September 12, 2024
Month: September 2024
Simmons pleads guilty to molestation
A Shreveport man on trial in Caddo District Court for molesting his girlfriend’s daughter pleaded guilty Sept. 10, just as the first witness was questioned by prosecutors.
Tommy Lorenzo Simmons, 36, decided to plead guilty rather than place his fate in the hands of the nine-woman, three-man jury empaneled before District Judge Ramona Emanuel. He admitted to one count of molestation of a juvenile, based on sexual assaults on his girlfriend’s daughter he was helping raise, from January 2019 to October 2020.
Judge Emanuel immediately sentenced Simmons to 25 years at hard labor without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence. Simmons also must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. In addition, the court ordered a protective order in favor of Simmons’ victim.
Simmons was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Senae D. Hall and Fernando Grider Jr. He was defended by Royal Alexander and Dave Knadler.
Millage public notice of Bossier Parish School Board
Notice is hereby given pursuant to Article 7, Section 23(C) of the Louisiana Constitution and R.S. 47:1705(B) that a public hearing of Bossier Parish School Board in Bossier Parish will be held at Bossier Instructional Center (BIC), 2719 Airline Drive, Bossier City, LA 71111 on Thursday, September 19, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. to consider levying additional or increased millage rates without further voter approval or adopting the adjusted millage rates after reassessment and rolling forward to rates not to exceed the prior year’s maximum. The estimated amount of tax revenues to be collected in the next year from the increased millage is $91,724,233.97, and the amount of increase in taxes attributable to the millage increase is $4,253,341.49.
Road work schedule for Cycle Plant Road
Crews with Earnest Construction Company will begin a road reconstruction project on Cycle Plant Road on Friday, Sept. 13, weather permitting.
The reconstruction project is scheduled to reconstruct nearly one mile of Cycle Plant Road, starting at the intersection of Cycle Plant and Butler Hill Roads and ending at the intersection of Cycle Plant and Padgett Roads. Crews will shut down one traffic lane while they repair the other.
Officials expect the road project will last two weeks and ask motorists to expect delays. Motorists are asked to proceed cautiously and drive safely through the work zone.
No shortage of familiarity as Raiders, Gators open 1-5A season
By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports
It’s the same, but it’s different.
When Captain Shreve and Huntington meet tonight at Independence Stadium to open the District 1-5A season – yes, a district game in Week 2 – Gators’ head coach Jeremy Wilburn will be coaching against a school where he served as an assistant for the last four years.
Huntington Stephen Dennis knows all about that … sort of.
Eight years ago, Dennis came to Huntington after being an assistant at Northwood. And guess who the Raiders played in Week 7 that year? That’s right – Northwood.
So, yes, Dennis can relate to how Wilburn feels, but there is a difference in this case. At Northwood, he coached under Jim Gatlin, who Dennis says is “like a second father” to him.
Dennis and Wilburn are close in age and their relationship only goes back as far as when Wilburn was hired at Huntington.
“I can relate what it’s like,” Dennis said. “The relationship with the (Huntington) coaches is one thing. But for him, it’s probably more about the relationship with the kids he was coaching 12 months ago.”
Wilburn agrees while shying away from any discussion of sentimentality. “Obviously I know a lot of the kids there, but right now, I’m just trying to get the kids focused on us,” he said. “We are just worried about trying to get to 2-and-0.”
The two teams come into the game from opposite directions. Shreve played at home and defeated Ouachita 29-27. Huntington was on the road at West Monroe and was defeated 40-7.
Dennis said having a coach being plucked for your staff is the mark of a successful program. “Jeremy and I were strangers when I hired him,” he said. “He’s earned this opportunity through hard work. I’m really not surprised how organized they are and how well they are playing in all three phases because I got to see it every day.”
Both Wilburn and Dennis look at it with the “9-game” approach.
“I want those kids I coached to be healthy and have a great season,” Wilburn said. “I just don’t want their best game to be Week 2.”
“We will be rooting for them nine weeks out of the year,” Dennis said. “But we are trying to compete against them (Thursday).”
Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com
Week 2 local high school football games
TONIGHT
Arcadia at Southwood, Leonard C. Barnes Stadium, BTW
Magnolia at Lincoln Prep
Captain Shreve at Huntington (Independence Stadium)
FRIDAY
Benton at Airline
Haughton at Byrd, Lee Hedges
Evangel at Natchitoches Central
Woodlawn at Parkway, Preston Crownover Stadium
BTW at Bastrop
Glenbrook at Bossier
Peabody at Northwood, Jerry Burton Stadium
Logansport at Loyola, Messmer Stadium
Neville at Calvary, Jerry Barker Stadium
Green Oaks at Mansfield
North Webster at North Caddo, Sanders-Prudhomme Stadium
Plain Dealing at Ringgold
Football, baseball, or both at the next level? Falcons’ QB has options
By LEE BRECHEEN, Louisiana Football Magazine
Shreveport-Bossier has produced an amazing amount of productive college quarterbacks – and while the great names Terry Bradshaw, Joe Ferguson and Stan Humphries start the list, it goes on and on and on.
This season, local fans are overloaded with talent to enjoy. There are plenty of very good to incredibly productive to amazingly talented QBs in Caddo and Bossier Parishes, and there’s another one just over the parish line down at North DeSoto (Luke Delafield).
Today we talk about one of the big “sleeper” prospects in the city of Shreveport, a guy who will be on opposite sidelines from Delafield and North DeSoto at Jerry Burton Stadium in Week 4. Mark that one down to watch.
Northwood QB Jaxon Bentzler is a tall 6-2 (seems bigger!) and has a strong build at 205 pounds. Bentzler is quite a leader as part of the Falcons’ Class of 2025.
What’s not to like? This kid carries a GPA of 4.4. He is a two-time first-team Class 4A All-State baseball player.
This past spring he made All State as a right-handed pitcher for the very good Northwood baseball program (29-8 in 2023), after he made All State as an infielder ending his sophomore season. He’s also a catcher and first baseman. He had a batting average of .459 in 2023 and was 8-1 with a 3.10 ERA and struck out 60 in 50 2/3 innings as a pitcher last spring.
