Elizabeth “Ann” Hingst, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and cherished friend to many, passed away peacefully on June 14, 2026, at the age of 82 in Shreveport, LA, surrounded by the unconditional love of her family and the warmth of cherished memories that reflected a life well-lived.
Ann lived life on life’s terms — unapologetically, authentically, and with a spirit entirely her own, embracing each day with a quiet confidence born of knowing exactly who she was and what mattered most to her. She was not an early riser, nor was she one to keep a strict schedule, preferring instead to let the day unfold naturally, guided by her own sense of timing and comfort. Time ticked according to her clock, and that’s exactly how she lived — in her own rhythm, on her own terms, savoring moments without rushing, finding joy in the simple pleasures, and never feeling pressured to conform to anyone else’s pace or expectations.
She wasn’t one for pleasantries or small talk. But when Ann opened her door to you, she opened her heart. Her home was a place where you could be yourself, where the coffee was hot, the Coke was real (no ice), and the patio was always waiting. If you were lucky enough to spend time in her world, you knew exactly where to get your drink — and you knew to take the trash out on your way.
For Ann, it was never “too late” for us to drop by. Whether it was morning coffee or a late-night conversation, Ann welcomed you into her space without hesitation. She valued honesty above all else. If you asked her opinion, you’d get the truth — not the sugar-coated version, but the real, unfiltered answer. If a blouse didn’t look nice, she’d tell you, because to her, honesty was a form of love.
Ann was a strong-willed, fiercely independent woman who taught those around her that strength isn’t about being loud, but about standing firm in who you are. She showed us that life is best lived with authenticity, a little stubbornness, and a lot of heart.
Ann is survived by a large and loving family, including her three children, Christopher K. Hingst and his life partner, Christine Forest; John Eric Hingst and his wife, Karen Hingst; and Angela R. Moses and her husband, Troy Moses. There is nothing that compares to the pride Ann had for her three children; she loved each of them dearly. In addition, Ann leaves behind eight treasured grandchildren who will carry her memory forward: Nichole Goodwin, Brittney Springer, Matthew Moses, Keith Hingst, John JR Hingst, Rebecca Ables, and Kara Johnson. Ann is survived by her numerous cherished great-grandchildren, each of whom brought her immense joy. Ann is fondly remembered by her brother Charles Carraway and sister Doris Turnosky.
She was preceded in death by her loving parents, Jesse and Mamie Carraway; Brothers: Bill Carraway, Johnny Carraway, Durwood Carraway, and Clinton Carraway; Sisters: Gladys Stephens, Essie Chapman, and Fannie Carraway.
Ann’s coffee chats, candid wisdom, unhurried pace, and the comfort of her patio will be deeply missed — but her legacy will live on in the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing her.
The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office recognized the service and accomplishments of its deputies during the agency’s 2nd Annual Sheriff’s Banquet held June 12 at Sam’s Town Casino.
The event honored deputies for their dedication to the Sheriff’s Office, service to the community, and acts of bravery performed in the line of duty. The evening included an awards ceremony, dinner, fellowship, and entertainment.
Sheriff’s Office officials said the banquet serves as an opportunity to recognize the men and women who work to protect the residents of Caddo Parish and acknowledge their professionalism, commitment, and sacrifices.
The agency expressed appreciation to all deputies for their continued service and dedication to keeping Caddo Parish communities safe.
The Caddo Parish School District joined local officials June 15 in celebrating Devarjaye “DJ” Daniel as he was sworn in as an honorary judge in Caddo Parish.
DJ was diagnosed with brain and spinal cancer in 2018 and has undergone 13 surgeries. Despite the challenges he has faced, he has become an inspiration to people across the country through his determination, positivity and commitment to achieving his goals.
One of those goals was to be sworn into 1,000 law enforcement agencies. DJ has surpassed that milestone, earning a Guinness World Record after being sworn in by more than 1,350 agencies nationwide.
The ceremony included remarks from DJ and his father, Theodis Daniel, as community leaders gathered to recognize his achievements and resilience.
Caddo Parish School Superintendent Keith Burton said it was an honor to witness the ceremony and hear from DJ and his father as the parish celebrated the teenager’s remarkable journey and accomplishments.
The Bossier City Police Department is recognizing one of its officers for assisting a resident during recent flooding in the city.
According to the department, Corporal Jeter entered floodwaters to help a stranded woman reach safety as rising water impacted parts of Bossier City. His actions were captured by a bystander and later shared by the department.
Police officials said the rescue exemplifies the dedication and willingness of officers to respond wherever they are needed, even in hazardous conditions.
The department praised Corporal Jeter for putting the safety of others first and thanked him for his continued service to the citizens of Bossier City.
Residents across Caddo and Bossier parishes can expect a typical early summer weather pattern over the next several days, with warm temperatures, increasing humidity and periodic chances of showers and thunderstorms through the Juneteenth holiday and weekend.
Wednesday will begin mostly cloudy before becoming partly cloudy during the afternoon. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms is forecast later in the day, with highs reaching around 90 degrees. South winds of 10 to 15 mph could gust as high as 25 mph. Rain chances remain low at 20 percent.
Conditions remain warm Wednesday night with lows in the mid-70s and only a slight chance of overnight showers and thunderstorms.
