June 30, 2025
Month: June 2025
Journal staffers haul in 18 honors, including major awards, in LSWA Writing Contest
JOURNAL SPORTS
Once again, the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s annual Writing Contest has affirmed the quality of content that you get for free in the Shreveport-Bossier Journal.
The Journal staff combined for 19 awards, most by any one publication in the state, in the LSWA’s contest for work done in the 2024 calendar year. Contest results were announced Sunday at an awards brunch in Natchitoches to wrap up the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Weekend.
John James Marshall won two categories and Teddy Allen won another. Marshall was the LSWA’s Prep Writer of the Year.
Doug Ireland won the LSWA’s Sports Writer of the Year award after placing in eight different categories.
The Journal focuses on local high school sports coverage and that was reflected in contest results.
The judge of the Prep Writer of the Year category commented on Marshall’s entry: “An impressive collection of entries. Louisiana is fortunate to have good writers on the prep beat. That’s not happening in many other places.
“For the winning entry, four quality and uplifting stories that showed great range. All were engaging and well-crafted. Also, good use of quotes to move the stories along. It also shows the high schools can provide fascinating stories…if you know where to find them. This writer did just that.”
Ireland was fourth, netting honorable mention status, in the category.
The SBJ swept the Prep Event contest. Marshall won again for his story on a Haughton High football game that kicked off with a special touchdown play.
Wrote the judge: “This may be a writing contest, but reporting is what sets our winning entry apart. The season finale between two losing football teams is not anyone’s definition of a plum assignment, yet the writer here made it one by telling the story of Hunter “Puddin'” Cubley, a special needs student who scores a touchdown on a scrimmage play before kickoff.
“The reporter is with Cubley’s parents for the play, which is key to this story’s success. And it’s not just a feature — we do get the details of the game that followed. But the reporter correctly identified which of these events was the lede. It is the moment Haughton players will remember about an otherwise forgettable season. The best stories tell themselves, and through great reporting, this writer achieved that.”
Taking second for the Journal was correspondent William Weathers for his game story “Larry’s last-chance bomb in OT lifts Parkway into state finals” after Chloe Larry hit a 54-footer to propel the Lady Panthers toward their second straight state title.
Ireland’s story on Airline’s 69-68 football win at Captain Shreve was third.
Marshall took second in the Prep Feature category for a story on Northwood football player Justin Thomas overcoming several adversities to emerge as a standout player for the Falcons.
Allen’s win came in Amateur Sports for his piece on “The real boys of summer,” local youth baseball teams.
The judge wrote, “This was absolutely heart-warming. To able to reach that far back into the past and pull out such memories is a blessing and a testament to the writer’s talent. As most of us have probably learned by now, youth sports teaches the adults just as much about life as it does the kids. Maybe even a little bit more. Thank you for capturing that feeling and helping us remember our own pivotal experiences. Truly a phenomenal piece.”
Marshall was third for his story remembering the early days of the Firecracker 5K and Ireland was fourth with a piece about Shreveport’s Hollis Conway, a two-time USA medalist, recalling his Olympic experiences.
In the Columnist of the Year category, Higgins was second and Ireland was third.
Ireland took second in Prep Columns for his piece praising the toughness and team-first approach of Plain Dealing’s 13-man winless high school football team. He was fourth in College Features for a story about Tynes Hildebrand, named Mr. Louisiana Basketball at age 92 for his seven decades of involvement in the game.
Taglavore was runner-up in the Outdoors Writing category for a compelling story on professional fisherman Nick LeBrun, who overcame an ugly addiction to succeed in the big leagues of bass fishing.
Ireland also took a pair of seconds for content he produced for the Natchitoches Parish Journal, which also ran in the SBJ: a column on the state of the Northwestern State football program coming back from the abyss of a cancelled season, and a feature story on the resumption of the decades-long NSU-SFA Chief Caddo trophy series.
The Marshall brothers, JJ and Ben, won again in the 2024 radio contest for Best Radio Show Hosts with their Sports Talk with JJ & Bonzai Ben on 1130 The Tiger (KWKH-AM).
The category judge wrote: “They’re fun! Their chemistry is really strong, they seem to be having a great time, and they bring real takes that sound genuine and not manufactured for radio. Good sports talk with a sprinkle of silly stuff.”
Ascentek announces $50 million investment to expand, enhance facility
Ascentek, Inc., a leader in fluid and lubricant technology, announced it is investing $50 million to build a new, 270,000-square-foot manufacturing assistance facility and enhance operations at its existing production and distribution center in Caddo Parish to support growing demand from customers worldwide.
The company is expected to create 91 direct new jobs in manufacturing, production support and business administration, while also retaining 105 current positions. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in an additional 247 indirect new jobs, for a total of 338 potential new jobs in the Northwest Region.
“From day one, Governor Landry has ensured our department has had an equal focus on supporting and growing the businesses that have already created opportunities for our communities and people, and Ascentek is a prime example of one of those businesses,” LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois said. “The company’s history of impact and innovation in every aspect of its work also aligns with our agency’s new strategic plan and is just one reason we are proud to continue our partnership as they renew their commitment to Louisiana and our workers.”
The expansion in Shreveport will include new high-speed production, material handling and storage equipment that will significantly improve efficiencies in the company’s industrial fluid, lubricant and chemical manufacturing processes.
Alongside the growth at Ascentek’s facility at 7699 W. Bert Kouns Industrial Loop, the project also will incorporate key infrastructure improvements to enhance both community safety and operational abilities.
“The buildout of our new manufacturing assistance facility and the improvements we’re making to our existing facility in Shreveport not only broaden the ways we can support our customers but reinforce our commitment to the Shreveport community,” Ascentek President and CEO Chad Baker said. “Between job creation, economic stimulation and future growth, Ascentek is here to create a unique working environment for every teammate that joins the Ascentek family.”
Ascentek evolved from Lube-Tech and traces its roots to a company first founded in 1925. The company plans to break ground on the facility in late 2025. Construction is expected to take between 18 months and two years.
“Ascentek’s $50 million investment is a tremendous vote of confidence in Shreveport’s future,” Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux said. “This expansion will not only bring new, high-quality jobs to our city but also improve critical infrastructure and reinforce our reputation as a hub for advanced manufacturing. We’re proud to support a company that’s growing with purpose and choosing to do so right here in our community.”
To win the project in Caddo Parish, LED offered a competitive incentive package, including the comprehensive workforce development solutions of LED FastStart. The company is also expected to participate in the state’s Industrial Tax Exemption and Quality Jobs programs.
“We are thrilled that Lube-Tech has evolved into Ascentek, marking a new chapter and commitment to innovation and growth,” Caddo Parish Commissioner Stormy Gage-Watts said. “This $50 million investment in Caddo Parish will not only enhance our capabilities but also create 91 new direct jobs for our community. We believe in the potential of our local workforce and are excited to contribute to the economic vitality of Caddo Parish. Together, we will continue to ascend to new heights.”