Bentzler will have the chance to sign Division I scholarships in both baseball and football. As a football player, it’s his first full year as the team’s starting QB. He has a cannon arm and good feet in the pocket.
He’s not new to the game, just to the role as QB-1. Last season he was a slot receiver and tight end who was a second-team all-district selection.
Taking over behind center is something Bentzler embraces. He’s a no-doubter as far as being up to the task.
“Playing QB so far has been a great experience,” he said. “In Week 1 we played a tough Class 5A Benton team and came back from a 11-point deficit with 8 minutes remaining in the game.
“On the game-winning drive we overcame 1st and 45. Leading my team during that drive really showed me how much Northwood football meant to my guys,” said Bentzler. “I couldn’t be prouder of my wide receivers and the big boys up front. We drove the ball down to the 12 yard line, where it was 3rd and 9 and John Sneed ran in the game winning touchdown,” he said.
What a way to start the season!
He’s having fun.
“Playing under our head coach, Austin Brown, is great,” said Bentzler. “He is super straight forward and isn’t afraid to tell you the truth. He pushes our team every single day and always expects full effort.
“Coach Brown’s goal as a coach is obviously to win but to make every single one of us a better man, and build us into a great husband and father in the future. He will do anything for you if you need it.”
His coaches are awfully proud of Jaxon, and for good reasons.
“We have a great community and a very supportive administration here at Northwood that allows our student-athletes to be successful,” said offensive coordinator Jared Little. “Jaxon exemplifies what it means to be a Falcon. Jaxon is a true leader in every sense of the word.
“First and foremost, he shows up daily with a smile on his face and ready to attack the day with everything that he has. His personality is contagious and it reflects in those around him. Second, Jaxon is the ultimate competitor — as a coach you definitely want the ball in his hands when the game is on the line.
“His competitive fire is what sets him apart from others, and it is what will lead him to be a successful in all of his future endeavors,” said Little.
With Ben Taylor at Airline and Abram Wardell at Calvary, two incredibly accomplished veteran senior QBs, Bentzler will fly under the radar for postseason honors but he will certainly be on a lot of football recruiting lists before he slips on the glove and cleats next spring.
Contact Lee at lbrecheen@aol.com
Lee Brecheen has been covering high school football and recruiting in Louisiana since the early ‘90s. He is owner of Louisiana Football Magazine and can be followed on X @LeeBrecheen. He hosts a YouTube show, The Sports Scouting Report with Lee Brecheen. Previews of all state high schools are available on lafootballmagazine.com.
Stormy weather, upset pup, but the picks must go on
By RON “MAD DOG” HIGGINS, Journal Sports
BATON ROUGE — The voice came from my back porch.
“Really? A hurricane? This is all I need.”
I walked outside where Skippy the Wonder Bichon was staring at the gathering dark clouds, talking to himself.
“You OK, Skip?” I asked.
“No, I’m not,” he said. “Not one bit.”
“What do you have to be unhappy about?” I said. “You were 7-3 last week in our picks and I was 8-2. I’m 15-5 after the first two weeks and you’re 14-6. That’s pretty good.”
“I know, but all this rain is screwing me up,” the Skipster said.
“How?” I replied.
“Have you noticed me on our walks after it has rained?” he said. “The rain makes every single scent come alive. I don’t know where to lift a leg. I look like I’m running around sniffing hopped up on crack.”
“I don’t know if I’m smelling the scent of that cute dachshund Doris just around the corner, or that stinky beagle Billy two blocks away who never takes a bath.”
“Man, it’s like Three 6 Mafia’s song in the 2005 movie Hustle and Flow. It’s hard out here for a pup.”
“Skipperoo, the song is `It’s Hard Out Here For a Pimp,’ not a pup,” I said.
“Whatever Dad Dude,” Skippy said. “Hey, check the front door to see if my Amazon package arrived. I ordered a rechargeable electric belly scratcher with four rotating heads for just $19.99.”
On to Week 3:
No. 16 LSU (1-1, 0-0 SEC) at South Carolina (2-0 1-0 SEC), Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, Saturday, 11 a.m. (ABC)
Betting line: LSU favored by 7
The skinny: The Tigers should win this game by two touchdowns based on sheer talent based on their recruiting classes. LSU is far from a finished product with key injuries starting to pile up. It would behoove Brian Kelly’s guys to play a complete game on both sides of the ball.
Mad Dog’s pick: Kelly’s Heroes 37, Cock a Doodles 17
Skippy’s pick: LSU
No. 4 Alabama (2-0) at Wisconsin (2-0), Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Saturday, 11 a.m. (FOX)
Betting line: Alabama favored by 15½
The skinny: This is just the fourth time in the past 35 years Alabama has played a road game at a Power 4 Conference school. The Crimson Tide are the first SEC team to play in Wisconsin’s Camp Randall Stadium since LSU won there 38-28 in 1971.
Mad Dog’s pick: Fightin’ Gumps 45, Cheeseheads 20
Skippy’s pick: Wisconsin
No. 1 Georgia (2-0, 0-0 SEC) at Kentucky (1-1, 0-1 SEC), Kroger Field, Lexington, Saturday, 6:30 p.m. (ABC)
Betting line: Georgia favored by 24
The skinny: It still amazes me that Texas A&M wanted to hire UK head coach Mark Stoops. Somebody in College Station figured out Stoops wasn’t exactly a splash hire. Meanwhile, Georgia is a cyborg destroyer that has won 64 of its last 70 games (including 44 of 46) since 2019.
Mad Dog’s pick: Kirby’s Terminators 45, Stoopsies Oopsies 10
Skippy’s pick: Georgia
Texas A&M (1-1, 0-0 SEC) at Florida (1-1, 0-0 SEC), Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Saturday, 2:30 p.m. (ABC)
Betting line: Texas A&M favored by 4½ points
The skinny: After true freshman QB DJ Lagway replaced concussed Florida starter Graham Mertz last weekend and then threw for 456 yards (the most by a UF freshman in his starting debut) and three TDs, Florida coach Billy Napier announced Monday he’s starting Mertz vs, the Aggies. Billy must want to get fired.
