LSU men’s head basketball coach Matt McMahon is a really, really nice guy.
His 13-8 team is currently tied for last in the 16-team SEC at 1-7.
His first team at LSU in 2022-23 finished last in the SEC.
His third team finished next to last.
They also say “Cheaters never win.”
Not necessarily.
McMahon’s Tigers’ predecessor was Will Wade, whose second squad won the 2019 SEC regular season championship.
Four of Wade’s five LSU teams played in the postseason – one NIT, three straight in the NCAA Tournament, discounting the COVID outbreak that cancelled the 2020 tourney. Wade’s 21-10 team that season would have advanced to the Big Dance.
And yes, according to NCAA rules during his tenure, Wade cheated.
He bought players (four currently in the NBA, countless others in the G-League and overseas), which has been legal since July 2021.
LSU terminated him for NCAA violations in March 2022. The university didn’t have to fire him. They used him as a sacrifice to the NCAA to avoid major sanctions for the football program, which had cheated under Les Miles.
They say there are “make-up” calls in basketball. That’s when a referee makes an incorrect foul call against a team and then moments later calls a foul on the other team to make up for the original miscall.
On Wednesday night in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, after LSU fell behind by 28 points late in the first half before losing 80-66 to Mississippi State — which entered the night on a five-game losing streak — it became obvious.
Matt McMahon, a nice guy who finishes last, needs to be fired at the end of this season.
Will Wade, who served his NCAA penalties penance, now in his first season at North Carolina State as head coach after leading McNeese State to two consecutive NCAA tourneys, must be hired by LSU’s revamped administration led by new school president Wade Rousse.
A makeup call? Maybe.
Rousse was hired in November by LSU. He was McNeese’s president for Wade’s last season at the school when the Cowboys went 27-8 and advanced to the NCAA tourney second round, where they beat No. 5 seed Clemson in the first round.
LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry needs to be as aggressive in hiring Wade (who’s 15-6 overall, 6-2 in the ACC) as he was in hiring new head football coach Lane Kiffin away from Ole Miss.
McMahon has already lost more games overall (57-61) and in the SEC (15-47) in four seasons coaching LSU than Wade did his first four of five seasons.
While it is true that McMahon had to sign almost an entire new team immediately after Wade was fired, it was because all of Wade’s players transferred.
They didn’t want to play for McMahon, who came from Murray State. They preferred to play for Wade, the guy who recruited and developed them.
Until this year, McMahon supposedly was crippled by a lack of NIL to buy transfer portal players.
This season, LSU at least looks like a major college team with size, length and athleticism. McMahon was able to buy better talent, but he’s still behind the rest in the SEC.
The Tigers have trailed by double digits almost 70 percent of the time in four of their six SEC losses. In the other two defeats, LSU blew early second half leads (18 at home vs. Kentucky, 8 at Arkansas).
True, McMahon has had some rotten luck with injuries in the last two seasons.
Junior Jalen Reed, a key component of LSU’s front line, sustained season-ending knee injuries last year and this season before the Tigers entered SEC play. Also, starting transfer point guard Dedan Thomas Jr. got hurt in practice shortly before LSU’s league opening loss at Texas A&M and sat out the first five SEC games while mending a foot injury.
Ausberry said in mid-January he’ll evaluate McMahon at the end of the season. But with 10 remaining SEC games, only one or two appear winnable. There’s no miracle waiting in the wings.
Just as LSU’s women’s program had hit rock bottom under Nikki Fargas – losing seasons led to fan apathy and her resignation – before the Tigers’ home run hire of Louisiana native and then-three-time national champion head coach Kim Mulkey in April 2021, the Tigers are at that point in men’s basketball.
These days, when searching for a major college head coach, there are a couple of basic elements.
You hire someone who’s a proven winner. And you hire somebody who has the drive and personality to ignite a fan base enough to inspire an outpouring of booster donations and fatten the transfer portal war chest.
On both counts, that certainly isn’t McMahon. But Wade?
Dating back to his days coaching Virginia Commonwealth before coming to LSU and replacing Johnny Jones in March 2017, Wade has taken his teams to seven of the last eight NCAA Tournaments that have been played.
He was widely liked by the LSU fan base in his previous tenure. His players loved playing for him, and he treated his staff and support staff with kindness.
His only weakness was that he didn’t cheat clandestinely enough like other programs.
LSU has spent so much money paying off former fired football coaches that you wonder if there is anything left in the budget to hire Wade and fire McMahon and his staff.
LSU’s big-money donators, who will have to write an $8.4 million check for the remaining three years on McMahon’s seven-year contract (as well as paying off the coaching staff contracts), reportedly aren’t disgusted enough yet to foot the bill for McMahon’s exit.
They might reach for their checkbooks if LSU wins just a couple more SEC games the remainder of the season.
Wade’s N.C. State contract buyout is $3 million after April 1. That’s basically the cost of a top-notch transfer offensive lineman these days.
And April 1 is April Fool’s Day. It would be delicious irony for Wade to have the last laugh, returning to the school that used him as collateral for probation.
City of Shreveport offices resume normal operations today, Jan. 30, as the city transitions fully into the recovery phase following this week’s winter weather event, Mayor Tom Arceneaux announced during a live update on Jan. 29.
The mayor said city departments have made substantial progress in addressing storm-related impacts, allowing most services to return to normal. Public works crews continue to address isolated neighborhood street issues, while water and sewer teams are responding to a small number of remaining water main breaks.
City employees across multiple departments worked extended hours throughout the storm to maintain essential services and keep residents informed. Arceneaux expressed appreciation for the efforts of city staff, noting that both field crews and communications teams played a key role in the city’s response.
Residents were advised to remain cautious as another round of cold air is expected to move into the area late Friday and Saturday nights, Jan. 30-31. Overnight temperatures are forecast to fall into the low 20s, with wind chills making conditions feel colder. As a precaution, residents are encouraged to drip faucets overnight to reduce the risk of frozen pipes.
While conditions have improved, officials caution that lingering ice remains on some roads, sidewalks, and walking paths, particularly in shaded areas. The ice is slow to melt and poses a continued slip hazard, and residents are urged to use care when walking or traveling.
The mayor said he did not have updated information during the briefing regarding school or court operations. Caddo Parish Public Schools later announced that campuses would remain closed Friday as crews continue addressing safety concerns.
Looking ahead, forecasts indicate warming temperatures and increased sunshine over the weekend and into next week. City officials expect improving conditions to support upcoming community events, including the African American History Parade scheduled for Feb. 7.
City leaders said they will continue to monitor conditions and provide updates as needed, thanking residents for their patience and cooperation throughout the winter weather event.
(Top left) Bienville Parish Deputy Kolby Shiers and Katie Alexander. (Top right) Webster Parish Deputies Anthony Miller and Allen Davis were next to assist Katie Alexander. (Bottom left) Bossier Parish Deputy Casey Bragg provided the final leg in the transport of Katie to the Shreveport hospital. (Bottom right) Hunter and Katie.
By Pat Culverhouse
When Hunter Alexander, a lineman for Entergy, was injured while working during the recent inclement weather, his wife (Katie) and her mother (Susan Williams) were desperate to get from their Bienville Parish residence to his side in a Shreveport hospital.
Roads in Bienville Parish were still treacherous, but the family was determined to make the trip. Bienville Parish Sheriff John Ballance heard of the family’s situation and immediately began making plans to help.
The following is a Facebook post by Mrs. Williams telling how three agencies combined to safely transport the family to the Shreveport hospital.