“On behalf of the citizens of Caddo Parish, West Shreveport, and West Caddo Parish, I am delighted to hear that Ascentek has agreed to expand their existing plant at their current location. We discussed the possibility about three years ago, and now Ascentek will be spending $50 million toward the expansion and creating 91 new jobs. Their decision to expand and invest in their existing facilities is a testament to Caddo Parish’s commitment to be business friendly, as well as flexible to provide the necessary infrastructure, a qualified workforce, and any needed help to bring ventures like these to fruition,” said Ken Epperson, Sr.,Caddo Parish Commissioner – District 12.
“Ascentek’s expansion is a major win for Shreveport, Caddo Parish and the entire Northwest Louisiana region,” North Louisiana Economic Partnership President and CEO Justyn Dixon said. “This $50 million investment not only reinforces the company’s long-standing commitment to our community but also validates the strength of our workforce, infrastructure, and strategic location. We’re proud to support Ascentek’s continued growth and look forward to the significant economic impact this project will bring through high-quality job creation and enhanced industrial capacity.”
Bossier Sheriff’s Office conducts underage compliance checks at local businesses
In response to growing concerns from citizens, the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office recently conducted a series of compliance checks at local stores to ensure businesses are not illegally selling alcohol or vaping products to underaged individuals.
Deputies visited 13 stores across Bossier Parish as part of this proactive enforcement effort. These operations were prompted by complaints from the public who reported that individuals under the age of 21 were able to purchase restricted products at certain retail locations.
The following locations DID NOT sell unlawful items to underaged persons.
• Raceway Gas Station – 8048 East Texas St. Bossier City, LA
• Rogers Corner Store – 6511 Hwy 80 Princeton, LA
• Haughton General Store – 9011 Hwy 157 Princeton, LA
• Shed Rd Mini Mart – 3010 Shed Rd Bossier City, LA (suspended liquor license)
• Food City Market – 2526 Barksdale Blvd Bossier City, LA
• Chevron – 1604 Airline Dr Bossier City, LA
• Smoko’s Fastrac – 1930 Airline Dr Bossier City, LA
The following locations sold alcohol to persons under the age of 21. The individuals responsible for unlawful sales received a citation for that infraction.
• Buc Stop – 201 N. Elm St Haughton, LA 71037
• Chevron Food Mart – 7301 E. Texas St Bossier City, LA
• Swan Lake Food Mart – 1400 Swan Lake Rd Bossier City, LA
• Cascio’s Express – 2252 Barksdale Blvd Bossier City, LA
• Exxon Food Mart – 2264 Barksdale Blvd Bossier City, LA
• Brake Time Corner Market – 1975 Airline Dr Bossier City, LA
Sheriff Whittington commented, “We appreciate the businesses that took their responsibility seriously and did the right thing. We are committed to keeping our community safe and holding accountable those who endanger our youth by ignoring the law.”
Shreveport Little Theatre announces auditions for ‘The 39 Steps’
Shreveport Little Theatre is excited to announce auditions for the upcoming production of “The 39 Steps.” The production will be directed by Dr. Ray Scott Crawford and will be performed September 5-14.
“The 39 Steps” is a fast-paced, comedic adaptation of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 thriller, blended with the imaginative style of Monty Python. The play follows the story of Richard Hannay, an ordinary man who finds himself entangled in a web of espionage and intrigue after a chance encounter with a mysterious woman. From London music halls to the Scottish Highlands, the adventure unfolds through inventive staging, clever theatricality, and nonstop humor.
Audition date is Saturday, July 5, at 2pm. Actors interested in auditioning should prepare a comic monologue and be ready to read from the script. Auditions will be held at the Shreveport Little Theatre, 812 Margaret Place.
Rehearsals for the production will begin in late July. Depending on the show’s popularity, additional performances may be added. Actors are asked to keep the weekend of September 19-21 open for possible extension performances.
If anyone is unable to attend auditions, sign up for the waitlist portion of the audition and submit a link (either DropBox or Google Drive) of material for the director to view. These can be shared on the audition form.
This production promises to be a high-energy, creatively staged experience. Roles are open to performers of all backgrounds, and those with strong comedic instincts, physical agility, and quick character transformations are especially encouraged to audition.
Visit https://www.theaterforms.com/Sportl…/39steps/auditionform/ to reserve an audition time slot. SLT encourages early registration as slots may fill quickly.
Standard-raising 2025 LSHOF class brought acclaim to Louisiana in many different ways
By JASON PUGH, Written for the LSWA
NATCHITOCHES – The lens through which much of the nation views Louisiana was on full display Saturday night inside the Natchitoches Events Center as the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame welcomed in its 12-person class of 2025.
“A lot of people look at this state through the athletic programs at LSU,” said seven-time national champion college football coach Nick Saban, whose first title came in 2003 at the helm of the Tiger program. “When we were there, we raised the bar and the standard.”
The standard raising and bearing celebrated Saturday night did not begin and end with Saban nor did it end with on-field or competitive accomplishments.
Joining Saban in the induction class was one of his first recruits – West Monroe offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth. Whitworth followed his two national prep titles and three state crowns with a 2003 national championship at LSU and a four-time Pro Bowl, 16-season NFL career that culminated in a Super Bowl victory that came three days after he took home the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.
Saban lauded Whitworth as epitomizing what the coach wanted his players to become in their post-collegiate career.
Whitworth attributed that to his home state’s culture and what it instilled in him during his formative years in northeast Louisiana.
“Culture is shared belief and values,” he said. “When you have that, it makes it special. I always want to make things better than I found them, and I have been given the blessings and ability to do that. Anything I’m a part of, it will be better because I’m there. The people I do it with are what matters most. That’s our way of life.
“When I think of being at West Monroe, I think about my parents and my teammates’ parents. When we were really successful, they were feeding the whole team and the coaches are pouring into us. At LSU, it was the same thing. You’re just further away from home, but it was a new home. Moms were having us over to eat. Dads were taking us to lunch, asking us what we wanted to do after LSU. It was a support system. Once you get to the league, you have to be the support system. Could I share the values I learned from Louisiana? Making others feel valued. Can you spread that love? Making everyone feel special and feel a part of something sets you up to be successful. That’s our way of life in Louisiana.”
Being that support system for others came naturally to Whitworth and was on display long before his 16-year NFL career that saw him help redefine the legacy of left tackles at football highest level.
“He always poured into other guys,” West Monroe strength and conditioning coach Kirk Frantom said. “Whit was always in tune with his body and always wanted to perform at his highest level, but it wasn’t just the competitiveness. It was the servant’s heart he has.”
Whitworth’s legacy extended to his final NFL stop, winning a Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams, a franchise that allowed him to lead almost in lock step with head coach Sean McVay. Whitworth’s relationship with McVay has been well documented, and the two remain close after Whitworth’s retirement from the game.
