On behalf of the Management and Staff of Heavenly Gates Funeral Home, in conjunction with the Burks Family, we announce the celebration of life honoring Mr. Autry J. Burks.

Mr. Burks will lie in state for visitation on Friday, November 14, 2025, between the hours of 11:00 am. – 7:00 p.m., at Heavenly Gates Funeral Home in Shreveport, Louisiana. The celebration of life will commence on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at 11:00 am, in the sanctuary of Jerusalem Baptist Church, Koran, Louisiana.

Mr. Burks will rest in the gardens of Burns Cemetery, Haughton, Louisiana.

Most days passed with an alarming sameness.

Spelling class, reading, math.

Recess. History.

Lunch.

English. A science experiment.

Homework.

Over and over.

But now and then, something glorious would happen, something to make those long elementary school days all seem worthwhile. Because every now and then, some kid would throw up.

We’d talk about it for weeks.

Don’t say you don’t remember. Don’t act as if you’re above it, above remembering one of the most basic experiences of childhood. You might forget the class motto or the words to your alma mater, but it’s difficult to forget the day the guy who sat in front of you threw up on his Keds.

These are the ties that bind.

When it happened at our school, the janitor — ours was one of the kindest men ever to walk on Earth — would amble in with a sack and start sprinkling stuff on the, well, he’d start sprinkling stuff on the pile. We watched this from a distance: there was an imaginary 6-to-8-foot circle drawn around the offending pile, and only our janitor, willing and intrepid, could — or would — enter it.

But here’s my question: What was that stuff he sprinkled? It looked like some kind of thick sawdust to me. Possibly pine shavings. All I know is that

I’ve never seen this product anywhere else. If someone throws up in the rec hall at church camp or even in a hospital, mops and buckets and towels appear.

But no sawdust stuff.

This is evidently a product sold only to and used only by elementary schools. I don’t think there was even a brand name on the bag. The product was wrapped in mystery and remains that way, an unsolved puzzle from elementary school, something you never learn the answer to.

Like pi.

After the ceremonial sprinkling, The Big String Mop for hazardous waste spills such as these would make an appearance along with its faithful sidekick, The Big Rolling Bucket with the vise-like apparatus on it that would squeeze out the mop when you pressed its handle.

I always wondered where they dumped that mop water. In another county, I prayed.

Eventually, the damp spot “where it happened” would dry and some degree of order would be restored. Couldn’t do anything about the smell, though. It lingered, a haunting reminder, an olfactory calling card that would not die until it got good and ready. Two weeks was the minimum, whether they brought in The Big Fan from the auditorium or not. Trying to blow the smell away was like trying to blow an incoming wave back into the ocean.

Like the smell, word spread quickly from classroom to classroom.

“Somebody threw up?” This was always asked not with worry but with anticipation. It was followed by other standards:

“Who?”

“Where?”

“Did they get to go home?”

“Did it GET on anybody?”

And a personal favorite: “What WAS it?”

I admit it’s sad that some of us find an almost silly moment of glee in remembering moments like this from our misspent grade school educations. No everyone has this genetic flaw. So if this story has offended you, please forgive me; you might try sprinkling a little sawdust on it.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

Schools across Caddo Parish came together Monday to honor the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Campuses hosted a variety of Veterans Day events, including student-led assemblies, musical performances, flag ceremonies, and visits from special guests.

Each program provided students the opportunity to learn about the meaning of Veterans Day and express their gratitude to local veterans. From heartfelt messages to displays of patriotic pride, students and staff demonstrated deep appreciation for those who have sacrificed to protect the nation’s freedoms.

Caddo Parish Public Schools officials shared that additional tributes will continue throughout the week as more campuses host their own ceremonies and classroom activities to honor veterans.

District leaders expressed pride in the efforts of students, teachers, and administrators who made the observances possible, noting that the programs helped connect students to the values of service, respect, and remembrance.

Caddo Parish Public Schools extended a collective message of thanks to all veterans for their service and to those currently serving for their continued dedication to the nation.

