Kerry Land Kimler, 82, of Bossier City, Louisiana, passed away peacefully on October 24, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.
Born on June 16, 1944, in Natchitoches, Louisiana, Kerry graduated from Campti High School in 1962 and went on to build a successful career in the oil and gas and banking industries in Alaska and Louisiana. Upon retirement, she devoted her time to what mattered most to her: her family.
Above all, Kerry cherished her faith in the Lord and the family she loved so dearly. Her faith was an important part of her life, and her love and devotion to her family were at the heart of who she was.
Kerry is survived by her beloved husband of 46 years, Kenny Kimler; her daughter, Sherry Lee; her granddaughter, Lauren Lee; and her brother, Robert Messick and his wife, Pat, along with their two daughters and grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Larry Messick and Donald Messick.
Funeral services will be at 11 A.M. Thursday, October 29, 2026 at Davis Springs Southern Methodist Church with Bro. Ken McLaren officiating. A private graveside service will be held. Visitation will be held from 10 A.M. until service time on Thursday at Davis Springs Southern Methodist Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials be made to Davis Springs Southern Methodist Church in memory of Kerry.
Kerry’s life was a blessing to those who knew and loved her. She will be deeply missed and forever loved, and her memory will live on in the hearts of her family and all who had the privilege of knowing her.
Philip Brian Davidson January 25, 1960 – October 26, 2026 Service: Friday, October 30, 2026, 10:30am at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Shreveport.
Ruby Jean Anderson Horton December 22, 1934 – October 25, 2026 Service: Saturday, October 31, 2026, 11am at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Sean Paul Grassi July 28, 1974 – October 24, 2026 Service: Thursday, October 29, 2026, 10am at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Shreveport.
Dianne “Biggie” McRae Andrews Coffman September 28, 1945 — October 23, 2026 Service: Thursday October 29, 2026, 11am at Broadmoor Baptist Church, Shreveport.
Gloria Jean Kerry May 22, 1938 — October 23, 2026 Service: Saturday, October 31, 2026, 10am at Rose-Neath Funeral Home Southside, Shreveport.
Jacqueline R. Peterson March 21, 1955 — October 23, 2026 Service: Friday, October 30, 2026, 11am at Lincoln Memorial Park, Shreveport.
Jo Ann McInnis June 27, 1943 – October 21, 2026 Service: Thursday, October 29, 2026, 3pm at Centuries Memorial Park, Shreveport.
Susie Mae Stith March 15, 1948 — October 21, 2026 Service: October 30, 2026, 11am at Airline Drive Church of Christ, Bossier City.
Carroll Joffrion December 10, 1946 – October 18, 2026 Service: Monday, November 9, 2026, 11am at St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, Shreveport.
George M. “Butch” Rutherford February 22, 1946 — October 15, 2026 Service: Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 1:30pm at Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery. Keithville.
Johnny Ray Reddick March 8, 1952 — October 12, 2026 Service: Saturday, November 7, 2026, 1pm at Winnfield Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Linda Smith Kidd June 18, 1944 — August 21, 2026 Service: Saturday, November 21, 2026, 3pm at Aulds Funeral Home, Shreveport.
The Shreveport-Bossier Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access.
A Tennessee man pleaded guilty in Caddo District Court Thursday, October 22, 2026, to two counts of rape that occurred when he was living in Shreveport years ago, and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Lamarcus Antwan Dorsey, 33, of Memphis, pleaded guilty before District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr., to two counts of third-degree rape, involving two girls he babysat when they were tender-aged and who he forced to perform sex acts on him while their mother was at work, from 2014 to 2016. The children told their mother, but nothing was done to protect them. They again disclosed details of their ordeal several years later to another family member and an investigation was conducted in Tennessee, where the children were living at that time. An arrest warrant was issued by the Shreveport Police Department for Dorsey, which was executed in late 2025. The female victims, now both over age 18, approved the terms of Dorsey’s pleading.
Dorsey was sentenced to 15 years on each count, to be served concurrently, without benefit of probation, parole or reduction of sentence. Dorsey also must register as a sex offender for life.
Assistant District Attorney Courtney N. Ray prosecuted Dorsey. He was defended by Bryce Kinley.
Caddo Sheriff Henry Whitehorn Sr. swore in four new deputies for the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office on October 26.
The newly appointed deputies are:
Corrections:
Makesha Harris-Evans – Asst. Chief Detention
Cheryl Avery – Compliance Coordinator
Patrol:
Christopher Thompson
Johnny Romero
The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office is currently recruiting new personnel. Applicants aged 21 and older can apply for various positions, including corrections deputies, licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, building and groundskeepers, and part-time courthouse security personnel.
For more information on qualifications, benefits, and the application process, visit http://www.caddosheriff.org.
Water industry professionals gathered in Bossier City for the American Water Works Association – Southwest Section’s annual conference, bringing together industry leaders to discuss water infrastructure and the importance of providing reliable, high-quality water to communities.
Bossier City Mayor Tommy Chandler addressed attendees during the conference, welcoming water professionals to the city and recognizing their contributions to maintaining essential water services.
The conference provided an opportunity for industry professionals to exchange ideas, strengthen partnerships and highlight the role water infrastructure plays in supporting communities.
City officials expressed appreciation to the American Water Works Association – Southwest Section for selecting Bossier City as the host location for its annual conference.
