The Shreveport Police Department’s Violent Crimes Abatement Team, in partnership with Caddo Parish Juvenile Services probation officers, executed a search warrant at 600 Harrison Street on Aug. 2 around 11 am. This joint effort resulted in the arrest of a 14-year-old juvenile on outstanding warrants and the possession of five firearms.
All evidence colletted during the operation was submitted to the Shreveport Police Department Property Room for safekeeping and future court purposes. This seizure of illegally possessed weapons underscores Chief Smith and the Shreveport Police Department’s commitment to removing those who seek to commit violence from our streets.
Chief Smith praised the collaborative efforts, stating, “The removal of these firearms from the hands of a juvenile is a crucial step in our ongoing mission to ensure the safety of our community. We will continue to work tirelessly with our partners to protect our citizens and prevent violence.”
As usual , our office boasts of conviction after conviction in the month of July. I thank my Assistant District Attorneys, DA support staff, law enforcement officers, our Caddo judges, court staff , and the citizen jurors who serve for your hard work. Of special note are the following cases:
* A man convicted in June in connection with the May 1, 2022 death of Shreveport teen Landry Anglin must serve the rest of his life in prison with no chance of pardon, parole or reduction of sentence.
District Judge Ramona Emanuel imposed the mandatory sentence July 16 on Kenmiccael Dano Ray, 25, following a sentencing hearing, at which 13-year-old Anglin’s parents both gave emotional and heartfelt victim impact statements to the court.
On May 1, 2022, Ray murdered young Landry, who was shot once in the home of a relative in the 4500 block of Fairfield Avenue. Evidence produced at trial proved that the defendant was affiliated with a gang in Shreveport, and video evidence showed Ray firing an assault-style rifle at a vehicle following him on Erie Street between Thornhill and Line. Following the shooting, he fled to Arlington, Texas, and was apprehended five days later.
Gavontay Johnson, Tramaine Taylor, and Deanthony Johnson, all codefendants, are awaiting trial.
Assistant District Attorneys Ron Christopher Stamps, Christopher Bowman and Britney Green prosecuted the case. Leslie Kelly defended Ray.
The case was docket Nos. 389215 and 389620.
* A man who shot his girlfriend seven times at their residence on Dallas Street last August was found guilty of second-degree murder July 24 in Caddo District Court.
It took the nine-woman, three-man jury in District Judge Michael Pitman’s court 15 minutes to return its guilty-as-charged verdict against Richard Refund Spencer, 56, of Minden.
On August 16, 2023, Spencer shot and killed his live-in girlfriend, Michelle Wells, at her home in the 3000 block of Dallas Street. Witnesses told police they saw Spencer leave the house after the shooting. Spencer surrendered to authorities two days later and confessed to shooting Wells, claiming he only meant to scare her. Spencer’s gun was recovered from his vehicle, and ballistics matched it to shell casings and bullets recovered from the crime scene. Additionally, his DNA was found on the gun’s trigger. Spencer faces a mandatory life term in prison at hard labor.
Prosecutors were Assistant District Attorneys Bill Edwards and Kodie Smith. Spencer was defended by Michael Enright and Katie Miller.
The case was docket No. 397087.
* A Bethany man accused of a home invasion last year pleaded guilty as charged July 23, just as the first witness against him began to testify as his trial commenced.
Caddo District Judge John D. Mosely Jr. immediately sentenced Odis Dewayne Simmons, 58, to serve seven years at hard labor.
On April 16, 2023, Shreveport Police responded to a disturbance call at a residence on Central Street in the Morningside neighborhood. The caller, the adult son of Simmons’ former girlfriend, reported that Simmons entered his mother’s residence without permission. The woman told officers Simmons entered her home through her bathroom window, found her in her bedroom and started to hit her. He then placed his hands around her neck and started to choke her. Her son heard her screams and attempted to stop Simmons’ attack. After a struggle, Simmons tried to leave. Officers searched for him, and finally located him in a closet in the home.
Assistant District Attorneys Victoria Washington and Jasmine Cooper prosecuted Simmons. He was defended by Casey Simpson and Hilary Hileman.
The case was docket No. 394874.
* A Shreveport woman who killed an elderly man in the Sunset Acres neighborhood with a knife pleaded guilty to the slaying July 16 and was sentenced to 40 years at hard labor.
LaKendra Wesley, 37, pleaded guilty before District Judge Ramona Emanuel to manslaughter in the June 2018 death of Kenneth Miller. Wesley also pleaded guilty to unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling, receiving a six-year sentence, to be served concurrently with the manslaughter term.
The killing occurred on or about June 22, 2018 through June 24, 2018 on Waggoner Street. A concerned neighbor contacted police after he had not seen Mr. Miller in a few days. Police arrived and found the victim’s door unlocked. From the doorway police could see Mr. Miller, 81, deceased with a knife lodged in the side of his head. Wesley was found a few days later with a cut to her hand. Her DNA was found on the weapon.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Brittany Arvie. Royal Alexander defended Wesley.
The case was docket Nos. 362115 and 360830.
* A 19-year-old Shreveporter pleaded guilty July 18 to manslaughter in connection with the September 7, 2021 shooting death of a man in a trailer park.
Nikolas Brown agreed to serve a 20-year prison sentence for killing La’Derrick Grant, also 19, in the Pinecrest trailer park. Grant and two companions were walking down the road in front of Brown’s residence when Brown started to argue with one of Grant’s companions over alleged social media communications with Brown’s girlfriend. Brown and Grant’s companion both were armed with handguns and as Grant and his companions walked away, shots rang out. Grant, who was not armed and posed no threat to Brown, was struck once in the chest and died on the scene.
Assistant District Attorneys Kendra Joseph and Christopher Bowman prosecuted the case, docket No. 385241. Casey Simpson defended Brown.
* A Shreveport woman who shot her husband and then doused his body with gasoline must serve life in prison, and then some, a Caddo district judge ruled.
Charlene Henderson, 45, found guilty in June of the May 16, 2022 second-degree murder of Larry Clark, also 45, was sentenced July 16 to the life term mandated by state law by District Judge John D. Mosely Jr.. She was sentenced to another 20 years in prison, to be served consecutively, for conviction of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Henderson shot and killed her husband, then covered his body with carpet and texted a cellphone photo of his body to a family member. Then 25 minutes later, she called 911 to report the slaying. When officers arrived on scene they noted an overwhelming smell of gasoline in the residence. Crime scene photos showed ashes covering Larry Clark’s body under the carpet.
Henderson was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Courtney N. Ray and Jasmine Cooper. She was defended by Casey Simpson, Harry Johnson and Hilary Hileman.
The case was docket No. 389211.
* A man who shot and killed an acquaintance in the Highland neighborhood will serve the rest of his life in prison for the crime, a Caddo Parish judge ruled July 15.
District Judge Michael Pitman ordered Torail Thomas, 44, to the mandatory term for the November 10, 2022 second-degree murder of Da’Twaine Broomfield. Thomas also must serve 20 years for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and 30 years for obstruction of justice, all sentences to run consecutive to one another.
