Bossier City Police Chief Daniel Haugen recently addressed members of the Bossier City NAACP during one of the organization’s meetings, providing an update on the police department and current public safety efforts.
Chief Haugen attended the meeting at the invitation of the local NAACP and was welcomed by Bossier City NAACP President Charles Gray. During his remarks, Haugen shared information about the Bossier City Police Department and presented the latest crime statistics.
The meeting also included a question-and-answer session, during which Chief Haugen responded to questions from members of the group. He reaffirmed the department’s commitment to public safety and emphasized its dedication to treating all residents with fairness and respect.
City officials said the meeting provided an opportunity for open dialogue and continued collaboration between the Bossier City Police Department and the local NAACP.
MAKING A BREAK FOR IT: Loyola’s Holt Hamilton (1, in blue striped jersey) tries to break away between Byrd’s Jacob Jones (3) and Ephraim Gambill (12) during Loyola’s 3-2 win last week. (Photo by TODD STANBERRY)
By DAVID ERSOFF, Journal Sports
After last Monday’s dramatic, last-minute game-winning goal to prevail in the epic matchup against Bossier, the Loyola Flyers soccer team could’ve had a letdown in a busy stretch that followed.
It certainly was a hope of Calvary, Airline and Byrd, who faced the Flyers late last week.
But Loyola is hardly a one-hit wonder.
The Flyers topped the Cavaliers 5-2 less than 24 hours after their emotional win. Thursday, 48 hours later with a more reasonable amount of recovery time, Loyola blanked Airline 5-0. The Flyers’ toughest test came on Saturday when they hosted Byrd. They kept their winning streak alive with a narrow 3-2 victory over the Yellow Jackets.
The run continued Monday night Loyola as took on a reloaded Caddo Magnet team, winning 6-3. Not all 6-3 scorelines tell the tale of the game, and certainly not in this game. With three minutes left to play, the score was 4-3.
Magnet coach Nick Flowers, not willing to sit back, sent numbers forward, hoping to pressure strongly enough that the Mustangs could get the equalizer. But the Flyers were able to take advantage of the alignment and Hollis Brown doubled the lead to 5-3. As time was expiring, they were awarded a penalty kick, Whit Sample converted, for the three-goal margin. Loyola got three goals from Sample, two from Holt Hamilton, and the goal from Brown. Magnet picked up goals from John Wooden, Ben Wooden and Seth Vale.
The Flyers’ game with Haughton has been cancelled. Loyola will face Minden on Saturday hoping to finish undefeated in district play.
Bossier’s Bearkats bounced back from the bitter loss to Loyola and topped Haughton 8-0 last Thursday, before their game with Parkway was cancelled due to weather. The Bearkats have a light week, traveling to Calvary on Thursday for a non-district matchup.
Byrd’s Yellow Jackets jumped back into third in this week’s Shreveport-Bossier Journal coaches poll. The jump is no doubt due to the 1-0 victory over West Monroe and their close loss to Loyola, both games last week.
The Yellow Jackets have set up their own gauntlet of competition with their last five regular-season games, the first two in the books (West Monroe and Loyola last week). They face Captain Shreve on Wednesday, then host Division II perennial power St. Thomas More. They finish the season next Monday at Bossier.
The Benton Tigers won two very close games last week, both by a 1-0 score, edging Shreve, and following up with a win over Ouachita Parish. Benton faces Airline tonight in a pivotal district game, needing it to keep its district championship hopes alive. The Tigers finish the week facing Magnet on Saturday.
The Mustangs have two days off before their game against Northwood, a matchup which last year ended in a 0-0 tie. Magnet’s meeting with Benton Saturday should end the discussion on who holds down the fourth and fifth spots in the final coaches poll.
The Week 8 SBJ boys’ soccer poll listing school (followed by W-L-T record) and points (followed by first place votes):
It’s given us Dan Quayle, whose place in U.S. vice presidential history is mostly remembered for things he said, then wished he didn’t.
“I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in the future.”
More recently, Mike Pence. Hero, or heel?
Both from Indiana, like Benjamin Harrison.
Who? One of our more obscure presidents, the 23rd man to hold the office, for one term (1889-93).
Shifting to “who are celebrities born and raised in Indiana, for $400″ …
Larry Bird.
The Jacksons – Janet, Michael, Tito, et al.
John Mellencamp.
DAY-vid LETTERMAN.
No great Indy 500 drivers, but the Indy 500.
Tony Stewart, one of NASCAR’s all-time stars.
Colonel Sanders, who crossed the Ohio RIver and became the most famous chicken cooker ever.
Axl Rose and David Lee Roth.
The real “Hoosiers,” the 1954 Milan High School Indians, with a school enrollment of 154, the smallest school ever to capture the all-classifications Indiana state basketball title. You surely have seen the movie.
Jane Pauley. If you haven’t seen her CBS Sunday Morning package on her alma mater and home state, find it online.
(Me. No celebrity, but like Jane, born in Indianapolis. Unlike the esteemed TV journalist, I was shipped out to western Pennsylvania eight weeks later. It was really cold both places, I was told, this time of year.)
Then let’s get to people who aren’t native Hoosiers, but are anchors of Indiana University.
Bob Knight, not Hoosier born or educated, but …
Mark Cuban, currently overjoyed alumnus, and Shark.
Six Million Dollar Man (remember when that seemed a breathtaking figure?) Lee Majors, Kevin Kline and a bunch of actors.
Joe Buck. We just assumed he went to college at Busch Stadium.
Now, Fernando Mendoza and Curt Cignetti.
One won the Heisman Trophy and lived up to it leading IU to the College Football Playoff crown Monday night. He was the two-star high school quarterback born a mile from Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, where the legend was set in stone last night.