Off-Duty Shreveport Police Officer Arrested Following Downtown Incident Shreveport Police Department
An off-duty Shreveport police officer was arrested following an incident in the Red River Entertainment District downtown. Kelvin Johnson, who has been employed by the department since 2017, was accused of public intoxication and drinking in public. Authorities said Johnson was carrying an open container of alcohol and refused instructions from responding officers. Police reported that he pulled away from officers and allegedly threatened them when they attempted to take him into custody. Police Chief Wayne Smith placed Johnson on leave pending criminal and internal investigations. The department announced the arrest Monday, Oct. 26.
Two Injured in Early Morning Shooting on Bert Kouns Industrial Loop Shreveport Police Department
Two people were injured in an early Sunday morning shooting near Bert Kouns Industrial Loop in Shreveport. Officers responded to the incident Oct. 25, where they found a woman suffering from gunshot wounds and two men involved in an altercation over a firearm. One of the men also suffered a gunshot wound to his leg. Officers separated the men, secured the weapon and detained one person while investigating the circumstances. The Shreveport Fire Department transported both injured individuals to Ochsner LSU Health for treatment. Police reported that their injuries were not life-threatening. The investigation remains ongoing.
Former Caregiver Arrested in $2,302 Utility Identity Theft Investigation Shreveport Police Department
Shreveport police announced Monday, Oct. 26, the arrest of a former in-home caregiver accused of using a former client’s identity to obtain utility services. Investigators identified the suspect as Gabrielle Moore. According to authorities, Moore allegedly used the victim’s personal information to establish a utility account, resulting in an unpaid balance of $2,302.40. The investigation involved allegations that the account was established without the former client’s authorization. The case highlights the potential financial consequences of identity theft involving personal information obtained through a position of trust.
Shreve Memorial Library Offers Free Technology Assistance at Atkins Branch Shreve Memorial Library
Shreve Memorial Library will offer free one-on-one technology assistance Tuesday, Oct. 27, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Atkins Branch, 3704 Greenwood Road in Shreveport. The Ask a Librarian program helps residents navigate smartphones, tablets, laptops and other electronic devices. Library staff can assist participants with downloading e-books, setting up email accounts, creating passwords and using Microsoft Office applications. The program is designed for individuals who need basic technology guidance or assistance with specific questions. Participants are encouraged to bring their devices and learn at their own pace.
Shreve Memorial Library Hosts Halloween Activities for Children and Teens Shreve Memorial Library
Shreve Memorial Library branches across Caddo Parish will offer Halloween-themed programs and creative activities Tuesday, Oct. 27. The Broadmoor Branch will host a pumpkin sewing workshop for teens and tweens from 4:30 to 6 p.m., with registration required. The Hollywood/Union Avenue Branch will offer a no-carve pumpkin decorating activity for teenagers from 4:30 to 5 p.m. At the Mooretown Branch, families can attend an Addams Family-themed celebration and candy party from 4 to 5 p.m. The Hamilton/South Caddo Branch will host a pajama story time featuring spooky stories, songs and crafts from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. Other library programs include creative activities, games and educational workshops throughout the parish.
Captain Shreve High School senior Ashton Pouncy has been named a semifinalist for the 2027 Coca-Cola Scholars Program, earning recognition as one of the nation’s top student applicants.
According to Caddo Parish Public Schools, Pouncy is the only student from Caddo Parish and one of just nine students in Louisiana to receive the semifinalist distinction.
Only approximately 1% of applicants advance to the semifinalist stage of the Coca-Cola Scholars Program, placing Pouncy among a select group of students nationwide.
Caddo Parish Public Schools congratulated Pouncy on her achievement and expressed support as she advances through the scholarship selection process.
There was frustration, sure, as the Byrd Yellow Jackets chased their first victory of 2026 week after week after week.
Seven weeks. Three one-score losses, including a couple recently to District 1-5A rivals Benton and Huntington that weren’t settled until the closing seconds.
Every team has injuries, but few get down to the fourth-team quarterback who is a 114-pound sophomore wide receiver.
There was frustration, but no panic. No change for the sake of change. Practice routines and schemes weren’t altered, motivational gimmicks weren’t dug up or invented.
Coach Stacy Ballew and his staff have been part of too much success at Byrd to look for rabbits to jump out of hats. Besides, they had a hard-working, irrepressible group of young men whose determined efforts pleased the coaches.
The message from Ballew was consistent: “We just have to keep doing it better.”
They did, and Friday night, it produced an eye-opening triumph. Not only did the Yellow Jackets finally get that elusive win, but they spoiled the undefeated 1-5A mark owned by Evangel, and the 28-24 triumph made it a very happy Byrd homecoming celebration.
That makes the Jackets the Shreveport-Bossier Journal Team of the Week.
“We didn’t change anything. We went out and practiced just like we always do,” said Ballew Monday. “We had a pretty good game plan for their offense and defense, but fundamentally we’ve been doing what we’re doing and continuing working at it.
“Every now and then we have a bad practice, but most of our practices are pretty good. Our kids are flying around and doing what they’re supposed to,” he said.
They certainly did against Evangel. Sticking with the plan and giving great effort paid off.
Down 17-7 with 11:35 left to play, Byrd got three long scoring plays and had just one unfortunate snap on defense, giving up a 72-yard TD pass. It put the Eagles back in front, 24-21, with 4:50 left, but the Jackets got the go-ahead TD just over three minutes later and contained Evangel’s last chance to secure the victory.
The big plays: no surprise, two came from record-shattering senior running back Christian Maxie, a pair of 46-yard TD runs, including one for the margin of victory. The bonus was a 60-yard Jackson Davis to Elijah Stephens scoring strike midway through the final period. Davis was finally back from injury that benched him for six games, and it opened up the playbook for offensive coordinator Wade Leone.