Victim Broomfield, 32, arrived at Thomas’s home on Boulevard Street and an argument ensued. Neighbors heard a conversation upstairs, followed by gunshots and after a pause, additional gunshots. Thomas was seen running from his home and tossing items underneath it and the house next door. When asked by a neighbor what had happened, he said there was a dead man in his home. He told responding officers Broomfield had consumed some methamphetamine and that while he was in the bathroom, someone else had shot Broomfield. Firearm parts of the murder weapon were found under the home. When confronted by detectives, Thomas eventually confessed to shooting Broomfield, claiming self-defense, even though the victim was not armed.
Thomas was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Sam Crichton and Victoria Washington. He was defended by Michael Enright and Katie Miller.
The case was docket No. 392346.
* A Shreveport woman accused of shaking a baby to death was found guilty of the crime July 11. The trial was originally to have been before a jury, but as jurors were about to be chosen July 8, defendant Tatianna Jenell Burns, 42, asked for a bench trial before District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr.
After presentation of prosecution and defense cases, and deliberation by Judge Hathaway, the court found Burns, also known as Tatianna Washington, guilty as charged of second-degree murder in the death of a non-related child A.W., aged 18 months at the time of her death on June 5, 2020.
Over the course of the trial, the District Attorney’s office called 11 witnesses to prove Burns murdered A.W., shaking her to death at her home in Caddo parish. Evidence at trial established that Burns was caring for a toddler with whom she shared no familial relationship, and that Burns had previously cared for another unrelated child in 2013, and who was removed from her home following an investigation that determined she had tortured the child. The state called four medical doctors who agreed that bleeding and swelling and brain bleeds to A.W. resulted from acute abusive head trauma. Prosecutors presented a combination of medical and testimonial evidence to prove that the defendant was the only person who had access to the child at the time she was injured.
Assistant District Attorneys Jason Waltman and Christopher Bowman prosecuted for the state. Leslie Kelly defended Burns.
The case was docket No. 377592.
* A man who broke into a Keithville church late last year and stole numerous items pleaded guilty to the crime July 9. The pleading occurred just after a six-person jury had been seated and the first witness was sworn in.
Joshua Matthew Boyett, 31, admitted to simple burglary with regard to the September 23, 2023 break-in of the Providence Road Baptist Church before District Judge Donald Hathaway Jr. Caddo Parish deputies went to the church to investigate thefts reported at a church building. Investigation led to Boyett and another man who lived nearby. A search warrant was issued and executed, leading to the discovery of several items that belonged to the church.
When Boyett returns for sentencing September 17, he faces a prison term of up to 12 years with or without hard labor.
Boyett was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Stephen Folk-Cruthirds and Christopher Bowman. He was defended by Carlos Prudhomme.
The case was docket No. 397851.
* A man who stole a sedan and threatened its owner pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery July 9.
Lorenzo Oliver Jr., 21, admitted to stealing a 2012 Volkswagen Passat on May 28, 2022, making his plea before District Judge Donald Hathaway Jr., just prior to the seating of the jury.
During the robbery on Kent Avenue, Oliver led the vehicle’s owner to believe that he was armed with a firearm.
When Oliver returns to Judge Hathaway’s court September 16, 2024, he faces a hard-labor prison term of at least three and up to 40 years, without benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence.
Oliver was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Cheyenne Wilson and Jason Waltman. He was defended by Sean Landry.
The case was docket No. 391226.
* A local man who carjacked and severely injured an acquaintance who gave him a ride in the Highland neighborhood pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery July 22.
Jacob Boykin, 39, immediately was sentenced to serve 18 years at hard labor by Caddo District Judge John D. Mosely Jr.
On August 8, 2022, Shreveport Police responded to a carjacking call in the 1000 block of Boulevard Street. The male acquaintance victim and his girlfriend gave Boykin a ride to a convenience store. After leaving the Circle K, the victim asked where Boykin wanted to be dropped off as it was getting late. When the victim stopped at a red light, Boykin reached from the backseat into the driver s seat and began stabbing the victim, who suffered multiple lacerations with heavy bleeding. Police specifically noted severe lacerations above the collarbone, to his back and to his throat. While the men physically struggled in the car, the driver’s girlfriend was able to flee, and the driver also escaped after being stabbed several times. Boykin then drove off in the victim’s car.
Boykin was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Victoria Washington. He was defended by Casey Simpson.
The case was docket No. 390693.
* The Caddo Parish Grand Jury returned five true bills in its session that ended July 18.
Four of the indictments concerned recent murders, while other charges involved weapons crimes and sexual assaults.
Shemika Draper Johnson, Michael Keith McKnight, Keelon Bernard Nelson and Lederrick Dewayne Gant all were indicted for second-degree murders, with McKnight facing two counts. Gant also was charged with illegal carrying of weapons and possession of a stolen firearm. Petyon Melsha was indicted on charges of first-degree rape and sexual battery.
Johnson, 40, faces a second-degree murder charge in connection with the April 7, 2024 knifing death of Zachery Johnson, 43, in the 9500 block of Rose Hollow Lane.
The case is docket No. 403098.
McKnight, 27, faces two murder charges in connection with the April 19, 2024 slayings of his parents, Roderick and Kathleen McKnight, 64 and 62 respectively, at their home in Blanchard.
The case is docket No. 401473.
Nelson, 44, is charged with murder in connection with the April 16, 2024 death of David Johnson, 43.
The case is docket No. 401425.
Gant, 37 and from Shreveport, is charged in connection wit the April 9, 2024 slaying of his mother, Sharon Gant Gosey, 59. The gun charges in his case, docket No. 401265, stem from his use of a .40 caliber Smith and Wesson pistol in the slaying.
Melsha, 30, of Keithville, was indicted on charges of first-degree rape and sexual battery and was incarcerated at Caddo Correctional Center April 10, 2024. No further information is available in connection with his case due to the nature of the charges involved.
At your service,
James E. Stewart Sr. Caddo Parish District Attorney
If you’ve never seen a race walk, it’s like watching a lot of discomforted people hurrying, with determined and stressful purpose, to get to the nearest bathroom.
That, you’ve seen. And experienced.
If you’ve successfully navigated such a familiar situation but you’ve never seen it as a competition but are eager to, you are in for the same feeling of relief and afterglow today. Because FINALLY — it’s here!
I kid you not.
Today — Wednesday, August 7 — the marathon race walk mixed relay competition will be decided, over the hills and through the woods in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.
For more than 42 kilometers, a male and female competitor will alternate every 10 kilometers or so until they’ve crossed the finish line, which in American miles is 26 and a smidge. Male-female-male-female. No baton to pass at each relay point, just a low five. Like tag team wrestling.
Will take between 4-and-a-half to 5 hours, give or take: no one knows for sure since this is an Olympic first.
This is no slap at walking. This bureau is pro-walk. Like to walk. LOVE to walk. Try to walk two or three miles a day, 10,000-steps-plus and all that.
But casually. Not competitively. The only things I try to beat while walking are the sun and my age.
Those of a certain age will remember race walking in black-and-white on television, either at the Olympics in the 1960s or on “Wide, Wide World of (Sometimes Walking) Sports, and Jim McKay trying to come up with something to say while, with Jim, we watched a pack of people walking as if they really, REALLY wanted to start running.