The Bossier Parish Pre-Educator Club hosted the Mock Educators Rising Competition at BPSTIL, giving future teachers the opportunity to showcase their skills and prepare for upcoming state contests.

Following the event, students visited WT Lewis Elementary to teach special lessons in honor of Veterans Day.

Throughout the day, students demonstrated professionalism, creativity, and a strong commitment to education and community service. Many also participated in Veterans Day events earlier in the day, serving, speaking, and performing at local ceremonies before attending the competition.

The event featured multiple competition categories, including Creative Lecture, EdRising Moment, Interactive Bulletin Board, and Public Speaking, all judged by local educators and education professionals. Judges included representatives from Centenary College, LSU Shreveport, BPCC, and the Louisiana Department of Education.

Organizers expressed appreciation to the competition judges, BPSTIL administrators, WT Lewis Elementary staff, and the parents and teacher leaders who supported the event.

Dr. Tracey Burrell and Coach Reggie Digilormoe said they were proud of the students’ dedication and enthusiasm, noting that the future of education in Bossier Parish looks bright.

The Caddo Parish Commission and the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana are partnering up to hold a food distribution event Saturday, Nov. 22.

Food will be distributed on a first come, first served basis while supplies last. One box per family, per vehicle will be distributed.

There will be multiple places to pick up food at 9 and 10:30 a.m.

LOCATIONS & TIMES

9 a.m.
•Galilee Baptist Church, 1500 Pierre Ave., Shreveport
•Midway Elementary Development, 3840 Greenwood Rd., Shreveport
•Greenwood Acres Full Gospel Church, 7480 Greenwood Rd., Shreveport
•Lake Bethlehem Baptist Church, 2842 MLK Dr., Shreveport
•Caddo Fire District #4, 8240 Colquitt Rd., Keithville

10:30 a.m.
•Sunrise Baptist Church, 3220 Lakeshore Dr., Shreveport
•Woodlawn Leadership Academy, 7340 Wyngate Blvd., Shreveport
•Broadmoor Presbyterian Church, 1915 Grover Pl., Shreveport
•Southern Hills Community Center, 1002 W Bert Kouns Industrial Loop, Shreveport
•Vivian Methodist Church, 223 West Louisiana, Vivian

NATCHITOCHES — Behind-the-scenes stories recounting the filming of the 1989 box office hit movie “Steel Magnolias,” shot on location in Natchitoches, will be shared Thursday evening at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum at 800 Front Street in Louisiana’s oldest city.

“Steel Magnolias Memories with Tom Whitehead and Friends” from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Natchitoches museum (800 Front Street) includes a reception and panel discussion about 6:45 with audience participation, sharing memories of the beloved classic film with a star-studded cast.

Whitehead, a now-retired journalism professor at Northwestern State University, was the second local person hired by the production company, assisting in logistics and hosting the stars in the cast throughout their stays in Natchitoches.

He will be joined on the panel by other locals who were involved in the production – Bill Brent, Sandra Dickens, Ed Ward – and Shreveport entertainment writer Maggie Martin. 

Tickets at the door are $20 for the public, $10 for NSU students, and free for FLASH members. Enjoy complimentary refreshments during the event.

The event is a fundraiser for FLASH, Friends of Louisiana Sports and History, the local support group for the museum, which is part of the Louisiana State Museum system.

Written by Natchitoches native Robert Harling Jr. and immediately a smash hit on Broadway, “Steel Magnolias”  was adapted for the screen just two years later and featured the breakout performance by future Academy Award-winning actress Julia Roberts, alongside Oscar winners Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine and Olympia Dukakis, superstar entertainer and actress Dolly Parton, and Daryl Hannah, with acclaimed actors Tom Skerritt and Dylan McDermott in key supporting roles.

The comedy/drama continues to resonate four decades later, inspiring thousands of stage adaptations around the world and a 2012 Lifetime Network movie remake, and is treasured for its themes of friendship and reliance and its portrayal of Southern small-town charm.

Harling wrote about the life and 1985 passing of his sister, Susan Harling Robinson, a young mother who died from complications with diabetes. 