“You can throw the ball, and you don’t have to worry about running your quarterback and not having a backup,” said Ballew. “That’s as scary as all get out to worry you’re going to do if your fourth-team quarterback gets hurt.”
That fourth-team QB, though, has been special. Aden Fullwood is just 5-foot-4 and 114 pounds but he’s come up big for Byrd.
“He did everything he could, really bought in and did a good job. He doesn’t have a bunch of stats or anything like that, but he’s a hell of a team player,” said Ballew.
On the other side of the ball, junior safety Keonta Eason has risen to the challenge. He is the Yellow Jackets’ top tackler and has a pair of interceptions.
“He comes to practice every day just ready to go to work. There’s no drama with him, just a young man ready to go,” said Ballew. “He’s not a real vocal leader, but he sure does a good job for us out there.”
Helping the cause last Friday was a first-time starter on the defensive front, senior Cole Richardson.
“He had a heck of a game,” said Ballew. “Cole did a good job stopping the run because we had everybody out in coverage. He made about four solo tackles that were really, really big, so they didn’t break a long run.”
The Jackets didn’t break, either. Not in the first seven weeks. Despite the overall record, there’s still a shot at reaching the playoffs, which would be a nice reward for a team that instead of backing down, has bowed up.
“We’ve got a good core group of kids that love to play the game,” said Ballew. “They’re coming out every practice and giving it their all and they give it throughout every game. I’m glad we got that monkey off our backs.”
RISING RAIDERS: By winning two of their last three games, Darius Truvillion (1), Jeremy Sims (50) and the Huntington Raiders are making a strong push toward a playoff berth with two games left. (Journal photo by KEVIN PICKENS)
JOURNAL SPORTS
District championships are within reach entering the ninth week of the high school football season while teams are trying for crucial wins to earn improved power points rankings for playoff qualification after Week 10.
Haughton and Calvary are local teams that can clinch at least a share of their district titles with wins Friday night.
In the headline game of the week, District 1-5A contenders Airline and Evangel collide, both rebounding from their first league losses last week. Evangel plays Haughton in the final week of the regular season. Airline lost to the Bucs last Friday. The Eagles-Vikings winner could tie for the 1-5A title, or even win it outright if Haughton falters in its final two games.
Calvary’s path is easier. The Cavaliers go for their 73rd consecutive district win Friday night and will clinch at least a co-championship in District 1-2A if they take care of business against winless Magnolia School of Excellence.
Two winners last week, Byrd and Huntington, are increasing their stock for playoff qualification in the LHSAA’s power points system, and wins in the final two weeks will enhance their status.
The Week 9 schedule for the 19 Shreveport-Bossier teams:
THURSDAY’S GAME
Northwood (4-4, 3-1) at Southwood (1-7, 1-4), Independence Stadium
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Airline (6-2, 3-1) at Evangel (4-4, 3-1), Rodney Duron Field
Huntington (2-6, 2-2) at Benton (4-4, 2-3), Newman-Mason Field at Tiger Stadium
Byrd (1-7, 1-3) at Parkway (4-4, 2-2), Preston Crownover Stadium
Haughton (8-0, 4-0) at Natchitoches Central (0-8, 0-4), Turpin Stadium
North DeSoto (8-0, 3-0) at Booker T. Washington (6-2, 2-1), Leonard C. Barnes Stadium
Woodlawn (0-8, 0-4) at Bossier (3-5, 1-3), Memorial Stadium
Loyola (5-3, 1-1) at North Webster (3-5, 1-1), Baucum-Farrar Stadium
Magnolia School of Excellence (0-8, 0-3) at Calvary (7-1, 2-0), Jerry Barker Stadium
North Caddo (2-5, 1-1) at Green Oaks (6-1, 1-1), Northwood Stadium
Haughton and Loyola moved forward, Calvary slipped a spot and Green Oaks tumbled out of the mix in the Week 9 Louisiana Sports Writers Association Top 10 voting.
The Cavaliers (7-1) dipped only slightly, from No. 1 to No. 2 in Class 2A, after a 24-7 loss on the road to Archbishop Shaw, ranked fourth in Class 4A.
Calvary held the top ranking for five consecutive weeks. Notre Dame of Crowley climbed on top this week. The Cavaliers beat the Pioneers in last year’s Select Division III semifinals.
Haughton (8-0) collected seven points, an increase of five, in the “others receiving votes” category in Class 5A after handling Airline 42-28 last Friday.
Calvary (6-0), in its fifth week at No. 1 in Class 2A, received all 11 first-place votes for a fourth straight poll.
Loyola zoomed to the brink of returning to the Class 3A Top 10, leading the “others receiving votes” category with 14 points, five more than the Flyers had a week ago.
Green Oaks’ shocking 40-8 loss at Homer wiped out its support in the “others receiving votes” 2A listing.
No other Shreveport-Bossier teams are getting support.
Twenty teams in this week’s voting are from the 318 area code, including 13 among the 50 who are ranked in their classification’s top 10.
Eleven sports media members in the LSWA are polled weekly to compile the rankings. One was unable to vote this week.
Class 5A
School (1st place votes), record, poll points, last week’s ranking
1. Karr (7), 8-0, 117, 1
2. St. Augustine (3), 8-0, 113, 3
3. Alexandria, 7-1, 99, 4
4. Archbishop Rummel, 7-1, 86, 5
5. Ruston, 6-2, 82, 2
6. Mandeville, 8-0, 55, 8
7. Jesuit, 6-2, 51, 9
8. Catholic (Baton Rouge), 5-3, 45, 10
9. Barbe, 7-1, 39, not ranked
10. Brother Martin, 5-3, 37, 7
Others receiving votes: St. Thomas More 28, Destrehan 18, Northshore 11, Haughton 7, John Curtis 4, Southside 1, West Monroe 1.