He’s a guy who the previous Hurricanes’ staff told no, thanks, there’s not a spot for you to walk on here.
Cignetti is the architect, chief builder and mad scientist who thought one of the country’s least successful programs could rule the college football universe. In just two years, his Hoosiers are 27-2 and in fact, do rule the CFP landscape.
Two years ago, Cignetti was coaching at James Madison. Mendoza was the freshman starting quarterback for the Cal Bears in the Independence Bowl.
All who encountered him for that week in Shreveport have said this guy is that guy. He was every bit as charming, as humble and as magnetic as he has been this season.
Cignetti has told journalists and anyone else that the Hoosiers’ story is fit for a Hollywood script. He’s not wrong.
It’s as if Indiana is the epicenter for unlikely epic sports accomplishments.
Milan HS (a.k.a. the Hickory Huskers) is obvious. Bird leading Indiana State to the NCAA finals is another. Butler’s more recent run to the Final Four championship game fits.
John Daly got in the 1991 PGA Championship as a last-minute alternate, and won wire-to-wire in Crooked Stick, Indiana.
It happens there. In Hoosier land.
As the TV talking heads scrambled to express their amazement, justifiably, Monday night, more than a few said Indiana may be the best college football team ever.
The 2019 LSU Tigers beg to differ.
Cignetti said as much later last night. His isn’t the most talented. Just the most unlikely rags-to-riches story ever – “sum of the parts,” he said.
The Hoosiers finished 16-0, the most wins by an unbeaten modern-day college team ever.
They did it in Miami, where the 1972 Dolphins went 17-0 in their perfect Super Bowl season, the only one in NFL history.
Wonder if the Hoosiers will hold champagne toasts at the end of each season when no other college squad can do what they did.
They have earned the right. And with an average age of 23 on the team, they can already do it legally.
STARTING AT HOME:Four LSUS players stand at home plate in a recent scrimmage. The defending NAIA champion Pilots have 30 new players when the 2026 season begins Thursday evening at home when the Pilots aim to continue their historic 59-game winning streak. (Photo by KYLIE RICHTER, LSUS Media Relations)
JOURNAL SPORTS
The LSUS baseball team was undefeated, 59-0, in last year’s national championship season.
Now the Pilots are trying to beat the weather.
The possibility of wintry precipitation this weekend has accelerated the start of the 2026 season for LSUS, which Monday shifted its Friday-Saturday three-game home series with Tabor to a Thursday-Friday afternoon schedule.
Thursday’s schedule has been changed as of Tuesday.
A doubleheader will be played with an afternoon first pitch at 3. Friday will wrap up the series with a single game at noon.
Current forecasts lean toward temperatures in the low 50s during that stretch, with little chance of rain Thursday and a moderate projection for very light precipitation during the day Friday. Friday night d Saturday’s forecasts are not baseball-friendly.
After the Tabor series, the Pilots stay home for an exhibition contest next Tuesday evening against Centenary.
A memorial service for Margaret Ann Billson, 84, will be held on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Dr., Bossier City, Louisiana. A visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. until the time of the service. Officiating the service will be Pastor John Warner and Mike Arkless.
Margaret was born on November 23, 1941, near Vivian, Louisiana, to Thomas Frank Elliott and Lorene Tullis Elliott. She passed away on Monday, January 5, 2026, at the age of 84.
Margaret was a kind and loving person who never met a stranger and always went out of her way to help others. She loved music and had a beautiful, clear voice. Even as a young child, she was often asked to sing at public gatherings.
She married William Giroud Burt III shortly after completing high school with honors. She was active in the Presbyterian Church in Benton, Louisiana, where she taught Sunday School and served as a Girl Scout leader.
Margaret attended Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana, and entered LSU-Shreveport the year it opened. She later earned a BA degree from Northwest Louisiana University in Monroe, Louisiana, in preparation for her master’s degree in social work, which she received from Tulane University in New Orleans.
While living in New Orleans, she met the man who would become her husband, Stanley John Billson. They shared a long and happy marriage until his passing in 2013.
Margaret spent her entire career in and around the New Orleans area as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in a medical setting. She served children and their families through the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Handicapped Children’s Services, until her retirement in 2013.
Left to cherish her memory is her sister, Linda Sue Elliott; several brothers- and sisters-in-law; nieces and nephews; and beloved Godchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Stanley John Billson; her parents, Frank and Lorene Elliott; her brother, Thomas Charles Elliott; and her sister, Mary Virginia Eastman.
A special thank you to Dr. Leslie Sewell, her physician and friend, and to the close friends and neighbors who were like family to her.
The family suggests memorials may be made to St. Jude (www.stjude.org) or to the charity of your choice.
A funeral service for Anita Jane Bickham Phiffer, 72, will be held on Friday, January 23, 2026, at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Dr., Bossier City, Louisiana. Burial will follow at Rose-Neath Cemetery in Bossier City. A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Officiating the service will be Chaplain Austin Green.
Anita was born on October 6, 1953, to Billy and Frances Bickham in Shreveport, Louisiana, and passed away on Friday, January 16, 2026, in Bossier City, Louisiana.
Anita was a devoted wife, mother, and homemaker whose gentle spirit and caring nature touched everyone who knew her. She spent many years as a housewife, pouring her heart into raising her family and creating a warm, loving home. Earlier in her life, she worked as a Bank Records Custodian, where she was known for her reliability and attention to detail.
On November 18, 1988, she married the love of her life, Steven B. Phiffer. They shared 38 years of marriage, marked by deep devotion and unwavering commitment. Steven remained faithfully by her side throughout her time in the nursing home, never missing a single day to visit her.
Anita was also a remarkably creative woman. She had a natural gift for adding beauty and thoughtfulness to everyday life, and she expressed her creativity in ways that brought joy to those around her.