After he persuaded TriStar Pictures executives to shoot the movie in Natchitoches, the production was a seminal event for the community, with many locals working behind the scenes and appearing as extras or even with small speaking parts in the film. Its release and reception sparked a stream of visitors to Natchitoches to see the film’s location and soak in the ambiance of the city, a phenomenon that continues today.

For more information or to join FLASH, call the museum at 318-357-2492. It is open to the public Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. with modest admission prices topping out at $6.

Beautiful Homesite – This place is less than 2 miles from I-49, so it has easy access to everywhere, without having to pay those high in-town property prices. There are no utilities on site, and this property will require some clearing, a septic system and a water well. BUT there are no restrictions, you can build a house, barndo, install a manufactured home the possibilities are endless.

Price: $29,000.00
Location/Address: Atlanta Mira Rd, Rodessa, LA 71069 (North Caddo Parish)

Property Size: 2.4 Acres
Parcel Number:  TBD
Residential Vegetation: Pine
Zoning Description: None

Owner/Contact:
Contact: Van Ferguson
Phone: 318-773-2344
eMail: vanferguson@att.net

Diamond Realty & Associates
315 E Texas St,
Bossier City, LA 71111

Beautiful Homesite – This place is less than 2 miles from I-49, so it has easy access to everywhere, without having to pay those high in-town property prices. There are no utilities on site, and this property will require some clearing, a septic system and a water well. BUT there are no restrictions, you can build a house, barndo, install a manufactured home the possibilities are endless.

Lot #1 Price: 169,900.00
Lot #3 Price: $95,000.00
Location/Address: Persley Rd, Stonewall, LA 71078 (DeSoto Parish)

Lot #1 Property Size: 7.17 Acres
Lot #3 Property Size: 4.05 Acres
Parcel Number:  02001666450
Zoning Description: Residential

Owner/Contact:
Contact: Hayli Cagle
Phone: 318-210-6939
eMail: haylicagle@kw.com

Keller Williams Realty Northwest Louisiana
795 Brook Hollow Dr
Shreveport, LA 71105

FOR SALE BY OWNER

This is a 40 acre tract in Bossier Parish, on the boarder of Webster Parish, and in the Haughton School District. This property has legal access from Goodwill Road. It is a 10 minute drive to Haughton Middle School and a 12 minute drive to Haughton High School.

Price: $270,000.00
Location/Address: 1148 Goodwill Rd, Haughton, LA 71037/Bossier Parish, Louisiana

Financing (Y/N): Y – Owner Financing available.

Property Size: 40 Acres
Parcel Number:  113432
Zoning Description: Agricultural, Timberland

Owner/Contact:
Contact: Ben Bethard
Phone: 318-215-5441
eMail: ben@parishone.com

El El SI, LLC
1923 Southern Loop, Suite V
Shreveport, LA 71106

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

RUSTON – The Brian Kelly  vs. LSU legal battle is higher stakes, but the lawsuit Conference USA has filed attacking Louisiana Tech could have million-dollar implications.

CUSA has filed a public records suit against the University of Louisiana System, the governing agency for Louisiana Tech, Daniel Libit of Sportico.com reported Tuesday. The move accuses Tech of withholding documents on its 2026 exit to join the Sun Belt Conference, in an effort to collect its annual share of revenue from CUSA.

CUSA’s suit claims deception by Tech to shroud documents that “would undercut the school’s claim to its latest multi-million dollar annual distribution” – believed to be in the range of $5.2 million — received from the conference on June 27.

Tech formally served notice on July 14 it was leaving to join the Sun Belt – a move that was widely speculated and reported over the past six weeks. The officlal Sun Belt invitation was stalled while SBC member Texas State got in position to accept an invitation to join the Pac 12, which finally happened at the end of June.

Some Sun Belt member schools, particularly those in the eastern time zone, were reluctant to invite Tech, and conference leaders needed time before convincing the remaining SBC members that the Ruston institution was the best replacement. But CUSA’s suit claims Tech was poised to leave weeks earlier.