Want a professional challenge? Try step-by-step play-by-play.
Best wishes.
Let’s face it: race walking is goofy. It requires a gait that demands you swallow your pride, and maybe a corn cob, at the door. It is not for either the faint of heart or the faint of colon.
It’s a tough sport.
Race walking became an Olympic sport back in 1908 at the London Summer Olympics, and I can only imagine how:
“Hey, Uncle Jules, since you’re the head of the Olympic Committee this go-’round, think you can make a sport for me? I would like to compete and get a medal but methinks jumping and especially the running, by golly, that appears tiresome.”
Boom! Race walk.
Those who can, run, do; those who can’t, walk.
Alas, this seems to be a part of Olympic fever. When you watch (or more likely just hear, like me) about some of these sports, doesn’t it sound like, “Well, I did all that 50 years ago —at church camp.”
Ping pong and trampoline. Skateboarding and bicycle jumping. And the most daring, pride-swallowing stretch of all, 3-on-3 basketball. Now we are taking real sports and dividing them up? Next is 2-on-2 basketball and then 3-on-3 soccer and on it goes.
If we ARE going to have 3-on-3 Olympic basketball, it should be “call your own fouls.” How is it true 3-on-3 otherwise?
Come on guys …
This is not an edict or proposal to do away with any of the Olympic “sports.” It’s like college football bowl games: if someone wants to play them and watch them and pay for them to be played, great. If it’s college football bowl games, I’m watching. Some of these Olympic things, neg.
To each his own.
I’m just saying this: don’t sell this stuff to me as Real Olympics. We know that while the Alamo Bowl is a college bowl game, it’s not one of the Big Six bowl games. And while breakdancing is called an Olympic sport now, it’s not the 100m or the 4×400. To paraphrase, don’t walk on me and tell me you’re running.
For the record, Americans aren’t walkers of the Olympic variety. We scored a silver back in Antwerp in ’20 (NINETEEN 20) and a couple of bronze deals 50 years ago. In the individual 20-kilometer competitions last week, the winners were from Ecuador and China. Took between 80 to 85 minutes to walk the 12-and-a-half American miles.
That’s booking it for a walk, between 8 and 9 miles per hour.
The Americans? We didn’t walk. And we ain’t medley walking today, either. We’ll be running and jumping.
Dogwood South Lane is now open to regular traffic as the White Oak Ditch project work is almost complete.
The roadway opened yesterday after the concrete work over the box culverts was completed. Contractors closed Dogwood South Lane on Tuesday, May 28, to replace the deteriorating metal culverts under the street with more resilient concrete ones.
District 8 Police Juror Doug Rimmer is happy the roadway is now open just in time for the beginning of the school year. “This completion not only solves the chronic drainage problems in the Dogwood South neighborhood, but it will also help with traffic flow before the beginning of the school,” Rimmer said.
Officials are asking residents to drive cautiously through the still active work zone while the contractor completes some general site clean-up work and a few minor items.
Caddo Parish School Resource Officers are prepared to welcome new students and take on the school year. They will be at their designated school to help maintain a secure environment for students, staff, and visitors.
JAW-TO-JAW: Two LSU linemen battle in a drill Tuesday during a steaming outdoor practice in Baton Rouge. (Photo courtesy LSU Athletics)
By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
BATON ROUGE – Spring football practices have no sense of urgency.
There’s usually a load of returning players sitting out recovering from off-season surgeries. Head coaches experiment with position changes. New coordinator hires are installing their offensive and defensive schemes while patiently expecting growing pains.
With the start of the regular season 4½ months away, you’ll rarely see any coaching staff member so exasperated they start yelling.
“Spring is more about technical work,” LSU head coach Brian Kelly.
And now after the first four LSU preseason practices with the Tigers’ Sept. 1 season-opener vs. USC in Las Vegas looming?
The LSU practice field, especially from its new defensive coaching staff charged with executing a miracle makeover responsibility of one of college football’s worst units a year ago, is filled with volcanic expletive-filled eruptions.
Maybe it’s because a heat index edging towards 110 degrees – a virtual furnace – greets the coaches and players each morning after they exit the cool-climate-controlled indoor facility.
Or maybe it’s because there’s a smoldering anger among returnees on defense not to be ranked 103rd or worse nationally in six stat categories as they were last season.
“Being able to adapt to our coaches and learn how they want things and how they yell and stuff like that is good, especially early in fall camp.,” LSU senior linebacker Greg Penn III said. “They are bringing the intensity. We (the players) have to match that intensity.”
It’s up to veterans like starting fifth-year senior defensive tackle Jacobian Guillory to explain to incoming freshmen not to take it personally if an assistant verbally unloads on them.
“I listen to the message and apply it to my game or whatever I did wrong,” Guillory said. “It’s not that they’re yelling at you. They’re yelling at the problem. It’s not an F-you or F-that.”
New defensive coordinator Blake Baker and new assistants Bo Davis (D-line), Kevin Peoples (edge rushers), Corey Raymond (secondary) and Jake Olsen are priming the pump daily in their daily individual position pre-practice meetings.
LSU junior All-SEC first-team offensive tackle Will Campbell, a projected 2025 NFL top 10 first-round draft choice, said there’s a noticeable attitude change in the 2024 defense.
“It’s night and day the difference between this year and last year with the juice that they come out to practice with,” Campbell said of the defense. “They come out ready to fly around, they’re ready to hit. They’re violent, ready to fight, ready to go. And that’s what we need at the end of the day.”
That’s a credit to Baker, LSU’s linebackers coach in 2021 who was Missouri’s defensive coordinator the last two seasons where his pressure defenses were known for creating turnovers and huge yardage losses.
“Pressures can come from a lot of different looks, but playing fast is really the essence of what has made Blake’s pressures so difficult,” Kelly said. “The teachability of Blake’s system allows our guys to play really fast without paralysis by analysis.”
Penn, who was a true freshman during Baker’s previous one-season stint with the Tigers, loves Baker’s defensive philosophy.
“He (Baker) wants to attack all the time,” Penn said. “He wants to be aggressive, be physical. If we’re watching film and he sees us playing timid, he’ll say `We don’t want no poodles.’”
Guillory said Baker wants the LSU defense to be “juiced up” every day.
“Even when our defensive backs make a play downfield, I want to run downfield, high-five him and pick him up,” Guillory said. “It’s about being a group and not individuals.”
On the defense’s back end in the Tigers’ secondary which ranked 115th nationally last season in passing yards allowed (255.6 yards per game), LSU senior wide receiver Kyren Lacy said he already sees improvement.
“Coach Corey got those guys right,” Lacy said. “They’ve changed everything. They come up with something new every day.”