Rain chances increase Thursday as scattered thunderstorms become more likely during the afternoon. High temperatures will remain near 90 degrees under humid conditions, with a 40 percent chance of precipitation. Additional showers and thunderstorms are possible Thursday night as rain chances rise to 50 percent.
The greatest likelihood of rainfall arrives on Juneteenth. Forecasters are calling for a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with the highest chances occurring during the morning hours. Despite the increased cloud cover and rain potential, temperatures are still expected to climb into the upper 80s.
Showers and thunderstorms may linger into Friday night before a somewhat unsettled pattern continues through Saturday. Highs will remain around 90 degrees with a 40 percent chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms.
Weather conditions gradually improve during the second half of the weekend. While isolated showers and thunderstorms remain possible Sunday, rain chances decrease to 20 percent as temperatures rise into the lower 90s and skies become partly cloudy.
The warming trend continues into Monday, with highs expected to reach the mid-90s. Only isolated showers and thunderstorms are anticipated, with rain chances remaining at 20 percent.
While widespread severe weather is not currently expected, residents should remain alert for locally heavy downpours, lightning and brief gusty winds associated with afternoon thunderstorms. Those planning outdoor Juneteenth celebrations or weekend activities should monitor forecasts for changing conditions and be prepared to seek shelter if storms develop.
Fiddlers, from left, Gina Forsyth, Clancey Stewart and Joe Suchanek at the “Fiddlin’ with the Finest! A Celebration of Louisiana Folk Fiddling” program held Saturday at the LSU Rural Life Museum in Baton Rouge. The program was sponsored by the Louisiana Folklife Center at Northwestern State University to promote the annual Louisiana State Fiddle Championship which will be held in Natchitoches on July 18. Photo by Christina Brown.
BATON ROUGE – Attendees at the Louisiana Folklife Center program “Fiddlin’ with the Finest! A Celebration of Louisiana Folk Fiddling” on June 13 at the LSU Rural Life Museum in Baton Rouge were treated to a performance of fiddle musical artistry.
Several musicians participated, including two Louisiana State Fiddle Champions — Clancey Stewart (2018) and Joe Suchanek (2017 and 2024) — as well as accomplished fiddler Gina Forsyth. Dr. Shane Rasmussen, director of the Louisiana Folklife Center and professor of English at Northwestern State University, coordinated the event, which included a discussion of various aspects of the tradition and a Q&A with the audience. Live music throughout the program included examples of fiddle styles as well as a demonstration of triple fiddling. Stewart also displayed her skill at traditional clogging or flat foot dancing and Forsyth played fiddle sticks on Stewart’s fiddle while Stewart played.
The well-attended program was a prelude to the Louisiana State Fiddle Championship, which will be part of the 46th annual Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival to be held on the Northwestern State University campus on July 18. The Fiddle Championship will be held at 1 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Fiddlers may compete in the championship or non-championship, as well as in the twin fiddle category. Registration is at noon in the first-floor foyer outside Magale Recital Hall. The Fiddle Championship winner will perform on the main stage in Prather Coliseum at 5 p.m.
“The music performed at events like this one remind us how vital and vibrant Louisiana’s folk music can be,” said Rasmussen. “The Louisiana State Fiddle Championship provides important opportunities for fiddlers young and old to have fun while at the same time meet with peers, make new friends and showcase their talent. When folklife is alive and well people are happier, because our traditions give meaning to our lives as individuals and as a community.”
The event was hosted by the LSU Rural Life Museum and sponsored by the Louisiana Folklife Center at Northwestern. Support for the festival is provided by grants from the Cane River National Heritage Area, Inc., the Louisiana Division of the Arts Decentralized Arts Fund Program, the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, the Natchitoches Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, the Shreveport Regional Arts Council and the State of Louisiana. The views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in the program did not necessarily represent those of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities.
Friday night is just right for some midsummer magic under the moonlight, free for all, during next weekend’s Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration in Natchitoches.
Specifically, it’s going to happen next Friday evening into night, June 26, on the Rue Beauport stage bordering Cane River Lake smack dab in the middle of the City of Lights’ historic and beautiful downtown district. It’s the free Rockin’ Riverfest party presented by Rapides Regional Medical Center and Louisiana Propane Dealers.
The showcase act is Blue Crab Redemption, a Louisiana bred and fed alt blues/rock band whose major influences include Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, John Mayer, Stevie Wonder and The Eagles. Their sound is a raw, classic vibe from ghosts of legends past blended with the soulful influences of the modern rock era.
The opener is Connor Martin, a country artist passionate about creating music that inspires and connects. Recently, Martin has opened for Easton Corbin, Tyler Farr, Parker McCollum, and Keith Urban.
Good times will abound during the riverfront concert, which runs from 6 p.m. to 10:30. One of the highlights: at 9:15, the Hall’s impressive Class of 2026 will be introduced on stage, and celebrated with a 10-minute fireworks show set to sports-themed music over Cane River Lake. Then the music cranks up again for another hour of festivities.
And yes, you read correctly. It’s free to attend.
There will be food and beverage vendors – Girlines Home Cooking, Soulful Wings, Summer Snow To Go and for the grown-ups, Maggio’s, on the riverfront, and of course, Front Street’s always fun watering holes/restaurants are just a few steps away.