“The fact that Louisiana Tech apparently delayed its notice to CUSA of its intention to leave the conference until July 14, 2025, even though it had already decided to leave sometime before May 27, 2025, resulted in Louisiana Tech improperly receiving a distribution from CUSA as a full member on June 27, 2025,” asserts the CUSA lawsuit.

CUSA’s suit says the notification violated league bylaws that require member to officially state its intention to depart at least 14 months in advance – which CUSA claims would have forced Tech to forfeit the annual distribution of conference revenues based on another bylaw that prohibits departing members from getting a share for two years after they’ve signaled intent to leave.

The suit says Tech wanted to “have its cake and eat it too” and cites a May 27 letter from the university’s president, Jim Henderson, to the ULS board, addressing the interest in the Sun Belt.

CUSA filed a public records request related to Tech’s departure last month and the gloves came off when it officially sued ULS on Nov. 5.

The university released a statement barking back at CUSA.

“We have provided full transparency to CUSA throughout our exit negotiations in written and verbal communications with conference leadership. We fully complied with the public records request.

“The conference movements during the first half of July played out publicly. CUSA seems to be clinging to specious conspiracy theories of their own making. CUSA could have easily made an additional request for clarification instead of wasting the court’s time and its members’ resources.

“We look forward to continuing our negotiations, as this conference move will greatly improve the health and well-being of our student-athletes, a priority dear to everyone trusted to lead in this ever-changing environment of college athletics,” said Tech’s statement made Tuesday.

A Nov. 19 show-cause hearing is scheduled in Louisiana state court.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

JOURNAL SPORTS

The season is done for 10 of our 19 local high school football teams after 10 weeks. The remaining nine enter the LHSAA’s postseason tournaments, four divisions in both Select and Non-Select competition.

Each team has its own story, and there are subplots in every instance.

As coaches take stock of their teams’ regular-season performance, the Shreveport-Bossier Journal Coaches Roundtable question this week was pretty basic: what is the biggest surprise, the most rewarding development or event your team has provided?

DENNY DURON, Evangel – “The most pleasant surprise for me this year has been the leadership that is developed within our team. We are not a rah-rah, hyped-up squad. These kids have bought into hardnose assignment-centered football and it has made all the difference.

“I am so proud of the way they are playing.”

COY BROTHERTON, Parkway – “Faculty members’ kids contributing to big wins.  As a former coach’s kid and brother, I know the pressure you feel sometimes and to see our biggest two wins come on the hands of two Parkway coaches kids is awesome. 

“Peyton Rayner had the fourth-down stop to beat Airline.  His dad is a longtime assistant coach and current assistant principal. 

“We won the Shreve game on a walk-off field goal by Thad Smith, whose mom teaches algebra and coaches cross country.  That’s the biggest surprise and most rewarding part of the season.” 

AUSTIN BROWN, Northwood – “There really haven’t been many surprises. They have been a good group to coach and the seniors have taken ownership of the team. They have really done a good job of leading and as a result, we’ve made progress from day one to now and we’ve had a very good season.”

JOHN SELLA, Loyola – “I’ve been so impressed by our offensive line this year — Ryan Sipes, Johnny Roberts, Ian Wallace, Cade Kirby, and Bennett Lawson.

“None of them were starters on the offensive line for us last year and to be able to mesh so well and be that good up front with five new starters is pretty dang good.”

JUSTIN SCOGIN, Airline – “A few people come to mind when you think about this one, but the Moore brothers to me are a great fit.

“Max, who we moved from O-line to D-line in the spring, has really came into his own at noseguard. His brother Matt started out on offense and had a lot of success before having to be moved to linebacker late in the season.

“Both are great kids that never question what you do —  they just get after it. They’ve had plenty of opportunities to feel slighted, but they’re such good teammates. They do whatever they can to help the team.” 

JEREMY WILBURN, Captain Shreve – “There’s been a collective maturity, accepting ownership of every aspect of what we’re doing, and that’s a significant improvement since last season. When we have things to address, off tape or otherwise, the players correct it. When that begins happening, that’s when the program is heading in the right direction.