“When there is a need … God provides a way again .. and again!!!
“All day we have tried to figure out a way for Katie and I to get to Shreveport – so many conflicting reports of road conditions and closures –
“We had decided Eric was going to drive our F250 and Katie and I were going to go in Hunter’s Toyota truck – to say we were stressed and worried is not enough – before we left I stopped in my kitchen and just said “Lord provide a way , give us wisdom and I know you have a perfect plan.. please show me what it is” ..
“Before we got a mile down the road we got word that the Bienville Parish Sheriffs Office would pick Katie and I up and transport us to Webster Parish and hand us over to another deputy, then Webster would hand us over to a Bossier Parish officer who would deliver us straight to LSU!!– what a peace immediately settled over our troubled hearts!
“Eric felt such a calm that he decided to not follow us so he could stay home and try to start working on all the disaster at our farm ( anybody that knows Eric knows he doesn’t trust his girls to many people) ..
“God is showing His mercy and love upon our family in a way that we can never deserve – to everyone reading this your prayers are what is making a difference in our lives! Please don’t stop praying! If you have never surrendered your heart to Jesus you can never imagine the “peace that surpasses all understanding “ ..
The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office announced the availability of a $1,000 college scholarship for a graduating high school senior in Caddo Parish.
The scholarship is offered annually through the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Honorary Membership Program and is designed to help offset the costs associated with higher education. One scholarship is awarded in each parish where the local sheriff participates in the program.
To be eligible, applicants must be permanent residents of Louisiana, plan to enroll as a full-time undergraduate student, and agree to use the scholarship at a Louisiana institution of higher education. Students must also meet admission requirements for the school listed on their application.
Completed applications must be submitted by April 1. Applications may be mailed to the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Media Relations Office at 501 Texas Street, Shreveport, LA 71101, or delivered in person to the Sheriff’s Office at 505 Travis Street, seventh floor. Scholarship recipients will be announced by May 1.
Applications are available online at https://lsa.org/scholarship/ or by contacting the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office at 681-0813.
There are a lot of interesting storylines that go along with this year’s LSU baseball team. Will the Tigers repeat as national champions? How will the pitching staff develop? Who is the next breakout star?
But when it comes to the best story of all you’ll have to go way down the roster to find that.
Numerically, John Shahrdar might be the last guy listed. But his path onto the 2026 Tigers is certainly the most improbable.
It was only a year ago that playing baseball anywhere was the last thing on Shahrdar’s mind. He was just another student at LSU and seemed to be quite happy about it.
Until he wasn’t.
After an outstanding career at Loyola (finishing as the District MVP in 2021), he went to Baton Rouge Community College for two seasons. Like most who go the junior college route, he hoped that would be a springboard to a spot at a Division I team. Which is what happened as he signed on to play at Northwestern State in 2024.
But things didn’t go as he had hoped.
“I just don’t think it was the right spot for me,” Shahrdar says. “I wasn’t giving it my all and I feel like I respect the game too much not to give it everything I had.”
Shahrdar pitched in 11 games, had a 0-1 record and an 11.25 ERA. Not exactly Paul Skenes’ numbers.
He made the decision that if his heart wasn’t in it, there was no sense in playing one more year.
Shahrdar decided to finish his college years at LSU and just be a student. For almost a year, he didn’t even pick up a baseball.
Since you already know how this is going to turn out, let’s take a moment and try to take in what’s about to happen. A regular college student who was out of baseball after a career with some pretty mediocre stats is somehow going to make it onto the roster of the defending national champions.
Really?
Sure, you can try to pull that off. But somewhere along the line, reality is going to dust you inside with some serious chin music.
“About a year ago, I started missing playing baseball,” he says. “But I really didn’t know what to do about it.”
Before Shahrdar could think about getting his arm in shape, he had another body part to check on – his heart. That’s what had betrayed him at Northwestern, and it wasn’t going to do him any good to try to do what it might take if he couldn’t get all his body parts to agree.
He began throwing baseballs with a friend and the itch started to return, so he scratched it. He reached out to some smaller schools.
Nothing.
Even though he didn’t have anything lined up, Shahrdar spent part of the summer at a training facility in Florida. There were changes to his grip, mechanics and pitch repertoire to give him a better chance … if he ever got a chance.
Then came the (first) moment of truth: He sent an email to one of the LSU assistant coaches, just to see about the possibility. Something along the lines of “My name is John Shahrdar and I used to play JUCO baseball and one year of Division 1. I’d like to throw a bullpen for y’all and see what you think.”
You know, the kind of correspondence SEC coaches probably get every time they open their email.
Had he never heard back, it wouldn’t have been a surprise.
For some reason Jamie Tutco, LSU’s Director of Player Development, responded. However, Tutco had a question: “Why do you want to play again?”
“I just told him it was my dream to play for LSU,” Shahrdar said. “And I wanted to achieve that dream.”
He was invited to come throw in a bullpen session in front of some of the Tiger coaches just before fall practice began.
Let’s hope you don’t think that this was some kind of made-for-movie scene where he was offered a position on the spot after a glowing bullpen session. But he did do well enough to warrant another look when fall practice officially began.
Basically, he kept showing up every day because no one told him not to.
Then came the next moment of truth(s) – pitching in a pair of live game scrimmages.
Up until that point, it had all been a neat little journey. But when he stepped on the mound for those two October scrimmages, John Shahrdar knew that was about to get as real as it could get.
“It was nerve-racking for sure,” he says. “I felt like my career was on the line. It was either going to be yes or no from them (the LSU coaches) and the only way to get a yes was to pitch well.”
Literally every time he stepped on the mound, whether in the bullpen or in a scrimmage, it was a make-or-break moment. “I had to be on my A game,” he says. “Every time.”
There was no grand announcement. No team meeting to make an official announcement that he was officially on the team. Shahrdar met with head coach Jay Johnson after the fall. “He was really straightforward,” Shahrdar said. “He never said I was on the team, but he did give me a plan for what to do over the break to get ready for the spring.”
He was told when Media Day was going to be and that there would be a jersey for him to wear for his picture on the website.
“I just got whatever number they gave me,” he says. “I probably wouldn’t have chosen 56, but it doesn’t matter to me. As long as I have one.”
At any point during the last 12 months, the odds could have caught up to John Shahrdar. Time after time, he beat them. Two years ago, he really didn’t want to play baseball anymore.
A year ago, he was just another student on the LSU campus.
The journey to the pitcher’s mound at Alex Box Stadium has been unlike any other. Sure, there are stories about walk-ons all over college baseball.
But not like this one.
“I’ve thought about what it would be like to pitch in a game at Alex Box (Stadium),” he says. “But you have to eliminate all the external factors and just do your job.”
No matter how much he pitches or doesn’t pitch this year, John Shahrdar has made it. He’s proved it to his coaches. He’s proved it to his teammates.
This winter blast has created thousands of hassles, headaches, backaches and even some scary or dangerous situations here and right over there. It’s curtailed sports schedules, especially at the high school level.
Don’t want a team on a bus on dicey roads.
But sometimes the weather develops faster than expected, or totally unexpectedly. That’s when the MVP of your team has a different type uniform. The bus company’s driver uniform.
You might have seen the photo of an LSU bus – fortunately, not with the Tigers basketball team on it – stuck sideways on a mountain hillside near Fayetteville Monday.
Could have been worse, except for the driver.
Guys (and ladies) like J.D., Lenny and his son Nathan, Eric, Rodney, Bill, Barry, Charley, Oris, John, Miss Suzanne. Mike, who you’ll hear from. Tim, who you’ll hear about.
