners who officially joined the state’s athletic shrine during the ceremony attended by over 800 at the Natchitoches Events Center. It was live streamed on LPB.org and can be viewed there on the LPB YouTube channel, or the Hall of Fame’s YouTube link through LaSportsHall.com using the multimedia button.
The inductees’ praise Saturday night did not stop at biological family members.
“I had some of the greatest parents in the world, and I have some of the greatest people in the world here tonight,” said Wilbert Ellis, the longtime Grambling baseball coach who became the second-ever Louisiana Sports Ambassador Award recipient. He had nearly 200 supporters in the crowd from nearby and around the country.
“I always wanted to give back. I always wanted to make a difference. That was my prayer. God gave me that prayer, and I’ve been all over the country doing it.”
Baton Rouge saw one of its most notable, successful products honored Saturday night.
LSU All-American Seimone Augustus spent her high school career at Capitol High School being feted as the nation’s No. 1 player. In an era where Tennessee and UConn “had a chokehold on the recruiting game,” according to Augustus, she made the decision to stay home and build something.
That something included the start of five straight Final Four runs for her hometown university and a sweep of the 2006 National Player of the Year honors.
“I was never a trend follower,” Augustus said. “I was a trendsetter. A lot of players as soon as they got a letter from Connecticut or Tennessee, they committed. I was like, ‘Don’t you want to take a visit?’ ‘Don’t you want to meet your teammates?’ I begged to differ. When I didn’t go to Tennessee or Connecticut, a lot of people thought I was crazy. Coach (Sue) Gunter, coach (Pokey) Chatman, coach (Bob) Starkey, they were sending me handwritten letters from when I was eight or nine years old.
“I went through every recruiting letter. Some were authentic. Some you could change my name for someone else’s, and it read the same. LSU’s authenticity and the fact it was in my backyard and the chance to build something that had not been build before (were factors). I could go somewhere else and be one of the greats, or I could be THE great. That was my thought process.”
Staying at home to build the program she grew up watching appealed to Augustus, whose initial impression on Starkey came in an athletic setting but not at an athletic event. It gave him insight into where the woman who now has a statue outside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center’s priorities laid.
“The very first time I saw her in person was Thanksgiving at the Riverside Centroplex (now the Raisin’ Cane’s River Center) and she was serving food to the less fortunate,” Starkey said. “Here’s the No. 1 high school player in the country, and she’s spending her Thanksgiving making others feel better.”
Those lessons began at home, forming both Augustus’ altruistic side and a work ethic that forced the LSU staff to adjust its practices.
“No one was going to outwork me,” Augustus said. “I learned that from watching my parents. Within my household, I was driven because I watched two people sacrifice so I could have. I wanted to work hard to give them something to be proud of.”
Along with her parents, among a large contingent of LSU staff and fans was Tigers’ head coach Kim Mulkey, who recently hired Augustus as an assistant coach. Mulkey is the youngest-ever LSHOF inductee, enshrined in 1990 at age 28 after her playing career at Hammond High, Louisiana Tech and for the USA Olympic gold medal team in 1984.
Augustus played on three USA Olympic gold medal squads, and won four WNBA championships with the Minnesota Lynx. She will be enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in October, and entered the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in April.
If anyone in the Class of 2024 could identify with Augustus regarding elevating a college basketball program, it was former Tulane men’s basketball coach Perry Clark.
When Clark arrived in Uptown New Orleans in July 1988, the Green Wave program was in its infant stages of being resurrected following a self-imposed, four-year shutdown following a point-shaving scandal.
Within two seasons, Clark took Tulane from a resurrection point to the first – and still only – conference championship in program history.
“He had to restart a Division I men’s basketball program, and there was no blueprint for him to follow,” former Tulane sports information director Lenny Vangilder said. “From no program to two years later winning a conference title, it was truly remarkable and may never be done again in the history of college athletics.”
Clark did just that in his own way – focusing on what Tulane could have instead of what it didn’t.
“I knew we weren’t going to get the best offensive players,” he said. “We were able to build defensively. We had the best defensive player in the conference at each position. That first year, we upset Memphis State, who was ranked No. 4 because we were able to stop Elliott Perry. We had a top-20 win every year because we could lock in defensively and believe in what we were doing.”
Armed with a bench group nicknamed “The Posse” after Clark’s favorite NFL team – the then-Washington Redskins – and their dynamic receiving corps, the Green Wave had all three of its NCAA Tournament appearances in Clark’s 11 years at the place he called Camelot.
While Clark left his mark on Tulane, winning 185 games in those 11 seasons, it left just as much of an imprint on him.