Others receiving votes: Catholic-New Iberia 20, Pine 17, Loreauville 14, Welsh 3, Caldwell Parish 1, Country Day 1, Rosepine 1.
Class 1A
1. Ouachita Christian (8), 8-0, 118, 1
2. Riverside Academy (2), 7-1, 110, 3
3. Haynesville, 7-1, 97, 4
4. Southern Lab, 7-0, 83, 5
5. Kentwood, 8-0, 76, 6
6. Ascension Catholic, 7-1, 74, 2
7. Westminster-Lafayette, 8-0, 66, 7
8. Jeanerette, 7-1, 43, 8
9. Cedar Creek, 8-0, 41, 9
10. Logansport, 7-1, 31, 10
Others receiving votes: East Feliciana 23, St. Mary’s 8, South Plaquemines 8, Ascension Episcopal 4, Jonesboro-Hodge 3, Sacred Heart-VP 2, Grand Lake 1..
BIG BULLDOG: Willie Roaf developed into a first-round NFL Draft pick during his career at Louisiana Tech, which included an appearance in the 1990 Independence Bowl.
JOURNAL SPORTS
One of just three Independence Bowl participants in both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame, Louisiana Tech offensive tackle Willie Roaf was announced Monday as No. 7 among 50 standouts on the Independence Bowl’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Roaf starred for the Bulldogs in the 1990 Independence Bowl, the first game sponsored by Poulan/Weed Eater, and the only tie in the game’s first 49 editions. In a 34-34 lockup against the Maryland Terrapins, Roaf helped lead a Louisiana Tech offense that ran for 191 yards.
A native of Pine Bluff, Ark., Roaf played for head coach Joe Raymond Peace and was developed by offensive line coach Petey Perot, an NFL veteran with the Eagles and Saints. He blossomed during his four years in Ruston from 1989 to 1992. He earned first-team All-South Independent honors in 1991 and consensus All-American honors in 1992. He was also a finalist for the Outland Trophy, given to college football’s best offensive lineman, in 1992.
After taking part in the Hula Bowl, the East-West Shrine Game and the NFL Combine, Roaf went to the New Orleans Saints with the eighth overall pick in the first round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played 13 seasons in the NFL, nine for the Saints and four for the Kansas City Chiefs, and was one of the league’s elite offensive linemen for most of his career. He was also named to both the NFL’s 1990s All-Decade Team and 2000s All-Decade Team.
Roaf was selected to 11 Pro Bowls and named All-Pro nine times, starting in his second season in 1994, when he made his first Pro Bowl and earned his first of four first-team All-Pro nods. He made the Pro Bowl every season from 1994 to 2000, and after a one-year hiatus in 2001, he made the Pro Bowl every year from 2002 to 2005, the final season of his career.
The 6-foot-5, 320-pound offensive lineman has been inducted into almost every Hall of Fame imaginable, including the two most illustrious. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2014. In addition to
those, he has also been elected or inducted into the Louisiana Tech Athletics Hall of Fame, Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, Arkansas Black Hall of Fame, Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame, New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame and East West Shrine Hall of Fame.
The next player on the Independence Bowl’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, No. 6, will be released on Monday, November 2. Players will be unveiled individually every week, with No. 1 being announced on Monday, December 7.
Players previously announced on the Independence Bowl’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team (Name, position, school, year played in I-Bowl):
No. 8 – Eddie Kennison (WR, LSU, 1995); No. 9 – Fernando Mendoza (QB, California, 2023);
No. 10 – Takeo Spikes (LB, Auburn, 1996); No. 11 – Brett Favre (QB, Southern Miss, 1988); No. 12 – Roy Williams (S, Oklahoma, 1999); No. 13 – Josh Heupel (QB, Oklahoma, 1999); No. 14 – Art Monk (WR, Syracuse, 1979); No. 15 – Von Miller (OLB, Texas A&M, 2009); No. 16 — Wesley Walls (DE/TE, Ole Miss, 1986); No. 17 – Joe Morris (RB, Syracuse, 1979); No. 18 – Ray Childress (DT, Texas A&M, 1981); No. 19 – Sidney Rice (WR, South Carolina, 2005);
HOT HAND: Senior Alexzaye Johnson had a career night as LSUS rallied for an overtime win Monday over East Texas Baptist to open the college basketball season. (Photo courtesy LSUS Athletics)
JOURNAL SPORTS
LSU Shreveport, opening the season ranked No. 9 in the NAIA men’s basketball Top 25, erased a 16-point halftime deficit and scored the first 12 points of overtime to defeat East Texas Baptist 85-78 in its season debut Monday at The Dock.
Alexzaye Johnson led the Pilots with a career-high 28 points on 12-of-20 shooting, adding seven rebounds and eight assists. Diego Eslava scored 19 points, including four 3-pointers and a perfect 5-for-5 at the free-throw line, and Doreante Tucker added 16 points with four 3-pointers.
Trailing 43-27 at the break, the Pilots wasted no time chipping away. Tucker caught fire, knocking down three 3-pointers in less than four minutes, and Johnson capped an 11-2 run with a jumper that pulled LSUS within 53-52 with 11:54 remaining.
The teams traded baskets the rest of the way, with nine ties in the second half. With the score knotted at 69, Johnson grabbed a defensive rebound and found Terrance James for a dunk that gave the Pilots a 71-69 lead with 1:04 left, their first lead of the second half. The Tigers tied it at 71 with 47 seconds remaining, but East Texas Baptist missed its final two shots, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer, to send the game to overtime.