It’s the fairly non-descript group who drive team buses.
Some are task-oriented, and don’t talk while driving. Some are friendly, some are chatterboxes. Most bond in their own way with the coaches, staff and players, especially if they are regular travel partners.
Some are characters. Bill, past Medicare age but still energetic, unwittingly entertained by balancing huge portions of food on his fork. He wore big & tall clothes. He cleaned every plate. Didn’t spill anything. Had the belt size to prove it.
Many years earlier, Bill drove for the Arkansas Razorbacks basketball powerhouse way back when Eddie Sutton was calling the Hogs. Sutton ended his career at Oklahoma State, and Mike McConathy’s Northwestern teams played an annual paycheck game in Stillwater for several years. Once, Bill was the Demons’ driver. He was delighted because of his past history with Sutton.
This was not the 2005 game when Northwestern ended the Cowboys’ 108-game home win streak against non-conference opponents at Gallagher-Iba Arena. This was 2-3 years earlier, when Okie State blew out the visitors from Natchitoches. The coaches were still cordial in the postgame handshake line, which included everybody on the benches, from assistants to graduate assistants, student managers, and players, led by the head coaches.
And bringing up the rear, this one time, Bill. Seated a couple rows behind the Demons’ bench, in full bus driver uniform, he joined the end of the handshake line just in time to meet Sutton and lock onto his left arm while enthusiastically shaking the coach’s right hand. Doubt Eddie Sutton was ever more puzzled in a postgame handshake. He obviously didn’t remember Bill from more than 30 years ago. His expression was borderline panic until a hustling staff member interrupted.
Barry was a favorite personality,although he had a heavy foot, not only in big-city traffic, but most any time a few vehicles were in range. He quickly earned the nickname “Barry Brakes.”
But he got the Demons home through some pretty dodgy weather many a trip.
High school coaches used to be their team bus drivers. Everybody had a commercial drivers’ license.
“Not as much nowadays, but for a long time, if you didn’t drive a bus, you weren’t going to be a coach,” said McConathy, who played at Airline, always planned on being a coach while starring at Louisiana Tech, and began the Lady Vikings basketball program as their coach/driver. He drove Bossier Parish Community College teams all 16 years he was coaching the Cavaliers – not just his team, but occasionally, others, too.
There are still places, mostly smaller schools, where coach is also the bus driver.
But over the past 20-30 years, that role generally is filled by the pros.
That brings up Tim. Tim Henderson. He is the regular driver for the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters. This week, he’s their hero. He helped them through 18 hours stopped on Interstate 20, in a miles-long jam, about just five miles from home. You can read about their ordeal in today’s Lincoln Parish Journal, with Malcolm Butler providing an inside account.
McConathy doesn’t make bus trips any more. But the retired coach and erstwhile bus driver remembers countless experiences and like every coach of every team at any level, admires those “bussies” who truly keep it between the ditches when that’s not easy.
Maybe his most frightening passenger experience was traveling back from Conway, Ark., as a snow and ice storm surprised forecasters.
“We drove into town, played the game – and the weather was getting so bad that nobody other than those who had to be there were in the gym – and headed home.
“Coming around a curve on the interstate loop in Little Rock — we weren’t going more than 25-30 mph — we were crossing a bridge and the bus started to slide. For a couple seconds, you didn’t know … fortunately the bridge was at a slight uphill angle from right lane to left, there wasn’t any other vehicle in the left lane, and it was a short bridge. We weren’t going very fast at all, but after that, it was a long time and a lotta miles down the road before we got over 20 mph.
“Another time, coming back from a game at Arkansas, it was cold, cold, and the defroster wasn’t working. We had to get coaches with towels to wipe the windshield so our driver could see the road, or we were gonna be sitting alongside it waiting for a long time for better weather.
“The thing that amazes me still is on all of those trips, with snow and ice or really bad storms, you never saw panic in their eyes, or at least they never let on if they were the least bit jumpy. They just drove. You felt confident because they were. You felt cared for. You felt safe.”
Thanks to people like J.D., Charles, John, Miss Suzanne, Barry Brakes — and Tim, this week’s hero in the 318 AC team bus universe..
COUNT ON IT: LSU junior guard Mikaylah Williams, the former Parkway star, anchored LSU’s win over Arkansas Thursday night as she has all season long. (Photo courtesy LSU Athletics)
By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
BATON ROUGE – Playing the second of a three-game, seven-day homestand, No. 6 LSU’s starting lineup may have subconsciously thought Arkansas was the team it could coast past among this week’s trio of opponents.
The Razorbacks were dead last in the SEC, the only league team without a conference win. Six straight losses, all by double-digit margins.
Easy pickings, correct?
Yet not even halfway through the first quarter here Thursday night, LSU head coach Kim Mulkey benched her lollygagging starters after Arkansas made its first 6 of 9 shots (including three 3-pointers) and led 15-8.
What was Mulkey expecting from her second team?
“Something better than what I saw with the five that I had on the court,” Mulkey said.
Led by reserves ZaKiyah Johnson and Kate Koval, combining for 12 points in a 14-7 run, the Tigers’ bench evened the score at 22-22 by the end of the first quarter.
It wasn’t, though, until an 18-3 burst in the first 4½ minutes of the second half that the Tigers (20-2 overall, 6-2 SEC) were able to accelerate to a 92-70 victory for their sixth straight conference win.
“We know when we have slow starts, we have a bench that’s ready to come out and play with some intensity, just give us (the starters) the reset we need,” LSU junior guard and former Bossier City Parkway star Mikaylah Williams told SEC Network announcers afterward. “We don’t really care much about scoring. Whoever is on, whoever has the hot hand.”
Williams and Johnson each scored a team-high 17 points. The Tigers had six players in double figures, including Notre Dame sophomore transfer forward Kate Koval, who had 12 points and a career-high 15 rebounds.
Yet no LSU player was made available for postgame interviews in the interview room by a slightly miffed Mulkey.
“I don’t know if anybody looks at that score and thinks either team played defense very well, right?” said Mulkey after her 900th game in 26 years as a Division 1 head coach, every season with 20 or more wins.
First-year Arkansas head coach Keisi Musick sounded happier in the postgame presser than Mulkey.
“In our last two outings, we’ve actually played more of a complete game,” said Musick, whose team fell to 11-11 overall and 0-7 in the SEC. “We played three quarters. I keep telling them (her players) when we play four whole quarters, we’re going to get that first win and have the breakthrough we need. My team is fighting. They’re giving me max effort.”
Arkansas senior guard Taleyah Jones, a transfer who followed Musick from her previous job at Oral Roberts, said the Razorbacks believed they could spring the upset.
“That was our goal,” said Jones, who scored a game-high 21 points, including 5 of 11 3-pointers. “We were hyped in the locker room beforehand. And when we were down (just) three at halftime (33-30), we were happy and wanted to continue the momentum in the second half.”
After misfiring on 15 of 22 layups in the first half, LSU opened the third quarter by swishing its first 6 of 8 shots, including 3 of 3 3-pointers for a 54-36 lead.
It was the only time the Tigers truly caught fire. The rest of the night was a few sparks here and there.
Freshman forward Johnson had 6 of her game-total 11 points in the first quarter, including her first college 3-pointer. Williams, after going 0 for 3 in a scoreless first quarter, hit 4 of 6 shots and scored 8 of LSU’s 14 second-quarter points. Flau’jae Johnson, scoreless in the first half, scored 11 in the third quarter and joined Koval and Grace Knox with 6 apiece in the fourth period.