CAMP NOTEBOOK
LSU sophomore tight end Mac Markway, a former 4-star recruit who played in 12 games last season, told Kelly Monday night he’s leaving the program. “He made a decision he’s not going to play,” Kelly said. Markway announced through social media he intends to transfer. Kelly is quite pleased sophomore Ka’Morreun Plimpton (6-6, 242) and true freshman Trey’ Dez Green (6-7, 237), the Tigers’ backup tight ends behind starter Mason Taylor. “KP’s run-blocking consistency and catching assignments have been really good,” Kelly said. “Trey’ Dez has assimilated as well as we could have expected for a true freshman. They’re both going to play.”. . .Returning defensive lineman Bradyn Swinson and Jalen Lee haven’t practiced with the team because they are finishing a morning Spanish class to graduate. “That class ends Monday,” Kelly said. “We’ve been bringing both of them here in the afternoons with an assistant coach, a strength coach and a trainer so they can stay on track.”
FOOTBALL FRIENDS: Coaches and principals from five Bossier Parish high schools gathered Tuesday night for an appreciation dinner hosted by Origin Bank. (Journal photo by GAVEN HAMMOND, landgphoto.com)
JOURNAL SPORTS
There are some good rivalries among Bossier Parish schools, but there’s a stronger sense of brotherhood among the football coaches just east of Red River.
That was apparent Tuesday evening at the third annual appreciation dinner hosted by Origin Bank in Shreveport, and organized by the Shreveport-Bossier Journal sports staff to pay tribute to coaches and administrators as the school year, and specifically football season, is nearly here.
Football practice already IS here. That kept the Airline contingent from attending, with head coach Justin Scogin sending regrets. But the other five Bossier coaches were on hand for the social event, along with some coaching staff members and principals, and local officiating assignments director Curtis Graham, who provided insight into the men in stripes with whistles and flags who will enable fair play this season.
Award-winning veteran SBJ writer and columnist John James Marshall pointed out to the group that the relationships between the Bossier coaches and football staffs are exceptionally cordial, and that adds value to the matchups as they unfold during the season. Tuesday there were Benton Tigers mingling with Bossier Bearkats, Haughton Bucs laughing with Parkway Panthers, and the ever-friendly Lion from Plain Dealing, head coach Clint Walker, making the rounds with his big smile and firm handshake.
And there were friendly jabs. Recounting a few of the memorable prep football stories that Journal writers have produced recently, JJ cited the incredible 2022 score war won 78-71 by Benton over Haughton, looking out at Tigers’ offensive-minded coach Reynolds Moore.
Immediately, Marshall winced as he looked at second-year Bossier coach Gary Smith – who previously was Haughton’s defensive coordinator, and good-naturedly ducked his head and grimaced.
But Smith popped right back. “Yeah, but the year before, we won 7-0,” he said, grinning.
Fact. You could look it up. Journal prep sports guru and historian Lee Hiller did.
Moore and Smith recounted that slugfest in the rain a few minutes later, with Moore claiming Haughton’s touchdown came on a play when Benton had only 10 defenders on the field.
It was that kind of fun-filled gathering Tuesday night.
More of the same is anticipated when Caddo Parish coaches gather Thursday evening.
HEAD COACHES: (From left) Reynolds Moore of Benton, Bossier’s Gary Smith, Matthew Sewell of Haughton, Parkway’s Coy Brotherton and Clint Walker of Plain Dealing shared plenty of laughter Tuesday evening. (Journal photo by GAVEN HAMMOND, landgphoto.com)
LEADING THE CHIEFS: New Natchitoches Central football coach Brad Laird is enjoying taking the Chiefs through preseason practice. (Journal photo by KEVIN SHANNAHAN)
By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
NATCHITOCHES – For a third straight season, the Natchitoches Central Chiefs football program has a new head coach and that’s unsettling.
But with Brad Laird in charge, things are settling down fast.
Laird, who was head coach at Northwestern State for the past six seasons, took over this spring after former Class 2A championship coach Jess Curtis, who built a dynasty at Many, bolted to Lafayette’s Southside High. Curtis stayed only one season in Natchitoches after replacing James Wilkerson, now an assistant at reigning Select Division III champion Calvary Baptist.
NCHS finished 2-8 last season under Curtis but was consistently competitive with its Shreveport-Bossier rivals in District 1-5A, losing in the final minutes at Benton and Haughton, and on the last play to Parkway, among other bitter pills.
Laird was 28-18 as head coach at Ruston High from 2013-16. He helped establish the junior high feeder system that has fueled the Bearcats’ return among state powers in the LHSAA’s highest classification, and he hired current Bearcats’ coach Jerrod Baugh from east Texas. Baugh guided Ruston to the Non-Selection Division I state championship last December.
Since NCHS did not stage spring practice as Laird was building his coaching staff, the Chiefs got their preseason camp started a week ahead of most teams. It’s was a week filled with teaching new schemes and a new practice style. So the Chiefs, exactly 100 strong with freshmen through seniors, are already in full pads as they go through their paces this week on J.D. Garrett Field on campus.
“Just now being able to solidify, in the last couple of weeks, our coaching staff, so right now the biggest things we’re doing is 1) playing with great effort but 2) the install,” said Laird.
“Any time a new coaching staff is involved, you’re going to have schematically things that are different. School’s about to start, football season is about to be here, and these guys have shown their excitement with their work ethic.”
Classes start today for freshmen, Thursday for the students in grades 10-12. But for the team, they’ve learned a lot already as they’ve settled in under Laird and his staff.
For the last seven years, Laird has coached at Northwestern, where the roster was filled with players on scholarship and eager walk-ons hoping to earn scholarship money and playing time. Back in the high school ranks, Laird is enjoying a different motivation from the players, some who he’s watched for years since his son Brock is a senior baseball standout at NCHS.
“That’s what’s fun to watch, because they ultimately choose to come out here and be involved,” he said. “To me the biggest satisfaction is to be able to watch these young men from as early as third, fourth, fifth, sixth grade, and then ultimately when they graduate as seniors, to see how far they’ve come on, and off, the field.”
There’s a bigger picture, something he’s always kept in mind every step of the way since he entered coaching after wrapping up his playing days as a record-breaking QB at NSU after the 1995 season.
It’s obvious as the broad smile on his face and the sparkle in his eyes as he moves through the Eugene Christmas Fieldhouse, watching the Chiefs gear up for their evening practice.
“The field is the same, college or high school, just as long and wide. The hash marks are different, the goalposts are wider at this level,” he said. “There’s so much you can learn on a football field, outside of football, and that hasn’t changed. The opportunity to do this in Natchitoches at this level has been fun and I am looking forward to many more days of this.”
The dog days of August are upon us and unless you live in Alaska, no one wants to be outside. But there’s still a lot to talk about and I’ve got a few things on my mind that I need to get off my chest. So today, I’ll give you my perspective on some topics that are both good and bad.
Football season is right around the corner which is hard to believe. NFL teams are right in the middle of training camp while college teams are reporting as we speak. High school teams are going through physicals and preparing to start their preseason training. But no matter who your favorite team is, the fact that August is here means fall and cooler temperatures are coming soon, which is my favorite time of year!
With the coming of fall, it’s also the time of year where bass tournament anglers who have had good seasons are now preparing for their championship events. Fall fishing can be awesome and is probably my favorite time to fish, mainly because the lakes are not as crowded since a lot of guys are getting ready for deer season.