LSUS took control in the extra period behind five points from Eslava and four free throws by Nico Jones. East Texas Baptist did not score in overtime until the final minute.
The Pilots spend Halloween weekend in Parkville, Missouri, for the Remy Williams Memorial Classic, facing No. 7 Georgetown College and No. 3 Arizona Christian.
NSU LEGENDS:The 2026 N-Club Hall of Fame class (front row, left to right): Jimmy Mitchell, Louise Chase, Crista Miller Hobbs, Katie Priest Riccobono, Carlos Treadway, Jason Slanina, Byron Allen, Steve Pezant, Anatole Vincent, Warren Patterson. Back row (L to R): Greg Buckley, John Fleckenstein. (Photo by CHRIS REICH, Northwestern State)
By JASON PUGH, Northwestern State Associate AD for Media Relations
NATCHITOCHES — For the Northwestern State N-Club Hall of Fame Class of 2026, the university and its community played a pivotal role in making them who they are.
In fact, it was cited by many of the 13 who were feted Saturday morning at the induction ceremony at Magale Recital Hall for the university’s athletic shrine in Prather Coliseum.
“There’s something about this place that just gets in your soul,” slugging baseball catcher/first baseman Anatole Vincent said.
Vincent took a long and winding path to Natchitoches, including two separate stops at the same junior college before becoming a two-time All-Southland Conference performer whose 119 career RBIs in two seasons ranked third in school career history after his final season in 2003 and remain eight in the Demon baseball record book.
Vincent was joined in the class by his teammate, pitcher Jason Slanina, a four-year workhorse who remains in the top 10 in Demon career history in wins (23, 5th), starts (40, 6th), strikeouts (197, 6th), innings pitched (295 1-3, 6th) and appearances (64, 7th).
The pair were teammates for one season (2002) but remain bonded as their Hall of Fame classmates did.
“We were the golden era of Northwestern State athletics,” Vincent said. “Byron (Allen), Katie (Priest Riccobono), Crista (Miller Hobbs), Jason (Slanina), Buck (Greg Buckley). Each year, it’s going to be that group from 2000-05. We had some great teams, some unbelievable coaches, but what really matters is we cared about each other.
“Baseball was at football. Basketball was at baseball. Softball was at soccer. Everybody supported everybody. We wanted each other to be successful, and we were very successful.”
Slanina echoed his former teammate’s thoughts.
“The championships and records are great, but what I’ll cherish the most is the time on the bus and the camaraderie and the memories built through that,” said Slanina, who also recounted a bus ride where the Demons found out they had entered the Top 25.
The Demon baseball team was one of three programs with multiple honorees Saturday, joined by a trio of football players and a pair from the Northwestern soccer program.
The soccer pair of coach Jimmy Mitchell and Katie Priest Riccobono, a standout defender, helped build the Northwestern program into a model of championship consistency.
The two shared ties to North Carolina, but it was Mitchell who was destined to reach Natchitoches – even moving up his wedding six months to take the reins of the program.
“Glenda and I were about to get married in about six months,” Mitchell said. “I was coaching at a Catholic school, and I’m a strong Baptist. They wouldn’t let me get married in the church, so I had to go to the monastery and get permission to get married in the Catholic church.
“I took the job down here, and I wasn’t coming without her. We moved our wedding up six months so that she can come with me, because I wasn’t coming without her. We came down and started our family with both of our children being born in Natchitoches.”
That family atmosphere helped Mitchell build a program that reached three NCAA Tournaments in 13 seasons, won 134 games and 33 All-Southland Conference performers.
One of those was Priest Riccobono, who was the 2002 Southland Conference Player of the Year as a sophomore and a three-time All-Southland Conference player.
Priest Riccobono called the Player of the Year honor a team award and praised Mitchell for how he shared the news of her award with her, encapsulating their player-coach relationship.
But it was the pull of Natchitoches that brought and kept Priest Riccobono, a Raleigh, North Carolina native, at Northwestern.
“Coming back into town for the first time in a long time, I saw a sign that said, ‘Hard to pronounce, easy to love,’ and I think that is a perfect description (for Natchitoches),” she said. “The community really pulls you in. Jimmy said this, too, it may not always be easy to get recruits here, but once you got them here, it’s hard not to fall in love.”
The trio of Demon football players inducted Saturday – All-American offensive lineman Greg Buckley, All-Southland tight end Carols Treadway and highly productive quarterback Warren Patterson – did not share the field together at Turpin Stadium but they entered the Hall together.
Treadway did so for the second time after earning the Distinguished Service Award in 2024. Saturday’s induction hit differently for the Alexandria native, whose mark went far beyond his statistical contributions.
“It’s extremely special,” Treadway said. “I always wanted to serve the university, so being selected as the Distinguished Service Award was really special, but I came here to play football. To be recognized for my accomplishments on the field means so much. It’s completely different, because this is recognition from my teammates and coaches as to how I contributed on the field. It just means so much.”
As a tight end, Treadway’s responsibilities straddled the line of an offensive lineman and a skill-position player.
While Treadway remained at tight end – and enjoyed the blocking side of the position – Buckley came to Northwestern as a tight and became a standout on an offensive line that allowed the fewest sacks in school single-season history.
An All-American in 2004 as Northwestern captured the Southland Conference title, Buckley started for two FCS Playoff teams and earned inclusion on the Top 100 Demons of the Century in 2007.
“The individual honors were great, but what it really came down to was that ring,” Buckley said. “I had chased that championship throughout high school and a few years here before we finally got it. It was the brotherhood we had.”