MOVE Sport and Spine will set up their sharp-looking apparel line for sale, and Hall of Fame gear will also be available.
It’s family friendly. A free interactive kids zone presented by the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans will include basketball, football, baseball games and inflatables for all ages to enjoy. NSU athletes will be on hand to help the kids have all the fun, and give away some basketballs.
If you want to beat the summer heat and enjoy a tasty collection of Louisiana foods and specialty refreshments, hurry and visit LaSportsHall.com to snap up some of the fast-disappearing $100 tickets to the VIP Taste of Tailgating presented by Hancock Whitney.
That party runs from 7-10 p.m. in the air-conditioned comfort of Mama’s Oyster House and Blues Room that will provide exclusive access to the 12-member 2026 Induction Class.
Join the fun and celebrate some of Louisiana’s sports greats, for free, on Friday evening, June 26, in downtown Natchitoches.
Rockin’ River Fest is one of three free events during the Induction Celebration, starting with the free Welcome Reception Thursday evening, June 25, from 5-7 in the Hall of Fame museum. It’s not a dress-up event, just a come eat and meet the inductees and check out the world-class museum at no charge. The other free event is the Saturday morning June 27 Saints & Pelicans LSHOF Junior Training Camp for kids presented by NRMC. Advance registration is necessary at LaSportsHall.com.
For information on all seven events during the June 25-27 Class of 2026 Induction Celebration, visit LaSportsHall.com or call 318-238-4255.
“In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha; she was always doing good and helping the poor.” – Acts 9:36
Last week momma wrote to tell me about her day, which included visiting our friend at the retirement home and baking three Italian crème cakes for somebody, I can’t remember who or how many.
Later it was another note that mentioned baking a cake for the Vacation Bible School teachers; my sister was on her way to check on her mother-in-law, whose husband was sick.
And I got in the mail my monthly newsletter from my uncle and aunt, stats and detailed updates about their ministry to the elderly and shut-in.
I don’t know what I was doing while they were up to all that. Cracking jokes and drinking coffee, most likely. Probably not doing anything of eternal value. Nothing like what Tabitha was doing, as recorded in Acts.
Tabitha was bona fide.
Tabitha was a disciple. She did not lead worship, or singing, or teach Bible study or serve on a committee. She might have done those things, but the way the text in Acts is worded, it leads me to believe she was “support personnel,” a behind-the-scenes force, stealthy to the masses, very visible to the wounded.
When she died, “widows stood around crying and showing him (Peter) the robes and other clothing that (Tabitha) had made while she was still with them.” (Acts 9: 39 NIV) Tabitha sowed the good seeds by sewing. By baking. Helping. Sweeping up.
At Peter’s request, God raised this valuable Jesus follower from the dead. “This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.” (Acts 9: 42 NIV)
It all matters. Sort of like baseball. Sort of like all sports. Sort of like living. The smallest things.
A broom. A mop. Needle and thread. A female disciple of 2,000 years ago, a cook and a seamstress, a maid and a patient ear, was no small fry. And neither are you. Your hands are those of Christ’s. Your hands serve his brothers and sisters, his Father’s sons and daughters.
In the kitchen and in the pulpit, in the laundry room or in the choir loft, we are never more like Christ than we when serve.
(artwork by CHRIS BROWN, Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame)
By TEDDY ALLEN, Written for the LSWA
(The scene is a cramped meeting room the size of the average American kitchen. Around a small oval table is a girl and two guys, including Scotty, the production manager, dressed in khaki and polo and youthful confidence. Yellow legal pads and paper cups of coffee are involved, pens and markers and laptops, the out-of-place, somewhat lonely Fresca. Scotty speaks …)
“Harvey and the new guy are a couple doors down in Development working on the script, polishing things up — Horatio’s doing some rewrites, a part or two that just didn’t feel right, you know? — but I wanted to get you up to speed on exactly where we are on the doc on Mike McConathy. So me and Larry felt we’d open this way …
“Hey Emmitt, please take a sec and skate down to PR and ask them to release that Bossier City native Mike McConathy, the winningest college basketball coach in state history, a prep All-American guard at Airline High and an honorable mention All-American guard for Louisiana Tech before launching a history-making coaching career at Bossier Parish Community College and then Northwestern State, will be enshrined in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Saturday night, June 27, at the Hall of Fame’s home in Natchitoches. Add that ticket information for the seven events over three days of festivities, June 25-27, is available at the LaSportsHall.com or by calling by calling 318-238-4255 …, and remind everyone it’s always sold out so get on the horn and let’s have some fun honoring the Class of 2026. Appreciate. Take off. Come back with an expresso or don’t come back …
“So Coach Mike is driving his truck down a two-lane road where the trees touch over the middle stripe. Got the Location crew scouting for the perfect spot. He’s right at home, happy as a flea at a dog show because this is the man’s wheelhouse. The guy’s face is practically glowing … He’s either driving to any one of the Louisiana high school gyms he’s been to over and over for 40 years OR he’s wearing that big floppy straw hat and we pan to the weed eaters and gas cans and rakes and mowers in the bed … You see where I’m going? It’s a beautiful open, is what it is …
“So Coach Mike is driving down a two-lane heading to a game because that’s where he’s most happy except it’s probably not gonna be Mike because the guy doesn’t toot his own horn. At all. We’re not gonna be able to get him to say anything about himself. Me and T-Money ate lunch with him in Bossier and we get this: ‘I’ve never thought of myself as being better than anybody else. That’s just who I am. I played and coached with unbelievable people. Fans have been very supportive, always. I just never think of myself that way.’ That’s it. Guy just keeps chewing. Swigs water. Like he’s talking about last week’s weather.