She will be remembered for her gentle heart, her steady love for her family, and the kindness she extended to all.
Anita was preceded in death by her parents, Billy and Frances Bickham; son, Christopher Phiffer; sister, Susan Bickham; and brother, Dale Bickham. Left to cherish her memory are her beloved husband, Steven Phiffer; daughter, Sally Kolb, and husband, Tyson; son, Jason Mabry, and wife, Stephanie; sister, Judy Harlon, and husband, Terry; and brother, Ken Bickham, and wife, Alisa. She is also survived by numerous extended family members and dear friends.
Honoring Anita as pallbearers are Jason Mabry, Tyson Kolb, Jonathan Kolb, Terry Harlon, Kris Johnson, and Mike Gazawaneh.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the staff of Pilgrim Manor Nursing Home and Bristol Hospice for the wonderful, loving care given to Anita during her time with them.
Paula was born in 1896. In 1903, when Paula was six years old, her father died from a lung hemorrhage. Her mother was left with only his meager pension to raise Paula and her brother. In 1907, when Paula was 11 years old and her brother was 18, her mother died from breast cancer. The government provided them with a small pension to ease their burden. Paula’s brother, a romantic, idealistic, and fantasy-oriented teenager, was away at the time of his mother’s death studying fine arts. He dreamed of being a famous artist. He wanted everyone around the world to know his name. He had little money, but he knew he would have better opportunities to earn money than his 11-year-old sister, so he selflessly transferred his share of the pension to her. Paula’s brother sometimes sold a watercolor painting or two to get by, but most of the time he took whatever manual labor job he could get.
For years, Paula and her brother had little contact. When they saw each other they bickered, as most siblings do but they had genuine affection for each other. Paula’s brother struggled to build his reputation as a painter. They both took menial jobs just to survive. He fought during World War I but never gave up on his dream. After the war, he tried to build his reputation as an artist again, but few people had money to buy non-essential items such as watercolor paintings. Paula’s brother began working in politics, but continued painting. When Paula lost her job because of her connection to him, he began sending her money each month to help. He fought during World War II and painted when he had the opportunity. Paula’s brother considered himself, “an artist by nature and not a politician.” He said, “I will end my life as an artist.” In April 1945, Paula saw her brother for the last time. During their visit, they talked for a short time. When it was time for her to leave, he gave her a large amount of money. Two weeks later, he died from a gunshot wound.
Paula lived off the money that her brother had given her for several years and then returned to menial jobs for survival. She died in poverty in 1960. At the time of Paula’s brother’s death, few people knew him as an artist. Now, practically everyone knows his name. His paintings are in collections all over the world and often fetch high prices when they come up for auction. Sometimes, people protest the sale of his paintings. Most people are interested in his paintings, not because of their beauty, but for another reason entirely. For several decades, Paula Wolff kept a secret. She was living under an assumed last name. In the 1930s, Paula’s brother insisted that she adopt the last name Wolff to shield her from his reputation. He was still protecting her. You see, Paula’s real last name was Hitler. Her brother was Adolf.
Sources:
1. Daily News (Sydney, Australia), September 22, 1939, p.1.
2. The Daily News Leader (Staunton, Virginia), November 22, 1992, p.8.
Louis S. Kelly December 22, 1933 – January 19, 2026 Service: Thursday, January 22, 2026, 10am at Centuries Memorial Park, Shreveport.
Constance B. Altdoerffer July 1, 1929 – January 18, 2026 Service: Friday, January 23, 2026, 11:30am at Osborn Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Juanita “Nita” Cawthon September 2, 1926 – January 18, 2026 Service: Monday, January 26, 2026, 1pm at Forest Park Cemetery, Shreveport.
Anita Jane Bickham Phiffer October 6, 1953 – January 16, 2026 Service: Friday, January 23, 2026, 11am at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Bossier City.
Dewayne Pierce August 9, 1964 – January 16, 2026 Service: Thursday, January 22, 2026, 11am at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Bossier City.
John E. Woodruff June 19, 1939 – January 16, 2026 Service: Tuesday, January 20, 2026,
David E. Losey March 6, 1949 – January 15, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 24, 2026, 11am at Rose Park Baptist Church, Shreveport.
James W. Seals October 16, 1936 – January 15, 2026 Service: Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 2pm at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Bossier City.
Anna Lee Wheeler March 14, 2011 – January 15, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 31, 2026, 2:30pm at WK Palmetto Clubhouse, Benton.
Paul R. Quigley May 19, 1941 – January 14, 2026 Service: Wednesday, January 21, 2026, 11am at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Bossier City.
Alma Ruth Taylor December 24, 1933 – January 14, 2026 Service: Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 11am at Forest Park West Cemetery, Shreveport.
Jack L. Huffman December 22, 1945 – January 13, 2026 Service: Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 11am at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Corean Davenport Housley October 17, 1927 — January 13, 2026 Service: Friday, January 23, 2026, 1pm at Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery, Shreveport.
Roderick Daneil Knowles July 4, 1971 – January 13, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 24, 2026, 11am at Our Lady Of The Blessed Sacrament Church, Shreveport.
Lilton Greggs, Jr. May 21, 1953 – January 12, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 24, 2026, 1pm at Heavenly Gates Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Sandra “Sandy” Stewart September 14, 1948 — January 11, 2026 Service: Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 1pm at Westview Christian Church, Shreveport.
Jason Lamar Turnage April 21, 1977 — January 11, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 24, 2026, 11am at Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Rosa Mae Milton May 23, 1922 – January 9, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 24, 2026, 2pm at Morning Star Baptist Church, Shreveport.
Yusef Ahmed-Lasana August 26, 1949 – January 8, 2026 Service: Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 12:30 p.m. at NWLA Veterans Cemetery, Keithville.