‘We’ve had some situations in games when kids have gotten frustrated, and you can hear the players addressing it before the coaches have a chance to get involved. Often it’s been some of our younger guys showing leadership that way. The seniors have been really good at buy-in, and younger guys have gotten on board much sooner than you might expect.

“The team has a collective grit, the ability to take care of business with enthusiasm. Instead of looking at it as, ‘this is another practice we have to get through,’ they’re looking at it as ‘this is another practice where we have an opportunity to get better.’ I can’t speak to that enough. We’ve plowed through a lot of adversity and shown a lot of resiliency, a lot of toughness, and they’ve taken ownership of all of it. That’s what I am most proud of.”

MATTHEW SEWELL, Haughton – “A pleasant surprise for us was our trio of senior skill players. We had three senior receivers/tight ends (Carter Couvillion, CJ Johns, and Jayden Lackey) that had not played much at the varsity level going into this season.

“We didn’t know what kind of production to expect from them, but really needed one of them to step up and make an impact. Turns out all three of them did. They played their tails off each week, blocked extremely well, and combined for 32 receptions for 510 yards and 6 touchdowns.”

“They were all a big part of our success on offense, and all three are great representatives of our program.”

STEPHEN DENNIS, Benton – “Probably the development of our defensive line. We came into the year with a lot of guys that had not played very many varsity snaps, and we ended the year with a two-man rotation at most spots along the D-line that will all be back next year!!

“I am very excited about the future of that position group.” 

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

Forget ebbs and flows. Captain Shreve’s football team has experienced the extremes this season, and as the Gators prepare for their playoff visit to Hammond Friday night, they’ve regained their mojo.

That dance away from the brink of total collapse has earned Captain Shreve the Shreveport-Bossier Journal Team of the Week nod.

A month ago, Shreve seemed to be peaking, coming into a visit to Evangel on a four-game win streak in District 1-5A, leaving the Gators level with the Eagles and Parkway’s Panthers, unbeaten in league play.

But a spate of injuries, mostly on defense, weighed heavily as Jeremy Wilburn’s team hit the toughest stretch of the schedule – Evangel, followed by perennial state power Destrehan in a non-district game, with unbeaten Parkway next up.

Evangel blew out Shreve, 71-25. Destrehan rolled at Lee Hedges Stadium, 68-28. Parkway scored on its first two tries to make it 22 consecutive possessions that had been scoring drives against the Gators. The boys in green and gold were on very shaky ground.

Then Shreve’s defense got a stop. Later, another. And another.

“You don’t get to pick your trajectory. You’ve got to take your lumps and grow from there,” said Wilburn, the Gators’ second-year coach. “It doesn’t matter what line of work you’re in, or what sport you’re playing, you’ve got to learn from your mistakes, work with your colleagues or teammates, and become better as a unit, and as individuals.”

The Gators growled. They climbed out of a 15-point fourth-quarter hole and tied the Panthers with four minutes to go. Parkway prevailed on a methodical, but hard-earned, game-closing drive to a last-play field goal for a 45-42 escape.

But it was something of a triumph for Wilburn’s squad.

“Right in the middle of our toughest stretch in the schedule, all of a sudden because of injuries, we had a lot of pups playing. We had 4-5 sophomores on defense playing 90 percent of the snaps at Parkway, and should have walked out of there with a win if we could have executed better on extra points,” he said. “It was a really proud moment for me to see the leaders step up, on the coaching side and the kids buying in to what they were being coached to do.”

Shreve has won its last two, 65-44 over Haughton and 35-27 last Thursday over arch-rival Byrd. The Gators defense slowed down the Yellow Jackets’ running game like no other 1-5A team had in a 35-27 Week 10 victory.

With Jamarcea Plater, Shawn Devers, Gabe Lockett and Kendrick Law fueling the Gators’ offense, led by a rapidly-developing Jackson Gaskin at quarterback, putting up points is Shreve’s forte. Now that the defense has some backbone, the Gators (6-4) are back in gear at playoff time.