“I’m very privileged to be in the state of Louisiana,” Clark said. “The people here have inspired me in my growth as a person, my growth as a coach. This is the most wonderful group of people in the country. You love with your heart. You give with dedication and care. We had to live up to your energy, your desires and the things you hold very, very special – loyalty and caring. If I ever get accused of being too loyal, I hope they find enough evidence to find me guilty.
“I kept asking how do I get in this Hall of Fame. I kept hearing, ‘It’s too hard. It’s too hard.’ I kept asking, ‘What do I have to do?’ This is extremely special to be called a Cajun. I’m happy to be here and happy to be recognized as a Cajun.”
LSWA PRIZES: Shreveport-Bossier Journal writers (l-r) Teddy Allen, John James Marshall, Ron Higgins and Doug Ireland collected awards Sunday in the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s 2023 Writing Contest as results were announced in Natchitoches. (Photo courtesy LSWA)
JOURNAL SPORTS
NATCHITOCHES – Shreveport-Bossier Journal writers won 17 awards Sunday as the Louisiana Sports Writers Association announced its 2023 Writing Contest results, with John James Marshall taking the prestigious Story of the Year award.
Marshall won three first-place awards, two third places and two fourth places. Judges from around the country assess entries in 16 writing categories.
The Story of the Year was a feature spotlighting Haughton kicker Coleman Pratt, who despite dwarfism, joined the Bucs’ football team and kicked an extra point in an early-season win over Barbe. Only the winning stories from all categories are considered in the judging for Story of the Year.
It was first a winner in the Prep Feature Division I category.
That contest judge wrote “This piece is a great example of what can happen when a good story meets good writing. The subject matter – a boy with dwarfism who kicked an extra point in a varsity football game – is unusual and unusually well-handled. The tale itself was wonderfully well-constructed: The lead piqued my interest, the kicker split the uprights and there was plenty of good storytelling in between.”
Said the Story of the Year contest judge: “The writer presents Coleman Pratt’s story of courage, perseverance, and determination with evocative detail. The writer situates the story within the firm foundation of the people and places that shaped Coleman Pratt. Beyond great sportswriting, this is human-interest writing at its best.”
Marshall also won the Prep Column category in Division I for his piece saying high school football games should not be played at Independence Stadium.
“This columnist got right to the point and backed up the argument with solid information,” the judge wrote. “The kicker (to the story) was strong and left no doubt which side of the fence this writer was on regarding this topic.”
Ron Higgins, who was enshrined in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Saturday night with the LSWA’s Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism, picked up four contest awards Sunday. The Journal’s LSU beat writer since last July won for work written earlier in 2023 for Tiger Details.
Higgins was the winner in the College Event contest for Class I for his story written last summer about the LSU baseball team winning College World Series.
“An all-encompassing good read,” said the category judge. “A really enjoyable setup in the first few paragraphs tying Jay Johnson with Skip Bertman. The writer does a good job of focusing less on the play-by-play of a blowout game with the significance of the national championship. Blowouts are hard to write sometimes but can also be done effectively. The writing is clean, crisp and keeps the story moving. The context of describing the pitching situations for both teams also was important, and the writer injected that into the story at the right time. This was well done from start to finish.”
Journal writer and columnist Teddy Allen took second in College Columns in Class I for a piece on the downside of the transfer portal, and was third in the Amateur Sports (Open Class) with a column on the evolution of youth baseball tournaments.
Journal writer/columnist Doug Ireland took a third in Class I Columnist of the Year competition and was fourth in the Class I Prep Column contest for his column bemoaning the poor information flow from the 2023 girls Marsh Madness state basketball tournament in Hammond.
Ireland’s win in the general column contest came in Class II for a piece that originally ran in the Natchitoches Parish Journal and a day later in the SBJ, addressing cancellation of Northwestern State’s football season after a player’s shooting death last October.
“This is a sobering and insightful piece of journalism. It goes far beyond sports and speaks to a widespread problem in America, where it seems the only accountability expected of institutions is toward those who have the most money/power/influence. And without accountability, how can there possibly be justice?” wrote the judge.
“I’m left with a sense that the general public will never truly know what happened here, and that’s a sad, frustrating feeling. But stories like this are the most important ones we can write. After all, it’s better to be a ‘prisoner of hope’ than to have no hope at all.”
Ireland was the Class I third-place finisher in the Columnist of the Year competition for work that was originally published in the SBJ. He captured the Class II Columnist of the Year award was for work that initially ran in the Natchitoches Parish Journal.
“The winner drew me in immediately via the first column with a history piece appealing to readers no matter what generation they claim. Awesome detail, without bogging down the flow. Hit a lot of fun, hot topics: rivalry, scheduling, conference membership. It was an ‘advance’ column that would make me want to go watch the game, just knowing all that had – and had not – preceded the matchup,” wrote the judge.