“Whit always said this is a blessing, not a burden, and that’s the approach he took every day,” McVay said. “He’s the only person to wear the Walter Payton Man of the Year patch and go out and win a Super Bowl to go out. He is the epitome of a special one and of a Hall of Famer.”
While at LSU, Whitworth shared campus with another transformative force – one that came in a much smaller package than his hulking, 6-foot-8, 330-pound frame.
For the second straight year, the Hall opened its doors to a female LSU student-athlete who changed the trajectory of program in Baton Rouge. One year after women’s basketball’s Seimone Augustus walked into the Hall, 14-time All-American gymnast April Burkholder gained entry into the state’s sports shrine.
Just as Augustus did, Burkholder’s presence turned the Pete Maravich Assembly Center into the place to be when LSU competed.
“It was the same time that LSU women’s basketball landed Seimone,” said Hall of Fame coach D-D Breaux, who coached Burkholder throughout her LSU career. “There was so much gain and so much reward with April. She brought a real professional, polished look, a style and a self-confidence in the kind of gymnastics she wanted to do. The program continued to grow. The crowds continued to grow. She was the start of that.”
The All-American honors and the 2006 NCAA beam championship almost never happened. Burkholder faced injuries that threatened her career starting at age 2 with a concussion and a fractured skull.
There were two compound fractures and three surgeries on one of her arms. Amputation of that arm nearly happened.
Yet, Burkholder pushed through and became the standard bearer for an ascendant program that reached a national championship peak in 2024.
“My parents said at one point, ‘We’re OK if you don’t want to do gymnastics again,’” Burkholder said. “I said, ‘What would it all be worth? What would it be for?’ That’s what makes it all worth it. Grit, perseverance, it teaches you throughout your entire life. It teaches you life skills you use forever.”
In five seasons, Saban took a 3-8 team and turned it into a national championship, securing LSU’s first national crown in 45 years in 2003.
His first recruiting class included Whitworth with whom he shared induction Saturday. The pair was instrumental in helping broaden the horizons and setting new standards at LSU.
“You can’t recruit the type of players he did without the ability to connect,” said former LSU and Dallas Cowboy standout Marcus Spears. “Moving from tight end to defensive end was difficult at 17, 18 years of age. I trusted him blindly and he turned out to be right. There are hundreds of those stories. He has had consistency in his work and elevated people.”
Saban elevated the LSU program to that 2003 national champion, which he said gave him the best feeling in his professional life to that point.
What has transpired in the 21 seasons since also has made Saban flush with Bayou State pride even as he stood across the gridiron from the purple-and-gold clad Tigers.
“I’m proud of the fact that we contributed to the iconic brand LSU has and the state of Louisiana has,” he said. ‘All of us, when we get rid of the self-imposed limitations and accomplish something of significance, it establishes a new horizon. The next time you accomplish it, it’s a new horizon. Then, it becomes the standard, the example for other people. Transformational leadership helps other people reach those horizons as well. I’m really, really proud every time I see LSU. It was a great rivalry (with Alabama), but I’m always proud because we did something to raise the bar and the program has been outstanding ever since.”
Contact Jason at pughj@nsula.edu
LSUS’ Neffendorf wins prestigious Sugar Bowl state college coach of the year award
JOURNAL SPORTS
Brad Neffendorf, the head coach of the undefeated national championship LSU Shreveport baseball team, has been selected as the Allstate Sugar Bowl’s Outstanding Collegiate Coach for Louisiana for 2024-25 from a pool of finalists that included Jay Johnson of the NCAA College World Series champion LSU Tigers baseball team.
Neffendorf led LSU Shreveport to an extraordinary and improbable perfect season. The Pilots won all 59 games to establish a new record for the longest winning streak in collegiate baseball history (all levels) while capturing the NAIA national championship.
“All recognition is great, but it’s recognition for the entire program,” Neffendorf said. “It all comes down to all of the people involved.
“I have to give a great deal of praise to the players. Their commitment, their investment, their ability to quickly being able to operate each and every day as one unit, on and off the field. They became incredibly close, extremely quick.
“I also have a great deal of respect and appreciation and praise for our coaching staff – the work and investment that they put in made this happen.”
LSUS recorded a perfect regular season with a 47-0 record. The Pilots then swept through the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament with four straight wins to establish the record for the longest winning streak in four-year college baseball history.
The Pilots hosted a first-round tournament in the NAIA national championship and continued their dominance, defeating Ottawa (Kan.), 5-2, No. 21 Johnson (Tenn.), 15-4, and No. 19 Mid-America Christian (Okla.), 9-6, to head to the NAIA World Series with a mind-blowing 54-0 record.
They then posted five straight wins at the NAIA World Series capped by a 13-7 come-from-behind victory over Southeastern (Fla.) to win the championship.
“The players did an unbelievable job of managing distractions,” Neffendorf said. “They did an incredible job of not talking about [the perfect record]. They managed their level of focus; their intent in practice, in the weight room, during the early work – they always had the same focus and demeanor.
“We were very talented, but what took our talent to the next level was their ability to always stay focused on getting better and getting back to the World Series.”
Neffendorf also was recognized with the Skip Bertman Award as the nation’s top coach from any level of college baseball and as the 2025 Perfect Game National Coach of the Year.
“Brad’s relentless commitment to excellence, leadership, and the belief he instills in his players have elevated LSUS baseball to legendary status,” said LSU Shreveport Director of Athletics Lucas Morgan. “I am so proud to have him leading our program.”
The Sugar Bowl also conducted a fan vote for its annual awards and the fan vote winner for Louisiana’s Outstanding Collegiate Coach was Jeremy Kennedy from Loyola University. Kennedy, in his sixth season at the helm of the Wolf Pack, not only led the team to the NAIA World Series for the first time in program history, but they also picked up their first World Series victory as they capped the year with a 42-18 record.
Joining Kennedy and Neffendorf as finalists in the highly competitive Coach of the Year field were Bo Browder (Xavier women’s basketball), Jay Johnson (LSU baseball), and Will Wade (McNeese State men’s basketball).
Browder directed XULA to a 29-4 record – setting the school-record for winning percentage and matching the record for wins – as the Gold Nuggets became the first XULA women’s basketball team to advance to the third round of the NAIA National Tournament.
Johnson, in his fourth season directing the program, guided LSU to its eighth national championship with a sensational postseason run that included eight straight wins to close the season.
Wade was selected as the Southland Conference Coach of the Year honors for the second straight season as he led the Cowboys to a 28-7 record, the Southland championship, and an NCAA Tournament First Round victory.
The Sugar Bowl has recognized an Outstanding Louisiana College Coach since 1961 and Neffendorf is the first LSU Shreveport coach to be honored.
Shreveport Police seeking suspect in vehicle burglary, credit card fraud
The Shreveport Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying a man accused of burglarizing a vehicle on June 23. During the incident, the suspect reportedly stole credit cards from the victim’s vehicle.
Shortly after the burglary, the man seen in the above photo is believed to have used the stolen credit cards to make fraudulent purchases totaling over $4,000.