Following a frigid first half shooting 35.4 percent (17 of 48) from the field, the Tigers hit 59.5 percent (22 of 37) in the second half to finish at 45.9 percent (39 of 85).
“Our confidence should never waver,” Williams said. “We take shots day in and day out. Flau’jae always tells me the numbers are going to eventually level out.”
The Tigers close their longest SEC homestand of the season Sunday at 11 a.m. against No. 24 Alabama. The Crimson Tide (19-3 overall, 5-3 SEC) won at No. 23 Georgia 68-53 on Thursday night.
CHILLIN’:Louisiana Tech players watched movies, played games on phones and laptops, and mingled during their 18-hour delay stuck on the team bus on I-20.
By MALCOLM BUTLER, Lincoln Parish Journal
LOVE AND SERVE
Those are three words that members of the Louisiana Tech Lady Techster basketball team hear daily.
It’s a mantra head coach Brooke Stoehr encourages her student athletes to live by.
Whether it’s volunteering their time around the Lincoln Parish community or interacting with one another, love and serve is part of the culture of the program.
Stoehr is big on her players giving back.
However, this past weekend, on the final stage of their return from a two-game road trip that saw the team win at Missouri State Thursday and at FIU Saturday, the Tech travel party endured a trip for the ages.
It was the final leg of the return that took 24 hours to get home from New Orleans.
And an opportunity for the Lady Techsters to grow as a group and to be on the other end of what they preach.
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LOVE AND SERVE
After defeating FIU Saturday afternoon in Miami, Tech boarded a flight and landed in New Orleans Saturday night.
They were met by a Mayo Tours bus piloted by veteran driver, Tim Henderson. After spending the night in a hotel in the Big Easy, the Lady Techsters prepared to head north to Ruston.
With news of the winter storm that had blanketed north Louisiana, the decision didn’t come lightly, and it didn’t come without intel from authorities.
“Before we even made the trip, we had communicated with state police that morning at 7 a.m.,” said Stoehr. “Our driver, Tim, had talked to his people and other drivers. The decision we made was well informed from the information we had from reliable sources. We felt good about it.”
That feeling lasted for the first four hours of the trip. The trip was uneventful up through Mississippi and then back into Louisiana, via the bridge over the Mississippi River on I-20.
That’s when the good feeling began to turn.
“We had no issues until we got to Well Road,” said Stoehr. “We never checked up even through Monroe, even over the bridge, until we got to Well Road. And then the only reason we stopped was because traffic was backed up because of the trucks.”
When you travel as much as college athletes do, inevitably you will experience delays, whether in airports or on buses.
However, there are delays … and then there are delays. And over the next few hours, it was simply a delay.
But then a few hours turned into many, many more.
“We were communicating with our administration the entire time,” said Stoehr. “We were communicating with people who had connections to the sheriff’s office and to the state police, trying to get any type of information we could.
“They would get one thing fixed and then there would be another accident or a truck stall out in front of us. A lot of it was the trucks were trying to go up and hill and they would stall out. And then it ended up being truckers sleeping in their vehicles because they had been sitting there for so long.”
It was just the beginning of an 18-hour delay that lasted through the night and into Monday morning.
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LOVE AND SERVE
Tim Henderson has been driving Mayo Tour buses for five years. And although he has been a part of plenty of trips, including others with the Lady Techster team, Tim said this one was unique.
“I have never quite had an experience like that,” said Tim.
And according to Stoehr, Tim was the perfect man for the job on this trip.
“Tim was incredible,” said Stoehr. “He is just steady and calm. He was so reassuring during the entire time. Extremely selfless. He is the consummate professional.
“Above all else, he was going to keep us safe. I think he understands that we all have families. He has a family. He wasn’t going to put us in danger. We told him at any point, if you don’t feel safe, let us know.”
As the day turned into night and traffic remained at a standstill and temperatures plummeted into the teens, Tim said he had one focus.
“I was trying to reassure everyone that we are going to be okay,” said Tim. “We are going to be delayed, but we are in touch with the state police as well as other local officials.
“I wanted to keep assuring them that we had plenty of fuel because the bus would run for at least two days on the fuel we had. We had heat. We had Wi-Fi. We had snacks. We were telling jokes to make everybody a little more comfortable and loosen them up.”
Junior guard Lexi Weaver praised Tim’s efforts.
“Mr. Tim … he was the best,” said Weaver. “I can’t even imagine what it was like for him being behind the wheel. He had to make some difficult decisions. He was in control of all our lives. He was just incredible.
“When you talk about loving and serving, it’s easy to overlook the bus driver. But Mr. Tim really illustrated those values to us.”
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LOVE AND SERVE
Student athletes are adept at entertaining themselves on bus trips.
And in this day and age of technology, there is plenty to do.
According to Weaver, as the hours dragged on, she and her teammates found plenty of ways to pass the time … at least some of it.
Charades. Phase 10. Coup. Sing alongs. Legos. TV. Homework. Music. And of course, naps.
That was good … for a while.
“We tried to lighten the mood even in such a difficult time,” said Weaver. “I say difficult. We had Wi-Fi. We had snacks. We had water. We had a bathroom. It could have been much worse.”
Great perspective from a 20-year-old college student.
Despite the adversity, Stoehr said she couldn’t be prouder of how her team responded.
“I thought the girls were incredible,” said Stoehr. “We had been gone since Wednesday. It was a long trip to begin with, going from Missouri State to FIU. We had two incredible road wins. That always helps morale.
“I just think it speaks to who they are as a group. They really value each other. They are committed to each other. They are just fun to be around.”
Even though, there were times when Cabin Fever began to set in on the group.
“It was a difficult 24 hours,” said Weaver. “We would go back and forth from everybody being up and walking around and laughing to slowly losing it as time went on.”
It was during one of those times late Sunday night – about 10 hours into the delay – that Weaver turned to one of the team’s leadership books.
“This year’s team came up with their own vision of what they wanted this team to be about this summer when we went through our book together, ‘The 7 Commitments of a Great Team’,” said Stoehr. “That vision was a confident family who’s consistently tenacious and resilient in pursuit of a championship.”
According to Stoehr, the players were paired up, and each pair has a day of the week and commitment.
Weaver, along with freshman Hillary Dawson, have “Commit to Valuing Each Other.”
“Every day someone will give a quote or show a video of something related to that commitment,” said Weaver. “It was Hillary and my day, so I thought it was a good time to give a quote.”
So, at 11 p.m. with her teammates fighting for their sanity, Weaver took the bus’s microphone and read aloud the following quote.
“Great teams aren’t defined by the easy wins, but how they treat each other when things get hard. When we truly value one another, we choose trust over blame. Encouragement over silence. And commitment over quitting. Hard times don’t break good teams, they build them. And when we stand together, every challenge becomes something we can get through as one.”
It was the perfect message at the perfect time.
“It gave our group a little bit of juice and a little bit of hope, and it was a reminder that we are safe,” said Stoehr. “We are stranded and we can’t move and that’s very frustrating, but it is just an inconvenience.
“I was proud. I thought they were mature in how they managed it.”
Weaver felt the message was needed.
“I thought it was a good quote in a tough time to pull everyone together,” she said. “It was 11 o’clock and we had been stuck in the same place for seven or eight hours. It was a good time to pull everybody together.”
It was just another impressive moment.
“Those kids rock,” said Tim. “They were very resilient, very understanding. They encouraged each other. It was amazing to witness.”
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LOVE AND SERVE
Although the team ate breakfast in New Orleans before it departed, the snacks on the bus just weren’t doing it.