Mad Dog’s pick: Milkmen of College Station 31, Napalm Napier’s All-Stars 21
Skippy’s pick: Florida
Tulane (1-1) at No. 15 Oklahoma (2-0), Memorial Stadium, Norman, Saturday, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Betting line: Oklahoma favored by 13½
The skinny: The Sooners struggled to beat Houston and first-year head coach Willie Fritz last Saturday. Now, they get a shot at the team Fritz left behind.
Mad Dog’s pick: Okie Dokey 42, The Green Men 14
Skippy’s pick: Tulane
In other games:
No. 5 Ole Miss (2-0) at Wake Forest (1-1), Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium, Winston-Salem, Saturday, 5:30 p.m. (CW Network)
Betting line: Ole Miss is favored by 23½
Mad Dog’s pick: Johnny Rebs 48, Defeatist Deacons 14
Skippy’s pick: Ole Miss
Memphis at Florida State, Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Saturday, 11 a.m. (ESPN)
Betting line: Florida State is favored by 6½
Mad Dog’s pick: Mike Norvell’s current team 34, Mike Norvell’s previous team 24
Skippy’s pick: Florida State
Indiana at UCLA, Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Saturday, 6:30 p.m. (NBC)
Betting line: Indiana is favored by 3
Mad Dog’s pick: Indy 27, Super Cali Fragilistic Expialidocious 24
Skippy’s pick: UCLA
Louisiana Tech at North Carolina State, Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, Saturday, 11 a.m. (ACC Network)
Betting line: North Carolina State is favored by 21½
Mad Dog’s pick: Werewolves of Raleigh 34, Teddy Allllen Spoatriter from Munroe All-Stars 20
Skippy’s pick: Louisiana Tech
No. 18 Notre Dame at Purdue, Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Saturday, 2:30 p.m. (CBS)
Betting line: Notre Dame is favored by 10
Mad Dog’s pick: Northern Illinois Whipping Boys 45, Purdon’t 14
Skippy’s pick: Notre Dame
Contact “Mad Dog” at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com
Demons head to South Alabama with plenty of Mobile-area ties
By JASON PUGH, Northwestern State Sports Information Director
MOBILE, Alabama – The Northwestern State football team never has played South Alabama in its history, but that does not mean the Demons are totally unfamiliar with their Thursday-night opponent.
When Northwestern (0-2) squares off with the Jaguars (0-2) at 6:30 p.m. inside Hancock Whitney Stadium on ESPN+, it does so with a cadre of players and coaches who have ties to the school and to the Mobile area in general.
Two players – senior tight end Chance Newman and junior linebacker Landry Huddleston – hail from the Mobile metropolitan area with Huddleston calling Mobile his hometown. First-year head coach Blaine McCorkle went to high school in Pensacola, Florida, and then made the drive west on I-10 to attend and play at LSU. Offensive line coach Cade Camp was a graduate assistant at South Alabama for two seasons, and offensive coordinator Norman Joseph spent two seasons as the head football coach at McGill-Toolen Catholic High School in the city.
All told, there will be plenty of emotions when the Demons arrive for their first matchup with the Jaguars.
“This will be my first time playing in Mobile in front of my family, and a lot of people I went to school with are going to end up being there,” said Huddleston, who transferred to Northwestern from Belhaven in December. “I have previous teammates, guys I played with and against at South Alabama, so I’m looking forward to it.”
The same can be said for Newman, who grew up in Daphne, Alabama, which lies approximately 30 miles east of the South Alabama campus and Hancock Whitney Stadium.
That distance did not stop Newman from attending several Jaguars’ games while growing up in the area. Like Huddleston, Newman expects to see plenty of familiar faces in the stands – even as the Demons play their second road game of the season, both of which have taken place more than 350 miles from campus.
“I’ve got a bunch of people coming,” he said. “There will be a big Newman crew in the stands this Thursday, so I’m pretty juiced up about that. Being that close to home, it will feel like a home-field advantage for me. I went to a lot of South Alabama games growing up, so I got to experience that environment before. They’ve got a great environment with the new stadium.”
Although the matchup with the Jaguars marks the second Thursday-night game of the season for Northwestern, which fell to Tulsa in its Thursday-night season opener, it does mark a slight change for the Demons.
With Tulsa serving as the season opener, it gave Northwestern a much longer ramp-up time for the game. The trip to South Alabama comes five days after a 37-31 loss to Prairie View A&M in which Northwestern quarterback JT Fayard was ruled to not have crossed the goal line, marked a foot short on an untimed down that ended the game.
That turnaround reinforced the Demons’ ability to quickly shift focus onto the Jaguars.
“Sometimes your best bet is to just go play football again,” McCorkle said. “It is a quick turnaround, and that creates a lot of planning and organizational challenges. You have to be detailed and know what you’re doing or the week will sneak up on you in a hurry. I think our staff’s done a good job of putting a plan in place, moving our days ahead and being prepared. We’ll be ready to go Thursday and excited to play again.”
Family reunions and a larger-than-normal road crowd will be benefits for the Demons, but Northwestern is focused on the business portion of the trip.
South Alabama has dropped its first two games of the season, but the Jaguars feature an offense that ranks 13th nationally in the Football Bowl Subdivision in passing yardage (329 per game) and 40th in total offense (458.5 yards per game).
“(Major Applewhite) is a heck of a football coach, and he has a great resume,” McCorkle said. “He’s been a lot of places and had a lot of success. I’m excited to match up with him and go one on one. He’s from Baton Rouge and was there the same time I was in college, so it will be good to shake his hand and see him.”
Contact Jason at pughj@nsula.edu
Learning to hunt squirrels by watching how Dad did it
My message box last week contained a note advertising a Beginners Squirrel Hunt Seminar to be held in Minden September 21 at the office of Wildlife and Fisheries at 9961, Highway 80 in Minden. Those interested should call 337-735-8685 to pre-register as space will be limited.