Margaret Ann Billson November 23, 1941 — January 5, 2026 Service: Saturday, February 7, 2026, 1pm at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Bossier City.
John Richard Craig July 7, 1948 – January 4, 2026 Service: Friday, January 23, 2026, 9am at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Reginald Van Dudley April 19, 1965 – January 4, 2026 Service: Friday, January 23, 2026, 1pm at Stoner Hill Baptist Church, Shreveport.
Willie Clearance Jackson, Jr. December 24, 1945 – January 2, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 24, 2026, 12pm at Bilberry Park & Recreation, Shreveport.
Jarvus N. Bounds December 11, 1941 – December 31, 2025 Service: Saturday, February 7, 2026, 12pm at Kingston Road Baptist Church, Shreveport.
Roland H. Turner, Jr. September 10, 1957 – December 31, 2025 Service: Saturday, January 24, 2026,
Davina DeSapio June 29, 1967 – December 29, 2025 Service: Saturday, January 24, 2026, 2pm at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, 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.)
The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, through Community Relations and Crime Prevention, is launching Stop With the Excuses, a call to action for parents and guardians of at-risk youth to intervene early before risky behavior leads to long-term consequences. The program focuses on the critical role parents play in influencing their children’s behavior.
Participants will receive practical guidance on setting firm limits, enforcing consequences, improving communication, and identifying early warning signs. The class also emphasizes the importance of positive parental involvement and consistent expectations as key tools in keeping youth on a safer path.
The class will be held:
Wednsday, January 28, 2026
10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
1501 Corporate Drive Shreveport, LA 71107
Parents and guardians are encouraged to attend and take advantage of this opportunity to gain resources, support, and strategies that can make a lasting difference. For more information or assistance, contact Community Relations and Crime Prevention at 318-681-0869.
“I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.
“Five score years ago a great American in whose symbolic shadow we stand today signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree is a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity. But 100 years later the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later the life of the Negro is still badly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination.
“One hundred years later the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself in exile in his own land. So we’ve come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.
“In a sense we’ve come to our nation’s capital to cash a check. When the architects of our Republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men—yes, black men as well as white men—would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. . . .
“We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protests to degenerate into physical violence. . . . The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to distrust all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny.
“. . . We cannot walk alone. And as we walk we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, “When will you be satisfied?” We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality.
“We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities.
“We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro’s basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their adulthood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating “For Whites Only.”
“We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and the Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote.
“No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream. . . .
“I say to you today, my friends, though, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up, live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”
“I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave-owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream . . . I have a dream that one day in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
“I have a dream today . . .
“This will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with new meaning. “My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim’s pride, from every mountain side, let freedom ring.” And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania. Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado. Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.
“But not only that. Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia. Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee. Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi, from every mountain side. Let freedom ring . . .
“When we allow freedom to ring—when we let it ring from every city and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, “Free at last, Free at last, Great God a-mighty, We are free at last.”
Local volunteers marked Louisiana Arbor Day on Jan. 16 by planting new trees in the town of Plain Dealing as part of a beautification effort led by Keep Bossier Beautiful.
According to the Bossier Parish Police Jury, 20 volunteers planted 25 dogwood trees at several locations throughout the community, including Plain Dealing City Hall, the city park, the community center, and around the town’s welcome sign. The tree-planting event was held in partnership with the City of Plain Dealing.
The project was made possible through a grant from the Arbor Day Foundation and aimed to enhance public spaces while promoting environmental stewardship within the community.
While National Arbor Day is observed in April, Louisiana celebrates Arbor Day in January due to the state’s climate. January is considered one of the most favorable times of year for planting trees, allowing roots to establish before warmer temperatures arrive.
Organizers said the effort reflects an ongoing commitment to community beautification and sustainability across Bossier Parish.
The City of Shreveport will kick off the Mardi Gras season with the Krewe of Harambee Parade on Monday, Jan. 19.
The parade is scheduled to roll at 1 p.m. and will follow a route through downtown Shreveport. It will begin at the intersection of Milam Street and Common Street, traveling east before turning north onto Edwards Street. The route will then head west along Texas Street. Upon reaching Common Street, the parade will jog north to Sprague Street before concluding at Douglas Street.
City officials announced that the entire parade route will be closed to traffic beginning at noon to ensure public safety during the event. Motorists are advised to plan accordingly and avoid the area during the closure.
Residents and visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and gather along the route to celebrate the start of Mardi Gras in Shreveport. The parade marks one of the first major Carnival events of the season in the city.
The Krewe of Harambee Parade is open to the public and designed as a family-friendly celebration of culture, community, and Carnival tradition.
CASHING IN: Oklahoma’s defense left a crease that Flau’jae Johnson took advantage of Sunday in a 23-point performance. (Photo courtesy LSU Athletics)
By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
NORMAN, Okla. – The start of every LSU women’s basketball practice is spent working on something often forgotten in games filled with nothing but three-pointers and aggressive drives.
“The first 15 minutes, we’re shooting mid-range jump shots off side ball screens, and off relocation,” Tigers’ associate head coach Bob Starkey said.
It just so happened the soft spot in No. 13 Oklahoma’s defense was in the lane 12 to 15 feet from the basket.
And it’s where LSU guards Flau’jae Johnson and Jada Richard held a Sunday afternoon picnic, feasting on an assortment of mid-range jumpers, scoring 23 and 21 points respectively in the 6th-ranked Tigers’ 91-72 SEC road win.
The victory by the Tigers (17-2 overall, 3-2 SEC) was not only their third straight win in league play after an 0-2 start, but it also marked the first time a Kim Mulkey-coached LSU team won consecutive games over top-15-ranked teams since the 2022 Final Four when the Tigers won their first national championship.