Hunger had set in.
“We had our snacks and our cooler that has Gatorade and waters,” said Stoehr. “We had that prepared and ready just in case a situation occurred. We stopped at a convenience store in Jackson, (Mississippi) to stock up on a few things. We thought we were fine and would be home in a few hours.”
By nightfall, stomachs were grumbling.
“Everybody was hungry,” said Weaver. “We hadn’t really eaten a meal since before we got on the bus that morning. Everybody’s patience was running thin.”
Stoehr was texting with her friend, Christy Sorensen. She knew Sorensen had lost power in West Monroe and was checking on her earlier during the afternoon, very early in the delay.
Around 9:30 p.m., she texted her back.
“I just said, ‘Hey, we are still out here stranded,’” said Stoehr. “I told her, ‘We are fine. We just could use some real food.’”
“I was like, ‘Wait a minute. You are still on I-20?’” said Sorensen. “I was like, ‘I’m on it.’
“I knew how stressed Brooke was because she treats those kids like they are her family because they are. I knew she was at her wits’ end.”
Sorensen is the general manager at Newk’s Eatery in Ruston. She said she immediately started game planning. Although she couldn’t get to Ruston, she knew who to call.
“My boss always tells me I have a way of getting people to do what I want,” said Sorensen. “And I try to use that for good.”
Sorensen posted a message on Facebook, asking for help in delivering food. While she awaited responses, she called one of her managers, Chris Hall, who is a LA Tech student who lives close to Newk’s Eatery.
It didn’t take long for the plan to take shape.
Chris and his brother, Nick, along with another Newk’s employee, Kaden King, walked up to the restaurant to begin preparing the food.
And by 11:45 p.m., they had “30 to 40” pizzas, fruit, and cake boxed up and ready to roll.
“Pizza was the easiest thing to do,” said Sorensen. “They were instructed to feed themselves and Brent and his guys too. I said make whatever it takes to feed everyone.”
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LOVE AND SERVE
Ruston resident Brent Causey responded to Sorensen’s Facebook message.
“Christy explained the situation and asked for help,” said Causey, who had been out that day assisting others. “We started texting back and forth about what they needed. Is it fuel, blankets, food? What do they need?”
When Sorensen explained to Causey that the food was being prepared, he started working on his end of things.
He was more than willing to do Door Dash – ATV-style.
“I got a couple of guys together who were willing to help me do this,” said Causey, who was joined on the late-night adventure by Justin Post and Zach Mays. “We were trying to figure out how to get there. This was Sunday night and everything was shut down.”
Nothing like a little challenge.
“We loaded up chain saws and tools, and we trailered my Polaris Ranger to Newk’s (Eatery) and picked up the food around 11:45 p.m.,” said Causey, who said he got back home around 3:30 a.m. “We drove Hwy 80 to the gas station located on the Cheniere Exit (in West Monroe).
“We unloaded (the ATV) and food. We drove it over I-20 and got on the interstate going east with traffic. We then crossed over the median and came back west and found the bus.”
According to Stoehr and Weaver, they have never been so happy to see food at 1:30 in the morning.
“I was in tears,” said Stoehr. “Some of our players were in tears. It was emotional. What an act of humanity. They didn’t have to do that. It’s cold. It’s 1:30 in the morning. They don’t know us. They did it out of the goodness of their heart. It’s a great reminder of humanity.
“We talk about love and serve in our program and what that looks like. It was a great example of that, and we were just so grateful. They brought the food on the bus and we hugged them, and then they hopped back on the side by side and took off.”
What an illustration of helping others.
“We couldn’t be more grateful,” said Weaver. “It was something those people didn’t have to do. It shows the togetherness and the community that we have. We are so grateful. It was below freezing outside, and they didn’t have to come at 1 o’clock in the morning.
“And the people who cooked the food for us … it was just so selfless of them. We couldn’t be more grateful.”
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LOVE AND SERVE
Around 8 a.m. Monday, Tim Henderson was able to put his foot on the accelerator and start back down I-20 towards Ruston after an 18-hour delay.
And at 9:45 a.m., the Lady Techsters rolled into the ice-covered parking lot of the Thomas Assembly Center – a total of 1,443 minutes (24 hours, 3 minutes) from New Orleans to Ruston.
Stoehr said she couldn’t be prouder of her entire staff, especially director of operations Mikayla Baillie.
“I want to give our staff a lot of credit,” said Stoehr. “I thought Mikayla did an incredible job in such a difficult situation of planning ahead, constantly changing, having to adjust. She was phenomenal. She stayed poised and calm. I think our players really fed off that. We must model that even when we are dying inside and feeling hopeless.”
No, it wasn’t life or death.
But it was true adversity, something that every college athlete and athletic team faces during a season.
“Adversity comes on the court and off the court,” said Weaver. “I think building from adversity pulled us closer together instead of pulling us apart is the biggest thing we can take from it.”
Tech is currently in first place in the Conference USA standings, but there is plenty of basketball yet to play.
And no one knows better than the head coach that adversity will come in different forms and at different times, not only the rest of the season, but in life.
“We are always talking to our team about adversity is a given,” said Stoehr. “We don’t know when it will hit. If it will be on the court, in the classroom or in our personal lives, but we will all face it at some point or another. The most important thing is the people you have around you to help you through it.
“We are so blessed by the wonderful community of Ruston and the great people that live here. They have a willingness to love and serve our players and program in such a big way. It’s one of the many things that makes Louisiana Tech and Ruston such a special place to live and be a part of.”
Join BOM Bank in congratulating Aaron Savell on his promotion to Senior Credit Analyst located at 4898 Palmetto Road in Benton, LA.
Aaron’s hard work, dedication, and sharp eye have made a tremendous impact on our bank. His growth has been incredible to watch, and we’re excited to see all he’ll achieve in this next chapter!
Rosanne Russo Wells, a devoted educator and beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on January 28, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of dedication, compassion, and joyful service to others.
Born on September 8, 1950, Rosanne felt called to the teaching profession early in life. A devout Catholic, she attended St. John’s and later graduated from St. Vincent’s Academy in 1968. She continued her passion for education at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education in 1972.
Rosanne began her teaching career at St. Catherine in 1972, where she touched the lives of countless students through her kindness, patience, and commitment. In 1977, she continued her career with Bossier Parish Schools, serving faithfully for many years. After decades of shaping young minds and inspiring future generations, she retired from teaching in 2016.
In addition to her dedication as an educator, Rosanne was known for her vibrant, spunky personality and unmistakable sense of humor. A proud Italian woman, she loved to laugh, act silly, and make others laugh—often by playfully picking on people, especially children. She had a gift for pretending to be irritated or stern, only for everyone to realize it was all part of the joke. Everything she did was rooted in love, and she delighted in bringing laughter to those around her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Esther Russo, and her niece, Lisa Ferguson.
She is survived by her loving sisters, Carmen Feinberg and her husband Richard, and Cathy LaSource and her husband Mike; her sons, Scott Wells and his wife Tiffiny, and Drew Wells; her cherished grandchildren, Kara, Brandon, Kaleigh, Peyton, and Elise Wells; her great-grandchildren, Grace, Logan, and Brody; as well as numerous beloved nephews and cousins.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the compassionate staff of STAT Home Health and WK North for their exceptional care, kindness, and support.
Visitation will be held at Boone Funeral Home in Bossier City, Louisiana on Friday, January 30, 2026 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. A Rosary will be held at 12:30 PM on Saturday, January 31, 2026, followed by a Funeral Service beginning at 1:00 PM at Mary, Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 7738 Barksdale Blvd, Bossier City, LA 71112.