Patterson, a Bunkie native, turned in one of the most productive careers of a Demon quarterback despite never putting together a fully healthy season.
It was a former teammate who helped put Patterson’s numbers – 3,851 passing yards (currently 8th in school history) and 29 passing touchdowns (currently 4th) – in perspective.
And it was that bond with his teammates on days where the Demons weren’t play that remain etched in Patterson’s memories even as he was injured during the Demons’ 1998 run to the FCS semifinals.
“What people don’t understand is y’all see Saturdays,” Patterson said. “Y’all see what happens on gamedays. What y’all don’t realize and see is what happens before those days. You don’t see what us athletes go through to play. I had that in ’98. I got hurt, and those were some of the most memorable times for our team. To watch my fellow quarterbacks go through that, I was happy for them.
“My roommates told me, ‘Hey, you got us here. Don’t feel like you’re not a part of this.’”
Like Patterson, Louise Chase came from a small town – Ringgold – and delivered in a big way at Northwestern.
Chase wrapped up her Lady Demon basketball career as a two-time All-Southland Conference player and two-time member of the Southland Conference All-Tournament Team.
Chase admitted it took her a year to recognize what it took to balance school and basketball before becoming the then-11th-best scorer in NSU career history (1,391 points) and still the ninth-best rebounder (761) in career history.
Chase credited the support of head coach James Smith, himself an N-Club Hall of Famer, with helping her reach her full potential.
“He was the father I never had,” Chase said. “I didn’t have a father figure. I saw my father, but I didn’t see my father. When I got here, I was a bit of a knucklehead. I got on academic probation. I wasn’t into school like that. I liked to party. I wouldn’t have graduated in psychology if it weren’t for that man.”
While Smith helped Chase reach her potential, John Fleckenstein helped numerous Northwestern athletes in various ways.
Fleckenstein, now a longtime Shreveport resident, spent eight years as both an equipment manager and assistant athletic trainer, working with N-Club Hall of Famer Dr. Eugene Christmas in the training room.
Northwestern baseball coach Herbie Smith placed Fleckenstein in the athletic dorm with the baseball players and took Fleckenstein on road trips with the team, creating a bond that also provided a unique education.
“I spent more time in the fieldhouse than I did the classroom, which is why it took me six years to graduate,” Fleckenstein said. “I learned more about football than I did physics, but Eugene Christmas was a saint. I learned everything I knew from that man. It felt like family.
“Football in the fall. Baseball in the spring. I don’t think I ever left the fieldhouse.”
Similarly, 2026 Distinguished Service Award winner Steve Pezant never left Natchitoches.
Although a shoulder injury derailed his college football career, Pezant has been an unmistakable presence around Northwestern athletics for more than three decades. His role as a state trooper and now as a Natchitoches city marshal has been buttressed by his service to his alma mater.
“Just being able to know you can help, to be there, sometimes just listening is what people need more than you talking to them,” Pezant said. “Sometimes, these student-athletes just need a little direction.”
For Crista Miller Hobbs, there was no question where her direction was going in the softball circle.
The author of three solo perfect games – and a fourth with teammate, friend and 2022 N-Club Hall of Fame inductee Amanda Ortego Henley – Miller also found more than just a college degree in Natchitoches.
Northwestern’s program record-holder for appearances (130), Miller Hobbs remains in the top 10 in fewest walks per seven innings (0.99, 2nd), complete games (59, 3rd), innings pitched (614 2-3, 3rd), shutouts (15, T-3rd), strikeouts (442, 5th), wins (48, 5th) and saves (5, T-5th). She produced those numbers en route to first-team All-Southland and All-Louisiana honors in 2002 as the Lady Demons reached the NCAA Tournament.
Miller Hobbs married NSU baseball player Brian Hobbs and the couple’s children were able to join them in Natchitoches for the ceremony, giving the aspiring athletes a first-hand look at their family’s newest Hall of Famer.
“Coming back to where I played my college ball with two aspiring athletes, it’s really awesome for them to come back and see where I played and maybe give them a taste of college, seeing the university and seeing the relationships that are made,” she said. “It’s cool that they get to sit here and support.”
While Miller Hobbs had her family in Natchitoches, the Hall posthumously inducted five-time All-American long jumper Mike Brown, a former Fair Park High School standout.
Brown, a two-time individual Gulf South Conference long jump champion, was represented through video by his brother Odell Jordan.
“This is an honor and privilege for my family to be part of this acknowledgement of my brother,” Jordan said. “My earliest memory of Mike is playing with some of the trophies he had earned throughout his career as well as the memories of his plaques on the wall. Mike as an awesome brother. He had a lot of friends and made sure to maintain those relationships throughout his life.”
Relationships were at the core of Northwestern’s success in men’s basketball in the early 2000s as the Demons reached the NCAA Tournament twice in a five-year span (2001-06).
Though not a part of the 2000-01 Southland Conference Tournament champions, power forward Byron Allen came to Northwestern the fall after that run to the title.
Five years later – after taking a redshirt year – Allen was one of the “Demons of Destiny,” the NSU squad that shocked third-seeded Iowa in the first round of the 2006 NCAA Tournament.
A unique athlete, whose 6-foot-7, 285-pound frame often was stationed at the top of the Demon press, Allen quickly bonded with the classmates that formed the nucleus of the 2005-06 team that brought national prominence to Northwestern State and Natchitoches.
“It was a true team environment,” Allen said. “I want to call it the ultimate sacrifice. You had to sacrifice. The first two years, we had to take some lumps, make some sacrifices. We would get up and have trouble closing games.