If anyone recognizes this individual or has any information that could help investigators, contact the
Shreveport Police Department at 318-673-7300. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Caddo
Crime Stoppers at 318-673-7373.
Shreveport Police searching for wanted sex offender
The Shreveport Police Department is actively searching for Kevin Ashley, a wanted sex offender. Detectives have obtained a warrant for Ashley’s arrest for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
Ashley is classified as a Tier 3 sex offender, which requires lifetime registration under Louisiana law. He has previously been convicted twice for failing to comply with sex offender registration requirements.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Kevin Ashley is urged to contact the Shreveport Police Department at 318-673-7300. Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact Caddo Crime Stoppers at 318-673-7373 or submit tips via the P3 app.
Caddo Parish Parks hosts successful soccer clinic in Vivian
Caddo Parish Parks and Recreation, in partnership with the Caddo Bossier Soccer Association (CABOSA), hosted a well-attended soccer clinic on June 25 from 9:30am to 11:30am at The Legion Hills Community Center in Vivian.
The clinic welcomed 35 enthusiastic kids from the local community, who received expert instruction from CABOSA coaches. Participants engaged in skill-building drills, teamwork exercises, and fun scrimmages designed to promote youth development and active lifestyles.
“Programs like these are essential to building confidence and community among our youth,” said a Caddo Parish Parks and Recreation representative. “We’re grateful for CABOSA’s commitment to supporting grassroots soccer in our region.”
The event was part of Caddo Parish’s ongoing efforts to provide accessible, high-quality recreational opportunities to residents of all ages. As a special treat, each child received a soccer ball to take home, encouraging continued play and practice after the event.
Goldman teacher who has touched generations retires after 43 years
After 43 years of transforming young lives through inclusive education, Loretta Lester is retiring from The Arc Caddo-Bossier’s Goldman School and Child Development Centers. Lester’s remarkable career spans more than half of the school’s 71-year history, making her one of the longest-serving educators in the institution’s legacy.
The Goldman School holds the distinction of being Louisiana’s first inclusive child development center, pioneering the integration of children with and without disabilities in the same classroom. This groundbreaking approach grew from a group of families establishing The Arc Caddo-Bossier for their children in 1954. Today, the school stands as a model for centers throughout Louisiana, and Lester has been instrumental in its success.
Ms. Loretta’s journey with Goldman School began in 1981 through a serendipitous visit to see a friend who worked there. “I came to visit again and again and before you know it I was hired,” Lester shared, reflecting on her unexpected path to a career that would span more than four decades.
Throughout her tenure, Ms. Loretta has been a passionate advocate for inclusive education, witnessing firsthand the profound benefits of bringing children of all abilities together. “Children with special needs learn from typical children. Typical children learn from (those with) special needs,” Ms. Loretta explained. “They learn how to socialize. They learn how to share. They learn how to build friendships.”
Her philosophy of acceptance and inclusion has guided her teaching approach for decades. “That’s the main thing I like teaching them is to accept others for who they are,” Ms. Loretta said. “It gives me joy. It gives me joy that I can impact somebody else’s life.”
During her four decades at Goldman School, Ms. Loretta has enjoyed working with children of different ages and abilities, helping to nurture countless young minds and fostering an environment of mutual understanding and respect. “We will miss Ms. Loretta’s daily presence on our campus but know her legacy will live on as the standards she set are woven into the fabric of our organization,” said Kristen Powers, Executive Director of The Arc Caddo-Bossier. “She led by example and always took time to share her incredible talent as she coached fellow teachers and parents, including me. When my son was in her class, she gave me much needed guidance that helped me become a better parent.”
Her innovative teaching methods and deep compassion for her students are exemplified in stories like that of Joseph Bianca, a young student who developed a sudden stutter. Rather than single him out, Ms. Loretta had his entire class speak in whispers, creating an inclusive solution that helped Joseph overcome his challenge while teaching all the children empathy and adaptation. The Goldman School’s unique approach gave Joseph a distinctive perspective on the world that continues to guide him today.
As Ms. Loretta prepares for retirement, she leaves behind a legacy of compassion, dedication, and transformative education that has touched the lives of generations of families in the Caddo-Bossier community. The depth of her impact was evident at her retirement party held at The Arc Caddo-Bossier on Tuesday, June 24, where family and past co-workers gathered to celebrate her remarkable career. Most touching of all, parents of the children she taught throughout her decades of service attended the celebration, many arriving directly from their jobs still in their work uniforms, having taken time off to honor the amazing woman who taught their children.
Her impact is perhaps best summarized by colleague Jerah Foster, who said, “There is only ONE Ms. Loretta!!! So grateful for my years as your coworker and even more grateful for the time, love, and wisdom you poured into my own child when she was your student!”
The Arc Caddo-Bossier’s Goldman School and Child Development Centers continue to serve as a beacon of inclusive education, building on the foundation that educators like Loretta Lester have helped establish over more than seven decades of service.
Notice of Death – June 29, 2025
Richard Glen Johnson
August 17, 1951 – June 24, 2025
Service: Monday, June 30, 2025, 2pm at Provenance Clubhouse, Shreveport.
Frances Joyce Jones
February 1, 1945 – June 24, 2025
Service: Tuesday, July 1, 2025, 11am at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Bossier City.
Billy Gene Pannell
August 29, 1955 – June 24, 2025
Service: Sunday, July 20, 2025, 4pm at Aulds Funeral Home, Shreveport.
John W. Thomas, Jr.
September 28, 1941 – June 22, 2025
Service: Monday, July 7, 2025, 11am at Life United Church, Shreveport.
James Randolph “Randy” Blanchette
September 23, 1948 – June 21, 2025
Service: Monday, June 30, 2025, 11am at Forest Park East Cemetery, Shreveport.
Judith Werner
March 4, 1939 – June 21, 2025
Service: Friday July 25, 2025, 3pm at St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, Shreveport.
Ruby Parish
January 4, 1935 – June 19, 2025
Service: Saturday, July 5, 2025, 11am at Winnfield Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Mutsuko Beck
August 22, 1949 – June 18, 2025
Service: Wednesday, July 9, 2025, 11am at Elm Grove Baptist Church, Bossier City.
James Harold DaGata
April 6, 1949 – June 7, 2025
Service: Wednesday, July 10, 2025, 10:30am at the Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, Keithville.
John Paul (JP) Lee, III
April 26, 1995 – May 17, 2025
Services: Friday, July 11, 2025, 1pm at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Shreveport.
Thomas Harris
August 19, 1977 – May 14, 2025
Service: TBA
Ladore Duke (Buddy) Leone
April 28, 1935 – May 13, 2025
Service: Monday, June 30, 2025, 10:30am at Northwest Louisiana 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.)
June 27, 2025
Early morning house fire on Milton
The Shreveport Fire Department received a call for a report of a house fire in the 3700 block of Milton Street on Thursday, June 26, 2:31am. The call was made by a passerby that saw flames coming from the home.