Honorary pallbearers will be Ron Kilgarlin, Jason LaSource, Casey LaSource, Cody Kilgarlin, Cameron Ferguson, and Christopher Hatcher.
Rosanne will be remembered for her unwavering dedication to education, her deep love for her family and her faith, and the countless lives she touched through both her teaching and her joyful spirit. Her memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.
Mary Nell Rhodes Jefferson was born on August 19, 1942 and entered into her eternal rest in heaven on January 24, 2026. She was born and raised in Benton, LA, and was the oldest daughter of Alvin and Lucille Rhodes. At the time of her death, she was a resident of Marion, Alabama. Mary was a former member of Cypress Baptist Church in Benton and was currently a member of Airline Baptist Church in Bossier City. She attended Benton High School, where she graduated in 1960. Mary retired from her favorite job at Christus Schumpert Health Systems, in the year 2000, where she worked off campus for the last ten years of her career with the homeless population. Mary’s favorite hobbies were crafting, fishing with her husband, and gardening. She very much loved taking care of her precious Irises. Above all else, she loved spending time with her grandchildren. By far her favorite titles were “Mawmaw” and “Great.”
She was preceded in death by her husband of 31 years, Garry Gene Jefferson, her parents, and her brothers F.A. (Sonny) Rhodes, Jr. and wife Joan, and James Lewis (Red) Rhodes and wife Martha. Mary is survived by her two daughters Lori Ann Martin Seagroves and husband, Mark and Dr. Pamela Lee Boliew. She is also survived by her sister Margaret (Moggie) Rhodes Beard and husband James. Her grandchildren Stephanie McCravey (Adam), Riley and Bodey Mitcham and great-grandchildren, Cori Lucille and Camden Roy McCravey. Special family members David and Emili Mitcham and honorary grandson, Nikolai Everett. She also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews to cherish the memories of their “Naynell.”
Mary was also blessed to have a special group of friends, better known as the “Board Members,” who were more family than mere friends. These sweet ladies are: Becky Crumpler, Linda Houston, Marilyn Thomas, Bevely Little, Ruthie Ledet, Brenda Hoffman and Fran Coker. Also special friends Renee Peppers Thomas, Lise Laferriere and Jessica Wiley.
Pallbearers honoring her at her services will be Josh Burroughs, Grayson Connelly, Tommy Dungan, Adam McCravey, Logan Parrie, Weslie Rhodes. The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to the doctors, nurses and staff of Bibb County Nursing Home, Cahaba Medical Care and Legacy Hospice for their excellent, compassionate care in Mary’s final days
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mary’s name to the Cypress Baptist Church in Benton or Airline Baptist Church in Bossier City, St Jude Research Hospital or Shriners Hospital for Children.
James Alan Shannon, Sr. October 4, 1946 — January 27, 2026 Service: Friday, January 30, 2026, 10am at Rose-Neath Funeral Home Southside, Shreveport.
Betty Jean Graham Adams June 10, 1933 – January 25, 2026 Service: Saturday, February 7, 2026, 1pm at The Oaks of Louisiana, Shreveport.
Phyllis M. Nelson April 21, 1936 — January 24, 2026 Service: Friday, January 30, 2026, 12pm at Rose-Neath Funeral Home Southside, Shreveport.
Emilie Anne Connell Ostendorff August 28, 1923 — January 24, 2026 Service: Saturday, February 14, 2026, 2pm at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Shreveport.
Marion Ramsel July 9, 1930 – January 24, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 31, 2026, 10am at St John Berchmans Cathedral, Shreveport.
Janis S. Bickham October 30, 1938 – January 22, 2026 Service: Friday, January 30, 2026, 11am at Centuries Memorial Park, Shreveport.
Arvie Brown November 19, 1933 — January 22, 2026 Service: Wednesday, February 4, 2026, 12:30pm at the Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, Keithville.
Nancy Lucille Erwin June 28, 1933 – January 22, 2026 Service: Friday, January 30, 2026, 10am at Osborn Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Janice Kay Conner September 29, 1941 — January 21, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 31, 2026, 12pm at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Bossier City.
Melvin F. Hendrickson March 15, 1925 – January 21, 2026 Service: Friday, February 13, 2026, 12pm at Osborn Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Dr. Michael “Mickey” Ray Allen, Sr. August 14, 1951 — January 20, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 31, 2026, 2pm at Hana Baptist Church, Shreveport.
Doris Hollingsworth Mosley June 22, 1933 – January 20, 2026 Service: Monday, February 2, 2026, 10:30am at Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, Keithville.
Jimmy Williams August 21, 1958 – January 20, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 31, 2026, 12pm at Galilee Baptist Church, Shreveport.
Carlee McCain Burch July 16, 1966 — January 19, 2026 Service: Friday, February 6, 2026, 2pm at First Baptist Church’s Frost Chapel, Shreveport.
Edward Doyle Jackson February 3, 1954 – January 19, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 31, 2026, 2pm at Shane’s Seafood & BBQ, Bossier City.
Larry Williams August 5, 1960 – January 19, 2026 Service: January 31, 2026, 12pm at New Bethel MBC, Shreveport.
Murrilline B. Bell January 19, 1940 – January 18, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 31, 2026, 11am at Good Samaritan Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Ozeal Mayfield January 18, 1934 – January 18, 2026 Service: Friday, February 6, 2026, 11am at Heavenly Gates Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Vera Mae Thomas-Phill January 5, 1951 — January 18, 2026 Service: Friday, January 30, 2026, 12pm at Winnfield Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Jerry G. Brown, Sr. July 6, 1944 – January 17, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 31, 2026, 11am at Heavenly Gates Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Trudy Lynn Welch January 19, 1971 – January 17, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 31, 2026, 1pm at Amari’s Ballroom and Event Center, Shreveport.
Melinda Roberson June 16, 1972 – January 15, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 31, 2026, 10am at New Bethel Baptist Church, Shreveport.
Judy Ann Taylor June 19, 1954 — January 15, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 31, 2026, 11am at Winnfield Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Anna Lee Wheeler March 14, 2011 – January 15, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 31, 2026, 2pm at WK Palmetto Clubhouse, Benton.
Verdia Louis “Pee-Wee” Spates August 6, 1938 – January 13, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 31, 2026, 11am at Jerusalem Baptist Church, Koran.
Aaron Banks March 3, 1950 – January 11, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 31, 2026, 1pm at St. Paul United Methodist Church, Shreveport.
Margaret Ann Billson November 23, 1941 – January 5, 2026 Service: Saturday, February 7, 2026, 1pm at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Bossier City.
Jarvus N. Bounds December 11, 1941 – December 31, 2025 Service: Saturday, February 7, 2026, 12pm at Kingston Road Baptist Church, Shreveport.
Lindsay Clare Goodman April 23, 1985 – December 29, 2025 Service: Open Door Bible Church, Bossier City.
Charles “Eddie” Edwin Cannatella March 12, 1954 – December 24, 2025 Service: Saturday, January 31, 2026, 10am at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Shreveport.
Eloise Bullock Gibson March 25, 1941 – December 17, 2025 Service: Saturday, January 31, 2026, 11am at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Shreveport.
The Shreveport-Bossier Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $95. Contact your funeral provider or SBJNewsLa@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Death shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to SBJNewsLa@gmail.com.)
Students and teachers in both Bossier Parish Schools and Caddo Parish Public Schools will not report to school on Friday, Jan. 30, as districts continue to address safety issues caused by recent wintry weather.