The memo outlined the subjects to be covered during the session. It includes such things as equipment needed, firearm selection, rules and regulations, proper squirrel hunting techniques and cleaning squirrels.
There were no seminars available to learn how to hunt squirrels when I was growing up in rural Natchitoches Parish. Our learning was at the feet of our dads, older brothers or maybe uncles who took youngsters like myself under their wings to teach them the ropes.
It was my dad who was my tutor in the squirrel woods and he started me and my brother out when we were just little mop-haired kids. When Tom and I learned that daddy was going squirrel hunting and invited us to go with him, it was like Christmas in October. I remember the excitement of actually getting to go to the woods with dad and watch him as he did battle with wild squirrels. When we started going with him, he carried the only gun; we weren’t allowed to even take our BB guns.
The weather in early October was usually cool and our jackets felt cozy and good as we followed him step by step as he gingerly eased through the woods.
“Watch out for that stick….you step on it and it cracks and it’ll scare every squirrel in the woods,” he’d whisper.
We would finally make our way to a fallen log that lay beneath a grove of oaks or hickories where squirrels were likely to be hanging out. I remember how much fun it was just to be sitting there on a log, my brother and me, next to our dad. If Tom or I said anything, we’d get a “shush” from him. “Just stay quiet and keep your eyes on the trees and look for movement.”
A branch would jiggle and Tom and I would get excited. Dad would whisper for us to watch the jiggling branch and how it moved and he’d ask if we saw what was shaking the branch. Thinking I was looking at a squirrel, a blue jay fluttered away.
“A bird moves a branch differently than a squirrel does. If it’s a squirrel, it will likely be on the end of the branch getting an acorn or hickory nut and if you looked closely, you could see it move to a larger branch and begin eating. A bird just bounces around there and then flies away,” he whispered.
Momentarily, we would hear a sound for which our young ears were not trained. It sounded like something scratching. Dad would point to the source of the sound as a squirrel scurried up the trunk.
“Y’all sit still and watch,” he’d say as he eased up from the log, his shotgun at port arms and he’d ease along, using other trees and saplings as a shield until he stopped, raised the gun and fired. A fat fox squirrel would tumble to the ground to the delight of two little guys.
As we grew older, we were allowed to take our .22 rifles and under dad’s watchful eye, we tried to mimic what we had learned until finally with practice, both Tom and I learned to successfully hunt squirrels and we owe it all to a dad who took the time to teach us.
Contact Glynn at glynnharris37@gmail.com
9/11 Remembrance Ceremony held in Bossier City
Bossier Parish Sheriff Julian Whittington and many BSO deputies attended the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony held this morning at the Bossier City Municipal Complex.
Brigadier General Robert W. “Rob” Vanhoy II (United States Air Force ret.) was the keynote speaker and he spoke about how the events of 9/11 impacted his military career and life and how we should never forget the sacrifice of the first responders and civilians who perished on that fateful day. The annual event was organized by Keep Bossier Beautiful and the City of Bossier City.
National Arts in Education Week
By Jeanni Ritchie
When budget cuts roll around in education circles, the arts are often one of the first things to go. Considered extraneous, they excise programs that are deemed unnecessary to student achievement.
I’d counter that they are removing programs that are not only important, but crucial to student progress.
It is the arts that help us remember the order of the planets from the sun or how each of Henry VIII’s wives died. My oldest daughter recalled a tune I’d written about the solar gravitation pull that helped her answer an ACT question years later.
Arts matter!
I had the privilege of serving as the Arts in Education Director for Central Lousiana’s Family Playhouse in the early 2000’s. We would go into the schools and conduct workshops combining Science and Arts benchmarks for 3rd graders. After lessons in each of four disciplines (Art, Drama, Music, and Dance) the students would select a discipline for the final production. The drama students would rehearse lines for an original play I’d written. (Think Tarzan meets Kim Possible. I always had my finger on the pulse of tween pop culture!) The art students constructed the set, the music students practiced the songs, and the dance students choreographed numbers. The workshop culminated in a performance for parents and the student body.
We did similar workshops with puppets for 5th grade Language Arts.
The students retained more subject knowledge and enjoyed the hands-on learning experiences. Many teachers shared tales of shy students coming out of their shells as well as misbehaving students remaining on task for longer periods.
The arts are vital in education. I’d surmise that there is a direct correlation to the states who prioritize the arts and their high test scores to those who cut the arts and exhibit lower scores.
To celebrate #NationalArtsinEducationWeek, I’d like to share a few famous quotes:
It is art that makes life, makes interest, makes importance…and I know of no substitute whatever for the force and beauty of its process.
– Henry James
The Arts provide a more comprehensive and insightful education because they invite students to explore the emotional, intuituve, and irrational aspects of life that science is hard pressed to explain.
– Charles Fowler
The most significant learning occurs when emotions are integrated with instruction because all body systems are united. The Arts are strongly linked to emotions, enhancing the likelihood that students will remember something.
– Eric Jensen, author of Teaching with the Brain in Mind
Tell me, I forget;
Show me, I remember;
Involve me, I understand.
– Carl Orff
Arts education not only enhances students’ understanding of the world around them, but it also broadens their perspective on traditional academics. The Arts integrate life and learning for all students and are integral in the development of the whole person.
– Dr. Terry Bergeson, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Washington State
The Arts must be at the heart of every child’s learning experience if…they are to have a chance to dream and to create, to have beliefs, to carry a sense of cultural identity.
– James D. Wolfensohn, former chairman of The Kennedy Center
Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourths theater.
– Gail Godwin
National Arts in Education Week takes place annually during the week beginning with the second Sunday of September.
Jeanni Ritchie is a former educator and contributing journalist. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.
Notice of Death – September 11, 2024
Thadious L. Hawkins
December 23, 1952 – August 30, 2024
Service: Friday, September 13, 2024, 5pm at Osborn Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Irma Mecom
October 29, 1926 — September 9, 2024
Service: Friday, September 13, 2024, 11am at Rose Neath Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Henry Cary Pierce Randall
January 23, 1937 — September 7, 2024
Service: Friday, September 13, 2024, 10am at Rose Neath Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Marvin Wade Young
September 26, 1963 ~ September 9, 2024
Service: Saturday, September 14, 2024, Noon at Heavenly Gates, Shreveport.