Injuries forced a youth movement on defense. Sophomores Zhayden Sessions, Tmon Lemons (linebackers), Derayl Veal and Elijah Turner up front, and Braylon Pickens in the secondary have answered the bell, along with senior defensive back Andrew Sharp.

“They didn’t flinch,” Wilburn said. “Beginning in that Parkway game, in the last three weeks, we’ve developed momentum. There’s nothing like finding out that under the lights on Fridays, good things happen and you realize you can do this job. You believe in what you’re getting told and you’re carrying what you learn from practice reps and from film, and it’s a special moment. You can see the confidence in the eyes of those young kids.”

Offensively, Gaskin’s development has been shockingly good. He wasn’t on the team when preseason began, having stepped away after his freshman season to focus on baseball. But when Shreve suddenly needed a starting QB, he took on the challenge.

“This is a quarterback league, as good as any district in the state in that regard, and he’s really raised his level of play consistently week to week. For not having played football for a few years, to step out there and perform at his level  is remarkable,” said Wilburn.

“He’s a super smart kid, an elite competitor, a guy who loves to work at things. He’s seeing things on tape and in meetings and asking higher-level questions and making suggestions that are very, very insightful.”

An early injury benched big senior offensive tackle Donovan Jones. His younger brother, sophomore Dylan Jones, stepped in.

“He is a special talent who has a great football IQ,” said Wilburn. “He’s asking questions that I’d hear seniors ask when I was coaching college ball. He’s 15, has two years of high school left, and he’s a massive (6-4, 332) kid who has been an absolutely bulldog in the box this year.”

Andre Campbell has played every spot from left to right tackle. The senior “makes all the calls and has been our Mr. Consistent who keeps the O-line together,” said Wilburn.

Two more seniors, Brayden McDuffey and Rashaun Morrison, have shined up front. Showing they belong have been a couple of sophomores: Jeremiah Jordan and Ro-Treyvion Swan. Freshman Tyrone Proby started at center last week.

Despite being tantalized by the long-term potential, Wilburn is most pleased with how his Gators have pulled it back together instead of folding.

“That’s something that we can all take pride in,” he said.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

By PATRICK MEEHAN, Centenary Sports Information Director

This weekend closes the 2025 football season, the second this century for Centenary, just after the Gents basketball team tips off its home schedule at the Gold Dome under first-year coach J.A. Anglin on Friday night.

MEN’S BASKETBALL: The Gents were edged 78-77 by Pfeiffer University last Saturday afternoon in a non-conference contest as part of the Viking Tip-Off Classic inside the Cage Center in Rome, Ga.

Centenary (0-2) fell 77-55 to the Berry College Vikings on Friday night in the season opener for both teams.

Centenary will open its home schedule this Friday night against East Texas Baptist at 7 in the Gold Dome. 

FOOTBALL: With the conclusion of last Saturday’s games, the matchups for the inaugural Southern Collegiate Athletic Association Football Championship weekend have been set and Centenary kicks off the action at 10 a.m. this Saturday.All six of the conference’s football-playing members will assemble in Little Rock at historic War Memorial Stadium to determine the league’s final order of finish, including the 2025 conference championship.

Because Austin College, Centenary and Lyon all finished 1-4 in league play, tiebreakers were needed to determine the lower three seeds. The first seed tiebreaker that provided any differentiation was overall losses and Centenary had one more (seven) than both Lyon and Austin College (six).

Once two teams were remaining, the league’s tiebreaker reverted to head-to-head results and Lyon (1-4 SCAC; 2-6 overall) earned the No. 4 seeding berth in the third-place game by virtue of its 40-28 victory over Austin College on November 1 in Sherman. Third-seeded Hendrix (3-2 SCAC, 5-4 overall) defeated Lyon, 38-21, on October 25 in a game played in Conway, Arkansas.

Opening SCAC Football Championship Weekend is fifth-seeded Austin College (2-6 overall) taking on the No. 6 Gents. (1-7 overall). The ‘Roos picked up their first conference win of the season a week ago at Atkins Field in their comeback 20-10 victory over the Gents.