“His wife of 48 years and counting, Connie? Met on a blind date. She didn’t know he played basketball. They’d been dating just six months and the junior high kids she was student teaching told her he’d made all-conference. ‘If the students hadn’t told me,’ she says, ‘I still wouldn’t know.’ True story!
“You know how she found out he was in the Hall of Fame? Family text thread. Michael or Logan, one of the sons. No, for real: hand on my heart …
“So somebody who can sell ‘humble and loyal’ and make it authentic — gotta be authentic — will have to play him; he might not even let us take his picture holding a basketball. I’m thinking Bryan Cranston, funny but can get serious. Russell Crowe and go the’ gladiator’ angle, though that might be too … what’s the word? … gruesome? Sweaty? Too Roman? Woody Harrelson is a frontrunner since he was in a basketball movie, maybe Keanu Reeves with that certain All-American Dude quality. The perfect guy, the PERFECT guy, is Denzel — but he’d really have to sell it … you feel me? Not sure if Harrelson can still dunk, but Denzel can. Like Coach Mike, Denzel can do ANYthing and still be ‘everyman’ …
(Coffee slurps … the tic-tac of keys on a laptop. Somewhere, a dog barks …)
“But humble and loyal won’t get you into the Hall. Coach Mike has the numbers to go with the soul. Double-threat. Best of both worlds. All like that. The ol’ ‘Nice Guys Finish First’ bit — for a nice change.
“Here’s where the numbers tell the story through the clips with people who know him better than anyone …
“High school early ’70s, Airline in Bossier, son of Northwestern State great John McConathy, the fifth pick in the 1951 draft. We’ve got Airline teammates Terry Slack and Steve Haynes, football stars, talking about Mike having keys to the gym, practicing while wearing ankle weights, jumping rope, always working, getting recruited by Oklahoma and LSU and NSU and more, and eventually deciding to go to Ruston with them, just in a different sport …
“Then Tech teammates Tom Morris and Walter May and Tim Floyd and Jim Woolridge, quick bytes about how he’s the most dedicated athlete they’ve ever seen, and that sweet jump shot, no wasted movement, fluid as water from a garden hose, the 9-1 Southland Conference title his junior year, him getting 25 a game and being the league’s Player of the Year …
(Somewhere, a cat meows …)
“Keith Prince, Tech’s sports information director when McConathy played in 1974-77, tells us how Mike got drafted by the Bulls but the ABA/NBA merger cut out 100-plus pro jobs, how he played some European ball, then how he found his way back to Bossier Parish and brief high school gigs before starting the Bossier Parish Community College men’s basketball program with zip, playing in Airline’s gym, and winning 352 games in 16 seasons. Again, the guy did this from scratch. Didn’t have as much as an air pump …
“Then Shreveport’s Wayne Smith, another Tech all-conference and Tech Athletics Hall of Famer a decade after Mike, saying he saw Mike not only win at BPCC, but make sure, with limited resources, his players had food and some kind of housing and a chance, the one thing they needed the most. “Great player and coach,” Smith says on camera, “five-star man.” Game recognizing game. Sound and Music are seeing if the theme from Rocky might be good here, building to …
“The biggie. Northwestern State. The Demons. Where this Bulldog, this guy the Hall’s chairman and almost forever NSU SID Doug Ireland calls ‘a unicorn of a human,’ was ultimately meant to be. We’re talking 330 wins in 23 seasons, 682 total wins when we add 352 wins in 16 seasons at BPCC: Visual Effects is cooking up some snazzy presentation of the numbers. Meanwhile we’ve got Doug rattling off about Coach doing everything off the court from striping parking lots to pro bono weed eating on campus, a semi-continuance of the side biz he had in Bossier to get his Cavaliers some work and to SEE if they’d work …
“You’ll love this: we even have a Building and Grounds guy talking about how he thought Coach was one of THEM until he went to a game and saw the weed eater guy calling timeouts. Is that beautiful or WHAT?! We even have a couple of local non-profit directors saying with not a little embarrassment that they’d originally thought he worked for THEM. The guy was like a yard guy slash fix-it guy for the parish, AND he coached the basketball team. Only thing he lacked was a cape. (Scotty turns to the kid in J.Crew) Emmet, run down to Costume and see if we’ve got a purple and orange cape … might work that in … he did wear those checkerboard purple and orange pants coaching games.