“The second column again was the beneficiary of great detail in a newsy item turned into a terrific piece. I felt well-informed and smarter about local history after reading it. The third column tackled a tough subject with a personalized lead, good reporting, super writing and – again – terrific detail.”
The Shreveport Police Department proudly hosted its annual Kids Fishing Camp, bringing together children from the community for a fun and educational day by the water.
Members of the Shreveport Police Department were on hand to ensure that all participants had an enjoyable and memorable experience. The event provided an opportunity for the officers to engage with the youth in a positive and supportive environment, fostering strong community relationships.
Chief Wayne Smith expressed his gratitude, stating, “I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the Community Oriented Policing Bureau for their dedication in making this event a success once again. Their hard work and commitment to community engagement are truly commendable.”
Additionally, the Shreveport Police Department would like to thank our law enforcement partners at Wildlife and Fisheries for their invaluable participation and support in this event. Their collaboration helped make the Kids Fishing Camp a wonderful experience for all the children involved.
We look forward to continuing this tradition and further strengthening the bond between the police department and the community.
Nancy Moore April 3, 1935 — June 18, 2024 Service: Monday, June 24, 2024, 9am at Forest Park West Cemetery, Shreveport.
Lucy Rance Cooper August 2, 1951 — June 21, 2024 Service: Tuesday, June 25, 2024, 9am at Rose Neath Funeral Home, Bossier City
Stanley N. Snead October 12, 1951 – June 21, 2024 Service: Tuesday, June 25, 2024, 5pm at Osborn Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Berta Lott March 28, 1937 – June 17, 2024 Service: Thursday, June 27, 2024, 11am at Heavenly Gates, Shreveport.
Ruby Oliver February 26, 1947 – June 18, 2024 Service: Thursday, June 27, 2024, 11am at Veteran’s Cemetery, Shreveport.
Sue D Crow November 15, 1943 – June 18, 2024 Service: Thursday, June 27, 2024, 10:30am at Forest Park Cemetery, 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)
The Louisiana State Legislature has passed House Bill 684 by Representative Neil Riser, to advance LDWF’s ability to fund the management, conservation, restoration, and enhancement of the Louisiana black bear. On Tuesday, June 18, the bill was officially signed by Governor Jeff Landry. House Bill 684 will do the following:
Expand the use of funds in the Louisiana black bear account of the Conservation Fund to include management, conservation, restoration, and enhancement of the black bear species, in addition to its habitat.
Establishes a $25 bear hunting license, which will be required in addition to a basic hunting license and a bear harvest permit to hunt and take black bears.
Allow the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to hold a lottery for bear harvest permits and establishes a $50 fee per application.
Allow the Secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to auction a single bear harvest permit to the highest bidder.
Allows the baiting of bears only by properly licensed and permitted hunters.
“I would like to thank Governor Jeff Landry and the members of Louisiana’s legislature, especially Representative Neil Riser, for supporting black bear management in Louisiana,” said Secretary Madison D. Sheahan. “Louisiana has a long list of conservation success stories that are supported by our hunters and landowners. This will be another example of one of those success stories.”
“The success of the black bear recovery effort is a historic event that we can all be proud of. This was made possible by the hard work and determination of our landowners, outdoor enthusiasts, our government and non-government partners, and both past and present LDWF employees. Thank you so much to everyone who was part of this effort, you have done something that will shape the Louisiana outdoor culture for generations to come,” LDWF Large Carnivore Program Manager John Hanks said.
The Louisiana Public Service Commission approved two SWEPCO matters on June 19 offered by North Louisiana PSC member Foster Campbell, D-Bossier City.
Campbell’s PSC District 5 includes the majority of SWEPCO’s 12-parish territory. He proposed that SWEPCO immediately refund $23 million that was mistakenly billed by the electric utility during 2022 and 2023.
Campbell also persuaded the commission to conduct a service-quality investigation of SWEPCO because of frequent outages.
“We have had a lot of outages in Northwest Louisiana,” he said. “We need to look at SWEPCO to see if service can be improved.”
Campbell said one area near Shreveport had seen 10 outages already this year.
SWEPCO caught the $23-million accounting error during a PSC review of the company’s billing during the years 2022 and 2023. Campbell asked that the money be credited to customer bills during July, August and September.
“Those are the hottest months with the highest bills,” he said.
For the average SWEPCO residential customer using 1,250 kilowatt-hours per month, the credit will amount to $21 per month, or a total of $63 for the three-month period.
Actual bill credits will depend on customer usage.