Bossier Parish Schools officials said campuses will remain closed out of an abundance of caution due to thick ice accumulation that remains on awnings, walkways, bus ramps, and parking lots. District leaders said students cannot safely return until ice has melted or been fully removed.
While schools will not be open for normal operations, district leaders and 12-month employees will report to work Friday to continue de-icing efforts and prepare campuses for reopening on Monday, Feb. 2. Crews will also prepare facilities for another round of frigid temperatures forecast for the weekend.
Caddo Parish Public Schools announced a similar decision following continued assessments of facilities and operations. Students and teachers will not report Friday, while principals, assistant principals, instructional coordinators, and all 12-month district employees — including custodial and maintenance staff — will be on site.
District officials said teams are currently addressing heating issues at eight schools, burst or leaking pipes at 12 schools, and ice across campuses parish wide. While progress has been made, officials emphasized that safety remains the top priority before students return.
Both districts said additional updates will be shared as assessments continue and thanked families and staff for their patience, understanding, and cooperation during what officials described as an unusual and challenging week.
Firefighters from Caddo Fire District 4, assisted by Caddo Fire Districts 3 and 6, responded to a reported house fire in the 8100 block of Majestic on Jan. 28. Crews were dispatched at approximately 1:25 a.m. Station 1 arrived on scene to find a single-family residence with heavy fire conditions in two rooms. Firefighters initiated a rapid, aggressive interior attack and were able to extinguish the fire within minutes of arrival, preventing the flames from spreading to other areas of the home.
Firefighters faced hazardous travel and operating conditions due to roads covered in ice and snow. Despite the challenges, crews were able to bring the situation under control quickly.
According to officials, residents reported they had been using a hotplate as a heat source when it ignited nearby bedding, causing the fire to spread rapidly to other contents in the room. Fire officials emphasized that improvised heating methods can become dangerous in seconds, particularly during extreme cold weather events, and urged residents to use only approved heating devices according to manufacturer guidelines.
The American Red Cross was contacted following the incident, and the affected family was taken in by relatives. No injuries were reported.
As temperatures began to rise and frozen ground started to thaw, City of Shreveport Water and Sewerage crews responded to several isolated service line and water main breaks across the city, including a break reported on Carroll Street.
City officials said there were no widespread water system issues at this time, and crews were addressing individual problem areas as they were identified.
Interim Director of Water and Sewerage Brandon R. Snead was also in the field checking on crews who had been working around the clock throughout the winter weather event to maintain water service for residents.
Residents who notice water leaks or experience a water-related emergency are encouraged to contact the city’s 24-hour emergency line at 318-673-7600 so crews can respond promptly.
Caddo Parish Public Schools and Bossier Parish Schools were closed on Thursday, January 29, as lingering icy conditions continued to create hazardous travel and campus safety concerns across the region.
District officials said that while warmer temperatures and sunlight had improved conditions on many main roadways, both school systems cover large geographic areas where numerous neighborhood and rural roads remained icy and unsafe. Ice was also reported on several school campuses, creating slick conditions on walking paths, entrances, and parking areas.
The closures were announced out of an abundance of caution to ensure the safety of students, staff, and families as winter weather conditions gradually improved.
This winter blast has created thousands of hassles, headaches, backaches and even some scary or dangerous situations here and right over there. It’s curtailed sports schedules, especially at the high school level.
Don’t want a team on a bus on dicey roads.
But sometimes the weather develops faster than expected, or totally unexpectedly. That’s when the MVP of your team has a different type uniform. The bus company’s driver uniform.
You might have seen the photo of an LSU bus – fortunately, not with the Tigers basketball team on it – stuck sideways on a mountain hillside near Fayetteville Monday.
Could have been worse, except for the driver.
Guys (and ladies) like J.D., Lenny and his son Nathan, Eric, Rodney, Bill, Barry, Charley, Oris, John, Miss Suzanne. Mike, who you’ll hear from. Tim, who you’ll hear about.
It’s the fairly non-descript group who drive team buses.
Some are task-oriented, and don’t talk while driving. Some are friendly, some are chatterboxes. Most bond in their own way with the coaches, staff and players, especially if they are regular travel partners.
Some are characters. Bill, past Medicare age but still energetic, unwittingly entertained by balancing huge portions of food on his fork. He wore big & tall clothes. He cleaned every plate. Didn’t spill anything. Had the belt size to prove it.
Many years earlier, Bill drove for the Arkansas Razorbacks basketball powerhouse way back when Eddie Sutton was calling the Hogs. Sutton ended his career at Oklahoma State, and Mike McConathy’s Northwestern teams played an annual paycheck game in Stillwater for several years. Once, Bill was the Demons’ driver. He was delighted because of his past history with Sutton.
This was not the 2005 game when Northwestern ended the Cowboys’ 108-game home win streak against non-conference opponents at Gallagher-Iba Arena. This was 2-3 years earlier, when Okie State blew out the visitors from Natchitoches. The coaches were still cordial in the postgame handshake line, which included everybody on the benches, from assistants to graduate assistants, student managers, and players, led by the head coaches.
And bringing up the rear, this one time, Bill. Seated a couple rows behind the Demons’ bench, in full bus driver uniform, he joined the end of the handshake line just in time to meet Sutton and lock onto his left arm while enthusiastically shaking the coach’s right hand. Doubt Eddie Sutton was ever more puzzled in a postgame handshake. He obviously didn’t remember Bill from more than 30 years ago. His expression was borderline panic until a hustling staff member interrupted.
Barry was a favorite personality,although he had a heavy foot, not only in big-city traffic, but most any time a few vehicles were in range. He quickly earned the nickname “Barry Brakes.”
But he got the Demons home through some pretty dodgy weather many a trip.
High school coaches used to be their team bus drivers. Everybody had a commercial drivers’ license.
“Not as much nowadays, but for a long time, if you didn’t drive a bus, you weren’t going to be a coach,” said McConathy, who played at Airline, always planned on being a coach while starring at Louisiana Tech, and began the Lady Vikings basketball program as their coach/driver. He drove Bossier Parish Community College teams all 16 years he was coaching the Cavaliers – not just his team, but occasionally, others, too.
There are still places, mostly smaller schools, where coach is also the bus driver.
But over the past 20-30 years, that role generally is filled by the pros.
That brings up Tim. Tim Henderson. He is the regular driver for the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters. This week, he’s their hero. He helped them through 18 hours stopped on Interstate 20, in a miles-long jam, about just five miles from home. You can read about their ordeal in today’s Lincoln Parish Journal, with Malcolm Butler providing an inside account.
McConathy doesn’t make bus trips any more. But the retired coach and erstwhile bus driver remembers countless experiences and like every coach of every team at any level, admires those “bussies” who truly keep it between the ditches when that’s not easy.
Maybe his most frightening passenger experience was traveling back from Conway, Ark., as a snow and ice storm surprised forecasters.
“We drove into town, played the game – and the weather was getting so bad that nobody other than those who had to be there were in the gym – and headed home.
“Coming around a curve on the interstate loop in Little Rock — we weren’t going more than 25-30 mph — we were crossing a bridge and the bus started to slide. For a couple seconds, you didn’t know … fortunately the bridge was at a slight uphill angle from right lane to left, there wasn’t any other vehicle in the left lane, and it was a short bridge. We weren’t going very fast at all, but after that, it was a long time and a lotta miles down the road before we got over 20 mph.