(Somewhere, a crow caws …)
“A blurb of Greg Burke, NSU AD when Mike was coach, thanking his guy for the $5 million-plus his teams brought in from playing 117 guarantee games — including road wins at Auburn, Oklahoma State, Mississippi State, UTEP and neutral-court victories over Oregon State and 15th-ranked Iowa in the 2006 NCAA Tournament. Burke cries a little, understandable, especially when he gets to the part about 90 percent of the Demon hoopsters graduating. NINETY PERCENT! Believe that? …
“Then Chris Maggio tears up. TearFest, I’m telling you. Maggio, lifelong Natty resident and former NSU president. Former high school coach. Maggio takes us from March 1999, when Mike took over a Demons’ program with only five winning seasons and no postseason trips in 24 years of Division I history, to the Southland championship game that first season. And this without making over the roster! It’s a Demon miracle! Glory! …
“Here’s where Chris Thompson jumps in since Chris played for Mike both at BPCC and NSU. Chris describes the joy of winning the SLC title game Mike’s second season in their hometown, Bossier City, and the program earning the first of four postseason tournament appearances. Then we roll clips from those: NCAA 2001, Opening Round win over Winthrop; NCAA 2006, No. 14 seed First Round upset of No. 3 seed and Big Ten Tournament champ Iowa, a game everyone in Natchitoches swears they watched if they weren’t in Auburn Hills, Mich.; NCAA 2013’s First Round loss to eventual NCAA champion Florida, and the 2014 CIT home game. Video montage of those games with nat sound …
“It’s gold, is what it is. You love it! … I can tell by the way you’re smacking your Juicy Fruit. I do too! …
“And so, The End. On-court buckets and hugs. Sweaty time outs. Family pics. A quick blurb of Mike’s haberdasher saying, “He didn’t invent the mock turtleneck,” — this is courtside through tears after the buzzer-beater over Iowa, “he merely perfected it.” Oh! — almost forgot: some sentimental footage from February 15 last year when they named the Prather Coliseum court after him. THE WHOLE COURT! People DO this sort of thing? Guess we should get that in, amiright? LOL! Good stuff.
“Big Finish, but like Coach Mike, understated. A comment from — get this — the straw hat. The big nasty straw hat he wears when he’s weed eating the world. We’ve got Creative on it now, to make it work. All the hat says, shyly but with gratitude, is this: ‘I know I’m just a hat. A hat that needs an oil change, if we’re being honest. Just an ordinary hat. But when I’m on Coach Mike’s head, somehow, I feel more like a crown.’
(Fade to black. And purple. And white, with some orange trim …)
STATE’S BEST: The Byrd Yellow Jackets’ 4×400 meter relay teamof Bereket Raines, Wyatt Ditt, Jordan Blakes, and Markeith Niblett received All-State honors Tuesday for running the state’s fastest time while they won the Class 5A championship last month at LSU’s Bernie Moore Stadium. (Photo courtesy C.E. Byrd High School)
JOURNAL SPORTS
Two state championship performances headline the local competitors who qualified for the 2026 LSWA All-State Track and Field Team announced Tuesday.
Byrd’s boys 4×400 relay team and Parkway distance star Brennan Robin ran to Class 5A gold medals at the LHSAA Outdoor Championships last month, and their marks got them top billing in their events.
Airline’s Jayden Williams posted the state’s third-fastest 800, clocking 1:52.79 to earn All-State honors. He was also a 5A bronze medalist at the state meet, running 1:53.43.
The all-state roster was compiled considering all marks recorded during the outdoor season around Louisiana.
The Yellow Jackets’ foursome of Bereket Raines, Wyatt Ditt, Jordan Blakes, and Markeith Niblett captured the 5A crown with a 3:17.25 mark at the state meet.
Byrd edged defending event champion Catholic of Baton Rouge by 0.01 for the victory, the first time since 2012 a Caddo Parish 4×400 relay team won the event, and the first time since 1966 that a C.E. Byrd team won.
Robin earned All-State recognition in two races. The junior was fastest winning the 3200 meters in 9:07.4, not long after he ran a blazing 4:05.84 time in the 1600 that was under a 44-year-old state all classes record – but he was overtaken in the closing lap by Jesuit’s Connor Fanburg, who posted a 4:04.09. The old record was 4:12.
“I wanted to win the mile. Last year I was third, freshman year I was second,” Robin told a Louisiana vs. All Y’all reporter in a YouTube interview at the state meet. “I ran a really good race. Even though I got second, it was fun to battle to the end.
“I went into (the 3200) and felt comfortable. With a lap to go, I felt it was time to make a move and that move won the race. Super happy with today,” he said.
By PATRICK MEEHAN, Centenary Assistant AD for Communications
Centenary’s Brandon Henschel was named Collegiate Athletic Trainer of the Year by the Louisiana Athletic Trainers’ Association at the annual Awards Luncheon recently in Baton Rouge.
Henschel is in his third year as the head of the Centenary Athletics Sports Medicine department. He was presented the award in front of his statewide colleagues by Lance Champagne, the Athletic Training Supervisor with Ochsner LSU Health.
The Louisiana Athletic Trainers’ Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization comprised of healthcare professionals dedicated to safety in sports and the advancement of athletic training within the state of Louisiana.
Henschel, a native of Iron River, Mich., came to Centenary from ULM, where he served as an assistant athletic trainer with football, volleyball, beach volleyball, softball, and men’s basketball teams from March 2023 to July of 2024. Henschel earned his bachelor’s degree in athletic training from Central Michigan University in 2022, with minors in public health and substance abuse education.
MEN’S GOLF: Junior Aubrey Snell has been named to the 2025-26 Louisiana Sports Writers Association All-Louisiana Men’s College Golf team.
Ten men were recognized on either the first team or second team, while five golfers made up the women’s All-Louisiana squad. Snell was joined on the second team by ULM’s Louis Anceaux, LSU’s Noah McWilliams (of Benton), Tom Watson of UNO, and LSU’s Árni Sveinsson.