Shirley Ann Schwab
September 22, 1940 — September 6, 2024
Service: Wednesday, September 25, 2024, 10:30am at St. Joseph Catholic Church.
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)
September 11, 2024
New Caddo Parish Sheriff’s deputies sworn in
Caddo Sheriff Henry Whitehorn, Sr. swore in 10 new deputies for the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office on Sept. 9.
The new deputies are as follows:
– Voushia Johnson: Food Services
– Dominique Dacaldacal, Tonia Thomas, and Briana Milton: Jail Records
– Michelle Johnson: Tax
– Amanda Foster: Fines & Bonds
– Courvausiour Malone and Tristyn Burrell: Corrections
– Robert Russell and Richard Barton: Auxiliary
The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office is currently seeking 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.
DWI arrests surge over weekend
The Shreveport Police Department made a significant number of arrests for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) over the weekend, underscoring our ongoing commitment to reducing traffic fatalities and ensuring the safety of our community.
Between Sept. 6-9, the following individuals were arrested for DWI:
- CONNER, PATRICE (DOB: 08/23/1984)
- DAVIS, JEFFERY (DOB: 03/27/1962)
- DURDEN, KENDALL (DOB: 08/24/1994)
- FONTANA, GARY (DOB: 08/05/1956)
- INMAN, AYDEN (DOB: 10/03/2002)
- JOHNSON, TRESHUNTAY (DOB: 08/10/1977)
- NELSON, MARJORIE (DOB: 07/10/1967)
- SLOAN, WILLIE (DOB: 06/13/1965)
- STEWART, CHARITY (DOB: 09/19/1975)
- VALADEZ, JOSE (DOB: 06/08/2001)
The Shreveport Police Department is on pace to reach a record high in DWI arrests in 2024. We urge all community members to make responsible decisions and avoid driving under the influence. Remember, the best way to avoid meeting our team is to never drink and drive. Let’s work together to keep our roads safe.
South Highland burglary crew arrested, one suspect still outstanding
Shreveport Police Department’s Property Crimes detectives have made significant progress in their investigation of a string of residential burglaries in the South Highland neighborhood. On Sept. 6, detectives executed multiple search warrants, leading to the recovery of numerous stolen items, including four firearms, various pieces of jewelry, and electronics. These items were connected to ten residential burglaries in the area.
As a result of the investigation, detectives arrested two suspects:
• Stormy Hackworth, 21 years old, has been charged with nine counts of illegal possession of stolen things.
Lakordo Jamerson, 19 years old, faces multiple charges, including eight counts of burglary of an inhabited dwelling, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of Schedule I and Schedule II controlled substances, possession of a firearm with a controlled dangerous substance (CDS), and a parole violation.
However, detectives are still searching for the final suspect, Dantanvis Jamerson, 33 years old, who is wanted in connection with these burglaries. The Shreveport Police Department urges anyone with information on his whereabouts to come forward.
This ongoing investigation highlights the commitment of the Shreveport Police Department to protecting the community and bringing those responsible for criminal activity to justice. Chief Smith would like to commend the work of the SPD property crimes unit.
Bossier schools well represented at Louisiana’s Call Me Mister Conference
The Bossier Aspiring MiSTER Initiative was featured at this year’s Louisiana Call Me MiSTER Conference on Sept. 7 at Grambling State University.
Mr. Nicholas Cobb, teacher at W.T. Lewis served as conference emcee and presented his personal MiSTER story to attendees. Dr. Tracey Burrell, Supervisor of Recruitment and Retention presented Bossier’s model for building and sustaining an Aspiring MiSTER pipeline.
Jeremiah Williams- Supervisor of Secondary Curriculum, Alex Devine, teacher at Sun City Elementary, Robby Dooley, teacher at Airline High School, and Mr. Kyle Scott, resident teacher at Greenacres Middle School shared the Bossier Way with Call Me MiSTERS from various institutions.
Grambling also honored two of Bossier’s three Outstanding Aspiring MiSTERS: Erik Rorie, student at Airline High School and O’Marion Edwards, student at Bossier High School during Friday evening’s award ceremony.
The Call Me MiSTER (Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models) program seeks to increase the pool of male teachers of color in schools.
Can Tech reboot in Raleigh?
Louisiana Tech plays NC State Saturday at noon Eastern at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, not a marquee game — unless you’re a Bulldog or a Wolfpacker, and then it feels a bit pivotal.
Even though it’s barely mid-September.
If a preview of this game carried a song title, maybe it would be Brooks & Dunn’s “Workin’ On My Next Broken Heart.”
Wait: why Brooks & Dunn? It’s a stretch, but … hang with us a second.
Tech alum Kix Brooks, half of the most-record-selling/most awarded country music duo act of all time, was in Aillet Stadium for his team’s 25-17 season-opening win over Nicholls State, a game in which the Bulldogs sloshed to a win despite five turnovers and back-to-back fumbles during a second-quarter rainstorm that left the turf slicker than Kenny Chesney’s head.
“It that was a country song,” Brooks, a visitor to the radio broadcast booth said at the time, “it’d be too sad to write.”
(An aside: we call Brooks & Dunn “Kix & Brooks” in this bureau. If Ronnie Dunn doesn’t have a team — and Kix says he doesn’t — he’s welcome in the Tech Camp, as the Bulldogs could use the company and the help. Also, as part of their “Reboot” Tour, Kix & Brooks will play the PNC Arena in Raleigh and the Spectrum Center in Charlotte in March. Never too early to plan, unless you just want to stay over after the game for seven months …)
Back to ball: despite the turnovers and backed by country-flavored rooting from Kix, the ’Dogs pulled through, thanks to a stifling defense against the defending Southland Conference champs. Since, the team has enjoyed a rare second-week-of-the-season open date to figure things out and heal a hurt quarterback, Jack Turner, who semi-limped off the field in the first quarter and didn’t return. (Brings to mind another Kix & Brooks tune: “How Long Gone Are You Gonna Be?”)