Johnson, who hit a pair of 3-pointers in a 22-3 run that flipped a 13-4 deficit in the game’s first three minutes to the Tigers’ first double-digit lead of the day, credited Richard for her play at both ends of the court.
“Jada controlled the pace,” said Johnson of sophomore starting point guard Richard, a former 2024 Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year from Opelousas who has emerged as the Tigers’ undisputed floor leader. “She really controlled the whole dynamic on defense.”
The Sooners (14-3, 2-3 SEC), who suffered their third straight conference loss, had more turnovers (18 leading to 21 LSU points) than two-point baskets (14). LSU’s defense, which produced nine steals, held OU to 36.6 field goal shooting.
Then, in the battle of the No. 1-ranked (Oklahoma) and No. 3-ranked (LSU) rebounding teams in the country, the Tigers’ collective effort from their guards gave LSU a 48-38 domination on the boards.
Johnson had 10 rebounds, Richard had 5, junior Mikaylah Williams had 10 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists, junior South Carolina transfer MLaysia Fulwiley contributed 12 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals and true freshman Grace Knox added 12 points.
Notre Dame sophomore transfer forward Katie Koval played a huge role off the bench for the Tigers. After 6-2 East Carolina transfer Amiya Joiner immediately couldn’t physically handle taller (6-4) and wider OU senior center Raegan Beers, the 6-5 Koval was able to bang with Beers. She scored 9 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and helped Beers get into first-half foul trouble.
Beers finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Oklahoma senior guard Payton Verhulst led the Sooners with 21 points. She had five of OU’s 12 3-pointers.
“Your offense is going to be better if we rebound and we don’t foul,” OU coach Jennie Baranczyk said. “We’re going nowhere in this league if we don’t rebound. We don’t box out, and we’re exposed. It’s where a lot of our fouls came from.”
LSU led 24-19 after the first quarter, 45-35 at halftime, and 70-52 at the end of the third quarter.
The Tigers’ brief moment of trepidation came when two consecutive Verhulst 3’s started an 8-0 OU run that cut LSU’s lead to 13 points at 76-63 with 5:28 left.
LSU’s response was a 9-0 run, keyed by two straight steals by Fulwiley, leading to her layup and 1 of 2 free throws. The Tigers, who made 29 of 33 free throws compared to the Sooners’ 8 of 12, swished their last eight free throws, including four by Richard in the final 62 seconds.
“I was taking what the defense gave us,” said Richard, who scored a collegiate career high. “I have great players around me, so with them on the court I’m going always be open.”
Starkey, who was filling in at the postgame press conference for Mulkey, who was tending to a personal family matter, praised Richard for her on-the-court growth this season.
“Jada is the type of player right now that we thought she was going to be,” Starkey said. “She was a very competitive defensive player in high school and also quick off the bounce and could shoot the basketball. It was just a matter of her transferring that to the collegiate level.
“But now, she has a voice on the floor. She doesn’t have a problem saying something to Flau’jae or Mikaylah or any of our players in terms of getting them in the right place or telling them something that they need to do.”
LSU plays next at Texas A&M on Thursday at 8 p.m. before opening a three-game homestand vs. Florida on Jan. 26, Arkansas on Jan. 29, and No. 21 Alabama on February 1.
BACK FOR MORE: LSUS assistant coach Jordan Schwellenbach talks to pitcher Brock Lucas on the mound Monday during a Pilots’ scrimmage. Lucas is one of LSUS’s most experienced players returning from last year’s unbeaten national champions. (Photo by KYLIE RICHTER, LSUS Media Relations)
By MATT VINES, LSUS Communications Specialist
The first perfect season at any college baseball level is history, and while the LSU Shreveport baseball team can still add to its record-breaking 59 game-winning streak, that’s certainly not the driving focus when LSUS opens the season Friday against Tabor College to begin a three-game home series.
For a team that welcomes in 30 new players, learning playing styles and developing a cohesion that underpinned the 2025 group is of more importance.
The goal remains the same – make another trip to Lewiston, Idaho, and hoist the program’s second NAIA national championship trophy.
“The more and more you get away from it and get away from not having that (2025 group) around, you tell the guys, ‘That year is over with, but it’s not ever going away,” said LSUS coach Brad Neffendorf, the 2025 Skip Bertman Coach of the Year. “We’re focused on this year with 30 new players – we’re very talented, but we’ve been getting the new guys to learn the system.
“We’re trying to create something special again with another special group of people.”
The Pilots have more 2025 starters on their coaching staff (volunteer assistants Austin Gomm and Jose Sallorin) than they do on their 2026 roster (zero), but the cupboard isn’t bare of returning players.
Reliever Brock Lucas tallied four saves with a 2-0 record in his 11 appearances, which included starting the clinching game of the NAIA World Series.
Lucas said the team put the perfect season on the back burner on the first day of fall practice.
“Last year was pretty cool, and it’s not that you really move on from it, but you open a new chapter and see what you can do with the new guys to build off what happened,” Lucas said.
David Hankins is the team’s winningest returning pitcher with a 5-0 record in 18 appearances (one start).
“Trying to replicate an undefeated season is kind of crazy,” Hankins said. “With all the new guys we brought in, trying to teach them how we do things, there’s a very specific way of how we practice and play.
“Everything we do, we do our way. It’s not easy to learn if you’re just coming into it. We’re getting them on board and having that common goal.”
Pitchers Camden Stephens and Calvin Shepherd combined for three wins in 20 appearances.
Infielder Carlos Vega and outfielder Bula White each recorded more than 40 at-bats with a combined 38 runs scored.
Those six returners account for the lion’s share of LSUS’s returning stats (14 returners overall), but the incoming recruiting class brings their experience from far and wide.
Eleven players have experience at the four-year college level, which includes part-time starters from Division I institutions like Virginia Commonwealth (Spencer Sullivan), Eastern Kentucky (Nazir Mendez) and Makana Olaso, who has starting experience at San Jose State from 2022.