Snell, a former Parkway High School star, is the first Centenary golfer to be named All-Louisiana since former Gent Andrew Bennett earned first-team honors in 2024 for the first time in his career.
Snell turned in another impressive season as he tallied four top-10 finishes and finished in the top 15 five times. He also had one top three finish and season-low round was a 69. Snell competed in seven tournaments (16 rounds) and posted a season stroke average of 73.6. He earned a top 25 finish in the conference championships as he shot an 8-over 188 to tie for 23rd.
The 2025-26 LSWA All-Louisiana Men’s and Women’s Golf teams were selected by a statewide vote of school sports information directors.
SPRING SPORTS: The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference has announced its spring All-Sportsmanship teams. Each head coach was asked to elect one competitor who displayed the highest standard of sportsmanship throughout the 2026 spring season.
Baseball: Lenny Forth, Sr., Flower Mount, Texas
Men’s golf: Jeff Borchert, Sr., Katy, Texas
Women’s golf: Amber Shaw, So., Hughes Springs, Texas
ACADEMICS: Eight Ladies and Gents were recently named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® At-Large teams.
The Centenary representatives were Cooper Harris, lacrosse; Jordyn Templeton and Amber Shaw, women’s golf; Colton Mayer, men’s golf; and Anna Ichiba, Skyla Cruz, Olivia Montgomery, and Olivia Stratmann, gymnastics.
There have been a few close calls for me while fishing the big waters of Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn. Each of these bodies of water are completely different in terms of how rough and dangerous each can be, whether it’s due to high winds or approaching storms. But one thing is the same; they will both scare you nearly to death.
Over the years, I’ve had several close encounters that had me kissing the ground once I could put my feet on dry land. Even with these two lakes being close to each other as the crow flies, navigation for boaters can be totally different due to the fact that one has boat lanes and the other is pretty much wide open.
Let’s start with Toledo Bend. Geographically, this lake runs true north and south. So, a wind coming straight out of the south or directly from the north can make for extremely rough boat rides. Even a north or south wind of 5-10 MPH can have this body of water rocking and rolling.
Sam Rayburn, on the other hand, is a different kind of lake in that runs northwest to southeast. That means if you get a strong northwest or southeast wind, navigation can be really tough. But wind in any other direction allows anglers to run one side of the lake or the other and avoid rough water because there are no boat lanes you have to run, like you do on Toledo Bend.
The problem with Toledo Bend is the fact that you must run the pre-charted boat lanes due to all the underwater stumps and debris that engulf this entire 72-mile-long waterway. Once you get out of the boat lanes you must idle to ensure safe boating navigation.
But this also puts you at the mercy of Mother Nature and limits your ability to ride the waves that make navigation easier. Nothing is worse than driving your boat and going with the waves rather than against them.
When possible, it’s always easier to go against the waves, which can sometimes allow you to run from one wave (once on plane) to the next, if the crest of each wave is not too far apart.
I had one trip a few years ago that turned into one of the worst boat rides of my life. The tournament I was fishing was going out of Fin & Feather Resort on the south end of Toledo Bend. On this particular morning it was bluebird skies with zero wind in the pocket where we took off.
But oh, how quickly things changed! Unbeknownst to any of us fishing this event, there was a strong 20-25 MPH wind dead out of the south that morning. When you reached the main lake boat road to head either north or south, you were met with 3-4 foot rolling waves.
It was so rough that anglers were losing rods and reels and anything else on their boats that was not tied down. It was so bad all day that some anglers lost either a trolling motor or their electronic screens off the bow of their boats as they ran back in for weigh-in.
I personally had fish located in the back of Negreet Creek on the Louisiana side of Toledo Bend and realized quickly that there was no way I was going across the lake in that kind of wind!
Like so many other anglers that day, I quickly switched to Plan B in order to try and salvage my tournament day by pulling into the first cove I found. I was simply going to fish new water and try and catch a solid limit of bass.
My co-angler for the day asked me if I had ever fished in this pocket before. I looked him straight in the eye and said, “No, but take a good look at it, because you’re going to see it all day.”
Around 1 o’clock that afternoon, it was time to start thinking about heading in for the weigh-in at 3, even though we were only two miles from the boat ramp. I was thinking it would take at least an hour, as the wind was now getting worse, blowing 30 mph, still out of the south.
As I came out of the pocket and tried getting the boat up on plane, it was very apparent that this was not going to be possible and that the only way to make it back was to idle the entire two miles.
One hour and 30 minutes later, we finally made it back to the weigh-in with only a few minutes to spare before we would have been given a late penalty — which was 1 pound for every minute you were late.
I actually did better than I thought I would as I weighed-in a little over 15 pounds and finished in the top 15 for the day. But there were a lot of sad faces back at the ramp as guys loaded their boats, short a few rods and reels, along with trolling motors hanging off or electronics completely gone.
Tournament directors today have a very difficult job and are very conscious of sending anglers out on a body of water with either high winds predicted or the forecast of severe weather rolling in on tournament day.
I know some anglers get frustrated when these directors make the call to cancel or postpone an event, but they’re just doing what is in the best interest of the anglers and making sure everyone gets back to their loved ones safely. After all, we do this for fun, not for a living!!!