Capping Saturday’s tripleheader will be top-seeded Texas Lutheran (5-0 SCAC; 6-3 overall) against second-seeded McMurry University (4-1 SCAC; 5-4 overall) with the 2025 conference title on the line. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.

The Bulldogs walked away with a 42-13 victory over the War Hawks two Saturdays ago in a game played in Abilene. The two teams were co-champions of the SCAC last season.
Tickets for Saturday’s games can be purchased by clicking here with both general admission and club level seats available. Any general admission ticket purchase will be honored for all three games.

A club level seat purchase guarantees club level access for the game of your choice, plus general admission access for any of the other two games. There is a limit of 150 club seats for each team. Tickets (general admission and club level) will also be available for purchase on site, as will preferred tailgating slots.

VOLLEYBALL: The Ladies lost a pair of matches last Saturday on the final day of their season, as they were swept 3-0 by LeTourneau and fell 3-1 to Rhodes College inside the Gold Dome.

The Ladies finished their season 3-23 overall and 2-14 in Conference play. 

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: The Ladies held a late lead over Jarvis Christian in a non-conference contest on Monday night at home but the Bulldogs rallied to win 59-52 at the Gold Dome. 

The Ladies (0-2) led by seven points (52-45) with 6:34 remaining, but the Bulldogs (1-3) finished the game on a 14-0 run to seal the comeback win. 

Centenary returns to action on Thursday with another non-conference contest against the Mississippi University for Women Owls (0-2) at noon in Columbus, Miss.

Contact Patrick at pmeehan@centenary.edu

We are entering the season of anticipatory waiting. There is lots of movement in this season. We travel. We welcome out-of-town guests. We hurry to the door when Amazon arrives. Soon the Liturgical churches talk about the waiting of Advent. Lowes, Walmart, and Hobby Lobby have gone all Christmas all the time. They have been anticipatory waiting since September! Before you dive head long into your ritual chaos, I wanted you to ponder Sue Monk Kidd’s When the Heart Waits. She wrote:

“One afternoon as the children watched television and I folded laundry; we heard a terrible thud against the patio door. I turned in time to see blue wings falling to the ground. A bird had flown into the glass.

None of us said a word. We looked at one another and crept to the door. The children followed me outside. I half-expected the bird to be dead, but she wasn’t. She was stunned and her right wing was a little lopsided, but it didn’t look broken—bruised, maybe.

The bird sat perfectly still, her eyes tiny and afraid. She looked so fragile and alone that I sat down beside her. I reached out my little finger and brushed her wing.

A voice came from behind me, “Why doesn’t it fly off, Mama?”

“She’s hurt,” I said. “She just needs to be still.”

We watched her. We watched her stillness. Finally, the children wandered back to the television, satisfied that nothing was going to “happen” for a while. But I couldn’t leave her.

I sat beside her, unable to resist the feeling that we shared something, the two of us. The wounds and the brokenness of life. Crumpled wings. A collision with something harsh and real. I felt like crying for her. For myself. For every broken thing in the world.

That moment taught me that while the postures of stillness within the cocoon are frequently an individual experience, we also need to share our stillness. The bird taught me anew that we’re all in this together, what we need is to sit in one another’s stillness and take up corporate postures of prayer. How wonderful it is when we can be honest and free enough to say to one another, “I need you to wait with me,” or “Would you like to me to wait with you?”

I studied the bird, deeply impressed that she seemed to know instinctively that stillness is healing. I had been learning that too, learning that stillness can be the prayer that transforms us. How much more concentrated our stillness becomes, though, when it’s shared.

The door opened again, “Is she finished being still?”

“No, not yet,” I said, knowing that I was talking as much about myself as the bird. We went on waiting together. Twenty minutes. Thirty. Fifty.

Finally, she finished being still. She cocked her head to one side, lifted her wings and flew. The sight of her flying made me catch my breath. From the corner of my eye I saw her shadow move along the ground and cross over me. Grace is everywhere I thought. Then I picked myself up and went back to folding the laundry.”