Pitcher Robert Lastra (18 appearances and two saves) played a key role in Bethune-Cookman’s bullpen.
Brett Justice collected 10 home runs and 41 RBIs on a Mid-America Christian bunch that played in the NAIA Regional at LSUS this past season.
Mix those players in with 19 guys who excelled in the junior college ranks, and the competition has been fierce this fall for student-athletes to carve out their roles.
“I don’t know if (the perfect season) made recruiting easier, but what it did is get you into more conversations and get you in more doors,” Neffendorf said. “Recruiting is still recruiting, and you have to wear it out and use your contacts, your networks, and timing.
“Kids did tend to respond more quickly and were a little easier to get on the phone this offseason. This is a talented class that we brought in.”
LSUS’s first opponent – Tabor College – isn’t just any foe.
The Bluejays came the closest to handing LSUS a loss this past season as the Pilots needed three ninth-inning runs to secure an 8-7 walk-off win for a 10-0 start.
Tabor will get three chances to end LSUS’s winning streak – Friday at 5 p.m. and a Saturday doubleheader beginning at noon.
On Friday, fans have a chance to take a picture with the NAIA championship trophy and grab player autographs. Don’t just watch the game but test your own baseball mettle with a pitching radar gun and hitting bets. Kids can run the bases following the game.
The Pilots, who are ranked No. 1 in the NAIA preseason poll, play 14 of their first 18 games at home with the other four still in the state of Louisiana (at the Cajun Collision event in Sterlington).
Eight of those games come against preseason Top-25 teams, including No. 11 William Carey, No. 4 Hope International, No. 25 Central Methodist, No. 19 Mid-America Christian, No. 12 Missouri Baptist and a three-game set against No. 15 Arizona Christian.
DOMINANT: Hayden Brittingham (4) scored 38 and grabbed 12 rebounds Saturday as LSUS posted its 12th straight conference victory. (Photo courtesy LSUS Athletics)
JOURNAL SPORTS
Hayden Brittingham erupted for 38 points and Emareyon McDonald poured in 31 Saturday as the LSU Shreveport Pilots blasted visiting Texas A&M University–San Antonio, 113-84, to stay unbeaten through 12 Red River Athletic Conference games.
The Pilots improved to 15-3 overall while the Jaguars dropped to 4-14 overall and 3-9 in league action.
LSUS led 52-39 at halftime and took complete control after intermission. Brittingham opened the second half with a string of finishes in the paint, and the Pilots’ pressure defense forced turnovers that quickly turned into points on the other end. The Pilots stretched the lead past 30 midway through the half.
Brittingham recorded his eighth double-double, collecting 12 rebounds to go along with four assists and four steals. McDonald delivered a standout all-around performance with nine rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Thaddeus Johnson added 17 points and nine rebounds, helping anchor the Pilots’ inside presence.
LSUS shot 57.5 percent from the field and committed just eight turnovers.
LSUS WOMEN ALSO PERFECT IN RRAC: An explosive opening quarter and steady execution on both ends of the floor lifted the Pilots to a 71-63 win over one of the RRAC’s stronger teams, Texas A&M University–San Antonio.
The victory moved the Pilots to 16-2 overall and 12-0 in RRAC play. TAMUSA dropp to 13-5 overall and 10-2 in conference action.
LSU Shreveport set the tone early, racing out to a 25-6 lead after the first quarter behind sharp perimeter shooting and relentless offensive rebounding. The Pilots carried that momentum into the second quarter, building a 46-14 halftime advantage. TAMUSA chipped away in the second half, but LSUS never allowed the Jaguars to close the gap enough to shift control.
Selma Markisic led the Pilots with 26 points, three rebounds, and three assists, pacing an offense that shot 46.6 percent from the field. Sami Slusarek tallied 15 points and seven rebounds, while Amandie Le’Etang recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
GENTS SPLIT ON ROAD: The Centenary men’s basketball team got a split of its Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference road games Friday and Saturday, beating Austin College and losing to Dallas Saturday, both by 68-63 scores..
The Gents (3-11, 2-4 SCAC) began with a win led by two freshmen. Natchitoches Central product Jaden Braden scoring 19 and Kane Broussard of Iowa (La.) added 17. Saturday, senior Quentin Beverly poured in 25.
LADIES TUMBLE AGAIN: The Centenary women’s basketball team lost 72-52 to the University of Dallas Crusaders on Saturday evening. Coupled with a 78-54 defeat Friday at Austin College, the Ladies (2-12, 1-5 SCAC) have now lost seven straight.
Born on April 23, 1985, the second “Smith” sister, Lindsay Clare, was a vibrant, tenacious, and unforgettable presence in the lives of all who knew her. She was a friend to countless throughout her life. During her formative years Lindsay attended All Saints’ Episcopal where she excelled in sports, especially soccer. Lindsay not only played soccer at Lees McRae College in Banner Elk, NC, she also sporadically joined the ski team. This was not a surprise to those who knew and loved her and her adventurous spirit. She was known for her natural sense of comedy and owning the room’s attention- making everyone laugh in the most ordinary moments. Her humor brought life and comfort to those around her. Lindsay loved the Lord professing her faith to many.
Lindsay lived her life to the fullest, embracing each day with joy and courage, and bravely serving the country she dearly loved. Lindsay served in the US Army as a surgical technician for twelve years. During this time, she deployed twice to Afghanistan, completed her jump master training, and served as a drill sergeant. Lindsay consistently followed excitement and never backed down from a challenge. Accompanied by the love of her life, Chris, she spent her final years being an amazing boy-mom to three stepsons and one son of her own. She loved deeply and was deeply loved in return.