Next, what changes will tournament organizations like B.A.S.S. and Major League Fishing (MLF) make for the 2025 season? Of course, we are talking about the hottest topic of 2024 with regards to forward-facing sonar. B.A.S.S. has decide to limit the amount of overall screen size per boat to 60 inches. Meaning you’ll be limited to the number of sonar units you can have on your boat.
So instead of 16- and 18-inch screens, some anglers will go back to five 12-inch screens. Another change for 2025, anglers will only be allowed one transducer per boat instead of three like some anglers have been running. This will have a bigger impact on the anglers than limiting their screen sizes. The jury is still out on MLF with regards to forward-facing sonar and we’ll keep our ears open and will report any changes… if they make any at all.
Next thing on my mind is the amount of cheating going on in tournament bass fishing today. Come on guys… really! If you must resort to cheating in order to win or do well in a bass tournament, you’re a loser anyway. But until judges drop the hammer on these guys and really make them pay for their actions, cheating will continue.
Slapping these cheaters on the wrist with a small fine and picking up trash on the side of the road is not enough of a deterrent. Jail time should be automatic with heavy fines and a lifetime ban on fishing. Sounds harsh? These guys are committing fraud and should be punished accordingly.
We’ll wrap it up with this. This year, it’s come to my attention that more and more anglers are being diagnosed with skin cancer/melanoma. I continue to see a lot of anglers ignore or refuse to take any precautions by protecting themselves from the sun’s harmful rays. Guys, I am an unfortunate example that we are not bullet proof and you need to do a better job of protecting yourselves.
Every angler out there should be making regular dermatologist appointments because the key to beating Melanoma is catching it early. Please take the time to protect yourself and find a dermatologist who can detect and treat any skin abnormalities. These regular appointments just might save your life.
Change how you dress for outdoor activities by wearing sun protective clothing and sunscreen. You might think it’s overkill, but now is the time to change your apparel habits so that you can protect yourself from the number one cancer killer — melanoma.
‘Til next time, good luck, good fishing and if you’re not sure it’s a bite, set the hook!
My morning habit involves watching the local TV news. I want to see what happened while I slept. This station offers a color the weather segment. The children draw weather events and send their artwork to the station. The station during a weather segment will show the artwork. These children are budding artists for sure.
Along with the meteorological depictions there are the usual childlike renditions of houses, cars, children playing and other things you used to draw as a child. I started noticing a commonality in the drawings. In most drawings there is a pig. The pig is usually pink.
I never sent artwork to a television station. I do remember drawing stuff in that ancient time of my childhood. I don’t remember drawing lots of animals. I think most of what I drew were houses and cars. And being a child of the 1960’s there were lots of rockets and space capsules. I know for sure; I drew no pig.
What is this sudden childhood fascination with pigs?
I asked Google.
I was introduced to Peppa Pig, which is a British preschool animated television series. The series began in 2004 and is still in production. So that would explain the sudden appearance of a pig in the children’s artwork.
I was thinking about it because this morning’s artwork showed a tornado with trees and the pig flying off into the sky. The pig is sometimes on the ground, sometime airborne depending on the weather being illustrated. Of course, you know that the phrase “when pigs fly” is an adynaton, a figure of speech so hyperbolic that it describes an impossibility.
Peppa Pig must be a thing with the children today. I long for the good ole days of the Coyote trying to do in the Road Runner, which is another article though.
American kids are binge-watching so much of Peppa Pig that they are developing English accents and even using words like “telly” and “ready, steady, go.” The children have learned to imitate Peppa Pig.
If imitation is the highest form of flattery, then as Jesus followers who are we imitating? The Apostle Paul was so brash he told the Corinthians to “imitate me.” What would someone learn about Jesus by imitating you?
Doug de Graffenried is Pastor of Trinity Methodist Church in Ruston.
Attention Disc Golfers! The Caddo Parish Parks and Recreation Department and the Shreveport-Bossier Disc Golf Union have joined forces and are excited to host the inaugural Earl G. Williamson Classic Disc Golf Tournament on Saturday, Aug. 24. Join us at the scenic Earl G. Williamson Park, located at 11425 Hwy. 1, Oil City.
This will be a 2-round, 18-hole tournament for players ages 13 and older. Divisions of play will be based on age, gender, and skill level (Junior to Pro Am). The event will have a 45-player cap, with various prizes awarded to top finishers in each division. All players will receive a free t-shirt, disc, and mini marker. Entry fees will range from $25 to $55 per person, depending on division. An additional $10 fee will apply for players without a current Professional Disc Golf Association membership.
Overall, the look was effortless chic with a twist of color.
A white Twin Sister dress that fit Gabby Godfrey like a glove. It was the first photo shoot created by the then 17-year-old aspiring model from Natchitoches that would be the foundation of a portfolio for a hopeful future career in modeling and fashion design.
Halfway into the photo shoot, the photographer, Jess Roberts, suggested wearing a colorful headband that Gabby had packed in her bag that day. It was the headband her grandmother, Ginny Carbo of Alexandria, had purchased for her as a Christmas gift in a local boutique.
Oh, that headband.
It was that headband that catapulted Gabby onto an exciting and…totally unexpected…path to fulfilling her dream of becoming a model.
“After receiving the photo gallery from Jess, I immediately chose my favorites and posted them on Instagram; tagging all of the designers of each piece I wore,” said Gabby. “I received hundreds of likes and comments, many of which asked about the headband. They loved the photos, but LOVED the headband and wanted to know where I got it.”
Gabby could have just told everyone it was purchased at a small boutique in Alexandria, but she wanted to know more. She began researching the company that made it and was blown away by what she discovered.
Alivia, a company started by Jovana Mullins in 2018, turns artwork, created by individuals with disabilities, into inspiring fashion apparel.
It was this headband piece that began with artwork created by an individual with a disability participating in art therapy. Alivia pays each artist for the use of his/her artwork, and then 10 percent of every purchase is donated to their associated nonprofit art therapy program. Also, each garment includes a scannable tag which credits the artist responsible for the design. Jovana then uses her own expertise and inspiration to create the fashion apparel.
Gabby was touched to learn the origin of the headband she wore, and it was not long before she was honored to receive a response from Jovana.
“We would love to work with you,” read the response.
At the time, Gabby was a senior at St. Mary’s Catholic School, leading a busy life with classes, extracurricular activities and leadership roles at school and in the community. It was hard for her to break away from her studies and school activities.
But as soon as Gabby graduated from high school in May of 2024, she was invited by Jovanna to come to New York for a photo shoot to model the Alivia brand and to meet some of the talented creators behind the designs.
During planning, it was discovered that Gabby and Jovana had a mutual family friend, Peyton Tillman, founder of and designer for the New York clothing company, Taylor Tillman. Jovana and Peyton worked together to coordinate a combined photo shoot for Alivia and Taylor Tillman in Greenwich Village in New York City.
“Having the opportunity to work with Jovana and Peyton was an experience I will never forget. Their overall mission and passion to give back through fashion was very inspirational, and I am forever grateful for the opportunity and guidance that they have given me.