William David Wilson, a native of Vivian, LA and a resident of Baton Rouge, LA, passed away on Sunday, November 9, 2025, at the age of 90.  He was a proud graduate of Vivian High School where he was 1st chair cornet in the high school band.  After high school, he attended LSU. David went on to serve in the U.S. Army in the Army Signal Corp, where he received medals for good conduct and marksmanship.  He went on to work as an office manager at Pearce Foundry and retired after 38 years. He was a gun collector, lifetime member of the NRA and was an avid reader of crime novels. David served as an usher at his church and trusted Jesus for his salvation. He found joy helping and encouraging his wife, children and friends accomplish their goals.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ellsworth Wilson and Katie Ueckert; and his brother, Glen Wilson.  He is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Sandra Lee Wilson; children, Richard Wilson, Robert Wilson, and Nancy Wilson Blanco and her husband Carlos; and his brother, Raymond Wilson.

Visitation will be held at Resthaven Funeral Home, 11817 Jefferson Hwy. Baton Rouge, LA 70816, on Friday, November 14, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. until Funeral Services at 2:00 p.m. celebrated by Reverend Bob Ainsworth. Interment will follow at Resthaven Gardens of Memory.

The family would like to give special thanks to The Carpenter House for giving dad comfort, dignity, and respect in his final hours.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, a cause David was passionate about.

Family and friends may sign the online guestbook or leave a personal note to the family at www.resthavenbatonrouge.com.

A service celebrating the life of Mr. Jessie Gray will be held on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. at the Colquitt Baptist Church located at 119 James St, Vivian, Louisiana 71082.

Family Hour will be held on Friday, November 15, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Colquitt Baptist Church.

Mr. Gray will be laid to rest following the service at Colquitt Baptist Church Cemetery located at 16400 Hwy. 71, Hosston, Louisiana 71082.

A service celebrating the life of Mr. Michael Williams will be held on Friday, November 14, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Good Samaritan Funeral Home located at 2200 Laurel Street, Shreveport, Louisiana 71103.

Family Hour will be held on Thursday, November 13, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Good Samaritan Funeral Home.

Mr. Williams will be laid to rest following the service at Carver Memorial Cemetery located at 498 Kennie Road, Shreveport, Louisiana 71106.

For more than six decades, the small island in New York Harbor served as America’s front door. But on November 12, 1954, Ellis Island processed its final immigrant and closed as a federal immigration station, marking the end of an era that had defined the American story.

Since its opening in 1892, more than 12 million immigrants — many from southern and eastern Europe — had passed through its gates. For countless families, Ellis Island represented both hope and hardship, offering a chance at new beginnings in the United States.

By the mid-20th century, immigration laws had changed, and air travel replaced ocean liners as the dominant mode of international arrival. Screening and processing were relocated to U.S. embassies abroad, leaving Ellis Island largely obsolete.

Its final detainee, a Norwegian seaman named Arne Peterssen, departed quietly that November day. The closure signaled a new chapter in U.S. immigration policy, one increasingly focused on regulation rather than mass arrival.

Ellis Island later became a museum and national monument, preserving the stories of millions who entered through its halls. For historians and families tracing their ancestry, the site remains a symbol of the nation’s immigrant roots.

The date — November 12 — continues to stand as a milestone in the evolution of American identity. It reminds the country of its promise to those seeking opportunity, and of the ever-changing definition of what it means to become an A

Price: $360,000.00
Location/Address: Long Leaf St. Winnfield, Louisiana (Winn Parish)

Size: 2,201 Sq/Ft
Rooms:  5 Beds and 5 Baths
Type: Single Family Residential

Owner/Contact:
Contact: Tiffany Cheatwood-Syse Realtor
Phone: 318-609-1104
eMail: tsyse@therichmondgrp.com

RE/MAX Real Estate Professionals
926 Washington St.
Natchitoches, LA 71457
Licensed in Louisiana

Website: http://www.tiffanysyserealtor.com