Lindsay Clare is preceded in death by her mother and father, Richard and Liesa Smith. She is survived by her devoted husband, Chris Goodman, and his sons, Gunner, Landon, and Seth, her son, Axton Campbell, her sisters, Ledah Smith, Lacrissa Swan, and Leigh Sperier, as well as numerous nieces and nephews who love and cherish her dearly.
A graveside memorial service will be held January 30, 2026, at 11:30 AM at Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery. This will be followed by a Celebration of Life at Open Door Bible Church, located at 905 Swan Lake Rd. Bossier City, LA 71111.
Lindsay Clare Goodman will be remembered for her laughter, her love, and the joy she brought into every room she entered. She will be deeply missed and remembered by all. Her faith was a source of strength, and we take comfort in knowing she now rests peacefully in the arms of the Lord.
On Friday, January 16, 2026, we said goodbye (for now) to Carol Ann (Bard) Letsinger, who was born on April 3, 1947, in Vivian, Louisiana, to Sam W. Bard and Evelyn Hudak Bard.
Carol lived with a steady kind of strength, the kind you didn’t always notice at first because she made it look natural. She built a life rooted in devotion, family, and faithful follow-through. If you ever wondered what quiet love looks like in action, you could see it in Carol.
On August 20, 1967, she married Ralph William Letsinger Jr. Their story began when she was a freshman and he was a senior at Kenedy High School in Kenedy, Texas, and together they shared 58 years of marriage, partnership, and friendship. Carol valued connection and community throughout her life and was a longtime member of Beta Sigma Phi, as well as a faithful participant in multiple Bunco clubs over the years.
Carol’s career reflected her versatility and work ethic. She served as one of the first staff secretaries at Stroman High School, worked as a price checker for H-E-B, and held positions supporting doctors at Gulf Bend and as secretary of the Victoria Medical Society. She later became HR Director at Gulf Bend, worked for the Texas Lottery, served in the Trust Department at Victoria Bank & Trust, and then spent the final 25 years of her career as the Office Manager at Alexander & Marek, CPAs. Wherever she worked, people counted on Carol because she was capable, consistent, and quietly excellent at making things run well.
While working, Carol and Ralph raised two sons: Bard Ingram Letsinger, and Brek William Letsinger. Later, Carol became Nana to her grandchildren, Braiden, Jack, Kate, and Kailee, and she loved playing games and baking with them. Carol also loved her dogs fiercely, always rescue dogs, and she consistently supported local animal adoption efforts.
Christmas was one of Carol’s favorite times of year. She loved decorating the house and the yard, and she was known for her cinnamon hard candy, peanut butter and chocolate buckeyes, and Christmas sugar cookies. She recruited help the way all great moms and Nanas do: the boys first, and later the grandkids, all lined up to decorate cookies and “taste test” along the way.
After retiring, Carol got to live out one of her dreams of traveling, not just in the states but around the world. Some of her favorite places included Milan, Amsterdam, Venice and New York City. Still, her favorite destination was always Walt Disney World in Florida. She traveled so often that staff at the Marriott at Houston’s Intercontinental Airport and Disney’s Beach Club Resort knew her by name. Carol also became the go-to Disney planner for many of her friends, happily helping families plan trips and make the most of their time together.
Carol loved coffee and was a devoted member of Fellowship of the Crossroads, where she especially enjoyed the church coffee shop, a ministry she had a large part in helping become a reality. Her faith was lived out not loudly, but faithfully, in the way she loved people, served others, and showed up day after day.
Carol was preceded in death by her parents, Sam W. Bard and Evelyn Hudak Bard. She is survived by her beloved husband, Ralph William Letsinger Jr.; her sister, Sandra Johnson of Bulverde, Texas; her sons, Bard Letsinger and wife Mollie of Victoria, TX, and Brek Letsinger and wife Ericca of Victoria, TX; and her grandchildren, Braiden Letsinger and wife Angel of Conroe, TX, Jack Letsinger of Austin, TX, Kate Meador and husband Logan of San Antonio, TX, and Kailee Jaksch and husband Trevor of Round Rock, TX, and one great-grandchild expected in July 2026.
Visitation will be at Grace Funeral Home at 2401 Houston Hwy, on Friday, January 23 from 6:00-8:00 PM. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, January 24, 1:00 PM at Fellowship of the Crossroads, 597 Haynes Road in Victoria with the Rev. Scott Weatherford and Rev. Bard Letsinger presiding.
Interment will be at Memory Gardens. Pallbearers will be Braiden Letsinger, Jack Letsinger, Trevor Jaksch, Logan Meador, Bobby Schneider, Canyon Schneider, Troy Mcintosh, and Kyle Kizer.
The family would like to express special thanks to Carol’s care team, especially Kelly Rankin, Elizabeth Gainer, Kelsey Laredo, Alyson Plant, Kim Wagner, and Brittany Wagner, along with the staff at Sodalis Assisted Living Facility and Hospice of South Texas, for their compassion, care, and kindness. The family is also deeply grateful to the many friends, church family, and loved ones who surrounded Carol and Ralph with prayers, encouragement, meals, visits, and steady support over the past few years.
Carol’s life was a gift, faithfully given. Her love lives on in her family, her friendships, and in the countless ordinary moments she made extraordinary simply by being who she was.
Beginnings are tricky, but here we are—fresh page, blinking cursor, and a head full of questions. I’m Ida B. Torn, a lifelong Southerner from Kenner, Louisiana, who’s spent years working in newsrooms, design studios, and public service. I’ve seen my share of life’s chaos and comedy—and learned that sometimes, folks just need straight answers and a little laughter along the way.
John E. Woodruff June 19, 1939 – January 16, 2026 Service: Tuesday, January 20, 2026,
David E. Losey March 6, 1949 – January 15, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 24, 2026, 11am at Rose Park Baptist Church, Shreveport.