“Everyone was ‘the man’ on their (high school) teams. By Year 3, we had two back-to-back 20-win seasons, and we knew it was just about one person getting numbers. It was about trying to win no matter what it took.”
The winners will be selected from the statewide pool of eligible qualifiers each day. Winners will be notified of their Win!
There is no cost to participate.
October 26, 2026
Ruby Scott Candace Coonce Allison Wilkerson Dana Chadick Brittany Driver Leta T Brown Jairen Burton Bradley Smith Sheila Clark Marvin Richey Paula Roblow Patrick Kelly
October 23, 2026
Mary Neill Rachel Onishea Jerry Rush Satasha Bolton Barbara Moran Angela Walker Mark Smith Rachel Boyt Gracie Frost Victoria Cavazos Beth Wilcox Dixie Weileder Elma Cavazos
October 21, 2026
Candice Adcock Jonas McFerrin Yawnashika Smith Kyle Wilkerson William Bennett Todd Hughes Tyler Woodruff Diane Newton Mike Nelson Hubert Wilkerson II
Halloween event combines historic driving tour, poker competition, and toy drive benefiting children through CASA
ARCADIA, La. – History, horsepower, and holiday giving will come together Saturday, October 31, 2026, for the First Annual Bonnie and Clyde Poker Run and Toy Drive at Henderson Jordan Memorial Park in Arcadia.
Co-organized by local author and historian Brad Dison and CASA, the event will take participants on a scenic drive of approximately 85 miles through Bienville Parish, including locations associated with the notorious outlaw couple Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow.
Dison, author of The Trap: The Untold Story of Sheriff Henderson Jordan and the Final Pursuit of Bonnie and Clyde, hopes to combine the area’s unique history with an opportunity to help children during the upcoming Christmas season.
Participants are asked to bring a new, unwrapped child’s toy. CASA will handle the distribution of the donated toys to children in need.
The poker run is open to all street-legal vehicles, including classic cars, modern cars, trucks, and motorcycles.
Participants will collect playing cards at seven stops along the route, with prizes awarded for the best poker hand.
Registration is $20 per vehicle plus a new, unwrapped toy. Additional poker hands are available for $10 each. The winning poker hand will receive 50 percent of the entry fees. The event will also feature a door prize drawing and a 50/50 raffle.
Registration will take place from 8 until 10 a.m. at Henderson Jordan Memorial Park, with the first vehicle departing at 10 a.m.
The event offers participants an opportunity to explore the history of Bienville Parish, enjoy a leisurely drive through the Louisiana countryside and support a worthwhile cause.
Dianne McRae Andrews Coffman (Biggie) was born September 28, 1945, in Leesville, Louisiana and died October 23, 2026. Dianne grew up in a family of modest means on a farm where she learned early the value of hard work and responsibility and never taking what she had for granted.
After attending X-ray technician school, she moved to Shreveport and built an extraordinary career at Willis-Knighton Health System, ultimately rising to the position of vice president at a time when few women held executive roles. Through determination, perseverance, and her extraordinary love of people, she broke barriers and made her mark. She was a force to be reckoned with.
Dianne considered her faith and her service to the church as some of her greatest accomplishments – extending far beyond her career. A God-fearing Christian, she gave immeasurably of herself to Broadmoor Baptist Church, serving as a Sunday school teacher, Acteens leader, ESL instructor, and head of the Welcome Center for many years. She was often the first face people saw when they walked through the church doors, and her warmth, magnetic personality, and genuine love for others demonstrated her love of Jesus. She was the life of the party, bringing joy and laughter wherever she went. She loved playing tennis with friends, spending time in Montana with her family, entertaining, cooking, adding beauty through gardening, and making what many considered the best chocolate cake around. She will be remembered for her unwavering faith, fierce determination, generous heart, sense of humor, and extraordinary ability to make people feel loved.
She was the proud mother of Jonathan and Julie, whom she shared with her former, late husband, Roy Andrews. Later, she found love again with Cliff Coffman, the true love of her life. They shared a long rich life together for nearly 40 years, enjoying many hobbies and above all the absolute joy of their grandchildren.
Dianne is survived by her son Jonathan Aaron Andrews and wife Jill, daughter Julie Dianne Andrews Burgin and husband Korey, niece Donna Eaves, her grandchildren Isaac Andrews, William Andrews, Katherine Burgin, Victoria Burgin, Eloise Burgin and Gerald Burgin, her sister Joy Fondren and brother William McRae and wife Patricia as well as a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.
She is proceeded in death by her husband Clifton Simpson Coffman III, parents Edna and Ethelbert McRae, Her brother Donald McRae, her sisters Priscilla (Sippy) Handorf and Patricia McRae.
The family is deeply grateful to the doctors and staff at Willis-Knighton Cancer along with the hospice team and caregivers who brought comfort and dignity to Dianne in her final days.
Visitation with family will be Thursday October 29, 2026, from 9:30-10:45 a.m. and a celebration of life service at 11:00 a.m. at Broadmoor Baptist Church, 4110 Youree Drive, Shreveport, LA 71105.
The family wishes that memorials be made to Caddo Bossier Cancer Foundation League, 3300 Albert L. Bicknell Drive, Suite 3, Shreveport, LA 71103, Seeley Lake Community Foundation, PO Box 25, Seeley Lake, MT 59868 or the ESL Program at Broadmoor Baptist Church.
A charismatic and unforgettable soul, Sean Paul Grassi of Shreveport, LA, passed away surrounded by his loving family on October 24, 2026 at the age of 52, leaving footprints in the hearts of everyone he ever met.