But back to that “broken heart” deal: for different reasons, times have been tough lately in Ruston and Raleigh.
The Bulldogs are coming off three straight 3-9 seasons — “too sad to write” — victims of a perfect storm generated through the new NIL and transfer rules and the law of averages following seven straight bowl seasons.
So there’s that.
Now in its 12th season under coach Dave Doren, NC State, 1-1, has been to nine bowl games but are 2-15 against Top 10 teams in that span, including a lopsided 51-10 dismantling at the greedy hands of Tennessee in the Duke’s Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte in primetime Saturday evening.
Bad look for the Wolfpack and the 20-plus players from Charlotte on its roster.
The Wolfpack is a 21.5-point favorite over the Bulldogs. Local journalists (we’re keeping up with the Carolina scribes) foretell of an “easy” week for the Wolfpack. We’ll see: State was a 33.5-point favorite in its opener against Western Carolina and won by only 17, then a 9.5-underdog against Tennessee and lost by 41.
In that game, thanks to an 85-yard Pick 6, Tennessee scored more points off NC State’s red zone possessions than the Wolfpack did.
Intriguing to look in the rearview and the most recent time these two played. October 2, 2021. Down 14 midway through the fourth quarter to a team that had beaten Top 10-ranked Clemson the week before and had one of the best defenses statistically in the country, Tech was intercepted in the end zone from 22 yards out on the game’s final play and lost, 34-27, at Carter-Finley.
Tech left the stadium that day 2-3. Besides that heartbreaker in Raleigh, the Bulldogs had last a 20-point fourth-quarter lead in Starkville in a 35-34 season-opening loss to Mississippi State and had lost at home to SMU, 39-37, on a final-play Hail Mary two weeks before going to NC State.
The loss to the Wolfpack started a five-game slide that hasn’t ended. Saturday, a different team returns to the same scene of the crime.
Saturday, it’s a chance for the ’Dogs, like Kix & Brooks, to reboot.
Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu
Savage’s noble gesture only part of the story for Shreve QB
By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports
Immediately upon the conclusion of last week’s win over Ouachita, Captain Shreve quarterback Brodie Savage did something you rarely – if ever – see at a high school football game.
No, he didn’t grab a cell phone and start recording a TikTok. Nor was there any kind of showboating dance at midfield.
Instead, while his teammates tried to find more and more water buckets with which to douse head coach Jeremy Wilburn, Savage made a point to shake hands with the head referee (even though the same official had blown an inadvertent whistle that could have cost the Gators the game).
Then he shook hands with the side judge. And the umpire. And the field judge. If he could have found the clock operator, he would have shaken his hand too.
“That’s just something I’ve been doing since youth football,” Savage said later. “Every single game.”
If that were the only thing that made Savage special, it would be enough. But there’s a lot more to the 6-foot-1 senior.
“He’s the heartbeat of the team,” Wilburn said. “He’s shown the resiliency you’d want out of a leader. He never flinches at anything. Whatever we ask him to do as far as leadership in concerned, he does it.”
Resiliency? No doubt about it. Savage started the 2023 as the Gators’ backup, but played so well in the opening game that he was named the starter in Game 2. Things were rolling along quite nicely until the fifth game, when a scramble by Savage resulted in a knee injury.
“The turf monster got me,” he said.
He was done for the season.
But not for the off-season and Savage worked his way back to health in order to be ready to play his senior year.
“It was hard watching from the sideline,” Savage said. “You want to be on the field with your guys. I had a couple of bumps in the road along the way to getting back. But in July, I felt like I was back to normal.”
Still, Savage was not cleared to play until the week before school started.
In a way, the injury may have actually helped his progress in becoming more of a pocket passer.
“The injury may have slowed down what he was trying to do running with the ball and getting out of the pocket quicker,” Wilburn said. “He’s taking things slower now and letting his reads progress. When you do that, it can make you look really good really quick.”
There is definitely a different look to Savage this year in how he plays. Against Ouachita, he was 10 of 16 for 179 yards and two touchdowns and showed greater arm strength and touch than a year ago.
“Definitely spent a lot of time in the weight room,” he said. “That’s about all I could do in the off-season is work on the upper body.”
“He’s got a lot of confidence in himself without lacking the ability to be coached,” Wilburn said. “That’s always the golden zone you try to get players in. You want them to believe in themselves and the system, but also never get arrogant and remain coachable and hungry.”
Savage and the Gators will take on Huntington Thursday night at Independence Stadium as the Gators try to move to 2-0. Wilburn knows Savage will be a key factor in the Gators’ success.
“He’s everything you’d ask for in a senior quarterback,” Wilburn said. “We are really lucky to have that.”
Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com
Bad weather produces really good matchup between Calvary, visiting Neville
By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
During the pandemic, we all learned to pivot on a dime as circumstances changed quickly.
That ability to adjust on the fly has produced one of the more compelling matchups of the high school football season.
Calvary Baptist, the defending state Select Division III champions, riding a 15-game win streak, was already facing a stout opponent at home Friday night in Westgate, the No. 6-ranked team in Class 4A. But the approach of Francine, which was upgraded to a hurricane Tuesday evening, sent south Louisiana squads scrambling for shelter, not practice.
Westgate had to cancel its trip to Shreveport Friday night for a rematch of last season’s intense 32-22 loss at Calvary.
Meanwhile, Southside of Lafayette also had to scuttle a planned homefield battle with Neville of Monroe, the No. 7 ranked team in Class 5A.
Opportunity knocked, and neither Calvary coach Rodney Guin or Neville’s Mike Collins blinked. Both coaches crave strong non-district competition. They’ll get it in Friday night’s hastily-arranged contest at Jerry Barker Stadium.