“I also had the privilege to meet Charlotte and Victoria,” said Gabby; “two absolutely beautiful girls who inspired the prints for the dresses I modeled that day. Victoria was fun, very kind, and focused; Charlotte was outgoing and full of personality. I instantly fell in love with both of them.”
Since the recent photo shoot in New York, Gabby continues to work with Jovana, helping to bring awareness to the mission of Alivia. Jovana, who was impressed that Gabby researched the Alivia brand, shares a passion for not just doing what she loves, but doing it with a purpose.
“I love the story behind Alivia and how it showcases the talents of artists with disabilities,” she said. “If I am going to have modeling opportunities, I would love to continue in the direction of doing so for a cause, or for brands that give back to the community.
For now, Gabby is holding on to the lucky Alivia headband she wore in that first photo shoot. She has brought it along on every photo shoot in the last two years.
Some of her modeling and work experience includes attending the Coco Rocha Model Camp in New York, and the Mad Hatter’s Luncheon and Style Show in Lafayette, which benefitted Acadiana Symphony Orchestra music education programs. She also modeled for Ames Layne and Zepp Air at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and the Natchitoches Regional Airport, which along with Lynn Sanders Art and Alivia, were featured in the Fall 2023 edition of LOLA Magazine.
In December of 2023, she modeled for the Church Street Inn in Natchitoches, and Jovana sent Gabby several items from Alivia to incorporate in a holiday photo shoot that took place at the Windsor Court Hotel in New Orleans.
In the fall, Gabby plans to attend Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and pursue a degree in Textiles, Apparel Design and Merchandising. Gabby also continues to work with Simone Foreman of Images Model & Talent Agency in Lafayette. She is hoping that her schedule will allow her to intern for Alivia in New York next summer, and to attend the European Model Showcase in Paris. In the future, she aspires to create and design her own fashion apparel and accessories, similar to Alivia.
“It is surreal to think about how all of this came together from wearing a unique headband in my first portfolio photo shoot,” she said.
Dr. Matthew Ragan Green, Jr. September 23, 1948 – August 6, 2024 Service: TBA
James McMichael November 2, 1951 – August 2, 2024 Service: TBA
John Marshall Chamberlin November 7, 1932 — August 4, 2024 Service: Wednesday, August 7, 2024, 10am at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, Pelican.
Charles Vernon Coleman August 5, 2024 Service: Wednesday, August 7, 2024, 11am at Heavenly Gates, Shreveport.
Dr. David Thomas Henry November 9, 1938 — August 2, 2024 Service: Thursday, August 8, 2024, 11am at Rose Neath Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Andrew Monroe Lord, Jr July 17, 1929 — August 4, 2024 Service: Friday, August 9, 2024, 9:30am at Forest Park East Cemetery, Shreveport.
Robert (Bob) Noble English March 4, 1945 — July 28, 2024 Service: Saturday, August 10, 2024, 10am at Rose-Neath Cemetery, Bossier City.
Michael J. Loftin February 13, 1956 — July 29, 2024 Service: Monday, August 12, 2024, 11:30 Northwest LA Veterans Cemetery, Keithville.
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 FACE OF BOSSIER BUSINESS: Lisa Johnson has used “God’s gift” for talking to build relationships throughout her career. (Submitted photo)
Each week, the Shreveport-Bossier Journal’s Tony Taglavore takes to lunch a local person – someone well-known, successful, and/or influential, and asks, “What’s Your Story?”
By TONY TAGLAVORE, Journal Services
The big-name entertainer’s tour bus was parked in front of the old Sheraton Shreveport hotel. The rolling billboard drew a crowd of people jostling for a glimpse of the star who was in town to perform at what was then the CenturyLink Center in Bossier City.
The hotel’s director of sales had hired an off-duty policeman to make sure things didn’t get out of hand. But the situation was on the verge of doing just that.
“So, I go down there and stand next to the cop. I’m facing the people, and in a really loud voice, I said, ‘You really need to have these people back up. No, a little further. On the other side of those cars. Now, if you can keep them there, that would be great.’ He looked at me, and I looked at him. I said, ‘The next time you need a Head Bitc#, just give me a call and I will be down here to take care of you.’ I’m like, ‘I am paying you 60-some-odd dollars an hour to do this, and I’m going to have to come down here and keep the crowd under control?’”
Lisa Johnson, now in her 20th year as President/CEO of Bossier Chamber of Commerce, told me that story, and her story, during lunch at a place she chose, 2Johns Steak & Seafood, in, of course, Bossier.
Lisa had the Friday lunch special – Chicken Fried Steak. I very much enjoyed a cup of 2Johns Shrimp Bisque and a chicken salad sandwich.
The crowd control story is a prime example of who Lisa is – and has been – throughout her life.
Take charge. Get things done. Even if it means, at times, being a “Head Bitc#.” Lisa prides herself on having a strong work ethic.
“But I’m not going to do (something) if I’m not having fun. That’s critical.”
Lisa is Bossier through and through. The oldest of three children was born at the former Bossier Medical Center, “along with all the other babies of the 1960’s.” In fact, Lisa has lived in Bossier all but six-weeks of her soon-to-be 57 years.
“My Dad relocated us to Whitehall, Arkansas, when I was in fourth grade. He had been commuting back and forth to work, coming home on the weekends. Then, when he moved the family up there, he got laid off. So, we turned around and came back.”
But Lisa made good use of her short time away. “That’s where I really learned to drive. My dad was a welder/fabricator. I learned how to drive on a half-ton, stick-shift welding truck.”
Growing up, Lisa learned something else, which she still values.
“Family is who you can count on. It’s not just blood. It’s trust. It’s integrity. It’s somebody you can lean on – that’s going to be there for you in good times and in bad. Just as God teaches us, they love you unconditionally.”
And then there is Lisa’s faith, the result of being raised in church.
“What I listen to today is Contemporary Christian. That’s what stays on my radio. It is my daily devotional. It sets my day straight and keeps me in line. So many people think that when you pray, you are supposed to close your eyes and be still. No. I will be driving down the road, just looking up, getting emotional, and be like, ‘Oh, goodness!’”
Music became an important part of Lisa’s life when she was young. Along with her sister, Lisa was a competition twirler. “I got many a trophy and medals.” She was a middle school majorette, and in high school, played the bass clarinet. But she also found time to model.
“I would do tearoom modeling at Ernest’s Supper Club when it was downtown on the riverfront. I would go to the Petroleum Club for Secretary’s Day. At Ernest’s, I would model jewelry. For Secretary’s Day, it was clothing for the ladies.”
Lisa also had a knack for the business of modeling. So much so, the owner of the modeling agency hired Lisa to run the agency when Lisa was just 15 years old.
“(Me and my dad) went and bought a desk at a garage sale, and I started booking ladies for modeling gigs, and paid them.”
Her dedication to the job is why Lisa returned home after one year at Louisiana Tech.
“I’ve always had that instinct to work.”
Prior to college, Lisa, who “loves children”, was going to be a pediatrician. She spent her high school years preparing for medical school.
“I took all the sciences. I took all the math’s. All the way up to trigonometry. All the chemistry classes . . . . For whatever reason, when it came time, I decided I couldn’t pass the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test), so I dropped it. I decided without even trying. I just dropped my dream.”