Born on July 28, 1974 (an annual national holiday thereafter) to his loving parents Rodney and Rosalyn D’Anna Grassi, Sean Paul defied all odds from the very beginning and never let this world tell him he couldn’t. As someone who was never supposed to walk or talk, Sean Paul would go on to graduate from Captain Shreve High School, become a decorated International Special Olympics gymnast, a black belt in karate, and retire from serving the patrons of Albertson’s Grocery Store after 31 dedicated years. He lived his life to its fullest never missing an opportunity to dance, sing, laugh, smile and give hugs with pure joy and sincerity. His most special gift was the way he loved fiercely, as he was proudest of being a big brother and Uncle SP, never missing an important event or milestone. He never met a stranger and captured every room he entered, with the courage to always ask the prettiest girl to dance.
Sean Paul is preceded in death by his father, John Rodney Grassi, his paternal grandparents Johnny and Mary Menotti Grassi, all of Lake Village, AR, and his maternal grandparents Frank and Angie Maranto D’Anna of Shreveport.
He leaves behind his pioneer mother Rosalyn Grassi Tuminello who never stopped fighting for him and her dedicated husband Paul of Shreveport, one brother David Grassi and wife Jaclyn of Deville, LA, and one sister Angela Grassi Crow and husband Neal of Jerome, AR; as well as his cherished nieces and nephews Nathan and Katherine Crow, and Jack, John, and Stella Grassi, along with a community of treasured family and friends too numerous to name.
Sean Paul taught those who knew him well, along with those he only briefly met, what it means to love like Jesus loves. He touched so many lives and will be missed beyond measure.
A visitation to honor Sean Paul will be held on Wednesday, October 28, 2026 at Osborn Funeral Home Chapel in Shreveport from 5:00 to 7:00 pm with the Holy Rosary immediately following. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church on Thursday, October 29, 2026 at 10:00 am. Interment to follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.
Pallbearers include David Grassi, Jack Grassi, John Grassi, Neal Crow, Nathan Crow, James Gill, Gabe Mieki, and John Peyton. Honorary pallbearers are Bud Tedesco and Bruce Henry.
Memorials may be made to Up with Downs of Shreveport, Down Syndrome Association of Acadiana (DSAA), Special Olympics of Northwest LA, and Alzheimer’s Biomarker Consortium for Down Syndrome (ABC-DS).
Ruby Jean Anderson Horton December 22, 1934 – October 25, 2026 Service: Saturday, October 31, 2026, 11am at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Sean Paul Grassi July 28, 1974 – October 24, 2026 Service: Thursday, October 29, 2026, 10am at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Shreveport.
Dianne “Biggie” McRae Andrews Coffman September 28, 1945 — October 23, 2026 Service: Thursday October 29, 2026, 11am at Broadmoor Baptist Church, Shreveport.
Gloria Jean Kerry May 22, 1938 — October 23, 2026 Service: Saturday, October 31, 2026, 10am at Rose-Neath Funeral Home Southside, Shreveport.
Shirley Lucille Lambright September 21, 1944 – October 21, 2026 Service: Tuesday, October 27, 2026, 1pm at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Jo Ann McInnis June 27, 1943 – October 21, 2026 Service: Thursday, October 29, 2026, 3pm at Centuries Memorial Park, Shreveport.
Susie Mae Stith March 15, 1948 — October 21, 2026 Service: October 30, 2026, 11am at Airline Drive Church of Christ, Bossier City.
Carroll Joffrion December 10, 1946 – October 18, 2026 Service: Monday, November 9, 2026, 11am at St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, Shreveport.
George M. “Butch” Rutherford February 22, 1946 — October 15, 2026 Service: Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 1:30pm at Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery. Keithville.
Johnny Ray Reddick March 8, 1952 — October 12, 2026 Service: Saturday, November 7, 2026, 1pm at Winnfield Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Linda Smith Kidd June 18, 1944 — August 21, 2026 Service: Saturday, November 21, 2026, 3pm at Aulds Funeral Home, Shreveport.
The Shreveport-Bossier Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill announced that federal oversight of the Caddo Parish School Board has ended following the filing of a Joint Stipulation of Dismissal with Prejudice, bringing more than 61 years of federal desegregation litigation to a close.
The filing follows the Attorney General’s Fifth Circuit victory in Concordia Parish, which reaffirmed that federal desegregation cases must end once all remaining parties agree to dismiss them.
“After 61 years, federal oversight of the Caddo Parish School Board has ended. The people of Caddo Parish have their school system back. It’s long past time to return authority to where it belongs—not with a federal judge, but with the people’s elected representatives on the School Board,” Murrill said.
Murrill also thanked the Caddo Parish School Board and Harmeet Dhillon, U.S. Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, for their work on the case.
According to the court filing, the United States and the Caddo Parish School Board agreed that the school district has achieved unitary status. The filing stipulates that the case is dismissed with prejudice in its entirety, with no further action or consideration of the motion to intervene.
Murrill has worked with school systems across Louisiana to bring decades-old federal court oversight to a close.
Other school systems where federal oversight has ended include Plaquemines Parish School Board in April 2025, DeSoto Parish School Board in January 2026, Concordia Parish School Board in July 2026, and Bossier Parish School Board in August 2026.
The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office reported a successful Drug Takeback event, collecting 31 boxes containing a total of 329 pounds of unused prescription and over-the-counter medications.
The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) thanked everyone who participated in the event.
Residents who still have old, expired, or unwanted medications can dispose of them using the drop box available during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, at Government Plaza, located at 505 Travis Street in Shreveport.
The Sheriff’s Office reminds residents that needles and liquids should not be placed in the drop box.
The next Drug Takeback event is scheduled for the spring.