By Republican U.S. Senate Candidate John Fleming, M.D.
Now that the incumbent, Dr. Bill Cassidy, has been eliminated from the Republican Party’s runoff election, Louisiana voters need to decide who is the best candidate to represent them in the U.S. Senate.
All voters hear from my opponent, Congresswoman Julia Letlow, is that she “earned the endorsement of President Trump.” However, the endorsement was totally engineered by Governor Jeff Landry through the political back door.
What did Julia Letlow do to earn the endorsement? Was it her lifetime commitment as a liberal academic to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), policies that President Trump strenuously opposes? Was it her liberal voting record in Congress that was in direct opposition to the President’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) and America First agenda?
Was it her vote to fund the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) during the Biden administration that allocated taxpayer money toward abortions and gender reassignment surgeries overseas?
Was it her staunch support for Biden’s Green Energy and Climate Change agenda, including carbon sequestration?
Was it her record of incompetence, passing no bills into law during her five years in Congress?
In contrast to her history of liberalism and ineffectiveness, I offer Louisiana voters a record of achievement and honest service. I am a physician, military veteran, small business owner, and job creator. I served as a Louisiana Congressman, Deputy Chief of Staff to President Trump, and was Co-Founder of the House Freedom Caucus. Presently, I am honored to serve as your Louisiana State Treasurer.
My voting record is unabashedly conservative, staunchly supporting MAGA and America First policies. I totally oppose the Green Energy and Carbon Sequestration scams.
Unlike my opponent, whose campaign has been referred to both the Federal Election Commission and the Department of Justice for investigation and who admitted to late filings of 210 stock trades, there is no blemish on my record. In fact, as a Congressman, I did not engage in stock trading.
As Julia Letlow’s liberal views are being exposed, her poll numbers are falling. In recent days, her own pollster announced that I am leading in the polls.
The more she drops in the polls, the more desperate and unhinged her attacks become. Her campaign is panicking and issuing shrill statements to confuse and intimidate voters.
Fortunately, Louisiana voters are smart. They know Julia Letlow will not debate me because she cannot defend her record. They know that Governor Landry and his allies are pumping millions of dollars of dark money into this race to support her. These insiders oppose me because they know I cannot be bought, bullied, or bossed.
I am running for the United States Senate because Louisiana needs a senator who will challenge the political establishment, both in our home state and in our Nation’s Capital, not accommodate it.
Louisiana voters face a clear choice in this Senate runoff. You can continue sending politicians like Julia Letlow to Washington who only talk about conservative values, or you can elect me, a proven conservative fighter who has spent a lifetime defending them.
Throughout my career, I have stood unapologetically for limited government, fiscal responsibility, secure borders, energy independence, and the sanctity of life. I have consistently placed principles above political convenience.
Friends, as the only genuine MAGA conservative in the runoff, I am asking for your vote to become Louisiana’s next U.S. Senator.
Early voting continues through June 20, and Election Day is June 27.
In a nutshell, yes. To be fair to restaurants, though, it seems like the price of just about everything has gotten ridiculous. In my research for this article, I found the website latestcost.com, which has a blog post on the average cost of a burger. The site has tons of pop-up ads that are a deterrent for spending much time delving into their blogs but I was intrigued with their vast list of average costs they discussed in their blog posts. According to their data, the average cost for just a hamburger with no sides or a drink is $3.50 – $12.00. I don’t know about where you live, but in my neck of the woods, $3.50 is going to get you a burger that you would normally find in a kid’s meal with little to no nutritional value. According to the website datassential.com, burger prices have risen by 14% since 2023 while beef production costs surged 32%. The average net profit margin a restaurant makes on each hamburger sold is 10 – 15% for a regular burger and 12 – 18% for a gourmet burger.
There are ways to save when dining out. The easiest way to reduce your costs is to order water instead of a drink. According to moneydigest.com, the markup for a fountain drink at a restaurant ranges between 650% to 1,100%! Consider sharing a meal with your spouse, date, or friend. By sharing your meal, you’ll not only leave your wallet a little fatter, you’ll keep from growing your girth. You can also save on your meals by using coupons or discounts that may be available through your credit card or bank card. You may also find discounted gift cards at your local membership club or through gift card exchange websites. You can explore recommendations for gift card exchange websites at pcmag.com, which suggests you read a website’s FAQ section to determine if they offer a money-back guarantee before making any purchase.
Got a question about work, money, family—or just figuring life out? Ask Ida is where real people get real answers, served with humor and plain talk. Send in your question, and let’s make sense of life’s bumps together. ASK IDA
You ever notice that God seems to run the universe like He’s driving in reverse? If any of us tried to run things the way He does, the DMV would take away our license and make us sit through that video about safe following distances. But God specializes in doing things backwards—not wrong, not confused, but gloriously, intentionally, redemptively backwards.
Take Abraham and Sarah. By all accounts, they should’ve been greatgrandparents sitting on the porch comparing prescription prices and arguing about who hid the remote. Instead, God hands them a diaper bag and says, “Surprise!” That’s backwards. And once you start looking for it, you see it everywhere.
God picks Moses the Mumbler to speak for Him. He chooses David the Kid to fight a giant. He calls Gideon the Scaredy Cat to lead an army. He uses Rahab—with the résumé no one expected—to help secure the Promised Land. That’s backwards.