At LSUS, Lisa picked up a new dream.
“I wanted to be the (news) anchor on Channel 3.”
But our local university didn’t offer a program which could help Lisa live that dream, and she wasn’t leaving town. So, Lisa chose to capitalize on her love for talking, which she calls “God’s gift.” She graduated with a Liberal Arts degree, with a focus on Public Relations.
Lisa’s mom wasn’t happy.
“She fussed at me the whole time I was in college. ‘What are you doing? What are you going to do with this? You’re not going to get a job at all. You’re not going to be able to do anything.’”
Lisa’s mom, who died last January, lived long enough to be proven wrong. Her daughter’s resume reflects a little bit of this and a little bit of that, including Group sales Manager at Louisiana Downs, Marketing Director at American Rose Center, and Vice President of Tourism and Marketing for what was then called the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau.
“(Mom) was very proud. She could not have been prouder. She would have never admitted she was wrong, but that’s ok.”
Lisa’s longevity at Bossier Chamber must mean she’s doing something right. But the road hasn’t always been smooth. Not that long ago, there was friction between the school board, which wanted a tax increase, and the business community, which Lisa represents. The Chamber chose not to take a position on the issue.
“There were a lot of folks who were really ugly to me and, on social media, really rude. You have to have thick skin.”
But Lisa’s darkest time came in her personal life, a two-year process where she divorced her husband of 28 years.
“It started affecting me physically and mentally. I started to become unhealthy. I was having difficulty because my thought processes were not there . . . . Then, because it was my decision, it was an extremely difficult time to watch my children (who were in their 20’s) go through that.”
But Lisa made it to the other side.
“I sought help. I call her my paid best friend. I still see a counselor today for life issues. I’ve healed quite a bit. It was absolutely the right thing to do. I have a wonderful man in my life now. God knew he was supposed to be there.”
Assuming Lisa had a ribbon cutting or a big meeting to attend – after all, she is the face of Bossier business – I asked my final question. As always, what is it about her life story that can be helpful to others?
“The simplest thing in life is about a relationship. It’s about building those relationships – good, bad, or ugly. Communication is key, and honesty is key. If you’re not honest, and you don’t tell the truth, that’s when you’re going to start seeing the problems. But when you’re honest, tell the truth, and are forthright, you never have anything to make sure you’re covering up. Just continue to tell the truth, be authentic, and be yourself.”
The 30 members of the Shreveport Art Club held their 103rd Juried Art Show at the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum near the state fairgrounds, Sunday, August 4. An audience of about 30 artists and supporters enjoyed the works of 20 artists who produced 58 paintings for the show.
Edgar Cano-Lopez, Assistant Professor of Art at Northwestern State University, served as the judge for the Exhibit. In addition to his teaching duties, Cano-Lopez is a well regarded artist in our community. The colorful mural at the Ben D. Johnson Center’s community garden is perhaps his best known work. The show’s prize winners were as follows.
Best of Show: “Their Master’s Voice” by LSUS Biology Professor Steve Banks
1St Place: “Golden Slumbers” by Jim Huckabay
2nd Place: “Decanters on the Windowsill” by Ron Hazen
3rd Place: “Monstera” by Sherri Skrivanos
Earning Honorable Mentions were Beverly Schroeder, Trudy Daniel, Linda Jones, Kathleen Pate-Rives and Ron Hazen.
As mosquito season continues, Kelvin Samuel, Assistant Director of Caddo Parish Animal Services & Mosquito Control, shares tips on how to prevent arboviruses, with West Nile virus being the most common.
Here are some tips to help #FighttheBite and prevent the spread of viruses like West Nile:
– Visit 1500 Monty St., Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., to pick up free BTI granules that target active mosquito larvae.
– The Mosquito Department is actively spraying daily and you can request a specific area to be sprayed by calling (318)226-6624 option 2. Citizens can also sign up for the Everbridge Alert System on Caddo.gov to be notified when their area is being sprayed.
– Eliminate any standing water around your home to reduce mosquito breeding sites.
– Wear long sleeves and use mosquito repellent when outdoors at night.
As part of Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith’s challenge to lower traffic fatalities in the area, SPD DWI officers arrested seven more individuals over the weekend for impaired driving. Alex Abbitt, 35: Arrested for DWI, turning movements, required signals, driving under suspension (DUS), and possession of alcoholic beverages in a motor vehicle. Calvin Davis, 30: Arrested for DWI and improper lane usage. Ronald Henderson, 41: Arrested for DWI 2nd offense, operating a vehicle while under suspension for DWI, and no insurance. Albert Manigo, 30: Arrested for DWI Ist offense. Kalu Onuma, 42: Arrested for DWI and required signals. Jose Ramirez-Gonzales, 36: Arrested for DWI and no driver’s license. Houston West, 61: Arrested for DWI and failing to yield. Carlos Youngblood, 48: Arrested for careless operation and DWI 2nd offense.
In 2023, the Shreveport Police DWI Enforcement Unit was credited with 625 arrests, leading nearly all state municipalities in every related statistic. As of July 2024, they are on pace to break that record, with almost 400 DWI arrests already recorded.
What many don’t realize is that traffic accident fatalities, often involving impaired drivers, are the number one non-medical killer of innocent people in the city.
Caddo Sheriff Henry Whitehorn Sr. swore in four new deputies for the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office on Aug. 5.
LaTienda Pierre Davis will be the captain of community programs, and Joshua Williams will be the assistant chief of civil. Joseph Gladney and Ronnie Jones will serve part-time as courthouse security.
The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office is actively recruiting new personnel.
Applicants 21 years or older can apply for openings such as corrections deputies/ Security, licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, building and groundskeepers, telecommunications officers, and part-time courthouse security.
For more information on qualifications, benefits, and how to apply, please visit caddosheriff.org.
The City of Shreveport & Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s G-Unit Studios is committed to ensuring the safety and enjoyment of all attendees at the upcoming Humor & Harmony event, a four-day celebration of community, laughter, and music later this week. To bolster security efforts, the city is partnering with G-Unit Studios to significantly enhance the event’s security infrastructure.
In a collaborative effort, the City of Shreveport has purchased a new security trailer and G-Unit Studios, led by “50 Cent” Jackson, has purchased another. This makes four security trailers available for Humor & Harmony. In addition, G-Unit Studios will rent seven more security trailers for Humor & Harmony events, bringing the total number of security trailers for the events to an impressive 11.
These trailers will be integrated with the Real-Time Crime Center, allowing for seamless monitoring and rapid response to any incidents, ensuring a safe and secure environment for all festival-goers.
“We are excited to facilitate the Humor & Harmony event and are committed to providing a safe experience for everyone involved,” said Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux. “By increasing our security resources, we are not only enhancing our ability to monitor and respond to potential issues but also demonstrating our commitment to the safety and well-being of our community.”
Chief of Police Wayne Smith added, “These security trailers significantly strengthen our capabilities during the event. The integration with the Real-Time Crime Center will allow us to maintain a high level of situational awareness and ensure the safety of all attendees.”