James W. Seals October 16, 1936 – January 15, 2026 Service: Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 2pm at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Bossier City.
Alma Ruth Taylor December 24, 1933 – January 14, 2026 Service: Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 11am at Forest Park West Cemetery, Shreveport.
Jack L. Huffman December 22, 1945 – January 13, 2026 Service: Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 11am at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Lilton Greggs, Jr. May 21, 1953 – January 12, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 24, 2026, 1pm at Heavenly Gates Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Corean Davenport Housley October 17, 1927 — January 13, 2026 Service: Friday, January 23, 2026, 1pm at Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery, Shreveport.
Roderick Daneil Knowles July 4, 1971 – January 13, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 24, 2026, 11am at Our Lady Of The Blessed Sacrament Church, Shreveport.
Rosa Mae Milton May 23, 1922 – January 9, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 24, 2026, 2pm at Morning Star Baptist Church, Shreveport.
Yusef Ahmed-Lasana August 26, 1949 – January 8, 2026 Service: Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 12:30 p.m. at NWLA Veterans Cemetery, Keithville.
John Richard Craig July 7, 1948 – January 4, 2026 Service: Friday, January 23, 2026, 9am at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Reginald Van Dudley April 19, 1965 – January 4, 2026 Service: Friday, January 23, 2026, 1pm at Stoner Hill Baptist Church, Shreveport.
Willie Clearance Jackson, Jr. December 24, 1945 – January 2, 2026 Service: Saturday, January 24, 2026, 12pm at Bilberry Park & Recreation, Shreveport.
Roland H. Turner, Jr. September 10, 1957 – December 31, 2025 Service: Saturday, January 24, 2026,
Davina DeSapio June 29, 1967 – December 29, 2025 Service: Saturday, January 24, 2026, 2pm at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, 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.)
Louisiana Department of Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple issued a notice of license revocation and $25,000 fine to Victor Llanito and his Shreveport agency, SBC Bail Bonds LLC on Jan. 13.
The Louisiana Department of Insurance (LDI) issued the revocation and fine after finding that Llanito and SBC Bail Bonds LLC violated Louisiana’s unfair trade practice laws and receiving information to support the action. Llanito is alleged to have used agency funds to facilitate human trafficking and to have committed false imprisonment.
“I took this action in the interest of protecting the public,” said Commissioner Temple. “I’m grateful for the hard work of the LDI’s Office of Insurance Fraud that resulted in the revocation of his license.”
Llanito and SBC Bail Bonds LLC were previously served with a summary suspension in December. The LDI received reports that Llanito and SBC Bail Bonds continued to engage in the business of issuing bail bonds after the suspension to the detriment and endangerment of Louisiana citizens.
Llanito and SBC Bail Bonds LLC have 30 days from the time of service to request an administrative appeal or the action becomes final.
Anyone who believes they have been defrauded or witnessed insurance fraud can report their suspicions by phone at (225) 342-4956 or online at http://www.ldi.la.gov/reportfraud.
A Bossier City man on probation for domestic abuse battery with serious body injury was convicted in Caddo District Court on Jan. 13 of cocaine possession.
Tresmone Devoue Kennedy, 35, was found responsively guilty of simple possession of a schedule II narcotic by the six-woman jury in District Judge Erin Leigh Waddell-Garrett’s court after deliberations that took less than an hour.
Through testimony from arresting officers, investigators and physical evidence, jurors learned that on March 31, 2023, Kennedy was stopped for a traffic violation in the 1600 Block of Centenary Boulevard and was found to be in possession of a digital scale, packaging materials and just over 5.2 grams of cocaine. He also admitted to possessing and ingesting cocaine, a Schedule II CDS.
When Kennedy returns for sentencing on March 19, 2026, he faces a prison term of from one to five years in prison with or without hard labor.
He was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Briana C. Spivey, Erica Jefferson and Jasmine Cooper. He was defended by Lauren Anderson.
The first regular agenda meeting of 2026 marked a significant transition for the Bossier Parish Police Jury, with the selection of new leadership and key appointments to guide the parish through another year of growth and progress.
Outgoing Jury President Glenn Benton officially passed the gavel to incoming Jury President Tom Salzer, District 11 Police Juror. Salzer presented Benton with a commemorative plaque in recognition of his leadership and service during the past year. “We are excited for Tom this year,” said Benton. “As always, he will have my support and the full support of the Jury as he leads us this year.”
Tom Salzer, who was appointed to the Police Jury on November 22, 2016, following the passing of long-serving juror Wayne Hammack, expressed his enthusiasm for the year ahead. “This will be my second time serving as president of the jury, and I am excited about the work we did last year, but I am looking forward to the work we will do this year,” said Salzer. “My goal is to make sure we use all the avenues we have, whether it’s federal or state dollars, to help move the parish forward, so that we can continue to build on the explosive growth we are experiencing here in Bossier Parish.”
Joining Salzer in leadership is District 5 Juror Julianna Parks, who was elected Vice-President. “I’m honored to have been elected by my colleagues to help lead the jury this year,” Parks said. “I look forward to working with the President, the other jurors, and our dedicated staff to solve problems and improve the lives of residents in Bossier Parish.”
In addition to electing new officers, the jury made several key staff appointments: • Dr. Ken Ward was reappointed as Parish Administrator for a one-year term. • Mrs. Stacie Fernandez was reappointed as Parish Treasurer for a two-year term. • Mrs. Ashley Ezell was appointed as the new Parish Secretary for a two-year term.
The meeting also included the unanimous passage of several agenda items aimed at promoting the health, safety, and well-being of Bossier Parish residents.
For more information about the Bossier Parish Police Jury and upcoming meetings, please visit http://www.bossierparishla.gov.