Then Jesus arrives and takes the whole thing to another level. He says the first will be last. He says you win by losing. He says you gain by giving. He says love your enemies—which is so backwards we still haven’t gotten used to it.
And the biggest backwards moment of all? The King of Kings shows up born in a barn, rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, and defeats death by dying. That’s not just backwards—that’s resurrection logic.
Maybe that’s why so many of us feel disoriented when life doesn’t go the way we planned. We assume something must be wrong. But what if the backwards places are exactly where God does His best work? What if the moments that feel upsidedown are actually the moments when God is turning things rightsideup?
So if your life feels a little backwards right now, take heart. You might be closer to God’s will than you think. After all, He’s been steering in reverse since the beginning—and somehow, He always gets us where we need to go.
Kathryn Leary Howard, 90, of Shreveport, Louisiana passed away on June 14, 2026, born May 4, 1936.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 19, 2026, at Osborn Funeral Home. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow immediately after at Forest Park Cemetery, East. Full obituary to follow.
William Charles Wright, 77, entered into eternal rest on June 12, 2026. Born on April 5, 1949, in Benton, Louisiana, William lived a life marked by hard work, quiet strength, and unwavering devotion to those he loved.
A machinist by trade, William dedicated many years of his life to his profession, earning the respect of coworkers and friends through his skill, dependability, and strong work ethic. He believed in the value of an honest day’s work and took great pride in providing for his family.
More than anything, William cherished the people who filled his life with love. He was a devoted husband, a proud father and grandfather, a loving brother, and a faithful friend. His steady presence, kind heart, and willingness to lend a helping hand will be remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
He also shared a special bond with his cousins, Linda Wright and Jerome Bell, who were reared together as siblings. Their lifelong relationship was a treasured part of William’s life and a testament to the enduring strength of family.
William was preceded in death by his parents and all others who welcomed him into his heavenly home.
Left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife, Nellie Wright; his son, William Wright, Jr.; his daughter, Angela Murphy; his brothers, James Wright and wife, Eloise, and Raymond Wright and wife, Merle; his special cousins, Linda Wright and Jerome Bell; three cherished grandchildren; along with a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many dear friends whose lives were enriched by knowing him.
Family and friends are invited to pay their respects during a visitation from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 19, 2026, at Aulds Funeral Home.
A graveside service celebrating William’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at Benton Community Cemetery. Officiating the service will be Rev. L.A. Thomas, Rev. Draper Wright, and Rev. Dumas.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill announced today that the State of Louisiana, the United States Department of Justice, and the Bossier Parish School Board have jointly asked the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana to enter final judgment ending federal court oversight of the Bossier Parish School District—dismissing a school desegregation case that has been pending since 1964.
The joint motion, filed June 12, 2026, asks the Court to dissolve all remaining injunctions, terminate federal supervision, and dismiss the case with prejudice after finding that the Bossier Parish School Board has fully complied with the Court’s orders for decades.
“The Supreme Court has repeatedly recognized that federal court supervision of local school systems is intended to be temporary,” said Attorney General Murrill. “The record demonstrates sustained compliance by the Bossier Parish School Board. It is long past due to return power back to the people of Bossier Parish and to their elected representatives on the School Board.”
The litigation began in 1964 when a federal court entered its original desegregation order. The new motion notes that there has been no contested litigation between the parties for more than two decades and that the Department of Justice has never objected to the School Board’s compliance efforts during recent years of monitoring.
“I’d like to thank the Trump administration, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, and Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon at the Department of Justice for their hard work and commitment to ending these cases in Louisiana and returning control of our schools to our local communities,” said Murrill.
If granted, the Court’s final judgment would formally conclude one of Louisiana’s longest-running school desegregation cases and end all remaining federal oversight of the Bossier Parish School District.
There is currently no timetable for when the Honorable S. Maurice Hicks, Jr., United States District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana, will rule on the joint motion.
The Caddo Parish District Attorney’s Office recently welcomed Rachel Hughes as its newest Assistant District Attorney.
Hughes was sworn into the position by James E. Stewart Sr. and joins the office after serving as a staff attorney for the Louisiana Second Circuit Court of Appeal.
A 2022 graduate of Southern University Law Center, Hughes brings legal experience from the appellate court system to her new role prosecuting cases in Caddo Parish.
The Bossier Parish Highway Department will temporarily close a portion of Dogwood South Lane to complete drainage improvements ahead of planned road work.
The closure will take place at the Clubhouse pool area beginning Tuesday, June 16, and the roadway is expected to reopen on Thursday, June 18.
Crews will be repairing a drainage pipe located in front of the pool. This work is necessary to prepare the roadway for a future overlay project and to ensure proper drainage and long-term road stability.
What Residents Should Know
• The affected section of Dogwood South Lane will be closed to through traffic during the repair period.
• Access in the immediate area may be limited while work is underway.
• Motorists should expect construction activity, including equipment and personnel in the area.
Public Safety and Travel Advisory
Residents and motorists are encouraged to:
• Use alternate routes to avoid closure
• Allow extra travel time
• Follow posted signs and directions from work crews
• Use caution when traveling near the work zone
The schedule may be adjusted, if necessary, due to weather or unforeseen conditions.