Engine 14 arrived first on scene at 2:36am and reported heavy smoke and flames from the roof of the home. Crews were quickly able to make entry into the home and extinguish the blaze before conditions worsened to minimize the damage before spreading throughout the residence.
There are no reported injuries to any firefighters or citizens from this incident. The homeowner was not present at the time of the event. The origin and cause of the fire remain under investigation by Shreveport Fire Arson Investigators.
Thinking out loud
Thinking out loud while reflecting on my time with Dave Nitz, the legendary Louisiana Tech and Shreveport Captains radio announcer who recently passed away. Dave was the best – the best broadcaster, person, and friend. Thank you, Dave, for everything.
I could bring in a lot of revenue for Shreveport and Bossier City police departments. Just let me write tickets to people who park in handicapped spots without a handicapped sticker or license plate . . . .
I was excited when I heard Lainey Wilson is coming to Bossier City in September. Then I saw the ticket prices. As of this writing, on Ticketmaster, a seat in the upper level of the very back of Brookshire Grocery Arena is $107.64 – before taxes. I will stay home and ask Alexa to play Lainey’s music . . . .
I was excited when I heard Dolly Parton is going to perform in Las Vegas. I went online to buy tickets at the exact minute they went on sale. There were more than 6,000 people in front of me. I will stay home and ask Alexa to play Dolly’s music . . . .
You know who has talent? The television network camera people who follow a golf ball off the tee . . .
My favorite thing at Newk’s is their pickles. You can walk to the stand and get as many as you want. That is, unless you’re at the Newk’s in Longview. They keep their pickles behind the counter. Bummer!
Heard at a funeral: “To love someone, you have to risk yourself.”
I called a doctor’s office and got this message: “If this is a life-threatening emergency, hang up and call 9-1-1.” If I don’t already know to do that, I’m not sure I can be helped . . . .
Two months until the college football season. Two months. We can make it . . . .
The owner of a new business didn’t have 15 minutes for a telephone interview, which would have resulted in free advertising in a widely-read publication? Okay . . . .
I remember as a kid, seeing my mom or dad wave their hand in front of the rear-view mirror, thanking the person driving behind them for letting them change lanes. I still do that, but hardly ever see anyone else do it . . . .
I’m still trying to wrap my head around the LSU Shreveport baseball team winning all 59 of their games. 59 games, and not one loss? That’s more impressive than winning the NAIA World Series, which they did. .
A few weeks ago, my fiancee and I went on one of those seven-night Caribbean cruises. Three takeaways:
-I am in the minority when it comes to the number of people who have tattoos . . . .
-I doubt hell is hotter than Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic . . . .
-People couldn’t care less how they look/dress . . . .
One of life’s little pleasures is finding a few extra French fries at the bottom of the bag . . . .
I recently went to TopGolf (Lafayette) for the first time. Chasing Aces in Bossier is better . . . .
There are three things I would pay any amount of money to have:
-Air Conditioning
-A reliable car
-Movers
I told the lady working the outside register at The Home Depot I hope she was getting paid extra for working in this heat. She said, “I’m out here with God and nature. That’s payment enough.” Wow. What a great attitude.
It’s hard to beat the feeling of satisfaction after mowing my lawn . . . .
But finally killing that fly in my kitchen is pretty close . . . .
I recently went to the Louisiana Boardwalk in Bossier City for the first time in years. Wow. What a ghost town. What a waste of prime real estate . . . .
Of course most people don’t want speed cameras outside of school zones. No one wants to get caught speeding!
You think you’ve had a bad day? Watch the Netflix movie Straw . . . .
In a May 2024 Thinking Out Loud column, I sang the praises of meteorologist Caroline Castora, who was in her first job at KTBS-TV. Not surprisingly, she is off to Fort Myers, Florida. I said she will make it big one day. She’s on her way. Wishing her the very best . . . .
I miss Wiseman’s Buffet on Kings Highway . . . .
Contact Tony at SBJTonyT@gmail.com.
Shreveport Farmers’ Market LIVE! announces weekend lineup for June 28
Shreveport Farmers’ Market LIVE! is back again this weekend, Saturday, June 28, with live music and a cooking demonstration at Festival Plaza.
The live music will run from 8:30am to 10:30am. This weekend’s musician is Buddy Flett.
The cooking demonstration will run from 11am to 11:45am. This weekend’s chef is Angie White.
Shreveport Farmers’ Market LIVE! is sponsored by Live Casino & Hotel Louisiana.
BP Fire District #1 celebrates personnel achievements
Bossier Parish Fire District #1 congratulated the following personnel and their agencies for a monumental accomplishment within the State of Louisiana:
Training Officer Jacob Maddox- Benton Fire District 4
Assistant Chief Reggie Oswalt-Bossier Parish Fire District 1
Deputy Chief Nick Palmer-Haughton Fire
Assistant Chief Fred Mcann-Haughton Fire
Mr. Beau Bevan-BPCC
These individuals have over the past two years worked on attending, completing and graduating the inaugural class of the Louisiana Fire Chiefs Academy.
Bossier Parish Fire District #1 also congratulated the following personnel and their agencies for being accepted into and attending the second class of the Louisiana Fire Chiefs Academy:
Training Officer Justin Kellogg-Bossier City Fire
Captain Jeffrey Hardy-Bossier Parish Fire District 1
Captain William Smart-Bossier Parish Fire District 1
By completing this program, these distinguished officers will have the designation of being a Certified Fire Executive.
Shreveport Police continue crackdown on squatters, trespassers
The Shreveport Police Department remains committed to addressing quality-of-life issues by continuing its initiative to remove squatters and trespassers from vacant residences across the city. Thanks to a recently implemented ordinance allowing officers to make arrests in homes deemed uninhabitable, the department has made significant progress in reducing these nuisance offenses.
On June 25, officers arrested Shaylin Christophe and Michael Rich for squatting in a residence on Trannie Lane. The following day, June 26, officers arrested Melvin Burks and Cheryl Bayles for squatting in a
residence located in the 4200 block of Greenwood Lane.
This effort reflects the department’s ongoing dedication to maintaining public safety and improving
neighborhood conditions. The Shreveport Police Department will continue to actively enforce this ordinance to ensure that vacant properties are not misused.
Anyone with information related to squatting or similar crimes is urged to contact the Shreveport Police
Department at 318-673-7300.
Two arrested in online dating cell phone theft scheme
The Shreveport Police Department launched an investigation into a series of similar cell phone thefts connected to the online dating app “Bumble.” The investigation revealed a fraudulent scheme targeting unsuspecting individuals under false romantic pretenses.
The first reported incident occurred on May 25, when a victim reported their blue iPhone 15 Pro (valued
at $1,099) stolen during a meeting at 9100 Walker Road. The victim believed they were meeting a woman
named “Asia,” who was later identified as Akira Thomas. During their interaction, Thomas took the phone and subsequently used it to access the victim’s Cash App and PayPal accounts, resulting in over $4,300 in
unauthorized transactions. The victim captured the encounter on dash camera footage and later positively identified Thomas in a photo lineup.