Jackson, whose G-Unit team is instrumental in providing additional security resources, shared his enthusiasm: “Humor & Harmony is about bringing people together to celebrate in a positive and safe environment. By working together with the City of Shreveport and the Shreveport Police Department, we can ensure that everyone has a great time, safely.”
The Humor & Harmony event is expected to draw thousands of visitors to Shreveport, featuring a variety of performances, activities, and attractions for all ages. With enhanced security measures in place, attendees can focus on enjoying the festivities without safety concerns.
The ABO office will be closed to walk-in visitors on Wednesday, Aug. 7. On this day, the team will dedicate its full attention and capacity to reviewing approximately 200 applications for the upcoming Humor and Harmony Festival. This focused effort is essential to ensure timely and efficient processing.
While the office will not be open for in-person visits, it will be available by phone to address any inquiries. Regular office hours and services will resume on the following business day, Thursday, Aug. 8.
The office appreciates the public’s understanding and cooperation as it works diligently to support the festival preparations.
What better epitaph for Tynes Hildebrand than the words his wife Julia shared with her son Bruce just after her husband passed from this world into the big basketball court in the sky Sunday afternoon, July 28, following a relatively brief illness, at age 93.
Name somebody else who made impact for seven decades – yes, seven of them – on a university, on places like Sabine Parish, Natchitoches and Shreveport-Bossier, and on many more people and places in his travels through our state, this neck of the woods and the college sports world.
And I mean world. He and his dear friend Don Landry, coaching at Nicholls, were among the cornerstones of the Louisiana Association of Basketball Coaches and spearheaded international competition for all-star teams in the old Gulf States Conference and its successors 50-plus years ago.
“Coach Hildebrand” kept making the rounds, in his 15 years running the basketball program at his alma mater, Northwestern State. In 13 years as the transformational athletics director (1983-96) at Northwestern. And then for 18 years as an evaluator of college basketball officials, first in an assignment created for him by his protégé, Greg Sankey, then the young commissioner of the Southland Conference, now commissioner of all he surveys in major college sports, but specifically, the SEC.
Tynes Hildebrand was truly as remarkable, influential, and supportive a person as you would ever hope to encounter, for so many in such a variety of pathways — Northwestern was just the most prominent. Church, Kiwanis, LABC, other Natchitoches civic causes, then as a leader among residents of The Oaks in Shreveport, and there are more gardens of good he planted. All of it, he said, was a partnership with his wife of 72 years, his Florien High School sweetheart.
She wasn’t able to attend his funeral Sunday at First Baptist Church in Natchitoches. She was back where they’ve spent the last few years, near Bruce’s home in Flower Mound, Texas, but many friends from all over gathered for Coach’s sendoff, people like retired NCAA coordinator of basketball officials John Underwood, former Southland commissioner Tom Burnett, and quite a few of Hildebrand’s former players, including Mike Brey, now an Atlanta Hawks assistant coach after 23 years as head coach at Notre Dame.
The service was exactly what you’d hope – sweet, filled with humor, and with reverent celebration of faith. It was as if Hildebrand planned it, which he did. Picked the traditional hymns and Bible verses. Even wrote his own obituary. He knew the final buzzer sounds on us all.
Others, who couldn’t attend, shared memories on social media.
Larry Hymel, former Southeastern Louisiana sports information director: “I still remember his quote after the Demons didn’t do as predicted the previous year. At a press conference he said “Last year we were picked to be the team to beat, and everyone beat us.”
Tammy Broz Boclair, former media staffer at Stephen F. Austin, at Vanderbilt and with the Southland: “Such a wonderful man who was a mentor to so many! Loved spending time with him and soaking in his wisdom! Vividly remember sitting in his office and talking about an upcoming SLC basketball tournament. He told me in that beautiful drawl, ‘Tammy, you need to tell those people what I tell my coaches, don’t make your emergency, my emergency.’ – I still use that today!!!”
Don Worthington, former Alexandria Town Talk sportswriter: “The Sunday is still clear in my mind — Sam Goodwin’s Demon football team had upset Southern Mississippi (22-0, 1984) and I wanted to know more. My sports editor, Bill Carter, said phone him, but I thought I could sneak in a quick trip. When I arrived at NSU my car died in the athletic office parking lot.
“As I was pondering my options, Tynes drove up and I explained my dilemma.
“He threw me his car keys and I agreed to return his car Monday. I interviewed Sam and others, rushed back to Alex and hoped Bill was none the wiser.
“When I returned to Natchitoches Monday morning Tynes had already had my car towed to a mechanic and repairs were underway! I will never forget his kindness.”
Bob Tompkins, a colleague of Worthington’s, later Town Talk sports editor: “I remember you telling that story after it happened, Don, and have never forgotten it, either. Tynes was a good man, a righteous man, and I was among a countless number privileged to have him address me as ‘my friend.’”
Carlos Treadway, a rugged Demon tight end who has become president of Ford Credit Europe: “RIP Coach, it was an honor to be inducted into the Long Purple Line (NSU’s alumni hall of distinction) with you.”
Robert Noah, lifelong Natchitoches resident: “I remember going to the games with my dad in Coach Hildebrand’s early years and Dad told me one time, ‘that’s a tough coach but he’s a good coach!’ I met him once, I believe it was at a quarterback club meeting, his handshake, to me just being a kid at the time, was strong and firm like my dad’s. I pretty much modeled mine after his and my dad’s. Coach Hildebrand left a lasting impression on those he met.”
Collin Killian, retired Texas A&M basketball publicist: “Sorry to hear this. Coach was a remarkable human who impacted so many lives. I was privileged to get to know him and Julia when he would observe A&M games. She’d find a quiet corner in the arena (those were ample not too long ago) and spend most of the game immersed in a book. He was always a gentleman and loved sharing interesting stories. A life well lived!”
Right out of college, Hildebrand worked on an Army base involved in atomic energy research during the Korean Conflict. He was honored as the top commissioned officer one year. That experience provided him with a familiar line that often started meetings he’d convened.
It seems ideal to wrap up this tribute. Because Tynes Hildebrand finally truly is, “at ease.”
BOSSIER PARISH KICKS IT OFF: Football coaches from the six Bossier Parish high school programs, including Airline and Parkway, will be guests tonight as the Shreveport-Bossier Journal teams with Origin Bank to host the first of its two appreciation dinners for head football coaches of the 19 local teams. (Journal file photo)
JOURNAL SPORTS
Doing a first-year event is great. Repeating it the following year is really good. When it’s held for a third straight time, that makes it traditional.
Tonight and Thursday evening, tradition is tasty for the local high school football coaches, and their guests.
Origin Bank will host its third annual appreciation suppers for the 19 local coaches at the bank’s downtown Shreveport location on Market Street. “Kickoff” is 6:30. Tonight, coaches from Bossier Parish will convene. Thursday evening, the Caddo Parish head coaches get a free supper and a chance to visit.
The events are coordinated by the Shreveport-Bossier Journal, which is preparing for another season of award-winning, comprehensive prep football coverage – free for everyone to read.
School officials with any questions, contact Doug Ireland at sbjdoug@gmail.com for information about the events and to share team rosters.