The Cavaliers (1-0), No. 1 in Class 2A after overpowering a strong second-ranked Oak Grove team 62-41 last Friday night, will step up to play one of the state’s premiere all-time powerhouses. Stepping up to 5A competition was no problem for Calvary in 2023, as the Cavs blasted a pair of good local 5A foes, Byrd and Captain Shreve, in their 14-0 championship season last fall.
But this is Neville (1-0), a perennial state power, which appears to be one of the top squads of 2024 in the state’s largest classification.
“You want to win every game,” said Guin, “but we’re not going to worry about a win streak and not play a good team when we get the chance. It’s one of those games we could play well and still not win, and we’re OK with that.
“We’re in it for the long haul, November and December,” he said in a KTBS Sports interview Tuesday. “This game will help us down the road regardless of what the outcome is.”
Guin said his players embrace the challenge. On a Friday night when many teams in south Louisiana will suddenly be sidelined, lots of eyes around Louisiana will focus on the Calvary-Neville battle.
The Tigers will make their second straight ride west on I-20 to Shreveport. Neville won 42-24 last Friday at Evangel, which a week before had topped West Monroe in the Bayou Jamb at Monroe. West Monroe is 10th in the Class 5A rankings this week.
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com
Can’t help but smile about the hold Maravich has on our imaginations
Something that was not mentioned during the panel discussion about Pete Maravich in Natchitoches at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame museum last Thursday night was a unique picture in the “Showtime: LSU’s Spectacular Pistol Pete” exhibit that celebrates the man’s legacy.
It’s a rare picture of Maravich smiling.
John Musemeche, the longtime photographer from Baton Rouge whose work is featured in the exhibit, explained Monday how he captured that special shot. It was during the time Maravich was enjoying a record-setting NCAA college basketball career at LSU, and Musemeche and a friend who was a big LSU fan were with Maravich at Foxy’s Health Studio in Baton Rouge.
“We spent three days with him doing some photo shoots,” said Musemeche, then a sportswriter and photographer and “low man on the totem pole” for the sports staff of the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate. “Pete liked to go to Foxy’s to work out because nobody made a big deal about him being there.”
Musemeche told Pete he needed to get some “head shots.”
“You know, Pete,” Musemeche said, “I’ve never gotten a great picture of you smiling.”
Maravich answered, “It’s kind of hard to sit there and smile.”
Understand, Maravich, as nearly supernatural as his basketball skills and showmanship were, was not given to smiling easily. He already had a hardscrabble life with lots of injuries and troubles – some self-induced – and he forever nurtured an intense, serious focus on becoming the best, most entertaining basketball player there ever was.
“So I proceeded to tell some really bad jokes, and he says, ‘You’re really trying’ hard,’” said Musemeche, “and I said, ‘I guess I’m not a big shot like you,’ and with that he flashed a big smile, and I caught it. That’s the way he really acted when he was out of the glare of all the cameras.”
One of the attractions at the LSHOF event last week was an eight-minute documentary on Pistol Pete Maravich by 46-year-old filmmaker and Ohio native Drew Tewell that featured Musemeche. The documentary “We Were Fans” placed second at a recent international film festival.
Tewell, who resided in Baton Rouge from 2014 until about a month-and-a-half ago before returning home to the Columbus, Ohio area, said in a phone call Monday he has been developing a full-length movie about Maravich for the last 10 years.
“It’s a biopic, covering a good portion of his life from his childhood to after he retired,” said Tewell, noting his movie will focus mostly on Maravich’s 10 years in the National Basketball Association but with attention, too, on his childhood and his time at LSU. “I finished the script about six years ago. I talked to an actor I met while working on another movie, Damon Lipari, about playing the role of Pete.
“He looks exactly like Pete,” said Tewell of the 46-year-old Lipari, a Louisiana native of Patterson. “He’s a little shorter, but he played basketball through high school. He went to LSU and was going to play basketball but got the acting bug and followed that path instead.”
Tewell couldn’t say when the movie would be released because production hasn’t yet started. “We’re trying to find investors, and we’re trying to find a well-known actor, possibly to play Press Maravich (Pete’s father and coach at LSU) to help draw a crowd.”
I think investors would be wise to sign on to the Maravich movie project. I don’t know of another Louisiana athlete, past or present, who has such an enduring grip on the Bayou State as someone who never ceases to amaze and inspire, even during football season.
In truth, his stretch of magnetism reaches well beyond Louisiana. Bob Dylan, for heaven’s sake, wrote in his memoir how he idolized Pete Maravich when the Pistol was playing professional basketball in New Orleans. Magic Johnson admitted he “stole” some of Maravich’s moves in his “showtime” as a basketball legend.
An autographed basketball from his 68-point scoring night for the New Orleans Jazz in 1977 against the New York Knicks sold for $131,450 in a 2009 Heritage auction.
And Californians cannot forget him since he died at age 40 in their state on that fateful day – Jan. 5, 1988 — in Pasadena, Calif.
On a basketball court.
During a pickup basketball game.
He had flown from his home then in Covington, La., to tape a segment on evangelical author James Dobson’s radio show. He and Dobson and some others played that pickup game in the morning before the scheduled afternoon taping.
Dobson said Maravich’s last words, less than a minute before he collapsed and died due to a congenital heart defect, were: “I feel great.”
Considering in his final years he got his hard-driving, hard-cussing father to convert to the Christian faith before Press died in 1987, and he repeatedly said he wanted to be remembered not as a basketball player but as a Christian, I can only guess why in the final minute of his life he felt the urge to say – with a smile, no doubt — “I feel great.”
The translation, from 2 Timothy 4:7-8: “ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
Contact Bob at btompkins1225@gmail.com
First rankings provide points of contention
JOURNAL STAFF
They say it takes a few weeks to truly determine how football teams should be ranked, but who’s got time for that?
The first Shreveport-Bossier Journal poll of the year showed the battle for the top spot was a tough one between two Bossier Parish schools — Parkway and Airline.
Airline’s road win with a late field goal to beat Barbe (Lake Charles) was impressive, but Parkway was a dominant in a 30-point win over Carroll. Perhaps, at least for now, the Panthers’ jamboree win over Airline served as a tie-breaker?