A second incident occurred on June 8, also at 9100 Walker Road. A different victim reported traveling from out of state to meet a woman named “Asia,” who was later identified as De’Asia Holmes. The suspect requested to use the victim’s phone—a gray Samsung S24 Ultra (valued at $1,300)—to contact her own, claiming it was with a babysitter inside a nearby apartment. She exited the vehicle with the phone and never returned. The victim later discovered that more than $600 had been stolen through unauthorized banking transactions. Holmes was also positively identified during a photo lineup.
In both cases, the Bumble profile used to lure the victims featured the same name and photos. However, the photos belonged to a woman with no ties to Louisiana and were used without her knowledge. Akira Thomas was arrested on June 24 at her place of employment.
A warrant for theft and access device fraud was issued for De’Asia Holmes, with a $20,000 bond, signed by Judge Victory. Holmes was arrested on June 26.
45th Annual Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival to be held July 19
The 45th Annual Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival will be held on Saturday, July 19, in air-conditioned Prather Coliseum located at 220 South Jefferson Street on the campus of Northwestern State University in Natchitoches. The festival’s curated showcase of Louisiana folk musicians, food vendors and traditional crafts persons will open at 9 a.m., with live entertainment scheduled from 9:30am until 9:30pm. The family-oriented festival is fully wheelchair accessible. Children 12 and under are admitted free. Tickets are $10 at the door for all events, or $6 for an evening pass to all events after 5pm.
The festival features three stages of music. Music headliners include Cajun band Amis du Teche, zydeco band Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, blues artist D.K. Harrell, western swing artist the Kristyn Harris Band, roots band Smithfield Fair, gospel group the Amazing! Rhythm Disciples and swamp pop dance band the Has Beans. The festival also includes numerous food vendors offering traditional Louisiana cuisine. Outdoor activities feature demonstrations of traditional blacksmithing, Dutch oven cooking and a child-friendly hands-on demonstration of a 19th century wash day.
In honor of this year’s theme, “Crafting Louisiana,” more than 80 crafts vendors have been invited to display and discuss their traditional work with those attending the festival. Craftspeople are expected to display beadwork, baskets, cowhide chair covers, alligator jewelry, Pysanky eggs, Native American crafts and pottery. Other expected craftspeople will display needlework, wood carvings, handmade toys and dolls, paintings, sculpture, homemade soap, spinning & weaving, handcrafted knives, handmade brooms, walking sticks, folk art quilts and more.
The Festival will include a Red Beans and Rice Cookoff, in which professionals and hobbyists alike can compete in one of multiple categories and demonstrate their cooking skills. Registration and the cooks’ meeting will take place at 8am. Tasting and judging will begin at 12:30pm with winners to be announced at 3:30pm. There is no fee to compete in the Cookoff. Red beans & rice must be cooked on-site outside of Prather Coliseum, but beans may be pre-soaked.
The Annual Louisiana State Fiddle Championship will be held at 1pm in Magale Recital Hall. There will be a non-championship class and a championship class. A twin fiddle category will also be held. Registration is at noon in the first-floor foyer outside Magale Recital Hall. The Fiddle Championship winner will perform on the main stage in Prather Coliseum at 5pm.
The festival includes several opportunities for patrons to engage directly with Louisiana folk culture. Free dance lessons include line dancing taught by the Classy Steppers, Celtic dance taught by the Thistle Dancers and Pipers and Cajun and zydeco dancing taught by the Cajun French Music Association Dance Troupe. Interactive activities include a yodeling demonstration by Kristyn Harris, dancing with the Louisiana Czech Heritage Dancers, a son jarocho fandango dance by the Armadillos Tejano and a musical spoons workshop taught by folk musician Clancey Stewart, with 50 free musical spoons given to workshop attendees.
“The festival bridges the distance between artists and the festival patrons, thus breaking the artificial barriers between artists and audience,” said Dr. Shane Rasmussen, director of the festival and NSU’s Louisiana Folklife Center. “Rather than watching from the sidelines, everyone who takes part in these activities will share and engage in Louisiana’s rich culture.”
KidFest will be available from 9am to 4pm. Kidfest is an area dedicated to child-friendly activities and is a fun way for children to examine their own cultural and family traditions as well as those from around the state.
Narrative sessions will be held in the festival N-Club Room from 10am to 6pm and feature presentations on traditional dolls and dollmaking, Creole architecture, Mexican fiddle styles and folk artist Clementine Hunter, with music informances on the blues with D.K. Harrell and roots music with Smithfield Fair. ASL interpretation, assistive listening devices and audio description for these cultural discussions will be made available upon prior request.
This year also features several pre-Festival events which are free and open to the general public. Fiddlin’ with the Finest will be held at the Many Depot Museum on June 14 and will include several Louisiana State Fiddle Champions discussing and performing traditional fiddling. Attendees are invited to bring their own acoustic instruments for a folk music jam session. A second free pre-festival event, A Life of Zydeco, a Musical Informance with Chubby Carrier, will be held on June 21 at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum in Natchitoches with Grammy winner Carrier discussing the cultural significance of zydeco to Louisiana with Rasmussen. A third pre-festival event will be an interactive crafts workshop, with Creole and Native American tradition bearers sharing their cultural knowledge. It will be held at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum on July 12. Free crafting materials will be provided for attendees.
For a full schedule of events, as well as registration forms to participate in the Louisiana State Fiddle Championship and the Red Beans & Rice Cookoff contact the Louisiana Folklife Center at 318-357-4332 or email folklife@nsula.edu or go to louisianafolklife.nsula.edu.
Support for the festival is provided by grants from the Cane River National Heritage Area, Inc., the City of Natchitoches, the Louisiana Division of the Arts Decentralized Arts Fund Program, the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, the Louisiana Office of Tourism, the Natchitoches Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, the Shreveport Regional Arts Council, and the State of Louisiana. The festival is sponsored by C&H Precision Machining, City Bank, Cleco, Evans Family, LLC, Exchange Bank, the Family Doctors of Natchitoches, the Harrington Law Firm, Natchitoches Wood Preserving Company and Young Estate, LLC.
Nitz was an ideal colleague, and a great broadcaster
Column by JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports
In the picture on the cover of the biography of Dave Nitz, a book released earlier this year, you see the legendary Louisiana Tech broadcaster very much in his element. Courtside at a basketball game, somewhat outdated headset covering both ears with his eyes keenly watching action that he will immediately translate to the listening audience.
In that picture, I may be one of two people on Earth who notice the guy sitting to Nitz’s right.
Me.
At first, it was kind of a cool look back at a moment in time, but with Dave’s passing earlier this week, that cover picture took on a special meaning to me.
If I had to guess, I’d say that picture was taken at Blackham Coliseum on the campus on the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now UL-Lafayette) in December, 1980. (I can tell by my questionable senior-in-college wardrobe.)