“Another time, coming back from a game at Arkansas, it was cold, cold, and the defroster wasn’t working. We had to get coaches with towels to wipe the windshield so our driver could see the road, or we were gonna be sitting alongside it waiting for a long time for better weather.
“The thing that amazes me still is on all of those trips, with snow and ice or really bad storms, you never saw panic in their eyes, or at least they never let on if they were the least bit jumpy. They just drove. You felt confident because they were. You felt cared for. You felt safe.”
Thanks to people like J.D., Charles, John, Miss Suzanne, Barry Brakes, and Tim.
ON FIRE: While the sensation of setting an all-time, all-levels record with 58 consecutive wins was the attention-grabber May 30, the 2025 LSUS baseball team rejoiced with coach Brad Neffendorf (center) about moving into the NAIA World Series championship game. (Photo courtesy NAIA)
The LSU Shreveport baseball team will not get back into action today as the ice melt hopefully concludes, but conditions appear promising for homefield doubleheaders between the last two NAIA World Series champions Friday and Sunday.
The Pilots, the reigning titleholder, are top ranked in this year’s NAIA top 25 poll. Hope International, a 2025 World Series participant whom LSUS beat twice on its way to the national crown, is No. 4 in the preseason top 25 and is visiting for all four games. Last May in Lewiston, Idaho, the Pilots beat Hope 6-3 and eliminated them two days later, 14-4.
The second victory came in a semifinal contest. It elevated the Pilots alone across all collegiate levels of their sport – from junior college through the NAIA and NCAA ranks – for posting the most consecutive wins in a season. They passed the last milepost in the record book, topping the 57-game string by the 2007 Howard (Texas) Community College team.
Friday’s doubleheader will start at 1 p.m. with Sunday’s contests starting at 2 p.m.
The Pilots, who welcomed 30 new players this season, are 2-0 and have won 61 straight games, starting with last year’s 59-0 season. The Fullerton, Cal., based Royals are 2-0 after a road sweep last Saturday at Simpson College.
As the thaw began Wednesday, a white sheet of winter precipitation blanketed Pilot Field. A second straight day of sunshine today is expected to remedy that.
Due to school closures this week, the National Football Foundation’s S.M. McNaughton North Louisiana Chapter has extended the application deadline for nine $1,000 college scholarships to top Class of 2026 senior football scholar-athletes from north and central Louisiana.
High school head coaches have until Tuesday at noon to submit a nominee. The original deadline was this Friday, Jan. 30, but with many school systems including Caddo and Bossier shut down, McNaughton Chapter officials decided to extend the deadline. The nine recipients will earn $1,000 toward their freshman year of college in 2025-26.
Nominees must be graduating seniors who have at least a 3.2 cumulative grade point average (or 4.0 or better on a 5-point scale), have won all-district honors in the 2025 season, and they must have involvement in at least one extracurricular activity.
Coaches should have received in early January, and again Wednesday, an e-mail with instructions and an attached form from 318NFFChapter@gmail.com and if not received, they can email that address or text NFF board member Doug Ireland at 318-471-2086.
The scholarship program began in 1981. The annual scholarship banquet is set for Wednesday, March 4 at East Ridge Country Club in Shreveport.
Precious Phyllis, our beloved mother, grandmother, and wife passed away peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones on Saturday, January 24, 2026. She lived a life marked by devotion to her family, friendships, and a steadfast Christian faith.
Phyllis was born April 21,1936, in Minneapolis, Minnesota and grew up in Atwater, Minnesota with her parents, Elmer and Ethel Theisen. She returned to Atwater for many years to attend her high school reunions which she thoroughly enjoyed.
She married Jack Nelson on August 4, 1956. In 1968, Jack and Phyllis moved to Shreveport, Louisiana where she helped establish Nelson Equipment Company. They enjoyed working together and raising their children until his death in 1982. The company continues today, and employs a third generation of Nelsons.
After settling in Shreveport, she became an active member of East Ridge Country Club, where she was delighted in playing golf and bridge with her many dear friends. She was a member of the East Ridge Women’s Golf Association and the Southern Hills Garden Club. Though she lived in Louisiana for many years, she never lost her Minnesota accent, a reminder of her roots. She was a faithful member of St. Paul Lutheran Church for many years.
In 2000, she married Bob Roy. She treasured her time with him and looked forward to their many adventures as he was always full of surprises. He lovingly cared for her until her death.
Phyllis is preceded in death by her parents, and her daughter, Pam Alford. Left to cherish her memory are her children: Mark (Susan) and Kurt (Tana), grandchildren: David Alford (Jessica), Brian Alford, Daniel Alford, Jennifer Alford, Roxanne Morgan (Adam), Michael Nelson (Brittany), Christopher Nelson, Garrett Nelson (Ashley), Jaime Oxholm (Pat), Kendall Gibbs (Bryan), and great-grandchildren: Sierra, Alexis, Madyson, Kristian, Layla, Nayah, Jarrod, Madelyn, Brantlee, Cade, Cooper, Cora, Grant, Patrick, Vivian, and Dorothy.
A visitation will be held at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Dr. in Shreveport, on Friday, January 30,2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. followed by a private graveside service for family only.
David Prince III passed away peacefully on December 18, 2025, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Born on March 8, 1958, in Shreveport, Louisiana, David was the beloved son of Elizabeth Cassinelli Prince, MD, and David Prince, Jr. He attended Jesuit High School before continuing his education in Omaha, Nebraska, at Creighton University, earning a magna cum laude degree in geology from Centenary College. David started his career at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, conducting marine research in line with his passion for the ocean. In the early 1990s, as the oil and gas market rebounded, he transitioned into the industry and built a successful career spanning more than three decades.
Known for his warm and welcoming spirit, David had a rare ability to connect with people from all walks of life. His infectious smile, genuine kindness, and sharp wit brought light and laughter to everyone around him. He had a profound love for animals and shared his life with many dogs and cats over the years. David especially appreciated the experience he had caring and training thoroughbred horses earlier in his life.
An enthusiastic reader of science and philosophy, David spent a period at the Jesuit Spirituality Center at St. Charles College in Grand Coteau, Louisiana. He lived guided by the teachings of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order, embracing principles such as the inherent dignity of every human being as created by God, the pursuit of God’s voice in everyday experiences, recognizing oneself as a catalyst for change, a commitment to justice, and reaching out to those in need or marginalized by society.
David is survived by his loving daughter, Isabelle Golding Prince of New Orleans; his sister and brother-in-law, Michele Prince Wright and Stephen P. Wright of Lafayette, Louisiana; his sister and partner, Ann Elizabeth Prince and Ross Andrew Farley of Fort Worth, Texas; and his brother and sister-in-law, Matthew Strong Prince and Ann Driscoll Prince of Memphis, Tennessee. He is fondly remembered by his nieces and nephew: Barrett Elizabeth Wright and her husband Patrick Lowe of Cambridge, England; Stephen Parker Wright of Lafayette, Louisiana; and Elizabeth Vaughan Prince of Memphis, Tennessee.
The family expresses heartfelt gratitude to his compassionate physicians: Dr. Sally Ball and Dr. Robert Massingill of Shreveport, Louisiana; Dr. Oliver Sartor of New Orleans; and his doctors from MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, as well as the staff and nurses at Christus Cancer Center and Hospital. Special thanks to his sister, Ann, and Ross Farley for their years of dedication and care of David, especially during his final months. David will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew him. If you wish to honor David’s memory, the family requests that you do so by helping someone less fortunate or supporting an abandoned animal.
A private ceremony will be held to honor and celebrate David’s life.