Just as impressive was Calvary putting a 62-spot on defending state champion Oak Grove that gave the Cavaliers the No. 3 spot in the poll, just ahead of two 5A rivals with big wins — No. 4 Captain Shreve and No. 5 Byrd.
There’s no shame in Evangel’s loss to Class 5A power Neville, which put the Eagles in at No. 6.
Northwood edged Benton last week on Thursday night and edged the Tigers in the poll as the two came in at Nos. 7 and 8, followed by Huntington at No. 9 and Haughton, a winner over Homer in coach Matthew Sewell’s first game, at No. 10.
Week 1 SBJ Top 10
- Parkway (1-0)
- Airline (1-0)
- Calvary (1-0)
- Captain Shreve (1-0)
- Byrd (1-0)
- Evangel (0-1)
- Northwood (1-0)
- Benton (0-1)
- Huntington (0-1)
- Haughton (1-0)
The opener is in the books, but what is in the memory banks?
JOURNAL SPORTS
For all the local high school football teams except for Southwood, the season is underway.
Mike Green’s Cowboys make their debut this week. “Make room,” he calmly and firmly stated a couple weeks ago today, at a Caddo Parish School Board media event showcasing the system’s prep football programs.
He was expressing confidence his players would redefine the perception of the Southwood program, which has been mired in a seasons-long skid. It was impressive bravado. Best of luck to the Cowboys!
Meanwhile, the other local teams have a game under their belts and it’s Week 2. We asked head coaches to share thoughts on things they took away from the season opener – not necessarily football impressions.
What were their takeaways from Week 1?
AUSTIN BROWN, Northwood: “Just being back out there. Pageantry of a Friday night. Tailgate walk, band, cheer/dance, fireworks. It was great to be back.”
MATTHEW SEWELL, Haughton: “We had two seniors (Jakobe Delaney and Preston Peters) that had suffered multiple injuries in the past and had never started a game before this season, catch touchdown passes and play big roles in our win. It was awesome watching them break through and see how excited they were to help their team win a game. It stood out to me as a testament to hard work and love of the game.”
STACY BALLEW, Byrd: “Any win on the road in south Louisiana is a good win.” (The Yellow Jackets were impressive at St. Amant, posting a 26-10 victory.)
CLINT WALKER, Plain Dealing: “Hard to believe another season is here. Seems to go faster and faster every year the older you get.”
STEPHEN DENNIS, Huntington: “Seeing my players not be fazed by the atmosphere of West Monroe. We didn’t play well (in a 40-7 defeat), but it wasn’t because of the atmosphere, we didn’t execute at an elite level.”
JEREMY WILBURN, Captain Shreve: “I noticed that our band plays a terrific rendition of the Star Spangled Banner and we have a well-trained color guard that raises our flag perfectly pregame.”
Evangel’s Wilson picks up national honor for Gents
By PATRICK MEEHAN, Centenary Sports Information Director
Lots of fall sports competition is underway for Centenary but there’s no doubt the positive vibes are still being felt from last Saturday’s official return to football competition.
Although the Gents didn’t prevail, good things continue to spin out of that opener.
FOOTBALL: Freshman defensive back Jacob Wilson was honored nationally on Tuesday as he was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week after he had a pair of interceptions on Saturday night in the Gents’ season-opening loss at home to Hendrix. His second pick of the game led to a Centenary TD two plays later.
Wilson, a former Evangel Christian Academy Eagle, finished with two solo tackles to go with his two picks.
In their official return to NCAA college football, the Gents fell 43-20 to the Hendrix College Warriors in front of an overflow crowd at Atkins Field but the final score could not deter the excitement and buzz that was evident the entire day leading up to the game and throughout the contest itself.
The Gents will hit the road as they open Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play Saturday against the Texas Lutheran Bulldogs in Seguin, Texas.
CROSS COUNTRY: The Centenary men’s and women’s teams opened their seasons last Friday evening as the Ladies and Gents competed in The Opener at Mississippi College at Choctaw Trails.
In the men’s 5k race, Centenary’s times: Phillip Hughes, 19:53.1; Joseph Coleman, 23:04.2; Evan Halbert, 23:43.0; Clayton Hancock, 24:18.0; Herman Pride, 26:30.4; Richard Ross, 30:41.6.
In the women’s 5k, the Ladies’ times: Amiyah Barrow, 25:52.9; Julissa Cabrera, 25:55.3; Brooklyn Cooper, 30:04.8; Bethany Leach, 35:29.7.
The Ladies and Gents return to action in the Nicholls XC Invitational in Thibodaux on Sept. 28.
MEN’S SOCCER: The Gents earned a 1-1 tie against the Howard Payne Yellow Jackets last Friday in a non-conference contest and the Gents’ home opener at Atkins Field.
The Gents (1-1-1) and Yellow Jackets (0-1-2) each scored their goals in the first half and a scoreless second half followed. Centenary now leads the all-time series 3-0-1.
Howard Payne struck first as Ian Bryant scored with the assist going to Taylor Hefner in the 11th minute. Senior Hunter Booth tied the score in the 39th minute, notching his second goal of the season.
Booth, following a corner kick, headed the ball into the next for the tying score after a pass from junior Eoin Hamill who was credited with the assist. Freshman goalkeeper Sebastian Lutin started for the third match in a row for the Gents and played all 90 minutes, making three saves.
Centenary remains at home and will play a pair of home matches this weekend as the Maroon and White will square off with Mississippi University for Women on Friday before Ouachita Baptist, a Division II program, comes to town on Sunday.
VOLLEYBALL: The Ladies will play three matches this weekend in the Millsaps Invitational in Jackson, Miss. Against Huntingdon College, LeTourneau, and the host Majors.
WOMEN’S SOCCER: The Ladies are on the road this weekend for a pair of non-conference contests as they face LaGrange College on Saturday and Huntingdon College on Sunday.
GOLF: Centenary’s men’s and women’s golf teams tee off their seasons on Sunday at the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Preview in Whitney, Texas. The tournament runs through Tuesday.
Contact Patrick at pmeehan@centenary.edu