But if the scene wasn’t at Blackham Coliseum for a basketball game, it was in Beaumont, Texas, for a Southland Conference baseball tournament game. Or a few weeks later at Disch-Falk Field at the University of Texas for an NCAA Regional.
A few years later, it might as well have been for a Shreveport Captains playoff game in Wichita. Or San Antonio. Or Jackson.
Dave always had that “come sit by me” approachability when he was broadcasting. As a kid just getting in the sports journalism world, Nitz was always a safe place to land. You think Brent Musburger would have offered up a chair?
But that was Dave. By now, you’ve probably read quite a few tributes and by more than a few who have talked about how Nitz would offer up the second microphone to just about anybody. (Even me, though on that night in Austin he was aghast when I commented that the last time I had been at the University of Texas “some guy climbed up in the tower and starting shooting people.” He reminded of me of that for 40 years.)
Of course, I never let him forget about the night at a bowling alley in Mt. Pleasant, Mich., when Nitz might have been a little overserved and insisted that Vernor’s ginger ale was the best beverage ever and insisted that I try one. (Tasted like lighter fluid.)
Hundreds of stories from hundreds of people in hundreds of places. Nitz was always a packed suitcase and heavy bag of radio equipment away from his next adventure.
Still, after all of those games in my college years and early days as a sportswriter, Nitz had an even bigger impact on my professional life. And it happened basically on a whim.
But it didn’t exactly go as planned.
For almost 33 years, I’ve had a side hustle radio career that I owe mainly to Dave Nitz leaving me standing by the side of the radio road. In 1992, the idea was brought up by a mutual friend in the radio business to do a local sports talk show that would be hosted by Nitz (veteran, respected radio professional) and me (hack sportswriter with zero radio experience).
We met one day that summer and plotted out the whole thing. These types of shows were popping up all over the country, so it was worth a shot. And since I had a radio pro as a co-host, I figured it was be easy to ease into the business.
Only one problem – for various reasons, Dave had to back out.
As was said often in the movie Airplane as the plane was going down, “Good luck, we’re all counting on you.”
Decades later, SportsTalk been as much fun as a second job could possibly be, but without Dave being the original linchpin to the whole idea, it would have never happened.
But it wasn’t as if Dave never recovered from it.
Here is the understatement of the year: Louisiana Tech was fortunate to have Dave Nitz. And I’m not sure everyone in the Tech community appreciated that. Nitz was as good as anybody in the business. He was a pro’s pro and what made him even better was his versatility. Though he loved baseball most of all, he was at the top of his game in any sport he covered.
Name any major university you want; Dave Nitz was every bit as good any whoever they put on the air to call their play-by-play. And he did it for 50 years.
There’s no way someone as good as Nitz should have stayed in Ruston without moving on to a better opportunity. But he did.
Time, however, is undefeated with a 0.00 ERA and moved Nitz slowly into retirement, First it was football and eventually it was baseball, with the finale coming when signed off after Tech’s appearance in the 2024 baseball regionals at Arkansas.
Ever the pro, he gave a few quick words of thanks – not a hint of his voice cracking – and ended it like he always did.
“So long everybody.”
Thirteen months later, those words are even more appropriate.
Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com
Glieberman savors two years when Shreveport was Canadian territory
By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports
You might think 30 years would erase a lot of memories, both good and bad. But not for Lonie Glieberman, who endured plenty of both as part of the ownership group that brought the Canadian Football League’s Shreveport Pirates to town in the 1990s.
“It doesn’t quite hit you until you say it out loud,” Glieberman says. “Wow … 30 years.”
He’s 57 now, but still has the youthful enthusiasm he displayed as the face of the front office during the team’s time here. And if you think Glieberman wants to erase the memories of the two CFL seasons in Shreveport, think again.
He can still rattle off the names of players and games and events as if they happened only a few weeks ago instead of a few decades. Close your eyes and you still here that voice of eternal optimism.
“It’s still a huge regret that it didn’t work,” Glieberman says.
These days, you can find Glieberman about as far away from Shreveport as you can get. He operates Mount Bohemia Ski Resort on the very northern tip of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
“It’s very remote and little population here,” Glieberman says. “It was a completely different world than the Pirates, but you’re still selling. It’s ski tickets instead of football tickets.”
The Pirates arrived in 1994; they left in 1995. It may not have been long, but plenty happened during those two years.
Tumultuous would probably be the best word to describe the birth of the Pirates in 1994. The organizational structure got flipped upside down basically before it even got off the ground. The head coach was fired before the first game. Front office personnel came and went.
All of that while many in Shreveport cast a wary eye as to why the Gliebermans (father Bernie and son Lonie), who were Michigan natives and had previously owned a team in Ottawa, would want to come to Shreveport, of all places, as the CFL expanded into the United States.
It didn’t help that the first season opened with loss after loss after loss. Fourteen of them, to be exact. The starting quarterback was 1 for 20 for nine yards in the opening game and then the position became a revolving door after that. The biggest off-season acquisition, All-CFL linebacker Elfrid Payton, was cut after a few games. (Payton would go on to be elected to the CFL Hall of Fame.)
“Yeah, there were a lot of things I would have done differently,” Lonie Glieberman says.
And he knows exactly what would be No. 1 on the list. “We tried to hire Forrest Gregg as head coach originally but he turned us down,” Glieberman says. “The biggest regret is not hiring Forrest to be the general manager and head coach from the start. If we had him at the very beginning, I think things would have been a lot different.”
Gregg, an NFL Hall of Fame player, was a head coach in a Super Bowl with Cincinnati and also was the coach when SMU resurrected its football program after being given the death penalty in the 1980s by the NCAA.
But as bad as the 1994 season started, it did give Glieberman his favorite memory.
“Beating Ottawa that last home game of the ’94 season when we had 31,000 people in the stands is my favorite memory,” he says. “To me, that’s when I thought it was really going to work. We had won three of the last four games.”
That momentum, however, didn’t last. Billy Joe Tolliver, who would go on to be a longtime Shreveport resident, was brought in to play quarterback, but the team finished 5-13. By the end of the season, the handwriting was on the wall.
“I think if we had played in ’96 we would have been pretty good,” Glieberman, still the eternal optimist, says. “We were building a team. Billy Joe improved a lot in the second half of the year and I think he would have been a very good CFL quarterback.”
Years later, Glieberman still looks back at what could have been by modeling another franchise. Shreveport was the smallest market in the CFL and the second-smallest was Saskatchewan.
“Saskatchewan has ended up being the most profitable team in the CFL,” he says. “That was the model we were following. Shreveport is a lot like Saskatchewan – civic pride, our team, our city – and was going to be the Saskatchewan of the South. That model did prove to work and I believe it could have worked in Shreveport,”
In 2005, the Glibermans got involved again with the Ottawa franchise. “I’d show the staff in Ottawa how we had 11,000 season ticket holders in Shreveport,” Glieberman says. “And at that time, Ottawa had about 11,000 season ticket holders. The lesson learned was patience. We never gave it time to develop in the United States. We thought we’d open up and we’d be busy.”
He points to the business plan Major League Soccer has used. “Major League Soccer drew worse in first 10 years than CFL expansion did in its first three years,” he says. “The difference is that Major League Soccer had a long-term strategy of sustained sizable losses for quite a while with the idea that it was going to turn around. And, of course, it did. The CFL just didn’t plan for the size of losses that the American teams had.”
Maybe it’s because it’s only a few miles across Lake Superior from Canada, but Glieberman says his experience in Shreveport has played a vital role in his new venture.
“We built the ski resort from scratch just like we built the football team from scratch,” Glieberman says. “Some of the things I learned in Shreveport were valuable lessons to apply to the ski resort. In 1998, I started researching a proposed ski resort in the northern part of Michigan. It had always planned to be built but was too far from the major markets to be a normal ski report. But I looked at it as a niche player that focused on advanced and expert skiing and snowboarding. But it took 10 years to break even and get to the right spot. The lesson I learned in Shreveport that was helpful was that we just didn’t give it time. And I regret that. This time, I gave it time to develop and it got stronger and in the last few years it has rapidly grown. We have a very strong cult following from advanced skiers and snowboarders in the United States.”
Bernie Glieberman passed away in August. “We talked every day, up until the last day,” Lonie says. “He had a huge influence on me. Obviously, he wished Shreveport had turned out differently. There just was this lack of patience. In fairness to my dad, it’s hard to be patient when you are losing $4 million a year.”
The passing of 30 years has not allowed Lonie Glieberman to forget about the two he spent in Shreveport.
Failure? Maybe. But the second-best professional football league in the world played in Shreveport for two years. Thirty years later, that’s still pretty remarkable.
“Regardless of the ski resort, the biggest thing in my life I’ve ever done is helping get the Pirates going,” Glieberman says. “There was a strong following in Shreveport. People cared about the team. Yeah, there were a bunch of mistakes, but to build that team in six months … I’m so glad I was a part of that.
Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com
Relationships, gratitude at heart of Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025
By JONATHON ZENK, Written for the LSWA
NATCHITOCHES — During Thursday afternoon’s introductory press conference for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025, a couple sentiments were common threads — gratitude and relationships.
Memories and stories were shared by all the inductees, or those speaking on their behalf, as they reflected on the state where they built a legacy that led them to the honor they will officially receive Saturday night during the induction ceremony televised live on Louisiana Public Broadcasting.
Today the scene shifts to Alexandria’s Four Seasons Bowling Center for the Mardi Gras Bowling Bash then returns to Natchitoches where the evening offers the free Rockin’ RiverFest concert from 6-10:30 on the downtown Cane River Lake stage, including inductee introductions at 9:15 followed by a 10-minute sports-themed fireworks show.
Saturday’s activities begin with the free Junior Training Camp led by the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans marketing staff from 9-11 a.m. at the Webb Wellness Center on the Northwestern State campus.
Two more inductees will join the festivities. LSU and NFL star Andrew Whitworth arrives today after his daughter’s dance recital last night in Los Angeles. His LSU coach, Nick Saban, has been filming AFLAC commercials in Los Angeles and will arrive Saturday for the induction ceremony. Whitworth and Saban helped lead the Tigers to the 2003 national championship.
Relationships are a major theme during every induction, so it made sense Thursday afternoon that college chums Glenn Guilbeau and Herb Vincent were at the podium early in the chain of inductees.
“I am real proud of my friendship with Herb,” Guilbeau said. “We’ve been able to get along, dating back to when we were both at LSU at the same time.
“It was great to follow Herb’s career from the New Orleans Breakers in the USFL to the SEC. He’s been a great friend to have.”
Guilbeau, a two-time Louisiana Sportswriter of the Year, will receive the LSWA’s Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism.
LSHOF Foundation President & CEO Ronnie Rantz, who pitched for LSU’s first two College World Series champions in 1991 and 1993, recounted a joke played on Guilbeau, who was working at the Alexandria Daily Town Talk when hometown hero Rantz played for the Tigers.
Rantz was pitching well but Vincent exaggerated when he called Guilbeau in Alexandria claiming Rantz had a no-hitter going late in a midweek game. Guilbeau quickly hung up, called the paper’s editors and told them be ready for a big story — before Vincent called back moments later saying while Rantz had a good outing going, it was not a no-hitter.
“Glenn hung up the phone before we could tell him it was a joke,” Vincent said. “We tried to figure out how to call him back to tell him to stop and wondered how long do we let this go? Finally, we called him back and told him the truth.
“That was when we realized Glenn would believe anything if he took the bait that Ronnie was throwing a no-hitter at an LSU baseball game.”
Vincent, now in his 12th year as an associate commissioner of the SEC, will receive the Dave Dixon Louisiana Sports Leadership Award.
While those two had a relationship in the workplace, other inductees didn’t have to look so far for their big relationships.
In 1990, Rags Scheuermann was inducted into the LSHOF as a legendary Delgado Community College baseball coach.
After 35 years, Rags will be joined by his son, Joe. They become the fourth father-son combination in the Hall.
The younger Scheuermann has won a state-record 1,207 games as the Delgado CC baseball coach and has led the Dolphins to five JUCO World Series appearances.
“It is special being a father-son duo in the LSHOF,” he said. “You grow up and you have idols — my dad was my idol. I just wish he was here. You follow somebody and you try to emulate him. I remember sitting on his lap in the dugout. The fact that we’re in it together is special.”
While Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson and Napheesa Collier dominate the present-day WNBA, former Louisiana Tech star Vickie Johnson walked so the current trio could run. The Coushatta native, currently an assistant coach with the Atlanta Dream, played in the WNBA’s inaugural season.
“The WNBA started in 1997, and I was one of the original 32 players in the league and I was placed in New York with some amazing players, Teresa Weatherspoon, Rebecca Lobo …. We didn’t make a whole lot of money, but it wasn’t about that. It was about the next generation and now you see the league’s growth with Clark and Angel Reese.”
Johnson was a two-time All-American for the Lady Techsters before playing 13 seasons in the WNBA. In her 13 seasons, she averaged 10.4 points, set the WNBA record for minutes played in a career, and made a pair of WNBA All-Star teams.
A replay of the 2025 Induction Press Conference can be found at youtube.com/@LouisianaSportsHallofFame.
City of Shreveport announces holiday garbage schedule
Due to the Independence Day holiday next Friday, July 4, there will be changes in the garbage collection schedule next week as follows.
Monday June 30 – No Changes: Monday’s garbage will be collected.
Tuesday July 1 – No Changes: Tuesday’s garbage will be collected.
Wednesday July 2 – Thursday’s garbage will be collected.
Thursday July 3 – Friday’s garbage will be collected.
Friday July 4 Holiday: No garbage will be collected.
City offices will be closed on July 4.